Scott E. Parker

Scott E. Parker is a Professor of Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder and a Fellow at both the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI) and the Center for Integrated Plasma Studies (CIPS). His expertise lies in theoretical and computational plasma physics for magnetic fusion energy.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Engineering Science, University of California, Berkeley
• B.S. in Nuclear Engineering and Mathematics, University of Wisconsin, Madison

His research centers on plasma turbulence simulation using advanced computational methods. Key areas include gyrokinetic theory, tokamak edge physics, and quantum information science applications to plasma modeling. The group develops particle-based simulations in five-dimensional phase space to study transport in magnetically confined plasmas, utilizing massively parallel computing and scientific visualization.

Analysis of his publications reveals consistent focus on numerical techniques for plasma turbulence, particularly trapped electron modes and zonal flows. His work bridges fundamental kinetic theory with practical fusion reactor challenges, demonstrating qualitative agreement with experimental transport observations in tokamaks.

Awards:

• RASEI Fellow
• CIPS Fellow

Professor Parker leads the Parker Research Group, mentoring graduate students in computational plasma physics. The group collaborates on extreme-scale computing projects for fusion energy research, though specific grant details are not provided in source materials. Their work is integral to advancing predictive capabilities for next-generation fusion devices.

The research group maintains active projects in magnetic fusion energy, utilizing GEM simulations and multiscale kinetic methods to address edge turbulence and transport phenomena critical for reactor viability.