Dr Tony Murphy

https://people.csiro.au/M/T/Tony-Murphy

Biography

Tony Murphy has been a research scientist with CSIRO since 1989. He is currently a Chief Research Scientist, and leads the Materials and Process Modelling Team. He has worked mainly on the physics, chemistry and applications of thermal plasmas such as welding arcs. His work has included computational fluid dynamic modelling, calculation of the thermophysical properties of plasmas, and optical diagnostics. He developed the ArcWeld software, which predicts weld depth and shape, and other properties of the arc and weld pool, for arc welding of aluminium alloys and steels. He was part of the team that developed the PLASCON plasma waste destruction process; at least twelve PLASCON plants have been built around the world, destroying ozone-depleting substances, greenhouse gases and toxic organic chemicals. Tony has also worked on the use of solar energy to produce hydrogen from water, and on the optical and thermal properties of nanoparticles and nanostructured films.

His recent projects include:
- Development of computational models of metallic additive manufacturing, with the aim of developing a digital twin of the process;
- Extension of arc welding models to repeated passes (wire-arc additive manufacturing), and additional metals, shielding gases and weld geometries;
- Calculation of the properties of complex gas mixtures and plasmas at high temperatures and pressures.

He is also involved with projects investigating the use of non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasmas for hydrogenation of carbon dioxide, and thermal plasmas for iron and steelmaking.

He has carried out research contracts with several Australian and international companies, including General Motors Holden and General Motors, AutoCRC, CRRC (China Rail and Rolling Stock Corporation), Rail Manufacturing CRC, Boeing, SRL Plasma, LS Industrial Systems and Siemens.

Tony has published over 340 papers in refereed journals, and his work has over 13,800 citations in the Web of Science, with an h-index of 57. He has presented over 100 invited, keynote and plenary lectures at international scientific conferences and summer schools. He has won several awards and holds editorial positions with five international journals, including Editor-in-Chief of Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing and Associate Editor of Journal of Manufacturing Processes.

Professional Areas

Fields of Research

Current

Current Roles

Team Leader
Materials and Process Modelling

Academic Qualifications

1981

Bachelor of Science with Honours (Physics), University of Sydney
1987

Doctor of Philosophy (Physics), University of Sydney

Professional Experiences

1989-present

Research Scientist, CSIRO
1987-1989

Postdoctoral Scientist, Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, Germany

Achievements and Awards

2024-

Plasma Physics Innovation Prize
European Physical Society Plasma Physics Division
2023-

NSW Premier's Prize for Excellence in Mathematics, Earth Sciences, Chemistry or Physics
NSW Government
2023-

Top Researcher (Best in Field), Physics & Mathematics (General)
'The Australian' Research Awards
2021-

Plasma Chemistry Award
International Plasma Chemistry Society
2021-

Plasma Innovation Prize
Association of Asia-Pacific Physical Societies – Division of Plasma Physics
2016-

Fellow
American Physical Society
2012-

Harrie Massey Medal
Institute of Physics (UK) & Australian Institute of Physics
2008-

Alan Walsh Medal for Service to Industry (with Tony Farmer and Trevor McAllister)
Australian Institute of Physics
2003-

Fellow
Institute of Physics (UK)
2000-

Pawsey Medal
Australian Academy of Science
2000-

Fellow
Australian Institute of Physics
1995-

Edgeworth David Medal
Royal Society of New South Wales
1994-

Engineering Excellence Award in Environmental Engineering (team member)
Institution of Engineers, Australia, Victorian Division

Community and Corporate Citizenship

2014-present

Editor-in-Chief, Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing
2021-present

Associate Editor, Journal of Manufacturing Processes
2002-present

Editorial Board, Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics
2012-2023

Editorial Board, Scientific Reports
2020-2023

Editorial Board, IOP SciNotes
2009-2013

Editorial Board, Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing
2016-present

Editorial Board, Reviews in Modern Plasma Physics
2021-present

Editorial Board, Welding in the World
2022-2022

Chair, Gordon Research Conference on Plasma Processing Science, Andover, NH, USA
2019-2019

Chair, 'Towards a True Digital Twin of Metal Additive Manufacturing' Symposium, Melbourne
2018-2019

President of International Plasma Chemistry Society (Vice-President 2016-17; Board of Directors 2004-09 & 2012-19)
2018-2018

Vice-Chair, Gordon Research Conference on Plasma Processing Science, Smithfield, RI, USA
2017-2017

Joint Chair, Summer School of the 23rd International Symposium on Plasma Chemistry, Montreal, Canada, 2017
2013-2013

Joint Conference Chair, 21st International Symposium on Plasma Chemistry, Cairns, QLD
2010-2010

Chair, 16th Gaseous Electronics Meeting, Durras, NSW, Australia, 2010
2001-2003

Task Force on Destruction Technologies of the United Nations Environment Programme Technology and Economic Assessment Panel