NEWS: Magnetic fusion energy

Fusion heating gets a boost

Fusion researchers at the PSFC, with colleagues in Belgium and the UK, have created a new method of heating fusion plasmas in tokamaks. The new method has resulted in raising trace amounts of ions to megaelectronvolt (MeV) energies — an order of magnitude greater than previously achieved.

PSFC

Julien Barber: Protecting magnets and the environment

Graduate student Julien Barber grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where average temperatures do not rise above freezing from November to March. It may not be surprising, then, that the he is currently keeping things cool at the PSFC, studying cryogenic methods of preventing superconducting magnets used in fusion research from overheating.

PSFC

Monica Pham: Advancing nuclear power, empowering girls

When she was 16, Monica Pham mapped out her future. “My chemistry teacher was talking about how atoms could generate unlimited power,” recalls Pham. “I asked her what kind of person worked in this field, and when she said a nuclear engineer, I decided that’s what I wanted to be.”

NSE

Nathan Howard receives INCITE leadership computing award

A multi-institutional team consisting of Plasma Science and Fusion Center research scientist Nathan Howard, Chris Holland (University of California, San Diego) and Jeff Candy (General Atomics), has received a prestigious INCITE leadership computing award.

PSFC

Alcator C-Mod interior, MIT

New record for fusion

Alcator C-Mod tokamak nuclear fusion reactor sets world record on final day of operation.

PSFC

Alcator C-mod interior

Alcator C-Mod pressure record: FAQ

On September 30th 2016 the Alcator C-Mod team set the plasma pressure record for a magnetically confined fusion device. For the first time anywhere the team obtained plasma pressures higher than 2 atmospheres.

PSFC

High intensity fusion

MIT’s Alcator C-Mod nuclear reactor winds down — and defines its legacy on its final run.

School of Engineering

Silvia Espinosa: On the edge of discovery

Silvia Espinosa is seeking to understand phenomena observed in plasmas that fuel magnetic fusion devices like the Center’s Alcator C-Mod tokamak. 

PSFC

Five from PSFC receive Infinite Mile Awards

On May 16, five members of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC) community, selected by the Office of the Provost along with the Office of the Vice President for Research, received 2016 MIT Infinite Mile Awards.

PSFC

ARC

VIDEO: Breakthrough in Fusion?

PSFC Director, Dennis Whyte spoke at the MIT Club of Northern California — Nuclear fusion is the holy grail of energy generation because by fusing two hydrogen atoms together into a single helium atom it releases enormous amounts of energy, yet represents a clean, safe, sustainable and secure form of power.

Dennis Whyte with BBC Horizons host Adam Shaw.

BBC highlights MIT fusion research for upcoming news program

Host Adam Shaw interviewed PSFC Director and Nuclear Science and Engineering Department Head Prof. Dennis Whyte about the laboratory’s current project, the Alcator C-Mod tokamak, and MIT’s new vision for a smaller, faster, less expensive approach to fusion research.

PSFC