Machine learning (ML) is rapidly growing in popularity as new tools for applying these techniques to plasma control are developed. You’ve probably seen numerous media mentions of those projects. ML is also incredibly helpful in data analysis and modeling. Just as our doctors might use ML to read our x-rays, today’s fusion researchers can use […]
Research
Fusion Scientist Image from AI
The DALL-E 2 artificial intelligence system generates original images based on prompts. The four images below were generated by DALL-E 2 based on my prompt, “photo of a scientist advancing fusion energy research.” All four images show a scientist standing way too close to the device, with three of them being visibly harmed by the […]
Our lab made a video highlighting some of our team members. Go science!
MBA Thesis: Publicly Funded Research and Opportunities for Public-private Engagement in Fusion Energy
I successfully defended my MBA thesis during the Spring 2022 semester in the Fowler College of Business at San Diego State University. This was a fascinating project for me, as I examined the U.S. Department of Energy’s User Facility program within the Office of Science. The resulting title of this thesis is, Assessment of Industry […]
Profiles in Diagnostics: Making Walls Better by Watching Walls Fall
Igor Bykov studies how plasmas interact with fusion reactor walls using high speed imaging and spectroscopy. The tokamak approach to magnetic confinement fusion uses a toroidal solenoid to confine high-temperature plasmas. With peak plasma temperatures above 100 million degrees Celsius, no physical measurements are possible beyond the very edge of the devices. The unique diagnostic […]
Profiles in Diagnostics: A Hot Pursuit to Understand ICE
Kathreen Thome studies how particles travel through fusion plasmas using high frequency magnetic fluctuations known as ion cyclotron emission (ICE). The tokamak approach to magnetic confinement fusion uses a toroidal solenoid to confine high temperature plasmas. With peak plasma temperatures above 100 million degrees Celsius, no physical measurements are possible beyond the very edge of […]