Plasma Heating and Current Drive

Electron Bernstein wave heating and current drive for high density plasmas

I received my Ph.D. in Astrophysical Sciences from Princeton University while doing my dissertation research at the National Spherical Torus Experiment, NSTX, at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. My dissertation research, "Investigation of EBW Thermal Emission and Mode-Conversion Physics in the National Spherical Torus Experiment", resulted in the first experimental observation of EBW collisional damping and I developed a method to mitigate these effects via lithium evaporation. More recently, I have led experimental research and modeling efforts in establishing electron Bernstein wave heating on the linear plasma device, Proto-MPEX, at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 

Identifying attractive means of initiating current without using induction from a central solenoid remains a critical challenge facing the spherical tokamak (ST) concept, and is desirable for tokamaks in general. In 2018, I was awarded a DOE grant to develop an electron Bernstein wave (EBW) heating and current drive system for use on overdense ST plasmas on the Pegasus Toroidal Experiment. This research is part of the larger national Proof-of-Principle ST program and addresses one of the key shortcomings of the ST as identified by the FESAC Toroidal Alternates.