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George Tynan traversed an unconventional route to fusion.
After earning his undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering, Tynan’s professional experience ignited his fascination with rocket propulsion technology. Since many propulsion techniques involve the manipulation of heated ionized substances, or plasmas, Tynan directed his focus toward plasma physics.
It was during this period that he understood plasmas could also facilitate nuclear fusion. “As a potential energy resource, it could truly be revolutionary, and the notion that I could engage in something that might have such an influence on the future was highly appealing to me,” he remarks.
This same determination—to fulfill the promise of fusion by investigating both plasma physics and fusion engineering—guides Tynan today. It’s an endeavor he will continue as the Norman C. Rasmussen Adjunct Professor in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering (NSE) at MIT.
A nascent interest in fluid dynamics
Tynan’s passion for science and engineering began in his early years. His father, an electrical engineer, secured a position in the U.S. space program, relocating the family to Cape Canaveral, Florida.
“This occurred in the ‘60s, during the Saturn V launches to the moon, and I had the opportunity to observe all the launches from the shoreline,” Tynan recalls. That experience was influential, leading him to develop a fascination with fluid dynamics.
“I would extend my hand out the window, imagining it was an airplane wing, tilting it against the oncoming airflow to feel how the force would vary on my hand,” Tynan chuckles. This curiosity eventually culminated in an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering from California State Polytechnic University in Pomona.
The transition to a new profession occurred after his time in the private sector when Tynan discovered a passion for utilizing plasmas in propulsion systems. He moved on to the University of California at Los Angeles for graduate studies, where the realization that plasmas could also facilitate fusion shifted Tynan’s focus into this area.
During this time in the ‘80s, when climate change was not as prevalent in the public discourse as it is now, Tynan was aware that “there’s not an infinite amount of oil and gas available, and eventually we would need to adopt nuclear resources widely.” He was also drawn in by the persistent effort required to actualize fusion.
Doctoral research
To harness energy from fusion, it is crucial to obtain a precise measurement of the “energy confinement time,” which gauges the duration it takes for the heated fuel to cool once all heat sources are deactivated. At the start of his graduate studies, this measurement was still based on empirical estimations. He opted to concentrate his research on the physics of measurable confinement time.
During this doctoral investigation, Tynan had the opportunity to examine the inherent differences in the behavior of turbulence in plasma compared to standard fluids. Generally, when an ordinary fluid is stirred with increasing intensity, its motion eventually becomes erratic or turbulent. However, plasmas can behave unexpectedly: confined plasmas, when heated sufficiently, will spontaneously suppress turbulent transport at the edges of the plasma.
An experiment in Germany made this unexpected discovery regarding plasma behavior. While subsequent investigations on various experimental devices validated this surprising observation, all prior experiments struggled to measure the turbulence in detail.
Brian LaBombard, now a senior research scientist at MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC), was a postdoctoral researcher at UCLA at the time. Under LaBombard’s mentorship, Tynan created a series of Langmuir probes, which serve as relatively simple diagnostic tools for plasma turbulence studies, to further explore this peculiar phenomenon. This formed the foundation for his doctoral dissertation. “I happened to be in the right place at the right moment to investigate this turbulence quenching phenomenon in greater detail than anyone else had up until that point,” Tynan states.
As a PhD candidate and later postdoc, Tynan delved into the phenomenon extensively, commuting between research facilities in Germany, Princeton University’s Plasma Physics Laboratory, and UCLA.
Fusion at UCSD
After earning his PhD and completing his postdoctoral research, Tynan worked at a startup for several years before learning that the University of California at San Diego was establishing a new fusion research group at the engineering school. When they reached out to him, Tynan joined the faculty and developed a research program centered on plasma turbulence and plasma-material interactions within fusion systems. He eventually ascended to the role of associate dean of engineering and subsequently chair of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, serving in these capacities for nearly a decade.
Tynan took a sabbatical at MIT in 2023, where discussions with NSE faculty members Dennis Whyte, Zach Hartwig, and Michael Short inspired him regarding the challenges the private sector faces in making fusion a reality. He identified opportunities to address significant issues at MIT that complemented his work at UC San Diego.
Tynan is enthusiastic about confronting what he refers to as “the major physics and engineering challenges of fusion plasmas” at NSE: how to eliminate the heat and exhaust produced by burning plasma to prevent damage to the fusion device’s walls and to ensure the plasma does not become restricted by the helium ash. He also anticipates exploring resilient engineering solutions for practical fusion energy, particularly focusing on advancing materials for use in fusion devices to enhance their longevity while minimizing radioactive waste production.
In 2021, for instance, MIT’s PSFC and CFS made a significant advancement toward carbon-free power generation. They engineered and constructed a high-temperature superconducting magnet, the most powerful fusion magnet in existence.
This milestone was particularly thrilling because the realization of the fusion energy dream now felt nearer. Being at MIT “appeared to be a swift way to connect deeply with ongoing efforts to develop fusion energy,” Tynan expresses.
Moreover, “during my sabbatical at MIT, I observed how quickly research staff and students could capitalize on a suggestion for a new concept, which fascinated me,” he adds.
Tynan brings a unique combination of expertise to the field. In addition to extensive proficiencies in plasma physics, he has dedicated significant time to addressing fundamental engineering challenges related to materials. “The essential task is to integrate everything into a functional and sustainable system,” Tynan concludes.
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