Lee A. Bernstein

Lee Bernstein leads the Bay Area Nuclear Data (BAND) group at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and UC-Berkeley.  BAND works to address the nuclear data needs of basic and applied nuclear science while training the next generation of nuclear scientists and engineers.  This includes measuring cross sections for the production of radioisotopes for medical, national security and energy applications[1]^,[2],[3],  determining nuclear properties important for accurate reaction[4]^,[5] and fission[6] modeling and developing new high-intensity neutron sources for isotope production[7]^,[8] and neutron scintillator characterization[9].

Dr. Bernstein earned his Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics from Rutgers University in 1994 and spent the next 22 years at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) as a staff scientist studying a wide array of topics including high-spin nuclear structure; neutron cross section measurements;  understanding the properties of hot nuclear matter and the development of the surrogate ratio method.  Dr. Bernstein helped develop the nuclear science and diagnostics program at the National Ignition Facility (NIF)[10] serving as both the deputy and group leader.

Dr. Bernstein is an adjunct professor in the UC Berkeley Department of Nuclear Engineering where he teaches the upper-level nuclear physics course (NE101/210M) and has developed two courses on nuclear physics in high energy density plasmas (290J) and applied nuclear science related to non-proliferation (290A). Prof. Bernstein has supervised more than 30 post-doctoral researchers and graduate students and published more than 170 articles.

Dr. Bernstein is a fellow of the American Physical Society and a recipient of numerous awards including a Defense Programs Award of Excellence for determining the ²³⁹Pu(n,2n) cross section using a combination of experiment and theory and a LLNL Director’s Science and Technology Award for the Development of Gaseous and Solid Radchem at the National Ignition Facility.

[1] A.S. Voyles et al., Nucl. Instrum. Methods. B 410 (2017) Pages 230–239. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2017.08.021

[2] A.S. Voyles et al., Nucl. Instrum. Methods in Physics Research B 429 (2018) Pages 53–74 (2018).   https://doi.org/10.1016/J.NIMB.2018.05.028

[3] J.C. Batchelder et al., “Evidence of non-statistical properties in the ³⁵Cl(n,p)³⁵S Cross-section” submitted to Phys Rev. C.

[4] L.E. Kirsch and L.A. Bernstein, Nucl. Instrum. Methods A 892, Pages 30–40.  1 June 2018.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2018.02.096,

[5] M.D. Jones et al., Phys. Rev. C 97 2 024327 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.97.024327

[6] E.F. Matthews et al., Nucl. Instrum. Methods A 891, Pages 111-117.  21 May 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2018.02.072

[7] M. Allyon et al., Nucl. Instrum. Methods in Physics Research A 903, 21 September 2018, p. 193-203 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2018.04.020.

[8] K.P. Harrig et al., Nucl. Instrum. and Methods in Physics, A 877 359–366 (2018).  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2017.09.051

[9] J.A. Brown et al., J. Applied Physics 124, 045101 (2018).  https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5039632.

[10] D.H.G. Schneider et al., J. Phys. G: Nucl. Part. Phys. 45 033003 (111pp) (2018) https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6471/aa8693.

• Nuclear Fusion
• LBNL/UCB Nuclear Data Group

Selected Publications:

1. Beam-induced back-streaming electron suppression analysis for an accelerator type neutron generator designed for 40Ar/39Ar geochronology.  Cory Waltz⁎, Mauricio Ayllon, Tim Becker, Lee Bernstein, Ka-Ngo Leung, Leo Kirsch, Paul Renne, Karl Van Bibber.  Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Volume 125, Pages 124–128 (July 2017).
2. White paper on nuclear astrophysics and low energy nuclear physics Part 1: Nuclear astrophysics.   Almudena Arcones, Dan W. Bardayan, Timothy C. Beers, Lee A. Bernstein et al., Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physics, Volume 94, May 2017, Pages 1–67.
3. A recoverable gas-cell diagnostic for the National Ignition Facility.  A Ratkiewicz, L Berzak Hopkins, DL Bleuel, LA Bernstein, K van Bibber, WS Cassata, BL Goldblum, S Siem, CA Velsko, M Wiedeking, CB Yeamans.  Review of Scientific Instruments 87 (11), 11D825 (2016).
4. Magnetic moment and lifetime measurements of Coulomb-excited states in 106Cd.  N Benczer-Koller, GJ Kumbartzki, K-H Speidel, DA Torres, SJQ Robinson, YY Sharon, JM Allmond, P Fallon, I Abramovic, LA Bernstein, JE Bevins, HL Crawford, ZE Guevara, AM Hurst, L Kirsch, TA Laplace, A Lo, EF Matthews, I Mayers, LW Phair, F Ramirez, A Wiens, et al., Physical Review C 94 (3), 034303 (2016).
5. Nature of low-lying electric dipole resonance excitations in 74Ge.  D Negi, M Wiedeking, EG Lanza, E Litvinova, A Vitturi, RA Bark, LA Bernstein, DL Bleuel, S Bvumbi, TD Bucher, BH Daub, TS Dinoko, JL Easton, A Görgen, M Guttormsen, P Jones, BV Kheswa, NA Khumalo, AC Larsen, EA Lawrie, JJ Lawrie, SNT Majola, LP Masiteng, MR Nchodu, J Ndayishimye, RT Newman, SP Noncolela, JN Orce, P Papka, L Pellegri, T Renstrøm, DG Roux, R Schwengner, O Shirinda, S Siem.  Physical Review C 94 (2), 024332 (2016).
6. Completing the nuclear reaction puzzle of the nucleosynthesis of 92Mo.  GM Tveten, A Spyrou, R Schwengner, F Naqvi, AC Larsen, TK Eriksen, FL Bello Garrote, LA Bernstein, DL Bleuel, L Crespo Campo, M Guttormsen, F Giacoppo, A Görgen, TW Hagen, K Hadynska-Klek, M Klintefjord, BS Meyer, HT Nyhus, T Renstrøm, SJ Rose, E Sahin, S Siem, TG Tornyi.  Physical Review C 94 (2), 025804 (2016).
7. Review of the National Ignition Campaign 2009-2012, J.D. Lindl et al., Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 21, #12, 129902 (2014).
8. Photon Strength Function at Low Energies in 95Mo, M Wiedeking, LA Bernstein, JM Allmond, MS Basunia, DL Bleuel, JT Burke, P Fallon, RB Firestone, BL Goldblum, R Hatarik, M Krtička, PT Lake, AC Larsen, I-Y Lee, SR Lesher, S Paschalis, M Petri, L Phair, ND Scielzo, Nucl. Data Sheets 119, p. 258 (2014).
9. Radiochemical determination of Inertial Confinement Fusion capsule compression at the National Ignition Facility, D.A. Shaughnessy et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 85 (6) 063508 (2014).
10. Relative light yield and temporal response of a stilbene-doped bibenzyl organic scintillator for neutron detection.  JA Brown, BL Goldblum, LA Bernstein, DL Bleuel, NM Brickner, JA Caggiano, BH Daub, GS Kaufman, R Hatarik, TW Phillips, SA Wender, K van Bibber, J Vujic, NP Zaitseva.  Journal of Applied Physics 115 #19, 193504 (2014).
11. Low Energy Neutron Measurements in High Energy Density Plasmas using the National Ignition Facility.  L.A. Bernstein et al., Plasma and Fusion Research: Vol. 9, 4404101 (2014).
12. Scissors resonance in the quasicontinuum of Th, Pa, and U isotopes.   Guttormsen, M; Bernstein, LA; Görgen, A; Jurado, J; Siem, S; Aiche, M; Ducasse, Q; Giacoppo, G; Gunsing, F; Hagen, TW; Larsen, AC; Lebois, M; Leniau, B; Tenstrøm, T; Rose, SJ; Tornyi, TG; Tveten, GM; Wiedeking, M; Wilson, JN.  Physical Review C89, #1, 014302 (2014).
13. Constant-temperature level densities in the quasicontinuum of Th and U isotopes. Guttormsen. M; Jurado, B; Wilson, JN; Aiche, M; Bernstein, LA; Ducasse, Q; Giacoppo, F; Görgen. A; Gunsing, F; Hagen, TW; Larsen, AC; Lebois, M; Leniau, B; Renstrøm, T; Rose, SJ; Siem, S; Tornyi, T; Tveten, GM; Wiedeking, M, Physical Review C88.; #2, 024307 (2013).
14. Determination of the deuterium-tritium branching ratio based on inertial confinement fusion implosions, Kim, Y. et al., Physical Review C85,  #6, 61601, (2012).
15. Indirect (n, gamma) cross sections of thorium cycle nuclei using the surrogate method, Wilson, JN; Gunsing, F.; Bernstein, LA; Bürger, A.; Goergen, A.; Guttormsen, M.; Larsen, AC; Mansouri, P.; Renstrøm, T.; Rose, SJ;  Physical Review C85,  #3, 34607, (2012).