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Disruption Mitigation Research

Design against off-normal events is an essential part of fusion energy research. The rapid quench of the tokamak plasma (called a 'disruption') releases a burst of energy into the reactor vessel that must be controlled. Research involves designing systems and techniques to manage this energy release in a benign manner.

News

February 06, 2023

Columbia Engineering Students win Fusion-Energy Design Contest

A team of Columbia Engineering PhD students have been awarded $22,000 for winning a design contest that challenged university teams across the country to accelerate the commercialisation of fusion energy. The Columbia team was composed of PhD students studying plasma physics in the APAM Department, and their work was supported by Columbia research scientist Dr. Oak Nelson.