FPN16-32

UK Fusion Veteran Alan Gibson Passes

September 20, 2016

Alan Gibson, a veteran of the UK and world fusion effort since the early 1960s, passed away during the past week. He has been described by US and UK fusion veteran John Sheffield as "one of the most practically bright and inventive scientists at Culham", a laboratory Alan helped to found in 1965. After the Russian tokamak breakthrough of the late 1960s, Alan led an effort at Culham to design a tokamak experiment that could surpass the Russian achievement. Originally called the Culham Large Tokamak (CLT), the design would eventually evolve in 1973 to the Joint European Tokamak (JET) which is located, and still operating, at the Culham Laboratory. JET holds the world record for producing fusion reactions in an experimental device. In fact, Alan was the session leader for JETs first experiments using fusion fuels. Lorne Norton, current head of the JET Exploitation Unit says of Alan, "It is not too much to say that Alan was one of the highest caliber, most important and influential people in the history of the JET project."

Alan published many important scientific papers during his career and received several honors, including the Gold Medal of the UK Institute of Physics (IOP) for Leadership in Physics in 1983 and Fusion Power Associates Distinguished Career Award in 2000 citing "his seminal research contributions to fusion and his technical and managerial contributions to the success of the JET project."

Remembrances may be sent to UKAEA Communications Manager Chris Warrick: Chris.Warrick@ukaea.uk

Additional information is posted on the EuroFusion site at: https://www.euro-fusion.org/2016/09/in-memoriam-alan-gibson-a-jet-pioneer/