Rich Awarded AIAA 2008 Plasmadynamics and Lasers Award
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has announced that William Rich, professor emeritus in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The Ohio State University, has won the AIAA 2008 Plasmadynamics and Lasers Award. The award will be presented to Dr. Rich at an awards luncheon on June 24 at the 39th AIAA Plasmadynamics and Lasers Conference in Seattle, Washington. He will also present the plenary award lecture on his work at the conference.
In the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rich focuses on theoretical and experimental research into gas and liquid phase molecular energy transfer processes, non equilibrium gas dynamics and thermodynamics, ionized gas processes, high energy lasers, and novel plasma- and laser- induced chemistry.
He is conducting current research to develop small supersonic wind tunnels to investigate energy transfer processes in strong shock wave flows. In a second project, a novel process for separating heavy carbon isotopes is being studied. Prof. Rich's work is currently supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. His studies are done in collaboration with other faculty and staff of the Michael A. Chaszeyka Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics Laboratories in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
The AIAA Plasmadynamic and Lasers Award is presented for outstanding contributions to the understanding of the physical properties and dynamical behavior of matter in the plasma state and lasers as related to need in aeronautics and astronautics. AIAA cites that Rich is being honored for his "outstanding achievements in the development of molecular gas lasers, studies of low-temperature plasmas, non-equilibrium reacting flows, molecular energy transfer, and non-equilibrium chemical reactions."
AIAA advances the state of aerospace science, engineering, and technological leadership. Headquartered in suburban Washington, D.C., the Institute serves over 35,000 members in 65 regional sections and 79 countries. AIAA membership is drawn from all levels of industry, academia, private research organizations, and government. For more information, visit www.aiaa.org.
