Ten Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory researchers named 2014 APS fellows

LIVERMORE, Calif. – Ten Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists have been selected as 2014 fellows of the American Physical Society (APS).

The new fellows represent a wide selection of physics expertise, ranging from laser science to hohlraum design to theoretical solid state physics. APS fellowships are awarded after extensive review and are considered a distinct honor because the evaluation process, conducted by the fellowship committees of individual divisions, topical groups and forums, relies on nomination and recommendation by candidate's professional peers.

Michael Armstrong

Physicist Michael Armstrong was cited by the Topical Group on Instrument and Measurement Science for "outstanding contributions to time-domain experimental methods applied to materials under extreme conditions."

"While the diverse and ambitious scope of work at LLNL has provided me with great opportunities, I’ve also had the privilege to work with exceptional colleagues who consistently challenge me and each other to bring our work to a higher level," Armstrong said. "It’s been a pleasure seeing this collaborative process bear fruit, overcoming some difficult obstacles."

Chris Barty

Chris Barty, chief technology officer for the NIF and Photon Science Principal Directorate, was cited by the Division of Laser Science for "pioneering contributions to the advancement of ultrahigh-intensity laser science and to the development of laser-based X-ray and gamma-ray science."

"It is of course a great honor to be recognized by one’s peers, but it is especially gratifying to share this recognition with this year’s class from LLNL," Barty said. "I am always amazed and inspired at the breadth and the quality of science undertaken here."

Ray Beach

Physicist Ray Beach was cited by the Division of Laser Science for "seminal contributions to high-average-power diode-end-pumped lasers, including many breakthroughs, widely adopted by the laser community, that have helped push such lasers to higher average powers and efficiencies, and for leadership in developing diode-pumped alkali-vapor lasers, and models for coherent and incoherent photon echoes."

"Being named an APS Fellow by my friends and colleagues is a great honor," Beach said. "I feel very privileged to have been chosen, but in the end the accomplishments that have been cited for me are more due to the people I've worked with both outside and inside LLNL, and the Lab itself rather than anything I've done on my own."

Debbie Callahan

Physicist Debbie Callahan was cited by the Division of Plasma Physics for "innovative design and modeling of hohlraums for inertial confinement fusion and leadership in the execution of hohlraum experiments on the National Ignition Facility."

"I’m honored to have been chosen for APS fellow," Callahan said. "I’ve had the privilege of spending my entire career at LLNL, starting as a graduate student. I’ve been surrounded by incredible people who have mentored me, challenged me and kept me on my toes. We are doing experiments on NIF that no one else can come close to and it has been fantastic to be a part of that team."

Tony Gonis

Tony Gonis, an expert in theoretical solid state physics, was cited by the Division of Computational Physics for "advancing multiple scattering theory electronic structure methods for metals, alloys and interfaces and for the dissemination of these techniques in condensed matter and materials science."

"I am grateful and humbled by the honor bestowed by my colleagues and can only hope to remain worthy of it," Gonis said.

Frederic Hartemann

Physicist Frederic Hartemann was cited by the Division of Physics of Beams for "remarkable insights and significant contributions to the physics of coherent radiation interacting with relativistic electrons."

"LLNL's stimulating and challenging intellectual environment, driven by physics in the national interest, offers a boundless constellation of deep and consequential questions with a unique toolset for search and discovery," Hartemann said. "Within this context, Shakespeare's lines, ‘There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy,’ beautifully reflect the overall spirit of our enterprise."

Nobuhiko Izumi

Physicist Nobuhiko Izumi was cited by the Topical Group on Instrument and Measurement Science for "outstanding contributions to the development of novel neutron and X-ray diagnostic capabilities for inertial confinement fusion experiments."

"I’m honored to be selected as an APS fellow. I have been lucky to have the chance to work with great people here at LLNL. From the very beginning of my days here, I have been impressed by a lot of exciting things," Izumi said. "I am really proud of my colleagues – they have given me excellent suggestions, great encouragement and have shown me the value of enthusiasm."

Robert Rudd

Robert Rudd, group leader for Computational Materials Science in the Condensed Matter and Materials Division, was cited by the Division of Computational Physics for "seminal contributions to multiscale modeling of materials physics and science in support of national security."

"I am delighted and honored to be one of the 2014 APS Fellows, a group that includes a favorite actor and science advocate, Alan Alda, as well as many friends from throughout my career from grad school to the Lab," Rudd said. "Work at LLNL offers extraordinary opportunities, through access to unique facilities like the supercomputers and the NIF, and also through interactions with exceptional colleagues. I have learned much from these brilliant scientists, and they certainly share in the credit."

James Tobin

Scientist James Tobin was cited by the Division of Condensed Matter Physics for "use of soft X-ray spectroscopy to investigate complex systems, including actinide-based materials."

"This was a very nice Christmas present," Tobin said.

Yinmin (Morris) Wang

Scientist Yinmin (Morris) Wang was cited by the Division of Materials Physics for "his major contributions to the understanding of deformation physics of nanocrystalline and nanotwinned materials, and for developing effective strategies to enhance the ductility of these superstrong materials for technological applications, including fusion energy targets."

"Election as an APS Fellow is a good testimony of the quality research that my colleagues and I have been performing over the years here at the Lab," Wang said. "I feel absolutely honored and humbled to share this recognition with many outstanding and dedicated scientists with whom I have been collaborating. I would especially like to thank my former Ph.D. adviser and senior managers at LLNL for continuously challenging me to undertake the research with the highest standards and for their unflinching support."

Election to APS fellowship is limited to no more than one half of 1 percent of APS' membership for a given year. Ten fellows is the highest number of recipients the Laboratory has garnered in a single year. In the past 30 years, nearly 100 LLNL employees have been elected APS fellows.