General Atomics Establishes Memorial Website for Fusion Pioneer Tihiro Ohkawa
Website reviews Ohkawa’s remarkable life and contributions to fusion energy science
San Diego, June 27, 2018 (GLOBE
NEWSWIRE) -- During his six-decade career researching plasma physics, Dr.
Tihiro Ohkawa helped lay the groundwork for much of modern fusion energy
science. Ohkawa, who passed away in 2014, spent 34 years at General Atomics
(GA), where he was a long-time leader of the company’s controlled fusion
program.
Now, in cooperation with the Ohkawa family and
Ohkawa’s former colleague Dr. Teruo Tamano, GA has established a memorial
web site – www.fusion-holy-grail.net– honoring
his many contributions to fusion science. The URL reflects Ohkawa’s
lifelong quest for fusion energy, a goal he often referred to as the
“Holy Grail.” Illustrated with family photos and GA archival images,
and enriched by numerous anecdotes from his many friends and colleagues,
the site provides an in-depth look at his remarkable life.
A
native of Japan, Ohkawa received his Ph.D. in physics from the University
of Tokyo. In 1960, he joined General Atomics, then a division of General
Dynamics that had begun a private magnetic fusion research program. In
1969, Ohkawa proposed building a kidney-shaped plasma tokamak. Until that
point, tokamak plasmas were circular in cross section. Ohkawa christened
his concept "Doublet," for double tokamak, and built a small device at
GA.
Ohkawa then proposed building a major new tokamak device
called Doublet III and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. Under
Ohkawa's leadership, the GA group became recognized as a world leader in
magnetic fusion research. Doublet III has since been upgraded into what is
now the DIII-D National Fusion Facility, the largest magnetic fusion
program in the nation, which continues to produce outstanding scientific
results.
Ohkawa later became a vice chairman of General Atomics,
as well as director of GA's Institute for the Development and Application
of Advanced Technology. He was a recipient of the American Physical
Society's James Clerk Maxwell Prize for Plasma Physics. He retired from GA
in 1994.
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.
Attachments
CONTACT: Zabrina Johal General Atomics 858-455-4004 zabrina.johal@ga.com