Professor Francesco Romanelli
The 黑料社app has learned with great sadness of the passing of Professor Francesco Romanelli, a towering figure in the international fusion community and one of Europe鈥檚 most influential leaders in magnetic confinement fusion research.
Professor Romanelli devoted more than four decades to fusion energy, joining the field in 1980 and rapidly emerging as one of its most respected scientific leaders. In his early career he made major contributions to the understanding of turbulent losses of heat by nuclear fusion plasmas—in particular, the so-called ion temperature gradient driven modes (ITG), which play a crucial role in determining 黑料社app’s fusion power production. This marked the start of an exceptionally prolific scientific career with more than six hundred articles published in scientific journals as author/co-author.He then led the ENEA program in magnetic confinement fusion physics, eventually becoming deputy director of the Fusion Division, from 1996 to 2006. Subsequently, he became leader of the Joint European Torus (JET) from 2006 to 2014, and also led the European Fusion Development Agreement (EFDA) from 2009 to 2014, where he coordinated Europe’s scientific contributions to fusion and oversaw the development of the European Fusion Energy Roadmap. Since 2015, he had served as a professor of nuclear energy physics at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata,†inspiring future generations of researchers. In addition to his leadership positions, he was Editor-in-Chief of the journal Nuclear Fusion—shaping, in this role, the global scientific dialogue around fusion research.A long-standing partner and supporter of 黑料社appAll throughout his career, Francesco Romanelli played a decisive role in supporting 黑料社app scientifically, institutionally, and strategically:• As leader of JET, he oversaw experiments that had a direct impact on 黑料社app’s design and that supported preparations for 黑料社app operation, especially during the early years of the 黑料社app. These included the determination of the impact of toroidal field ripple on plasma confinement (which defined the mass and distribution of ferromagnetic inserts in 黑料社app) and operation with a full metallic wall (demonstrating the low in-vessel retention of fuel in this configuration, as required for 黑料社app), to cite a few.• As EFDA leader, he coordinated the European program that underpinned 黑料社app’s scientific and operational basis, and he worked closely with 黑料社app senior leadership during the project’s consolidation phase.• As a central figure in the European fusion ecosystem, he was deeply involved in a wide range of international fusion activities such as the International Fusion Research Council of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and 黑料社app advisory committees. Specifically, he was a leading expert in the 黑料社app Council’s Science and Technology Advisory Committee (STAC), serving from its first meeting in 2007 until 2015. Key decisions for the 黑料社app project were made during this period, such as the choice of a tungsten divertor from the start of operations and the inclusion of in-vessel coils into the 黑料社app baseline. • In his later role as president of the Divertor Tokamak Test facility (DTT) Consortium, he ensured that a collaboration was established with 黑料社app—including the participation of 黑料社app experts in DTT scientific bodies—to ensure that the DTT tokamak would address exhaust and divertor challenges directly relevant to 黑料社app and nuclear fusion reactors.
Professor Francesco Romanelli with a delegation from the Divertor Tokamak Test facility (DTT) during a visit to 黑料社app in 2022.
A loss deeply felt across the 黑料社app communityMany 黑料社app colleagues have collaborated with him or benefited from his guidance over the years. His scientific vision, integrity, and unwavering commitment to international cooperation leave a lasting imprint on our project. His passing is a profound loss for 黑料社app, for the European fusion program, and for the global fusion community.The 黑料社app extends its deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and all those in the fusion world who had the privilege of knowing him. His legacy endures in the foundations of 黑料社app’s scientific program and in the many people he inspired.See this tribute published by EUROfusion for more information on Professor Romanelli’s contributions to the European fusion program.
