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January 10 Issue - Employee Monthly Magazine  The 2009 Laboratory Fellows standing outside the National Security Sciences Building were recognized for their outstanding scientific contributions and exceptional promise for continued professional achievement. Photos by LeRoy N. Sanchez Meet the newest Laboratory FellowsSix researchers from a variety of scientific disciplines were recently selected as 2009 Laboratory Fellows. Antoinette “Toni” Taylor, Stephen Becker, Joachim Birn, Lowell Brown, Patrick Colestock, and Samuel “Tom” Picraux were designated 2009 Laboratory Fellows in recognition of sustained, outstanding scientific contributions and exceptional promise for continued professional achievement. The title of Fellow is bestowed on only about 2 percent of the Laboratory’s current technical staff. The new Fellows have sustained high-level achievement important to the Laboratory, become recognized authorities in their fields, and made important discoveries used or cited by peers inside and outside the Laboratory. 
Toni Taylor of the Materials Physics and Applications Division is a pioneer in electromagnetic metamaterials as well as terahertz science and technology.
Toni Taylor of the Materials Physics and Applications Division is a pioneer in electromagnetic metamaterials, terahertz science and technology, and applying coherent control techniques to ultrafast optics, which provide unique insight into condensed-matter physics. Taylor has made key contributions in the exploration of fundamental properties of superconductors through ultrafast techniques; made key demonstrations of exquisite control of phase and amplitude in ultrafast pulses leading to coherent control of propagation in fibers; and has contributed to novel metamaterial concepts leading to devices with unique dielectric properties. She is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Optical Society of America. “I am quite thrilled at becoming a Laboratory Fellow, both personally and professionally. Over the years, I have worked with many Lab Fellows and have the utmost respect for their intellectual and scientific capabilities. I am honored to be included in this elite group,” said Taylor. An avid mountain climber, Taylor, husband Stuart Trugman, and children Anna and Daniel have climbed all 54 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks. “I have enjoyed the beauty and challenges of the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico,” she said, noting that she and her husband also have climbed glaciated peaks in Mexico and South America, such as Mexico’s Orizaba (18,405 feet) and Huyana Potasi (19,996 feet) in Bolivia. 
Stephen Becker
of the Applied
Physics Division
has been recognized
nationally and
internationally for
his understanding
of thermonuclear
weapons design
and interpretation of
radiochemical diagnostics.
New Laboratory Fellow Stephen Becker of the Applied Physics Division conducts research in astrophysics, weapons design, and intelligence assessment. He has participated in several nuclear tests, leading the design effort on four. His understanding of thermonuclear weapons design and interpretation of radiochemical diagnostics is recognized by colleagues nationally and internationally. Becker also has made major contributions to the Stockpile Stewardship program and has had a major impact on his scientific field through analysis of nuclear deterrence. “Being named a Fellow is a wonderful recognition of my overall scientific career at the Laboratory. I feel honored and happy to be named to such a select group,” said Becker. “I am very pleased to receive this honor, and I look forward to working with the other Fellows for the betterment of the Laboratory.” He noted that good mentors and a friendly working environment that encourages discussion and working with other scientists have contributed to his success at Los Alamos. "Managers recognized my potential early, and they encouraged me to continue my research in astrophysics and gave me opportunities to pursue interesting projects and research in the classified area. I was given a fair degree of independence in doing my work, which helped me come up with new ideas and projects and develop the ability to see the ‘bigger picture.’" Becker pursues astronomy as a hobby; he is president of the Pajarito Astronomers and also is involved in the Los Alamos Historical Society. A licensed pilot, Becker also travels to unusual locations and photographs his experiences.
Joachim Birn of Space Science and Application’s magnetosphere research has been valuable to the Laboratory’s nuclear test detection program.
Joachim Birn of Space Science and Applications said being named a 2009 Laboratory Fellow is a “great honor and the highlight of my career.” Birn credits a group atmosphere at Los Alamos that encourages and values scientific achievement, outside recognition, and communication for helping him achieve success. He added that continuing successful collaborations outside the Lab with a former supervisor and professor in Germany and with a former Lab student now at NASA have been important to his career successes. Birn studies complex plasma physics phenomena and reconnection, particularly in the Earth’s magnetosphere and solar corona. Birn’s development of a physical model of the static Earth’s magnetotail and the most comprehensive magneto-hydrodynamic computational model for the dynamic magnetotail are used as a benchmark for calculations of magnetotail dynamics. His magnetosphere research has been valuable to the Laboratory’s nuclear-test-detection programs and his influential work is significantly increasing the accuracy of predictions for the behavior of energetic electrons from high-altitude nuclear explosions. Birn enjoys skiing, horseback riding, modern dance, singing in barbershop and church choirs, and performing in local theater and light opera productions. 
Lowell Brown of Methods and Algorithms has made many contributions to physics, from quantum field theory, particle and nuclear physics, to astrophysics and fully ionized plasmas. When Lowell Brown of Methods and Algorithms retired from the University of Washington, it was the Laboratory’s gain. He came to Los Alamos as an affiliate from the Pacific Northwest school in 1987, but already he was knowledgeable about the Laboratory, having served as a consultant and member of the external advisory board for Theoretical Division. “I am very pleased and honored to become a Laboratory Fellow,” said Brown, explaining that since coming to Los Alamos, he has focused his research on broadening the techniques used to obtain new and more accurate results in plasma physics with methods learned in his work on elementary particle physics. Brown has made many contributions to physics, from quantum field theory and particle and nuclear physics to gravitation and astrophysics, cold atom traps, and fully ionized plasmas. His research has spanned an era from the rise of ion beam science to current breakthroughs in nanoscience. Brown’s textbook on quantum field theory is quickly becoming a classic. He is an American Physical Society and American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow. He also was the editor in chief of Physical Review D and served on the executive committee of the APS Division of Particles and Fields. 
Patrick Colestock of Space and Remote Sensing is an expert in basic and applied plasma physics, and the physics of intense charged particle beams.
Patrick Colestock of Space and Remote Sensing is an expert in basic and applied plasma physics and the physics of intense charged-particle beams. Among his scientific accomplishments, he has made pioneering contributions to the historic cyclotron resonance heating experiments on the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor and the Princeton Large Torus. He also helped optimize the performance of the Main Ring and Tevatron at Fermilab. Colestock has served on several technical review panels of the National Science Foundation and Nuclear Regulatory Commission. “It is undoubtedly a great honor” to be named a Laboratory Fellow, said Colestock. “The Fellows that I know are at the top of my list of first-rate scientists and contributors to the Laboratory. It is a privilege to be among them.” Colestock said he has been fortunate to have been involved in a number of significant scientific endeavors involving many people pulling together to accomplish a scientific goal. “Of particular importance to me is the realization that has come over time that many areas of science are connected by common concepts and methods. I get a lot of satisfaction out of making such connections and spend a lot of time studying areas of science about which I know very little,” said Colestock. “I believe finding this sort of excitement in one’s work, and having the opportunity to constantly be learning new things is a privilege and a gift. So I think success comes partly as a consequence of timing, by being able to work with others, but also by being always curious and inspired by the work itself.” Colestock has numerous pursuits and activities outside the Lab including amateur astronomy, nature, gardening, woodworking (especially violin making), music, reading, and distance running. 
Tom Picraux of the Laboratory’s Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies is internationally recognized for his use of energetic ion beams for the characterization of materials and for his advances in surface processing and epitaxy. Tom Picraux, chief scientist of the Laboratory’s Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, has a deep love of science. “If there is a secret to my success it is simply that I love the practice of science and all that it entails,” he said. “Learning new things every day, understanding new ideas, and discovering something not previously realized is exhilarating.” Picraux is known internationally for the use of energetic ion beams for the characterization of materials, as well as for his advances in surface processing and epitaxy. Using his quantitative ion beam analysis developments, Picraux and his group pioneered the use of surface probes of the plasma edge to diagnose conditions in U.S. and European tokamak experiments in fusion energy. Tokamaks are reactors designed to control nuclear fusion in a plasma of ions and electrons inside a doughnut-shaped magnetic bottle. Picraux and his colleagues pioneered the field of ion implantation metallurgy, creating a standard process for fabrication in the semiconductor industry. A 1990 E.O. Lawrence Award recipient, Picraux has more than 250 publications and has coauthored one book and edited six others. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, American Academy for the Advancement of Science, and the Materials Research Society. “Being named a Laboratory Fellow is a great honor, and being recognized on one’s home turf is especially gratifying,” said Picraux, who enjoys traveling with his family, jazz, modern art, skiing, and hiking. “I have come to know and greatly admire the extremely high quality of my colleagues at Los Alamos, and I will strive to continue to make contributions worthy of this recognition.” — Steve Sandoval Other Headlines
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