Seminar: fusion and plasma physics

Lectures: 1session / week, 2 hours / session

Fusion Energy has the potential to provide almost unlimited amounts of electric power with minimal environmental impact. This seminar covers a range of plasma and fusion energy topics, including discussion of the Global Energy Picture, the Physics of Fusion, Fusion Reactors and Tokamaks. A Tour of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center including the Alcator C-MOD Tokamak is part of the seminar. In addition, other fusion related topics are discussed including Plasma Rockets for Manned Space Missions and Plasma Fuel Converters for Environmentally Improved Cars and Trucks.

Attendance and participation are a significant part of the final grade in this course so students are expected to attend all class sessions. There are no problem sets, exams, or required textbooks for the course. There will be a short term paper, of 1 to 10 pages (or Microsoft® PowerPoint® equivalent), on one of the subjects discussed in class. Students may pair up for this project. The term papers and presentations are due in class on Lec #13 and Lec #14.

The final grade for the course will be based on the following:

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