Plasma Science and Fusion Center

The timely development of practical fusion energy in the 21st century is arguably one of the most important challenges facing the scientific and engineering community worldwide. The Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC) provides a focus for experimental and theoretical studies in plasma science, magnetic and inertial fusion research, and the development of related enabling technologies. The center fosters independent creativity and provides the intellectual environment for the educational training of students, research scientists, and engineers. Research activities at the Plasma Science and Fusion Center focus on five areas.

Fusion Energy. PSFC researchers study the use of strong magnetic fields to confine plasma at the high temperatures and pressures required to achieve fusion energy. Magnet research is conducted using on-site experimental facilities, theory and simulation, and collaboration with researchers at other facilities. PSFC scientists, students, and engineers perform experiments and develop technologies to confine and heat the plasma and to manage the interactions between the plasma and fusion device materials.

Plasma Science. Plasma exhibits complex and rich physics phenomena, including waves, turbulence, and interactions with materials. Studying plasmas is critical to advance technology development for practical purposes like developing functional fusion reactors and to understand the fusion processes present in stars, planets, and interstellar space. PSFC scientists and students advance plasma physics using cutting-edge facilities and large-scale computation to obtain a comprehensive predictive understanding of plasmas in a variety of situations.

Fusion Technology. The study of plasmas, fusion, and magnetic resonance requires a core set of technology and engineering tools. Additionally, the understanding of plasmas can be used to develop new technologies with far-reaching applications. High-field magnets, high-power radio frequency sources, sensitive detectors, and various particle accelerators are used throughout the PSFC, while environmental technologies to reduce diesel emissions, process garbage and drill through rock to access geothermal resources have matured from PSFC research.

High-Energy-Density Physics. Matter at extremely high temperatures and pressures, known as high-energy-density states, exhibits unique plasma behavior that is important for understanding fusion energy and many astrophysical phenomena. Studying these conditions helps scientists investigate the physics of thermonuclear fusion and explore processes that occur naturally in environments such as stellar interiors and giant planets. PSFC scientists and students conduct experiments and develop advanced plasma diagnostics to study these extreme states of matter, combining experimental measurements with theoretical modeling and numerical simulation. Research is carried out in collaboration with major national facilities, including the OMEGA Laser Facility, the National Ignition Facility, and the Z Pulsed Power Facility, where researchers explore inertial confinement fusion, laboratory astrophysics, and related high-energy-density plasma physics.

Magnetic Resonance. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a powerful technique for probing the structure and dynamics of molecules important to biology, chemistry, physics, medicine, and energy research. These methods use high-field magnets and microwave radiation to measure magnetic interactions at the atomic nucleus, revealing detailed information about molecular structure and composition. The Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory at MIT provides high-field magnet capabilities that support magnetic resonance research and related studies.

The PSFC is one of the largest producers of plasma physics PhDs in the world. As an interdisciplinary research center rather than a degree-granting department, it draws students from MIT's academic departments, including Physics, Nuclear Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Aeronautics and Astronautics. The center's programs and laboratories provide excellent forums for training students and professional researchers and other world-class research facilities to faculty members from many departments. Approximately 90 graduate students are currently involved at all levels of thesis work.

Graduate and undergraduate students may find more information on the PSFC website. Undergraduates are encouraged to participate through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) or Fusion and Fission Undergraduate Scholars program.

Dr. Stephen J. Wukitch is the interim director of the PSFC. For further information, email the PSFC (info@psfc.mit.edu).