Need an Expert? Whether you’re reporting on fusion energy or plasma science, or have questions about physics, chances are we have an expert you can interview. See inside for details on renowned experts at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, a national laboratory managed by Princeton University for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. Atiba Brereton Expert Topics: Diagnostic equipment, Computer aided design (CAD), Fusion energy Atiba Brereton is a diagnostic engineer who con- tributes to the design, fabrication, and installation of various types of diagnostic equipment on PPPL’s National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U). He has worked on several diagnostics such as SPRED (Survey, Poor Resolution, Extended Domain), a spectrometer that will be used Fusion. Energy. Plasma. Physics. to measure impurities in the divertor of the tokamak, and FIReTIP Tokamaks. Stellarators. Radioactivity. (Far InfraRed Tangential Interferometer/Polarimeter), which will be used to monitor plasma density. He is also a popular PPPL tour Nanotechnology. Astrophysics. guide and a frequent volunteer with the Offi ce of Communications Computational simulations. and Public Outreach. Vacuum technology. Materials science. Electronics. STEM education. These are some of the areas of expertise of sta at the Ahmed Diallo Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. PPPL is devoted to Expert Topics: Laser diagnostics, Plasma physics creating new knowledge about the physics of plasmas Ahmed Diallo is leader of the pedestal structure — hot, charged gases that make up the fourth state of and control topical science group of the National matter — and to developing practical solutions for the Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U) and creation of controlled fusion energy. In addition, results is a recipient of a DOE Early Career award. He is of PPPL research have ranged from a portable nuclear developing a fast-burst laser system to investigate the dynamics materials detector for anti-terrorist use to universally of the pedestal as well as to control it. He has contributed to employed computer codes for analyzing and predicting the upgrade of the Thomson scattering diagnostic system in the outcome of fusion experiments. The Laboratory is preparation for the NSTX-U, and has participated in the operation managed by Princeton University for the U.S. Department of the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) and the of Energy’s O ce of Science. Thomson scattering system prior to their upgrades. He has more than 15 years of experience in laser-aided plasma diagnostics, has authored many scientifi c papers and given more than 10 talks at national and international scientifi c meetings. To reach any of these experts, please contact Larry Bernard at (609) 243-2755 or email [email protected]. 1 Neway Atnafu Fatima Ebrahimi Expert Topics: Mechanical engineering, Project Expert Topics: Theory and computational extended management, Structural analysis, Cooling systems, magnetohydrodynamics, Plasma physics Crane operation Fatima Ebrahimi is a Research Physicist at the PPPL Neway Atnafu is a licensed professional engineer Theory Department and an Affiliated Research (PE) and certified project management professional Scholar at the Department of Astrophysical Sciences, (PMP). He is a mechanical engineer and engineering project Princeton University. She has many years of experience in theoret- manager who has worked on many aspects of the National ical and global computational extended magnetohydrodynamics Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U), including the (MHD) with wide applications to laboratory fusion and astro- cooling systems, neutral beam relocation, vacuum vessel analysis, physical plasmas. Her main research interests are MHD stability magnetic coil bus bars, passive plate modifications and structural in fusion plasmas, momentum transport, dynamos, and magnetic support design. He is the responsible engineer for the NSTX-U reconnection in laboratory fusion and astrophysical plasmas. cooling systems, and is expert in the safe operation of mobile and She has written many papers over a wide range of topics and overhead cranes, hoisting and rigging. Atnafu also assigns permits peer-reviewed journals. She is an elected executive committee for core drilling of concrete structures throughout the Laboratory. member of the APS Topical Group in Plasma Astrophysics (GPAP), He is an executive board member for the American Society of 2018-2021, and program committee member for U.S. Magnetic Mechanical Engineers, Greater Trenton Section. Fusion Research (MFR) Strategic Directions, 2017-2018. Amitava Bhattacharjee Philip Efthimion Expert Topics: Space and Astrophysical Plasma Expert Topics: Plasma physics, Electric and Physics, Fusion theory, Magnetic Reconnection, magnetic theory and applications, Instrumentation Turbulence, High-Performance and Exascale Philip Efthimion heads the PPPL Plasma Science Computing and Technology (PS&T) Department, overseeing Amitava Bhattacharjee, a plasma physicist, is Professor disciplines ranging from plasma astrophysics to of Astrophysical Sciences at Princeton University and Head of nanotechnology synthesis. He has authored or co-authored more the PPPL Theory Department. He is also Director of the Princeton than 200 papers on a broad range of plasma physics and tech- Center for Heliophysics. His expertise is in the broad application of nology topics, teaches Fusion Plasmas and Plasma Diagnostics theory to develop fusion and in space and astrophysical plasmas. He in the Program in Plasma Physics in the Princeton University can discuss many aspects of fusion, space and astrophysics, includ- Department of Astrophysical Sciences, and is a Fellow of the ing magnetic reconnection, turbulence and singularity formation, American Physical Society. kinetic theory, free-electron lasers, and complex plasmas. He also is heading efforts to simulate the first complete high-fidelity model of a fusion plasma as part of the U.S. Exascale Computing Project. Prof. Bhattacharjee has won numerous awards, and is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Geophysical Union. 2 3 Robert Ellis Charles A. Gentile Expert Topics: Mechanical engineering for high- Expert Topics: Tritium handling technology power radio frequency heating components and Charles Gentile is head of the Tritium Systems Group plasma diagnostics. at PPPL. He led a team at PPPL to create a Miniature Robert Ellis is the responsible engineer for diagnos- Integrated Nuclear Detection System, called MINDS, tics on the National Spherical Torus Experiment- which can be used to scan moving vehicles, luggage, Upgrade (NSTX-U), and mechanical engineer for radio frequency cargo vessels, and the like for specific nuclear signatures asso- heating equipment for PPPL and collaborative laboratories. He ciated with materials employed in radiological weapons. MINDS has designed radio frequency heating equipment and diagnostics could be deployed at workplace entrances, post offices, toll- for fusion research centers that include the DIII-D tokamak at booths, airports, commercial shipping ports, and in police cruisers General Atomics, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), to detect the transportation of unauthorized nuclear materials. He the Joint European Torus (JET) in the United Kingdom, and the and other PPPL inventors won the 2016 Edison Patent Award for Korean Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) inventing an on-demand method to create a badly needed isotope facility in South Korea. used routinely in medical imaging to diagnose diseases such as cancer and heart disease. David A. Gates Stefan Gerhardt Expert Topics: Stellarators, Tokamaks Expert Topics: Fusion energy, Plasma diagnostics, David Gates is a principal research physicist for Plasma physics, Stellarators, Tokamaks the advanced projects division of PPPL, and the Stefan Gerhardt is head of Experimental Research stellarator physics leader at the Laboratory. In the Operations for the National Spherical Torus latter capacity he leads collaborative efforts with Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U). He operates numer- the Wendelstein 7-X and Large Helical Device stellarator projects ous diagnostics on NSTX-U, along with designing plasma control in Germany and Japan, respectively. He is an American Physical schemes and running physics experiments. He has previously Society Fellow. worked on a wide variety of fusion machines, including spherical tokamaks, stellarators, and field-reversed configurations. Gerhardt won the Fusion Power Associates 2016 Excellence in Fusion Engineering Award. 4 5 Erik P. Gilson Walter Guttenfelder Expert Topics: Non-neutral plasmas and beam Expert topics: Fusion energy, Plasma physics, dynamics, Plasma astrophysics, Magnetized liquid Turbulence, Tokamaks, Stellarators metals for plasma research, Advanced liquid Walter Guttenfelder is a research physicist and leader centrifuge applications of the transport and turbulence topical science group Erik Gilson is a principal research physicist with in the National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade expertise in plasmas in which self-electric and self-magnetic fields (NSTX-U) project. He has over 15 years of research experience are dominant. He studies dynamics and instability of intense in the area of plasma turbulence and transport, with a focus on charged particle beams. Such beams can be applied to high-en- validating direct numerical simulations and models with