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Gheorghe Popa

Emeritus Professor of Plasma Physics
Faculty of Physics, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, Romania

Academic Profile & Career

Gheorghe Popa (born 25 October 1943, Moinești, Bacău County, Romania) is a Romanian physicist specializing in plasma physics and the structure of matter who served as a senior academic leader and researcher at the Faculty of Physics, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași (UAIC). (Wikipedia)

  • Education & Specialization:
    Popa graduated in physics from UAIC and earned his PhD in plasma physics with contributions to plasma diagnostic methods and transport phenomena in ionized gases. His doctoral work and subsequent research laid the foundation for his long-term academic career in experimental and applied plasma science. (Physique UAIC)
  • Academic Positions:
    He was a full professor of plasma physics and material structure at UAIC, where he taught, supervised research, and guided doctoral candidates until becoming Professor Emeritus. (Conferinta E-nformation)
    He also held administrative leadership roles, including Prorector for Research (1990–2002; 2004–2012) and Rector of UAIC (1992–2000). (Conferinta E-nformation)
  • Public Service:
    Between 2003 and 2005, Popa served as State Secretary for Research at the Romanian Ministry of Education, Research and Youth, where he launched initiatives to restructure national scientific literature access, culminating in the Anelis Plus electronic literature system. (Conferinta E-nformation)

Research Output, Citations & Scholarly Impact

Reliable global citation analytics (e.g., Clarivate Web of Science h-index, total citations, most-cited papers) for Popa are not publicly available in full detail. However, his ResearchGate profile provides a useful high-level proxy:

  • Publications: ~225 publications listed. (ResearchGate)
  • Citations / Reads: ~25,402 reads and ~2,502 citations across works on plasma diagnostics, plasma-surface interactions, thin films, and magnetron discharges. (ResearchGate)

Note: These metrics are not Clarivate’s Web of Science analytics; Clarivate internal databases typically require subscription access. ResearchGate aggregates publication lists and citations from multiple sources but gives a broad sense of impact.

Scientific Contributions & Research Themes

Popa’s research spans experimental plasma physics and materials science, with notable areas including:

  • Plasma Diagnostics: Optical and mass spectrometric methods to analyze microwave and magnetized plasmas. (ResearchGate)
  • Magnetron & HiPIMS Processes: Work on high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) and related thin film deposition physics. (ResearchGate)
  • Surface Engineering: Investigations of plasma effects on polymer and metal surfaces, linking fundamental plasma processes to applied materials modification. (ResearchGate)

His work has contributed to both fundamental understanding of ionized gas behavior and practical methods for plasma-based material processing.

Books, Chapters & Scholarly Leadership

Publicly available sources do not list specific books authored by Popa, but he has contributed extensively to peer-reviewed journal articles and conference proceedings in plasma and surface science. His leadership in organizing international symposiums on plasmas and ionization instabilities (e.g., in Innsbruck and Greifswald) is noted in his professional CV. (Physique UAIC)

International Cooperation

Professor Popa has an extensive record of international research cooperation:

  • Visiting and invited roles at the Institute of Physics, University of Innsbruck (Austria), “Josef Stefan” Institute (Slovenia), and Shizuoka University (Japan). (Physique UAIC)
  • Collaborations with research groups and laboratories across Europe (Germany, France, Czech Republic, Slovenia) and participation in international plasma physics symposiums. (Physique UAIC)

These engagements reflect his integration into broader European and global plasma research networks.

Honors & Professional Recognition

Gheorghe Popa’s contributions to science and academia have been recognized with multiple honors:

  • Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and Honorary Member of the Romanian Academy. (Conferinta E-nformation)
  • Doctor Honoris Causa, Alecu Russo University of Bălți, Republic of Moldova. (Conferinta E-nformation)
  • Recipient of the “Constantin Miculescu” Prize from the Romanian Academy (1989) and the National Order “Steaua României” in the rank of Officer (2000). (Wikipedia)
  • Honorary academic titles from universities in Augsburg (Germany) and Shizuoka (Japan). (Wikipedia)

Summary

Prof. Dr. Gheorghe Popa is a distinguished Romanian physicist whose career has combined innovative research in plasma physics, academic leadership, and national science policy influence. With a robust publication record, international collaborations, and a legacy of mentoring researchers, his contributions have substantially shaped the field of experimental plasma science in Romania and beyond.