Gorden Videen

Education

Dr. Gorden Videen joined SSI in 2003. His research focus is the light-scattering properties of irregular particles, like dust and regolith surfaces. He received his Ph.D. in Optics at the University of Arizona in 1992 studying rough surfaces and contaminants on mirrors. He spent nearly three years researching atmospheric aerosols as a postdoc at Dalhousie University, followed by two more years developing aerosol detection techniques as an NRC postdoctoral fellow at New Mexico State University.

He has worked as an atmospheric physicist in Maryland since 1997 and has developed unique theories to calculate the light scattering from irregularly shaped particle systems; e.g., particles on substrates, aggregate particles, and cellular systems. His research includes fundamental light scattering, including theory, experiment and modeling, plasmonics, characterizing atmospheric aerosols, interplanetary dust particles and lunar regolith, and satellite design. In 2005-2007 he undertook a sabbatical at the University of Amsterdam Astronomy Department where he developed efficient algorithms to calculate light scattering from irregular particles and applied this research to asteroids and planetary regolith. He also undertook a sabbatical at the Universidad de Cantabria in 2014-2015 studying plasmonic resonances. He has been married for quite a long time and has two daughters.