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Abhay K. Ram
Principal Research Scientist
abhay@mit.edu
617-253-8501
NW16-260
Education

University of Nairobi, Kenya, B.S., Mathematics (1971)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ph.D., Physics (1977)

Expertise

Theoretical: electromagnetic wave propagation; wave scattering; nonlinear dynamics; wave-particle interactions in plasmas.

Research

Magnetic Fusion: Heating, current drive, and transport induced by radio frequency waves (ion cyclotron, lower hybrid, and electron cyclotron) in toroidal fusion devices. Scattering of radio frequency waves by plasma fluctuations. Propagation and damping of electromagnetic waves in plasmas. Parametric wave processes in the plasma edge.

 

Inertial Confinement Fusion: Laser-plasma interactions, nonlinear evolution of plasma waves, wave-particle interactions.

 

Space and Astrophysical Plasmas: Diffusion of magnetic field lines and charged particles in three-dimensional force-free magnetic fields, transport of particles in chaotic magnetic fields, nonlinear acceleration of ionospheric ions by waves, and propagation of waves in density cavities.

 

Nonlinear Plasma Physics: Coherent and chaotic dynamics of charged particles induced by electromagnetic waves, characterization of particle diffusion and the evolution of particle distribution function.

Publications
Talks & Media
  • “Scattering of radio frequency waves by plasma blobs,” Magneto-fluid Dynamics Seminar, New York University, New York (November 18, 2014).
  • “Scattering of ECRF waves by edge density fluctuations and blobs,” 18th Joint Workshop on Electron Cyclotron Emission and Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating, Nara, Japan (April 22, 2014).
  • “Scattering of waves by blobs in tokamak plasmas: venturing beyond geometric optics,” invited talk 54th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics, Providence, Rhode Island (October 30, 2012).
  • “Scattering of ECRF waves by edge density blobs and fluctuations in tokamak plasmas,” 17th Joint Workshop on Electron Cyclotron Emission and Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating, Deurne, Netherlands (May 7, 2012).
  • “Dancing with the Stars – Fusion Energy”, seminar at the Knight Science Journalism at MIT (April 1, 2010).
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