Lab researcher recognized by French Acoustic Society

December 22, 2010—Paul A. Johnson of LANL's Geophysics group received the Médaille Étrangère from the Société Française d'Acoustique (French Acoustic Society). He was nominated for his work in geophysics, medicine and nondestructive evaluation, as well as his work with French students.

The Médaille Étrangère is awarded to individuals who have significantly influenced acoustics in France and worldwide.

Johnson’s research includes the areas of nonlinear and disordered systems, seismic strong ground motion, general acoustics, rock physics, acoustical nondestructive testing of materials, earthquake source mechanics, and time-reverse acoustics in solids.

Pioneering research

A Los Alamos National Laboratory Fellow and employee for more than 25 years, Johnson has pioneered a new field of research, nonlinear, nonequilibrium dynamics, in collaborations with a large spectrum of scientists at Los Alamos and in the United States and Europe. His discoveries have implications for geophysics, nondestructive evaluation of materials, seismology, and medical diagnostics.

Johnson also is known for his research in seismology, in particular triggering of earthquakes and the tremor phenomenon. He has worked on strong ground motion, and contributed to programs that monitor for potential nuclear explosions. His research also is leading to possible development of new diagnostic tools for osteoporosis. Johnson’s published papers have been cited nearly 1,200 times.

Johnson received a Laboratory Scientific Achievement Award, is a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America, Fulbright Scholar to France, 13-time organizer of the International Workshop on Nonlinear Elasticity in Materials, Steering Committee Member of the International Symposia on Nonlinear Acoustics, and is on the Board of Editors of Wave Motion.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of New Mexico, a master’s degree in geophysics from the University of Arizona, and a doctorate in physical acoustics from the Université Pierre et Marie Curie at the Sorbonne, Paris. He has longstanding collaborations with French acoustics and geophysics laboratories at a number of locations in France, and he serves on many thesis committees, including helping to direct many students.

The French Acoustic Society is comprised of more than 800 individual members (researchers, teachers, engineers, musicians, audiologists, architects), as well as institutional members (industrial companies and specialized research laboratories) who specialize in acoustics.

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