Position Title
Adjunct Professor
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
Millimeter-wave imaging, fusion plasma diagnostics, AI-assisted real-time feedback control.
Yilun Zhu is an Adjunct Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department at the University of California, Davis. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Science and Technology of China in June 2015. Prof. Zhu's research spans plasma physics and millimeter-wave diagnostics for fusion reactors, with expertise in millimeter-wave optics, interactions of millimeter waves with plasmas, system-on-chip technology, radiation-hardened microelectronics, microwave synthetic diagnostics, and AI-assisted real-time feedback control of fusion plasmas. He pioneered the system-on-chip approach for millimeter-wave plasma diagnostics and invented field-curvature-free millimeter-wave imaging optics.
Prof. Zhu has delivered over ten invited presentations and seminars on the latest developments in millimeter-wave plasma diagnostics and their applications in magnetic confinement fusion. His work has earned several accolades, including an Editor's Pick from the Review of Scientific Instruments (2019) and highlights from the U.S. Department of Energy (2020). Leveraging his research focus and exceptional coordination skills, he served as the deputy leader of the Diagnostics and Actuators group in developing the General Atomics Fusion Pilot Plant, a project aimed at enhancing the safety and reliability of fusion reactor operations to promote renewable green energy.
As a dedicated mentor, Prof. Zhu is passionate about fostering the development of students and young scholars. He has supervised 13 doctoral students, 8 master's students, and 4 undergraduate students, including 9 female scholars, who have won academic awards and gained academic and industrial attention during the study in his research group.