IBM Almaden Research Center . . . . . bethune@almaden.ibm.com
650 Harry Road K13 / D2 . . . . . . . . . phone: (408) 927-2480
San Jose, CA 95120-6099 . . . . . . . . .fax: (408) 927-2100
PERSONAL DATA
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Married to Ann; Children: Benjamin Aaron, Michael Thomas, Steven James, Caitlin Susanne and Marieke Lauren.
EDUCATION
Ph. D. in Physics, University of California, Berkeley, June 1977. Thesis: “Optical Quadrupole Sum-Frequency Generation in Sodium Vapor.” Advisor: Prof. Yuen Ron Shen.
B. S. in Physics with Great Distinction, Stanford University, June 1970.
HONORS
2002 James C. McGroddy Award for New Materials from the APS
(together with Sumio Iijima of NEC):
“For the discovery and development of single-wall carbon nanotubes, which can behave like metals or semiconductors, can conduct electricity better than copper, can transmit heat better than diamond, and rank among the strongest materials known.”
IBM Outstanding Innovation Award, December 2001,
“For the discovery and development of single-wall carbon nanotubes.”
The American Carbon Society Medal, July 2004
(together with Prof. Morinobu Endo of Shinshu University, Japan, and Prof. Sumio
Iijima of Meijo University & NEC, Japan):
“For outstanding contributions to the discovery of, and early synthesis work on carbon nanotubes.”
Named APS Fellow, November 2001.
IBM Second Plateau Invention Achievement Award, 1998.
Six IBM Patent Awards
IBM Outstanding Innovation Award for "Production and Characterization of Fullerenes and Metallofullerenes," Nov. 1992.
IBM Outstanding Contribution Award for "Development of Time-Resolved Infrared Spectral Photography," 1980.
Phi Beta Kappa, NSF Graduate Fellow, National Honor Society Scholarship, Texaco Scholarship and other Stanford University Scholarships.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
1. Experimental quantum information. Designing and building a prototype system for Quantum Cryptographic Key Distribution. Co-inventor of novel autocompensating QKD scheme for using a fiber interferometer to transmit quantum information using single photon pulses. Single-photon detectors for telecom wavelengths.
2. Cluster physics and chemistry, focusing on carbon clusters (Fullerenes), carbon nanotubes, and fullerenes containing metal atoms (metallofullerenes). Independently discovered and patented single-layer carbon nanotubes. Emphasis on the synthesis and characterization of new molecules and materials.
3. Problems in surface science. Applications of optical and molecular beam techniques, laser spectroscopy, nonlinear and quantum optics, laser physics, solid-state physics, and atomic physics.
4. Interferometric lithography, generation of VUV laser light.
5. Optical tweezers for nanofabrication
6. Novel storage class memory devices
EMPLOYMENT SUMMARY
1997 - Member of Quantum Information Group, IBM Almaden Research Center. Currently designing and building a fiber-optical system for quantum cryptographic key distribution. Invented and patented circuit for using APD as single photon detector, developed single-photon counting circuit board and IBM Prototype Single Photon Detector (SPD). Licensed technology to Princeton Lightwave, Cranberry, NJ.
1996 Almaden Research Center Technical Staff, assisted with planning, reporting, budgeting, presentations. Worked with senior managers of Science and Technology function as liaison to Laboratory Director's Office.
1990 - Research Staff Member at the IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA. In 1990 I initiated a program of cluster research, and played a leading role in efforts to make and characterize fullerenes and other related novel forms of carbon. We were the first to obtain Raman spectra of C60 and C70, we showed that these molecules rotate in the solid state, and we have been at the forefront of efforts to make and study metallofullerenes and carbon nanotubes.
1983-90 Collaborated with other Staff members in IBM Research on problems in surface chemistry and physics using UHV supersonic beam techniques, and laser infrared spectroscopy of molecules and atoms on surfaces. Designed and built a pulsed, tunable infrared source based nonlinear optical laser techniques, an ellipsometric optical system capable of detecting weak surface infrared absorption, and helped build an ultrahigh vacuum system with necessary sample preparation, handling and diagnostic capabilities. I also did theoretical work on VUV generation using nonlinear optics and on the nonlinear optical properties of layered structures.
1978-82 Research Staff Member at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, P.O. Box 218, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598. Led experimental effort to develop a novel method for photographically recording infrared spectra with nanosecond time resolution. The method utilized the nonlinear optical properties of metal vapors to convert a broad-band visible laser pulse into an infrared probe continuum and then to up-convert the infrared radiation back into the visible where the captured spectral information could be readily recorded. The method is useful in studies of chemical dynamics in combustion, flash photolysis, or laser-induced reactions, or in other situations involving transient species. I received an IBM Outstanding Contribution Award in 1980, and a US patent was issued in January 1981.
1977-78 Postdoctoral Fellow at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center. Did experimental work on nonlinear generation of infrared radiation in molecular gases, and theoretical and experimental studies of potential two-photon amplifiers and continuum lasers using molecular gain media. Other work involved laser induced unimolecular chemical reactions.
1970-77 Teaching and Research Assistantships during graduate studies at UC Berkeley. Thesis: Optical Quadrupole Sum-Frequency Generation in Sodium Vapor. Demonstrated experimentally that dipole-forbidden nonlinear susceptibilities in metal vapors, such as the second-order quadrupole susceptibility, can be used to generate sum and difference frequencies in isotropic media. Additional graduate work using doubled-ruby and flashlamp-pumped dye lasers to measure the second-order optical nonlinearity of III-V semiconductors by studying reflected second-harmonic light generation.
1969 High Energy Physics Lab, Stanford University. Data analysis, programming and data taking in electron scattering studies of nuclei
MEMBERSHIPS
1. Fellow of the American Physical Society
2. Optical Society of America
3. American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
PATENTS
1. "Time-Resolved Infrared Spectral Photography," US Patent #4,243,881. D. S. Bethune, J. R. Lankard, M. M. T. Loy and P. P. Sorokin (issued January 1981).
2. "Dye Cell Design for High Efficiency, Low Divergence, Transverse Pumped Dye Laser," US Patent #4,380,076. D. S. Bethune (issued June 16, 1983).
3. "Laser System and Method with Temperature Controlled Crystal," US Patent #5,093,832. D. S. Bethune and W. J. Kozlovsky (issued March 3, 1992).
4. "Method for Enhancing Production of Fullerenes Larger Than C70,” US Patent #5,275,705. D. S. Bethune, R. D. Johnson, and J. R. Salem (issued January 4, 1994).
5. "Magnetic Recording Disk Having a Contiguous Fullerene Film and a Protective Overcoat," US Patent #5,374,463. D. S. Bethune, M. S. de Vries, V. J. Novotny, T. C. Reilly and A. W. Wu (issued December 20, 1994).
6. "Carbon Fibers and Method for Their Production," US Patent #5,424,054, D. S. Bethune, R. B. Beyers and C-H. Kiang, (issued June 13, 1995).
7. “Autocompensating Quantum Cryptographic Key Distribution System Based on Polarization Splitting of Light,” US Patent #6188768. W. P. Risk and D. S. Bethune, (issued February 13, 2001).
8. "System for Gated Detection of Optical Pulses Containing a Small Number of Photons Using an Avalanche Photodiode," US Patent #6218657. Donald S. Bethune, William P. Risk, Christian Kurtsiefer, Ralph G. DeVoe, and Charles T. Rettner (issued April 17, 2001).
9. “Molecular Memory and Logic,” US Patent #6472705. Donald S. Bethune and Sandip Tiwari (issued October 29, 2002).
DONALD S. BETHUNE -- PUBLICATIONS