Phillip Sprangle

Phillip Sprangle is a Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Physics at the University of Maryland, with affiliations at the Institute for Research in Electronics & Applied Physics (IREAP) and a partial position as an Emeritus Scientist at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). He holds a Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Cornell University (1973). His research focuses on high-energy laser propagation, laser-driven accelerators, nonlinear optics, plasma physics, and free-electron lasers. He has published over 300 articles and holds 18 patents, with honors including the Presidential Rank Award (2015), James Clerk Maxwell Prize (2013), and IEEE Plasma Science Award (2008).

Education:

• Ph.D., Applied Physics, Cornell University, 1973
• M.S., University of Puerto Rico, 1969
• B.S., Electrical Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, 1967

Research Interests: His work spans atmospheric laser propagation, ultra-short pulse laser matter interactions, nonlinear plasma physics, and terahertz generation. He has pioneered methods for remote detection of radioactive materials using laser-induced breakdown and developed technologies for high-average-power free-electron lasers.

Awards & Honors:

• Fellowships: APS (1981), IEEE (1997), DEPS (2005), OSA (2010)
• Key Awards: Presidential Rank Award, Maxwell Prize, NRL Top Scientist/Engineer

Grants & Projects: Active in multidisciplinary research funded by the Department of Defense, including MURI grants for directed-energy systems and plasma physics. Collaborates on terahertz radiation systems for remote sensing and high-power laser beam control.

Labs & Teams: Leads research at IREAP and NRL, focusing on laser-matter interactions, plasma-based accelerators, and advanced laser systems for defense and security applications.