Jens Schwarz

Biography

Dr. Jens Schwarz joined the Laser Operations and Engineering Department at Sandia National Laboratories in August of 2003, after his graduate work focused on multi-photon ionization and ultra-short UV pulse propagation in air for the purpose of laser triggered lightning. This research earned him a Master’s in Physics from UNM and a Ph.D. in Physics from the Friedrich-Schiller University in Germany. In his early career, he was heavily involved in building out the Z-Petawatt laser capability, where he co-invented a variable focal length mirror that earned him a patent.

Over a decade later, and after leading the laser triggered switch efforts on Z, he moved to the Radiation Experiments Department where he became a Principal Investigator (PI) on Z and collaborated with Center 1300 on radiation effects science and later, on x-ray source development, combined environment platforms, and material science. In addition to his patents, he is author or co-author of more than 85 publications, and co-author of one book chapter.

In 2022 he became the manager of the “Advanced Capabilities for Pulsed Power” department and the facility owner of the 1MA Mykonos pulsed power driver.

Education

B.S. Physics, 1995, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Germany

M.S. Physics, 2000, University of New Mexico

Ph.D. Physics, 2003, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany

Publications

• 1 Patent, one pending
• 1 Book Chapter
• >85 Publications, >25 first author
• >45 Conference Presentations
• “Nature Tech: Lightning”, History Channel, broadcasted 2003.
• “Science at the Edge”, TLC (The Learning Channel), broadcasted 2002.

Patents & Trademarks

• “Variable Focal Length Deformable Mirror”, Daniel Headley, Marc Ramsey, Jens Schwarz. U.S. Patent No. 7,229,178 issued on 6/12/2007
• provisional patent files 6/20/2021, Guangping Xu, Hongyou Fan, Chad August McCoy , Jens Schwarz

Awards and Recognitions

• 2022, R&D 100 Award “USTEAMS”
• 2017, (NNSA) Defense Programs Awards of Excellence (Team) Exceptional Award Designation: “Z Radiation and Fusion Physics Innovative Engineering and Design Team”
• 2017, (NNSA) Defense Programs Awards of Excellence (Team)
• 2017, Employee Recognition Award (Team) “MagLIF Preheat Team”
• 2016, (NNSA) Defense Programs Awards of Excellence, “Exceptional Achievement” Designation, “For innovative design and record-setting warm x-ray and fusion neutron sources on the Z facility”