Plasma Science and Fusion Center IAP Series
Jeffrey Freidberg, Peter Catto, Bruce Lipschultz
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
This series introduces plasma physics research and areas of related interest at the Plasma Science and Fusion Center. See URL below.
Web: http://www.psfc.mit.edu/
Contact: Paul Rivenberg, NW16-284, x3-8101, rivenberg@psfc.mit.edu
A Half Century of Fusion Research
Steve Dean Fusion Power Associates
Over the past half century, scientists and engineers have provided a solid foundation for developing fusion as a practical energy source. But why is it taking so long, and is it possible to accelerate progress? A new generation of scientists and engineers is needed now to bring the fusion quest to fruition.
Mon Jan 10, 10-11:00am, NW17-218
Global Energy Prospects and Problems.
Michael Golay
The world runs on fossil fuels, especially petroleum - for which we must rely upon the middle east. Enough fossil fuel resources have been identified to meet likely needs for at least a century, with little R&D needed. Mitigation of global warming would require creating a new portfolio of non-emitting technologies on a very large scale.
Mon Jan 10, 11am-12:00pm, NW17-218
Advances in Magnetic Fusion Science & the ITER Project
Rob Goldston Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
The last decade has seen dramatic advances in understanding plasmas for fusion energy. As a result, the world is on the verge of beginning construction of ITER, a device capable of producing hundreds of megawatts of fusion power, at high gain, for thousands of seconds. The next major step after ITER could indeed be a demonstration power plant.
Mon Jan 10, 02-03:00pm, NW17-218
Turbulence and Transport: The Secrets of Magnetic Confinement
Martin Greenwald
The realization of fusion as a practical power source requires that we learn to confine plasmas (ionized gases) with temperatures above 100 million degrees. The use of strong magnetic fields to confine fusion-grade plasmas has resulted in remarkable progress. However, the basic physics is rich and significant challenges remain.
Tue Jan 11, 10-11:00am, NW17-218
Tera-scale Computers in Controlled Fusion Research
Paul Bonoli
With the help of ganged clusters of computers capable of
more than a trillion floating point operations per second,
researchers are moving closer to modeling controlled fusion more realistically. These tera-scale devices are fast becoming a necessary tool for understanding the complex physics of our present day fusion experiments.
Tue Jan 11, 11am-12:00pm, NW17-218
Tour of PSFC Fusion Experiments
Tour guide to be announced
The PSFC is exploring fusion through two different devices. The Alcator C-Mod tokamak is a well tested approach that has produced decades of progress towards achieving fusion energy. The Levitated Dipole Experiment is a brand new approach, only been in operation since August. Come see what makes these experiments unique.
Tue Jan 11, 01-02:00pm, NW17-218
Fast Ignition: An Alternate Path to Inertial Confinement Fusion
David Meyerhofer University of Rochester
Fast Ignition provides a promising, high-gain alternative to conventional Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF). Besides describing how this approach differs from conventional ICF, Dr. Meyerhofer will highlight some of the exciting plans and developments for this novel approach.
Wed Jan 12, 11am-12:00pm, NW17-218
Simulating Astrophysical Jets in the Laboratory
Paul Bellan California Institute of Technology
Newly forming stars, black holes, and active galactic nuclei have completely different size scales, and yet have a common feature: bi-polar plasma jets shooting out along their rotation axis. This talk will describe a high-power, pulsed MHD plasma experiment where lab-scale replicas of astrophysical jets are routinely produced.
Thu Jan 13, 11am-12:00pm, NW17-218
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Vacuum Technology Seminar
Tom Romanus Varian Vacuum Technologies
Wed Jan 19, 09am-03:00pm, NW17-218
No limit but advance sign up required (see contact below)
Signup by: 17-Jan-2005
Single session event
Intensive one-day noncommercial class on vacuum fundamentals for graduate students and other vacuum users. Some of the topics that will be discussed include high vacuum, ultra high vacuum, system pressure, total gas load, material selection, system pumping speed, vacuum pumps, system operation, and system troubleshooting. Taught by vacuum engineer with 35 years experience in vacuum, and numerous patents to his credit. Seminar is co-led by Varian Vacuum Technologies and includes a free manual.
Contact: Bob Childs, rchilds@psfc.mit.edu
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