Benito T. Szapiro

Professor of Physics

• Ph. D. in Physics. University of Buenos Aires, R. Argentina (1985). “Numerical simulations of implosions of thick shell ICF targets irradiated by lasers” • M.S. in Physics. University of Buenos Aires, R. Argentina (1980). “Cold cathode electron beam controlled CO2 laser amplifiers”

 

Dr. Szapiro was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is married with two children and currently resides in Trenton, GA.

RESEARCH BACKGROUND

Gas Lasers, Optics, Physics of Fluids, Plasma Diagnostic Techniques, Controlled Nuclear Fusion, High Voltage Discharges, Pulsed Power Generation, Secondary Electron Emission, Electron Beam Generation, Recombination Lasers, X-Ray Lasers, Spectroscopy, Digital Video Techniques, Nonlinear Science, Laser Materials Processing.

ACADEMIC AWARDS

1980-1985: Fellowship, National Research Council, R. Argentina.
1986-1989: Fellowship, University of Buenos Aires., R. Argentina.

EMPLOYMENT

• The Department of Physics, The University of the South. Associate Professor. (2000 - present).
• The Department of Physics, The University of the South. Assistant Professor. (1994-2000).
• Electrical Engineering Department, Colorado State University. Research Associate. (1986-1993)
• National Central University of Buenos Aires, R.Argentina. Assistant Professor, Researcher. (1982-1986).
• National University of Buenos Aires, R. Argentina. Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant. (1979-1982).

SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

• On the properties of a large area cold cathode electron gun, A. Alamon, R. Gratton, R. Lembo, J. Niedbalski, V. Pais, B. Szapiro. 1979 National Physics Meeting, Argentine Physical Society.
• A large-area cold-cathode electron gun. Final measurements and design optimization, A. Alamon, R. Gratton, R. Lembo, J. Niedbalski, V. Pais, B. Szapiro. 1980 National Physics Meeting, Argentine Physical Society.
• Efficient coupling of a large area cold cathode electron gun with a CO2 laser amplifier unity, B. Szapiro. Master Thesis, Physics Dept., University of Buenos Aires, (1980).
• Electrodynamic suspension of particles in vacuum, R. Gratton, E. Giacani, J. Lopardo, E. Pardo, R. Piriz, B. Szapiro. 1980 National Physics Meeting, Argentine Physical Society.
• Studies on CO2 TEA laser discharges controlled by electron beams, A. Alamon, R. Gratton, R. Lembo, J. Niedbalski, V. Pais, B. Szapiro. 1980 National Physics Meeting, Argentine Physical Society.
• An optical modulator for spatial filtering and position codification of point sources, A. Alamon, H. Arislur, M. Camagni, R. Gratton, V. Pais, B. Szapiro, R. Valent. 1982 National Physics Meeting, Argentine Physical Society.
• Approach to an infrared guided optical system, A. Alamon, R. Gratton, V. Pais, R. Piriz, B. Szapiro, R. Valent. Internal Report, UNCPBA, Tandil, 1982.
• Self-Confined Plasma Project: "Design criteria and objectives", J. Pouzo, B. Szapiro. 1983 National Physics Meeting, Argentine Physical Society.
• A refractive method to determine the density of a gas jet, M. Camagni, R. Gratton, B. Szapiro. 1983 National Physics Meeting, Argentine Physical Society.
• Use of rotating reticles to codify the position on a scene of a luminous point, A. Alamon, M. Camagni, V. Pais, B. Szapiro, R. Valent. UNCPBA Magazine, December 1983.
• On spatial filtering by means of rotating reticles, A. Alamon, M. Camagni, R. Gratton, V. Pais, B. Szapiro, R. Valent. 1984 National Physics Meeting, Argentine Physical Society.
• Advances in the Tandil nuclear fusion project, D. Cortazar, R. Moroso, R. Piriz, J. Pouzo, B. Szapiro. 1984 National Physics Meeting, Argentine Physical Society.
• Thermonuclear ignition in thick-shell targets, R. Gratton, V. Pais, B. Szapiro. 1984 National Physics Meeting, Argentine Physical Society.
• Studies on laser induced implosions, R. Gratton, V. Pais, B. Szapiro. First Latin-American Symposium on Lasers and Applications, Colombia, 1984.
• On an optical probing method to measure the density of neutral gases and plasmas, M. Camagni, R. Gratton, V. Pais, B. Szapiro. Pure and Applied Optics, Madrid, 1985.
• On the design of rotating reticles for image processing, A. Alamon, M. Camagni, R. Gratton, V. Pais, B. Szapiro, R. Valent, Pure and Applied Optics, Madrid, 1985.
• Thick-shell laser fusion target implosions, B. Szapiro. Ph.D. Thesis. Physics Dept., University of Buenos Aires, 1985.
• An electron emitting diode to stabilize discharges in high pressure, high volume gaseous lasers, A. Alamon, R. Gratton, J. Niedbalski, V. Pais, B. Szapiro, Pure and Applied Optics, Madrid, 19,119, 1986.
• Generation of intense large area electron beams by glow discharges, H.F. Ranea-Sandoval, N. Reesor, B. Szapiro, B. Wernsman, J.J. Rocca. Thirty-Ninth Annual Gaseous Electronics Conference, Madison, Wisconsin, October 1986.
• High current density hollow cathode electron beam source, J.J. Rocca, B. Szapiro, T. Verhey. Appl. Phys. Lett. 50 (19), 1334, 1987.
• Study of Intense Electron Beams Produced by High Voltage Pulsed Glow Discharges, H.F. Ranea-Sandoval, N. Reesor, B. Szapiro, C. Murray, J.J. Rocca. IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci., vol. PS‑15, No.4, 361, August 1987.
• Study of intense pulsed glow discharges, B. Szapiro, H.F. Ranea-Sandoval, C. Murray, J.J. Rocca. 40th. Annual Gaseous Electronics Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, October 1987.
• A Reflex Electron Beam Discharge as a Plasma Source for Electron Beam Generation, C. Murray, J.J. Rocca, and B. Szapiro, IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci., vol. 16, No. 5, October 1988.
• Electron yield of glow discharge cathode materials under helium ion bombardment, B. Szapiro, J.J. Rocca, Prabhuram T., Appl. Phys. Lett. 53 (5), 358, 1988.
• Electron emission from glow discharge cathode materials due to neon and argon ion bombardment, B. Szapiro, J.J. Rocca, J. Appl. Phys. 65 (9), 3713, 1989.
• A reflex glow discharge as a plasma source for broad area electron beam generation, J.J. Rocca, C. Murray and B. Szapiro, 15th. IEEE Conference Plasma Science, Seattle, WA, June 1988.
• Electron Yield of Glow Discharge Cathode Materials under Noble Gas Ion Bombardment, B. Szapiro, J.J. Rocca, and Prabhuram T., 41st Annual Gaseous Electronics Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 1988.
• A Reflex Electron Beam Discharge as a Plasma Source for Electron Beam Generation, C. Murray, J.J. Rocca and B. Szapiro, 41st Annual Gaseous Electronics Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 1988.
• Electron Beam Generation in High Voltage Glow Discharges, J.J. Rocca, B.Szapiro, and C. Murray, 1989 IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science (Invited Paper), Buffalo, New York, May 1989.
• Electron Beam Generation by Electron Multiplication, C. Murray, B. Szapiro, and J.J. Rocca, Appl. Phys. Lett. 54 (23), 2303, 1989.
• Electron Beam Generation by Electron Bombardment Induced Cathode Emission, C. Murray, B. Szapiro, and J.J. Rocca, Final Report, Wright Research Development Center (AFSC), TR # 89-2079, 1989.
• Electron Beam Generation by Electron Bombardment Induced Cathode Emission, C. Murray, B. Szapiro, and J.J. Rocca, Final Report, 42nd. Annual Gaseous Electronics Conference, Menlo Park, California, 1989.
• Compact Capillary Discharges: The Possible New Generation of Soft X-Ray Lasers, J.J. Rocca, M.C. Marconi, B.Szapiro, K. Richardson, J. Schmerge, and J. Meyer, Sixth Interdisciplinary Laser Science Conference (Invited Paper), Minneapolis, Minn., September 1990.
• Observation of Intense CVI Soft X-Ray Emission from a Capillary Discharge: Prospects of Recombining Lasing, J.J. Rocca, M.C. Marconi, B.Szapiro, O. Buccafusca, and K. Richardson, Post-deadline paper, 32nd. Annual Meeting of Plasma Physics, American Physical Society, Cincinnati, Ohio, November 1990.
• Progress towards the development of a compact capillary discharge, J.J. Rocca, M.C. Marconi, B.Szapiro, and J. Meyer, OSA Proceedings on Short Wavelength Coherent Radiation and Applications, Vol. 11, pp. 106, Edited by P. Bucksbaum and N. Ceglio, 1991.
• Study of the soft x-ray emission from carbon plasmas excited by fast capillary discharges, B. Szapiro, J.J. Rocca, M.C. Marconi, O.D. Cortazar, and F. Tomasel, 44th. Annual Gaseous Electronics Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 1991.
• Experiments on soft x-ray laser development in a table top capillary discharge, J.J. Rocca, M.C. Marconi, B.Szapiro, and J. Meyer, Proceedings SPIE, "Ultra-short Wavelength Lasers", vol. 1551, pp. 275, San Diego, California, July 1991
• Soft x-ray emission spectroscopy of high power capillary for a recombination laser scheme, J.J. Rocca, B.Szapiro, M.C. Marconi, O.D. Cortazar, J. Meyer, and F. Tomasel, Annual Meeting of the Division of Plasma Science, Tampa, Florida, Bulletin of the American Physical Society, vol. 36, pp. 2432, 1991.
• Fast discharge excitation of hot capillary plasmas for soft X-ray amplifiers, J.J. Rocca, B.Szapiro, O.D. Cortazar, F.G. Tomasel, M.C. Marconi, J. Hung, and K. Floyd, Proceedings 3rd. International Colloquium on X-Ray Lasers, Schliersee, Germany, May 1992.
• Soft X-ray radiation of H-like and Li-like ions in a fast, high power capillary discharge, J.J. Rocca, B.Szapiro, D. Cortazar, F. Tomasel, J. Meyer, J. Hung, and K. Floyd, International Conference on Plasma Science, Tampa, Florida, June 1-3, 1992.
• Generation of hot (Te > 150 eV) capillary plasma columns for soft X-ray amplification, F. Tomasel, J.J. Rocca, D. Cortazar, B.Szapiro, and K. Floyd, 34th Annual Meeting, American Physical Society, Seattle, Washington, November 16-20, 1992.
• Towards small scale soft X-ray laser excited by fast capillary discharges, J.J. Rocca, B.Szapiro, D. Cortazar, F. Tomasel, J. Meyer, J. Hung, and K. Floyd, IEEE Laser & Electro-optics Society, 1992 Annual Meeting, Boston, November 20-25, 1992.
• Fast discharge excitation of hot capillary plasmas for soft X-ray amplification, J.J. Rocca, D. Cortazar, B.Szapiro, K. Floyd and F. Tomasel, Physical Review, E 47, 1299, May 1993.
• Plasma density evolution in compact polyacetal capillary discharges, F. Tomasel, J.J. Rocca, D. Cortazar, B.Szapiro, and R. Lee, Physical Review, E-47, 3590, 1993.
• Modeling of fast capillary discharges for collisionally excited soft X-ray lasers; comparison with experiments, V.N. Schlyaptsev, A.V. Gerusov, A.V. Vinogradov, J.J. Rocca, D. Cortazar, F. Tomasel, and B.Szapiro, SPIE Proceedings, Ultrashort wavelength lasers II, Vol. 2012, San Diego, 1993.
• Study of fast capillary discharge plasma columns for soft X-ray amplifier, J.J. Rocca, D. Cortazar, B.Szapiro, F. Tomasel, D. Hartshorn, SPIE Proceedings, Ultrashort wavelength lasers II, Vol. 2012, San Diego, 1993.
• Realization of a compact discharge-pumped soft X-ray laser, J.J. Rocca, F. Tomasel , B. Szapiro, et al. Invited Paper, Conference on Laser and Electrooptics, CLEO-QELS '95, Baltimore, 1995.
• Discharge-pumped soft-X-ray laser in neon-like argon, J.J. Rocca, F. Tomasel , M.C. Marconi, V.N. Shlyaptsev, J.L.A. Chilla, B.T. Szapiro, and G. Giudice. Phys. Plasmas 2(6), 1995.
• Revisiting a Classic Least Time Problem, B. Szapiro, American Association of Physics Teachers, Spring Meeting, Sewanee, 1997. http://www.sewanee.edu/physics/TAAPT/TAAPTTALK.html
• Digital Video Techniques in Introductory Physics Teaching, B. Szapiro, Sixth Inter-American Conference on Physics Teaching, Cordoba, Argentina, 1997.
• Plasma Assisted Laser Surface Alloying, M.H. McCay, C.M. Sharp, J.A. Hopkins, B. Szapiro, and T.D. McCay, International Conference on Applications of Lasers and Electro-optics, (ICALEO ’99), San Diego, 1999.
• An Introductory Course on Fractals and Chaos for Non-Science Majors, B Szapiro, 119th AAPT National Meeting: San Antonio, TX, 2000. http://www.aapt.org/AbstractSearch/FullAbstract.cfm?KeyID=8970

• A course on fractals and chaos for non-science students, International Conference on Physics Teacher Education beyond 2000 (PHYTEB) , Barcelona, March 2000.
• Advances in dense plasma interferometry with a tabletop capillary discharge soft x-ray laser, E. Jankowska, E. Hammarsten, J. Filevich, B. Szapiro, M.C. Marconi, J.J. Rocca, S.J. Moon, V.N. Shlyaptsev , Soft X-Ray Lasers and Applications IV. Eds Ernst E. Fill, Jorge J. G. Rocca. San Diego, SPIE vol. 4505, pp. 221-229, (2001).
• Simple Pendulum Lab with a Twist, B. Szapiro, The Physics Teacher, 40 (3), 2002.
• Extremely compact capillary discharge-based soft x-ray laser development and application to dense plasma diagnostics, Rocca J J, Luther B, Marconi M C, Whiteaker T, Braley D A, Filevich J, Hammarsten E C, Rahman A, Szapiro B, Wang Y, Jankowska Elzbieta, Grisham M, Shlyaptsev V N, Moon S J, X-ray lasers 2002. 8th International Conference on X-Ray Lasers. Eds Jorge J. Rocca, James Dunn, Szymon Suckewer. American Institute of Physics, vol 641, pp. 125-132, (2002).
• Soft x-ray laser interferometry/shadowgraphy of exploding wire plasmas, Jankowska Elzbieta, Hammarsten E C, Szapiro B, Filevich J, Marconi M C, Rocca J J, X-ray lasers 2002. 8th International Conference on X-Ray Lasers. Eds Jorge J. Rocca, James Dunn, Szymon Suckewer. American Institute of Physics vol 641, pp. 498-503, (2002).
• Simple Pendulum Lab with a Twist, B. Szapiro, 124th AAPT National Meeting: Philadelphia, PA, 2002. http://www.aapt.org/AbstractSearch/FullAbstract.cfm?KeyID=5692
• Plasma assisted laser surface alloying, M.H. McCay, C.M. Sharp, J.A. Hopkins, B. Szapiro, and T.D. McCay, Journal of Laser Applications, Volume 15, No. 2, May 2003.
• Soft X-ray laser diagnostics of exploding aluminum wire plasmas, E. Hammarsten, B. Szapiro, E. Jankowska, J. Filevich, , M.C. Marconi, J.J. Rocca, , Applied Physics B, 78, 933, 2004.
• A First Year Experience: Teaching “How Things Work” For Non-Science Freshmen at Sewanee, B. Szapiro. Invited presentation at the Rollins College Workshop, ACS Reform of Introductory Science Courses for Non-Science Majors Program, January 2004.
• Teaching Science to Non-science Students in the First Year Program (FYP) at Sewanee, B. Szapiro. Presentation at the 2005 Annual Meeting of the Tennessee Association of Physics Teachers, Memphis, March 2005.

Professional memberships

• APS (American Physical Society)
• AAPT (American Association of Physics Teachers)
• LIA(Laser Institute of America)
• Current president of TAAPT (Tennessee Chapter of the American Association of Physics Teachers)