Prize for Outstanding Professional Contributions – accelerator science and technology

You can be considered for this prize if you:

• are of any nationality
• are nominated by a member of the IOP
• have had a significant impact on major scientific or technological advancement, or
• have promoted important educational or outreach activities for the science of particle accelerators and beams

Submissions should include:

• a maximum two-page summary
• a small amount of ancillary material, including major citation evidence (if relevant)
• up to two letters of support for the candidate

The winner is chosen by a prize committee appointed by the chair of the group.

The timetable for the prize is:

• December to February: call for nominations
• March: prize committee deliberates
• April: winner is announced at the group’s annual conference. The previous year’s winner is invited to give the conference prize talk

Email [email protected] to learn more

Winners

2023

Professor Jim Clarke

For his contribution to the development of insertion device designs for use in synchrotron light sources and free electron lasers. Jim’s contributions in this field began with the design and commissioning of three high-field wigglers and a short helical undulator for the second-generation Synchrotron Radiation Source at Daresbury, followed by his lead in developing the first set of eight undulator and wiggler insertion devices for the Diamond Light Source.

Other contributions to magnet design include the delivery of the magnets for EMMA – the first demonstratable FFAG (fixed-field alternating gradient) accelerator and the development of tunable permanent magnet-based dipoles and quadrupoles for the Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) at CERN, the impact of which would potentially save tens of MW of electrical power if fully implemented.

He has written the textbook on undulator and wiggler design (Oxford University Press) and represents the community having been technical leader for the International Linear Collider Positron Source team. He now leads the UK XFEL Underpinning Technology Programme. He continues to innovate in the field, developing designs for superconducting undulators, and is exploring potential new RF-based undulator schemes.

2022

Brian McNeil

For his contributions in pioneering the theoretical development and understanding of free-electron lasers (FELs), including the identification of the so-called ‘weak-super-radiant’ or ‘single spike SASE’ regime, the application of phase-shifters along an FEL to stimulate harmonic lasing and the concept of regenerative amplifier FELs. These and other numerous innovative ideas have since been taken up by others in the field and incorporated into FEL user facilities around the world.

Brian has also played an essential role within the UK as an advocate for FELs and as an educator of a generation of accelerator and FEL experts. For many years he was one of only a few genuinely recognised FEL experts in the UK. He used his knowledge to help steer the innovative energy recovery linac (ERL)-based 4th-generation light source (4GLS) design study and later the new light source (NLS) study. He has supervised a number of PhD students who have since become recognised as experts in their own right.

2021

Chris Densham

For his holistic and multi-disciplinary approach to high-intensity particle beam target facility design. He has worked on several world-leading HEP experiments including T2K, NOvA and DUNE/LBNF, and on RADIATE, has built his group at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) into the world’s foremost experts on neutrino production targets, and raised the profile of UK accelerator physics internationally.

2020

Susan Smith

For major contributions, innovation and leadership in accelerator and light source science, including in operations and upgrades of the synchrotron radiation source (SRS) at Daresbury Laboratory, in leading the accelerator design for the Diamond facility at RAL, and leading the construction of the ERL ALICE, EMMA and CLARA facilities at Daresbury.

In the last decade Susan has simultaneously been the director of the Accelerator Science and Technology Centre (ASTeC) and head of Daresbury Laboratory, roles which recognise her exceptional scientific expertise and managerial abilities.

2018

Richard Walker

For his exceptional contribution to the design and development of internationally pioneering modern light sources.

2017

Andy Wolski

For his outstanding fundamental research leading to ultra-high-quality beam generation at accelerator facilities worldwide.

2016

Mike Poole

For his world-class, internationally recognised contributions to accelerator physics and the advancement of Free Electron Laser facilities worldwide.

2014

Chris Prior

For his seminal contributions to the mathematical modelling of intense particle beams.

2013

Ian Gardner

For his many innovative contributions to the physics and engineering of high-power proton accelerators and beams.

2012

Professor Neil Marks

For his many innovative contributions to the physics and technology of magnet systems for particle accelerators and beam lines.