Ady Hershcovitch is a plasma physicist best known for his 1995 invention, the plasma window,[1] which was later patented. (United States Patent: 5578831:Hershcovitch).[2] In the plasma window, a plasma (which is an ionized gas confined by electric and magnetic fields) separates air from a vacuum by preventing the air from rushing into the vacuum. This scientific development can facilitate non-vacuum ion material modification, manufacturing of superalloys, and high-quality non-vacuum electron-beam welding.[3][4] The device has been compared to the force field in the Star Trek TV series.[5] He is well known for his work in plasma physics at Brookhaven National Laboratory.[6][7] He has over 80 publications and 15 patents.[8]

Academic career

Hershcovitch earned his master's in nuclear engineering in 1975 and his Sc.D. in applied plasma physics in 1977 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[9] In 1980, Hershcovitch continued his research at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, NY.[10] Some of his most notable research involves development of plasma windows for transmission of synchrotron radiation and particle beams, in-situ coating techniques for Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) designed to reduce cold-bore resistivity and electron cloud formation, working on the Active Denial System (ADS) for radioactive waste transmutation and sub-critical nuclear reactors, development of electron guns with plasma cathodes, directing projects in Russia aimed at development of high charge state DC ion sources for MeV ion implanters and developing a non-vacuum electron beam and in-water techniques like welders and water purifiers.[11][12] He was an adjunct professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas from 2006-2010 and is currently an adjunct professor at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY.[13][14]

International collaboration

In Tomsk, Russia, Hershcovitch works as a consultant for Plasma Sources LTD.[15] He also works with the Skolkovo Foundation as a Nuclear Cluster Expert Panel Member to promote research that can result in commercial products.[16] Since 2010, Hershcovitch has also been a visiting scientist at the Riken Nishina Center in Wako, Japan.[17]

Awards and honors

In 1987, he received the I.R. 100 Award for the development of ion-sensitive probe and in 1996, after patenting the Plasma Window, Hershcovitch received the R&D 100 Award, both selected as one of the 100 most significant technological developments worldwide.[18] On October 1, 2007, he was elected to the American Physical Society Fellowship.[19]

Personal life

Hershcovitch is currently married to Kathy Hershcovitch and resides in Long Island, NY.[20]

Media

Hershcovitch’s plasma window was featured on the History Channel program "The Universe" pertaining to Weapons of the Future.[21] The Plasma Window is featured in book by Michio Kaku titled “Physics of the Impossible”.[22] New Scientist has listed the plasma window as one of the 10 impossibilities conquered by science.[23]

References

  1. ↑ "Plasma Window". WikiAudio. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  2. ↑ Hershcovitch, Ady. "Method and apparatus for charged particle propagation". United States Patent Office.
  3. ↑ "Plasma Window Technology for Propagating Particle Beams and Radiation from Vacuum to Atmosphere". Tech Briefs. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  4. ↑ "Acceleron Electron Beam, LLC, Wins Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to Commercialize New Welding Technique Developed at Brookhaven Lab". BNL News Release. Brookhaven National Laboratory.
  5. ↑ "Hot Mettle". No. New Scientist. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  6. ↑ Kren, Lawrence (2004-07-08). "New "window" of opportunity for e-beam welding". Machine Design. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  7. ↑ Kaku, Michio (2008). Physics of the Impossible. First Anchor Books: First Anchor Books. pp. 10–11. ISBN 978-0307278821.
  8. ↑ "United States Patent Office". US Patent Office. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  9. ↑ "MIT Alumni Directory".
  10. ↑ Directory and Survey of Particle Physicists. Diane Publishing. Jan 1, 1999. p. 134. ISBN 9780788175817. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  11. ↑ "Plasma Physics R&D for Some non- Fusion Physics & Industrial Applications" (PDF).
  12. ↑ A. Hershcovitch; M. Blaskiewicz; J.M. Brennan; A. Chawla; W. Fischer; C.-J. Liaw; W. Meng; R. Todd; A. Custer; M. Erickson; N. Jamshidi; P. Kobrin; R. Laping; H. J. Poole. "Device and technique for in-situ coating of the RHIC cold bore vacuum tubes with thick OFHC*". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  13. ↑ "Stony Brook University Faculty Directory". Department of Civil Engineering Faculty. Stony Brook University. Archived from the original on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  14. ↑ "Seven Brookhaven Lab Scientists Named American Physical Society Fellows".
  15. ↑ Hershcovitch, Ady. "New generation of ion sources based on non-conducting solid-state matters for semiconductor industry".
  16. ↑ "DOE-GIPP, Skolkovo foundation funding to Plasma Sources LTD" (PDF). Contract No. DE-AC02-98CH1-886 with the US Department of Energy.
  17. ↑ A. Hershcovitch; H. Okuno; N. Fukunishi; A. Goto; H. Hasebe; H. Imao; O. Kamigaito; M. Kase; H. Kuboki; Y. Yano & S. Yokouchi (March 2011). "Low-Z gas stripper as an alternative to carbon foils for the acceleration of high-power uranium beams". Physical Review Special Topics: Accelerators and Beams. 14 (3): 033503. Bibcode:2011PhRvS..14c3503O. doi:10.1103/PhysRevSTAB.14.033503.
  18. ↑ "BNL Wins R&D 100 Award for 'Plasma Window" (PDF). No. Vol. 50 – No. 41. Brookhave Bulletin. United States Department of Energy -- Brookhaven National Laboratory. October 18, 1996. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  19. ↑ "Seven Brookhaven Lab Scientists Named American Physical Society Fellows".
  20. ↑ "MIT Alumni Directory: Personal Life".
  21. ↑ "Weapons of the Future". The History Channel.
  22. ↑ Kaku, Michio (2008). Physics of the Impossible. First Anchor Books: First Anchor Books. pp. 10–11. ISBN 978-0307278821.
  23. ↑ "10 impossibilities conquered by science". New Scientist. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
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