Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) physicist Dave Johnson has been named the U.S. ITER Diagnostics Team Leader. ITER (Latin for “the Way”) is a large international fusion experiment aimed at demonstrating the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion energy — the power source of the sun and the stars. Diagnostic systems on ITER will measure the properties of plasma, the hot ionized gas that serves as the fuel for fusion energy production. ITER will employ a myriad of these devices.

Dave Johnson

Johnson is a world-class authority in the design of plasma diagnostic instruments, effective in the management and implementation of such systems, and experienced in the complex multi-cultural environment of ITER. In addition to the U.S., ITER partners include Europe, Russia, Japan, India, South Korea, and China. Johnson is responsible for managing the design and procurement of the diagnostic devices to be supplied to ITER by the U.S. team. “The U.S. is allocated 16 percent of the total diagnostics responsibility for ITER — the second largest role next to Europe's,” he said. “I'm very happy with this allocation.”

Johnson’s first responsibility was to pull together the cost estimates for the diagnostics. In addition, he has been involved in international working groups considering how to procure the diagnostic devices and the shield plugs that provide these devices with access to the plasma and also provide a radiation shield for the surrounding areas.

Johnson is well prepared for the tasks ahead. Since 1997, he has been responsible for diagnostic development in support of the fusion facilities at PPPL and around the world. He has managed diagnostic development for the National Spherical Torus Experiment at PPPL, typically implementing several new diagnostics each year, many in collaboration with researchers from other institutions. He has led the planning for diagnostics for the National Compact Stellarator Experiment, which is being constructed at PPPL in partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

ITER is being built in Cadarache, France, and will begin operation in 2016. It is expected to operate for 20 years.