Biography

Dr. Kirk Boehm may be reached at either kirk.boehm@uah.edu or kb0135@uah.edu. 

1. AIAA Electric Propulsion Technical Committee member, 2024-present
2. APS DPP program committee member for low temperature plasma, 2025-present

Education

• Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, University of Alabama, 2023
• M.Sc. Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, 2017
• Dipl-Ing., Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering, Technical University Dresden, 2015

Recent Publications

• 1. Boehm, K., Reuben, R., Xu, K.G., “Plasma Behavior in Classical Versus Rod-Bounded Coaxial Gun Geometries,” AIAA SciTech Forum 2026, Orlando, FL, 2026.
  2. Reuben, R., Boehm, K., Xu, K.G., “Development and Characterization of a Two-stage Coaxial Plasma Gun,” AIAA SciTech Forum 2026, Orlando, FL, 2026.
  3. Xu, K.G., White, Z.K., Boehm, K., Nagarajan, N., “From Space Down to the Cell: Plasma Science and Engineering Research at PERL at the University of Alabama in Huntsville,” 67th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics, Long Beach, CA, 2025.
  4. Reuben, R., Boehm, K., LeBaron, E., Xu, K.G., “Experimental investigation of two staged coaxial plasma gun acceleration dynamics,” 67th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics, Long Beach, CA, 2025.
  5. Boehm, K., Reuben, R., Moffett, M.B., Xu, K.G., “Investigation of Solid-State Parallel Switching in Pulsed Power Systems Using Thyristors and Ferrite Coils,” 67th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics, Long Beach, CA, 2025.
  6. Boehm, K. J., James, D.R., Branam, R.D.,. "Analysis of the Electron Distribution Function Inside of a LaB₆ Hollow Cathode." IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science 53.1, 2025.
  7. Boehm, K., Cassibry, J., Xu, K.G., “Verification and Validation of Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics on Pulsed Plasma Accelerators,” 66th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics, Atlanta, GA, 2024.
  8. Laya, N.P., Boehm, K., Xu, K.G., Moffett, M.B, Chesny, D.L, “Design, Construction, and Characterization of a 1 kJ Solid-State Switched Pulsed Power System Discharged Through a Coaxial Plasma Gun,” 66th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics, Atlanta, GA, 2024.
  9. Boehm, K. J., James, D.R., Branam, R.D., “Analysis and Comparison of the Electron Temperatures and the Number Densities using a Single Langmuir Probe and Optical Emission Spectroscopic Diagnostic System,” 74th APS Gaseous Electronics Conference, Virtual, 2021.