Fusion

“We’d like to have an impact with the course on the greater debate about the use of nuclear energy as part of the solution for climate change,” says Professor Jacopo Buongiorno.

Enhanced nuclear energy online class aims to inform and inspire

Revamped version of MITx MOOC includes new modules on nuclear security, nuclear proliferation, and quantum engineering.

October 24, 2019

Anne White named head of the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering

Fusion energy and turbulence modeling expert will succeed Dennis Whyte.

June 18, 2019

Yet-Ming Chiang, Kyocera Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering

3Q: Yet-Ming Chiang on reopening the case of cold fusion

The materials science and engineering professor is part of a multi-institution effort to investigate the possibility of cold fusion in a scientifically rigorous way.

May 27, 2019

Cross sections of pressure profiles are shown in two different tokamak plasma configurations (the center of the tokamak doughnut is to the left of these). The discharges have high pressure in the core (yellow) that decreases to low pressure (blue) at the edge. Researchers achieved substantial high-pressure operation of reverse-D plasmas at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility.

Steering fusion’s “D-turn”

Research scientist Alessandro Marinoni shows that reversing traditional plasma shaping provides greater stability for fusion reactions.

May 17, 2019

Vinod Khosla, who runs Khosla Ventures and was a co-founder of Sun Microsystems, delivered the David J. Rose Lecture.

Entrepreneur Vinod Khosla: “Focus on the consequences of success”

In David Rose Lecture, Sun Microsystems co-founder urges bold plans to address global challenges.

March 11, 2019

Members of the the PSFC's High-Energy-Density Physics division gather in their Accelerator Facility, part of the new Center of Excellence.

Plasma Science and Fusion Center leads new Center of Excellence

Award will support educational and research efforts in high-energy-density physics at MIT and four academic research partners.

February 25, 2019

“Having representation from women, especially black women, in the [nuclear science and engineering] department was a huge factor in me wanting to come back,” says PhD candidate Raspberry Simpson.

From summer research program to PhD dissertation

Graduate student Raspberry Simpson’s scientific journey approaches fruition.

February 15, 2019

“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

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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