Plasma Science and Fusion Center

“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 chemists have enhanced the resolution of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), which should allow more rapid and detailed study of proteins such as the beta amyloid protein that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.

Enhanced NMR reveals chemical structures in a fraction of the time

Technique could yield insights into complex proteins involved in Alzheimer’s and other diseases.

January 18, 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

School of Engineering third quarter 2018 awards

Faculty members recognized for excellence via a diverse array of honors, grants, and prizes over the last quarter.

October 19, 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 News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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