Joseph Cerny has made seminal discoveries in radioactive decay and the properties of nuclei far from the stable isotopes, served in some of the top administrative posts on campus, and educated a new generation of nuclear scientists. He has also worked to better the lives and jobs of postdoctoral fellows and is currently assisting the soon-to-open UC Merced campus in maintaining the high faculty quality of the University of California. Not a quiet career at all. “And with hardly a dull moment,” notes Cerny.

Studying nuclear decay

A nuclear chemist, Cerny and his graduate students and postdocs have devoted a lot of experimental effort toward discovering new modes of radioactive decay and the properties of highly unstable nuclei. Radioactivity itself was discovered in 1896 by Henri Becquerel when a sample of a uranium compound kept in the dark was found to expose photographic plates. The mysterious radiations were later shown to be helium nuclei (alpha particles), electrons (beta particles) and photons (gamma rays). Radioactivity is the conversion of an unstable nucleus of an atom to relatively more stable ones and ultimately to one of the 265 known stable isotopes. Research on radioactive nuclei, primarily using particle accelerators such as the cyclotron or using nuclear reactors, has led to the discovery of some 2,600 artificially produced isotopes, many with highly unusual neutron to proton ratios. This field remains of intense interest, since nuclear theorists have predicted that three to four thousand additional radioactive nuclei should exist (however fleetingly).

Cerny has discovered numerous radioactive isotopes and a new mode of radioactive decay, and he has worked out new pathways in complex radioactive decay. He was honored with the E. O. Lawrence Award by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission in 1974 for the discovery of proton emission as the fourth fundamental mode of radioactive decay and for his investigation of the limits of nuclear stability of a number of light elements. The theory for proton radioactivity parallels that for alpha-particle radioactivity, but is a simpler process and gives more direct evidence of the basic nuclear structure of the decaying nuclide.

In an influential paper in 1983, Cerny and his collaborators reported a complex new type of radioactive decay that occurs in extremely proton-rich nuclei. This decay is initiated by beta-particle emission from the parent nuclide, but the daughter state is so highly excited that it decays by sequentially emitting two protons, which can be detected in coincidence. Currently Cerny is using the 88-inch cyclotron at LBNL to look for direct evidence of an even rarer process: the simultaneous emission of two protons, which was first indirectly observed in France in 2002. “Studies of nuclei very far from the stable isotopes continue to reveal highly unusual nuclear radioactivity,” noted Cerny.

BEARS project

He has recently been instrumental in establishing the BEARS project at LBNL—the Berkeley Experiments with Accelerated Radioactive Species (BEARS). By utilizing two cyclotrons, his group developed a light-ion, proton-rich radioactive beam capability that provides experimenters with the opportunity to perform a wide range of measurements in nuclear science and nuclear astrophysics. Short-lived radioactive isotopes, such as carbon-11 with a 20-minute half-life, are produced at the Biomedical Isotopes Cyclotron, rapidly transported as carbon dioxide gas through a 350-meter capillary to the 88-inch Cyclotron, injected into its main ion source and finally accelerated as an ion beam. BEARS also has the only oxygen-14 beam (half-life 71 seconds) in the world. This very proton-rich beam is particularly of interest for nuclear astrophysics experiments related to the relative abundances of the isotopes of the lighter elements.

Entering a hot field

HOTBED OF RESEARCH. The capacity of LBNL to produce radioactive compounds for scientific study has increased through Cerny’s guidance.

Born in Alabama, Cerny received his B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Mississippi in 1957. Following a year at the University of Manchester, England, as a Fulbright Scholar, he decided to focus on nuclear chemistry, and his undergraduate advisors encouraged him to attend Berkeley for his doctorate.

“At that time nuclear chemistry was a hot field [no pun intended], and Berkeley was the place to be. Glenn Seaborg had recently arranged for a highly innovative new cyclotron [the 88”] to be built at LBNL, and new equipment was continually coming online.” He received his Ph.D. from Berkeley in 1961, using Lawrence’s last cyclotron on the Berkeley campus (located about where Pimentel Hall is now), and joined the faculty that same year.

Administrative positions

Cerny began his distinguished administrative career as chair of the chemistry department, serving from 1975 to 1979. One of his more interesting experiences as chair was presiding over the first-ever review of chemistry by the Graduate Division. He was then chosen to help lead LBNL, serving as an Associate Director as well as the head of its Nuclear Science Division from 1979 to 1984. He moved back down to the campus after a sabbatical to hold simultaneously the positions of Vice Chancellor for Research and Dean of the Graduate Division from 1985 through 2000.

“At most universities, responsibility for postdoctoral fellows lies with either the vice chancellor for research or the graduate dean....Since I held both of these positions at Berkeley, it was very clear to me whose job it was.”

Improving postdoc affairs

As the Graduate Division Dean, Cerny became involved in postdoctoral affairs and has been instrumental in advancing the cause of postdocs at Berkeley, improving the stature and working conditions of these important but transient appointees. He helped to establish the Berkeley Postdoctoral Association and has worked at the national level to recommend standardizing the pay and treatment of postdocs. “At most universities, responsibility for postdoctoral fellows lies with either the vice chancellor for research or the graduate dean. In my opinion, leadership at this level is critical for substantial progress to be made in regularizing postdoctoral education. Since I held both of these positions at Berkeley, it was very clear to me whose job it was,” Cerny has noted. Through his leadership, postdocs received improved recognition by the campus (the systemwide University has now created an academic personnel category for postdocs), obtained general access to health care coverage, and received more equitable compensation.