Kathryn Sturge

Publications:
- K. M. Sturge et al., Dynamics of high-speed electrical tree growth in electron-irradiated polymethyl methacrylate, Science 385, p. 300-304 (2024). doi: 10.1126/science.ado594
- N. Hoppis, K. M. Sturge et al., Imaging high jitter, very fast phenomena: A remedy for shutter lag, Rev. Sci. Instrum., 94, 125109 (2023). doi: 10.1063/5.0168764
- K. M. Sturge et al., Incident beam current impact on space-charge retention in electron dynamitron irradiated polymethyl methacrylate, APL Mater. 12, 031119 (2024). doi: 10.1063/5.0191534
- K. M. Sturge, N. Hoppis, and T.W. Koeth, Observations from the high-speed imaging of dielectric breakdown in space-charged polymer, Conference: 2024 IEEE Conference on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena (CEIDP), Aburn, Alabama (2024), doi: 10.1109/CEIDP61745.2024.10907360
- K. M. Sturge et al., Characterization of electrostatic discharge currents in electron-charged polymethyl methacrylate as a proxy for natural compact intracloud discharges, Phys. Rev. E. 111(6), 065207 (2025). doi: 10.1103/m62y-7lf8
- T. Montano, C. Chun, K. M. Sturge et al., Simulation and modeling of prompt electrical tree formation during dielectric breakdown in space-charged dielectrics, IEEE Trans. Dielectr. Electr. Insul. 35(5), p. 2577-2585 (2025).
doi: 10.1109/TDEI.2025.3550102
- M. Heibert, K. M. Sturge, Physicists’ role in modern life: Reflections from the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, Physics Today 78(2), p. 8-9 (2025). doi: 10.1063/pt.lyqe.hjje
- N. R. Schwartz, B. C. Clifford, C. Chun, E. H. Frashure, K. M. Sturge et al., Observation and characterization of periodic structure formation in dielectric breakdown channels of electron-irradiated polymethyl methacrylate, J. Appl. Phys. 139, 013301 (2026). doi: 10.1063/5.0308472
- K. M. Sturge et al., Breakdown front dynamics of streamer-like discharge in electron-charged polymethyl methacrylate, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys., under review.

Presentations:
- Dynamics of Fast Electrical Breakdown in Electron-Charged Polymethyl Methacrylate, Invited Lecture. February 24, 2026. Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering for Undergraduates, College Park, Maryland
- Electrostatic Discharges in PMMA as a Proxy for Natural Compact Intracloud Discharges, Poster Presentation. December 16, 2025. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Dynamics of High-Speed Electrical Tree Growth in Electron-Charged Polymethyl Methacrylate, Invited Lecture. November 13, 2025. Intelligence and Space Research Division Seminar, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico
- Electrostatic Discharges in PMMA as a Proxy for Natural Compact Intracloud Discharges, Poster Presentation. June 25, 2025. DOE NNSA Laboratory Residency Graduate Fellowship Annual Review Meeting, Washington, D.C.
- Dynamics of High-Speed Electrical Tree Growth in Electron-Irradiated Polymer, Oral Presentation. March 18, 2025. American Physical Society Global Physics Summit, Anaheim, California
- Capturing Lightning: Dielectric Breakdown in Electron-Charged Polymer, Invited Lecture. November 19, 2024. Advanced Electrodynamics for Undergraduates, College Park, Maryland
- Observations from the High-Speed Imaging of Dielectric Breakdown in Space-Charged Polymer, Oral Presentation. October 8, 2024. IEEE Conference on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena, Auburn, Alabama
- Dynamics of High-Speed Electrical Tree Growth in Electron-Irradiated Polymethyl Methacrylate, Invited Lecture. June 27, 2024. American Physical Society Senior Physicists Group, College Park, Maryland
- Novel Electrical Tree Type Observed using GHz Frame Rate Camera to Image Dielectric Breakdown in Space-Charged Polymer, Oral Presentation. April 29, 2024. Materials Research Society Spring Meeting, Seattle, Washington
- UMD Materials at the Extremes: Charge Loaded Dielectrics, Oral Presentation. April 4, 2023. Lockheed Martin Technical Review Meeting, College Park, Maryland