Fusion

“It's useful to peek over someone’s shoulder," says Kevin Woller of the students he mentors. "The accelerator is a large machine. It’s not easy to put someone in front of it and say ‘OK, operate it!’"

Kevin Woller: From student to mentor

Research scientist gives back by passing along the nuts and bolts of plasma research.

January 25, 2019

Dennis Whyte, director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center.

MIT continues progress toward practical fusion energy

In series of talks, researchers describe major effort to address climate change through carbon-free power.

January 24, 2019

MIT graduate student Caroline Sorensen earned a master’s degree at MIT in a MechE lab but is based at the Plasma Science and Fusion Center for doctorate work. “People are super excited about the future of fusion, and there is this vibe of positivity and hopefulness that what we’re doing is really going to make a difference," she says.

Tapping the MIT talent pool for the future of fusion

Excitement is rising in the push to get zero-carbon energy on the grid.

January 11, 2019

"When we stimulate theoretically inclined minds by framing plasma physics and fusion challenges as beautiful theoretical physics problems, we bring into the game incredibly brilliant students," says associate professor of nuclear science and engineering Nuno Loureiro.

Nuno Loureiro: Understanding turbulence in plasmas

Theoretical physicist's focus on the complexity of plasma turbulence could pay dividends in fusion energy.

January 3, 2019

A fusion power plant could provide clean, carbon-free energy with an essentially unlimited fuel supply. From the point of view of electrical power generation, the fusion device is just another heat source that could be used in a conventional thermal conversion cycle.

On the right path to fusion energy

National Academies study recommends a pilot fusion energy program that aligns with MIT's fusion approach and SPARC project.

December 21, 2018

MIT Energy Initiative Director Robert Armstrong welcomes attendees to MITEI’s annual research conference, which featured panels on topics ranging from climate change to energy startups to the critical role artificial intelligence and machine learning can play in developing technology for a low-carbon energy future.

Q&A: Climate change, tough tech startups, and the future of energy intelligence

MIT Energy Initiative Director Robert Armstrong offers his perspective on the takeaways from MITEI’s annual research conference.

October 25, 2018

Fusion, and specifically the physics of plasmas, has remained Nuno Loureiro’s primary research focus through graduate school, postdoc stints, and now in his research and teaching at MIT.

Nuno Loureiro: Probing the world of plasmas

Physicist explores the behavior of the universe’s most abundant form of matter.

October 15, 2018

The ARC conceptual design for a compact, high magnetic field fusion power plant. The design now incorporates innovations from the newly published research to handle heat exhaust from the plasma.

A new path to solving a longstanding fusion challenge

Novel design could help shed excess heat in next-generation fusion power plants.

October 9, 2018

“The potential of fusion energy is immense. I just wanted to contribute to this effort,” says PhD candidate Juan Ruiz Ruiz.

Juan Ruiz Ruiz: The heat of the matter

PhD candidate seeks to discover how heat leaks from fusion plasmas.

October 1, 2018

A wide-angle view inside the W7-X stellarator

MIT fusion collaboration receives renewed funding

Department of Energy funds Plasma Science and Fusion Center to advance fusion studies on the world’s largest stellarator.

September 4, 2018

Seung Gyou Baek and his colleagues performed experiments on the Alcator C-Mod tokamak to demonstrate how microwaves can be used to overcome barriers to steady-state fusion reactor operation.

Pushing the plasma density limit

Plasma Science and Fusion Center researchers discover a path to overcoming the plasma density limit in their quest for steady-state fusion.

August 23, 2018

PSFC principal research scientists Stephen Wukitch (left) and John Wright are being honored for their collaborative work.

Stephen Wukitch, John Wright win Landau-Spitzer Award

MIT and European Union scientists collaborate on new plasma heating scenario to boost fusion research.

August 17, 2018

Encouraging the next generation of fusion innovators

The Samuel W. Ing Memorial Fund will support MIT graduate students as they create a more advanced and less costly path to fusion energy solutions.

August 6, 2018

MIT postdoc Cristina Rea records data about disruptions in fusion plasmas from the DIII-D control room.

Taming fusion with machine learning

Postdoc Cristina Rea's detour into banking provides a new route back to plasma research.

July 2, 2018

Tom Fredian is being recognized for his “outstanding leading role in the development and evolution of data systems in nuclear fusion.”

Tom Fredian: Streamlining fusion data

MIT systems analyst receives award for his essential fusion data storage and retrieval system.

June 1, 2018

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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