Seminar: Fusion and Plasma Physics
Plasma physics and fusion engineering form the core of this MIT seminar, which combines lectures, discussion, and guest talks from researchers working in the field. The course opens with the economic and ecological case for fusion power before turning to contemporary magnetic confinement schemes, underlying theoretical questions, and the engineering hurdles standing between current experiments and a working reactor. Expert guest lecturers cover specialized subtopics, and students tour the Plasma Science and Fusion Center's experimental facilities to see confinement devices and diagnostics firsthand. Materials are provided through MIT OpenCourseWare under a Creative Commons license, including lecture notes and readings, though there is no certificate. The seminar format rewards students already comfortable with physics fundamentals who want exposure to an active research area rather than a self-contained introductory sequence.