John Bryan Taylor
Encyclopedia
John Bryan Taylor is a British physicist
known for his important contributions to plasma physics
and their application in the field of fusion energy. Notable among these is the development of the "Taylor state
", describing a minimum-energy configuration that conserves magnetic helicity
. Another important development was his work on the ballooning transformation, which describes the motion of plasma in toroid
al (donut) configurations, which are widely used in the fusion field.
Taylor served in the Royal Air Force
from 1950–1952, and then took his PhD at Birmingham University in 1955. Upon graduation, he joined the Atomic Weapons Establishment
at Aldermaston
, and in 1962 moved to the Culham Laboratory, where he became Chief Physicist. He held several other positions during this period, including the Commonwealth Fund Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley in 1959 to 1960, the Institute for Advanced Study
in 1969, 1973 and 1980–81, and finally took the position of Fondren Professor of Plasma Theory at the University of Texas at Austin
in 1989.
Taylor is best known for his work on the ZETA
reactor at Culham. In the late 1950s, ZETA had apparently generated fusion reactions, and this apparently great advance was released to the press with great fanfare. This was later found to be spurious, and ZETA was used to develop advanced diagnostics methods to avoid a repeat of this problem in the future. While studying these improved results, in 1974 Taylor became interested in what he called the "quiescence" period; after the device was "fired" and the experimental run had ostensibly come to an end, the plasma often entered an extended period of stability. From these results Taylor developed what is today referred to as the "Taylor state
", which describes the minimum energy state of a plasma configuration with a given magnetic helicity
.
Taylor initiated the study of chaos in magnetic surfaces, developing several contributions to chaos theory
and introducing the "standard map" (or Chirikov–Taylor map). He studied 2D-plasmas, demonstrating the inherent Bohm diffusion which had been noticed in magnetic bottles since the 1950s. He then played a major part in developing the "ballooning transformation" for toroidal plasmas, along with Jack Connor and Jim Hastie, which won the 2004 Hannes Alfvén Prize
.
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
known for his important contributions to plasma physics
Plasma (physics)
In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
and their application in the field of fusion energy. Notable among these is the development of the "Taylor state
Taylor state
In plasma physics, a Taylor state is the minimum energy state of a plasma satisfying the constraint of conserving magnetic helicity.- Derivation :...
", describing a minimum-energy configuration that conserves magnetic helicity
Magnetic helicity
In plasma physics, magnetic helicity is the extent to which a magnetic field "wraps around itself". It is a generalization of the topological concept of linking number to the differential quantities required to describe the magnetic field...
. Another important development was his work on the ballooning transformation, which describes the motion of plasma in toroid
Toroid
Toroid may refer to*Toroid , a doughnut-like solid whose surface is a torus.*Toroidal inductors and transformers which have wire windings on circular ring shaped magnetic cores.*Vortex ring, a toroidal flow in fluid mechanics....
al (donut) configurations, which are widely used in the fusion field.
Taylor served in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
from 1950–1952, and then took his PhD at Birmingham University in 1955. Upon graduation, he joined the Atomic Weapons Establishment
Atomic Weapons Establishment
The Atomic Weapons Establishment is responsible for the design, manufacture and support of warheads for the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent. AWE plc is responsible for the day-to-day operations of AWE...
at Aldermaston
Aldermaston
Aldermaston is a rural village, civil parish and electoral ward in Berkshire, South-East England. In the 2001 United Kingdom Census, the parish had a population of 927. The village is on the southern edge of the River Kennet flood plain, near the Hampshire county boundary...
, and in 1962 moved to the Culham Laboratory, where he became Chief Physicist. He held several other positions during this period, including the Commonwealth Fund Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley in 1959 to 1960, the Institute for Advanced Study
Institute for Advanced Study
The Institute for Advanced Study, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States, is an independent postgraduate center for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. It was founded in 1930 by Abraham Flexner...
in 1969, 1973 and 1980–81, and finally took the position of Fondren Professor of Plasma Theory at the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
in 1989.
Taylor is best known for his work on the ZETA
ZETA
ZETA, short for "Zero-Energy Toroidal Assembly", was a major experiment in the early history of fusion power research. It was the ultimate device in a series of UK designs using the Z-pinch confinement technique, and the first large-scale fusion machine to be built...
reactor at Culham. In the late 1950s, ZETA had apparently generated fusion reactions, and this apparently great advance was released to the press with great fanfare. This was later found to be spurious, and ZETA was used to develop advanced diagnostics methods to avoid a repeat of this problem in the future. While studying these improved results, in 1974 Taylor became interested in what he called the "quiescence" period; after the device was "fired" and the experimental run had ostensibly come to an end, the plasma often entered an extended period of stability. From these results Taylor developed what is today referred to as the "Taylor state
Taylor state
In plasma physics, a Taylor state is the minimum energy state of a plasma satisfying the constraint of conserving magnetic helicity.- Derivation :...
", which describes the minimum energy state of a plasma configuration with a given magnetic helicity
Magnetic helicity
In plasma physics, magnetic helicity is the extent to which a magnetic field "wraps around itself". It is a generalization of the topological concept of linking number to the differential quantities required to describe the magnetic field...
.
Taylor initiated the study of chaos in magnetic surfaces, developing several contributions to chaos theory
Chaos theory
Chaos theory is a field of study in mathematics, with applications in several disciplines including physics, economics, biology, and philosophy. Chaos theory studies the behavior of dynamical systems that are highly sensitive to initial conditions, an effect which is popularly referred to as the...
and introducing the "standard map" (or Chirikov–Taylor map). He studied 2D-plasmas, demonstrating the inherent Bohm diffusion which had been noticed in magnetic bottles since the 1950s. He then played a major part in developing the "ballooning transformation" for toroidal plasmas, along with Jack Connor and Jim Hastie, which won the 2004 Hannes Alfvén Prize
Hannes Alfvén Prize
The Hannes Alfvén Prize is a prize awarded annually by the European Physical Society for outstanding work in the field of plasma physics.It is named after the Swedish physicist Hannes Alfvén.-External links:*...
.