Mechanical Engineering Stewart Harris Seminar Series
Know Your Particle And More...
Sandra Biedron, Ph.D
Element Aero and Center for Bright Beams
Abstract:
Particle accelerators and lasers have been instrumental in driving discovery science since their inception. In fact, as one example of impact, a third of the Nobel Prizes in Physics since 1938 can be attributed to particle accelerators. Not only do these devices serve science, but there are myriad other applications as well, including medical, environmental, defense and security, and in several industries.
There is more, however, to these systems than just knowing if your particle is charged, neutral or has dual wave and particle like attributes. As one can imagine, the physics designers of systems for discovery science and other applications are pushing on the edge of innovation.
Further, these systems are not built by only the physics designers – there is much engineering design, engineering, fabrication and manufacturing, testing, installation, system testing, operations, and maintenance to attend to. Further yet, there is a growing industrial push, most recently in leveraging particle accelerators for new lithography sources for chip production as well as for radiation testing. We need a global supply chain – raw materials, skilled individuals across a variety of disciplines, and a variety of manufacturing centers to help develop and build these new systems.
In this presentation, we will explore some key applications of particle accelerators
and lasers and discuss the importance of engineering for delivering components and
the entire system to market.
Bio:
Dr. Sandra Biedron is engaged with the development of both workforce and technology development in many capacities, from technical director to management, to educator as a professor. Currently, she is serving as Knowledge Transfer Director of the NSF STC Cornell Center for Bright Beams and Managing Partner of Element Aero - an R&D and consulting company that she founded in 2002.
Her technical works include being a technical and management consultant for the FERMI free-electron laser project at Sincrotrone Trieste, Deputy Lead Engineer for integration of an Innovative Naval Prototype for Boeing, serving in leadership positions for several DoE-led DoE/DoD/NSF Basic Research Needs Reports, as well as chairing or participating in several international conferences and committees, including a NATO workgroup for sensors and electronics, the IEEE USA AI and Autonomous Systems Policy Committee, the IEEE USA R&D Policy Committee, and the Program Advisory Committee for the Brookhaven Accelerator Test Facility (ATF). Her interests are many and include particle accelerator systems; laser systems; the use of artificial intelligence in controls, modeling, and prediction of complex systems; quantum devices, sensors and detectors; and applications of these technologies in science, security, and defense.
She is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and the SPIE, a Senior Member of Optica and the IEEE, and a member of the Italian Optical Society and the Directed Energy Professional Society. She has received a letter of commendation by the Chief of Naval Research and the IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Society’s Particle Accelerator Science and Technology Award. In 2024, she was appointed to the National Photonics Initiative’s Steering Committee for a one-year term. She is a trustee of the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, the U.S.'s only congressionally-chartered museum established in 1969 and designated a Smithsonian Affiliate. She also serves on the global Nuclear Science Week planning committee. Her company is an active member with SEMI (semi.org). Currently, she is driving activities for next generation light sources for industrial and national security applications, sustainability and power initiatives, namely infrastructure for nuclear power and sustainability in semiconductors and their applications.
Finally, she curates several historical items once belonging to Enrico Fermi, including the steamer trunk and other family possessions brought from Europe by the family in 1938 when emigrating after Fermi received the Nobel Prize to flee fascist Italy.