Michael Pravica
Professor
Biography
Dr. Michael Pravica is a professor in physics and a member of HiPSEC (High Pressure and Engineering Center). He received his Ph.D. in experimental condensed matter physics in 1998 from Harvard University and a B.S. in physics and applied mathematics in 1988 with honors from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
Expertise
Explosives, High Pressure Science, Raman, Infrared, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and X-ray Spectroscopies, Accelerator Physics
Additional Information
Dr. Pravica's studies focus on the study of matter at extreme conditions of high pressure, high temperature, and high radiation flux. He has developed a new field of science that he calls useful hard x-ray chemistry wherein high energy, penetrating and focused x-rays are harnessed to initiate novel chemistry in isolated and sealed chambers. Finally, he has developed a novel method to dope wide bandgap semiconductors that he termed Ion Beam Nuclear Transmutation Doping (IBNTD) using penetrating, high-energy protrons initiating nuclear transmutation to create dopant layers.