Felipe Salgado

Felipe Salgado

PostDoc at FSU Jena and Helmholtz-Institute Jena

Physics Tree

This is my PhD and academic advisor genealogy tree. What started as a fun project to learn more about the history of laser-plasma interactions slowly started to become a genealogy of my academic lineage, tracing my advisors, their advisors, the advisors of those advisors, and so on. Some in the tree were Nobel laureates, and others have multiple advisors, but I only put the first advisor of each researcher. I hope you have as much fun exploring it as I did researching it!

Felipe Salgado

  • Timeline:Completed PhD (Dr. rer. nat.) in 2023.
  • Institute:Friedrich Schiller University Jena.
  • Supervisors:Matt Zepf.
  • Main research:High-intensity laser-plasma interactions, laser-driven particle acceleration as laser wakefield acceleration. Strong-field quantum electrodynamics (SF-QED) experiments (e.g., E-320 at FACET-II and FOR2783 at CALA).
  • Source:Felipe Cezar Salgado, Design of a single-particle detection system for strong-field QED experiments, Dissertation, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena (2023).

Matt Zepf

  • Timeline:Joined as a DPhil student in 1994; Completed PhD in 1997.
  • Institute:University of Oxford.
  • Supervisor:Justin Wark.
  • Main research:High-intensity laser-plasma interactions, laser-driven particle acceleration, and the generation of secondary radiation sources (X-rays, protons) from plasmas.
  • Source:C. N. Danson et al., A history of high-power laser research and development in the United Kingdom, High Power Laser Sci. Eng. 9, e18 (2021). (Notes Zepf as a DPhil student in Wark's group).

Justin Wark

  • Timeline:Began undergraduate studies in 1979 (tutored by Paul Ewart); completed PhD in 1985 (Imperial College); joined the department as a Royal Society URF in 1988.
  • Institute:University of Oxford / Imperial College London.
  • Undergraduate Tutor:Paul Ewart.
  • PhD Supervisor:Joseph D. Kilkenny.
  • Main research:Warm dense matter, ultra-fast X-ray science, and shock-compressed matter diagnostics. Director of the Oxford Centre for High Energy Density Science (OxCHEDS).
  • Source:C. N. Danson et al., A history of high-power laser research and development in the United Kingdom, High Power Laser Sci. Eng. 9, e18 (2021); and Justin S. Wark, Observations of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in laser accelerated targets, Ph.D. Thesis, University of London (Imperial College) (1985). (Explicitly notes J. D. Kilkenny as his supervisor).

Joseph D. Kilkenny

  • Timeline:Completed PhD in 1972.
  • Institute:Imperial College London.
  • PhD Supervisor:Robert Latham.
  • Main research:Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) and high-speed plasma instrumentation (e.g., x-ray streak cameras). Program Leader for ICF at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).
  • Source:Joseph D. Kilkenny, Measurement of the ion energy in a theta pinch, Ph.D. Thesis, University of London (Imperial College) (1972). (Explicitly notes Dr. R. Latham as his supervisor in the acknowledgements).

Robert Latham

  • Timeline:Completed PhD in 1946 (Research Fellow at Queens' College 1945–1948).
  • Institute:University of Cambridge (Cavendish Laboratory) / Imperial College London.
  • PhD Supervisor / Mentor:George Paget Thomson. (Note: Latham began his research at Cambridge, but his post-war academic and research lineage is mapped via Sir George Paget Thomson, who recruited him for early thermonuclear fusion research at Imperial College in 1948).
  • Main research:Plasma physics, gas discharge, and early thermonuclear fusion research (Z-pinch). Worked on microwave radar valves during World War II.
  • Source:Robert Latham, Physics Tree (Accessed 2026); and Queens' College Record 1995, University of Cambridge.
Nobel Medal

George Paget Thomson

  • Timeline:Nobel Prize in Physics in 1937 (for discovering wave properties of electron by diffraction); Professor of Physics at Imperial College London (1930–1952); Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (1952–1962).
  • Institute:University of Cambridge (Cavendish Laboratory) / Imperial College London.
  • Supervisor:J. J. Thomson.
  • Main research:Discovered electron diffraction, worked on neutron physics, and chaired the MAUD Committee in WWII. Co-founded early thermonuclear fusion research at Imperial College.
  • Source:George Paget Thomson Biography, Wikipedia (Accessed 2026); and George Paget Thomson, Physics Tree (Accessed 2026).
Nobel Medal

J. J. Thomson

  • Timeline:M.A. awarded 1883; Nobel Prize in Physics in 1906.
  • Institute:University of Cambridge (Cavendish Laboratory).
  • Supervisor:Lord Rayleigh.
  • Main research:Discovered the electron and isotopes, and pioneered the mass spectrometer.
  • Source:Joseph John Thomson, Mathematics Genealogy Project (Accessed 2026); and J. J. Thomson, Physics Tree (Accessed 2026).
Nobel Medal

Lord Rayleigh

  • Timeline:M.A. awarded in 1868; Nobel Prize in Physics in 1904.
  • Institute:University of Cambridge.
  • Tutors:Edward Routh, George Gabriel Stokes, and James Clerk Maxwell.
  • Main research:Formulated the theory of acoustic scattering ("Rayleigh scattering"), co-discovered Argon.
  • Source:John William Strutt (Lord Rayleigh), Mathematics Genealogy Project (Accessed 2026).

Edward Routh

  • Timeline:Graduated M.A. in 1857.
  • Institute:University of Cambridge.
  • Supervisors:William Hopkins, Isaac Todhunter, and Augustus De Morgan.
  • Main research:Cambridge's greatest "Mathematical Coach". Formulated the Routh-Hurwitz theorem.
  • Source:Edward John Routh, Mathematics Genealogy Project (Accessed 2026).

George Gabriel Stokes

  • Timeline:Graduated BA in 1841.
  • Institute:University of Cambridge.
  • Supervisor:William Hopkins.
  • Main research:Co-formulated the Navier-Stokes equations governing fluid dynamics.
  • Source:George Gabriel Stokes, Mathematics Genealogy Project (Accessed 2026).

William Hopkins

  • Timeline:Graduated M.A. in 1830.
  • Institute:University of Cambridge.
  • Supervisor:Adam Sedgwick.
  • Main research:Famed "Senior-Wrangler Maker". Pioneer of physical geology.
  • Source:William Hopkins, Mathematics Genealogy Project (Accessed 2026).

Adam Sedgwick

  • Timeline:Graduated M.A. in 1811.
  • Institute:University of Cambridge.
  • Supervisors:Thomas Jones and John Dawson.
  • Main research:Founder of modern geology. Proposed the Cambrian and Devonian periods.
  • Source:Adam Sedgwick, Mathematics Genealogy Project (Accessed 2026).

Thomas Jones

  • Timeline:Graduated M.A. in 1782 (B.A. in 1779).
  • Institute:University of Cambridge (Trinity College).
  • Supervisor:Thomas Postlethwaite.
  • Main research:Head Tutor at Trinity College, Cambridge. Famed for his lectures on mathematics and his influence on many Cambridge scholars including Adam Sedgwick.
  • Source:Thomas Jones, Mathematics Genealogy Project (Accessed 2026).

Thomas Postlethwaite

  • Timeline:Graduated M.A. in 1756 (B.A. in 1753).
  • Institute:University of Cambridge (Trinity College).
  • Supervisor:Stephen Whisson.
  • Main research:Master of Trinity College, Cambridge.
  • Source:Thomas Postlethwaite, Mathematics Genealogy Project (Accessed 2026).

Stephen Whisson

  • Timeline:Graduated M.A. in 1742 (B.A. in 1738).
  • Institute:University of Cambridge (Trinity College).
  • Supervisor:Walter Taylor.
  • Main research:Tutor and Senior Fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge. University Librarian.
  • Source:Stephen Whisson, Mathematics Genealogy Project (Accessed 2026).

Walter Taylor

  • Timeline:Graduated M.A. in 1723.
  • Institute:University of Cambridge (Trinity College).
  • Supervisor:Robert Smith.
  • Main research:Regius Professor of Greek and Tutor at Trinity College, Cambridge.
  • Source:Walter Taylor, Mathematics Genealogy Project (Accessed 2026).

Robert Smith

  • Timeline:Graduated M.A. in 1715 (B.A. in 1711).
  • Institute:University of Cambridge.
  • Supervisor:Roger Cotes.
  • Main research:Published A Compleat System of Opticks (1738). Succeeded Cotes as Plumian Professor. Founded the Smith's Prizes.
  • Source:Robert Smith, Mathematics Genealogy Project (Accessed 2026); and Robert Smith Biography), Wikipedia (Accessed 2026).

Roger Cotes

  • Timeline:Graduated M.A. in 1706 (B.A. in 1702).
  • Institute:University of Cambridge.
  • Supervisor:Sir Isaac Newton.
  • Main research:Collaborated with Newton to edit the second edition of the Principia. First Plumian Professor.
  • Source:Roger Cotes, Mathematics Genealogy Project (Accessed 2026); and Roger Cotes Biography, MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive (Accessed 2026).

Sir Isaac Newton

  • Timeline:Graduated M.A. in 1668 (B.A. in 1665).
  • Institute:University of Cambridge.
  • Supervisors/Tutors:Isaac Barrow and Benjamin Pulleyn.
  • Main research:Formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation. Lucasian Professor.
  • Source:Isaac Newton, Mathematics Genealogy Project (Accessed 2026); and Isaac Newton Biography, MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive (Accessed 2026).

Isaac Barrow

  • Timeline:Graduated M.A. in 1652 (B.A. in 1648).
  • Institute:University of Cambridge / Independent study in Italy.
  • Mentor:Vincenzo Viviani.
  • Main research:Pioneer of calculus. First to state the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. First Lucasian Professor.
  • Source:Isaac Barrow, Mathematics Genealogy Project (Accessed 2026); and Isaac Barrow Biography, MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive (Accessed 2026).

Vincenzo Viviani

  • Timeline:Became a pupil to Galileo in 1639.
  • Institute:Court of the Grand Duke of Tuscany.
  • Supervisor:Galileo Galilei.
  • Main research:First to accurately determine the speed of sound. Reconstructed Apollonius's lost work De locis planis. Served as Galileo's last pupil and biographer.
  • Source:Vincenzo Viviani, Mathematics Genealogy Project (Accessed 2026); and Vincenzo Viviani Biography, MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive (Accessed 2026).

Galileo Galilei

  • Timeline:Student starting in 1581.
  • Institute:University of Pisa.
  • Supervisor:Ostilio Ricci.
  • Main research:Championed heliocentrism, discovered the four largest moons of Jupiter, formulated the basic law of falling bodies.
  • Source:Galileo Galilei, Mathematics Genealogy Project (Accessed 2026); and Galileo Galilei Biography, MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive (Accessed 2026).

Ostilio Ricci

  • Timeline:Court Mathematician in the late 1500s.
  • Institute:Court of Francesco I de' Medici.
  • Supervisor:Nicolò Tartaglia.
  • Main research:Mathematician and military engineer. Convinced Galileo's father to let him study mathematics.
  • Source:Ostilio Ricci, Mathematics Genealogy Project (Accessed 2026); and Ostilio Ricci Biography, Wikipedia (Accessed 2026).

Nicolò Tartaglia

  • Timeline:Active throughout the early to mid-1500s (Died 1557).
  • Institute:Venice / Verona.
  • Main research:Discovered the general algebraic solution for cubic equations. Published the first Italian translations of Euclid and Archimedes.
  • Source:Nicolo Tartaglia, Mathematics Genealogy Project (Accessed 2026); and Nicolo Tartaglia Biography, MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive (Accessed 2026).