Dylan Patrick Brennan

Dylan Brennan

Assistant ProfessorKeplinger Hall L161
918-631-3032
Dylan-brennan@utulsa.eduFaculty Web site

Dr. Dylan P. Brennan is currently an Assistant Professor of Physics and Engineering Physics at The University of Tulsa. He is actively involved in research into non-linear aspects of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability theory. The focus of this research is on the effects of extensions to MHD, such as flow shear, thermal anisotropy and two-fluid effects, on equilibrium, stability and transport. The context of this work is in the analyses of magnetic confinement systems, such as experimental, solar and astrophysical plasmas, involving the development of analytic and computational theory to explain observations. Before coming to U. Tulsa, Dr. Brennan held the position of Staff Research Scientist at MIT, while resident at General Atomics in the Theory and Computational Science Group. His most important contribution at General Atomics was that he elucidated an onset mechanism for resistive MHD modes in tokamaks, which stems from the approach to the ideal stability boundary in equilibrium parameter space. Before this, he studied the physics of helicity injected low aspect ratio plasmas at the University of Manchester, England, where he developed analytic and numerical models of their ideal MHD equilibrium and stability. His work here explained the theoretical context of an instability ubiquitously observed in experimental data of helicity injected systems. While at Columbia University he worked on computation and modelling at the High Beta Tokamak Extended Pulse experiment and the Collisionless Terrella Experiment, with a focus on understanding the cross-field transport of electrons due to interchange instabilities in the terrella. Earlier in his physics training, he graduated with honors from S.U.N.Y. Binghamton for his work on crystalline deformations and stoichiometric differences as related to their effects on entropy and specific heat in Nickel Zirconium compounds.

Education and Degrees Earned

  • Ph.D., Physics, University of Manchester, 2000
  • M.S., Applied Physics, Columbia University, 1996
  • B.S., Physics, State University of New York at Binghamton, 1991

Areas of Research Focus

  • Theoretical Plasma Physics
  • Magnetically Confined Plasmas
  • Astrophysics

Previous Teaching Experience

  • University of California at San Diego, Phys. 2A Mechanics

Previous Relevant Work Experience

  • Staff Research Scientist, MIT / General Atomics
  • Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Oak Ridge Associated Universities / General Atomics

Professional Affiliations

  • Active Member of the American Physical Society (APS) and the Institute of Physics (IOP)
  • Member of the Education and Outreach Committee of the APS Division of Plasma Physics
  • Member of the Sherwood Executive Committee
  • Numerous Referee Services, including: DOE/OFES proposals, Physics of Plasmas, Physical Review Letters, Nuclear Fusion, Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
  • Vice Chair (Chair 2010) of the Committee on Concerns for Junior Scientists of the APS Division of Plasma Physics

Courses Taught at TU

  • General Physics I (PHYS 2053)
  • Astrophysics (PHYS 6563)
  • Electricity and Magnetism (PHYS 4063)
  • Electromagnetic Theory (PHYS 7063)
  • General Physics I (PHYS 2053)
  • Statistical and Thermal Physics (PHYS 3043)
  • Statistical Mechanics (PHYS 7083)

Awards & Recognition

  • DOE Junior Faculty Award in Plasma Physics, 2007
  • DOE / OFES Theoretical Research in Plasma and Fusion Science, 2007
  • ORISE/ORAU Postdoctoral Fellowship Award Program, 2000-2004

Publications


  • D. P. Brennan, P. K. Browning, J. Gates and R.A.M. Van der Linden, "Helicity Injected Current Drive and Open Flux Instabilities in Spherical Tokamaks", Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 51, 045004 (2009)

  • D.P. Brennan and L.E. Sugiyama, “Tearing Mode Stability in a Low Beta Plasma with Sawteeth,” General Atomics Report A25221, Phys. Plasmas 13, 052515 (2006).

  • D.P. Brennan, M.S. Chu, L.L. Lao, R.J. La Haye, P. Politzer and A.D. Turnbull, “Resistive Stability of 2/1 Modes Near 1/1 Resonance,” Phys. Plasmas 14, 056108 (2007).

  • D.P. Brennan, E.J. Strait, A.D. Turnbull, et al., "Tearing Mode Stability Studies Near Ideal Stability Boundaries in DIII-D," Phys. Plasmas 9, 2998 (2002).

  • D. Brennan, P.K. Browning, R.A.M. Van der Linden, A.W. Hood and S. Woodruff, "Stability Studies and the Origin of the n=1 Mode in the SPHEX Spheromak," Phys. Plasmas 6, 4248 (1999).

  • D.P. Brennan, S.E. Kruger, D.D. Schnack, C.R. Sovinec and A. Pankin, “Computing Nonlinear Magnetohydrodynamic Edge Localized Instabilities in Fusion Plasmas,” Journal of Physics : Conference Series 46, 63 (2006).

  • D.P. Brennan, S.E. Kruger, T.A. Gianakon and D.D. Schnack, “A Categorization of Tearing Mode Onset in Tokamaks via Nonlinear Simulation,” Nucl. Fusion 45 1178 (2005).

  • D.P. Brennan, R.J. La Haye, A.D. Turnbull, et al., “A Mechanism for Tearing Onset Near Ideal Stability Boundaries,” Phys. Plasmas 10, 1643 (2003).

  • D.P. Brennan, P.K. Browning and R.A.M. Van der Linden, "A Two-Dimensional Magnetohydrodynamic Stability Model for Helicity Injected Devices with Open Flux," Phys. Plasmas 9, 3526 (2002).