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439 Engineering Research Building

1500 Engineering Drive

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI 53706

Faculty and Staff

IEC Group 2011

Back Row: M. Michalak, A. McEvoy, G. Emmert, E. Alderson, G. Becerra, G. Kulcinski, J. Santarius, R. Bonomo

Front Row: L Garrison, C Schuff, H. Schmitt, K. Hall


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Faculty


Staff


Graduate Students

Alumni



Faculty



   

Gerald L. Kulcinski

Gerald Kulcinski

Education

  • PhD 1965, Nuclear Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Fields of Interest

  • Energy policy

  • Magnetic/inertial fusion reactor systems studies

  • Radiation damage and nuclear materials

  • Lunar mining of helium-3

Additional Experience

  • Battelle Northwest Lab

  • Bechtel Corporation

  • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Karlsruhe Nuclear Laboratory, Germany

Summary

Gerald L. Kulcinski is currently the Associate Dean for Research for the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Kulcinski is also the Grainger Professor of Nuclear Engineering and the Director of the Fusion Technology Institute. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1993 and was awarded the NASA Public Service Medal in 1993. He has been a Fellow in the American Nuclear Society since 1978.

Professor Kulcinski's research involves energy policy and developing fusion reactors as future sources of clean, safe and economical energy. His specific interests are in using advanced fuels such as D-3He to generate electricity. The D-3He fuel cycle has on the order of 1 percent of its energy in neutrons instead of the 80 percent typical of the DT cycle.

Other research includes designing and analyzing Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) reactors and materials problems associated with ICF and MCF (Magnetically Confined Fusion) reactors. The use of lasers on ion beams can present some unique advantages as well as problems to future power plants. Methods to investigate the problems are being devised.

Research into the mining of 3He on the moon is another area of interest for Kulcinski. The 3He is driven into the lunar surface by the solar winds and its value to a D-3He economy is $1-3 billion per tonne.

Kulcinski is the director of the UW-Madison Fusion Technology Institute. He also serves on advisory boards to U.S. National Laboratories and the Department of Energy.


Jack Schmitt

Education

  • B.Sc, 1957, California Institute of Technology.
  • PhD 1964, Geology, Harvard Univ.

Additional Experience

  • Chair, NASA Advisory Council
  • Former U.S. Senator, New Mexico, 1977-1983

Summary

Professor Schmitt is a consultant engaged in research with the Fusion Technology Institute on the utilization of resources from space, including the feasibility of using helium-3 from the moon to supply energy on Earth. He served as US Senator of New Mexico from 1977 to 1983, making him well versed in the politics of science in the US.  He also teaches a popular course, Resources from Space. An astronaut on the Apollo 17 mission to the moon, Schmitt has first-hand knowledge of the space environment. His 2006 book on lunar helium-3 fueled fusion power, entitled “Return to the Moon – Exploration, Enterprise, and Energy in the Human Settlement of Space” (Springer) summarizes the case for investor funded acquisition of lunar resources.

 

John Santarius

John Santarius

 

Education

  • BS 1973, Physics, California Institute of Technology

  • PhD 1979, Physics, University of Texas at Austin

Active Research Fields

  • Inertial-electrostatic confinement fusion and applications

  • Magnetized-target fusion plasma physics

  • Magnetized fusion reactor design
  • Lunar volatiles, particularly helium-3

  • Space applications of fusion power and propulsion
  • Inertial-confinement fusion plasma physics

Summary

  • Investigate inertial-electrostatic confinement—including modeling UW experiments—for production of (a) neutrons for detection of highly enriched uranium, special nuclear material, and other clandestine materials plus (b) protons for creation of radioisotopes for nuclear medicine.

  • Most of my career at UW has been in plasma physics and engineering research for magnetic confinement, inertial-electrostatic confinement, inertial confinement, and magnetized target fusion.  Configurations investigated include Polywell inertial-electrostatic confinement, plasma-jet MTF, field-reversed configurations, tandem mirrors, dipoles, tokamaks, and stellarators.
  • In 1986, Layton Wittenberg, Jerry Kulcinski, and I published the initial paper connecting the large lunar resource of helium-3 with its potential use in D-3He fusion reactors. D-3He fuel would lead to reactors requiring more advanced physics but reducing many engineering problems. Refining the arguments and evaluating the viability of the lunar helium-3 resource remains an ongoing effort.

  • D-3He magnetic fusion reactors appear able to provide propulsion capabilities dramatically more efficient for long-range space travel than those of chemical, fission, and D-T fusion rockets. My contention, developed in several published papers, is that fusion will be necessary to open the Solar-System frontier.
  • The interesting nonlinear physics of radiation transport and shock-wave propagation must be understood for viable inertial-fusion reactors to be designed. My research in this area focuses on working with our 1-D radiation hydrodynamics code, BUCKY.




Gil Emmert

Education

  • BS, Engineering Science, University of California-Berkeley

  • PhD, 1968, Stevens Institute of Technology

Fields of Interest

  • Theoretical plasma physics

  • Inertial-electrostatic confinement fusion

  • Plasma-wall interactions

  • Magnetic fusion reactor design

  • Space applications of fusion

 

Additional Experience

  • United Aircraft Corporation

  • Max Planck Institut fuer Plasmaphysik

  • Consultant to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Fusion Power Associates, and Prentice Hall Publishing Co.

 

Summary

Gilbert Emmert is Professor of Engineering Physics (emeritus). He retired in 2001 after 33 years on the faculty of the Engineering Physics department, including 9 years as department chair. His research activity has been primarily in the areas of plasma-wall interactions and magnetic fusion reactor design. Since retirement he has been active in theoretical modeling of inertial-electrostatic confinement devices.

 


Staff



Richard Bonomo

Education

  • BS 1978 in Electrical Engineering from Case Institute of Technology

  • MS 1980 in Electrical Engineering (Controlled Fusion Plasma Physics) - University of Wisconsin-Madison

Fields of Interest

  • Controlled Nuclear Fusion
  • Spacecraft Propulsion
  • Alternative Energy Technology
  • Alternative Transportation Technology and Systems

Additional Experience

  • Madison Post Masters work at UW (currently ABD) in FusionPlasmas with a minor in Mechanical Engineering.

Summary

Rich joined the Fusion Technology Institute in February of 2008 as a researcher and laboratory manager.

While a freshman at Case Tech, he decided that he would like to be involved in the development of fusion energy technology, as that seemed and seems the most promising source of energy for Man in the long term. Upon graduating from Case, he entered graduate school at UW-Madison and did much experimental work in the area of magnetic confinement of ionized gases, both on his own projects, and in assisting fellow gradate students with their projects.

The flow of events eventually had him working in projects in other fields and on other projects, including the UW Hybrid Electric Vehicle project (a nation-wide student competition), the UW Powertrain Control Research Laboratory, and, for several years, the UW Space Astronomy Laboratory. His new affiliation with the IEC laboratory at the Institute is a return to his home field.

 

Graduate Students

 

Gabriel Becerra

Gabriel Becerra

Education

  • B.S. Physics, B.S. Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • M.S. Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Currently working towards Ph.D., Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Fields of Interest

  • Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Fusion
  • Magnetic Fusion
  • Energy Policy

Additional Experience

  • P-24 Plasma Physics Group - Los Alamos National Laboratory

Summary



Not Pictured

Matt Michalak

Lauren Garrison

Craig Schuff

Aaron McEvoy

Karla Hall

Aaron Olson

Matt Jasica

Aaron Fancher


Undergraduate Students

 

Not Pictured

Kyle Mayer




Alumni



Bob Ashley

Education

  • BS 1975, Physics, Ripon College

Fields of Interest

  • Steady state fusion

  • Advanced fuels

Additional Experience

  • Electronics Technician: UC Berkeley; Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory;
  • DIII-D Tokamak, General Atomics

 


   

Zachary Courter

 

Education

  • Working towards a BS in Engineering Mechanics and a certificate in Astronautics, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Fields of Interest

  • Fusion energy applications

  • Lunar mining

  • Space exploration tourism

Summary


I am a fifth year senior who is excited to be in his final year of undergraduate studies and eager to enter the aerospace workforce.  I have spent two summers and a semester working for United Space Alliance, NASA’s largest space shuttle contractor, in Houston, Texas.  It is a privilege to be working with everyone in the IEC lab, and I am looking forward to contributing as much as I can and getting to know everyone in the lab.

   

Logan Campbell

 

Education

  • Working towards BS, Nuclear Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Fields of Interest

  • Non-Terrestrial Resources

  • Inertial-electrostatic confinement fusion

Summary


I have been working with the IEC group since fall of 2005.  I served in the 82ND Airborne Division for five years.  I enjoy reading about new scientific discoveries and engineering advances.

Currently on active duty in in the United States Army.

 

 

Ben Cipiti

Education

  • Currently employed at Sandia National Laboratory


S. Krupakar Murali

Education

  • Currently employed at Micron Technology

 

   John Weidner

 

Education

  • Currently a Major in the United States Army, working for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)



Alex Wehmeyer

    

Education

  • Graduated with his Masters in Nuclear Engineering May 2005
  • Thesis Topic: Explosives Detection

 

  • Currently teaching physics at the United States Military Academy at West Point


 

   Tracy Radel

 

Education

  • Masters 2007, Nuclear Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison

  • Currently employed at Sandia National Laboratory

   

Greg Piefer

Education

  • BS 1999, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • BS 1999, Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • MS 2001, Nuclear Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • PhD 2006, Nuclear Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Fields of Interest

  • Inertial-electrostatic confinement fusion

  • Space travel

  • Computers

  • Environmental aspects of nuclear power

Summary

    I came to the University of Wisconsin--Madison in the fall of 1994.  I began in the school of letters and science in the department of physics.  I worked in this department for two years, and I spent my summers working for Allen Bradley (now Rockwell Automation).  This piqued my interest in electrical engineering and so I added this major to my list of undergraduate ambitions.  At the beginning of my third year, I started work for Professor Wilmer Anderson, on a code to search through HST data for the spectrum of magnetic monopoles.  I was awarded the Hilldale Fellowship for this work, and continued it for another year.  After my fifth year, I completed both my majors, and inspired by a class I had taken came to the Fusion Technology Institute at the University, joining the nuclear engineering department. 

   

 

Ross Radel

Education

  • BS 2003, Nuclear Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • PhD 2007, Nuclear Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Fields of Interest

  • Fusion material research

  • Advanced fuel fusion

  • Space propulsion

Summary

  • Ross begun working with the IEC group September 1999
  • Currently employed at Phoenix Nuclear Laboratory



   Carlos Paz-Soldan

Carlos Paz-Soldan

 

Education

  • B.Sc.E - Electrical Physics, Queen's University at Kingston, Canada

  • B.A. Spanish Language and Literature, Queen's University at Kingston, Canada

  • Currently working towards M.Sc/Ph.D., Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Fields of Interest

  • Nuclear Fusion

  • Measurement and Automation

  • Programming

  • Energy Policy

Additional Experience

  • Plasma Physics Laboratory - University of Saskatchewan, Canada

Summary

   John Sorebo

John Sorebo

Education

  • B.S. Electrical Engineering, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

  • M.S.  Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison

  • Currently working towards Ph.D., Nuclear Engineering and Engineering  Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Fields of Interest

  • Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Fusion for Near-term Applications
  • Fissile Material Detection
  • Nuclear Fusion for Energy Generation
  • Energy Policy

Additional Experience

  • Electrical Engineer - Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Publications

  • "System and Method for Controlling the Width of Web Material", US Patent 7014083, Canadian Patent 2470482
  • "Web Inspection Using Gradient-Indexed Optics", IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, vol. 41, Issue 6, Nov 2005, pp. 1476-1482.

  • Summary

           John has had a long standing interest in nuclear fusion and began pursuing this interest more formally in 2006 when he enrolled in the Ph.D. program at the University. John is currently working on the employment of inertial electrostatic confinement devices for Special Nuclear Material (SNM) detection applications. Unauthorized nuclear material transport will, unfortunately, likely grow as a threat in the world and represents both a policy and technology challenge. Neutron detection systems show early promise in the ability to successfully interrogate transport containers.  John is currently working on MCNP gamma and neutron transport simulations to determine an effective interrogation configuration for various inspection applications.

 

David Boris

 

Education

  • BS in Physics from John Carroll University in Cleveland OH

  • MS-Nuclear Engineering/Engineering Physics from University of Wisconsin Madison

Fields of Interest

  • IEC Fusion Applications

  • Innovative Confinement Concepts for Fusion Energy

  • Energy Policy

  • Space Applications of Plasma Physics

  • Innovative Energy Conversion Schemes

Summary

Dave Boris has been working in the IEC research group since 2003. Dave is studying the plasma physics of the source region of IEC-1 as well as the plasma physics of the high energy core of the IEC device. He has also done work the direct conversion high energy protons from fusion reactions to electricity. Additional work on fusion research was done at the University of California, Irvine where he worked on the construction of an FRC device for colliding beam fusion. I enjoy skiing, golfing, baseball, softball, and ultimate frisbee

   

 

Sam Zenobia

Education

  • 2005 B.S. Physics - Hillsdale College

  • 2007 M.S. Nuclear Engineering - University of Wisconsin - Madison

  • Working towards PhD, Nuclear Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Fields of Interest

  • Ion implantation studies for fission and fusion materials

  • Advanced fuels fusion and applications in an IEC device

  • Indirect and direct drive inertial confinement fusion concepts

Summary


In 2005 I graduated with a B.S. in Physics from Hillsdale College. During my undergraduate career there, an internship at the Texas A&M Cyclotron Institute ignited my interest in nuclear physics. The remainder of my career at Hillsdale cultivated this interest and spurred new interest in the fields of plasma physics, fusion reactor concepts, and its applications.  In fall 2005, I joined the UW IEC group and began my Master's work on materials testing of Gen IV reactor cladding and ICF first wall armor concepts.

   

 

Brian Egle

 

Education

  • BS 2000, Manufacturing Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Stout 

  • PhD, Nuclear Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Fields of Interest

  • Product Design Engineer / Process Engineer, Andersen Corporation

Fields of Interest

  • Inertial-electrostatic confinement fusion
  • Application of fusion technologies for electrical energy production, medical applications and space propulsion
  • Charged Particle Accelerators
  • Energy and Science Policy

Summary


Brian joined the IEC research group in May of 2005 and is currently researching the D-3He advanced fuel reactions application in the production of medical radionuclides.  He came to the UW-Nuclear Engineering program after spending several years in the manufacturing sector.  The career change was a result of independent research into the application and feasible of alterative energy technologies, and the realization that nuclear technologies have the greatest potential of meeting societies long term needs.

   

David Donovan

 

Education

  • B.S. Nuclear Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Fields of Interest

  • Inertial-electrostatic confinement fusion

Summary

       I graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with honors and a BS in Nuclear Engineering, concentrating in Plasma and Fusion Sciences and minoring in Mathematics.  I worked as an undergraduate research assistant in a graduate plasma research laboratory known as the Plasma Materials Interactions Group, where I worked primarily on two projects: SPARCS dealt with RF Antennas used in magnetically confined fusion; XCEED dealt with the plasma processing involved in semiconductor fabrication.  I spent the summer after my graduation from UIUC at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where I worked in the Fusion Energy Division on a project dealing with high voltage RF breakdown.  I came here to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to work with the IEC group and pursue a Masters/PhD.

   

 Eric Alderson


 

Education

  • 2004, B.S. Engineering Physics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL

  • 2008, M.S. Nuclear Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison

    Currently working towards Ph.D. Electrica and Computer Engineering University of Wisconsin-Madison

Fields of Interest

  • Space exploration and exploitation

  • IEC Fusion

  • 3rd generation fusion fuels

Summary

  Eric C. Alderson has had an interest in space since he was very young.  In pursuit of this interest he pursued a bachelors degree from Embry-Riddle in Engineering Physics. As that phase of his education was drawing to a close, Eric explored future activities in space to determine what path a career in space might follow. Papers on the promise and future of Lunar He-3 fusion led him to the Fusion Technology Institute and the University of Wisconsin - Madison