Ady Hershcovitch Explained
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]
Notes and References
- Web site: Plasma Window. WikiAudio. 25 September 2017.
- Hershcovitch. Ady. Method and apparatus for charged particle propagation. United States Patent Office.
- Web site: Plasma Window Technology for Propagating Particle Beams and Radiation from Vacuum to Atmosphere. Tech Briefs. 14 May 2017.
- News: 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..
- News: Hot Mettle. 14 May 2017. New Scientist.
- Web site: Kren. Lawrence. New "window" of opportunity for e-beam welding. Machine Design. 24 September 2017. 2004-07-08.
- Book: Kaku, Michio. Physics of the Impossible. First Anchor Books. 2008. 978-0307278821. First Anchor Books. 10–11.
- Web site: United States Patent Office. US Patent Office. 14 May 2017.
- Web site: MIT Alumni Directory.
- Book: Directory and Survey of Particle Physicists. Jan 1, 1999. Diane Publishing. 134. 14 May 2017. 9780788175817.
- Web site: Plasma Physics R&D for Some non- Fusion Physics & Industrial Applications.
- 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*.
- Web site: Stony Brook University Faculty Directory. Department of Civil Engineering Faculty. Stony Brook University. 14 May 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170517173049/http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/civileng/people/facultydirectory-1. 17 May 2017. dead.
- Web site: Seven Brookhaven Lab Scientists Named American Physical Society Fellows.
- Web site: Hershcovitch. Ady. New generation of ion sources based on non-conducting solid-state matters for semiconductor industry.
- Web site: DOE-GIPP, Skolkovo foundation funding to Plasma Sources LTD. Contract No. DE-AC02-98CH1-886 with the US Department of Energy..
- A. Hershcovitch. H. Okuno. N. Fukunishi. A. Goto. H. Hasebe. H. Imao. O. Kamigaito. M. Kase. H. Kuboki. Y. Yano. S. Yokouchi. amp. 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. March 2011. 2011PhRvS..14c3503O. 10.1103/PhysRevSTAB.14.033503. free.
- News: BNL Wins R&D 100 Award for 'Plasma Window. 14 May 2017. United States Department of Energy -- Brookhaven National Laboratory. 50. 41. Brookhave Bulletin. October 18, 1996.
- Web site: Seven Brookhaven Lab Scientists Named American Physical Society Fellows.
- Web site: MIT Alumni Directory: Personal Life.
- Web site: Weapons of the Future. The History Channel.
- Book: Kaku, Michio. Physics of the Impossible. First Anchor Books. 2008. 978-0307278821. First Anchor Books. 10–11.
- News: 10 impossibilities conquered by science. New Scientist. 2017-02-28. en-US.