Plasma & Ultrafast Laser Science & Engineering Group Researchers

Creating innovative laser-plasma science through education,
impactful publications, novel advancements, and community engagement

For more information about PULSE or student opportunities contact Dustin Froula or one of the scientists in the division.

Dustin Froula.

Dustin Froula

Primary Appointment: Division Director
Secondary Appointment: Professor of Physics, Physics and Astronomy Department

BS Physics, 1998 from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
MS Physics, 2000 from University of California at Davis
PhD Physics, 2002 from University of California at Davis

Research Interests: Basic plasma physics, laser–plasma interactions, Thomson scattering, and advanced optical diagnostics

Dustin Froula's Bio

Headshot of Elizabeth Conrow

Liz Conrow

Business Administrator for the PULSE Division Director, PULSE Program Coordinator

Phil Nilson

Philip Nilson

Senior Scientist, Special Projects, Ultrafast Dense Plasma Physics

MPhys Physics, University of Warwick, UK
PhD Physics, Imperial College London, UK

Research Interests: High-energy-density physics; intense radiation–matter interactions; plasma spectroscopy; shock waves and high-temperature hydrodynamic phenomena; hydrodynamic instability growth; magnetic fields; inertial confinement fusion

Philip Nilson's Bio

Laser–Plasma Interactions

David Turnbull.

David Turnbull

Laser–Plasma Interactions Group Leader

BS Mechanical Engineering, 2007 from University of California at San Diego
MA Mechanical Engineering Applied & Plasma Physics, 2009 from Princeton University
PhD Mechanical Engineering Applied & Plasma Physics, 2013 from Princeton University

Research Interests: Laser–plasma interactions, plasma photonics, inertial confinement fusion, and plasma physics

David Turnbull's Bio

Dana Edgell

Dana Edgell

Senior Scientist

BSc Applied Physics, 1985 from University of Waterloo
MS Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics, 1987 from University of Wisconsin-Madison
PhD Engineering Physics, 1997 from University of Wisconsin-Madison

Research Interests: Laser–plasma interactions and cross-beam energy transfer in direct-drive fusion

Arnaud Colaitis

Arnaud Colaïtis

Staff Scientist

MSc in Physics, 2010 from Imperial College London, United Kingdom
MSc in Aeronautical Engineering, 2010 from ENSICA, Toulouse, France
PhD in Astrophysics, Plasmas, Nuclear physics from Université de Bordeaux, France

Research Interests: Inertial Confinement Fusion, Numerical Methods, Laser-Plasma Interactions, Particle Transport, Magneto-Hydrodynamics and High Performance Computing

Russ Follett

Russ Follett

Staff Scientist

BS Physics, Colorado State University
MA Plasma Physics, University of Rochester
PhD Plasma Physics, University of Rochester

Research Interests: Numerical simulation of laser–plasma interactions for inertial confinement fusion applications; optical Thomson scattering

Russell Follett's Bio

Photo Portrait of Daniel Haberberger.

Dan Haberberger

Staff Scientist

BS Electrical Engineering, 2005 from University of Texas at Austin
MS Electrical Engineering, 2008 from University of California at Los Angeles
PhD Electrical Engineering, 2012 from University of California at Los Angeles

Research Interests: Short-pulse laser–plasma interactions, laser-driven ion acceleration, and Raman amplification

Avram Milder

Avram Milder

Scientist

BS Physics & Mathematics, 2015 from the University of Massachusetts Amherst
PhD Physics, 2021 from University of Rochester

Research Interests: Laser-plasma interaction, kinetic plasma physics, ponderomotive forces, optical Thomson scattering, and optical diagnostic development

Avram Milder's Bio

Rahul Shah.

Rahul Shah

Staff Scientist

BS Electrical Engineering, 1999 from University of Pittsburgh
MS Electrical Engineering, 2001 from University of Michigan
PhD Electrical Engineering, 2005 from University of Michigan

Research Interests: Direct-drive implosion symmetry, break-up and hot-spot thermal conditions (primarily with x-ray based diagnostics). Laser coupling and coronal conditions in direct-drive implosions for robust ignition.

Julie Hernandez

Julie Hernandez

Lab Engineer

BS in Engineering & Applied Sciences, and Minor in Environmental Engineering, 2024 from the University of Rochester

Research Interests: Thomson scattering, plasma physics, plasma diagnostics, fusion energy

Photo Portrait of Romain Liotard.

Romain Liotard

Postdoctoral Researcher

MA jointly from Université Paris-Saclay and the University of Bordeaux & Institut d’Optique Graduate School
PhD from CELIA laboratory at the University of Bordeaux

Research Interests: ICF simulations and laser-matter interaction

Laser–Plasma Physics

John Palastro

John Palastro

Primary Appointment: Senior Scientist
Secondary Appointment: Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering & Institute of Optics

BS Applied Mathematics, Clemson University
PhD Physics, University of Maryland, College Park

Research Interests: Short- and long-pulse laser–matter interactions, plasma-based accelerators and radiation sources

John Palastro's Bio

Kyle Miller

Kyle Miller

Scientist

BS in Physics, 2015 from Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
MS in Physics, 2016 from Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
PhD Physics, 2022 from University of California at Los Angeles

Kale Weichman

Kale Weichman

Assistant Scientist

BS Nuclear Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
PhD Engineering Physics, University of California San Diego

Research Interests: Relativistic short pulse laser–plasma interaction, plasma-based accelerators and radiation sources

Kale Weichman's Bio

Dillon Ramsey

Dillon Ramsey

Assistant Scientist

BS Physics and Mathematics, 2018, SUNY Geneseo
MS Physics and Astronomy, 2020, University of Rochester
PhD Physics and Astronomy, 2023, University of Rochester

Relativistic Laser-Plasma Experiments

Hans Rinderknecht.

Hans Rinderkenecht

Primary Appointment: Relativistic Laser-Plasma Experiments Group Leader
Secondary Appointment: Assistant Professor, Physics and Astronomy Department

BA in Physics, 2008 from Princeton University
PhD in Plasma Physics, 2015 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Research Interests: Laser-driven fusion, kinetic plasma physics, plasma nuclear physics, and relativistic laser–plasma interactions

Hans Rinderknecht's Bio

Anthony Raymond

Anthony Raymond

Scientist

BS in Physics & B.S. in Mathematics, 2011 from Tarleton State University
MS in Applied Physics, 2013 from University of Michigan
PhD in Applied Physics, 2016 from University of Michigan

Research Interests: Relativistic laser-plasma interactions, inertial confinement fusion, nonlinear optics, plasma diagnostics

Jessica Shaw

Jessica Shaw

Staff Scientist

BS Civil and Environmental Engineering Villanova 2010
BA in Physics, 2010 from Villanova University
MS in Electrical Engineering, 2013 from University of California at Los Angeles
PhD in Electrical Engineering, 2016 from University of California at Los Angeles

Research Interests: Short-pulse laser–plasma interactions, laser wakefield acceleration, and betatron sources

Marco Romo-Gonzalez

Marco Romo-Gonzalez

Deputy Diversity Manager
Research Engineer

BS in Physics and BA in Ethnic Studies from California State University Stanislaus

Photo Portrait of Charlie Arrowsmith.

Charlie Arrowsmith

Assistant Scientist

MPhys Physics, University of Oxford
PhD Atomic and Laser Physics, University of Oxford

Research Interests: High-intensity laser-plasma interactions, plasma physics, laboratory astrophysics

Ultrafast Laser-Plasma Diagnostics

Photo portrait of Jeremy Pigeon.

Jeremy Pigeon

Ultrafast Plasma Photonics Group Leader

BS in Physics and BS in Health Physics, 2008 from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
MS in Electrical Engineering, 2013 from University of California at Los Angeles
PhD in Electrical Engineering, 2017 from University of California at Los Angeles

Research Interests: Nonlinear optics of gases and semiconductors, picosecond gas lasers, laser-drive ion acceleration, high-power laser sources

Jeremy Pigeon's Bio

Headshot Photo of Joshua Kendrick

Joshua Kendrick

Senior Laboratory Specialist

AS in Engineering Science, 2016 from Monroe Community College
BA in French Teaching, 1999 from University of Arizona

Bob Boni

Robert Boni

Senior Research Engineer

BS Physics, 1979 from the University of Rochester

Research Interests: Advanced diagnostic development, optical modeling, electron-optics, x-ray, and optical streak cameras

Bill Donaldson

William Donaldson

Primary Appointment: Senior Scientist
Secondary Appointmment: Materials Science

BS Physics & Mathematics, 1976 from Carnegie-Mellon University
PhD Electrical Engineering 1984, from Cornell University

Research Interests: Physics of photoconductive switches, streak-camera development, the optical response of high-temperature superconductors, optical semiconductor diagnostics, electro-optic characterization of electronic circuits, laser patterning of surfaces, and the florescence of biological molecules

Patricia Estrela

Patrícia Estrela

Postdoctoral Researcher

MS in Engineering Physics, 2018 from Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico 
PhD in  Engineering Physics 2024 from Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico 

Research Interests: Structured light, high-harmonic generation, ultrafast optics, x-ray optics