Plasma Science and Fusion Center

Research Scientist Nathan Howard used data from MIT's Alcator C-Mod tokamak as the basis for an award-winning paper.

Nathan Howard wins Nuclear Fusion Award

Researcher unravels the mystery of heat loss in turbulent fusion plasmas.

January 29, 2020

For his prize-winning thesis, Pablo Rodriguez-Fernandez examined data from MIT's Alcator C-Mod tokamak (background).

Heating by cooling

Pablo Rodriguez-Fernandez resolves a fusion paradox to receive Del Favero Prize.

November 27, 2019

“One of the reasons I came back to grad school was to be steeped in something for a long time," says Julian Picard, who works in MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center. "After spending so long working hard on something, you start to develop a gut instinct.”

Julian Picard: Chopping microwaves, sharpening instincts

MIT graduate student slices microwave pulses to test advanced accelerators.

August 12, 2019

An example of an interstellar collisionless shock is seen in this photo of a bow shock in the Orion Nebula.

Astrophysical shock phenomena reproduced in the laboratory

Lab-scale experiment could help scientists understand interstellar and galactic-scale smashups.

August 6, 2019

Anne White named head of the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering

Fusion energy and turbulence modeling expert will succeed Dennis Whyte.

June 18, 2019

Cross sections of pressure profiles are shown in two different tokamak plasma configurations (the center of the tokamak doughnut is to the left of these). The discharges have high pressure in the core (yellow) that decreases to low pressure (blue) at the edge. Researchers achieved substantial high-pressure operation of reverse-D plasmas at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility.

Steering fusion’s “D-turn”

Research scientist Alessandro Marinoni shows that reversing traditional plasma shaping provides greater stability for fusion reactions.

May 17, 2019

Steven Lacey, host of The Energy Gang, leads a live taping of the show during the MIT Energy Conference.

MIT Energy Conference explores changes to the grid in coming decades

Student-run event spans energy policy, carbon pricing, storage technologies, and the rise of renewables.

April 9, 2019

Members of the the PSFC's High-Energy-Density Physics division gather in their Accelerator Facility, part of the new Center of Excellence.

Plasma Science and Fusion Center leads new Center of Excellence

Award will support educational and research efforts in high-energy-density physics at MIT and four academic research partners.

February 25, 2019

“Having representation from women, especially black women, in the [nuclear science and engineering] department was a huge factor in me wanting to come back,” says PhD candidate Raspberry Simpson.

From summer research program to PhD dissertation

Graduate student Raspberry Simpson’s scientific journey approaches fruition.

February 15, 2019

“It's useful to peek over someone’s shoulder," says Kevin Woller of the students he mentors. "The accelerator is a large machine. It’s not easy to put someone in front of it and say ‘OK, operate it!’"

Kevin Woller: From student to mentor

Research scientist gives back by passing along the nuts and bolts of plasma research.

January 25, 2019

Dennis Whyte, director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center.

MIT continues progress toward practical fusion energy

In series of talks, researchers describe major effort to address climate change through carbon-free power.

January 24, 2019

MIT chemists have enhanced the resolution of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), which should allow more rapid and detailed study of proteins such as the beta amyloid protein that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.

Enhanced NMR reveals chemical structures in a fraction of the time

Technique could yield insights into complex proteins involved in Alzheimer’s and other diseases.

January 18, 2019

MIT graduate student Caroline Sorensen earned a master’s degree at MIT in a MechE lab but is based at the Plasma Science and Fusion Center for doctorate work. “People are super excited about the future of fusion, and there is this vibe of positivity and hopefulness that what we’re doing is really going to make a difference," she says.

Tapping the MIT talent pool for the future of fusion

Excitement is rising in the push to get zero-carbon energy on the grid.

January 11, 2019

"When we stimulate theoretically inclined minds by framing plasma physics and fusion challenges as beautiful theoretical physics problems, we bring into the game incredibly brilliant students," says associate professor of nuclear science and engineering Nuno Loureiro.

Nuno Loureiro: Understanding turbulence in plasmas

Theoretical physicist's focus on the complexity of plasma turbulence could pay dividends in fusion energy.

January 3, 2019

A fusion power plant could provide clean, carbon-free energy with an essentially unlimited fuel supply. From the point of view of electrical power generation, the fusion device is just another heat source that could be used in a conventional thermal conversion cycle.

On the right path to fusion energy

National Academies study recommends a pilot fusion energy program that aligns with MIT's fusion approach and SPARC project.

December 21, 2018

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