Thomas White

Dr. Thomas White is an Associate Professor and Clemons-Magee Endowed Professor in Physics at UNR, directing research in laboratory astrophysics and high-energy-density physics. His group uses high-powered lasers to recreate extreme conditions found in planetary cores and fusion experiments.

Research explores:

• Material behavior at megabar pressures relevant to gas giant interiors
• Supersonic plasma turbulence analogous to interstellar medium dynamics
• Transport properties in degenerate matter

Recent publications demonstrate advances in X-ray scattering techniques for warm dense matter characterization. Experimental campaigns utilize facilities including NIF, Omega Laser, and European XFEL. The group maintains collaborations with SLAC, Oxford, and international plasma physics consortia.

Honors include NSF CAREER and Culham Thesis awards. Current projects focus on thermal conductivity measurements in iron alloys under exoplanet core conditions (NASA-funded) and magnetic field amplification in turbulent plasmas.