Richard Freeman Post (November 14, 1918 – April 7, 2015) was an American physicist notable for his work in nuclear fusion, plasma physics, magnetic mirrors, magnetic levitation, magnetic bearing design and direct energy conversion.[2]
Richard F. Post | |
|---|---|
 Richard F. Post c. 1982 | |
| Born | Richard Freeman Post November 14, 1918[1] Pomona, California, U.S. |
| Died | April 7, 2015 (aged 96)[1] Walnut Creek, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Pomona College (B.S.) Stanford University (Ph.D.) |
| Spouse | Marylee Post |
| Children | 3; including Markie |
| Relatives | Descendants of Robert Coe |
| Awards | |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Nuclear fusion, plasma physics, magnetic mirrors, magnetic levitation, magnetic bearing design, direct energy conversion |
| Institutions | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
Post was a winner of the James Clerk Maxwell Prize for Plasma Physics[3] and led the controlled thermonuclear research group at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for 23 years. He held a total of 34 patents in the fields of nuclear fusion, particle accelerators, and electronic and mechanical energy storage.[4]
Early life and education
editPost was born in Pomona, California, the son of Miriam (Colcord) and Freeman Post.[5][6] He is a descendant of colonist Robert Coe.[7][8] He received a BA in physics from Pomona College in 1940 and a PhD in physics from Stanford University in 1951. After his PhD, he was inspired to pursue fusion energy research by a college professor.[9]
Career
editPost joined the staff at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) as leader of the controlled thermonuclear research group until 1974.[5] During this time, he developed many of the concepts behind magnetic mirrors and direct energy conversion.[2] He worked with Marshall Rosenbluth to develop the stability of plasma inside mirror machines.[10] From 1974 to 1987 he was deputy associate director of the magnetic fusion energy program at LLNL. This was a heavily funded effort by the United States Department of Energy to build a succession of magnetic mirror machines, including the Mirror Fusion Test Facility (MFTF) and the Tandem Mirror Facility. After 1987, Post was senior scientist in the magnetic fusion energy program.[5] He has held advisory roles at NASA, the National Academy of Sciences and the United States Air Force.[5]
His notable work includes inductrack[11][12][13] and magnetically levitated flywheels.[14]
Personal life
editPost and his wife Marylee (a poet) are the parents of actress Markie Post and her two brothers,[15] Steve and Rodney.[4] Although he retired in 1994, Post continued to work in his lab four days a week, up until the week of his death on April 7, 2015.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b "Richard Freeman Post". Physics Today. 2015-04-14. doi:10.1063/PT.5.6146.
- ^ a b Post, Richard (September 1969). "Mirror Systems: Fuel Cycles, Loss Recovery, and Energy Recovery". BNES Nuclear Fusion Reactor Conference at Culham Laboratory.
- ^ "1978 James Clerk Maxwell Prize for Plasma Physics Recipient: Richard F. Post". APS.org. American Physical Society. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ^ a b c "Remembering Dick Post's life and career | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory". www.llnl.gov. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
- ^ a b c d Richard Post at Array of Contemporary American Physicists; accessed 6-28-2013
- ^ Studer, Robert Paul (1962). "The Historical Volume and Reference Works, Los Angeles County".
- ^ Guinn, James Miller (1907). A History of California and an Extended History of Its Southern Coast Counties. Vol. 2. California: California Historic Record Company.
- ^ Bartlett, J. Gardner (1911). Robert Coe, Puritan. Published for private circulation. ISBN 9780598765826.
- ^ Post, Richard. "Thoughts on Fusion Energy Development", Fusion Power Associates Annual Meeting and Symposium - "Honoring Fusion Pioneers Richard F. Post and John H. Nuckolls", 3–4 December 2008
- ^ Post, R. F.; Rosenbluth, M. N. (1966). "Electrostatic Instabilities in Finite Mirror-Confined Plasmas". Physics of Fluids. 9 (4): 730. Bibcode:1966PhFl....9..730P. doi:10.1063/1.1761740.
- ^ Heller, Arnie. "A New Approach for Magnetically Levitating Trains — and Rockets". Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
- ^ Post, Richard F. (January 2000). "MagLev: A New Approach". Scientific American. Archived from the original on March 9, 2005.
- ^ Post, Richard F. "The Inductrack Approach to Magnetic Levitation" (PDF). Askmar.com.
- ^ Post, Richard F. (1 August 1993). The electromechanical battery: The new kid on the block. Annual Symposium on Coupling Technology to National Needs. Albuquerque, NM: Office of Scientific and Technical Information, US Department of Energy. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ^ Grant, James (3 March 1986). "Though She Plays a Lawyer on Night Court, Markie Post Can't Help Feeling Guilty". People. Vol. 25, no. 9. Retrieved 20 April 2015.