Christopher Wink

Christopher Wink is a PhD candidate whose research interests are aimed at advancing the science of inertial confinement fusion (ICF) toward the realization of laser-driven fusion as an unlimited, safe, and clean energy source. Specifically, Chris is working on designing and implementing the next-generation neutron spectrometer for ICF applications at both the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the OMEGA Laser Facility in the Laboratory for Laser Energetics at the University of Rochester. This spectrometer, called the Magnetic Recoil Spectrometer Upgrade (MRSu), is being designed for more accurate measurements of the neutron spectrum from which the yield, ion temperature, and areal density of an ICF implosion could be determined at unprecedented accuracy. With the support of a MathWorks Fellowship, Chris will continue to design and implement the MRSu on OMEGA and the NIF, efforts that heavily rely on MathWorks tools. This work offers vastly improved performance over the current detector suite and could have a significant impact on the mainline ICF programs at OMEGA and the NIF. His work is already yielding important new tools and knowledge in the field of nuclear energy and holds significant potential to advance the goal of clean, safe, abundant fusion energy in the future.