DIII-D Researchers Earn Multiple Honors from American Physical Society
Awards recognize pioneering work in plasma physics at fusion facility operated by GeneralAtomics
San Diego, CA, July 12,
2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Physical Society (APS) has awarded
the two most prestigious prizes in plasma physics to researchers working at
the DIII-D National Fusion Facility. The awards were based on research
carried out at DIII-D, a U.S. Department of Energy user facility operated
by General Atomics (GA). The research represented by these awards have
transformed our understanding of fusion plasmas and enabled great advances
in tokamak performance and control.
GA scientist Keith Burrell
won the James Clerk Maxwell Prize for Plasma Physics, which recognizes
outstanding contributions to the field. In addition, DIII-D scientists Todd
Evans (General Atomics), Max Fenstermacher, (Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory), and Rick Moyer (University of California, San Diego), won the
John Dawson Award for Excellence in Plasma Physics Research, which
recognizes a particular recent outstanding achievement.
Burrell’s research at DIII-D over the past 40 years helped develop and
validate the theory that explains how hot plasmas in a magnetic field can
self-organize to reach improved states of confinement at higher pressures,
which are necessary to create fusion. Through an effect called sheared
flow, the plasma can be induced to confine itself within the magnetic
field. In future self-sustaining fusion devices, these effects will lead to
greater fusion power than would otherwise be possible.
Evans,
Fenstermacher, and Moyer were honored for experiments proving that
instabilities in fusion plasmas known as edge localized modes (ELMs) can be
stabilized by finely tuning the three-dimensional magnetic field.
Suppression of ELMs is critically important because of their potential to
damage the walls of the fusion tokamak. The methods proven by the team at
DIII-D and validated at other facilities have since been incorporated into
the design of the ITER device under construction in France.
DIII-D is the largest operating fusion facility in the U.S. and is
capable of carrying out a wide range of experiments to explore
high-performance tokamak discharges as well as fundamental fusion science.
A tokamak is a vacuum chamber in which plasmas are confined by magnetic
fields while being heated to force the fusion of hydrogen isotopes. The
DIII-D tokamak is renowned for its operational flexibility and rich
diagnostic capabilities, enabling a wide range of research in highly shaped
plasma configurations.
Both prizes include cash awards and
recognition at the APS annual meeting this fall. This is the seventh John
Dawson award received for research involving DIII-D, and the second GA
researcher honored with the James Clerk Maxwell prize. GA fusion pioneer
Tihiro Ohkawa received the award in 1979.
About General
Atomics: General Atomics pioneers advanced technologies with
world-changing potential. GA has been at the cutting edge of energy
innovation since the dawn of the atomic age – for more than 60 years.
With scientists and engineers continually advancing the frontier of
scientific discovery, GA is serving our growing planet’s needs through
safe, sustainable, and economical solutions across a comprehensive array of
key energy technologies.For more information contact: Zabrina Johal –
858-455-4004 – Zabrina.Johal@ga.com
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CONTACT: Greg Cunningham General Atomics 858-455-3474 gregory.s.cunningham@ga.com
