A O Nelson: Applied Plasma Physics: the Magnetic Pursuit of Fusion Energy (CIPS seminar 2026/02/13)

Описание: A. O. Nelson (Columbia University)

Applied Plasma Physics: the Magnetic Pursuit of Fusion Energy

The pursuit of commercial fusion energy, which could provide a clean and effectively limitless power source for humanity, is often heralded as one of the most important and difficult scientific endeavors of our time. One of the leading approaches for fusion, the tokamak, uses magnetic fields to confine a hot and dense plasma inside a toroidal vacuum vessel, akin to holding a star in a magnetic bottle. In modern machines, this configuration can access plasma conditions capable of sustained fusion reactions that could generate more energy than is put into the device when scaled to larger size and stronger field. This seminar introduces the fundamentals of tokamaks and their role in the pursuit of controlled nuclear fusion. It explores how magnetic confinement is used to sustain high-temperature plasmas, the key physical principles governing stability and transport, and the main engineering challenges involved. Emphasis is placed on how applied plasma physics connects theory, experiment, and technology in advancing fusion as a viable energy source. The seminar also highlights the Columbia Center for Fusion Energy, an interdisciplinary initiative that brings together plasma physics, applied mathematics, engineering, and data science. The Center focuses on advancing magnetic fusion research through theory, computation, and collaboration with national and international fusion programs, while training the next generation of fusion scientists and engineers.