(609) 243-2566
(609) 243-2418 (Fax)
myamada@pppl.gov

Dr. Masaaki Yamada is a Principal Research Physicist and Distinguished Laboratory Research Fellow at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) and the Head of the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment (MRX) research program.

He received his B.S. degree in Applied Physics and M.S. degree in Nuclear Engineering in 1966 and 1968, respectively, both from the University of Tokyo, and received his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Illinois in 1973. He was engaged in many basic plasma physics research programs that were relevant to both fusion and space-astrophysics.

During 1978-1988, he headed the research effort on the spheromak, at that time a new concept for fusion, utilizing the S-1 device. Since the early 1990′s, he has pioneered a new experiment, which became the MRX at PPPL, to explore the fundamental physics of magnetic reconnection. The MRX research has made key discoveries on magnetic reconnection together with many important findings on plasma astrophysics. He was a Co-PI of the Center for Magnetic Self-Organization in Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas, a Physics Frontier Center by the National Science Foundation (NSF) during 2003-2015.

Dr. Yamada has authored and co-authored over 200 scientific papers in major refereed journals, including recent review articles in Rev. Modern Phys. (2010), Ann. Rev. Astron. Astrophys. (2009) and Physics of Plasma (2016).

He has been a doctoral thesis advisor for more than a dozen graduate students of Princeton University, the University of Tokyo, and Purdue University. Dr. Yamada held invited professor positions at Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EFPL), Switzerland (1988), Kyoto University (1989), and the University of Tokyo (1994, 2010 and 2017). He has been an APS (American Physical Society) Fellow since 1985 and received the APS 2002 Excellence Award in Plasma Physics Research and Princeton University’s Kaul Prize in 2003. Most recently the APS named him the recipient of the James Clerk Maxwell Prize in 2015: http://aip.scitation.org/doi/full/10.1063/1.4948720.

Also, Dr. Yamada co-founded the Princeton Community Japanese Language School (PCJLS) in 1980 and has been a member of the Board of Directors since then. He served as Chairman of the Board during 1985-1995.

http://www.pppl.gov/news/2016/09/physicist-masaaki-yamadas-pioneering-career-pppl

A story of his scientific career can be found at here.

Education
Ph.D., University of Illinois (USA), Department of Physics
M.S., University of Tokyo (Japan), Department of Nuclear Engineering
B.S., University of Tokyo (Japan), Department of Applied Physics

Over 200 research papers on experimental and theoretical plasma physics published in Phys. Rev. Letts., Phys. Fluids, Phys. Plasmas, Nucl. Fusion, and J. Geophys. Res.

Major publications

On Magnetic Reconnection and MRX

1. Perspectives of magnetic reconnection,
      E. Zweibel and M. Yamada,
      Proc. R. Soc. A 472, 20160479 (2016)
2. Understanding the dynamics and energetics of magnetic reconnection in a laboratory plasma: review of recent progress on selected fronts,
      M. Yamada, J. Yoo, and C. Myers,
      Phys. Plasmas 23, 055402 (2016)
3. Energy conversion and inventory of a prototypical reconnection layer,
      M. Yamada, J. Yoo, and S. Zenitani,
      Springer Book on "Magnetic Reconnection", edited by E. G. Parker and W. Gonzalez (2016)
4. Laboratory discovery of a solar eruption onset criterion,
      C. Myers, M. Yamada, H. Ji, J. Yoo, W. Fox, J. Jara-Almonte, A. Savcheva, and E. DeLuca,
      Nature 528, 526 (2015)
5. Study of energy conversion and partitioning in the magnetic reconnection in a laboratory plasma,
      M. Yamada, J. Yoo, J. Jara-Almonte, W. Daughton, H. Ji, R. Kulsrud, and C. Myers,
      Phys. Plasmas 22, 056501 (2015)
6. Conversion of magnetic energy during magnetic reconnection in a laboratory plasma,
      M. Yamada, J. Yoo, J. Jara-Almonte, H. Ji, R. Kulsrud, and C. Myers,
      Nature Communications 5, 4774 (2014)
7. Experimental Observation of 3D, Impulsive Reconnection Events in a Laboratory Plasma,
      S. Dorfman, H. Ji, M. Yamada, J. Yoo, E. Lawrence, C. Myers, and T. Tharp,
      Phys. Plasmas 21, 012109 (2014)
8. Laboratory study of magnetic reconnection with a density asymmetry across the current sheet,
      J. Yoo, M. Yamada, H. Ji, J. Jara-Almonte, C. Myers, and L.-J. Chen,
      Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 095002 (2014)
9. Bulk ion acceleration and particle heating during magnetic reconnection in a laboratory plasma,
      J. Yoo, M. Yamada, H. Ji, J. Jara-Almonte, and C. Myers,
      Phys. Plasmas 21, 055706 (2014)
10. Electromagnetic Instability of Thin Reconnection Layers: Comparisons of 3D Simulations with MRX Observations,
       V. Roytershteyn, S. Dorfman, W. Daughton, H. Ji, M. Yamada, and H. Karimabadi,
       Phys. Plasmas 20, 061212 (2013)
11. Study of the Effects of Guide Field on Hall Reconnection,
       T. Tharp, M. Yamada, H. Ji, S. Dorfman, C. Myers, Y.-M. Huang, A. Bhattacharjee,
       Phys. Plasmas 20, 055705 (2013)
12. Observation of Ion Acceleration and Heating during Collisionless Magnetic Reconnection in a Laboratory Plasma,
       J. Yoo, M. Yamada, H. Ji, and C. Myers,
       Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 215007 (2013)
13. Three-Dimensional, Impulsive Magnetic Reconnection in a Laboratory Plasmas,
       S. Dorfman, H. Ji, M. Yamada, J. Yoo, T. Tharp, E. Lawrence, and C. Myers,
       Geophys. Res. Lett. 40, 233 (2013)
14. Laboratory Study of Hall Reconnection in Partially Ionized Plasmas,
       E. E. Lawrence, H. Ji, M. Yamada, and J. Yoo,
       Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 015001 (2013)
15. Experimental Study of Multi-Spacecraft Data Analysis in a Laboratory Plasma,
       J. Yoo and M. Yamada,
       J. Geophys. Research DOI: 10.1029/2012JA017742, (Dec. 2012)
16. Quantitative Study of Guide-Field Effects on Hall Reconnection in a Laboratory Plasma,
       T.D. Tharp, M. Yamada, H. Ji et al,
       Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 165002 (2012).
17. Magnetic Reconnection, a Key Self-Organization Process in Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas: Recent Research Progress,
       M. Yamada,
       Progress of Theoretical Physics Supplement, 195, 167 (2012), Kyoto, Japan
18. Mechanism of Impulsive Magnetic Reconnection: Global and Local Aspects   (pdf)
       M. Yamada,
       Phys. Plasmas, v.18, 111212, (2011)
19. Magnetic Reconnection In Partially Ionized Plasmas,
       E. G Zweibel, E. Lawrence, J. Yoo, H. Ji, M. Yamada, and L. Malyshkin,
       Phys. Plasmas, v.18, 111211, (2011)
20. Understanding the Dynamics Of Magnetic Reconnection Layer,
       M. Yamada,
       Space Science Reviews, 160:25-40 (2011) DOI 1007/s11214-0119789-5
21. Magnetic Reconnection   (pdf)
       M. Yamada, R. Kulsrud and H. Ji,
       Rev. Mod. Phys. 82, 603-664, (2010).
22. Magnetic Reconnection in Astrophysical and Laboratory Plasmas   (pdf)
       E.G. Zweibel and M. Yamada,
       Ann. Rev. Astronomy and Astrophys. AA47-08, 291-332, (2009)
23. Experimental Study Of The Hall Effect And Electron Diffusion Region During Magnetic Reconnection In A Laboratory Plasma   (pdf)
       Y. Ren, M. Yamada, H. Ji, S. Dorfman, S. Gerhardt, R. Kulsrud,
       Physics of Plasmas 15, 082113 (2008).
24. Identification Of The Electron-Diffusion Region During Magnetic Reconnection In A Laboratory Plasma   (pdf)
       Y. Ren, M. Yamada, H, Ji, S. Gerhardt, R. Kulsrud,
       Physical Review Letters, 101, 085003 (2008)
25. New Insights Into Dissipation In The Electron Layer During Magnetic Reconnection   (pdf)
       H. Ji, Y. Ren, M. Yamada, S. Dorfman, W. Daughton, S. Gerhardt,
       Geophysical Research Letters 35, L13106 (2008)
26. Inductive Sustainment of a Field-Reversed Configuration Stabilized by Shaping, Magnetic Diffusion, and Finite-Larmor-Radius Effects   (pdf)
       S. Gerhardt, E. Belova, M. Yamada, H. Ji, M. Inomoto, R. Ren, B. McGeehan,
       Physical Review Letters 99, 245003 (2007)
27. A Self-Organize Plasma with Induction, Reconnection, and Injection Techniques: the SPIRIT Concept for Field Reversed Configuration Research,
       M. Yamada, H. Ji, S. Gerhardt, E. Belova, R. Davidson, D. Mikkelsen,
       Plasma Fusion Res. 2, 004 (2007)
28. Effects Of Global Boundary And Local Collisionality On Magnetic Reconnection In A Laboratory Plasma   (pdf)
       A. Kuritsyn, H. Ji, S. Gerhardt, Y. Ren, M. Yamada,
       Geophysical Research Letters 34, L16106 (2007)
29. Progress In Understanding Magnetic Reconnection In Laboratory And Space Astrophysical Plasmas   (pdf)
       M. Yamada,
       Phys. Plasmas 14, 058102 (2007)
30. Experimental Study of Two-fluid Effects on Magnetic Reconnection in Laboratory Plasma with Variable Collisionality   (pdf)
       M. Yamada, Y. Ren, H. Ji, S. Gerhardt et al,
       Phys. Plasmas, 13, 052119, (2006)
31. Measurement Of Parallel And Perpendicular Spitzer Resistivity During Collisional Reconnection   (pdf)
       A. Kuritsyn, S. Gerahardt, M. Yamada, et al,
       Phys. Plasmas, 13, 055703 (2006)
32. Coupling between Global Geometry and the Local Hall Effect Leading to Reconnection-Layer Symmetry Breaking   (pdf)
       M. Inomoto, S. Gerhardt M. Yamada, et al,
       Phys. Rev. Letts. 97, 135002, (2006)
33. An Electromagnetic Drift Instability in the MRX and its Importance for Magnetic Reconnection   (pdf)
       R. Kulsrud, H. Ji, W. Fox, and M. Yamada
       Physics of Plasmas 12, 082301 (2005)
34. Numerical Study of Field-reversed Confgurations: The Formation and Ion Spin-up,
       E. V. Belova, R. C. Davidson, H. Ji, M. Yamada, C. D. Cothran, M. R. Brown, and M. J. Schaffer
       Nuclear Fusion, 45, 162, (2006)
35. An Obliquely Propagating Electromagnetic Drift Instability in the Lower Hybrid Frequency Range   (pdf)
       H. Ji, R. Kulsrud, W. Fox, and M. Yamada
       Journal of Geophysical Research 110, A08212 (2005)
36. Experimental Verifcation of the Hall Effect during Magnetic Reconnection in a Laboratory Plasma   (pdf)
       Y. Ren, M. Yamada, S. Gerhardt, H. Ji, R. Kulsrud, and A. Kuritsyn
       Physical Review Letters 95, 055003 (2005)
37. Electromagnetic Fluctuations during Fast Reconnection in a Laboratory Plasma   (pdf)
       H. Ji, S. Terry, M. Yamada, R. Kulsrud, A. Kuritsyn, and R. Yang
       Phys Rev Lett 92, 115001 (2004)
38. Measurement of the Transverse Spitzer Resistivity during Collisional Magnetic Reconnection   (pdf)
       F. Trintchouk, M. Yamada, H. Ji, R. M. Kulsrud, T. A. Carter
       Phys of Plasmas 10, 319 (2003)
39. Experimental Study of Lower-hybrid Drift Turbulence in a reconnecting Current Sheet   (pdf)
       T. A. Carter, M. Yamada, H. Ji, R. M. Kulsrud, and F. Trintchouk
       Physics of Plasmas 9, 3272 (2002)
40. Measurement of Lower-Hybrid Drift Turbulence in a Reonnecting Current Sheet   (pdf)
       T. A. Carter, H. Ji, F. Trintchouk, M. Yamada, and R M. Kulsrud
       Phys Review Letts 88, 015001 (2002)
41. Study of Local Reconnection Physics in a Laboratory Plasma   (pdf)
       H. Ji, T. Carter, S. Hsu, M. Yamada
       Earth, Planets, Space 53, 539 (2001)
42. Experimental Study of Ion Heating and Acceleration During Magnetic Reconnection   (pdf)
       S. C. Hsu, T. A. Carter, G. Fiksel, H. Ji, R. M. Kulsrud, and M. Yamada
       Physics of Plasmas 8, 1916 (2001)
43. Local Measurement of Nonclassical Ion Heating during Magnetic Reconnection   (pdf)
       S. C. Hsu, G. Fiksel, T. A. Carter, H. Ji, M. Kulsrud, and M. Yamada
       Phys Rev Letters 84, 3859 (2000)
44. Review of the Recent Controlled Experiments for Study of Local Reconnection Physics
       M. Yamada presented at the Magnetic Reconnection in Space and laboratory Plasmas Conference, Tokyo, Japan, February 29-March 4, 2000
       Earth, Planets and Space 53, 509 (2001)
45. Experimental Investigation of the neutral Sheet Profle During magnetic Reconnection   (pdf)
       M. Yamada, H. Ji, et al.
       Phys. of Plasmas 7, 1781 (2000)
46. A Review of Modern Studies of magnetic Reconnection in Controlled Laboratory Plasmas,
       M. Yamada
       Journal of Geophysical Research 104, 14529 (1999)
47. Magnetic Reconnection with Sweet-Parker Characteristics in Two-dimensional Laboratory Plasmas   (pdf)
       H. Ji, M. Yamada, S. Hsu, R. Kulsrud, T. Carter, and S. Zaharia
       Phys of Plasmas 6, 1743 (1999)
48. Studies of Global Stability of Field-Reversed Confguration Plasmas Using a Rigid Body Model,
       H. Ji, M. Yamada, R. Kulsrud, N. Pomphrey, and H. Himura,
       Phys. Plasma 5, 3685 (1998)
49. Experimental Test of the Sweet-Parker Model of Magnetic Reconnection   (pdf)
       H. Ji, M. Yamada, S. Hsu, and R. Kulsrud,
       Phys. Rev. Lett., 80 3256 (1998)
50. Results from the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment (MRX),
       M. Yamada, H. Ji, and S. Hsu,
       Physics of Space Plasmas (Proceedings 1998 Cambridge Symposium in Geoplasma Physics), Vol. 15 (1998) 363
51. Study of Driven Magnetic Reconnection in a Laboratory Plasma   (pdf)
       M. Yamada, H. Ji, S. Hsu, T. Carter, R. Kulsrud, N. Bretz, F. Jobes, Y. Ono, and F. W. Perkins,
       Phys. Plasmas 4, 1936 (1997)
52. Identification of Y-Shaped and O-Shaped Diffusion Regions During Magnetic Reconnection in a Laboratory Plasma   (pdf)
       M. Yamada, H. Ji, S. Hsu, T. Carter, R. Kulsrud, Y. Ono, and F. Perkins
       Phys Rev Lett. 78, 3117 (1997)
53. Comparative Study of Compact Toroid Plasmas Formed by Induction and Reconnection
       M. Yamada, H. Ji, T. A. Carter, S. C. Hsu, R. M. Kulsrud, et al.,
       Proceedings of the Sixteenth IAEA Fusion Energy Conference, Montreal, Canada, October 1996 (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria, 1996) Research, Vienna, Austria, 1996) Paper IAEA-CN-64/CP-19
54. Ion Acceleration and Direct Ion Heating in Three-Component Magnetic Reconnection,
       Y. Ono, M. Yamada, T. Akao, T. Tajima, and R. Matsumoto
       Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 3328 (1996)
55. Investigation of Magnetic Reconnection During a Sawtooth Crash in a High Temperature Tokamak,
       M. Yamada, F. Levinton, N. Pomphrey, R. Budny, J. Manickam, and Y. Nagayama,
       Phys. Plasmas 1, 3269 (1994)
56. Initial Results From Investigation of Three-Dimensional Magnetic Reconnection in a Laboratory Plasma,
       M. Yamada, F. Perkins, A. K. MacAuley, Y. Ono, and M. Katsurai,
       Phys. Fluids B 3, 2379 (1991)
57. Magnetic Reconnection of Plasma Toroids with Co- and Counter-Helicity,
       M. Yamada, Y. Ono, A. Hayakawa, M. Katsurai, and F. W. Perkins,
       Phys. Rev. Lett. 65, 721 (1990)

On Ion-Beam-Driven and Current-Driven Instabilities

1. Evolution of the Ion Acoustic Instability in a DC-Discharge Plasma
   M. Yamada and M. Raether
   Phys. Fluids 18, 361-368 (1975)
2. Electrostatic Ion Cyclotron Instabilities Driven by Parallel Ion Beam Injection
   M. Yamada, S. Seiler, H.W. Hendel, and H. Ikezi
3. Lower Hybrid Instability Driven by a Spiralling Ion Beam
   S. Seiler, M. Yamada, and H. Ikezi
   Phys. Rev. Letts. 37, 700-703 (1976)
4. Cross-Field Current Driven Lower-Hybrid Instability and Stochastic Ion Heating
   M. Yamada and D. K. Owens
   Phys. Rev. Letts. 38, 1529-1532 (1977)
5. Anomalous Slowing of a Perpendicularly-Injected Ion Beam in Both Quasilinear and Trapping Regimes
   M. Yamada and S. Seiler
   Phys. Rev. Letts. 39, 808-811 (1977)
6. Current-Driven Instabilities and Resultant Anomalous Efffects in Isothermal Inhomogeneous plasmas
   M. Yamada and H.W. Hendel
   Phys. Fluids 21, 1555-1568 (1978)
7. Ion-Beam-Driven Lower -Hybrid Instability and Resultant Anomalous Beam Slowing
   S. Seiler and M. Yamada
   Nucl. Fusion 19, 469-483 (1979)

On Spheromak

1. Quasistatic Formation of the Spheromak Plasma Configuration
   M.Yamada, H.P.Furth W.Hsu, A.C.Janos et. al.
   Phys. Rev. Letts. 46, 188-191 (1981)
2. Studies of Conceptual Spheromak Fusion Reactors
   M. Katsurai and M. Yamada
   Nucl. Fusion 22, 1407-1419 (1982)
3. Experimental Investigation of the Spheromak Configuration
   M. Yamada, R.A. Ellis,Jr. H.P. Furth, R.A Hulse et. al.
   Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research, Baltimore, USA (Sept. 1982)
   International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria, Vol.2, 265-281 (1983)
4. Initial Results From S-1 Spheromak
   M.Yamada, R.A. Ellis,Jr. H.P. Furth, G. H. Hart et. al.
   Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research, London, UK (1984)
   International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria, Vol.2, 535-544 (1985)
5. S-1 Spheromak
   M.Yamada
   Nucl. Fusion 25, 1327-1330 (1985)
6. Relaxation of Spheromak Plasmas Toward a Minimum-Energy State and Global Magnetic Fluctuations
   A.C. Janos, G.W. Hart, and M. Yamada
   Phys. Rev. Letts. 55, 2868-2871 (1985)
7. Verification of Taylor (Minimum Energy ) State in the S-1 Spheromak
   G.W. Hart, A.C. Janos, D.D. Meyerhofer, and M. Yamada
   Phys. Fluids 29, 1994-1997 (1986)
8. Investigation of Confinement Properties of Spheromaks
   M. Yamada, R.A.Ellis, Jr., A. Janos, et. al.
   Twelfth International Conference on Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research, Nice, France (Oct.1988)
   Proceedings of the Twelfth International Conference on Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research
   International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria (1989)
   Paper IAEA-CN-50/C-4-3
9. Experimental Investigation of Magnetic Compression of a Spheromak Plasma
   M. Yamada, T.K. Chu, R.A. Ellis, Jr., A.C. Janos, et. al.
   Phys. Fluids B2, 3074-3080 (1990)
10. Experimental Study on Relaxation Cycle of Decaying Spheromak in External Magnetic Field
    Y. Ono,  M. Yamada, A.C. Janos, and F.M. Levinton
    Phys. Fluids B3, 1452-1460 (1991)  

On TFTR/Tokamak

1. Diagnostics For Documentation of Magnetic Reconnection in Sawtooth Crash on TFTR
   M.Yamada, Y. Nagayama, W. Davis, E. Fredrickson, A. Janos, and F. Levinton
   Rev. Sci. Instuments ( Nov. 1992)
2. Q-Profile Measurements in the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor
   F. M. Levinton, S. Batha, M. Yamada, and M.C. Zarnstorff
   Phys. Fluids B5, 2554 (1993)
3. Investigation of Magnetic Reconnection During a Sawtooth Crash in a High-Temperature Tokamak Plasma
   M. Yamada, et al.
   Phys. Plasmas 1, 3269 (1994)
4. Tomography of Full Sawtooth Crashes on the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor,
   Y. Nagayama, M. Yamada, et. al.
   Phys. Plasmas 3 1647 (1996)
5. ECE Image Reconstruction of Partial Sawtooth Crashes in Ohmic Plasmas
   Y. Nagayama, et al.
   Nucl. Fusion 36, 521 (1996)