Trevor Lafleur

Trevor Lafleur is a researcher at UNSW Canberra's School of Engineering and Information Technology, specializing in low-temperature plasma physics, space propulsion, and alternative propellants. He holds B.Sc. degrees in Aeronautical Engineering and Experimental/Theoretical Physics from the University of the Witwatersrand, and a Ph.D. in Physics from The Australian National University. Previously, he worked at Ecole Polytechnique (France), ONERA (French Aerospace Lab), and the French National Space Agency (CNES). He is the founder of PlasmaPotential, a technical consulting firm, and served as Principal Engineer/Program Manager at ThrustMe, a space deeptech company. His research focuses on plasma instabilities, iodine-fueled propulsion systems, ionospheric interactions, and plasma simulation model validation.

Education:

• B.Sc. in Aeronautical Engineering (University of the Witwatersrand)
• B.Sc. in Experimental and Theoretical Physics (University of the Witwatersrand)
• Ph.D. in Physics (The Australian National University)

Research Interests:

• Space propulsion systems, particularly alternative propellants like iodine
• Fundamental studies of low-temperature plasmas and their instabilities
• Ionospheric plasma interactions with spacecraft in Low-Earth Orbit
• High-enthalpy plasma-gas flows for aerospace applications
• Verification of plasma simulation models (kinetic/PIC and fluid-based)
• Design and optimization of gridded ion thrusters and Hall-effect thrusters

Publications Trends: Recent work emphasizes analytical and numerical models of Hall thrusters, iodine propulsion validation in space, and plasma instabilities in magnetized environments. Key themes include miniaturized propulsion systems for satellite constellations, vortex stabilization in plasma torches, and the role of secondary electron emission in thruster performance.

Advising & Grants: Currently supervising Ph.D. projects on iodine-fueled neutralizers and offering scholarships ($35k/year) for high-achieving students in physics, engineering, or related fields. His advisory roles include editorial board membership at Plasma Sources Science and Technology (PSST).

Labs & Teams: Active in UNSW Canberra Space and leads PlasmaPotential's consulting efforts. Previously contributed to ThrustMe's breakthrough iodine propulsion system demonstrated in space (Nature article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04015-y).