Dr. Jean-Luc Cambier

Jean-Luc Cambier, 2 PhDs, J Civ USAF AFMC AFRL/RZSA is a theoretical physicist and an internationally recognized expert in the design of innovative propulsion systems and computational physics.
 
Jean-Luc is currently working for the Air Force Research Laboratory, where he is leading a research group on advanced propulsion concepts and leading the development of a new generation of computational models for high-energy plasma. Prior to that, he conducted research at the Aeronautical Research Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, at NASA-Ames Research Center, and at the Center for Nuclear Studies (CEA) in Saclay, France, in addition to several high-technology small businesses and universities.
 
Jean-Luc earned his two doctorate degrees in Physics, the first from the University of Paris-Orsay, France, and a PhD from the University of California, Santa-Cruz. He has been leading the design and development of innovative propulsion concepts such as the Oblique Detonation Wave Engine, Pulse Detonation Engine (PDE) and related combined-cycle concepts (Pulse Detonation Wave Augmenter and PDE-Ejector).
 
His research work includes studies of various rocket and scramjet propulsion system designs, shock-tunnel facilities, RAM accelerator, re-entry flow of space probes (“Rosetta”), plasma and MHD flows for propulsion systems and hypersonic testing facilities, and multiple designs of plasma-based space propulsion systems, including Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) and the VASIMR concept.
 
This body of work supported various organizations such as the Air Force, NASA, ESA, BMDO, as well as Boeing, Rocketdyne, and UTRC. Theoretical work included the analysis of proton-antiproton experiments, Feynman diagrams for finite-temperature Quantum Field Theory, renormalization and scaling of disordered materials, stability of magnetized plasma configurations, and anomalous effects in weakly-ionized plasma.
 
His experience in computational physics includes the development and application of various numerical methods for a wide range of problems; Monte-Carlo methods for condensed matter, Direct Simulation Monte-Carlo for rarefied gases and plasmas; computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for combustion flows and detonations; Riemann solvers for solid equation of state (EOS) and detonations in solid explosives; multi-temperature and collisional-radiative models for hypersonic flows and non-equilibrium plasma; multi-fluid algorithm for non-neutral plasma; shock-capturing and divergence-free method for ideal and resistive MHD plasmas; particle coalescence algorithm for PIC-MCC models; and non-Maxwellian collisional-radiative plasmas.
 
His most recent work is focused on the development of hybrid methods for combining fluid and particle models, for highly energetic non-equilibrium plasmas (laser-plasma interactions). He received multiple Air Force awards as well as a NASP Recognition certificate for his work in supersonic combustion, a NASA Group Achievement Award for his work in shock-tunnel modeling, and a Rotary National Award for Space Achievement.
 
Jean-Luc authored Numerical methods for TVD transport and coupled relaxing processes in gases and plasmas and Finite temperature radiative corrections to neutron decay and related processes, and coauthored Theoretical Analysis of the Electron Spiral Toroid Concept, Development of a Hybrid Model for Non-Equilibrium High-Energy Plasmas, Reverse Ion Acceleration by Laser-Matter Interaction, Hybrid Gas/Plasma Simulations Using DSMC with the VORPAL Code, Experimental Investigation of Nozzle/Plume Aerodynamics at Hypersonic Speeds, A Plasma Algorithm for Plasmoid Accelerator Modeling, and Wave Combustors for Trans-Atmospheric Vehicles. Read all of his NASA technical reports!
 
He is a reviewer for numerous scientific journals, including various AIAA journals, Physical Review Letters, New Journal of Physics, Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, and Journal of Physics. He coined JUST — Java Ultra Simulator Technology.