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

New Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics

UC San Diego is pleased to announce the formation of a new Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics within the School of Physical Sciences.

Prof. Diamond will serve as one of the 12 founding faculty members. This new department will leverage the University of California’s substantial existing investment in astronomical facilities to support students in reaching their full research and learning potential.

Research and instruction will cover a broad range of areas, from the evolution of the universe and the first stars to galaxy and planet formation and cosmology. The department will also play a key role in developing instrumentation for the Keck Observatory, Lick Observatory, the Thirty Meter Telescope, the Simons Observatory, and the Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI).

Read the full campus annoucement to learn more.

International Center Fellowship

FAPPG graduate student Mingyun Cao was awarded a 2022-2023 Friends of the International Center Endowed Fellowship. The Center's fellowship supports UC San Diego graduate students in conducting research or study abroad activities that enhance their academic experience and foster friendship, understanding and cooperation in the international community. Congratulations, Mingyun!

Commencement Award

Congratulations to FAPPG undergraduate student Taurean Zhang, who won a 2022 Malmberg Award from UC San Diego's Department of Physics. The John Holmes Malmberg Prize is presented annually at commencement to a graduating physics student who is recognized for potential for a career in physics and a measure of experimental inquisitiveness. Brilliantly done, Taurean!

Teaching Honors

Congratulations to FAPPG Ph.D. student Fredy Ramirez, who was awarded a 2021-2022 UC San Diego Physics Department Distinguished Graduate Teaching Award.

This award recoginizes first- and second-year graduate students for outstanding performance as a teaching assistant. Many congratulations, Fredy!

Upcoming Seminars

Subscribe to Seminar Alerts to receive speaker announcements by email (seminars are currently being held in person; announcements are distributed only to UCSD email addresses). Also explore lists of recent speakers and recorded seminars.

Newest Publications

Particle Dynamics in a Turbulent Electric Field
Guillevic A., M. Lesur, X. Garbet, P. Diamond, G. Lo-Cascio, Y. Kosuga, E. Gravier, D. Mandal, A. Ghizzo, T. Réveillé
Phys. Plasmas 30, 052301, 2023; doi:10.1063/5.0135918
[download PDF]

Generation of Momentum Transport in Weakly Turbulent β-Plane Magnetohydrodynamics
Heinonen, R.A., P.H. Diamond, M.F.D. Katz, and G.E. Ronimo
Phys. Rev. E 107, 025202, 2023; doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.107.025202
[download PDF]

How the Birth and Death of Shear Layers Determine Confinement Evolution: From the L → H Transition to the Density Limit
Diamond, P.H., Rameswar Singh, Ting Long, Rongjie Hong, Rui Ke, Zheng Yan, Mingyun Cao and G.R. Tynan
Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 381, 20210227, 2023; doi:10.1098/rsta.2021.0227
[download PDF]

Effects of Sawtooth Heat Pulses on Edge Flows and Turbulence in a Tokamak Plasma
Zhao, Kaijun, Y. Nagashina, Zhibin Guo, P.H. Diamond, J. Dong, L. Yan, K. Itoh, S-I Itoh, Xiaobo Li, Jiquan Li, et al.
Plasma Sci. Technol. 25, 015101, 2023; doi:10.1088/2058-6272/ac7c60
[download PDF]

Staircase Formation by Resonant and Non-Resonant Transport of Potential Vorticity
Yan, Qinghao and P.H. Diamond
Nucl. Fusion 62, 126032, 2022; doi:10.1088/1741-4326/ac9006
[download PDF]

Theory of Mean ExB Shear in a Stochastic Magnetic Field: Ambipolarity Breaking and Radial Current
Guo, Weixin, M. Jiang, P.H. Diamond, C.-C. Chen, Mingyun Cao, Hanhui Li and T. Long
Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 64, 124001, 2022; doi:10.1088/1361-6587/ac93b0
[download PDF]

Zonal Flow Screening in Negative Triangularity Tokamaks
Singh, Rameswar and P.H. Diamond
Nucl. Fusion 2022 ; doi:10.1088/1741-4326/ac945e

Zonal Shear Layer Collapse and the Power Scaling of the Density Limit: Old L-H Wine in New Bottles
Singh, Rameswar and P.H. Diamond
Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 64, 084004, 2022; doi:10.1088/1361-6587/ac7972
[download PDF]

View more publications.