Johan Frenje wins Fusion Power Associates 2023 Leadership Award

Julianna Mullen

August 8, 2023

Johan Frenje, Senior Research Scientist and the Head of the High-Energy-Density Physics (HEDP) Division at the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center, has been selected as a recipient of the Fusion Power Associates (FPA) 2023 Leadership Award. This prestigious award is presented to individuals demonstrating outstanding leadership qualities in accelerating the development of fusion as a commercial power source.

Dr. Frenje is being recognized by the FPA Board for his key role in providing and using critical diagnostics in support of the recent historical National Ignition Facility (NIF) inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments, and two decades’ worth of contributions to the development of many key diagnostics and methodologies that have been used to push the boundaries of ICF and HEDP. The Board also noted Dr. Frenje’s long history of mentoring younger colleagues and PhD students, many of whom have gone on to become leaders in the field, and who will sustain the development of fusion for years to come.

“Looking at the list of previous winners, I am very grateful and humbled to receive this award,” says Frenje. “On the research side, two efforts stick out in my mind: First, I am proud of my work in implementing and using the Magnetic Recoil neutron Spectrometers [MRS] in support of the mainline ICF programs at OMEGA and the NIF. At the NIF, the MRS was essential for guiding the experimental campaigns towards achieving ignition and energy gain for the first time in the history of laboratory fusion research. Second, I was part of pioneering a new field of research, called plasma nuclear science, which blends the disciplines of plasma and nuclear physics.

Even more satisfying than these accomplishments is to conduct HEDP research with very talented people, including senior staff and graduate students. Without the scientific dialog and know-how at the HEDP division, I would not have received this award.”

The award will be presented at the Fusion Power Associates 44^th Annual Meeting and Symposium in Washington, D.C., on the 19^th and 20^th of December.

Topics: High-energy-density physics