19 December 2002
(To download a print-quality file of the photo of Dr. Krommes and Mr. Parsells, go to the end of this article.)
Plainsboro, New Jersey -- John Krommes and Robert Parsells, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), are this year's PPPL Distinguished Research and Engineering Fellows, respectively. Earlier this month, the two were honored during a ceremony and reception at the Laboratory.
PPPL recognized Krommes, a physicist, for his pioneering and creative research on the modern theory of plasma turbulence and for outstanding pedagogical contributions to Princeton University's Graduate Program in Plasma Physics. Plasma is a hot, ionized gas used as the fuel for the production of fusion energy. Turbulence in a plasma disrupts the fusion reaction.
Parsells, an engineer, was cited for his extraordinary ingenuity in the solution of practical engineering problems, including the adaptation of diamond wire cutting technology for the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor Decommissioning and Decontamination (TFTR D&D) Project.
KrommesPPPL Director Rob Goldston said, "Krommes is a national and world leader in the fundamental understanding of turbulent phenomena, an area of research of critical importance for fusion energy and for the understanding of a broad range of phenomena in nature. He is a greatly loved teacher, and a mainstay of our educational program."
Parsells"Bob Parsells cleverly adapted the technique of diamond wire cutting to our application -- and thereby greatly broadened the potential scope of this 'hands-off' technique for disassembling large components. This technique may see wide application outside of fusion applications," said Goldston.
The Distinguished Research and Engineering Fellow Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, was created to recognize members of the Laboratory's research staff, as well as engineering and scientific staff, for their accomplishments. Fellows receive one-time gifts of $5,000 and qualify for priority in regard to their research and engineering programs.
PPPL, which is funded by the Department of Energy and managed by Princeton University, is a collaborative national center for science and innovation leading to an attractive fusion energy source. Fusion is the process that powers the sun and the stars. In the interior of stars, matter is converted into energy by the fusion, or joining, of the nuclei of light atoms to form heavier elements.
For further information, please contact:
Anthony R. DeMeo
Head
Information Services
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
(609) 243-2755
ademeo@pppl.gov
Patricia Wieser
Information Services
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
(609) 243-2757
pwieser@pppl.gov
To download photo, click on the link below. When the large photo appears in your browser do the following: (1) if you are on a PC click your right mouse button and select "Save Picture As..." or (2) if you are on a MAC hold down the mouse button on the photo and select "Save this Image As..."
Downloadable print-quality photo of Dr. Krommes Resolution is 200 dpi, print size is approximately 4.6 inches wide by 7.0 inches high, file type is jpeg, and file size is 805 KB. Photo by Elle Starkman, PPPL.
Downloadable print-quality photo of Mr. Parsells Resolution is 161 dpi, print size is approximately 4 inches wide by 5 inches high, file type is jpeg, and file size is 428 KB. Photo by Elle Starkman, PPPL.