American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Plasmadynamics and Lasers Technical Committee
Awards
AIAA and the Plasmadynamics and Lasers technical committee select award recipients for
1. Plasmadynamics and Lasers
2. Plasmadynamics and Lasers Best Paper
3. Plasmadynamics and Lasers Best Student Paper
Nomination forms for all awards can be found here. Please note that you may have to be logged
in to use the online nomination form. Please click on the links above or scroll down to read more
about these awards and to see a list of past recipients.
Plasmadynamics and Lasers Award
Approved by the Board of Directors in 1991, this award is presented for outstanding
contributions to the understanding of the physical properties and dynamical behavior of matter in
the plasma state and lasers as related to need in aeronautics and astronautics.
Past Recipients
Yamasaki, Hiroyuk/2006
In recognition of a distinguished career in the advancement of closed cycle, nonequilibrium MHD power technology with pioneering accomplishments in defining
plasma discharge structure, ionization stability, and MHD disk generator optimization.
Solomon, Wayne/2005
For significant contributions to the technology of HF, DF, and COIL lasers and the
mentoring of young engineers and scientists who have become leaders in the laser
technology.
Shang, Joseph/2004
In recognition of a distinguished career with pioneering contributions in the development
of advanced computing procedures for simulation of Aerodynamics, Electromagnetics,
Non-Equilibrium Reacting Flows, and Plasma-Magneto-Aerodynamics Interaction
Thomas Brogan/2003
In recognition of a distinguished career in the science of magnetohydrodynamics
providing major contributions to the enhanced understanding of MHD processes and the
design of MHD power systems for terrestrial and aerospace platforms.
Yuri Raizer /2002
For lifelong original contributions to shock wave physics, gasdynamics, explosion
physics, gas discharge physics, and interaction of laser radiation with plasmas.
George Emanuel /2001
For pioneering analysis work on Chemical Lasers and Invention of a CW chemically
pumped visible ultraviolet laser based controlled condensation.
Wheeler McGregor /2000
In recognition of a distinguished career in the fields of plasmadynamics and lasers with
special recognition of pioneering contributions in development of spectroscopy rocket
plume diagnostics.
Lee Sentman /1999
For pioneering work on elucidating the physical-chemical processes responsible for the
fundamental and overtone power spectral performance of HF/DF chemical lasers
Richard Rosa /1998
In recognition of outstanding personal achievement in the fields of plasma,
plasmadynamics and magnetohydrodynamics and in fostering these sciences as both a
researcher and educator
Theodore Jacobs /1997
For the invention and development of the megawatt continuous HF/DF chemical laser,
which laid the foundations for the shipboard and space based laser defense systems.
S. T. Wu/1996
In recognition of outstanding technical achievement as a scientist and educator in
pioneering MHD theory on the dynamic processes in the solar plasmas and solarterrestrial relations that laid the foundations for space weather prediction.
Ying Chu Lin “Susan” Wu/1994
For technical achievement and leadership as a scientist, researcher and educator in the
fields of plasmadynamics and magnetohydrodynamics and for untiring efforts in fostering
these sciences through AIAA.
Abraham Hertzberg/1992
For outstanding contributions to gas dynamics and gas physics, including gas lasers and
laser applications; and to the prepartion of young engineers for careers in the field.
Plasmadynamics and Lasers Best Paper Award
This award, established by the Plasmadynamics and Lasers Technical Committee, is awarded for
excellence in the technical content of an AIAA paper combined with presentation quality.
Professional achievement is recognized by identifying one contribution in a year as the Best
Paper. The Committee, based on the recommendation of the Best Paper Subcommittee, may
confer a Best Paper Award each year based on the following description: The purposes of the
Best Paper Award are to motivate participants in the sessions sponsored by the Plasmadynamics
and Lasers Committee toward excellence in technical content and presentation of papers and to
recognize professional achievement by identifying one contribution as the best paper.
This award is designated for the deliverance of an outstanding paper, and not simply the best
paper given at a meeting. As such, it is not mandatory to present the award every year. A list of
all recipients of the Best Paper Award is presented below. The award consists of a Certificate of
Merit.
All AIAA papers are available in the AIAA Online Library. This database allows you to search
for and order a copy of the paper online and for papers from recent years view the first page of
each paper. A direct link to each paper within the database can be found by clicking on the paper
number in the table below.
Past Recipients
“Simulation of Time-Dependent Oscillations in a cw HF Chemical Laser Confocal
Unstable Resonator”, A. Palla and L. Sentman, University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, Urbana, IL; and D. Carroll, CU Aerospace, Urbana, IL, AIAA-2005-5365.
“Mitigation of Oxygen Attachment in High Pressure Air Plasmas by Vibrational
Excitation”, K. Frederickson, W. Lee, I. Adamovich, J. Rich, W. Lempert and P. Palm,
Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, AIAA-2004-2257.
“Velocity Phase Space Studies of Ion Dynamics in the Vasimr Engine”, E. Bering,
University of Houston, Houston, TX; F. Chang Díaz, J. Squire and T. Glover, NASA
Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX; R. Bengtson, University of Texas at Austin, Austin,
TX; M. Brukardt, University of Houston, Houston, TX, AIAA-2004-150.
“Approximate Closed-Form Expression for the Probability of Burst of a Pressurized
Metal Cylinder Irradiated by a High-Energy Laser”, K. Zondervan, The Aerospace
Corporation, Los Angeles, CA; D. Beck, US Air Force, Los Angeles, CA, AIAA-20022220.
“CFD-based computer simulation of optical turbulence through aircraft flowfields and
wakes”, Mike I. Jones and Erich E. Bender (Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort
Worth, TX), AIAA-2001-2798.
“Computational studies of magnetic control in hypersonic flow”, J. Poggie and D. V.
Gaitonde (USAF Research Lab., Wright-Patterson AFB, OH), AIAA-2001-196.
“Effects of evolving surface contamination on spacecraft charging”, W. Y. Chang, J. R.
Dennison, Jason Kite, and R. E. Davies (Utah State Univ., Logan), AIAA-2000-868.
“Further consideration of compressibility effects on shear layer optical distortion”,
Edward J. Fitzgerald and Eric J. Jumper (Notre Dame, Univ., IN), AIAA-1999-3617.
“Review and comparison of electrical models for diagonal MHD generator crosssections”, WINCKELMANS, G. S.MAXWELL, C. D.DEMETRIADES, S. T. (STD
Research Corp., Arcadia, CA), AIAA-1991-1519.
Plasmadynamics and Lasers Best Student Paper Award
This award, established by the Plasmadynamics and Lasers Technical Committee, is awarded for
excellence in the technical content of an AIAA paper combined with presentation quality.
Professional achievement is recognized by identifying one contribution in a year as the Best
Paper. The Committee, based on the recommendation of the Best Student Paper Subcommittee,
may confer a Best Student Paper Award each year based on the following description: The
purposes of the Best Student Paper Award are to motivate participants in the sessions sponsored
by the Plasmadynamics and Lasers Committee toward excellence in technical content and
presentation of papers and to recognize professional achievement by identifying one contribution
as the best paper.
This award is designated for the deliverance of an outstanding paper, and not simply the best
student paper given at a meeting. As such, it is not mandatory to present the award every year. A
list of all recipients of the Best Student Paper Award is presented below. The award consists of a
Certificate of Merit.
All AIAA papers are available in the AIAA Online Library. This database allows you to search
for and order a copy of the paper online and for papers from recent years view the first page of
each paper. A direct link to each paper within the database can be found by clicking on the paper
number in the table below.