Past Recipients of the Plasma Science and Applications Award

2011Andrew Ng, University of British Columbia
For pioneering contributions to Warm Dense Matter Science through research on laser-driven shock compression and isochoric laser heating of solids, and for pivotal leadership in the advancement of Warm Dense Matter as a multidisciplinary scientific frontier.
2010Thomas Katsouleas, Duke University
For fundamental contributions to the field of plasma-based accelerators.
2009Robert H. Barker, Air Force Office of Scientific Research
For more than two decades of visionary leadership in the fields of non-equilibrium air plasmas, compact pulsed power, and high power microwave/millimeter-wave electronics.
2008Phillip Sprangle, Naval Research Laboratory
For pioneering research in plasma science, advanced accelerators and advanced radiation sources.
2007Yitzhak Maron, Weizmann Institute of Science
For pioneering the application of spectroscopic techniques to the detailed space and time characterization of electric and magnetic fields, charged-particle beams, and plasmas under extreme conditions of high-current, high-voltage, high-fields, and short-duration.
2006Christopher Deeney, Sandia National Laboratories
For contributions to the advancement of Z-pinch physics understanding and applications.
2005Neville Luhmann, Jr., University of California, Davis
For pioneering contributions to basic plasma science, and for the development of coherent microwave sources, including harmonic gyrotrons and gyro-TWTs, and of millimeter-wave imaging technologies, for plasma diagnostics and other applications.
2004David A. Hammer, Cornell University
For fundamental contributions to the understanding of intense relativistic electron beam propagation, intense ion beam generation and propagation, innovative plasma diagnostic development for intense beam devices, x-ray source development using novel plasma pinches, and for his commitment to the mentoring of graduate students in the field of plasma science.
2003Thomas A. Antonsen, Jr., University of Maryland
For his creative and seminal analyses of important problems in relativistic electronics, in the interaction of intense light pulses with plasmas, and in the heating and confinement of fusion plasmas.
2002lgor Alexeff, University of Tennessee
For outstanding contributions to plasma science, including pioneering work on ion acoustic waves and on plasma sheath expansion, substantial impact on the development of high power microwave sources, dedicated mentorship and education of generations of students, and extraordinary professional service, including co-founding of the IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society in 1972.
2001Kwo Ray Chu, National Tsing Hua University of Taiwan
For seminal plasma physics investigations yielding fundamental insight into coherent radiation processes, thereby significantly advancing the state of gyro-oscillator and amplifier technology.
2000Mark Kushner, University of Illinois
For pioneering contributions to industrial applied plasma physics through personal research, consultation, the education of students, and the establishment of a world-class industrial plasma research facility at the University of Illinois.
1999Y.Y. Lau, University of Michigan
For pioneering contributions to the science of electron-beams and coherent radiation sources, including electron-beam instabilities and crossed-field flow, multipactor, gyro-amplifiers, and ion-noise in traveling wave tubes.
1998Akira Hirose, University of Saskatchewan
For outstanding contributions to theoretical/experimental work on basic and fusion-related plasma science including studies of waves, turbulent heating, quasi-steady operation, and anomalous transport in tokamaks.
1997Ronald M. Gilgenbach, University of Michigan
For his many contributions to plasma science, particularly those in the area of cyclotron resonance heating of plasmas, long-pulse high-power diodes, electron beam transport and stability, and innovative diagnostics of laser-ablated plasma plumes.
1996Wallace M. Manheimer, Naval Research Laboratory
For pioneering contributions to relativistic microwave electronics and to basic plasma theory. In particular, for developing new concepts in coherent radiation generation, including the quasi-optical gyrotron, and of new techniques for analyzing gyrotrons, gyro-klystrons, and free electron lasers.
1995Michael A. Lieberman. University of California, Berkeley
For contributions to the pioneering development of the fields of fusion plasmas, plasma processing, and nonlinear dynamics, through both research and teaching.
1994Francis F. Chen, University of California, Los Angeles
For outstanding contributions to plasma science in the areas of magnetic fusion, inertial confinement fusion, plasma diagnostics, laser-plasma interactions, plasma processing, and basic plasma phenomena.
1993Noah Hershkowitz, University of Wisconsin
For contributions to plasma science through numerous experimental investigations of a variety of basic plasma phenomena, including solitons, plasma sheaths, ion-acoustic waves, electrostatic double layers, and magnetic cusps. His pioneering research efforts have dramatically enhanced our understanding of the confinement, heating, and stabilization of tandem mirror plasmas, as well as fueling and impurity generation processes in small and medium-sized tokamaks.
1992Paul F. Ottinger, Naval Research Laboratory
For outstanding contributions in two areas of plasma science: intense light-ion-beam transport, stability and focusing for inertial confinement fusion, and the theory of the plasma opening switch for application to pulsed-power generators.
1991Victor L. Granatstein, University of Maryland
For outstanding contributions to three areas of research: microwave generation with intense relativistic electron beams, RF sources for electron resonance heating of fusion plasmas, and microwave device physics and technology.
1990Leon Shohet, University of Wisconsin
For outstanding contributions to research and education in the field of plasma science and engineering including significant contributions to stellarator research.
1989George Bekefi, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
For outstanding contributions to the understanding of electromagnetic radiation processes in electron beam devices and plasma.
1988Charles K. Birdsall, University of California, Berkeley
For the development and application of many-particle computer simulations to instabilities, heating and transport of high-temperature plasmas.