Dr. Frank C. Z. Cheng, is presently a Senior Physicist at PPPL. He works mainly in theory and simulation of plasma physics with applications in fusion plasmas, basic laboratory plasmas, and space plasmas. His current interests are on the energetic particle physics in tokamaks and the magnetic reconnection physics in laboratory and space plasmas.
In 2017 he received the “S. Chandrasekhar Prize in Plasma Physics” from Association of Asia Pacific Physical Societies “for original and pioneering contributions in fusion and space plasmas that include the theoretical discovery of Torodicity-Induced Alfven Eigenmodes, the invention of a splitting scheme for Vlasov simulation, pioneering three-dimensional Particle-In-Cell turbulence simulations in tokamaks, and the establishment of magnetized plasma experimental capability and space instrumentation development in Taiwan.” In 2013 he received the “John Dawson Prize for Numerical Simulation of Plasmas” at the International Conference on Numerical Simulation of Plasmas “for his pioneering work on the semi-Lagrangian Vlasov simulation methodology and the three-dimensional Particle-In-Cell turbulence simulation as well as for his study of kinetic-MHD phenomena in magnetic fusion and space plasmas with the use of numerical eigenmode analyses in complex geometries.”
In 2004 he received the “Award for Excellence in Plasma Physics Research” from American Physical Society “for the theoretical discovery and experimental identification of Torodicity Induced Alfven Eigenmodes.”
Dr. Cheng received his Ph. D. degree in physics from University of Iowa in 1975. He worked at PPPL, Princeton University during 1975-2005. At PPPL he was the head of space plasma and energetic particle physics. In 1999 he became a Distinguished Research Fellow at PPPL in recognition “for outstanding contributions to the theory of the interaction of high energy particles and Magnetohydrodynamic modes, such as the Fishbone and the Toroidal Alfven Eigenmode, and for important contributions to Magnetospheric physic.” During 2005- 2007 he served as Chief Scientist of National Space Organization in Taiwan. During 2006-2017 he was Chair Professor at National Cheng University (NCKU) in Taiwan. During 2006-2013 he served as Director of Plasma and Space Science Center at NCKU. He is an APS fellow since 1991 and a Fellow of Taiwan Physical Society since 2009.
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