Michael Fitzgerald

Michael Fitzgerald
Visiting Fellow

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About

Michael Fitzgerald obtained his Ph.D in 2009 in the field of plasma physics at the University of Sydney. His Ph.D work involved plasma diagnostics and kinetic simulation of partially ionised fusion discharges. He was also involved with integrating the Neutral Beam Injection (NBI) Monte Carlo simulation NUBEAM into the tokamak transport code ASTRA.

Michael's current work focuses on the effects of fast particles on magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibrium and stability in high performance magnetic confinement devices. He focuses on more extreme configurations such as highly rotating, highly anisotropic, non-Maxwellian and high beta scenarios. These are features characteristic of spherical tokamaks and burning plasmas.

Michael is interested in broadening Australian participation in the development of fusion energy through collaboration, remote participation in experimental campaigns and involvement with the Australian ITER forum.

Affiliations

  Groups

Research interests

  • nonlinear wave-particle interaction
  • magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibrium and stability including pressure anisotropy and plasma rotation
  • fast particle physics: neutral beam injection (NBI) and fusion alpha populations
  • remote participation

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