Industrially Sponsored Research is an important element of our Center's research program.
Columbia's program has a strong focus on accelerating the growing fusion private sector. Using Sponsored Research Agreements (SRAs) our partners sponsor targeted research at Columbia. Research generally focuses on the plasma physics of each company's configuration, but can expand to other mutually beneficial areas. We are on track to have active SRAs with over 10 fusion companies in the coming months. Columbia students and staff have the opportunity to directly contribute to the acceleration of commercial fusion via our industrially sponsored research.
Sponsors with Active Agreements
Research with Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) advances SPARC and ARC.
For examples of current research, please see recent publications:
Implications of Vertical Stability Control on the SPARC Tokamak
Optimization of the equilibrium magnetic sensor set for the SPARC tokamak
Design of passive and structural conductors for tokamaks using thin-wall eddy current modeling
Research with Next Step Fusion advances the design of negative triangularity tokamaks, with the first manuscript available on arXiv:
Electromagnetic System Conceptual Design for a Negative Triangularity Tokamak
Research with Open Star is bringing the capabilities of the Open Fusion Toolkit to the Dipole Configuration. This is a new collaboration and our first publications are in progress.
Research with Type One Energy advances the physics basis of the stellarator with an emphasis on energetic particles research. See more information here: Stellarator Physics
Planned research with Realta Fusion will bring the capabilities of the Open Fusion Toolkit to the mirror configuration.
Our research in support of Tokamak Energy's milestone program will focus on the physics of the edge plasma and pedestal region, integrated with our Edge Stability program.
Planned research with Kyoto Fusioneering will advance the Negative Triangularity Tokamak concept towards viability for application in the Japanese fusion ecosystem, with work similar to that done in the Fusion Systems Design area.
Work with Maritime Fusion is taking place in the area of tokamak pulse design with application to low power level outputs and long idle times as would be needed for maritime applications.
Work with Proxima Fusion will advances the physics basis for their fusion pilot plant concept. Initial work will focus on energetic particle research.
Sponsors with Pending Agreements
Research with Thea energy will advance the physics basis of the planar coil stellarator and related stellarator optimizations.
Work with Gauss Fusion is planned in the area of stellarator coil optimization.