Richard C. Powell

Professor Emeritus of Optical Sciences
Professor Emeritus of Materials Science

Contact Information

  • Telephone:
    520-621-3513
  • Email:
    rcpowell@u.arizona.edu
  • Mailing Address:
    Dr. Richard C. Powell
    Optical Sciences
    Meinel Building 1630 East University Boulevard
    Tucson, Arizona  85721  USA
 Photo: Professor Richard Powell

Education

  • PhD, Arizona State University, 1967

  • MS, Arizona State University, 1964

  • BS, U.S. Naval Academy, 1962

Employment

  • The University of Arizona: Professor Emeritus, Optical Sciences, 2005-date; Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, 1999-2005; Professor, Optical Sciences, 1992-2005; Director, Optical Sciences, 1992-1998

  • Oklahoma State University, Professor, 1971-1992; Regents Professor, 1985-1992; Noble Foundation: Endowed Professorship, 1986-1992

  • Sandia National Laboratory: Staff Scientist, 1968-1971

  • Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories: Staff Scientist, 1964-1968

  • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: Visiting Scientist, August ’88-July ’89

  • Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Instituto de Fisica: Elena Aizen de Moshinsky Chair of Physics, July 1980.

  • California Institute of Technology: Visiting Professor, August-December 1978

  • Motorola Semiconductor Division: Research Scientist, August-December 1966

Professional Affiliations

  • American Physical Society, Fellow

  • OSA, Fellow

Professional Activities

  • OSA, President, 2001

  • Co-founder, Lite Cycles, Inc.

Awards and Honors

  • IR 100 Award, 1967

  • Air Force Scientific Achievement Award, 1967

  • Air Force Commendation Medal, 1968

  • Oklahoma State University, Outstanding Physical Sciences Teacher, 1976

  • American Physical Society, Fellow, 1976; Laser Science Topical Group Chair

  • MASUA Honor Lecturer, 1979-1980

  • Sigma Xi Honor Lecturer, 1983-1984

  • Optical Society of America, Fellow, 1988

  • University of Arizona Technology Innovation Award, 2005

Research

  • Doped crystals and glasses: energy transfer, charge transport, vibronic spectra and radiationless processes. Development of four-wave mixing and multiphoton pico-second spectroscopy techniques. Characterization of crystals and glasses for lasers, nonlinear optics and photorefractive applications. Applications of solid state lasers in medicine and industry.