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Discipline name D-Index World Ranking National Ranking Publications Citations
Physics 79 3071 1478 469 29655

Charles H. Townes publications per year

The chart shows the history of publications by Charles H. Townes between 1950 and 2019, highlighting the no. of papers published in each year and offering an overview of the publication velocity of this scholar. Charles H. Townes published across 70 years, from 1950 to 2019, averaging 6.3 papers a year. Output peaked at 22 publications in 1994. 2 of the 443 publications appeared in the last two years.

No. of publications
5 10 15 20
Bar chart. Horizontal axis: year, 1950 to 2019. Vertical axis: number of publications, 0 to 22. Peak 22 publications in 1994. 1950: 9 publications 1951: 7 publications 1952: 13 publications 1953: 7 publications 1954: 8 publications 1955: 6 publications 1956: 3 publications 1957: 9 publications 1958: 9 publications 1959: 5 publications 1960: 2 publications 1961: 2 publications 1962: 2 publications 1963: 4 publications 1964: 5 publications 1965: 3 publications 1966: 5 publications 1967: 3 publications 1968: 7 publications 1969: 10 publications 1970: 3 publications 1971: 4 publications 1972: 3 publications 1973: 3 publications 1974: 8 publications 1975: 2 publications 1976: 8 publications 1977: 7 publications 1978: 5 publications 1979: 5 publications 1980: 8 publications 1981: 9 publications 1982: 5 publications 1983: 6 publications 1984: 12 publications 1985: 8 publications 1986: 6 publications 1987: 6 publications 1988: 9 publications 1989: 8 publications 1990: 12 publications 1991: 9 publications 1992: 12 publications 1993: 10 publications 1994: 22 publications 1995: 8 publications 1996: 6 publications 1997: 11 publications 1998: 8 publications 1999: 7 publications 2000: 13 publications 2001: 5 publications 2002: 8 publications 2003: 9 publications 2004: 6 publications 2005: 1 publication 2006: 8 publications 2007: 7 publications 2008: 8 publications 2009: 10 publications 2010: 8 publications 2011: 5 publications 2012: 2 publications 2013: 0 publications 2014: 1 publication 2015: 1 publication 2016: 0 publications 2017: 0 publications 2018: 0 publications 2019: 2 publications
1950 2019

443 publications in total across all disciplines

View publications per year as a table
Charles H. Townes: publications per year, 1950 to 2019
Year Publications
1950 9
1951 7
1952 13
1953 7
1954 8
1955 6
1956 3
1957 9
1958 9
1959 5
1960 2
1961 2
1962 2
1963 4
1964 5
1965 3
1966 5
1967 3
1968 7
1969 10
1970 3
1971 4
1972 3
1973 3
1974 8
1975 2
1976 8
1977 7
1978 5
1979 5
1980 8
1981 9
1982 5
1983 6
1984 12
1985 8
1986 6
1987 6
1988 9
1989 8
1990 12
1991 9
1992 12
1993 10
1994 22
1995 8
1996 6
1997 11
1998 8
1999 7
2000 13
2001 5
2002 8
2003 9
2004 6
2005 1
2006 8
2007 7
2008 8
2009 10
2010 8
2011 5
2012 2
2013 0
2014 1
2015 1
2016 0
2017 0
2018 0
2019 2
Total 443
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Charles H. Townes publication distribution in Physics in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Physics in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Charles H. Townes sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
50 100 150
Bar chart with 70 bars. Horizontal axis: publications, 103–122 to 1,469+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 162. Most scientists, 162, have 323–342 publications. The last bar groups every scientist with 1,469 publications or more. The highlighted bar, 463–482 publications, is where this scientist sits. 103–122 publications: 7 scientists 123–142 publications: 10 scientists 143–162 publications: 31 scientists 163–182 publications: 35 scientists 183–202 publications: 53 scientists 203–222 publications: 81 scientists 223–242 publications: 85 scientists 243–262 publications: 112 scientists 263–282 publications: 114 scientists 283–302 publications: 126 scientists 303–322 publications: 136 scientists 323–342 publications: 162 scientists 343–362 publications: 155 scientists 363–382 publications: 156 scientists 383–402 publications: 134 scientists 403–422 publications: 145 scientists 423–442 publications: 147 scientists 443–462 publications: 131 scientists 463–482 publications: 131 scientists 483–502 publications: 116 scientists 503–522 publications: 106 scientists 523–542 publications: 103 scientists 543–562 publications: 87 scientists 563–582 publications: 84 scientists 583–602 publications: 94 scientists 603–622 publications: 70 scientists 623–642 publications: 76 scientists 643–662 publications: 60 scientists 663–682 publications: 54 scientists 683–702 publications: 60 scientists 703–722 publications: 48 scientists 723–742 publications: 64 scientists 743–762 publications: 48 scientists 763–782 publications: 37 scientists 783–802 publications: 43 scientists 803–822 publications: 34 scientists 823–842 publications: 36 scientists 843–862 publications: 32 scientists 863–882 publications: 32 scientists 883–902 publications: 31 scientists 903–922 publications: 25 scientists 923–942 publications: 15 scientists 943–962 publications: 24 scientists 963–982 publications: 13 scientists 983–1,002 publications: 21 scientists 1,003–1,022 publications: 21 scientists 1,023–1,042 publications: 16 scientists 1,043–1,062 publications: 9 scientists 1,063–1,082 publications: 19 scientists 1,083–1,102 publications: 11 scientists 1,103–1,122 publications: 17 scientists 1,123–1,142 publications: 11 scientists 1,143–1,162 publications: 7 scientists 1,163–1,182 publications: 4 scientists 1,183–1,202 publications: 10 scientists 1,203–1,222 publications: 8 scientists 1,223–1,242 publications: 16 scientists 1,243–1,262 publications: 4 scientists 1,263–1,282 publications: 10 scientists 1,283–1,302 publications: 5 scientists 1,303–1,322 publications: 7 scientists 1,323–1,342 publications: 4 scientists 1,343–1,362 publications: 8 scientists 1,363–1,382 publications: 6 scientists 1,383–1,402 publications: 7 scientists 1,403–1,422 publications: 3 scientists 1,423–1,442 publications: 4 scientists 1,443–1,462 publications: 4 scientists 1,463–1,468 publications: 3 scientists 1,469+ publications: 100 scientists
103–122 publications 1,469+

This scientist: 469 publications — 51st percentile

51% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 1,469 publications or more.

View publications distribution as a table
Number of Physics scientists by publication count, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 3,678 ranked scientists.
Publications Scientists This scientist
103–122 7
123–142 10
143–162 31
163–182 35
183–202 53
203–222 81
223–242 85
243–262 112
263–282 114
283–302 126
303–322 136
323–342 162
343–362 155
363–382 156
383–402 134
403–422 145
423–442 147
443–462 131
463–482 131 469
483–502 116
503–522 106
523–542 103
543–562 87
563–582 84
583–602 94
603–622 70
623–642 76
643–662 60
663–682 54
683–702 60
703–722 48
723–742 64
743–762 48
763–782 37
783–802 43
803–822 34
823–842 36
843–862 32
863–882 32
883–902 31
903–922 25
923–942 15
943–962 24
963–982 13
983–1,002 21
1,003–1,022 21
1,023–1,042 16
1,043–1,062 9
1,063–1,082 19
1,083–1,102 11
1,103–1,122 17
1,123–1,142 11
1,143–1,162 7
1,163–1,182 4
1,183–1,202 10
1,203–1,222 8
1,223–1,242 16
1,243–1,262 4
1,263–1,282 10
1,283–1,302 5
1,303–1,322 7
1,323–1,342 4
1,343–1,362 8
1,363–1,382 6
1,383–1,402 7
1,403–1,422 3
1,423–1,442 4
1,443–1,462 4
1,463–1,468 3
1,469+ 100
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Charles H. Townes D-index placement in Physics in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Physics scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Charles H. Townes sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
50 100 150
Bar chart with 59 bars. Horizontal axis: D-Index, 70–71 to 185+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 167. Most scientists, 167, have 80–81 D-Index. The last bar groups every scientist with 185 D-Index or more. The highlighted bar, 78–79 D-Index, is where this scientist sits. 70–71 D-Index: 76 scientists 72–73 D-Index: 110 scientists 74–75 D-Index: 143 scientists 76–77 D-Index: 153 scientists 78–79 D-Index: 144 scientists 80–81 D-Index: 167 scientists 82–83 D-Index: 167 scientists 84–85 D-Index: 166 scientists 86–87 D-Index: 132 scientists 88–89 D-Index: 155 scientists 90–91 D-Index: 134 scientists 92–93 D-Index: 137 scientists 94–95 D-Index: 102 scientists 96–97 D-Index: 112 scientists 98–99 D-Index: 110 scientists 100–101 D-Index: 116 scientists 102–103 D-Index: 97 scientists 104–105 D-Index: 103 scientists 106–107 D-Index: 87 scientists 108–109 D-Index: 90 scientists 110–111 D-Index: 67 scientists 112–113 D-Index: 78 scientists 114–115 D-Index: 75 scientists 116–117 D-Index: 67 scientists 118–119 D-Index: 69 scientists 120–121 D-Index: 60 scientists 122–123 D-Index: 59 scientists 124–125 D-Index: 53 scientists 126–127 D-Index: 42 scientists 128–129 D-Index: 41 scientists 130–131 D-Index: 33 scientists 132–133 D-Index: 32 scientists 134–135 D-Index: 45 scientists 136–137 D-Index: 19 scientists 138–139 D-Index: 24 scientists 140–141 D-Index: 28 scientists 142–143 D-Index: 31 scientists 144–145 D-Index: 22 scientists 146–147 D-Index: 20 scientists 148–149 D-Index: 12 scientists 150–151 D-Index: 16 scientists 152–153 D-Index: 24 scientists 154–155 D-Index: 23 scientists 156–157 D-Index: 15 scientists 158–159 D-Index: 15 scientists 160–161 D-Index: 11 scientists 162–163 D-Index: 17 scientists 164–165 D-Index: 12 scientists 166–167 D-Index: 11 scientists 168–169 D-Index: 9 scientists 170–171 D-Index: 9 scientists 172–173 D-Index: 11 scientists 174–175 D-Index: 4 scientists 176–177 D-Index: 8 scientists 178–179 D-Index: 5 scientists 180–181 D-Index: 3 scientists 182–183 D-Index: 4 scientists 184 D-Index: 4 scientists 185+ D-Index: 99 scientists
70–71 D-Index 185+

This scientist: 79 D-Index — 17th percentile

17% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 185 D-Index or more.

View D-Index distribution as a table
Number of Physics scientists by D-index, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 3,678 ranked scientists.
D-Index Scientists This scientist
70–71 76
72–73 110
74–75 143
76–77 153
78–79 144 79
80–81 167
82–83 167
84–85 166
86–87 132
88–89 155
90–91 134
92–93 137
94–95 102
96–97 112
98–99 110
100–101 116
102–103 97
104–105 103
106–107 87
108–109 90
110–111 67
112–113 78
114–115 75
116–117 67
118–119 69
120–121 60
122–123 59
124–125 53
126–127 42
128–129 41
130–131 33
132–133 32
134–135 45
136–137 19
138–139 24
140–141 28
142–143 31
144–145 22
146–147 20
148–149 12
150–151 16
152–153 24
154–155 23
156–157 15
158–159 15
160–161 11
162–163 17
164–165 12
166–167 11
168–169 9
170–171 9
172–173 11
174–175 4
176–177 8
178–179 5
180–181 3
182–183 4
184 4
185+ 99
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Research.com Recognitions

  • 2012 - Fellow, National Academy of Inventors
  • 2010 - SPIE Fellow
  • 1996 - Frederic Ives Medal, The Optical Society For five decades of major contributions to the field of optics, including research, education and administration, but especially for his inspiring creativity in optical physics, from quantum electronics to airborne infrared astronomy.
  • 1982 - US President's National Medal of Science "For fundamental contributions to the understanding of matter through its interaction with electromagnetic radiations and the application of this knowledge to the service of mankind, most notably in the invention of the maser and laser.", Presented by President Reagan at a White House Ceremony on May 24, 1983.
  • 1977 - Earle K. Plyler Prize for Molecular Spectroscopy, American Physical Society
  • 1969 - NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal
  • 1967 - IEEE Medal of Honor For his significant contributions in the field of quantum electronics which have led to the maser and the laser.”
  • 1966 - Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
  • 1964 - Nobel Prize for fundamental work in the field of quantum electronics, which has led to the construction of oscillators and amplifiers based on the maser-laser principle
  • 1961 - IEEE David Sarnoff Award "For research in resonance physics leading to major advances in communication technology."
  • 1958 - Comstock Prize in Physics, U.S. National Academy of Sciences
  • 1956 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences
  • 1955 - Fellow of John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
  • 1949 - Fellow of American Physical Society (APS)
  • 1942 - Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Overview

Charles H. Townes was affiliated with the University of California, Berkeley in the United States. Their career encompassed significant contributions to the field of optics and quantum electronics, notably through the invention of the maser and laser. Their research had an impact on both fundamental science and applied technology, ranging from quantum electronics to infrared astronomy.

Throughout their career, Townes received numerous distinctions, reflecting the breadth and influence of their work. Some of the notable awards included the Nobel Prize in 1964 for fundamental work in quantum electronics that led to the development of oscillators and amplifiers based on the maser-laser principle. Other recognitions include the US President's National Medal of Science in 1982, presented by President Reagan, acknowledging their fundamental contributions to the understanding of matter through electromagnetic radiation and its application to society.

Additional awards received were the IEEE Medal of Honor in 1967 for contributions in quantum electronics, the Frederic Ives Medal from The Optical Society in 1996 for creativity in optical physics, and the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal in 1969. Fellowships included election to the National Academy of Sciences (1956), American Physical Society (1949), American Association for the Advancement of Science (1942 and 1966), and the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation (1955).

Their work played a key role in fields dealing with the interaction of electromagnetic radiation and matter, advancing scientific understanding and technology. They contributed to the advancement of resonance physics and molecular spectroscopy, as indicated by the receipt of the Earle K. Plyler Prize for Molecular Spectroscopy from the American Physical Society in 1977 and the IEEE David Sarnoff Award in 1961 for advances in communication technology.

Though the data lacks specifics on publications, coauthors, or detailed areas of study and topics, Townes's impact is evidenced by their recognition across multiple prestigious scientific organizations and awards spanning several decades. The combination of fundamental research, practical technology development, and longstanding involvement in scientific communities marks the trajectory of their career.

Best Publications

  • Self-Trapping of Optical Beams.

    R. Y. Chiao;E. Garmire;C. H. Townes

  • Stark Effect in Rapidly Varying Fields

    S. H. Autler;C. H. Townes

  • Determination of Electronic Structure of Molecules from Nuclear Quadrupole Effects

    C. H. Townes;B. P. Dailey

  • Infrared and optical masers

    A. L. Schawlow;C. H. Townes

  • The 158 micron forbidden C II line - A measure of global star formation activity in galaxies

    G. J. Stacey;N. Geis;Reinhard Genzel;J. B. Lugten

  • Stimulated Brillouin Scattering and Coherent Generation of Intense Hypersonic Waves

    R. Y. Chiao;C. H. Townes;B. P. Stoicheff

  • The Maser—New Type of Microwave Amplifier, Frequency Standard, and Spectrometer

    J. P. Gordon;H. J. Zeiger;C. H. Townes

  • Molecular Microwave Oscillator and New Hyperfine Structure in the Microwave Spectrum of N H 3

    J. P. Gordon;H. J. Zeiger;C. H. Townes

  • Detection of NH sub 3 molecules in the interstellar medium by their microwave emission.

    A. C. Cheung;D. M. Rank;C. H. Townes;D. D. Thornton

  • Characteristics of dust shells around 13 late-type stars.

    W. C. Danchi;M. Bester;C. G. Degiacomi;L. J. Greenhill

  • Detection of Water in Interstellar Regions by its Microwave Radiation

    A. C. Cheung;D. M. Rank;C. H. Townes;D. D. Thornton

  • Self-steepening of light pulses.

    F. DeMartini;C. H. Townes;T. K. Gustafson;P. L. Kelley

  • The Ionic Character of Diatomic Molecules

    B. P. Dailey;C. H. Townes

  • The nature of the central parsec of the Galaxy

    J. H. Lacy;C. H. Townes;D. J. Hollenbach

  • Far-infrared spectroscopy of galaxies - The 158 micron C(+) line and the energy balance of molecular clouds

    M. K. Crawford;R. Genzel;C. H. Townes;D. M. Watson

  • Fluctuations in Amplification of Quanta with Application to Maser Amplifiers

    Koichi Shimoda;Hidetosi Takahasi;Charles H. Townes

  • [C II] 158 Micron Observations of IC 10: Evidence for Hidden Molecular Hydrogen in Irregular Galaxies

    S. C. Madden;A. Poglitsch;N. Geis;G. J. Stacey;G. J. Stacey

  • Microwave Spectra of the Free Radicals OH and OD

    G. C. Dousmanis;T. M. Sanders;C. H. Townes

  • Physical conditions, dynamics, and mass distribution in the center of the galaxy

    R. Genzel;C. H. Townes

  • Neutral gas in the central 2 parsecs of the Galaxy

    J. M. Jackson;N. Geis;R. Genzel;A. I. Harris

Frequent Co-Authors

John D. Monnier
John D. Monnier University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
Peter G. Tuthill
Peter G. Tuthill University of Sydney
Dan M. Watson
Dan M. Watson University of Rochester
Reinhard Genzel
Reinhard Genzel Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
James M. Jackson
James M. Jackson Ames Research Center
David Hollenbach
David Hollenbach Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
Michael W. Werner
Michael W. Werner California Institute of Technology
Lincoln J. Greenhill
Lincoln J. Greenhill Harvard University
Eugene E. Haller
Eugene E. Haller Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
T. ten Brummelaar
T. ten Brummelaar Georgia State University

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