Richard Temkin, Academic Staff

Name: Richard Temkin
Title: Senior Scientist
Email: temkin@psfc.mit.edu
Phone: (617) 253-5528
Office: MIT Department of Physics
77 Massachusetts Avenue, NW16-186
Cambridge, MA 02139

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Area of Physics

Plasma Physics

Research Interests

Dr. Temkin’s research interests encompass a variety of fields of basic and applied physics, with major emphasis on coherent sources of infrared and millimeter waves and their applications. Both experimental and theoretical research activities are undertaken.

Major research projects include:

  • Electron Cyclotron Maser/Gyrotron: Experimental and theoretical research on high frequency (50 – 600 GHz), high power (up to 1 MW) gyrotrons and on the application of gyrotrons to plasma heating, radar, and plasma diagnostics.
  • High Gradient Acceleration: High gradient electron accelerators capable of operation at gradients above 100 MeV/meter. Novel sources of high power microwaves and novel structures for achieving high gradient acceleration. Laser-photocathode driven RF-guns for use as injectors into high gradient accelerator structures.
  • Photonic Bandgap Structures: Novel photonic bandgap structures for use in active devices, including vacuum electron devices and accelerators, and in passive devices such as transmission lines and beam combiners.
  • Quasi-Optical Antenna Research: Theoretical and Experimental research on quasi-optical antennas capable of transforming high order waveguide modes into Gaussian beams in free space for microwave transmission and launching applications.
  • Free Electron Lasers: Novel concepts for the free electron laser including electromagnetic wave wigglers and microwigglers. Application of the FEL to radar, plasma heating and biomedicine.
  • Plasma Heating: Heating of plasmas at electron cyclotron resonance using high power millimeter wave sources such as gyrotrons or FELs. Techniques for transmitting, polarizing and launching high power electromagnetic radiation.
  • High Magnetic Field, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR): Dynamic nuclear polarization using combined NMR and electron spin resonance (ESR) at high magnetic fields (5 – 10T) for enhanced imaging. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and spin resonance spectroscopy and spin echo at high magnetic fields.

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Richard Temkin received a B.A. from Harvard University in 1966, graduating magna cum laude with Highest Honors in Physics. He then received a Ph.D. in Physics at MIT in 1971. Dr. Temkin has served as the associate director of the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC) since 1998. He is also the Division Head for the PSFC’s Waves and Beams Division. Awards received include the Robert L. Woods Award of the U. S. Department of Defense for Vacuum Electronics, the Certificate of Recognition from the IEEE Electron Device Society, and the Kenneth J. Button Prize and Medal from the Institute of Physics. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, IEEE, and the Institute of Physics.

Selected Publications

  • “17 GHz photonic band gap cavity with improved input coupling,” M. A. Shapiro, W. J. Brown, I. Mastovsky, J. R. Sirigiri, and R. J. Temkin, Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams Vol. 4, 042001 (2001).
  • “ITER R&D: Auxiliary Systems: Electron Cyclotron Heating and Current Drive System,” T. Imai, N. Kobayashi, R. Temkin, M. Thumm, M. Q. Tran and V. Alikaev, Fusion Engineering and Design, Volume 55, Issues 2-3, July 2001, Pages 281-289
  • “Photonic-Band-Gap Resonator Gyrotron,” J. R. Sirigiri, K. E. Kreischer, J. Machuzak, I. Mastovsky, M. A. Shapiro and R. J. Temkin, Physical Review Letters, Vol. 86, No. 24, pp. 5628-5631 (11 June 2001)
  • “Low emittance electron beam formation with a 17 GHz RF gun,” W. J. Brown, S. E. Korbly, K. E. Kreischer, I. Mastovsky, and R. J. Temkin, Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams, Vol. 4, 083501 (2001).
  • “Experimental investigation of a 140 GHz coaxial gyrotron oscillator,” R. Advani, J. P. Hogge, K. E. Kreischer, M. Pedrozzi, M. E. Read, J. R. Sirigiri, and R. J. Temkin, IEEE Trans. Plasma Science, Vol. 29, No. 6, pp. 943-950 (Dec., 2001).
  • “Simulation of Photonic Band Gaps in Metal Rod Lattices for Microwave Applications,” E. I. Smirnova, C. Chen, M. A. Shapiro and R. J. Temkin, J. Appl. Phys. Vol. 91, No. 3, pp. 960-968 (1 Feb., 2002).