A center for fusion science information, nationally and internationally, the Institute for Fusion Studies conducts theoretical and experimental research. This includes theoretical plasma physics and fusion energy science, with studies of magnetic plasma confinement as well as fusion-relevant basic plasma topics, including plasma macro-stability, plasma turbulence and anomalous transport, energetic particle physics, plasma-boundary interactions, and nonlinear plasma dynamics.
Experimental researchers study transport and turbulence in magnetically confined plasmas and develop instrumentation to support this research, including using the D-IIID tokamak in San Diego to improve understanding of electron thermal transport and plasma absorption of radiofrequency waves and also developing instrumentation for measurement of electron thermal energy in ITER, the international tokamak that will be the first device to produce net energy.
![Profile image of Francois Waelbroeck](https://directory.cns.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/2023-01/Fran%C3%A7ois%20Waelbroeck%2C%20physics%2C%20Directory.jpg)
Francois Waelbroeck
- Research Professor
- Director, Institute for Fusion Studies
- Physics
![Profile image of Michael Downer](https://directory.cns.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/2023-01/Mike%20Downer%2C%20physics%2C%20Directory.jpg)
Michael Downer
- Professor
- Physics
![Profile image of Todd Ditmire](https://directory.cns.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/2023-01/physics%2C%20Todd%20Ditmire%20Directory.jpg)
Todd Ditmire
- Professor
- Physics
![Profile image of Kenneth Gentle](https://directory.cns.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/2023-01/Kenneth%20Gentle%2C%20physics%20Directory.jpg)
Kenneth Gentle
- Professor
- Physics
![Profile image of Bjorn Manuel Hegelich](https://directory.cns.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/2023-01/Manuel.jpg)
Bjorn Manuel Hegelich
- Associate Professor
- Physics
![Profile image of Saeid Houshmandyar](https://directory.cns.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/2024-08/Screenshot%202024-08-23%20at%2011.01.53%E2%80%AFAM.png)
Saeid Houshmandyar
- Research Associate
- Physics
![Profile image of Philip Morrison](https://directory.cns.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/2023-01/Phil%20Morrison%2C%20physics%2C%20Directory.jpg)
Philip Morrison
- Professor
- Texas Atomic Energy Research Foundation Professorship
- Physics
![Profile image of Anna Tenerani](https://directory.cns.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/2023-01/Anna%20Tenerani%2C%20Physics%2C%20Directory.jpg)
Anna Tenerani
- Assistant Professor
- Physics