UMERC Faculty Member

James F. Drake, Professor
Department of Physics and the Institute for Physical Science and Technology
Computer, Math, and Physical Sciences

Phone: 301.405.1471
Email: drake@plasma.umd.edu  |  website

Statement of energy interests and expertise

Professor Drake is an authority on the confinement and dynamics of high temperature plasma associated with the development of nuclear fusion as a source of energy. He is an authority on "magnetic reconnection", in which the magnetic fields confining the high temperature fusion plasmas spontaneously become tangled, spoiling confinement.

Professor Drake has also explored the development of turbulence in fusion plasmas, which limits energy confinement and therefore controls the size and cost of potential fusion reactors.