Team
Eric Lerner
President and Chief Scientist
Eric has been active in dense plasma focus (DPF) research for 30 years. Beginning in 1984, he developed a detailed quantitative theory of the functioning of DPF. Based on this theory, he proposed that the DPF could achieve high ion and electron energies at high densities, suitable for advanced fuel fusion and space propulsion. Under a series of contracts with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, he planned and participated in carrying out experiments that tested and confirmed this theory. In addition, he developed an original model of the role of the quantum magnetic field effect on DPF functioning, showing that this effect could have a large effect on increasing ion temperature and decreasing electron temperature, which would reduce unwanted X-ray cooling of the plasma. Eric can be reached at eric@lppfusion.com
Ivy Karamitsos
Chief Information Officer and Communications Director
Ivy joined LPPF in 2010. Initially she wrote the code for the collection and analysis of the experimental data. She now coordinates LPPFusion proprietary software and database development; manages network administration, website, content management, and communications, as well as educational and promotional videos, and she oversees the financial system. She completely updated LPPFusion’s website, lab and IT security systems, network and database, and has participated in mission-critical, hands-on experimental operations in the lab. She studied mathematics and classical music in the former Yugoslavia before receiving a degree in Computer Science from Binghamton University, SUNY in 2003. Some of her music accompanies LPPF’s videos. Ivy can be reached at ivy@lppfusion.com
Dr. Syed Hassan
Research Scientist
Dr. Hassan is a plasma physicist with more than 20 years experience with the dense plasma focus and laser devices. Dr. Hassan received his PhD from NTU, Singapore. He constructed a medium-sized dense plasma focus device for the Blackett Lab, Imperial College London. As a Marie Curie Fellow, he performed experiments with pulsed power devices he constructed for the Technological Educational Institute of Crete, Greece. As a HiPER research fellow, he also performed several experiments related to laser fusion in Europe. Prior to joining LPPFusion, he was a Research Associate at the School of Nuclear Engineering, Purdue University. He has both designed plasma focus devices and has innovated diagnostic instruments for the device. Dr. Syed can be reached at Syed@lppfusion.com
Dejan Simurdic
IT Admin
Dejan is Software Developer/Data Analyst with over 13 years of experience. He worked in multiple industries and in over 20 different coding and database platforms. He was born in Serbia and spent 3 years in Africa before coming to the United States. He was always fascinated by new scientific discoveries, especially clean energy. Dejan can be reached at Dejan@lppfusion.com
Rudolph “Rudy” Fritsch
Research Mechanical Engineer
Rudy has been President of Allsteel, a manufacturer of industrial metal-forming equipment, for 15 years. He was born in Hungary in 1947, and emigrated to Canada during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. As an engineer and entrepreneur, he ran a successful family business in Canada for decades, at its peak employing over 100 workers. He is an advocate of Austrian economics and a student of Professor Antal Fekete. Rudy can be reached at Rudy@lppfusion.com.
Dr. Warwick Dumas
Simulation Researcher
After being awarded his PhD in Applied Mathematics from the University of Leicester (UK) in 2010, he began volunteering on simulation building for Focus Fusion Society. He is inspired by the prospects for Focus Fusion to make a dramatic change to the global prospects for social justice and environmental conservation. He joined LPPF in 2012, carrying on with the same project, a simulation of the plasma filaments that form when the capacitor banks are discharged. An early version of this simulation helped LPPF to re-design the cathode and the current version still under development, will break new ground in several directions in simulation of plasmas. In the past, he has worked as a statistics analyst for the UK government Learning and Skills Council and with Santander.
Jeff Maier
Investor Relations
An accomplished software engineer, inventor, and sales professional. Jeff began his software career by writing “Flight Code” for the GPS satellite at Rockwell Space Systems in 1981 and then wrote dozens of video games including “The Cabbage Patch Kids” for Coleco.
Jeff was named a Lite Beer All-Star in 1988 and was featured on ABC World News, ESPN, CNN, Fox and international TV shows for his virtual reality surfing and snowboarding simulator inventions. Jeff is an expert in internet security and cryptography. In addition to Jeff’s technical marketing background, he is also an author, singer, songwriter, and yoga teacher.
