Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory



Lawrence Livermore physicist Félicie Albert was awarded the 2017 Edouard Fabre Prize for her contributions to the physics of laser-driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF) and laser-produced plasmas. Albert, an experimental plasma physicist at the National Ignition Facility, shares this year’s award with collaborator Alexis Casner, who is a research director of the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission. Sponsored by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology Network for Inertial Confinement Fusion, the Edouard Fabre Prize is named for one of the founders of ICF in Europe and is awarded to active researchers within 15 years of their doctoral degree.

Laboratory researchers John Heebner and Constantin Haefner have been elected fellows of the Optical Society of America. Heebner was cited for his “numerous innovations, achievements, and technical leadership in high-energy laser systems and integrated optics including nonlinear optical microresonators and ultrafast light deflectors.” Heebner leads the Ultrafast Optical and Electronics Systems Group, which supports multiple Laboratory programs. The group is pioneering diagnostic techniques that bridge the gap between ultrafast optics and high-bandwidth electronics.

Haefner is the program director for Advanced Photon Technology at the Laboratory and was recognized for “pioneering next-generation, high-average-power petawatt laser systems enabling a new arena of applications and sustained advancement of state-of-the art technologies in large-scale, high-intensity, peak-power laser systems.” As program director, Haefner leads the research and development of advanced laser systems and technologies in support of national security missions as well as scientific and industrial applications.

Livermore engineer and computational mechanics expert Jerome Solberg, along with collaborators at Argonne National Laboratory and Texas A&M University, won a Best Paper Award at the 17th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics. Their paper, entitled “High-Fidelity Simulation of Flow Induced Vibrations in Helical Steam Generators for Small Modular Reactors,” details how the team created simulations to study the effects of vibrations caused by water (used as coolant) flowing over steam generator tubes in nuclear reactors. The capability could have benefits to design schedule, cost, and risk analysis, and could improve the ability to evaluate replacing or retrofitting such generators.