Chandra Breanne Curry
Dr. Chandra Breanne Curry is a physicist and researcher specializing in ultra-intense laser plasma interactions and high energy density physics. She earned her Ph.D. in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the University of Alberta and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory under the mentorship of Professors Ying Y. Tsui and Siegfried H. Glenzer. Dr. Curry's academic journey commenced with a B.Sc. in Honours Physics from McGill University during which she participated in her first high-power laser experiments at the Jupiter Laser Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory during undergraduate summer research.
Appointed as LaserNetUS Coordinator in Fall 2021, Dr. Curry directs initiatives aimed at advancing high-power laser research and applications in North America. She plays a key role in managing the LaserNetUS program, overseeing various initiatives, events, and committees within the LaserNetUS network.
Collaborating closely with the LaserNetUS Network Facilities Committee and the Scientific Advisory Board, Dr. Curry develops long-term plans identifying key areas of research, development, and opportunities to improve access to the brightest light. Additionally, she ensures LaserNetUS remains aligned with the broader strategic goals of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, particularly within the recently established Inertial Fusion Energy Science & Technology Accelerated Research (IFE-STAR) program.
With over 32 publications and awards including the University of Alberta President’s Doctoral Prize of Distinction and the NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship (PGS-D), Dr. Curry has made significant contributions to the field. She also holds the position of Project Scientist for the Matter in Extreme Conditions Upgrade (MEC-U) Project at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. Driven by her passion for advancing scientific frontiers and fostering collaborative research, Dr. Curry plays a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of high-power laser research and applications in North America, ensuring the long-term success and sustainability of the program.
Publications:
- J. D. Koralek et al., Generation of ultrathin free-flowing liquid sheets, Nature Communications, 9, 1353, (2018).
- S. H. Glenzer et al., Matter under extreme conditions experiments at the Linac Coherent Light Source, Journal of Physics B, 49, 9, (2016).
- L. Obst et al., Efficient laser-driven proton acceleration from cylindrical and planar cryogenic hydrogen jets. Scientific Reports 7, 10248, (2017).
- M. Gauthier, C. B. Curry et al., High Repetition Rate, Multi-MeV Proton Source from Cryogenic Hydrogen Jets, Applied Physics Letters, 111, 114102, (2017).
- C. B. Curry et al., Optimization of radiochromic film stacks to diagnose high-flux laser-accelerated proton beams, Review of Scientific Instruments, 91, 093303 (2020)
- C. B. Curry, C. Schoenwaelder et al., Cryogenic Liquid Jets for High Repetition Rate Discovery Science, Journal of Visualized Experiments, 159, e61130, (2020).