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Yok Chen

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Distinguished Alumni 2020

  • 1966 PhD

Yok Chen is a retired program manager with the Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences and the Division of Material Science. He also worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and since 1972, an APS Fellow. Other accomplishments include 240 peer-reviewed publications, 6 patents related to crystal growth, edited two books, co-discoverer of positronium hydride. His research interests include: radiation effects; laser materials; high-temperature materials; redox effects; and spectroscopy and transport of hydrogenic isotopes in oxides; crystal growth; fission and fusion materials; optical spectroscopy (absorption and luminescence); electron paramagnetic resonance; and defect structures. Invited guest of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (former), Bulgaria, Siberia, Spain, Taiwan, China and Mexico.

Yok Chen is proud to have been the graduate student of Karl Lark-Horovitz (July 20, 1892 – April 14, 1958), an American physicist known for his pioneering work in solid-state physics that played a role in the invention of the transistor. Yok is assumed to be the last person to have spoken with Karl before he passed away at his desk one night at Purdue. Yok also remembers AK Ramdas as a post-doctorate student and then assistant faculty member.

Last Updated: Dec 1, 2020 11:42 AM

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