Swadesh Mitter Mahajan
Research Professor, Institute for Fusion Studies, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin; Chief Scientific Advisor of Exofusion
Speaker Biography:
Dr. Swadesh Mitter Mahajan joined the Institute of Fusion Studies in 1977. He has worked in broad areas of physics centered on the dynamics of hot plasmas (classical and quantum) – plasma equilibrium and stability, nuclear fusion, wave-wave and wave-particle processes, in astrophysics, in cosmology, in developing a unified picture of classical forces. During the course of a long and varied research career, he has discovered several new phenomena and effects and invented new approaches to fusion and fusion-fission hybrids. A fellow of the APS and TWAS, he has conducted several International Schools for IAEA and ICTP at Trieste. Recently, he and two colleagues from UT founded a Nuclear Fusion Company – ExoFusion – where he is the chief scientific advisor.
Abstract:
The pursuit of fusion on earth has been, until recently, led largely by government-funded universities and labs. Recognizing the fundamental need/importance of commercially viable fusion (CVF) for an energy-starved and growing world population, private capital has entered the scene with enthusiasm and determination. As private interest grows, the tendency is to think that the "problem" has been reduced to a technical one requiring only engineering solutions. While fusion engineering is highly challenging, the pursuit of CVF will need continuous input of fundamental scientific ideas. While the goals can be societal and commercial, the pathway to getting there must be led by physics. We will explore the current vast fusion landscape and attempt to make a case why new physics will be crucial to make fusion energy affordable.
To view the talk on YouTube, there are two options:
The Webinar will be listed as a video thumbnail with the word “LIVE NOW” in the window. Click on that thumbnail.
- Alternatively, Click: https://www.youtube.com/@utenergyinstitute to take you to the HOME page of the Energy Institute’s YouTube page.
Then if needed, select the “LIVE” option from the set of tabs in the middle of the screen, at the top of the array of thumbnails for old videos. The Webinar should then the uppermost-left video, with a “live” indicator on it. Click on that thumbnail to watch the live streaming video.