FPN16-17

In Memoriam: Ronald C. Davidson

May 21, 2016

Fusion veteran Ronald C. Davidson passed away in the early morning of May 19, 2016 from lung failure and pneumonia. He was less than two months from his 75th birthday. Ron was an expert in many (nay most) areas of plasma physics and fusion. He was not only a brilliant physicist but also much sought-after as a chair for review and advisory committees that had a profound impact on all (nay most) aspects of plasma physics and fusion policy. Despite his towering influence, his unassuming personality endeared him to his colleagues. His unexpected death sent shock waves through the U.S. and world plasma physics and fusion communities.

Ron was born on 3 July 1941 in Norwich, Ontario, Canada. He received a bachelor's degree from McMaster University in 1963 and his Ph.D. in physics from Princeton University in 1966, He held a post-doc at the University of California Berkeley (1966-1968); then joined the University of Maryland where he rose to the rank of full professor in 1972. He served as Assistant Director for Applied Plasma Physics in the Controlled Thermonuclear Research Division (DCTR), from 1976-1978, at the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) during the period of rapid growth and growing priority for fusion. He then moved to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he became a Professor of Physics and Director of the MIT Plasma Fusion Center. In 1991 he joined Princeton University and the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) as a Professor of Astrophysical Sciences and Director of PPPL.

In addition to his research and teaching accomplishments (including over 500 publications, mentoring numberous graduate students and publishing four advance-level textbooks and research monographs), Ron served the community and the country on numerous policy review and advisory committees, including Chair of the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) Magnetic Fusion Advisory Committee (1982-86), Chair of the American Physical Society (APS) Division of Plasma Physics (1985-86), Member of the USDOE Energy Research Advisory Board (ERAB) Fusion Review Panel (1986), APS Executive Board member (1991-92), National Research Council Plasma Science Committee (1991-94), Chair of the National Research Council Panel on High Energy Density Plasmas (2001-2003), and Co-chair of the National Research Council Review Committee on Inertial Fusion Energy (2010).

Ron was a Fellow of the American Physical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He received many honors and awards, including Fusion Power Associates Leadership Award (1986), USDOE Distinguished Associate Award (1986), Kaul Foundation Award for Excellence (1993), IEEE Particle Accelerator Science and Technology Award (2005), APS James Clerk Maxwell Prize for Plasma Physics (2008), USDOE Office of Science Outstanding Mentor Award (2009) and Fusion Power Associates Distinguished Career Award (2014).

It is impossible to overstate the profound influence Ron had on the evolution of plasma physics and fusion over these past many decades. His loss is deeply felt by all of those involved in fusion research and development.

Condolences to the family and remembrances of Ron may be sent to his son Ron Jr. at: RonDavidsonJr@gmail.com