Naoyuki Fukumoto
Associate Professor | Ph.D. in Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Course
Energy Engineering Research Group
In his teaching, Fukumoto provides supplementary handouts that make review easy for students, emphasizing the development of ways of thinking rather than rote memorization of textbook material. His research centers on plasma physics for nuclear fusion, with particular focus on the development and application of magnetized coaxial plasma guns.
Development of Magnetized Coaxial Plasma Guns
What students can learn
Through the development of new plasma guns, students gain broad exposure to electrical engineering from fundamentals to applications, encompassing electric circuits, electromagnetism, programming, and control.
This research develops plasma guns capable of injecting plasma masses of various gases at high speed, with the aim of generating high-density plasma efficiently and repeatedly. Such devices may contribute to fuel supply systems for fusion reactors and to high-heat-load testing of reactor materials.
Applications of Magnetized Coaxial Plasma Guns
What students can learn
This work introduces students to plasma merging, the response of solid and liquid metals to plasma irradiation, and the thermal properties of metallic materials, alongside core concepts in electromagnetism and plasma physics.
In fusion research, injecting plasma into magnetically confined plasma and irradiating reactor materials with plasma provide insight into how plasma and materials respond under these conditions. Related work is also preparing simulated aurora experiments by injecting plasma into a magnetospheric plasma device. These studies aim to help establish technologies for fusion reactors and may lead to new discoveries about magnetospheric plasma.
