Leopoldo Soto was born in Santiago, Chile in 1964. He received the B.S.,  M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Physics in 1989, 1990 and 1993, respectively from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago. His main research interests are related to dense transient plasmas, pulsed power and applied optics, including Z-pinch, plasma focus, capillary discharges, pulsed power miniature devices, transient plasma diagnostics, holography, interferometry and optical refractive diagnostics.

In 1999, he was awarded with a Presidential Chair in Science by the President of Chile. In 2007, he was elected as Fellow of the Institute of Physics, UK. He was the President of the Chilean Physical Society for 2 periods, from April 2003 to April 2008.

Nowadays, he is the Head of the Thermonuclear Plasma Department of the Nuclear Chilean Energy Commission, CCHEN, and the Director of the Center for Research and Applications in Plasma Physics and Pulsed Power, P4 CCHEN- U. Talca. He is associate professor of the Ph.D. Program in Physics of the University of Concepción, Chile  and the Ph.D. Program in Applied Science at the University of Talca, Chile.

Selected publications

Journals

1. “A Novel Gas Embedded Compressional Z-pinch Configuration”, L. Soto, H. Chuaqui, M. Favre, and E. Wyndham, Physical  Review Letters  72, 2891 (1994)
2. “Eight Frame Holographic Interferometry System for Transient Plasma Diagnostics”, Leopoldo Soto, Hernán Chuaqui and Maurice Skowronek, Applied Optics  34, 7831 (1995).
3. “Interferometry of Phase-microinhomogeneities within Macroscopic Objects”, L. Soto, H. Chuaqui and R. Saavedra, Measurements in Science and Technology  8, 875 (1997)
4. “Observations of Plasma Dynamics in a Gas Embedded Compressional  Z-pinch”, Leopoldo Soto, H. Chuaqui, M. Favre, R. Saavedra, E. Wyndham, M. Skowronek, P. Romeas, R. Aliaga-Rossel and I. Mitchell, IEEE. Transactions on Plasma Science 26, 1179 (1998)
5. “Transient Electrical Discharge in Small Devices”, Leopoldo  Soto, Andrey Esaulov, José Moreno, Patricio Silva, Gustavo Sylvester, Marcelo Zambra, Andrey Nazarenko, and Alejandro Clausse. Physics of Plasma 8, 2572 (2001).
6. “A Plasma Focus Driven by a Capacitor Bank of Tens of Joules” Patricio Silva, Leopoldo Soto,  José Moreno, Gustavo Sylvester, Marcelo Zambra, Luis Altamirano, Horacio Bruzzone, Alejandro Clausse, and César Moreno, Review of Scientific Instruments 73, 2583 (2002).
7. “Neutron Emission from a Fast Plasma Focus of 400 Joules”, P. Silva, J. Moreno, L. Soto, L. Birstein, R. Mayer, W. Kies, Applied Physics Letters 83, 3269 (2003)
8. “Pinch evidence in a fast and small plasma focus of only tens of joules”, P. Silva, L. Soto, W. Kies and J. Moreno, Plasma Sources Science and Technology 13, 329 (2004).
9. "New Trends and Future Perspectives on Plasma Focus Research", Leopoldo Soto, Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 47, A361 (2005).
10. “Analisys and projections of Physics in Chile”, Leopoldo Soto, Marcelo Zambra, Marcelo Loewe, Gonzalo Gutierrez, Mario Molina, Felipe Barra, Fernando Lund, Carlos Saavedra, and Patricio Häberle, Journal of Physics: Conf. Series, 134, 012052 (2008)
11. “System for measurements of low yield neutron pulses from D-D fusion reactions based upon a 3He proportional counter”, J. Moreno, L. Birstein, R. Mayer, P. Silva, L. Soto,  Meas. Sci. and Technol. 19, 087002 (2008)
12. “Demonstration of neutron production in a table top pinch plasma focus device operated at only tens of joules”. Leopoldo Soto, Patricio  Silva, José Moreno Moreno, Marcelo Zambra, Walter Kies, Roberto E. Mayer, Alejandro Clausse, Luis Altamirano, Cristian Pavez, and Luis Huerta J. Phys. D: App. Phys. 41, 205215 (2008).
13. “Nanofocus: ultra-miniature dense pinch plasma focus device with submillimetric anode operating at 0.1J”, Leopoldo Soto, Cristian Pavez, José Moreno, Mario Barbaglia, and Alejandro Clausse, Plasma Sources Sci. and Technol. 18, 015007 (2009)
14. “Demonstration of x-ray Emission from an ultraminiature pinch plasma focus discharge operating at 0.1 J. Nanofocus”, Cristian pavez and Leopoldo Soto, IEEE Trans. Plasma Science, 38, 1132 (2010).
15. “Studies on scalability and scaling laws for the plasma focus: similarities and differences in devices from 1MJ to 0.1J”, Leopoldo Soto, Cristian Pavez, Ariel Tarifeño, José Moreno and Felipe Veloso, Plasma Sources Sci. and Technol. 19, 055017 (2010).
16. “Dynamics and Density Measurements in a Small Plasma Focus of Tens of Joules Emitting Neutrons”, Ariel Tarifeño, Cristian Pavez, José Moreno and Leopoldo Soto, IEEE Trans. Plasma Science, 39, 756, (2011).

Full list of publication in journals

1.“Beam and Hot-spot Formation in a Low Impedance Line Driven Vacuum Spark Discharge”, E. Wyndham, H. Chuaqui, M.Favre,  L. Soto and P.Choi, Journal of  Applied Physics  71, 4164 (1992)
2.“Optical Design of a Fast Multiframe Holographic Interferometry System for Transient Plasma Diagnostics”, H. Chuaqui, L.Soto, M. Moreno, M. Favre and E. Wyndham, Review of Scientific Instruments, 64, 3330 (1993)
3.“Observations of a Vacuum Spark under Different Driver Conditions of the Aplied Voltage”, Chuaqui, M. Favre,  L.Soto, E. Wyndham, Physics of  Fluids B 5, 4244 (1993)
4. “High Current Electron Beam Generation in a Vacuum Transient Hollow Cathode Discharge”, H. Chuaqui, M. Favre,  Leopoldo Soto, E. Wyndham, IEEE Transactions on  Plasma Science  21, 778 (1993)
5. “A Novel Gas Embedded Compressional Z-pinch Configuration”, L. Soto, H. Chuaqui, M. Favre, and E. Wyndham, Physical  Review Letters  72, 2891 (1994)
6.“Plasma Dynamics Observations in a Vacuum Spark”, H. Chuaqui, M. Favre, E. Wyndham, R. Aliaga-Rossel, Ian Mitchell and L.Soto, Physics of Plasma (formerly Phys. Fluids B),  2, 3910 (1995).
7. “Eight Frame Holographic Interferometry System for Transient Plasma Diagnostics”, Leopoldo Soto, Hernán Chuaqui and Maurice Skowronek, Applied Optics  34, 7831 (1995).
8.“Interferometry of Phase-microinhomogeneities within Macroscopic Objects”, L. Soto, H. Chuaqui and R. Saavedra, Measurements in Science and Technology  8, 875 (1997)
9.“Observations of the Plasma Dynamics of a Vacuum Spark from its soft X-Ray Emission”, H. Chuaqui, M. Favre, R. Saavedra, E. Wyndham, P. Choi, C. Dumitrescu-Zoita,  L. Soto, R. Aliaga Rossel and I. Mitchell, Physics of Plasma  4, 3696 (1997)
10.“Gas Emebedded Compressional Z-pinch in H2 and D2”, L. Soto, H. Chuaqui, M. Favre, R. Saavedra, E. Wyndham, M. Skowronek, P. Romeas, R. Aliaga-Rossel and I. Mitchell, Astrophysics and Space Science. 256, 473, (1997)
11. “Observations of Plasma Dynamics in a Gas Embedded Compressional  Z-pinch”, Leopoldo Soto, H. Chuaqui, M. Favre, R. Saavedra, E. Wyndham, M. Skowronek, P. Romeas, R. Aliaga-Rossel and I. Mitchell, IEEE. Transactions on Plasma Science 26, 1179 (1998)
12.“Observations of Vacuum Spark Dynamics from its soft X-Ray Emission”, H. Chuaqui, M. Favre, R. Saavedra, E. Wyndham,  Leopoldo Soto, P. Choi, and C. Dumitrescu-Zoita, IEEE. Transactions on Plasma Science 26, 1162 (1998)
13.“Descarga Capilar Transiente: Experimentos y Simulación”; L. Soto, A Esaulov, G Sylvester, M Zambra, A Alvarado, C Pavez, and L Altamirano;  Special Issue  of  Contribuciones Científicas y Tecnológicas; Año XXVII, Nº 121, p. 123, Ed. Univ. de Santiago de Chile.
14.“A Pulse Voltage Multiplier”, Leopoldo Soto and Luis Altamirano. Review of Scientific Instruments 70, 1891 (1999)
15.“Mechanical Mounts for Mirrors and Beam Splitters”, Leopoldo Soto and Hernán Chuaqui, Measurements in Science and  Technology. 11, 39 (2000)
16.“Fabricación de un Equipo Plasma Focus para Tratamiento de Superficies por Choque Térmico”, Gustavo Sylvester, Marcelo Zambra, Leopoldo Soto, Jorge Feugeas, Alejandro Clausse, and Horacio Bruzzone , Revista Nucleotécnica, año 21, No 35, p.47 (2001).
17. “Fast Hollow Cathode Capillary Discharge. MHD Simulation” A. Esaulov, P. Sasorov, L. Soto, M. Zambra and J. Sakai. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 43, 571 (2001).
18.“Magnetohidrodynamics Simulation of Gas Embedded Plasma Discharge”, Andrey Esaulov, Pavel Sasorov, Leopoldo Soto, and Marcelo Zambra, Physics of Plasma 8, 1395 (2001).
19.“Transient Electrical Discharge in Small Devices” (Invited paper, ICPP 2000 and APS Plasma Division 2000), Leopoldo  Soto, Andrey Esaulov, José Moreno, Patricio Silva, Gustavo Sylvester, Marcelo Zambra, Andrey Nazarenko, and Alejandro Clausse. Physics of Plasma 8, 2572 (2001).
20.“Fast Capillary Discharge: Plasma Dynamics and VUV Spetroscopy Diagnostics”, Leopoldo Soto, Patricio Silva, Gustavo Sylvester, José Moreno, Andrey Esaulov and Andrey Nazarenko. Special Issue of the Revista Mexicana de Física 48-S3, 142 (2002).
21.“Plasma Focus in the Limit of Low Energy”, Patricio Silva, Leopoldo Soto, Gustavo Sylvester, Marcelo Zambra, Horacio Bruzzone, Alejandro Clausse, and Cesar Moreno. Special Issue of the  Revista Mexicana de Física 48-S3, 145 (2002).
22.“Design and Construction of a Compact module of surfaces treatment by thermal shock”, Gustavo Sylvester, Marcelo Zambra, Leopoldo Soto, Jorge Feugeas, Alejandro Clausse, and Horacio Bruzzone.  Special Issue of the Revista Mexicana de Física 48-S3, 148 (2002).
23. “Dense Plasma Research in the Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission: Past, Present, and Future”, Leopoldo Soto, Patricio Silva, José Moreno, Marcelo Zambra, Gustavo Sylvester, Andrey Esaulov, and Luis Altamirano. Brazilian Journal of Physics 32, 139-154 (2002).
24.“A Plasma Focus Driven by a Capacitor Bank of Tens of Joules” Patricio Silva, Leopoldo Soto,  José Moreno, Gustavo Sylvester, Marcelo Zambra, Luis Altamirano, Horacio Bruzzone, Alejandro Clausse, and César Moreno, Review of Scientific Instruments 73, 2583 (2002).
25. “Plasma Motion Observations in a Very Small Plasma Focus in the Limit of Low Energy”, Leopoldo Soto, Patricio Silva, José Moreno, Luis Altamirano, and Alejandro Clausse. Simposio de la Sociedad Venezolana de Física 2001 and ISFFPP International School on Fundamentals and Frontiers in Plasma Physics 2001 (Invited talk)”. Especial Issue of the Revista Mexicana de Física 49S3, 140, (2003)
26.“Evolution of a Gas Embedded Z-pinch: A Zero Dimensional Approach”. Leopoldo Soto and Alejandro Clausse.  Physica Scripta 67, 77 (2003).
27.“Optical Observations of the Plasma Motion in a Fast Plasma Focus Operating at 50 Joules”. José Moreno, Patricio Silva, and Leopoldo Soto, Plasma Sources Science and Technology 12, 39 (2003).
28.“Neutron Emission from a Fast Plasma Focus of 400 Joules”, P. Silva, J. Moreno, L. Soto, L. Birstein, R. Mayer, W. Kies, Applied Physics Letters 83, 3269 (2003)
29.“Pinch evidence in a fast and small plasma focus of only tens of joules”, P. Silva, L. Soto, W. Kies and J. Moreno, Plasma Sources Science and Technology 13, 329 (2004).
30.“Research on Pinch Plasma Focus Devices of Hundred of Kilojpules to Tens Of Joules”, L. Soto, P. Silva, J. Moreno, G. Sylvester, M. Zambra, C. Pavez, L. Altamirano, M. Barbaglia, H. Bruzzone, Yu. Sidelnikov, and W.Kies, (Invited paper in X Latin American Workshop on Plasma Physics, 2003), Brazilian. Journal of Physics 34 4B, 1814 (2004)
31."New Trends and Future Perspectives on Plasma Focus Research", (Invited paper in ICPP2004), Leopoldo Soto, Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 47, A361 (2005).
32.“XV Chilean Physics Symposium, 2006”, Leopoldo Soto, José Moreno, Ricardo Avila and Karla Cubillos, (Editors), Journal of Physics: Conf. Series, 134, 011001 (2008)
33.“Opening Talk of XV Chilean Physics Symposium, 2006”, Leopoldo Soto, Journal of Physics: Conf. Series, 134, (2008)
34.“Soft X-ray emission from a plasma focus of hundreds joules”, Patricio Silva, José Moreno, Cristian Pavez, Leopoldo Soto, and  Jaime Arancibia, Journal of Physics: Conf. Series, 134, 012044 (2008)
35.“Hard X-ray measurement from a plasma focus of low energy”, Patricio Silva, Cristian Farias, Patricio L´Huissier, Victor Pinto, Marcelo Zambra and Leopoldo Soto, Journal of Physics: Conf. Series, 134, 012045 (2008)
36.“Electrical characterization and experimental results in the SPEED4 plasma focus device”, Marcelo Zambra, Juan Carlos Soto, Patricio Silva, Gustavo Sylvester, Cristian Pavez, José Moreno and Leopoldo Soto, Journal of Physics: Conf. Series, 134, 012046 (2008)
37.“Neutron emission from a plasma focus device: a neutron radiography diagnostic?”, Marcelo Zambra, José Moreno, Patricio Silva, Leopoldo Soto, Gustavo Sylvester and Cristian Pavez, Journal of Physics: Conf. Series, 134, 012047 (2008)
38.“Production of high magnetic fields by using high power lasers and scaling to medium power lasers”, Ariel Tarifeño, Cristian Pavez and Leopoldo Soto, Journal of Physics: Conf. Series, 134, 012048 (2008)
39.“Characterization of neutron emission and measurement of the electron density in a plasma focus device of 400J”, Cristian Pavez, José Moreno, Patricio Silva, Fermin Castillo, Julio Herrera and Leopoldo Soto, Journal of Physics: Conf. Series, 134, 012049 (2008)
40.“Progress in Z-pinch research driven by the mega-ampere device SPEED2”, Cristian Pavez, Leopoldo Soto, José Moreno, Ariel Tarifeño and Gustavo Sylvester, Journal of Physics: Conf. Series, 134, 012050 (2008)  
41.“Analisys and projections of Physics in Chile”, Leopoldo Soto, Marcelo Zambra, Marcelo Loewe, Gonzalo Gutierrez, Mario Molina, Felipe Barra, Fernando Lund, Carlos Saavedra, and Patricio Häberle, Journal of Physics: Conf. Series, 134, 012052 (2008)
42.“Zero-dimensional simulations of wire array experiments and Z-pinch flux compression using SPEED2 generator” Ariel Tarifeño, Cristian Pavez, Miguel Cardenas and Leopoldo Soto, Physica Scripta T131, 014028 (2008)
43.“Design and characterization of a small multipurpose capacitor bank for plasma physics and pulsed power experiments”, Ariel Tarifeño, Cristian Pavez and Leopoldo Soto, Physica Scripta T131, 014029 (2008)
44. “Scaling and stabilization due to the large ion larmor radius (LLR) effects in plasma focus devices”
Cristian Pavez and Leopoldo Soto, Physica Scripta T131, 014030 (2008)
45.“Dense transient pinches and pulsed power technology. Research and applications using medium and small devices” Leopoldo Soto, Cristian Pavez, Jose Moreno, Miguel Cárdenas, Ariel Tarifeño, Patricio Silva, Marcelo Zambra, Luis Huerta, Jorge Ramos, Rodrigo Escobar, Claudio Tenreiro, Miguel Lagos, Cesar Retamal, and J. Luis Giordano (Invited paper, XII Latin American Workshop on Plasma Physics), Physica Scripta T131, 014031 (2008)
46. “System for measurements of low yield neutron pulses from D-D fusion reactions based upon a 3He proportional counter”, J. Moreno, L. Birstein, R. Mayer, P. Silva, L. Soto,  Meas. Sci. and Technol. 19, 087002 (2008)
47. “Demonstration of neutron production in a table top pinch plasma focus device operated at only tens of joules”. Leopoldo Soto, Patricio  Silva, José Moreno Moreno, Marcelo Zambra, Walter Kies, Roberto E. Mayer, Alejandro Clausse, Luis Altamirano, Cristian Pavez, and Luis Huerta J. Phys. D: App. Phys. 41, 205215 (2008).
48."Motion of a red blood cell in interference filed", Luis Alfredo Viera, Ignacio Lira, Leopoldo Soto, and Cristian Pavez, Optics Communications 282, 64 (2009)
49.“Nanofocus: ultra-miniature dense pinch plasma focus device with submillimetric anode operating at 0.1J”, Leopoldo Soto, Cristian Pavez, José Moreno, Mario Barbaglia, and Alejandro Clausse, Plasma Sources Sci. and Technol. 18, 015007 (2009)
50.“Experimental study of the hard x-ray emissions in a Plasma Focus of hundreds of Joules", Mario Barbaglia, Horacio Bruzzone,  H. Acuña, Leopoldo Soto and Alejandro Clausse,  Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 51, 045001 (2009).
51.“Numerical experiments on plasma focus neutron yield versus pressure compared with laboratory experiments”, S. Lee, S. H. Saw, L. Soto, S. V. Springham, S. P. Moo, Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 51, 075006 (2009).
52.“Experimental results on hard x-ray energy emitted by a low energy plasma focus device: a radiographic image analysis”, M. Zambra, P. Silva, M. Moreno, C. Pavez and L. Soto, Plasma Physics Controlled Fusion 51, 125003 (2009)
53.“Demonstration of x-ray Emission from an ultraminiature pinch plasma focus discharge operating at 0.1 J. Nanofocus”, Cristian pavez and Leopoldo Soto, IEEE Trans. Plasma Science, 38, 1132 (2010).
54.“Studies on scalability and scaling laws for the plasma focus: similarities and differences in devices from 1MJ to 0.1J”, Leopoldo Soto, Cristian Pavez, Ariel Tarifeño, José Moreno and Felipe Veloso, Plasma Sources Sci. and Technol. 19, 055017 (2010).
55.“Dynamics and Density Measurements in a Small Plasma Focus of Tens of Joules Emitting Neutrons”, Ariel Tarifeño, Cristian Pavez, José Moreno and Leopoldo Soto, IEEE Trans. Plasma Science, 39, 756, (2011).
56. “Correlations among neutron yield and dynamical discharge characteristics obtained from electrical signals in a 400 joules plasma focus”, Felipe Veloso, Cristian Pavez, Jose Moreno, Victor Galaz, Marcelo Zambra and Leopoldo Soto, Journal of Fusion Energy, DOI 10.1007/s10894-011-9429-9 (2011).
57. “Editorial article of Special Issue devoted to Invited papers from the 15th International Congress on Plasma Physics combined with the 13th Latin American Workshop on Plasma Physics”, Leopoldo Soto, Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 53, 070201 (2011)
58. “Dependence of hard x-ray emissions with the charging pressure in a small Plasma Focus” M. Barbaglia, L. Soto and A. Clausse, Journal of Fusion Energy, DOI 10.1007/s10894-011-9455 (2011).

59. “Toroidal high-density singularities in a small Plasma Focus”, Federico Casanova, Ariel Tarifeño-Saldivia, Felipe Veloso, Cristian Pavez, Leopoldo Soto and Alejandro Clausse, Journal of Fusion Energy, DOI 10.1007/s10894-011-9469-1(2011).
60. “Modelling of the Internal Dynamics and Density in a Tens of joules Plama Focus Device”, Ariel Marquez,  Jose Gonzalez, Ariel Tarifeño- Valdivia, Cristan Pavez,  L. Soto and A. Clausse. Physics of plasmas 19, 012703 (2012) DOI:10.1063/1.3672005

61. “Statistical Characterization of the Reproducibility of Neutron Emisión of Small Plasma Focus Devices”, Ariel Tarifeño- Saldivia and Leopoldo Soto Physics of Plasmas 19, 092512 (2012) DOI:10.1063/14747444

62. “Multiple Pinching in The Miniature Plasma Focus nanoPLADEMA”, M. Barbaglia, L.Soto and A Clausse. LAWPP 2011 J of Physics Conference Series370 (2012) 012058 DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/370/1/012058

63. “The Silver Counter Neutron Detector Revisited”, A. Llanquihuen- Martinez, A. Tarifeño-Saldivia, J. Moreno and L .Soto. LAWPP 2011 J of Physics Conference Series 370 (2012) 012068 DOI 10.1088/1742-6596/370/1/012069

64. “Understanding the Insulator Conditioning Process in Fast Plasma Focus Discharges”, A. Tarifeño-Saldivia, E. Ramos-Moore, P. Ferrari and L. Soto LAWPP 2011 J of Physics Conference Series 370 (2012) 012060 DOI:10.1088/1742-6596/370/1/012060

65. “Potentiality of a Small and Fast Dense Plasma Focus as Hard X-Ray Source for Radiographic Applications”, Cristian Pavez, Jose Pedreros, Marcelo Zambra, Felipe Veloso, Jose Moreno, Ariel Tarifeño- Saldivia and Leopoldo Soto. IOP Plasma Phys. Control Fusion 54 (2012) 105018 (9pp) DOI:10.1088/0741-3335/54/10/105018

66. “Non Intrusive Plasma Diagnostics for Measuring Sheat Kinematics in Plasma Focus Discharges”, Felipe Veloso , Jose Moreno, Ariel Tarifeño-Saldivia, Cristian Pavez, Marcelo Zambra and Leopoldo Soto. IOP Meas. Sci. Technol. 23 (2012) 087002 (7pp)  DOI:10.1088/0957-0233/238/087002

67. “Plasma Sheath Kinematics and Some Implications on the Modelling of Very Low Energy Plasma Focus Devices”, Felipe Veloso, Ariel Tarifeño, Cristian Pavez, José Moreno, Marcelo Zambra and Leopoldo Soto. IOP Plasma Phys. Control Fusion 54 (2012) 095007 (8pp) DOI:10.1088/0741- 3335/54/9/095007

68. “Drive Parameter of Neutron-Optimized Dense Plasma Foci”, Daniel Klir and Leopoldo Soto. IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.  Vol 40 No 12 (2012) DOI:10.1109/TPS.2012.2220380

69. “Digital Interferometry Applied to Transient Dense Plasmas”, Cristian Pavez, José Pedreros, Carlos Curin, Gonzalo Muñoz C., and Leopoldo Soto. IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.  Vol 40 No 12 (2012) DOI:10.1109/TPS.2012.2223237