معرفی
Troy Carter is a Professor of Physics at the University of California, Los Angeles, holding appointments in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. He serves as Director of the Basic Plasma Science Facility (BaPSF), a national user facility supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and National Science Foundation, and as Director of the Plasma Science and Technology Institute (PSTI) at UCLA. His research centers on enabling carbon-free electricity generation through nuclear fusion, specifically via magnetically confined plasmas.
- BS in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, North Carolina State University (1995)
- PhD in Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University (2001)
Prof. Carter's research focuses on fundamental plasma physics with applications to fusion energy. His work investigates instabilities, turbulence, and transport phenomena in magnetically confined plasmas. He has pioneered laboratory studies of Alfvén waves, magnetic reconnection, and wave-particle interactions relevant to both fusion plasmas and space physics. His group utilizes the Large Plasma Device (LAPD) at UCLA's Basic Plasma Science Facility for experimental investigations. Current research trends in his publications emphasize wave coupling phenomena, advanced diagnostics development, machine learning applications in plasma physics, and workforce development for fusion energy.
- 2002 APS DPP Excellence in Plasma Physics Research Award
- Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS)
As Director of BaPSF, Prof. Carter manages a national user facility providing experimental capabilities to over 100 researchers annually from universities, national laboratories, and industry. His leadership in the Plasma Science and Technology Institute fosters interdisciplinary collaborations across plasma physics, fusion energy, and space science. Current research initiatives include advancing antenna technologies for plasma heating, developing synthetic diagnostics for turbulence measurements, and investigating fundamental processes relevant to solar corona heating and auroral phenomena. His group actively participates in major fusion research programs including collaborations with DIII-D and MAST tokamaks.
Prof. Carter's laboratory conducts experimental studies using the Large Plasma Device (LAPD), featuring capabilities for Alfvén wave experiments, magnetic reconnection studies, and plasma turbulence investigations. His team develops specialized diagnostics including Doppler backscattering systems and novel antenna arrays. The PSTI coordinates research efforts across multiple UCLA laboratories focused on plasma applications in energy, space, and technology development.
