MIT IAP

IAP 2001 Activity


Plasma Science and Fusion Center IAP Series
Richard Temkin , Amanda Hubbard, Paul Bonoli
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
Prereq: none

This Open House series is designed to introduce the MIT community to plasma physics research at the Plasma Science and Fusion Center, and areas of related interest. Refreshments will be available before each talk.
Web: http://www.psfc.mit.edu/
Contact: Paul Rivenberg, NW16-284, x3-8101, rivenberg@psfc.mit.edu
Sponsor: Plasma Science and Fusion Center

Combating Global Warming: Technologies for a Greenhouse Planet
Martin Hoffert New York University
Staunch alternative energy advocate Martin Hoffert makes a case for funding serious research and demonstrations aimed at breakthroughs in primary power technology which can transform the global energy system. These include superconducting transmission lines for terrestrial renewables; satellite solar power for developing nations; fission-fusion hybrid breeding of plutonium/thorium; proliferation-resistant fuel cycles; deuterium/helium-3 fusion reactions; and seawater, lunar and outer planet mining of fission and fusion fuels. For more information see http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/warming/beyond/
Tue Jan 9, 10:30am-12:00pm, NW17-218

Confining a Fusion Fire - A Grand Challenge for Science and Technology
Dale Meade Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
During the last decade of fusion energy research great progress has been made in raising plasma temperatures (over 300 million degrees C) and lengthening confinement times. Still, major technological and scientific challenges must be overcome to make fusion power a practical reality. The F.I.R.E. ignition experiment proposed at PPPL will be described.
Fri Jan 19, 10-11:00am, NW17-218

Nature's Magnetic Bottle: An Introduction to the Levitated Dipole Experiment
Darren Garnier Columbia University
The PSFC's newest fusion science experiment, a collaboration with Columbia University, was inspired by observing how plasma is confined in the magnetosphere around Jupiter. This session is followed by a tour of the experiment.
Fri Jan 19, 11am-12:00pm, NW17-218

Tour of Levitated Dipole Experiment
Darren Garnier Columbia University
A tour the the Levitated Dipole Experiment will leave from NW17-218 after the 11 am talk by Darren Garnier.
Fri Jan 19, 12-01:00pm, NW17-218

A Modern View of Fusion Power Plants
Leslie Bromberg
For more information about this mini-symposium presented in conjunction with the Nuclear Engineering Department go to http://websis.mit.edu/searchiap/iap-3290.html, or check the Nuclear Engineering IAP schedule.
Mon Jan 22, 09:30am-04:00pm, NW17-218

The Tokamak Patisserie: a Gustatory Approach to Alcator C-Mod, or How to Make a Donut Appealing for Fusion
Réjean Boivin
This basic presentation on how tokamaks work will feature the latest questions scientists face in the quest for fusion. Torus-shaped pastries will be available for hands-on demonstration and consumption. No apron is required.
Tue Jan 23, 10-11:00am, NW17-218

Tours: Alcator C-Mod and Versatile Toroidal Facility
TBD
Compare two experimental plasma devices: Alcator C-Mod, a high-field tokamak involved in fusion research, and the Versatile Toroidal Facility (VTF), built by MIT students and currently used to study magnetic reconnection and ionospheric plasmas.
Tue Jan 23, 11am-12:00pm, Begins in NW17-218

Probing Cosmic Plasmas with the Chandra X-Ray Observatory
Claude Canizares
Wed Jan 24, 11am-12:00pm, NW17-218

Riddled Basins of Attraction of Chaotic Systems: Inevitable Uncertainties in the Outcomes of Experiments
Ed Ott University of Maryland
In certain situations it is possible for the dynamical behavior of chaotic systems to be such that even the qualitative character of the eventual long time motion may be uncertain. This calls into question whether even the qualitative outcomes of experiments for such systems can be repeated. This phenomenon is due to a "riddled" basin of attraction. This talk will discuss riddle basins in elementary terms, giving illustrative numerical and analytical examples.
Wed Jan 24, 01-02:00pm, NW17-218

European Fusion Research: Highlights and Perspective
Jean Jacquinot Association Euratom - CEA, Cadarache, France
Dr. Jacquinot will discuss the European fusion research program, which encompasses strong efforts on tokamaks, stellarators and alternate concepts. The European program has already planned important new initiatives for the next decade. In the long run, Europe must decide on a commitment to the ITER project; the Cadarache Center is now preparing a bid to be the ITER site.
Fri Jan 26, 11-12:00am, NW17-218
Latest update: 13-Dec-2000


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Listing generated: 31-Jan-2001