A primary goal of the DIII–D program is to optimize the Advanced Tokamak (AT) path to the development of fusion energy. The AT path seeks to establish the ultimate potential of the tokamak as a steady state path to magnetic fusion. PPPL plays a major role in the DIII-D program by contributing in areas of unique institutional capability in experimentation, fusion theory, engineering and facility operations.

PPPL Collaboration Staff Onsite at DIII-D

Research Activity and Productivity

News and Press Releases

Scientists develop forecasting technique that could help advance quest for fusion energy (PPPL) 23 September 2020

Scientists propose method for eliminating damaging heat bursts in fusion device (PPPL) 10 August 2020

A proven method for stabilizing efforts to bring fusion power to Earth: Real-time pedestal optimization and ELM control with 3D fields and gas flows on DIII-D (PPPL) 16 June 2020

Magnetic Ripples Calm the Surface of Fusion Plasmas: 3D magnetic fields can help control the plasma edge to prevent damaging bursts of heat and particles from fusion plasma (Office of Science FES Web Highlight) 26 Mar 2020

Feeding fusion: hydrogen ice pellets prove effective for fueling fusion plasmas (PPPL) 10 Mar 2020

Climbing the Staircase to Fusion: Forming a staircase in the edge of the plasmas can boost the performance of a fusion reactor (Office of Science FES Web Highlight) 2 Feb 2020 and a DOE Top Post of 2020.

Alex Nagy, a “creative and energetic” engineer, is named a Distinguished Engineering Fellow (PPPL) 20 Dec 2019

Preventing damaging heat bursts at the edge of fusion plasmas (PPPL) 19 Dec 2019

PPPL findings: From new fusion developments to surprises in astrophysics at global plasma physics gathering (PPPL) 28 Oct 2019

Staircase to the stars: Turbulence in fusion plasmas may not be all bad (PPPL) 16 Oct 2019

New technique merging sound and math could help prevent plasma disruptions in fusion facilities (PPPL) 13 May 2019

Steady as She Goes: Scientists tame damaging edge instabilities in steady-state conditions required in a fusion reactor (Office of Science FES Web Highlight) 19 Feb 2019

Not All Ions in Tokamaks Go with the Flow Spectroscopic measurements reveal that main ions flow much faster than impurities at the edge of fusion-relevant plasmas (Office of Science FES Web Highlight) 19 Feb 2019

From the cosmos to fusion plasmas, PPPL presents findings at global APS gathering (PPPL) 12 Nov 2018

Steady as she goes: Scientists tame damaging plasma instabilities and pave the way for efficient fusion on Earth (PPPL) 21 Aug 2018

New testing of model improves confidence in the performance of ITER (PPPL) 20 Apr 2018

Chirping is welcome in birds but not in fusion devices – scientists show that weak turbulence makes chirping more likely (PPPL) 16 Mar 2018

PPPL honors Grierson and Greenough for distinguished research and engineering achievements (PPPL) 13 Nov 2017

PPPL and General Atomics team up to make TRANSP code widely available (PPPL) 6 Oct 2017

Physicists propose new way to stabilize next-generation fusion plasmas (PPPL) 11 Sep 2017

Computer simulations of DIII-D experiments shed light on mysterious plasma flows (PPPL) 5 Apr 2017

Plasma Turbulence Generates Flow in Fusion Reactors (FES Highlight) 27 Apr 2017

PPPL physicists win Torkil Jensen Award to conduct key experiments on DIII-D (PPPL) 21 Dec 2015

PPPL and General Atomics scientists make breakthrough in understanding how to control intense heat bursts in fusion experiments (PPPL) 16 Mar 2015

PPPL successfully tests system for mitigating instabilities called “ELMs” (PPPL) 29 Sep 2014

PPPL physicist Brian Grierson wins DOE Early Career Research Program Grant (PPPL) 13 May 2014

‘Catch and Suppress’ Control of Instabilities in High Performance Fusion Plasmas (FES Highlight) 01 Oct 2012