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Marlene Patino

Assistant Project Scientist

I am an Assistant Project Scientist at the University of California, San Diego in the Center for Energy Research working with the PISCES team. My research focuses on the plasma-material interactions between edge plasmas and divertor/first wall materials in magnetically confined fusion devices. In particular, I investigate (i) morphological changes in tungsten that may reduce thermal conductivity or increase erosion, (ii) retention of deuterium in tungsten to estimate expected tritium inventory, and (iii) preferential erosion of ceramics that can degrade their electrically insulating properties.

I received my B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2010, 2012, and 2017, respectively. My thesis examined gas-phase particle collisions and particle-material collisions for electric propulsion and magnetic fusion applications. This was done in collaborations with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory/Princeton University.

Education

  • Ph.D., 2017, Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles
  • M.S., 2012, Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles
  • B.S., 2010, Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles


Work Experience

  • Assistant Project Scientist, University of California, San Diego (January 2020 – Present)
    • Center for Energy Research, PISCES Program
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, San Diego (November 2017 – January 2020)
    • Center for Energy Research, PISCES Program
  • Graduate Student Researcher, University of California, Los Angeles (September 2010 – June 2017)
    • Plasma & Space Propulsion Laboratory
  • Teaching assistant, University of California, Los Angeles (Spring 2017)
    • MAE 150R/250R Rocket Propulsion
  • Teaching assistant, University of California, Los Angeles (Spring 2016)
    • MAE 252P Introduction to Plasmas and Ionized Gases
  • Student intern, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA (August 2010 – October 2010)
    • Electric Propulsion Laboratory


Honors & Awards

  • California-Hawaii Elks Association Scholarship, 2006-2007
  • Council of Mexican-American Administrators Scholarship, 2006-2007
  • Sunland Women’s Club Scholarship, 2006-2007
  • Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship, 2006-2008
  • G & M Ball Scholarship, 2007-2008
  • Pi Mu Epsilon Mathematical Honorary Society, 2008
  • Boeing Company Scholarship, 2009-2010
  • UCLA Academic Advancement Program Scholar, 2010
  • UCLA Eugene V. Cota-Robles Fellowship, 2010-2014
  • International Electric Propulsion Conference Travel Award, 2013
  • NSF-CA AGEP Professional Development Award, 2014
  • NASA CA Space Grant Fellowship, 2013-2015 & 2017
  • General James H. Doolittle Scholarship, 2014-2015
  • HENAAC Graduate Student Leadership Award, 2014-2015
  • Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society, 2015-2017
  • DOE Office of Science Graduate Student Research Award, 2015-2016
  • APS Gaseous Electronics Conference Travel Award, 2016
  • UCLA Dissertation Year Fellowship, 2015-2017
  • DOE Fusion Energy Sciences Postdoctoral Research Program Award, 2017-2019

Current Research

  • Composition, Retention, and Morphology of Materials Exposed to Deuterium and Helium Plasma
    • The physical mechanism for the formation of 𝜇m-thick fuzz and associated He bubbles formed on many metals (including W) after exposure to He plasma was investigated. Material and He transport during fuzz growth are investigated with mixed W-Mo materials and mixed 3He-4He plasma, respectively.
    • D retained in W from D plasma exposure is being investigated to predict levels of radioactive tritium in ITER and other fusion devices utilizing W. D dynamically retained (i.e., during plasma exposure) was monitored with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and found to depend on temperature. (collaborator)
    • Vacancy defects in W were less susceptible to recovery by annealing at high temperature if deuterium atoms filled the defects, with the present defects forming an effective trap for deuterium. (collaborator)
    • Nanograin W and nanograin W-Ti were determined to be less susceptible to plasma-induced changes (i.e., smaller retention and less morphology) after exposure to D and He plasma compared to larger grain W. (collaboration with Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory)
    • D retention in various steels was found to correlate with the Cr content near the surface and is dependent on He, Ar, or N2 seeding in the D plasma. (collaborator)
    • nm-sized cones formed on Cr after He exposure were found to result from Ta impurities (detected with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy) and preferential sputtering of Cr regions around Ta impurities. (collaborator)
    • The composition of AlN and Al2O3 were determined by Auger electron spectroscopy to be negligibly affected by exposure to D and He plasma, supporting its selection in the development of a high-power plasma source at UCSD and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
    • Deuterium retention in hexagonal BN was found to be low and independent of ion energy from 30-100 eV for samples exposed at 600 C. (collaboration with University of Maryland)
    • Assistant Project Scientist (2020 – Present) / Postdoctoral Fellow (2017-2020), UCSD Center for Energy Research (via DOE Fusion Energy Sciences Postdoctoral Research Award)


Previous Research

  • Ion-Neutral Atom Collisions
    • Investigated ion-atom collisions (charge-exchange, momentum-exchange) for validation of partially-ionized plasma simulations that model the performance and lifetime of spacecraft propulsion devices. Studies focused on 1500 eV Xe+ colliding with Xe neutral gas.
    • Graduate Student Researcher (2010-2017) UCLA Plasma & Space Propulsion Laboratory / NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
  • Ion-Induced Electron Emission from Materials
    • Measured electron emission from materials utilized for advanced spacecraft propulsion due to ion impact. Studies included 100 - 2000 eV Xe+ impacting graphite and C velvet at 0°.
    • Graduate Student Researcher (2010-2017) UCLA Plasma & Space Propulsion Laboratory / NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
  • Electron-Induced Electron Emission from Materials
    • Measured secondary electron emission from materials utilized in spacecraft propulsion, fusion, and plasma processing devices to investigate the effect on plasma properties. Studies included 50 - 2000 eV electrons impacting Ni, Li, graphite, stainless, W, and W fuzz at 0 - 60°.
    • Visiting Graduate Student Researcher (2013, 2015 – 2016) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (via DOE Office of Science Graduate Student Research Award)
  • Miniaturization of Plasma Actuators
    • Designed and tested plasma actuators for drag reduction of small-scale aerodynamic surfaces to minimize size and power requirements. Electrode geometry and dielectric material were varied.
    • Undergraduate Student Researcher (2009 – 2010) UCLA Plasma & Space Propulsion Laboratory

Publications

  1. M.I. Patino, Y. Raitses, B.E. Koel, and R.E. Wirz, “Analysis of Secondary Electron Emission for Conducting Materials Using LEED Optics,” Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 48 (2015) 195204 https://doi.org/10.1088/0022-3727/48/19/195204
  2. A.M. Capece, M.I. Patino, Y. Raitses, and B.E. Koel, “Secondary Electron Emission from Lithium and Lithium Compounds,” Applied Physics Letters 109 (2016) 011605 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4955461
  3. M. Patino, Y. Raitses, and R. Wirz, “Secondary Electron Emission from Plasma-Generated Nanostructured Tungsten Fuzz,” Applied Physics Letters 109 (2016) 201602 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4967830
  4. R. Majeski, R.E. Bell, D.P. Boyle, R. Kaita, T. Kozub, B.P. LeBlanc, M. Lucia, R. Maingi, E. Merino, Y. Raitses, J.C. Schmitt, J.P. Allain, F. Bedoya, J. Bialek, T.M. Biewer, J.M. Canik, L. Buzi, B.E. Koel, M.I. Patino, A.M. Capece, C. Hansen, T. Jarboe, S. Kubota, W.A. Peebles, and K. Tritz, “Compatibility of Lithium Plasma-Facing Surfaces with High Edge Temperatures in the Lithium Tokamak Experiment (LTX),” Physics of Plasmas 24 (2017) 056110 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4977916
  5. M.I. Patino and R.E. Wirz, “Characterization of Xenon Ion and Neutral Interactions in a Well-Characterized Experiment,” Physics of Plasmas 25 (2018) 062108 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5030464
  6. M.I. Patino and R.E. Wirz, “Electron Emission from Carbon Velvet due to Incident Xenon Ions,” Applied Physics Letters 113 (2018) 041603 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5037200
  7. M.I. Patino, R.E. Wirz, Y. Raitses, and B.E. Koel, “Angular, Temperature, and Impurity Effects on Secondary Electron Emission from Ni(110),” Journal of Applied Physics 124 (2018) 093301 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5025344
  8. C.E. Huerta, M.I. Patino, and R.E. Wirz, “Secondary Electron Emission from Textured Surfaces,” Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 51 (2018) 145202 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/aab1ac
  9. D. Nishijima, M. Patino, and R.P. Doerner, “Development of a LIBS System for In-Situ Surface Measurements During Plasma Exposure in PISCES-A,” Review of Scientific Instruments 89 (2018) 10J105 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5034349
  10. D. Nishijima, A. Kreter, M.J. Baldwin, D. Borodin, A. Eksaeva, D. Hwangbo, S. Kajita, M. Miyamoto, N. Ohno, M. Patino, A. Pospieszczyk, M. Rasinski, T. Schlummer, A. Terra, and R.P. Doerner, “Influence of Heavier Impurity Deposition on Surface Morphology Development and Sputtering Behavior Explored in Multiple Linear Plasma Devices,” Nuclear Materials and Energy 18 (2019) 67-71 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nme.2018.12.008
  11. E.M. Hollmann, D. Nishijima, M.I. Patino, D. Chrobak, R.P. Doerner, D. Nagata, and M. Tokitani, “Observation of Increased Nanostructure Cone Growth on Cr due to Grazing-Incidence Ta Seed Atom Deposition in a He Plasma,” Journal of Applied Physics 126 (2019) 073301 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5110298
  12. L.Buzi, M. Yeh, Y.W. Yeh, M.I. Patino, J.R. Trelewicz, N. Yao, R. Doerner, and B.E. Koel, “Deuterium and Helium Ion Irradiation of Nanograined Tungsten and Tungsten-Titanium Alloys,” Nuclear Materials and Energy 21 (2019) 100713 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nme.2019.100713
  13. M.J. Baldwin, R.P. Doerner, D. Nishijima, M. Patino, M.J. Simmonds, G. Tynan, J.H. Yu, and A. Zaloznik, “Plasma Materials Interaction Research using the PISCES Linear Plasma Devices,” Fusion Science and Technology 75 (2019) 664-673 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15361055.2019.1646608
  14. D. Nishijima, M. Tokitani, M.I. Patino, D. Nagata, and R.P. Doerner, “Effect of Cr-Rich Surface Layer on D Retention in Various RAFM Steels,” Physica Scripta T171 (2020) 014005 https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ab3702
  15. M.I. Patino, D. Nishijima, M. Tokitani, D. Nagata, and R.P. Doerner, “Material Mixing During Fuzz Formation in W and Mo,” Physica Scripta T171 (2020) 014070 https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ab4c1f
  16. D.Nishijima, M. Tokitani, M.I. Patino, D. Nagata, A.V. Golubeva, and R.P. Doerner, “Impact of Seeded Plasma Impurities on D Retention in RAFM Steels,” Nuclear Materials and Energy 23 (2020) 100740 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nme.2020.100740
  17. M.I. Patino, R.P. Doerner, and G.R. Tynan, “Exposure of AlN and Al2O3 to Low Energy D and He Plasmas,” Nuclear Materials and Energy 23 (2020) 100753 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nme.2020.100753
  18. D.Nishijima, M.I. Patino, and R.P. Doerner, “New application of hyperspectral imaging to steady-state plasma observations,” Review of Scientific Instruments 91 (2020) 083501 https://aip.scitation.org/doi/pdf/10.1063/5.0011640
  19. M.I. Patino, D. Nishijima, M. Tokitani, D. Nagata, J.H. Yu, and R.P. Doerner, “Material migration in W and Mo during bubble growth and fuzz formation,” Nuclear Fusion 51 (2021) 076001 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1741-4326/abf952/pdf
  20. M.J. Simmonds, T. Schwarz-Selinger, M.I. Patino, M.J. Baldwin, R.P. Doerner, and G.R. Tynan, “Reduced defect recovery in self-ion damaged W due to simultaneous deuterium exposure during annealing,” Nuclear Fusion 62 (2022) 036012 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1741-4326/ac4773/pdf


Thesis

  • M.I. Patino, “Plasma Inter-Particle and Particle-Wall Interactions,” Ph.D. Thesis, University of California, Los Angeles, 2017 


Conference Presentations

  1. R.E. Wirz, L. Chu, M. Patino, H.S. Mao, and S. Araki, “Well-Characterized Plasma Experiments for Validation of Computational Models,” 32nd International Electric Propulsion Conference, Kurhaus, Wiesbaden, Germany, September 11-15, 2011 http://electricrocket.org/IEPC/IEPC-2011-122.pdf
  2. M.I. Patino, L.E. Chu, and R.E. Wirz, “Ion-Neutral Collision Analysis for a Well-Characterized Plasma Experiment,” 48th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit, Atlanta GA, July 30 - August 1, 2012 https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2012-4119
  3. M.I. Patino, Y. Raitses, B.E. Koel, and R.E. Wirz, “Application of Auger Spectroscopy for Measurement of Secondary Electron Emission from Conducting Material for Electric Propulsion Devices,” 33rd International Electric Propulsion Conference, Washington D.C., October 6-10, 2013 http://electricrocket.org/IEPC/nk5vedjr.pdf
  4. M.I. Patino, A.M. Capece, Y. Raitses, and B.E. Koel, “Characterization of Secondary Electron Emission Properties of Plasma facing Materials,” 57th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics, Savannah, GA, November 16-20, 2015
  5. A. Capece, M. Patino, Y. Raitses, and B. Koel, “Secondary Electron Emission of Li and Li Compounds,” 57th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics, Savannah, GA, November 16-20, 2015
  6. H. Lazar, M. Patino, Y. Raitses, B. Koel, C. Gentile, and E. Feibush, “The Effects of Impurities and Incident Angle on the Secondary Electron Emission of Ni(110),” 57th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics, Savannah, GA, November 16-20, 2015
  7. Y. Raitses, M. Patino, A. Capece, B.E. Koel, and P. Dourbal, “Secondary Electron Emission from Several Materials Relevant for Materials Relevant to Magnetic Fusion Devices,” 22nd International Conference on Plasma Surface Interactions in Controlled Fusion Devices, Rome, Italy, May 30 – June 3, 2016
  8. M. Patino, Y. Raitses, and R. Wirz, “Electron Emission from Nano and Micro-Structured Materials for Plasma Applications,” 69th Annual Gaseous Electronics Conference, Bochum, Germany, October 10‑14, 2016
  9. R. Majeski, J. Allain, F. Bedoya, R. Bell, J. Bialek, T. Biewer, D. Boyle, L. Buzi, J. Canik, A. Capece, C. Hansen, T. Jarboe, R. Kaita, B. Koel, T. Kozub, S. Kubota, B. LeBlanc, M. Lucia, R. Maingi, E. Merino, M.I. Patino, W.A. Peebles, Y. Raitses, J.C. Schmitt, and K. Tritz, “Observation of an Isothermal Electron Profile with Low Recycling Lithium Walls in LTX,” 26th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference, Kyoto, Japan, October 17-22, 2016 https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/fusionportal/Shared%20Documents/FEC%202016/fec2016-preprints/preprint0233.pdf
  10. M. Patino, Y. Raitses, and R. Wirz, “Electron Emission from Nano and Microstructured Materials for Fusion and Plasma Discharge Applications,” 58th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics, San Jose, CA October 31 – November 4, 2016
  11. D. Nishijima, R. Doerner, E. Hollmann, M. Baldwin, M. Patino, Y. Ueda, K. Ibano, and M. Miyamoto, “Recent Work on Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for Surface Analysis at PISCES,” 22nd Topical Conference on High-Temperature Plasma Diagnostics, San Diego, CA, April 15-19, 2018
  12. Y. Raitses, M. Patino, C. Jin, I. Kaganovich, C. Swanson, and A. Ottaviano, “Surface Electron Emission Yield from Surface-Architectured Materials,” 2018 IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, Jackson Lake Lodge, WY, June 3-7, 2018
  13. D. Nishijima, A. Kreter, M.J. Baldwin, D. Borodin, A. Eksaeva, D. Hwangbo, S. Kajita, M. Miyamoto, N. Ohno, M. Patino, A. Pospieszczyk, M. Rasinski, T. Schlummer, A. Terra, and R.P. Doerner, “Influence of Heavier Impurity Deposition on Surface Morphology Development and Sputtering Behavior Explored in Multiple Linear Plasma Devices,” 23rd International Conference on Plasma Surface Interactions in Controlled Fusion Devices, Princeton, NJ, June 17-22, 2018
  14. M. Patino, R. Doerner, D. Nishijima, and T. Schwarz-Selinger, “He Nanobubble Growth in W,” 14th International Workshop on Hydrogen Isotopes in Fusion Reactor Materials, Knoxville, TN, June 25-27, 2018
  15. R.P. Doerner, S. Krasheninnikov, M. Baldwin, D. Nishijima, and M. Patino, “Using 3He-Containing Plasma to Track the Motion of Helium Atoms in Tungsten,” 60th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics, Portland, OR, November 5-9, 2018
  16. S. Chakraborty Thakur, M.I. Patino, R.P. Doerner, G.R. Tynan, J.F. Caneses, R.H. Goulding, A. Lumsdaine, and J. Rapp, “Liquid Cooled Antenna for High Power Helicon Sources,” 60th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics, Portland, OR, November 5-8, 2018
  17. M.J. Baldwin, D. Nishijima, J.H. Yu, A. Zaloznik, M. Patino, S. Abe, S. Chakraborty Thakur, E. Hollmann, R. Doerner, and G. Tynan, “Plasma Materials Interaction Research Using the PISCES Linear Plasma Devices,” 23rd Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy, Orlando, FL, November 11-15, 2018
  18. D. Nishijima, M. Tokitani, D. Nagata, M. Patino, and R.P. Doerner, “Effect of He on D Retention in Various RAFM Steels,” IAEA Third Research Coordinated Meeting on Plasma-Wall Interaction with Reduced-Activation Steel Surfaces in Fusion Devices, Vienna, Austria, March 25-27, 2019
  19. M.I. Patino, D. Nishijima, M. Tokitani, D. Nagata, and R.P. Doerner, “Material Mixing During Fuzz Formation in W and Mo” 17th International Conference on Plasma-Facing Materials and Components for Fusion Applications, Eindhoven, Netherlands, May 20-24 2019
  20. D. Nishijima, M. Tokitani, M.I. Patino, D. Nagata, and R.P. Doerner, “Effect of Cr-Rich Surface Layer on D Retention in Various RAFM Steels,” 17th International Conference on Plasma-Facing Materials and Components for Fusion Applications, Eindhoven, Netherlands, May 20-24 2019
  21. M.I. Patino, R.P. Doerner, and G.R. Tynan, “Al Enrichment of AlN and Al2O3 During D Plasma Exposure,” 17th International Workshop on Plasma Material Interaction Facilities for Fusion Research, La Jolla, CA, October 22-25, 2019
  22. D. Nishijima, M. Patino, and R.P. Doerner, “In-situ Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Surface Analysis during Plasma Exposure in PISCES-A,” 17th International Workshop on Plasma Material Interaction Facilities for Fusion Research, La Jolla, CA, October 22-25, 2019
  23. S. Chakraborty Thakur, M. Simmonds, M.I. Patino, R. Doerner, G.R. Tynan, J.M. Caneses, R. Goulding, A. Lumsdaine, J.B. Tipton Jr, J. Rapp, M. Paul, and E.E. Scime, “Design and Characterization of a High-Power, Liquid Cooled, Steady State, Radio-Frequency Helicon Plasma Source,” 17th International Workshop on Plasma Material Interaction Facilities for Fusion Research, La Jolla, CA, October 22-25, 2019
  24. M.I. Patino, R.P. Doerner, and G.R. Tynan, “Al Enrichment of AlN and Al2O3 During Plasma Exposure,” 19th International Conference on Fusion Reactor Materials, La Jolla, CA, October 27-November 1, 2019
  25. D. Nishijima, M. Tokitani, D. Nagata, M. Patino, and R.P. Doerner, “D Retention Properties of RAFM Steels,” 19th International Conference on Fusion Reactor Materials, La Jolla, CA, October 27-November 1, 2019
  26. M.I. Patino, D. Nishijima, M. Tokitani, D. Nagata, T. Schwarz-Selinger, “Material mixing and helium penetration during helium-induced fuzz growth,” 18th International Conference on Plasma-Facing Materials and Components for Fusion Applications, Julich, Germany (virtual), May 17-21, 2021
  27. M. Simmonds, T. Schwarz-Selinger, M. Ghanem, I. Frankel, N. Boechler, M. Patino, M. Baldwin, R. Doerner, and G. Tynan, “Reduction in defect removal and in thermal diffusivity recovery due to synergistic defect occupation by hydrogen during annealing self-damaged W,” 18th International Conference on Plasma-Facing Materials and Components for Fusion Applications, Julich, Germany (virtual), May 17-21, 2021
  28. M.I. Patino, D. Nishijima, M. Tokitani, D. Nagata, and R.P. Doerner, “PISCES: new insight into fuzz formation using thin films of mixed materials,” 30th ITPA Meeting of TG SOL and Divertor Physics, (virtual), June 28-July 9, 2021 (invited)
  29. M.J. Simmonds, A. Zaloznik, T. Schwarz-Selinger, M.I. Patino, M.J. Baldwin, R.P. Doerner, and G.R. Tynan, “Possible defect stabilization due to simultaneous D plasma exposure during annealing in self-ion damaged W,” IAEA Technical meeting on Effects of Hydrogen Supersaturation and Irradiation Damage Stabilization in Fusion Nuclear Materials, Aix-en-Provence, France, April 11-12, 2022


Invited Seminars

  1. M. Patino, “Secondary Electron Emission from Fusion-Relevant Materials,” Plasma Science and Technology Seminar at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ, March 18, 2016
  2. M. Patino, “Plasma Interparticle and Particle-Wall Interactions,” Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Departmental Seminars at the University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, June 16, 2017
  3. M.I. Patino, R.P. Doerner, T. Schwarz-Selinger, M.J. Baldwin, and G.R. Tynan, “Ballistic helium transport during helium induced fuzz growth in tungsten,” Seminar for Division of Plasma Edge and Wall at Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, Garching, Germany (virtual), April 6, 2022
  4. M. Patino, “The road to becoming a fusion material scientist: from dielectric barrier discharges to tungsten fuzz,” Magnifying Voices in Physics Seminar at the University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, April 15, 2022 


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