PPPL Experts

David Gates is a principal research physicist for the advanced projects division of PPPL, and the stellarator physics leader at the Laboratory. In the latter capacity he leads collaborative efforts with the Wendelstein 7-X and Large Helical Device stellarator projects in Germany and Japan, respectively. 

Charles Gentile is head of the Tritium Systems Group at PPPL. He led a team at PPPL to create a Miniature Integrated Nuclear Detection System, called MINDS, which can be used to scan moving vehicles, luggage, cargo vessels, and the like for specific nuclear signatures associated with materials employed in radiological weapons. MINDS could be employed at work- place entrances, post offices, tollbooths, airports, commercial shipping ports, and in police cruisers to detect the transportation of unauthorized nuclear materials. 

Stefan Gerhardt is head of Experimental Research Operations for the National Spherical Torus Experiment- Upgrade (NSTX-U). He operates numerous diagnostics on NSTX-U, along with designing plasma control schemes and running physics experiments. He has previously worked on a wide variety of fusion machines, including spherical tokamaks, stellarators, and field reversed configurations. 

Robert Goldston is a professor of Astrophysical Sciences at Princeton University and an international leader in the fields of plasma physics and magnetic fusion energy.  From 1997 to 2009 he served as Director of PPPL. He is the author of 220 papers in journals and conference proceedings, and in 1995 co- authored with Paul Rutherford the textbook “Introduction to Plasma Physics.” He is a contributing author to five other books. In 1988, he was awarded the American Physical Society Prize for Excellence in Plasma Physics.

Hantao Ji is a professor of Astrophysical Sciences at Princeton University and a Distinguished Research Fellow at PPPL. For more than 20 years he has been interested in the growing fields of plasma physics and astrophysics, and has dedicated his career to bringing them closer together. 

David Johnson is a principal research physicist with broad experience in techniques and instrumentation for measur- ing the characteristics of magnetic fusion plasmas. He has specific expertise in laser Thomson scattering systems, and has installed and operated such systems on many fusion devices around the world. He managed a division of plasma diagnostic experts for the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) and National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) projects, and was the Work Breakdown Structure Team Leader for US ITER Diagnostics. 

Robert (Bob) Kaita is head of boundary physics opera- tions for the National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U) and deputy head of research operations. Kaita
is also a co-principal investigator of the Lithium Tokamak Experiment (LTX). He is a fellow of the American Physical Society and a recipient of the Kaul Foundation Prize for Excellence in Plasma Physics Research. He has supervised the research of many students in the PPPL Program in Plasma Physics in the Department of Astrophysical Sciences at Princeton University. 

Bruce Koel is professor of chemical and biological engi- neering at Princeton University. He is associated faculty in Chemistry, the Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials (PRISM), The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, and a collaborator on the National Spherical Torus Experiment - Upgrade at PPPL. Koel is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Physical Society and the American Vacuum Society. 

Jerry Levine has more than 35 years experience in managing, coordinating and reviewing licensing, safety and environmental matters for fusion-energy research activities and the nuclear waste program. Levine directs a department of more than 40 professionals responsible for oversight and support of activities ranging from radiation protection and electri- cal safety to emergency preparedness, environmental protection and security. 

Jonathan Menard is program director for the National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U) and is responsible for guiding the scientific research program of NSTX-U working with an international research team. His research interests include the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibrium and stability properties of spherical torus (ST) and tokamak plasmas, advanced operating scenarios in the ST, and the development of next- step ST options for fusion energy. 

George “Hutch” Neilson manages PPPL’s stellarator programs and advanced design activities. He is program manager and national point-of-contact for U.S. collaborations with the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator experiment in Germany. Advanced design activities overseen by Neilson include technical studies for next-generation experimental fusion facilities, including the U.S. system studies program and collaborations with South Korea and China on studies of DEMO machines, which would precede commercial fusion power plants. 

Charles Neumeyer is a registered professional engineer with more than 30 years experience in advanced tech- nology research and project management. His experi- ence covers functions ranging from design to procurement and commissioning. Neumeyer has managerial roles in activities associated with ITER and the National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade (NSTX-U). He is responsible for U.S. equipment contributions for the ITER Steady State Electrical Network, which will supply AC power to all ITER plant systems. 

Masa Ono is project director of the National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U). Ono has led
a number of PPPL research teams including those involved in the Advanced Concept Torus (ACT-1), the Current Drive Experiment (CDX), the Current Drive Experiment Upgrade (CDX-U) and the NSTX. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society and the author of more than 250 scientific papers. 

Francesca Poli’s expertise is in simulating the evolution of tokamak plasma discharges. She uses waves and neutral beams to modify the plasma current profile and to optimize the plasma performance. She applies her expertise to interpret existing experiments, to predict and design new experiments, and to predict plasma performance in ITER, the international demonstration fusion reactor being built in the south of France. 

Masaaki Yamada is a Distinguished Laboratory Research Fellow and the Head of the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment (MRX) research program. He is also a co- principal investigator of the Center for Magnetic Self-Organization in Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas, a Physics Frontier Center established by the National Science Foundation (NSF). 

Dr. Michael C. Zarnstorff is the deputy director for research at PPPL, where he oversees research that ranges from testing ideas for harnessing fusion to developing rockets for space flight. His job encompasses keeping projects aligned with DOE goals and envisioning new research opportunities for PPPL. An award-winning physicist and a co-discoverer of the bootstrap current, he joined PPPL in 1984 and has been deputy director for research since 2009.