Research Interests

As Deputy Program Manager for Target Fabrication, I help lead the multi-institute teams that make the complex, tiny targets needed to make laboratory nuclear fusion possible.  The team bridges fundamental R&D with manufacturing to deliver complex subsystems to the field with high reliability.

More generally, I develop devices, materials, and materials processing technologies needed to deliver fieldable devices in demanding engineering applications.  I have a particular focus on engineered interfaces, thin films, and vapor deposition. A common theme is to understand how systems change over time as they interact with their environment, and what can be done during manufacturing, fabrication, and synthesis to prevent or control these changes.  Past and present systems under study include semiconductor/optoelectronic devices, chemical vapor deposition polymers, laser glasses and crystals, free-standing polymer films, and optical assemblies.

Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009

B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, 2004

Full list of publications available at Google Scholar  

Selected publications:

S Hayes, J Biener, J Forien, X Lepro-Chavez, C Wild, T Fehrenbach, L Sohngen, S Baxamusa, "Universal method for the optimization of HDC coating uniformity on non-planar, non-stationary substrates for inertial confinement fusion targets," Diamond and Related Materials (2025)

X Lepro, D Malone, C Aracne-Ruddle, A Schwartz, M Monticelli, S Baxamusa, S Bhandarkar, "Quantification of Changes in Fill Tube Curvature During Target Assembly," Fusion Science and Technology (2025)

L Wang, R Deri, W Fenwick, E McVay, J Varley, J Li, S Baxamusa, M Crowley, P Thiagarajan, J Song, G Thaler, C Schuck, A Dusty, K Pipe, "Longitudinal position dependence of dark line defect growth rate in high-power diode lasers at 790 nm," Applied Physics Letters (2025)

B Bachmann, L Divol, A Pak, et al, "Direct experimental proof of the principal role of reduced high-mode hydrodynamic mix in recent ignition success on NIF," Physical Review Letters (2025)

M Hohenberger, D Clark, K Humbird, et al, "First Demonstration of Improved Fusion Yield with Increased Compression through Reduced Adiabat in Inertial Confinement Fusion Experiments at the National Ignition Facility," Physical Review Letters (2025)

I Amyx, C Anderson, N Cassada, C Lewinsohn, D Funaro, C Frye, S Baxamusa, J Kotovsky, K Jackson, T Bandhauer, "Thermal Management of Discretized Heaters using CuW Microchannel Heat Sinks and FC3283," IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging, and Manufacturing Technology (2024)

L Wang, E McVay, S Baxamusa, R Deri, W Fenwick, J Kotovsky, M Crowley, J Song, G Thaler, A Dusty, C Schuck, K Pipe, "Imaging of dark line defect growth in high-power diode laser cavities using broadband near infrared light emission from the laser cavity," Applied Physics Letters (2024)

N Cassada, C Anderson, L Kubicek, D Hobby, C Frye, S Baxamusa, J Kotovsky, K Jackson, I Ladner, T Bandhauer, "SiC Microchannel Heat Sinks for High Heat Flux Dissipation of 1 kW/cm²," IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging, and Manufacturing Technology (2023)

T Massey, M Borucki, S Paik, K Fuhrer, M Bohra, S Kane, R Haque, S Baxamusa, "Quantitative Fit Evaluation of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators and Coronavirus Inactivation Following Heat Treatment," Annals of Work Exposures and Health (2021)

C Chu, S Baxamusa, C Witherel, "Impact of COVID-19 on materials science research innovation and related pandemic response," MRS Bulletin (2021)

J Yoo, H Nguyen, N Ray, M Johnson, W Steele, J Chesser, SH Baxamusa, S Elhadj, J McKeown, M Matthews, E Feigenbaum, “Scalable light-printing of substrate-engraved free-form metasurfaces,” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (2019)

S Baxamusa, P Ehrmann, J Ong, “Acoustic activation of water-in-oil microemulsions for controlled salt dissolution,” Journal of Colloid and Interface Science (2018)

X Lepro, P Ehrmann, J Rodriguez, SH Baxamusa, “Enhancing the oxidation stability of polydivinylbenzene films via residual pendant vinyl passivation,” Chemistry Select (2018)

T Laurence, S Ly, J Bude, S Baxamusa, X Lepro, P Ehrmann, “Energy transfer networks: Quasicontinuum photoluminescence linked to high densities of defects," (2017).

X Lepro, P Ehrmann, J Menapace, J Lotscher, S Shin, R Meissner, S Baxamusa, “Ultralow stress, thermally stable cross-linked polymer films of polydivinylbenzene (PDVB),” Langmuir (2017)

S Baxamusa, T Laurence, M Worthington, P Ehrmann, "Photo-oxidation of polymer-like amorphous hydrogenated carbon under visible light illumination," Polymer Degradation and Stability (2015)

S Baxamusa, M Stadermann, C Aracne-Ruddle, A Nelson, M Chea, S Li, K Youngblood, and T Suratwala, "Enhanced delamination of ultrathin free-standing polymer films via self-limiting surface modification," Langmuir (2014)

J Bude, P Miller, S Baxamusa, N Shen, T Laurence, W Steele, T Suratwala, L Wong, W Carr, D Cross, and M Monticelli, "High fluence laser damage precursors and their mitigation in fused silica," Optics Express (2014

• US Secretary of Energy Achievement Award for “Fusion Ignition at NIF” (2023)
• LLNL Summer Scholars Program, Outstanding mentor award (2017)
• R&D 100 award, "Polyelectrolyte Enhanced Liftoff (PEEL)" (2016)
• Graduate Fellowship, National Science Foundation (2008-2009)
• Graduate Fellowship, National Defense Science and Engineering (2005-2007)