JOHN F. SANTARIUS

Associate Director for Alternate Applications and Concepts, Fusion Technology Institute
Research Professor, Engineering Physics Department

Fusion Technology Institute University of Wisconsin--Madison 1500 Engineering Drive Madison, WI 53706 USA	415 Engineering Research Building
	e-mail: santarius@engr.wisc.edu
	ph: 608/263-1694
	fax: 608/263-4499

Education

BS 1973, Physics, California Institute of Technology
PhD 1979, Physics, University of Texas at Austin

Research Interests

Magnetic fusion reactor design
Inertial-electrostatic confinement fusion
Inertial-confinement fusion physics
Lunar volatiles, particularly helium-3
Space applications of fusion

Career Highlights

Most of my career at UW has been in magnetic fusion reactor design, with an emphasis on plasma physics, energy conversion engineering, and systems analysis. Configurations studied include tokamaks, field-reversed configurations (FRCs), dipoles, tandem mirrors, and stellarators.

In 1986, Layton Wittenberg, Jerry Kulcinski, and I published the initial paper connecting the large lunar resource of helium-3 with its potential use in D-3He fusion reactors. D-3He fuel would lead to reactors requiring more advanced physics but reducing many engineering problems. Refining the arguments and evaluating the viability of the lunar helium-3 resource remains an ongoing effort. One interesting possibility is that a D-3He fusion reactor could be designed to be proliferation-proof.

The interesting nonlinear physics of radiation transport and shock-wave propagation must be understood for viable inertial-fusion reactors to be designed. My research in this area focuses on long mean-free-path ion interactions with shock waves plus our 1-D radiation hydrodynamics code, BUCKY.

Electrostatically focusing ions into a dense core in spherical geometry to produce fusion has the advantage that the high energies required for advanced fuels are relatively easy to attain. These so-called inertial-electrostatic confinement systems have the important advantage that they can potentially produce valuable fusion products, such as neutrons and protons, at useful levels for applications such as clandestine-materials (e.g., highly enriched uranium or explosives) detection using D-T or D-T neutrons plus positron production using D-3He protons.

D-3He magnetic fusion reactors appear able to provide propulsion capabilities dramatically more efficient for long-range space travel than those of chemical, fission, and D-T fusion rockets. My contention, developed in several published papers, is that fusion will be necessary to open the Solar-System frontier.

Web pages for my lectures in the UW Resources from Space course:

Publications

Refereed Papers

1. S. Krupakar Murali, B.B. Cipiti, J.F. Santarius, and G.L. Kulcinski, “Study of Fusion Regimes in an Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Device Using the New Eclipse Disk Diagnostic,” Physics of Plasmas 13, 053111 (2006).

2. A. Zillmer, M. Henly, J.F. Santarius, G.L. Kulcinski, and H.H. Schmitt, “Use of Nuclear Power on the Lunar and Martian Surface,” Proc. Amer. Nuclear Society Space Nuclear Conf (San Diego, California, 5-9 June 2005), p. 497 .

3. G.R. Piefer, J.F. Santarius, R.P. Ashley, and G.L. Kulcinski, "Design of an Ion Source for Low Pressure IEC Operation in ³He," Fusion Science and Technology 47, 1255 (2005).

4. J.F. Santarius, G.L. Kulcinski, R.P. Ashley, D.R. Boris, B.B. Cipiti,, S. Krupakar Murali, G.R. Piefer, R.F. Radel, T.E. Radel, and A.L. Wehmeyer, "Overview of University of Wisconsin Inertial-Electrostatic Confinement Fusion Research," Fusion Science and Technology 47, 1238 (2005).

5. G.A. Moses and J.F. Santarius, "High Energy Density Simulations for Inertial Fusion Energy Reactor Design," Fusion Science and Technology 47, 1121 (2005).

6. A.J. Zillmer, J.F. Santarius, and J.P. Blanchard, "Coupled MEMS Nuclear Battery and FEEP Thruster System," in M.S. El-Genk, ed., Space Technology and Applications International Forum—STAIF 2004 (Amer. Inst. of Physics, New York, 2004).

7. J.F. Santarius, G.L. Kulcinski, and L.A. El-Guebaly, "A Passively Proliferation-Proof Fusion Power Plant," Fusion Science and Technology 44, 289 (2003).

8. J.W. Weidner, G.L. Kulcinski, J.F. Santarius, R.P. Ashley, G. Piefer, B. Cipiti, R. Radel, and S.K. Murali, “Production of ¹³N via D-³He Fusion in an IEC Device," Fusion Science and Technology 44, 539 (2003).

9. G.L. Kulcinski, J.W. Weidner, B.B. Cipiti, R.P. Ashley, J.F. Santarius, S.K. Murali, G.R. Piefer, and R.F. Radel, "Alternate Applications of Fusion--Production of Radioisotopes," Fusion Science and Technology 44, 559 (2003).

10. R.P. Ashley, G.L. Kulcinski, J.F. Santarius, S. Krupakar Murali, G.R. Piefer, B.B. Cipiti, R.F. Radel, and J.W. Weidner, "Recent Progress in Steady State Fusion Using D-³He," Fusion Science and Technology 44, 564 (2003).

11. V.I. Khvesyuk, S.V. Ryzhkov, J.F. Santarius, G.A. Emmert, C.N. Nguyen, and L.C. Steinhauer, “D‑³He Field-Reversed Configuration Fusion Power Plants,” Transactions of Fusion Technology 39, 410 (2001).

12. G.L. Kulcinski and J.F. Santarius, “New Opportunities for Fusion in the 21^st Century—Advanced Fuels,” Fusion Technology 39, 480 (2001).

13. R.P. Ashley, G.L. Kulcinski, J.F. Santarius, S. Krupakar Murali, G. Piefer, and R. Radel, “Steady-State D-³He Proton Production in an IEC Fusion Device,” Fusion Technology 39, 546 (2001).

14. E.A. Mogahed, H.Y. Khater, and J.F. Santarius, “A Helium Cooled Li₂O Straight Tube Blanket Design for Cylindrical Geometry,” Fusion Technology 39, 639 (2001).

15. R. W. Moir, T. D. Rognlien, K. Gulec, P. Fogarty, B. Nelson, M. Ohnishi, M. Rensink, J. F. Santarius, and D. K. Sze, “Thick Liquid-Walled, Field-Reversed Configuration Magnetic Fusion Power Plant,” Fusion Technology 39, 758 (2001).

16. G.H. Miley, J.F. Santarius, and L.C. Steinhauer, “On Design and Development Issues for the FRC and Related Alternate Confinement Concepts,” Fusion Engineering and Design 48, 327 (2000).

17. G.L. Kulcinski and J.F. Santarius, “Advanced Fuels under Debate,” Nature 396, 724 (1998).

18. J.F. Santarius, G.L. Kulcinski, L.A. El-Guebaly, and H.Y. Khater, “Could Advanced Fusion Fuels Be Used with Today's Technology?”, Journal of Fusion Energy 17, 33 (1998).

19. G.L. Kulcinski and J.F. Santarius, “Reducing the Barriers to Fusion Electric Power,” Journal of Fusion Energy 17, 17 (1998).

20. J.F. Santarius and B.G. Logan, “Generic Magnetic Fusion Rocket Model,” Journal of Propulsion and Power 14, 519 (1998).

21. R.R. Peterson and J.F. Santarius, “Response of X-1 Experiment Chamber to Target Explosions,” Fusion Technology 34, 1053 (1998).

22. R.R. Peterson, J.J. MacFarlane, J.F. Santarius, P. Wang, and G.A. Moses, “The BUCKY and ZEUS-2D Computer Codes for Simulating High Energy Density ICF Plasmas,” Fusion Technology 30, 783 (1996).

23. J.F. Santarius, “Advanced-Fuel Heat Flux, Power Density, and Direct Conversion Issues,” Transactions of Fusion Technology 27, 567 (1995).

24. G.A. Emmert, L.A. El-Guebaly, G.L. Kulcinski, J.F. Santarius, I.N. Sviatoslavsky, and D.M. Meade, “Improvement in Fusion Reactor Performance Due to Ion Channeling,” Fusion Technology 26, 1158 (1994).

25. S.G. Bespoludennov, V.I. Khripunov, V.I. Pistunovich, G.A. Emmert, J.F. Santarius, and G.L. Kulcinski, “D-³He Tokamak Reactor,” Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research 1992, Vol. 3 (IAEA, Vienna, 1993).

26. E. Teller, A.J. Glass, T.K. Fowler, A. Hasegawa, and J.F. Santarius, “Space Propulsion by Fusion in a Magnetic Dipole,” Fusion Technology 22, 82 (1992).

27. R.F. Post and J.F. Santarius, “Open Confinement Systems and the D-³He Reaction,” Fusion Technology 22, 13 (1992).

28. L.J. Wittenberg, E.N. Cameron, G.L. Kulcinski, S.H. Ott, J.F. Santarius, G.I. Sviatoslavsky, I.N. Sviatoslavsky, and H.E. Thompson, “A Review of Helium-3 Resources and Acquisition for Use as Fusion Fuel,” Fusion Technology 21, 2230 (1992).

29. J.F. Santarius, “Magnetic Fusion for Space Propulsion,” Fusion Technology 21, 1794 (1992).

30. F. Najmabadi, R.W. Conn, C.G. Bathke, C.B. Baxi, L. Bromberg, et al., “The ARIES-II and ARIES‑IV Second-Stability Tokamak Reactors,” Fusion Technology 21, 1721 (1992).

31. G.L. Kulcinski, J.P. Blanchard, G.A. Emmert, L.A. El-Guebaly, H.Y. Khater, C.W. Maynard, E.A. Mogahed, J.F. Santarius, M.E. Sawan, I.N. Sviatoslavsky, and L.J. Wittenberg, “Safety and Environmental Characteristics of Recent D‑³He and DT Tokamak Power Reactors,” Fusion Technology 21, 1779 (1992).

32. G. L. Kulcinski, J.P. Blanchard, L.A. El-Guebaly, G.A. Emmert, H.Y. Khater, C.W. Maynard, E.A. Mogahed, J.F. Santarius, M.E. Sawan, I.N. Sviatoslavsky, and L.J. Wittenberg, “Summary of Apollo, a D-³He Tokamak Reactor Design,” Fusion Technology 21, 2292 (1992).

33. G.L. Kulcinski, G.A. Emmert, J.P. Blanchard, L.A. El-Guebaly, H.Y. Khater, C.W. Maynard, E.A. Mogahed, J.F. Santarius, M.E. Sawan, I.N. Sviatoslavsky, and L.J. Wittenberg, “Apollo-L3, an Advanced Fuel Fusion Power Reactor Utilizing Direct and Thermal Energy Conversion,” Fusion Technology 19, 791 (1991).

34. W. Kernbichler, M. Heindler, H. Momota, Y. Tomita, A. Ishida, S. Ohi, K. Sato, G.H. Miley, H.L. Berk, W. Dove, M.-Y. Hsiao, R. Lovelace, E. Morse, J.F. Santarius, L.C. Steinhauer, M. Tuszewski, and D. Barnes, “D‑³He in Field Reversed Configurations—Ruby: an International Reactor Study,” Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research 1990, Vol. 3, p. 555 (IAEA, Vienna, 1991).

35. G.A. Emmert, L.A. El-Guebaly, G.L. Kulcinski, J.F. Santarius, J.E. Scharer, I.N. Sviatoslavsky, P.L. Walstrom, L.J. Wittenberg, and R. Klingelhofer, “Possibilities for Breakeven and Ignition of D-³He Fusion Fuel in a Near Term Tokamak,” Nuclear Fusion 29, 1427 (1989).

36. G.L. Kulcinski, G.A. Emmert, J.P. Blanchard, L.A. El-Guebaly, H.Y. Khater, J.F. Santarius, M.E. Sawan, I.N. Sviatoslavsky, L.J. Wittenberg, and R.J. Witt, “Apollo—an Advanced Fuel Fusion Power Reactor for the 21^st Century,” Fusion Technology 15, 1233 (1989).

37. J.F. Santarius, G.L. Kulcinski, L.A. El-Guebaly, G.A. Emmert, H.Y. Khater, Z. Musicki, M.E. Sawan, I.N. Sviatoslavsky, W.F. Vogelsang, P.L. Walstrom, and L.J. Wittenberg, “Critical Issues for SOAR: the Space Orbiting Advanced Fusion Power Reactor,” Space Nuclear Power Systems 1988, p. 161 (Orbit, Malabar, FL, 1989).

38. G.L. Kulcinski, I.N. Sviatoslavsky, J.F. Santarius, L.J. Wittenberg, E.N. Cameron, T.M. Crabb, and M.K. Jacobs, “Energy Requirements for Helium-3 Mining Operations on the Moon,” Space Nuclear Power Systems 1988, p. 77 (Orbit, Malabar, FL, 1989).

39. J.F. Santarius, “Lunar ³He, Fusion Propulsion, and Space Development,” Proceedings of the Second Conference on Lunar Bases and Space Activities of the 21^st Century (Houston, Texas, 5-7 Apr 1988), NASA Conference Publication 3166, Vol. 1, p. 75 (1992).

40. G.L. Kulcinski, E.N. Cameron, J.F. Santarius, I.N. Sviatoslavsky, L.J. Wittenberg, and H.H. Schmitt, “Fusion Energy from the Moon for the Twenty-First Century,” Proceedings of the Second Conference on Lunar Bases and Space Activities of the 21^st Century (Houston, Texas, 5-7 Apr 1988), NASA Conference Publication 3166, Vol. 1, p. 459 (1992).

41. S. Ross, R.A. Breun, J.F. Santarius, H. Persing, and J.E. Scharer, “Ion Cyclotron Wave Effects on the Ion Velocity Distribution in a Tandem Mirror,” Nuclear Fusion 28, 125 (1988).

42. J.F. Santarius, G.L. Kulcinski, H.M. Attaya, M.L. Corradini, L.A. El-Guebaly, G.A. Emmert, J.W. Johnson, C.W. Maynard, M.E. Sawan, I.N. Sviatoslavsky, W.F. Vogelsang, P.L. Walstrom, L.J. Wittenberg, and T.E. Luzzi, “SOAR: Space Orbiting Advanced Fusion Power Reactor,” Space Nuclear Power Systems 1987, p. 167 (Orbit, Malabar, FL, 1988).

43. J.F. Santarius, “Very High Efficiency Fusion Reactor Concept,” Nuclear Fusion 27, 167 (1987).

44. L.J. Wittenberg, J.F. Santarius, and G.L. Kulcinski, “Lunar Source of ³He for Commercial Fusion Power,” Fusion Technology 10, 167 (1986).

45. J.F. Santarius, “Halo Plasma Physics Model for Mirror Machines with Neutral Beam Injection,” Nuclear Fusion 26, 887 (1986).

46. H.M. Attaya, G.A. Emmert, J.F. Santarius, and G.L. Kulcinski, “Low Power High Wall Loading Tokamak Reactor, Fusion Technology 8, 367 (1985).

47. G.A. Emmert, et al., “TASKA-M—a Low Cost Technology Test Tandem Mirror,” Nuclear Engineering and Design/Fusion 2, 239 (1985).

48. J.F. Santarius and J.D. Callen, “Alpha Particle Loss and Energy Deposition in Tandem Mirrors,” Physics of Fluids 26, 1037 (1983).

49. D.E. Post, L.R. Grisham, J.F. Santarius, and G.A. Emmert, “Light-Atom Neutral Beams for Tandem Mirror End Plugs,” Nuclear Fusion 23, 3 (1983).

50. G.L. Kulcinski, G.A. Emmert, C.W. Maynard, J.F. Santarius, M.E. Sawan, W. Heinz, P. Komarek, W. Maurer, A. Suppan, and E.K. Opperman, “TASKA, a Fusion Engineering Test Facility for the 1990’s,” Journal of Nuclear Materials 103&104, 67 (1981).

51. G.A. Carlson, B. Arfin, W.L. Barr, et al., “Tandem Mirror Reactor with Thermal Barriers,” Nuclear Engineering and Design 63, 233 (1981).

52. B.G. Logan, B. Arfin, W.L. Barr, B.M. Boghosian, G.A. Carlson, T.C. Chu, J.L. Erickson, J.H. Fink, T.K. Fowler, G.W. Hamilton, T. Kaiser, R.W. Moir, J.O. Myall, W.S. Neef, Jr., R.W. Conn, G.A. Emmert, F. Kantrowitz, J. Kesner, L.L. Lao, J.F. Santarius, and K.S. Shaing, “Tandem Mirror Reactors with Thermal Barriers,” Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research 1980 p. 133 (IAEA, Vienna, 1981).

53. J.F. Santarius, K. Audenaerde, J. Beyer, G.A. Emmert, J. Kesner, G.L. Kulcinski, D. Larbalestier, W. Maurer, C.W. Maynard, R. Perry, J.E. Scharer, I.N. Sviatoslavsky, and D-K. Sze, “WITAMIR-I, a Tandem Mirror Reactor with Non-Zero Nu,” Fusion Technology 1980, Vol. 2, p. 1261 (Pergammon, Oxford, 1981).

54. J.F. Santarius and F.L. Hinton, “Numerical Solution of the Drift Kinetic Equation,” Physics of Fluids 23, 537 (1980).

Major Fusion Design Study or Planning Activity Reports

1. J.F. Santarius, E.A. Mogahed, G.A. Emmert, H.Y. Khater, C.N. Nguyen, S.V. Ryzhkov, M.D. Stubna, L.C. Steinhauer, G.H. Miley, Final Report for the Field-Reversed Configuration Power Plant Critical-Issue Scoping Study, University of Wisconsin Fusion Technology Institute Report UWFDM-1129 (March, 2000).

2. F. Najmabadi, R. Conn, et al., The ARIES-II/IV Tokamak Reactor Study—Final Report, UCLA Report UCLA-PPG-1461 (in preparation).

3. F. Najmabadi, R. W. Conn, et al., The ARIES-III Tokamak Fusion Reactor Study—The Final Report, UCLA report UCLA-PPG-1384 (in preparation).

4. J.D. Lee, Technical Editor, MINIMARS Conceptual Design: Final Report, Vols. I and II, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Report UCID-20773 (1987).

5. G. Bohme, L.A. El-Guebaly, G.A. Emmert, G. Grieger, E. Harmeyer, et al., Studies of a Modular Advanced Stellarator Reactor ASRA6C, Fusion Power Associates Report FPA-87-2 (1987).

6. C.C. Baker, et al., Technical Planning Activity Final Report, Argonne National Laboratory Report ANL/FPP-87-1 (1987).

7. J.D. Callen, J.F. Santarius, D.E. Baldwin, R.D. Hazeltine, R.K. Linford, R.S. Post, J.M. Rawls, P.H. Rutherford, and J. Sheffield, Technical Planning Activity Plasma Science Status Report (University of Wisconsin, 1986).

8. F. Arendt, G. Bohme, L.A. El-Guebaly, G.A. Emmert, B. Haferkamp, et al., CORIANDER: Comparison of Relevant Issues and Nuclear Development for Fusion energy Research, Fusion Power Associates Report FPA-84-7 (1984).

9. B.G. Logan, C.D. Henning, G.A. Carlson, R.W. Werner, D.E. Baldwin, et al., MARS: Mirror Advanced Reactor Study, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Report UCRL-53480 (1984).

10. B. Badger, F. Arendt, E. Borie, M.L. Corradini, H.G. Dittrich, et al., TASKA-M: a Low cost, Near Term Tandem Mirror Device for Fusion Technology Testing, Fusion Power Associates Report FPA-83-7, Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe Report KfK-3680, University of Wisconsin Fusion Technology Institute Report UWFDM-600 (1983).

11. T.H. Batzer, R.H. Bulmer, J.N. Doggett, A.I. Goldner, et al., A Tandem Mirror Technology Demonstration Facility, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Report UCID-19328 (1983).

12. B. Badger, F. Arendt, H.M. Attaya, K. Audenaerde, H. Avci, et al., TASKA: Tandem Spiegelmaschine Karlsruhe, University of Wisconsin Fusion Technology Institute Report UWFDM-500. Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe Report KfK-3311, Fusion Power Associates Report FPA-82-1 (1982).

13. B. Badger, K. Audenaerde, J.B. Beyer, D. Braun, J.D. Callen, et al., WITAMIR-I, University of Wisconsin Fusion Technology Institute Report UWFDM-400 (1980).

Last modified: 22 September 2006

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