In Memory of Distinguished Professor Neville C. Luhmann Jr.

Neville C. Luhmann Jr., a Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Davis, and a towering figure in the fields of plasma physics and vacuum electronics, died on Sept. 5, 2025. He was 82. 

Luhmann Jr. was a beloved mentor, a visionary leader, and a world-renowned scientist whose work helped shape modern high-frequency electronics. 

He began his illustrious academic journey at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering physics in 1966. He went on to receive his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 1972.  

Following a postdoctoral research associate position at the prestigious Princeton University Plasma Physics Lab, he launched his academic career at UCLA in 1973. There, over a distinguished 20-year tenure, he ascended from assistant professor to full professor.  

A natural leader and innovator, he founded and directed the Center for High Frequency Electronics and served as co-director of the Joint Services Electronics Program in Millimeter Wave Electronics. His exceptional ability to lead complex, multi-institutional research was recognized through his role as program director for several critical Department of Defense Multidisciplinary University Research Initiatives, or MURI, consortia, focusing on high-energy microwave sources and vacuum electronics. 

Luhmann Jr. joined UC Davis in 1993 and was appointed in 2003 to the position of Distinguished Professor, one of the highest honors bestowed upon a faculty member. He continued his groundbreaking work, co-directing the Davis Millimeter Wave Research Center and expanding his research into fusion plasma diagnostics. His international acclaim was evident through his roles as an ITER Scientist Fellow and his membership on academic committees for major international research institutions. 

A prolific author of approximately 420 journal articles and 18 books, Luhmann Jr.’s contributions were celebrated with the most prestigious awards in his field. These included the Robert L. Woods/DoD Award, the IEEE John R. Pierce Award for Excellence in Vacuum Electronics and the Kenneth J. Button Prize from the Institute of Physics, London.  

He was also a dedicated mentor, honored with UC Davis’s Distinguished Graduate and Postdoctoral Mentoring Award and the Consortium for Women and Research Outstanding Mentor Award. Luhmann Jr. supervised the graduation of more than 100 Ph.D. students, the majority of whom were women. Students and colleagues alike remember Luhmann Jr. for his unwavering support, intellectual generosity and ability to inspire curiosity and excellence. 

Luhmann Jr. was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society and a Life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), distinctions that reflect the profound and lasting impact of his work.  

He will be remembered for his brilliant mind, his generous mentorship and his unwavering commitment to advancing human knowledge. His passing leaves a profound void in the scientific community, but his legacy will continue to illuminate the path for future generations of researchers. 

Luhmann Jr. is survived by his wife, Janet Luhmann, and a wide circle of colleagues, students and friends who will carry forward his legacy.