Todd Elder

Dr. Todd Elder is a Visiting Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Maryland's Institute for Research in Electronics & Applied Physics (IREAP). He holds a Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Columbia University (2023) and a B.S. in Physics and Mathematics from Georgia State University (2016). His research focuses on 3D magnetic field optimization for stellarators, magnetic reconnection mechanisms, and fusion energy systems. As a DOE Fusion Energy Sciences Fellow, he collaborates with Dr. Matt Landreman (IREAP) and Prof. Per Helander (Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics).

His work emphasizes advancing stellarator design through coil optimization, accessibility improvements, and DESC framework applications. Research interests also include magnetic null dynamics, plasma impurity interactions, and inertial confinement fusion processes. Key contributions include studies on umbilic-torus stellarator configurations and exponential reconnection enhancement via laminar flows.

Dr. Elder has published extensively on topics ranging from helical coil systems to diffusive tunneling in fuel-pusher mixtures. His 2021 paper on spatially-bounded reconnection and 2023 DESC-based optimization studies are particularly notable. Awards include the DOE Fusion Energy Sciences Fellowship.

His research aligns with UMD's Stellarator Group and involves collaborations across national laboratories and international institutions like the Max Planck Institute. Current projects aim to bridge computational plasma physics with engineering design for next-generation fusion reactors.