Professional Biography
Jan Badziak was born in Pabianice in 1946. After graduating from high school, he studied for two years at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the Lodz University of Technology, and then at the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry of the University of Lodz, where he earned a Master of Science in Physics in 1971. He received his PhD in Engineering Sciences and then his DSc degree in Engineering Sciences from the Faculty of Electronics of the Military University of Technology (MUT) in Warsaw in 1976 and 1984, respectively. The title of Professor of Engineering Sciences was awarded to him by the President of the Republic of Poland in 1998.
Jan Badziak began his professional career in 1971 as a research assistant at the Institute of Quantum Electronics of the MUT. From October 1972, he worked for two years as a senior research and teaching assistant at the Institute of Physics, Lodz University of Technology. In October 1974, he returned to work at the Institute of Quantum Electronics of the MUT, as an assistant professor. Since 1976, he has worked at the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM) in Warsaw. At this institute, he held research positions as assistant professor, associate professor (from 1988), and professor (from 1998). At the IPPLM, he led research teams as a laboratory head (three times), department head (three times), and head of a research division. He also served as chairman and vice-chairman (four times) of the IPPLM Scientific Council.
During the initial period of his scientific career, until 2000, he conducted research and development work related to laser physics and laser technology. The results of this work included the design and construction of the largest pulsed laser systems in Poland, with powers reaching gigawatts (CO2 gas laser) and terawatts (solid-state laser). Since 2000, Jan Badziak's scientific activity has focused on theoretical and experimental research in the field of plasma physics and laser-induced thermonuclear fusion. Among other things, he has been conducting research on innovative laser-driven particle and plasma accelerators and new variants of thermonuclear fusion induced by high-power lasers. The research results of Jan Badziak have been published in nearly 300 papers in international scientific journals and have been the subject of about 200 presentations and lectures at international and national scientific conferences.
Jan Badziak has also been involved in teaching, primarily focusing on the education of young scientists. He supervised the MSc, PhD and DSc theses of the teams he led, in particular he was supervisor of 5 completed PhD theses.
For his research achievements, he was awarded the Gold and Silver Cross of Merit and received ministerial distinctions.
A more detailed description of Jan Badziak's scientific, organizational, and teaching activities is presented in sections II-V of this document.
Education
Faculty of Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry, University of Lodz
Faculty of Electronics, Military University of Technology
Faculty of Electronics, Military University of Technology
Positions and Functions
1. Research Positions
- Research Assistant: 1971–72, Military University of Technology (Institute of Quantum Electronics).
- Senior Research Assistant: 1972–74, Lodz University of Technology (Institute of Physics). 1974–75, Military University of Technology (Institute of Quantum Electronics).
- Assistant Professor: 1976–1984, Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM).
- Associate Professor: 1984–1998, IPPLM.
- Professor: since 1998, IPPLM.
2. Organizational Functions and Positions
Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM)
- Head of the Laboratory: 1976–1977, 1989–2006, 2015–2019
- Deputy Head of the Laser Technology Division (4 research departments): 1978–80
- Head of the Department: 1981–1987, 2007–2011, 2014–2015
- Head of the Division (3 departments): 1987–1988
- Head of the Division (2 departments): 2012–2013
- Deputy Chairman of the IPPLM Scientific Council: 1991–2004, 2011–2014.
- Chairman of the IPPLM Scientific Council: 2005-2008
Other scientific organizations
- Deputy Chairman of the Council of the Center for New Energy Technologies,
- Member of the Scientific Committees of many national and international scientific conferences,
- Member of advisory boards of several international projects.
Scientific Activity
Jan Badziak's scientific activity can be divided into two periods.
During the first period, from 1971 to 2000, Jan Badziak conducted research in quantum electronics and laser technology. The topics of this research included, among others, theoretical and experimental work on the generation and amplification of laser pulses in solid and gaseous media, nonlinear propagation and multiphoton absorption of laser radiation, the generation of ultrashort (pico- and femtosecond) laser pulses, and various topics related to high-power pulsed lasers. The results of this research included, among others: two scientific dissertations (PhD and DSc theses), a scientific monograph (titled Excimer Lasers), two patents, and numerous scientific papers and conference presentations.
During this period, Jan Badziak established three unique research laboratories in Poland: the Pulsed CO₂ Laser Laboratory, the Excimer Laser Laboratory, and the High-Power Laser Laboratory (LLWM). In these laboratories, together with the teams he led, he conducted advanced design, construction, and research work on short-pulse (nanosecond) high-power CO₂ lasers, XeCl excimer lasers, and high-power laser systems generating ultra-short pulses (at LLWM). The results of this work included:
- the construction of the largest short-pulse CO₂ laser system in Poland (and one of the few in Europe at the time) with a power of 10 GW (1010 W),
- the construction of the first electron-beam-pumped excimer lasers in Poland,
- the construction of a dual-beam neodymium glass nanosecond laser with a power of 60 GW,
- the construction of a picosecond neodymium glass laser system with a power of 1 TW (1012 W), the first in Poland and one of the first in Europe.
He continued his work on the development of high-power lasers and their applications in scientific research also after 2000. As a result, the LLWM laboratory was equipped with the first femtosecond laser system in the country with a power of 10 TW, and unique diagnostic and measurement equipment for studying the interaction of ultrashort high-power laser radiation pulses with matter, and for studying high-temperature laser-generated plasma.
In the second period of his scientific career (after 2000), Jan Badziak focused on theoretical and experimental research in the field of plasma physics and laser thermonuclear fusion. His research includes studies on the interaction of pico- and femtosecond laser pulses of very high intensity with matter and the generation of high-temperature plasma, as well as research on innovative laser-driven accelerators of particles (protons, heavy ions) and plasma. A significant portion of his research is related to laser-driven thermonuclear fusion. In this area, he focuses on researching new variants of thermonuclear fusion: fusion with fuel ignition initiated by an intense laser-generated proton or ion beam, and fusion with ignition initiated by the impact of a laser-accelerated plasma projectile.
He conducts his research in extensive international collaboration with scientists from various European countries (including the Czech Republic, Italy, France, and the UK), as well as the USA, Japan, and Australia. During this period, he has led more than a dozen national and international projects and participated in numerous other international projects. Experiments conducted within these projects are primarily conducted at large European laser facilities (in the Czech Republic, France, and the UK) and also employ picosecond and femtosecond lasers at the LLWM laboratory, which he founded. The results of his research are published in prestigious scientific journals and presented at international conferences in Europe, the USA, Japan, and Australia.
Jan Badziak's scientific achievements throughout his professional career include:
- 1 scientific monograph,
- 2 scientific dissertations,
- nearly 300 scientific papers (authored or co-authored) in international journals (a list of these papers can be found at orcid.org/0000-0002-8687-1688 and in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, while a list of 100 papers selected from his published works is presented in the Appendix),
- nearly 200 lectures and presentations at international and national conferences,
- 3 patents,
- several dozen reports and internal studies.
The Hirsch index for his published scientific papers is H ≥ 37 (in 2026), the highest among scientists working in the field of plasma physics and thermonuclear fusion in Poland.
In 2025, Jan Badziak was named to the prestigious Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists List, recognizing the 2% most influential scientists in the world.
Teaching Activities
Student Education
- Tutoring students in the subjects "Exercises in Physics" and "Physics Laboratory" offered at the Faculty of Physics, Lodz University of Technology (1972–74).
- Taught two subjects: "Fundamentals of Quantum Electronics and Nonlinear Optics" and "Fundamentals of Laser Technology" for Military University of Technology students pursuing individual studies at the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM) (1978–88).
- Supervision or oversight of master's theses carried out in the departments and laboratories of IPPLM managed by Jan Badziak.
Teaching Research Staff
- Supervisor of 5 completed PhD theses.
- Organizational and substantive supervision over the preparation of PhD and DSc theses in the teams led by Jan Badziak.
Other
- Reviews of PhD theses (domestic and international) as well as DSc and professorship proceedings.
- Reviews of scientific projects (domestic and international).
- Reviews of dozens of articles in scientific journals.
- Expert opinions.
- Conference and seminar lectures for the physics community.
Appendix – List of 100 selected publications by Jan Badziak
1. Laser-driven acceleration of super-heavy ions: towards the production of high-quality high-energy uranium ion beams, , Optics and Laser Technology 198, 114598, 2026
2. Extreme Ion Beams Produced by a Multi-PW Femtosecond Laser: Acceleration Mechanisms, Properties and Prospects for Applications, , Photonics 13 (1), 45, 2026
3. Effect of transverse magnetic field on hot electron and ion fluxes generated by laser interactions with disc-double-coil targets, , Scientific Reports 16, 180, 2026
4. Acceleration of Heavy Ions by Ultrafast High-Peak-Power Lasers: Advances, Challenges, and Perspectives, , Photonics 12 (3), 184, 2025
5. Influence of the magnetic field on the emission of hot electrons and ions from ablative plasma produced from a disc-coil target irradiated by the 3rd harmonic of the PALS iodine laser, , Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 66 (11), 115007, 2024
6. Super-heavy ion beams generated by a multi-PW femtosecond laser, , Physics of Plasmas 31 (2), 023110, 2024
7. In search of ways to improve the properties of a laser-accelerated heavy ion beam relevant for fusion fast ignition, , Physics of Plasmas 30 (5), 053107, 2023
8. Influence of the magnetic field on properties of hot electron emission from ablative plasma produced at laser irradiation of a disc-coil target, , Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 64 (11), 115012, 2022
9. Ultra-intense laser-accelerated ion beams for high-gain inertial fusion: The effect of the ion mass on the beam properties, , Nuclear Fusion 62 (8), 086040, 2022
10. Towards single-charge heavy ion beams driven by an ultra-intense laser, , Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 64 (8), 085002, 2022
11. Measurement of strong electromagnetic pulses generated from solid targets at sub-ns kJ-class PALS laser facility, , Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 63 (8), 085015, 2021
12. Laser-driven acceleration of ion beams for ion fast ignition: The effect of the laser wavelength on the ion beam properties, , Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 63 (5), 055005, 2021
13. Laser-driven acceleration of ion beams for high-gain inertial confinement fusion, , Nuclear Fusion 61 (4), 046011, 2021
14. Properties of heavy ion beams produced by a PW sub-picosecond laser, , Journal of Instrumentation 15 (05), C05037, 2020
15. Target normal sheath ion acceleration by fs laser irradiating metal/reduced graphene oxide targets, , Journal of Instrumentation 15 (03), C03056, 2020
16. Acceleration of carbon ion beams by an ultraviolet laser under conditions relevant for ion fast ignition of inertial fusion, , Journal of Instrumentation 15 (02), C02001, 2020
17. Near-3-MeV protons from target-normal-sheath-acceleration femtosecond laser irradiating advanced targets, , Contributions to Plasma Physics 59 (7), e201800127, 2019
18. Protons accelerated in the target normal sheath acceleration regime by a femtosecond laser, , Physical Review Accelerators and Beams 22 (2), 021302, 2019
19. Towards ultra-intense ultra-short ion beams driven by a multi-PW laser, , Laser and Particle Beams 37 (3), 288–300, 2019
20. Progress in understanding the role of hot electrons for the shock ignition approach to inertial confinement fusion, , Nuclear Fusion 59 (3), 032012, 2018
21. Ultra-intense femtosecond super-heavy ion beams driven by a multi-PW laser, , Physics Letters A 382 (47), 3412–3417, 2018
22. Experimental demonstration of an electromagnetic pulse mitigation concept for a laser driven proton source, , Review of Scientific Instruments 89 (10), 103301, 2018
23. Efficient acceleration of a dense plasma projectile to hyper velocities in the laser-induced cavity pressure acceleration scheme, , Laser and Particle Beams 36 (1), 49–54, 2018
24. Laser-driven ion acceleration: methods, challenges and prospects, , Journal of Physics: Conference Series 959, 012001, 2018
25. Production of sub-gigabar pressures by a hyper-velocity impact in the collider using laser-induced cavity pressure acceleration, , Laser and Particle Beams 35 (4), 619–630, 2017
26. Laser-driven accelerator of intense plasma beams for materials research, , Fusion Engineering and Design 124, 1298–1301, 2017
27. Generation of proton beams from two-species targets irradiated by a femtosecond laser pulse of ultra-relativistic intensity, , Laser and Particle Beams 35 (2), 286–293, 2017
28. Resonant absorption effects induced by polarized laser light irradiating thin foils in the TNSA regime of ion acceleration, , Journal of Instrumentation 11 (04), C04008, 2016
29. The LICPA-driven collider—a novel efficient tool for the production of ultra-high pressures in condensed media, , Journal of Instrumentation 11 (03), C03043, 2016
30. Short-wavelength experiments on laser pulse interaction with extended pre-plasma at the PALS-installation, , Laser and Particle Beams 34 (1), 94–108, 2016
31. Studies of ablated plasma and shocks produced in a planar target by a sub-nanosecond laser pulse of intensity relevant to shock ignition, , Laser and Particle Beams 33 (3), 561–575, 2015
32. Generation of ultra-intense ion beams by a short-pulse laser, , Radiation Effects and Defects in Solids 170 (4), 256–270, 2015
33. Generation of ultra-high-pressure shocks by collision of a fast plasma projectile driven in the laser-induced cavity pressure acceleration scheme with a solid target, , Physics of Plasmas 22 (3), 2015
34. Enhanced efficiency of plasma acceleration in the laser-induced cavity pressure acceleration scheme, , Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 57 (1), 014007, 2014
35. Generation of high pressure shocks relevant to the shock-ignition intensity regime, , Physics of Plasmas 21 (3), 032710, 2014
36. High energy conversion efficiency in laser-proton acceleration by controlling laser-energy deposition onto thin foil targets, , Applied Physics Letters 104 (8), 081123, 2014
37. Pre-plasma effect on energy transfer from laser beam to shock wave generated in solid target, , Physics of Plasmas 21 (1), 012708, 2014
38. Recent results from experimental studies on laser–plasma coupling in a shock ignition relevant regime, , Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 55 (12), 124045, 2013
39. Improved generation of ion fluxes by a long laser pulse using laser-induced cavity pressure acceleration, , Applied Physics Letters 103 (12), 124104, 2013
40. Effect of laser light polarization on generation of relativistic ion beams driven by an ultraintense laser, , Journal of Applied Physics 113 (17), 173302, 2013
41. Highly efficient generation of ultraintense high-energy ion beams using laser-induced cavity pressure acceleration, , Applied Physics Letters 101 (8), 084102, 2012
42. Highly efficient accelerator of dense matter using laser-induced cavity pressure acceleration, , Physics of Plasmas 19 (5), 053105, 2012
43. Generation of solid-density ultraintense ion beams by a picosecond laser pulse of circular polarization, , Review of Scientific Instruments 83 (2), 02B105, 2012
44. Laser nuclear fusion: current status, challenges and prospect, , Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Technical Sciences 60 (4), 729–738, 2012
45. The HiPER project for inertial confinement fusion and some experimental results on advanced ignition schemes, , Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 53, 124041, 2011
46. Studying ignition schemes on European laser facilities, , Nuclear Fusion 51 (9), 094025, 2011
47. Acceleration of a solid-density plasma projectile to ultrahigh velocities by a short-pulse ultraviolet laser, , Applied Physics Letters 99 (7), 071502, 2011
48. Interaction of a laser-produced copper plasma jet with ambient plastic plasma, , Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 53 (9), 095003, 2011
49. Generation of ultraintense proton beams by multi-ps circularly polarized laser pulses for fast ignition-related applications, , Physics of Plasmas 18 (5), 053108, 2011
50. Production of high-intensity proton fluxes by a 2ω Nd:glass laser beam, , Laser and Particle Beams 28 (4), 575–583, 2010
51. Ultraintense ion beams driven by a short-wavelength short-pulse laser, , Physics of Plasmas 17 (7), 073106, 2010
52. Highly efficient acceleration and collimation of high-density plasma using laser-induced cavity pressure, , Applied Physics Letters 96 (25), 251502, 2010
53. Cavity pressure acceleration: An efficient laser-based method of production of high-velocity macroparticles, , Applied Physics Letters 95 (23), 231501, 2009
54. Formation of a supersonic laser-driven plasma jet in a cylindrical channel, , Physics of Plasmas 16 (11), 114506, 2009
55. Single crystal silicon carbide detector of emitted ions and soft x rays from power laser-generated plasmas, , Journal of Applied Physics 105 (12), 123304, 2009
56. Ultraintense proton beams from laser-induced skin-layer ponderomotive acceleration, , Journal of Applied Physics 104 (6), 063310, 2008
57. The effect of high-Z dopant on laser-driven acceleration of a thin plastic target, , Applied Physics Letters 92 (21), 211502, 2008
58. Progress and prospect of fast ignition of ICF targets, , Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 49 (12B), B651, 2007
59. Production of high-current heavy ion jets at the short-wavelength subnanosecond laser-solid interaction, , Applied Physics Letters 91 (8), 081502, 2007
60. Fast ignition by laser driven particle beams of very high intensity, , Physics of Plasmas 14 (7), 072701, 2007
61. Focusing of high-current laser-driven ion beams, , Applied Physics Letters 90 (15), 151503, 2007
62. Laser-driven generation of fast particles, , Opto-Electronics Review 15 (1), 1–12, 2007
63. Ion implantation induced by Cu ablation at high laser fluence, , Applied Surface Science 252 (24), 8533–8538, 2006
64. Generation of highly collimated high-current ion beams by skin-layer laser-plasma interaction at relativistic laser intensities, , Applied Physics Letters 89 (6), 061504, 2006
65. Studies on laser-driven generation of fast high-density plasma blocks for fast ignition, , Laser and Particle Beams 24 (2), 249–254, 2006
66. Equivalent ion temperature in Ta plasma produced by high energy laser ablation, , Journal of Applied Physics 99 (8), 083301, 2006
67. Fusion energy from plasma block ignition, , Laser and Particle Beams 23 (4), 423–432, 2005
68. Laser-driven generation of high-current ion beams using skin-layer ponderomotive acceleration, , Laser and Particle Beams 23 (4), 401–409, 2005
69. Production of ultrahigh ion current densities at skin-layer subrelativistic laser–plasma interaction, , Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 46 (12B), B541, 2004
70. Production of ultrahigh-current-density ion beams by short-pulse skin-layer laser–plasma interaction, , Applied Physics Letters 85 (15), 3041–3043, 2004
71. Magnetic field influence on laser-produced ion stream, , Review of Scientific Instruments 75 (5), 1353–1356, 2004
72. Experimental evidence of differences in properties of fast ion fluxes from short-pulse and long-pulse laser-plasma interactions, , Physics Letters A 315 (6), 452–457, 2003
73. Implantation of ions produced by the use of high power iodine laser, , Applied Surface Science 217 (1-4), 319–331, 2003
74. Generation of multiply charged ions at low and high laser-power densities, , Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 45 (5), 585, 2003
75. Effects of ps and ns laser pulses for giant ion source, , Optics Communications 207 (1-6), 333–338, 2002
76. Effect of foil target thickness on fast proton generation driven by ultrashort-pulse laser, , Journal of Applied Physics 91 (8), 5504–5506, 2002
77. Fast proton generation from ultrashort laser pulse interaction with double-layer foil targets, , Physical Review Letters 87 (21), 215001, 2001
78. Generation of fluxes of highly charged heavy ions from a picosecond laser-produced plasma, , Applied Physics Letters 79 (1), 21–23, 2001
79. Intensity-dependent characteristics of a picosecond laser-produced Cu plasma, , Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 34 (12), 1885, 2001
80. Generation of streams of highly charged Ag ions by picosecond laser, , Applied Physics Letters 78 (13), 1823–1825, 2001
81. Focusing large-aperture beams generated by high-peak-power lasers, , Optica Applicata 31 (3), 625–634, 2001
82. High-peak-power lasers at the IPPLM, Warsaw, , Optica Applicata 30 (1), 5–26, 2000
83. High-intensity interaction of picosecond laser pulses with metal target, , Optica Applicata 30 (1), 83–92, 2000
84. Investigations of ion streams emitted from plasma produced with a high-power picosecond laser, , Laser and Particle Beams 17 (2), 323–329, 1999
85. Modelling of short-pulse generation in rare-gas halide excimer lasers I. The model and its verification, , Journal of Modern Optics 46 (3), 509–528, 1999
86. Modelling of short-pulse generation in rare-gas halide excimer lasers. Part II. Numerical investigation of KrF and XeCl lasers with a square-wave-driven Pockels modulator, , Journal of Modern Optics 46 (5), 773–785, 1999
87. Ultrashort-pulse generation in excimer lasers by fast mode locking using electrooptic deflector, , IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics 33 (3), 490–499, 1997
88. Picosecond, terawatt, all-Nd:glass CPA laser system, , Optics Communications 134 (1-6), 495–502, 1997
89. Rate equations for modelling of short-pulse rare-gas halide excimer lasers, , Optical and Quantum Electronics 28 (9), 1139–1159, 1996
90. Femtosecond lasers, , Proceedings SPIE 2202, 26–41, 1995
91. Nonlinear UV pulse compression in a multi-pass KrF excimer amplifier with a saturable absorber, , Optics Communications 112 (3-4), 181–188, 1994
92. Generation of picosecond pulses by fast periodic Q-switching in KrF excimer laser with saturable absorber, , Optics Communications 103 (3-4), 277–284, 1993
93. Short single-mode CO2 laser pulse generation by pulsed Q-switching, , Optics & Laser Technology 25 (2), 133–137, 1993
94. Investigations of factors influencing the current density distribution of a large cross section electron beam, , Measurement Science and Technology 3 (4), 394, 1992
95. A simple technique for generating single-mode nanosecond pulses of 10.6 μm radiation, , Optics & Laser Technology 23 (1), 45–49, 1991
96. Short-pulse CO2 laser systems for plasma investigation at the IPPLM, , Laser and Particle Beams 4 (1), 27–41, 1986
97. Double-sided high-energy electron-beam-controlled CO2-laser amplifier, , Journal of Technical Physics 26 (1), 41–53, 1985
98. Giant pulse generation in a laser with a two-photon absorbent, , Journal of Technical Physics 21 (2), 191–207, 1980
99. Multicomponent laser systems with two-photon absorbents, , Journal of Technical Physics 20 (1), 91–104, 1979
100. Nonlinear amplification of strong light pulse, , Acta Physica Polonica: A 53, 99, 1978
Full list (~300 articles) available on ORCID, Scopus and Web of Science.
orcid.org/0000-0002-8687-1688