Atul Kumar

Bio

Dr. Atul Kumar is a highly skilled computational physicist specializing in plasma-material interactions and fusion energy research. Currently, he serves as an R&D Associate Staff at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), where he applies his expertise in high-performance computing (HPC) to investigate plasma-wall interactions and boundary plasma transport in magnetic confinement fusion experiments. His contributions to developing computational tools and diagnostics have advanced the understanding of plasma detachment and impurity transport. Atul holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR) in India and has postdoctoral experience from both ORNL and IPR. His research focuses on bridging computational models and experimental data, contributing to the long-term goal of making fusion a viable and sustainable energy source.

With numerous publications and contributions to international conferences, Atul continues to push the boundaries of computational plasma physics. His research has garnered him several accolades, including multiple international travel grants and fellowships from the Department of Atomic Energy in India. His commitment to mentorship, collaborative research, and professional activities highlights his dedication to advancing the field of fusion energy.

Apart from research, he loves to play acoustic guitar and enjoys playing badminton and biking. 

Professional Experience

1. Computational Physicist, R&D Associate Staff
   Plasma Theory and Modeling Group, Fusion Energy Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oct 2022 – Present)
   • Lead researcher in computational plasma physics focusing on plasma-material interactions and boundary transport physics.
   • Developed and applied HPC-based diagnostic tools for fusion energy research using large-scale simulations on ORNL and NERSC supercomputing facilities.
   • Principal investigator for several Department of Energy-funded projects, including impurity transport modeling and RF antenna sputtering simulations for ITER.
2. Postdoctoral Research Associate
   Plasma Theory and Modeling Group, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Feb 2020 – Sep 2022)
   • Developed the PICOS++ code, a massively parallel Particle-in-Cell (PIC) simulation tool, applied to plasma transport studies in open magnetic field systems.
   • Worked on the development of integrated modeling frameworks to study plasma and impurity transports in linear and toroidal systems.
   • Collaborated closely with experimental groups to validate computational models for fusion devices, such as the MPEX and WEST tokamaks.
3. Postdoctoral Fellow
   Basic Theory and Simulation Division, Institute for Plasma Research, India (Jan 2019 – Feb 2020)
   • Conducted research on plasma physics with a focus on laser-mediated plasma heating and current drive mechanisms.
   • Conducted research on predicting pre-arrival of space charged debries.

Awards

1. Junior Research Fellowship (2013-2015)
   Awarded by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India.
2. Senior Research Fellowship (2015-2019)
   Awarded by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India.
3. Research Travel Grant, 2019
   Awarded by CEA, France, for attending the Les Houches Physics School, France.
4. International Travel Grant, 2019
   Awarded by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, to attend the AAPPS-DPP Conference, Hefei, China.
5. International Travel Grant, 2018
   Awarded by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, to attend the AAPPS-DPP Conference, Kanazawa, Japan.
6. International Travel Grant, 2017
   Awarded by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, to attend the APS-DPP Conference, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
7. International Travel Grant, 2015
   Awarded by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, for attending the Les Houches Physics School, France.

Education

• Ph.D. in Plasma Physics
  Homi Bhabha National Institute-Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar, India (2013–2019)
  Focus: Laser/beam-plasma interactions, plasma heating, and current drive mechanisms.
• M.Sc. in Physics
  University of Delhi, Delhi, India (2010–2012)
• B.Sc. (Hons.) in Physics
  University of Delhi, Delhi, India (2007–2010)

Professional Service

1. Conference Organizer/Session Chair:
   • Session Chair (Fusion-General), American Nuclear Society (ANS) Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV, June 2024.
   • Session Chair (RF Physics), US-Japan Workshop, San Diego, CA, February 2024.
   • Member of Scientific Organizing Committee, Hands-on School on Nonlinear Dynamics (HSNLD), India, 2015.
2. Mentorship:
   • Co-Mentor for US Department of Energy (DoE) SULI Summer Intern, 2024.
   • Mentor for US Department of Energy (DoE) SULI Fall Intern, 2023.
   • Career Mentor, American Physical Society (APS) Graduate School & Careers Day, April 2024.
   • Career Mentor, American Physical Society Division of Plasma Physics (APS-DPP), Denver, CO, October 2023.
   • Career Mentor, American Physical Society Division of Plasma Physics (APS-DPP), Spokane, WA, October 2022.
3. Reviewer for Scientific Journals and Reports:
   • Reviewer for Scientific Reports, Springer Nature.
   • Reviewer for Physics of Plasmas, American Institute of Physics (AIP).
   • Reviewer for Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, Institute of Physics (IoP).
   • Reviewer for Physica Scripta, Institute of Physics (IoP).
   • Reviewer for Contribution to Plasma Physics, Wiley-VCH.
   • Reviewer for Advances in Space Research, Elsevier.
   • Reviewer for Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A, Elsevier.
   • Reviewer for Pramana - Journal of Physics, Springer.
   • Reviewer for US Department of Energy (DoE) INFUSE Proposals.
   • Reviewer for US Department of Energy (DoE) Early Career Award Proposals.
   • Reviewer for ORNL’s Lab-Directed Research and Development (LDRD) funding proposals.

Professional Affiliations

• American Physical Society (APS)
  Member since 2017.
• American Nuclear Society (ANS)
  Member since 2022.
• Association of Asia-Pacific Physical Societies-Division of Plasma Physics (AAPPS-DPP)
  Life Member since 2018.
• Plasma Science Society of India (PSSI)
  Life Member since 2013.

Publications

Other Publications