James Ridzon is a Mechanical Engineer at the Plasma Science and Fusion Center, where he specializes in the design, analysis, manufacturing, and materials engineering of radio-frequency (RF) components and systems for magnetic confinement fusion in tokamaks. He is currently leading mechanical engineering activities for the High Field Side Lower Hybrid Current Drive experiment at DIII-D. He has a master's degree in mechanical engineering with a concentration in materials science, with a thesis exploring the fabrication of radio frequency components by copper cold spray. He works at the intersection of RF engineering, mechanical engineering, and materials science to develop innovative technology to support clean energy development.
BS, Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University, 2020
MS, Mechanical Engineering with Concentration in Materials Science, Northeastern University, 2026
Applied Materials Science, Advanced Manufacturing
[1] J. Ridzon, S. Boese, S. Müftü, A. Sevinsky, and S. Wukitch, “First Results of Corrugated Circular Waveguide Fabrication by Copper Cold Spray”.
[2] J. Ridzon, J. Doody, R. Vieira, and S. J. Wukitch, “Design, Manufacturing, and Installation of DIII-D Lower Hybrid Current Drive Outer Wall Waveguides and Expandable Vacuum Interface,” EPJ Web Conf., vol. 346, p. 03018, 2026, doi: 10.1051/epjconf/202634603018.
[3] J. T. Ridzon et al., “Manufacturing Process Development for Joining GRCop-84 and -42 Alloys for DIII-D LHCD,” IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci., pp. 1–6, 2024, doi: 10.1109/TPS.2024.3402330.
[4] J. Ridzon, A. Chandel, A. H. Seltzman, J. R. Sirigiri, and S. J. Wukitch, “Thermal mechanical analysis of novel electron collector for megawatt class gyrotrons,” AIP Conference Proceedings, vol. 2984, no. 1, p. 120001, Aug. 2023, doi: 10.1063/5.0162410.
[5] A. H. Seltzman, J. T. Ridzon, and S. J. Wukitch, “Assembly of an Additive Manufactured GRCop-84 Copper Alloy Lower Hybrid Current Drive Launcher Antenna With Pulsed 1070-nm Fiber Laser Welding,” IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, vol. 50, no. 11, pp. 4060–4068, Nov. 2022, doi: 10.1109/TPS.2022.3176247.
[6] S. J. Wukitch, A. H. Seltzman, and J. Ridzon, “DIII-D high field side lower hybrid current drive launcher manufacturing and assembly overview,” AIP Conference Proceedings, vol. 2984, no. 1, p. 100001, Aug. 2023, doi: 10.1063/5.0163215.
[7] M. Mohamed et al., “High frequency, high power ICRF source for fusion plasmas,” AIP Conference Proceedings, vol. 2984, no. 1, p. 050001, Aug. 2023, doi: 10.1063/5.0162420.
[8] K. E. Quinlan et al., “120 MHz transmitter development for fusion plasmas,” AIP Conference Proceedings, vol. 2984, no. 1, p. 050002, Aug. 2023, doi: 10.1063/5.0165494.