As theoretical physicists...
We aim to understand the phenomenology of plasma in the laboratory and in the cosmos. We use mathematical models and computer simulations to explain how plasmas move, interact with magnetic fields and boundaries, and evolve on various scales.
Working with collaborators in the U.S. and around the world, we advance fundamental physics concepts that guide experiments and project applications, such as the development of magnetic fusion energy.
This website offers information about our group members, research activities, and publications. We invite you to browse it and to contact us with any questions.
News and Announcements
Celebrating Dr. Ramirez!
We're excited to share that Fredy Ramirez — a FAPPG Ph.D. student advised by Prof. Pat Diamond — successfully defended his thesis titled "Dynamics of Staircase Formation and Persistence in Transport Systems" on July 14.
A copy of Fredy's dissertation is available on our website and through UC San Diego Library.
Many congratulations, Fredy! We wish you all the best in your scientific career and look forward to future collaborations with you.
Research Article on ITG Gradient Modes Featured by PoP Editors
A new paper co-authored by Prof. Pat Diamond and colleagues was selected as a Featured Article by Physics of Plasmas editors (AIP Publishing). The article, "Suppression of ion temperature gradient modes by Alfvén activity above a drive threshold in DIII-D" is now available online.
Congratulations to Pat, and our university and DIII-D collaborators on this new research!
First statewide fusion energy summit held at UC San Diego in November
We're pleased to share a news article featuring research of some of our UC San Diego and General Atomics colleagues, with great coverage of fusion energy research happening in our region. Enjoy!
Paper short-listed for Nuclear Fusion Award
We're pleased to share that a paper by Prof. Diamond and our close colleagues, Drs. Xu Chu and Zhibin Guo, was short-listed for the 2025 Nuclear Fusion Award.
We invite you to revisit this research from 2022, which is freely available from the publisher.
A Research Milestone: 600 Journal Articles
The May publication of a Nuclear Fusion paper marks a publishing milestone for Professor Pat Diamond — 600 research articles authored and co-authored in peer-reviewed scientific journals. This large body of work, which began in the early 1980s, includes findings from close-knit studies with UC San Diego graduate students, international and multi-institutional projects, and review articles on key topics in fusion and plasma physics.
Congratulations, Pat, on this incredible research and scientific writing accomplishment!
Newest Publications
Dynamics of Staircase Formation and Persistence in Transport Systems
Ramirez, Fredy R.
Ph.D. Dissertation, Dept. of Physics, UC San Diego, 2026
[download PDF]
Suppression of Ion Temperature Gradient modes by Alfvén Activity Above a Drive Threshold in DIII-D
Du, X.D., W.W. Heidbrink, Z. Yan, P.H. Diamond, G.R. McKee, L. Schmitz, R. Hong, M.A. Van Zeeland, K.J. Callahan, H.Q. Wang, et al.
Phys. Plasmas 33, 072508, 2026; doi:10.1063/5.0325858
[download PDF]
On How Avalanches Penetrate the SOL and Broaden Heat Loads
Kosuga, Y., R. Matsui and P.H. Diamond
Nucl. Fusion 66, 036045, 2026; doi:10.1088/1741-4326/ae43d5 (Open Access)
Flux Jamming, Phase Transitions and Layering in Turbulent Magnetized Plasma
Diamond, P.H., Y. Kosuga, P.L. Guillon and Ö.D. Gürcan
Philos T Roy Soc A, forthcoming special issue, 2026, accepted
Inhomogeneous Mixing: From Microscopic Dynamics to Mesoscopic Staircases
Long, T., M.J. Choi, and P.H. Diamond
Philos T Roy Soc A, forthcoming special issue, 2026, accepted
Disentangling Core and Edge Mechanisms of the Density Limit in DIII-D Negative Triangularity Plasmas
Hong, R., P.H. Diamond, O. Sauter, J. Chen, F. Khabanov, Z. Li, D. Liu, A. Marinoni, G.R. McKee, T.L. Rhodes, F. Scotti, K.E. Thome, G.R. Tynan, M.A. Van Zeeland, Z. Yan, L. Zeng and the DIII-D NT Team
Nucl. Fusion 66, 016027, 2026; doi:10.1088/1741-4326/ae1c50 (Open Access)
On the Orbital Evolution of Multiple Wide Super-Jupiters: How Disk Migration and Dispersal Shape the Stability of the PDS 70 System
Do Ó, C.R., J. Bae, Q.M. Konopacky, J.S. Nguyen, P. Diamond, K. Goździewski and D. Jankowski
Astrophys. J. 995, 190, 2025; doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ae12ec (Open Access)
Multi-scale Interaction Mechanism for Edge-Localized-Mode Suppression in the Tokamak Edge
Li, Zeyu, P.H. Diamond, Xi Chen, F. Khabanov, Xueqiao Xu, R.J. Hong, V.S. Chan, C.M. Muscatello, L. Zeng, G.Y. Yu, T. Rhodes, G.R. McKee, Zheng Yan and M.E. Austin
Nat. Commun. 16, 11526, 2025; doi:10.1038/s41467-025-66313-7 (Open Access)
Upcoming Seminars
No speakers are scheduled at this time.
Research
We develop theory related to plasma and fusion science, including:
- Nonlinear dynamics of plasmas and fluids
- Anomalous transport
- Self-organized criticality in confined plasma
- L-H transition, transport barrier physics
- Dynamo theory
- Nonlinear waves in space plasma
Funding
Our work is primarily funded by the Office of Fusion Energy Sciences of the U.S. Department of Energy (Grant No. DE-FG02-04ER54738).
Dedication
In memory of Professor Marshall N. Rosenbluth, an American plasma physicist and UCSD professor of enormous intellect, integrity, generosity, and vision.