Texas Almanac, 1984-1985 Page: 59
[706] p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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SCIENCE
59
...,,:This magnetic containment unit located on the UT-Austin campus, allows up to a dozen scientists at one time to view
experiments into the nature of plasma physics.
Nuclear Fusion Research In Texas ExpandsResearch into the use of nuclear fusion as an ener-
gy resource has been a part of the scientific scene in
Texas for more than 20 years. The effort began in 1957
when a consortium of electric companies in the state
organized the Texas Atomic Energy Research Founda-
tion and began to fund fusion research at a West Coast
center. In 1963, the foundation initiated funding of fu-
sion research at the University of Texas at Austin, and
the entire program was moved to the university in 1967.
Over the years TAERF has provided seed money for pro-
jects that later were expanded with grants from the
federal government.
Controlled nuclear fusion as an energy source has
long been a dream of scientists because it is cleaner in
terms of radioactivity released than fission, and an
abundant supply of fuel - plain water - is available in
nature However, the problems of forcing atoms to
combine - in contrast to splitting them as occurs in
fission - has proved to be much more difficult than
initially anticipated.
UT-Austin's fusion research program has three fac-
ets. The oldest is the Fusion Research Center, which
embraces the research arm of the overall program. Dr.
William E. Drummond is the director. The center oper-
ates the Texas Experimental Tokamak (TEXT), a mag-
netic containment unit in which a variety of experi-
ments in the new science of plasma physics can be
conducted.
The Institute of Fusion Studies, directed by Dr.
Marshall Rosenbluth, deals with the development of a
theoretical basis for plasma physics. The institute was
opened in 1980 when UT-Austin was selected by the U.S.
Department of Energy to operate a long-range re-
search program dedicated to developing a "national
center of excellence" in fusion theory. The university
and DOE share financial support of the institute. Dr.
Rosenbluth is considered one of the most distinguished
theoretical researchers in the field and is referred to by
colleagues as "The Pope of plasma physics." Authori-
ties in the field of nuclear fusion from around the worldvisit the center for periods ranging from a few days to
years. The institute has a permanent staff of between 25
and 30 scientists, including some of the brightest young
people in the field and some of the most senior
researchers.
In early 1983, UT-Austin announced the organiza-
tion of the Center for Fusion Engineering, the third
fusion research unit at the university. The mandate of
this center is "to address the specific engineering ques-
tions on a broad front that must have answers if fusion
is to make the transition from a scientific research top-
ic to a practical industrial technology."
The goals of the overall fusion research program
Nuclear Fusion
are twofold. Students are educated in the field of plas-
ma physics, of course. But as is the role of any universi-
ty, new knowledge also must be produced. In the pro-
cess, the graduate students are associated with some of
the very best talent in the field. With the 3-pronged ap-
proach to fusion research, UT-Austin officials feel they
are offering the best graduate program in plasma phys-
ics available anywhere in the world. Between 100 and
200 graduate students are involved in various aspects of
fusion research at any time on the UT-Austin campus.
Much of the research is financed by federal grants
and contracts, and they vary, depending on the num-
ber, from $6 million to $10 million a year. In addition,
the university contributes faculty positions and match-
ing funds for many of the federal grants.
Fusion research at UT-Austin is one cog in a large-
scale national program that is pursued at several uni-
versities and research centers. According to Dr. Drum-
mond, director of the Fusion Research Center,
UT-Austin's function is to provide a foundation of un-
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Texas Almanac, 1984-1985, book, 1983; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth113817/m1/61/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.