Position
Lecturer
Office Phone
Email
Education
B.A. Physics, Princeton University, 2001
Ph.D. Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009
Bio/Description
Research Interests:
- Plasma astrophysics
- Magnetic reconnection and collisionless shock waves in laboratory plasmas
- High energy density plasmas
- Kinetic plasma simulation
- Plasma diagnostics
Awards & Honors
- John Dawson Award for Excellence in Plasma Physics Research, APS Division of Plasma Physics, 2020
- Thomas H. Stix Award for Outstanding Early Career Contributions to Plasma Physics Research, APS Division of Plasma Physics, 2019
- U.S. Department of Energy ORISE Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) Fellowship, 2003-2006
- Princeton Shenstone Experimental Thesis Prize, 2001
Teaching
- AST 555 Fusion Plasmas and Plasma Diagnostics
Selected Publications
- D. B. Schaeffer, W. Fox, R. K. Follett, G. Fiksel, C. K. Li, J. Matteucci, A. Bhattacharjee, and K. Germaschewski, “Direct Observations of Particle Dynamics in Magnetized Collisionless Shock Precursors in Laser-Produced Plasmas” Phys. Rev. Lett. 122, 245001 (2019).
- W. Fox, F. D. Wilder, S. Eriksson, J. Jara-Almonte, F. Pucci, J. Yoo, H. Ji, M. Yamada, R. E. Ergun, M. Oieroset, and T. D. Phan, “Energy conversion by parallel electric fields in reconnection diffusion regions in scaled laboratory and space experiments” Geophys. Res. Lett 45, 12677 (2018).
- J. Matteucci*, W. Fox, A. Bhattacharjee, D. B. Schaeffer, C. Moissard, K. Germaschewski, G. Fiksel, and S. X. Hu, “Biermann battery-mediated magnetic reconnection in 3-D colliding plasmas”, Phys. Rev. Lett, 121, 095001 (2018).
- W. Fox, J. Matteucci, C. Moissard, D. B. Schaeffer, A. Bhattacharjee, K. Germaschewski, and S. Hu, “Kinetic simulation of magnetic field generation and collisionless shock formation in expanding laboratory plasmas” Phys. Plasmas 25, 102106 (2018).
- W. Fox, F. Sciortino, A. v. Stechow, J. Jara-Almonte, J. Yoo, H. Ji, and M. Yamada, “Experimental verification of the role of electron pressure in fast magnetic reconnection with a guide field,” Phys. Rev. Lett 118 (12), 125002 (2017).
- W. Fox, J. Park, W. Deng, G. Fiksel, A. Spitkovsky, and A. Bhattacharjee, “Astrophysical particle acceleration mechanisms in colliding magnetized laser-produced plasmas” Phys. Plasmas 24, 092901 (2017).
- D. B. Schaeffer*, W. Fox, D. Haberberger, G. Fiksel, A. Bhattacharjee, D. H. Barnak, S. X. Hu, and K. Germaschewski, “Generation and Evolution of High-Mach Number, Laser-Driven Magnetized Collisionless Shocks in the Laboratory,” Phys. Rev. Lett 119, 025001 (2017).
- M. J. Rosenberg, C. K. Li, W. Fox, et al, “Slowing of Magnetic Reconnection Concurrent with Weakening Plasma Inflows and Increasing Collisionality in Strongly Driven Laser-Plasma Experiments”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 205004 (2015).
- G. Fiksel, W. Fox, A. Bhattacharjee, P. Y. Chang, K. Germaschewski, S. X. Hu, and P. M Nilson, “Magnetic reconnection between colliding magnetized, laser-produced plasma plumes” Phys. Rev. Lett., 113, 105003 (2014).
- W. Fox, A. Bhattacharjee and K. Germaschewski, “Fast magnetic reconnection in laser produced plasma bubbles,” Phys. Rev. Lett 106, 215003 (2011).
- W. Fox, G. Fiksel, A. Bhattacharjee, P. Y. Chang, K. Germaschewski, S. X. Hu, and P. M. Nilson, “Filamentation instability of counterstreaming laser-driven plasmas,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 225002 (2013).
- W. Fox, M. Porkolab, J. Egedal, N. Katz, A. Le. “Laboratory observation of electron phase-space holes during magnetic reconnection,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 255003 (2008).