Dr. Dylan P. Brennan
Assistant Professor of Physics and Engineering Physics
University of Tulsa
Office: KEP L161
Email:


Education

The University of Tulsa

University of Manchester, Ph.D. Physics 2000
Columbia University, M.S. Applied Physics 1996
State University of New York at Binghamton, B.S. Physics 1991

Synopsis

Dr. Dylan P. Brennan is currently an Assistant Professor of Physics and Engineering Physics at The University of Tulsa. He is actively involved in research into non-linear aspects of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability theory. The focus of this research is on the effects of extensions to MHD, such as flow shear, thermal anisotropy and two-fluid effects, on equilibrium, stability and transport. The context of this work is in the analyses of magnetic confinement systems, such as experimental, solar and astrophysical plasmas, involving the development of analytic and computational theory to explain observations. Before coming to U. Tulsa, Dr. Brennan held the position of Staff Research Scientist at MIT, while resident at General Atomics in the Theory and Computational Science Group. His most important contribution at General Atomics was that he elucidated an onset mechanism for resistive MHD modes in tokamaks, which stems from the approach to the ideal stability boundary in equilibrium parameter space. Before this, he studied the physics of helicity injected low aspect ratio plasmas at the University of Manchester, England, where he developed analytic and numerical models of their ideal MHD equilibrium and stability. His work here explained the theoretical context of an instability ubiquitously observed in experimental data of helicity injected systems. While at Columbia University he worked on computation and modelling at the High Beta Tokamak Extended Pulse experiment and the Collisionless Terrella Experiment, with a focus on understanding the cross-field transport of electrons due to interchange instabilities in the terrella. Earlier in his physics training, he graduated with honors from S.U.N.Y. Binghamton for his work on crystalline deformations and stoichiometric differences as related to their effects on entropy and specific heat in Nickel Zirconium compounds.

Publications/Conference Proceedings

 

Selected Journal Publications

D.P. Brennan, A.D. Turnbull, M.S. Chu, R.J. La Haye, L.L. Lao, T.H. Osborne and S.A. Galkin, "Resistive Stability of 2/1 Modes Near 1/1 Resonance," Phys. Plasmas 14, 056108 (2007).

D.P. Brennan, S.E. Kruger, D.D. Schnack, C.R. Sovinec and A. Pankin, "Computing Nonlinear Magnetohydrodynamic Edge Localized Instabilities in Fusion Plasmas," Journal of Physics: Conference Series 46, 63 (2006).

D.P. Brennan and L.E. Sugiyama, "Tearing Mode Stability in a Low Beta Plasma with Sawteeth," General Atomics Report A25221, Phys. Plasmas 13, 052515 (2006).

D.P. Brennan, S.E. Kruger, T.A. Gianakon and D.D. Schnack, "A Categorization of Tearing Mode Onset in Tokamaks via Nonlinear Simulation," Nucl. Fusion 45, 1178 (2005).

D.P. Brennan, R.J. La Haye, A.D. Turnbull, et al., "A Mechanism for Tearing Onset Near Ideal Stability Boundaries," Phys. Plasmas 10, 1643 (2003).

D.P. Brennan, P.K.Browning and R.A.M. Van der Linden, "A Two-Dimensional Magnetohydrodynamic Stability Model for Helicity Injected Devices with Open Flux," Phys. Plasmas 9, 3526 (2002).

D.P. Brennan, E.J. Strait, A.D. Turnbull, M.S. Chu, R.J. La Haye, T.C. Luce, T.S. Taylor, S. Kruger and A. Pletzer, "Tearing Mode Stability Studies Near Ideal Stability Boundaries in DIII-D," Phys. Plasmas 9, 2998 (2002).

A.D. Turnbull, D. Brennan, M.S. Chu, et al., "Predictive Capability of MHD Stability Limits in High Performance DIII-D Discharges," Nucl. Fusion 42, 917 (2002).

D. Brennan, P.K. Browning, R.A.M. Van der Linden, A.W. Hood and S. Woodruff, "Stability Studies and the Origin of the n=1 Mode in the SPHEX Spheromak", Phys. Plasmas 6, 4248 (1999).

H.P. Warren, M. Mauel, D. Brennan and S. Taormina, "Observations of Wave-Induced Chaotic Radial Transport in a Laboratory Terrella Experiment," Phys. Plasmas 3, 2143 (1996).

Selected Conference Proceedings

D.P. Brennan, S.E. Kruger and R.J. La Haye, "Flow Shear Effects on Resistive MHD Instabilities in Tokamaks," 12th Workshop on MHD Stability Control, Columbia University, New York, New York, November, 2007 (invited oral)

D.P. Brennan, C. Holland and R. Takahashi, "A Model for Coupled Turbulence and Resistive MHD Evolution," American Physical Society 49th Annual Meeting of the Division of Plasma Physics, Orlando, Florida, November, 2007

D.P. Brennan and C. Holland, "Turbulent Transport Effects on Resistive Instabilities," International Sherwood Fusion Theory Conference, Anapolis, Maryland, April, 2007

D.P. Brennan, M.S. Chu, L.L. Lao, R.J. La Haye, P. Politzer and A.D. Turnbull, "Resistive Stability of 2/1 Modes Near 1/1 Resonance," American Physical Society 48th Annual Meeting of the Division of Plasma Physics, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October, 2006 (invited oral)

D.P. Brennan, M.S. Chu, L.L. Lao, P.B. Snyder, A.D. Turnbull, S.E. Kruger, D.D. Schnack, C.R. Sovinec and A. Pankin, "Computing Nonlinear Magnetohydrodynamic Instabilities in Fusion Plasmas," 2006 SciDAC Conference, Denver, Colorado, June, 2006 (invited oral)

D.P. Brennan, M.S. Chu, R.J. La Haye, L.L. Lao, T. Osborne, A.D. Turnbull, and L.E. Sugiyama, "Resistive Stability of 2/1 Tearing Modes in DIII-D Plasmas with 1/1 Resonance," 33rd European Physical Society Conference on Controlled Fusion and Plasma Physics, Rome, Italy, June, 2006

D.P. Brennan, A.D. Turnbull, M.S. Chu, L.L. Lao and L.E. Sugiyama,"Multiple Resonant Resistive Instabilities in DIII-D Plasmas," International Sherwood Fusion Theory Conference, Dallas, Texas, April, 2006

D.P. Brennan, M.S. Chu, S.E. Kruger, L.L. Lao, A. Pankin, D.D. Schnack, and P.B. Snyder, "Nonlinear Evolution of Edge Localized Modes with Flow Shear," American Physical Society 47th Annual Meeting of the Division of Plasma Physics, Denver, Colorado, October, 2005 (oral)

D.P. Brennan, S.E. Kruger, A. Pankin, D.D. Schnack and P.B. Snyder, "Nonlinear Evolution of Edge Localized Modes," International Sherwood Fusion Theory Conference, Stateline, Nevada, April, 2005 (invited oral)

D.P. Brennan, A.D. Turnbull, R.J. La Haye, L.L. Lao, S.E. Kruger, A. Pankin, and D.D. Schnack, "Theoretical Limits on the Onset of Resistive Instabilities in Tokamaks," American Physical Society 46th Annual Meeting of the Division of Plasma Physics, Savannah, Georgia, November, 2004

C.C. Petty, D.P. Brennan, T.C. Luce, et al., "Onset and Suppression of 2/1 NTM in DIII-D," International Atomic Energy Agency, 20th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference, Vilamoura, Portugal, November, 2004 (oral combined)

D.P. Brennan, T.H. Jensen, S.E. Kruger, and D.D. Schnack, "Comparisons of Predicted Quasi-Static Nonlinear States of Tearing Modes," International Sherwood Fusion Theory Conference, Missoula, Montana, April, 2004

D.P. Brennan, S.E. Kruger, A.D. Turnbull, M.S. Chu, L.L. Lao, and D.D. Schnack, "Dynamic Equilibrium Effects in Tearing Mode Onset and Nonlinear Evolution," American Physical Society 45th Annual Meeting of the Division of Plasma Physics, Albuquerque, New Mexico, October, 2003

D.P. Brennan, S.E. Kruger, A.D. Turnbull, M.S. Chu, T.A. Gianakon, R.J. La Haye, L.L. Lao, and D.D. Schnack, "Nonlinear Modeling of the Onset and Evolution of Resistive Instabilities in DIII-D," 30th European Physical Society Conference on Controlled Fusion and Plasma Physics, St. Petersburgh, Russia, July, 2003

D.P. Brennan, P.K. Browning, and R.A.M. Van der Linden, "Instabilities and Helicity-Injection Current Drive in Spherical Tokamaks," 30th European Physical Society Conference on Controlled Fusion and Plasma Physics, St. Petersburgh, Russia, July, 2003

D.P. Brennan, R.J. La Haye, A.D. Turnbull, L.L. Lao, S.E. Kruger, and D.D. Schnack, "Nonlinear Tearing Mode Evolution in Sawtoothing Discharges," International Sherwood Fusion Theory Conference, Corpus Christi, Texas, April, 2003

D.P. Brennan, R.J. La Haye, A.D. Turnbull, M.S. Chu, T.H. Jensen, L.L. Lao, T.C. Luce, P.A. Politzer, E.J. Strait, S.E. Kruger, and D.D. Schnack, "A Mechanism for Tearing Onset Near Ideal Stability Boundaries," American Physical Society 44th Annual Meeting of the Division of Plasma Physics, Orlando, Florida, November, 2002 (invited oral)

D.P. Brennan, "Tearing Mode Stability Analyses of ITER, FIRE and IGNITOR," Snowmass Fusion Energy Sciences Summer Study, Snowmass, Colorado, June, 2002

D.P. Brennan, M.S. Chu, S.E. Kruger, R.J. La Haye, L.L. Lao, T.C. Luce, D.D. Schnack, E.J. Strait, and A.D. Turnbull, "A Study of Tearing Mode Evolution Near Ideal Stability Boundaries," International Sherwood Fusion Theory Conference, Rochester, New York, April, 2002

D. Brennan, M.S. Chu, S.E. Kruger, R.J. La Haye, T.C. Luce, A. Pletzer, P.A. Politzer, E.J. Strait, T.S. Taylor, and A.D. Turnbull, "Tearing Mode Onset and Evolution Studies on DIII-D," American Physical Society 43rd Annual Meeting of the Division of Plasma Physics, Long Beach, California, October, 2001 (oral)

P.K. Browning, D.P. Brennan, and R.A.M. Van der Linden, "The Role of MHD Instabilities on Open Field Lines in Helicity Injected Current Drive," American Physical Society 43rd Annual Meeting of the Division of Plasma Physics, Long Beach, California, October, 2001

D. Brennan, P.K. Browning and R.A.M. Van der Linden, "Instabilities and Their Role in Current Drive in Helicity Injected Spheromaks and Spherical Tokamaks," 28th European Physical Society Conference on Controlled Fusion and Plasma Physics, Funchal, Portugal, July, 2001

D. Brennan, M.S. Chu, S.E. Kruger, R.J. La Haye, T.C. Luce, E.J. Strait, T.S. Taylor and A.D. Turnbull, "Tearing Mode Stability Studies on DIII-D," 28th European Physical Society Conference on Controlled Fusion and Plasma Physics, Funchal, Portugal, July, 2001

D. Brennan, J.D. Callen, M.S. Chu, S.E. Kruger, R.J. La Haye, T. Luce, E.J. Strait, T. Taylor and A.D. Turnbull, "Stability Studies of Tearing Modes in the DIII-D Tokamak," Institute of Physics, Annual Plasma Physics Conference, Manchester, England, April, 2001

D. Brennan, P.K. Browning and R.A.M. Van der Linden, "Ideal Instabilities in Helicity Injected Spheromaks and Spherical Tokamaks," Institute of Physics, Annual Plasma Physics Conference, Manchester, England, April, 2001 (oral)

D. Brennan, M.S. Chu, S.E. Kruger, R.J. La Haye, L.L. Lao, E.J. Strait, T. Taylor and A.D. Turnbull, "Sensitivity Studies of Tearing Mode Stability Calculations," American Physical Society 42nd Annual Meeting of the Division of Plasma Physics, Quebec, Canada, October, 2000

D. Brennan, R.A.M. Van der Linden and P.K. Browning, "Two Dimensional Stability Studies of Helicity Injected Spheromaks and Spherical Tokamaks," American Physical Society 42nd Annual Meeting of the Division of Plasma Physics, Quebec, Canada, October, 2000

D. Brennan, P.K. Browning and R.A.M. Van der Linden, "The Origin of the n=1 Mode in Spheromaks and Spherical Tokamaks with Helicity Injection," American Physical Society 41st Annual Meeting of the Division of Plasma Physics, Seattle, Washington, November, 1999

Classes

The University of Tulsa

The University of California, San Diego