Dr Daniel Kennedy

I am a theoretical plasma physicist at the UK Atmoic Energy Authority (UKAEA). I am interested in general plasma physics, magnetic confinement fusion, plasma astrophysics, and astrophysical gas dynamics.

My current work focuses on exploring plasma turbulence and the role it plays in setting the confinement of next-generation spherical tokamaks.

A list of my publications can be found on google scholar. 

I will be lecturing the following courses in the current academic year: 

Hilary Term 2025 MMathPhys Collisionless Plasma Physics 

Trinity Term 2025 MMathPhys Advanced Topics in Plasma Physics 

Before returning to Oxford, I completed my PhD on the kinetic theory of electron-positron plasmas, supervised by Prof. Per Helander in the Stellarator Theory division of the Max-Planck Institute for Plasma Physics. 

My research involved understanding the underlying physical challenges on the road to magnetic confinement of electron-positron plasmas. 

A recurring source of plasma instabilities can be, to a significant degree, attributed to the large difference in mass ratio between the positively charged species (ions) and negatively charged species (electrons). In contrast to conventional ion-electron plasmas, electron-positron (pair) plasmas consist of particles exhibiting charge asymmetry and mass symmetry and present an exciting new frontier in plasma physics, with mass symmetry resulting in unique behaviour. My work focused on several subfields such as (i) the kinetic theory of Coulomb collisions in strongly anisotropic plasmas; (ii) linear and nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations using both Eulerian and particle-in-cell (PIC) codes; and (iii) the theory of non-neutral and partially neutralised plasmas.

Prior to my PhD, I completed an undergraduate degree in Mathematics, Oxford and a Master’s degree in Mathematical and Theoretical Physics, both at Merton College.

Biography

• 2021-present: Plasma Turbulence Modeller, Culham Centre for Fusion Energy.
• 2017-2020: PhD, Max-Planck-Institute for Plasma Physics.
• 2016-2017: MMathPhys Mathematical and Theoretical Physics, Merton College, University of Oxford.
• 2013-2016: BA Mathematics, Merton College, University of Oxford