Alumni Profiles

Alex Zylstra

  • Program Years: 2009-2013
  • Academic Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Field of Study: Physics
  • Academic Advisor: Richard Petrasso
  • Practicum(s):
    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (2011)
  • Degree(s):
    Ph.D. Physics, MIT (2015)
    B.A. Physics, Pomona College (2009)

Current Status

  • Status: Scientist, LLNL
  • Research Area: Physics

Publications

Papers:
Measurement of charged-particle stopping in solid-density, low-temperature plasmas. A.B. Zylstra et al., accepted by Phys. Rev. Lett. (2015).

In-flight observations of low-mode rhoR asymmetries in NIF implosions. A.B. Zylstra et al., Phys Plasmas 22, 056301 (2015).

The effect of shock dynamics on compressibility of ignition-scale NIF implosions. A.B. Zylstra et al., Phys Plasmas 21, 112701 (2014).

A compact neutron spectrometer for characterizing inertial confinement fusion implosions at OMEGA and the NIF. A.B. Zylstra et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 85, 063502 (2014).

Charged-particle spectroscopy for diagnosing shock ρR and strength in NIF implosions. A. B. Zylstra et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 10D901 (2012).

Measurements of hohlraum-produced fast ions. A. B. Zylstra et al., Phys. Plasmas 19, 042707 (2012).

A new model to account for track overlap in CR-39 data. A. B. Zylstra et al., Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 681 (2012).

Using high-intensity laser-generated energetic protons to radiograph directly driven implosions. A. B. Zylstra et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 013511 (2012).

Increasing the energy dynamic range of solid-state nuclear track detectors using multiple surfaces. A. B. Zylstra et al. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 82, 083301 (2011).

Ion velocity distribution measurements in a magnetized laser plasma expansion. A. B. Zylstra et al. J. Instr. 5 (2010).

1-D Van der Waals Foams Heated by Ion Beam Energy Deposition. A. B. Zylstra, J. J. Barnard, R. M. More. High Energy Density Physics 6 (2010).

Regime transitions in the viscous catenary. A. Zylstra and C. Mitescu. EPL 87 (2009).

Awards

-NIF and Photon Science Directorate Performance Award, 2011.
-Tileston Pomona Physics Department Prize: 2006, 2007, 2008.
-Nominated to Sigma Xi (associate member), March 2007.
-Pomona College Scholar: Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Fall 2008.