David M. Ponce Email & Phone Number

United States

Stavanger Area, Norway

Team leader R&D physics team at Visuray, AS.Development of X-Ray imaging systems for structural integrity diagnostics and inspection of deep sea off-shore oil wells. Oversight of basic x-ray research, technology development, application and integration.

Responsible of radiation safety of x-ray and radioactive isotope calibration sources. Manage, monitor and mitigate radiation hazards at the workplace.

Stavanger, Norway

Development of X-ray imaging techniques for diagnostic and evaluation of deep oil well conditions and structural integrity.

Greater San Diego Area

Develop solutions to scientific problems involving laser physics, plasma physics, x-ray physics, linear and non-linear optical and imaging diagnostics, optical detection and optical imaging in academic and industrial applications.

Managed and participated in the Thomson scattering diagnostic system upgrade andexpansion project during both Long Torus Opening Activity I (LTOA I) and LTOA IIperiods. The upgrade consisted in a million dollar comprehensive hardware upgrade.Specified, identified and procured high power, high repetition rate Nd:YAG lasers for theThomsom system expansion. Interacted directly with vendors during procurement process.Coordinated and advised on the facilities and infrastructure… Show more Managed and participated in the Thomson scattering diagnostic system upgrade andexpansion project during both Long Torus Opening Activity I (LTOA I) and LTOA IIperiods. The upgrade consisted in a million dollar comprehensive hardware upgrade.Specified, identified and procured high power, high repetition rate Nd:YAG lasers for theThomsom system expansion. Interacted directly with vendors during procurement process.Coordinated and advised on the facilities and infrastructure expansion of the Thomsonsystem.Coordinated and worked with the group on integrating the system's hardware and software.Prepared and presented a project readiness review for deployment of expanded Thomsonsystem.Presented expansion results at the 18th HTPD conference in Wildwood, NJ, resulting in asummary proceedings paper in the Review of Scientific Instruments Journal.Maintained the Thomson system to high availability and reliability with a very minimum ofdowntime compared to years before.Operated and maintained the Thomson system as well as improved on the then present lasersystem.Prepared and conducted complete and comprehensive optical and electronic Thomsonsystem calibrations.Proposed system upgrades that were implemented.Perform an analysis on the temperature stabilization of the data acquisition detector modulesrecommending the implemented temperature control design. Show less

Adjunct professor of Physics. Undergraduate laboratory instructor for first course of mechanics and thermal physics.

Used different laser and optical techniques to study high density state plasmas producedduring several megavolt, nanosecond x-ray source diode discharges used for high densitystate radiography.Extensive use of two-color multichord interferometry, holographic interferometry,heterodyne interferometry, schlieren imaging.Experience with crystal x-ray spectroscopy, x-ray diodes, x-ray pinhole camera imaging.Authored and contributed in diverse experimental studies that… Show more Used different laser and optical techniques to study high density state plasmas producedduring several megavolt, nanosecond x-ray source diode discharges used for high densitystate radiography.Extensive use of two-color multichord interferometry, holographic interferometry,heterodyne interferometry, schlieren imaging.Experience with crystal x-ray spectroscopy, x-ray diodes, x-ray pinhole camera imaging.Authored and contributed in diverse experimental studies that resulted in severalpresentations and publications in scientific conferences and peer reviewed journals. Show less

Optical fiber amplification R&D Developed techniques to increase coupled energy efficiency on laser diode pumped raman fiber amplifiers used in long and ultralong haul telecommunication data amplification. Designed and produced manufacturing specifications and tolerance budgets of optical hardware for production. Presented designs to design review panels for approval. Designed and conducted design verification tests of hardware… Show more Optical fiber amplification R&D Developed techniques to increase coupled energy efficiency on laser diode pumped raman fiber amplifiers used in long and ultralong haul telecommunication data amplification. Designed and produced manufacturing specifications and tolerance budgets of optical hardware for production. Presented designs to design review panels for approval. Designed and conducted design verification tests of hardware and equipment from the component level to the system level. Interacted with component vendors to define component manufacturing specifications and assure that such specification were met. Show less

Researched and studied the dynamics of long column plasma discharges and investigated the possibilities of using them in the transport of heavy ion beams to be used in the inertial confinement fusion effort. The investigation resulted in multiple conference presentations, journal publications and my doctoral dissertation.

Assisted in the construction and deployment of the L'OASIS laboratory of the Center for Beam Physics of LBNL's AFRD division. Maintained and operated the femtosecond laser system and designed and installed the secondary multipass bow-tie Titanium Sapphire amplifier of the laser system to be used in laser wakefield acceleration studies.

Phd, Physics

Laser matter interactions, optical diagnostics and experimental plasma physics. Dissertation: Plasma channel and z-pinch dynamics.

Bs, Engineering Physics