Stan Flatte

Stan Flatté was a member of the UC Santa Cruz Physics faculty from 1971 to 2004. His research led to important contributions in the fields of atmospheric optics, ocean acoustics, and seismology. His numerous interdisciplinary collaborations grew out of his interest in the propagation of waves through random media. In atmospheric optics, he studied the propagation of light in the presence of atmospheric turbulence. In seismology, he worked on the scattering of waves in the deep Earth, eventually leading to the development of techniques used by the oil exploration industry. In ocean acoustics, he helped develop a new paradigm for understanding the transmission of sound in the ocean. 

He also made significant contributions to basic research in particle physics. The Flatté Parametrization is still used to develop the decay of certain kinds of mesons. At UC Santa Cruz, he was affiliated with both the Santa Cruz Institute of Particle Physics and the Institute of Marine Sciences, a unique combination. 

Within the Physics Department, Flatté served as department chair for several years. Outside UCSC, he was a member of JASON, a national scientific advisory group to many government agencies.