A young scientist who has used cutting-edge plasma technology to boost jet engine performance has scooped a top international award hailing him as a scientific pioneer.

Dr Arutiun Ehiasarian, who heads up Sheffield Hallam University's HIPIMS Technology Centre has been awarded the prestigious Peter Mark Memorial Award for his work in advancing the science of high-power impulse magnetron sputtering.

Arutiun, 33, travelled to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to receive the award, which honours people who have contributed outstanding theoretical or experimental work to advance vacuum science and technology.

It follows the July launch of Sheffield Hallam University and Fraunhofer IST's HIPIMS Centre, leading research into powerful mega-watt plasma coatings that can help in the manufacture of jet engines, knee joints, space satellites, photovoltaics and tea cups.

Arutiun was described by judges at the AVS Awards Committee as a "pioneer who had paved the way for the commercialisation of HIPIMS to academics and industrialists around the world".

And he said: "To win this award is a big achievement and recognises the work that Sheffield Hallam has been doing in developing this technology across many applications. It was nice that my father was there to see me collect the award."

Professor Mike Smith, pro vice chancellor at Sheffield Hallam, said: "Arutiun's work is an example of how we work successfully with international companies to develop HIPIMS technology and has also underpinned our formal partnership with a Fraunhofer Institute. It is a tremendous success for all concerned."

The award was established in 1979 in commemoration of Dr Peter Mark, an editor of the Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology. Arutiun was given a cash award and an honorary lectureship at the International Symposium of the American Vacuum Society.

Sheffield Hallam has established a HIPIMS Research Centre, the first of its kind, with German research institute Fraunhofer IST to lead the global development of the physical vapour deposition (PVD) process.

Sheffield Hallam, which pioneered HIPIMS, High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering, in 2001, launched the new research centre at the 1st International Conference on HIPIMS held in the city earlier this year.