Carl Ernest Wagner

Dr. Carl E. Wagner of Rancho Santa Fe, CA passed away on April 28, 2018 at the age of 77. Carl was born in Pinewald, Berkeley Township, NJ in 1940 and lived most of his childhood in Toms River, NJ, where he graduated from Toms River High School in 1957. Carl attended college at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he earned a B.S. in Physics in 1961 and a Sc.D. in Nuclear Engineering in 1970.

Carl worked as a Plasma Physicist for 33 years, mainly specializing in the effort to achieve and harness controlled fusion with its promise of boundless energy. From 1981 to 1984, while working as Chief Physicist at INESCO Inc., he was responsible for all physics-related aspects of the Riggatron fusion reactor design, which was the first practical design of a fusion ignition experiment and the predecessor of the Compact Ignition Tokomak at Princeton University. Overall, he has made significant contributions in the fields of fusion reactor design, computational physics, theoretical plasma physics, astrophysics, free-electron masers, isotope separation, artificial intelligence, and underwater acoustics.

Carl was also an avid chess player since his youth. He won numerous tournaments including the 1956 New Jersey High School Championship, 1966 U.S. Intercollegiate Championship (Team), 1967 U.S. Intercollegiate Championship (Individual), and 1991 and 1993 U.S. Senior Championships. He has been designated by the US Chess Federation as a Senior Master and Life Master, and was a longtime member of the San Diego Chess Club.

In addition to his scientific contributions and excellence in chess, Carl enjoyed international folk dancing. In 1978, while folk dancing in San Diego’s Balboa Park, he met the love of his life, Barbara J. Carter, and they performed together as members of several folk dance ensembles. They married in 1979 and were blessed with 2 children, Laura and David. In 1987, they settled in Rancho Santa Fe, CA where they lived for over 30 years.

Carl is survived by his wife of 39 years Barbara (Carter), daughter Laura, son David, and brother Lawrence Jr. He was preceded in death by his parents Dorothy and Lawrence. Carl will be remembered as a brilliant scientist, accomplished chess player, talented dancer, and devoted husband & father.