Department of Physics

Ashot Gasparian, Interim Chairperson

Objectives

The Department of Physics provides two comprehensive and robust programs, one of physics and the other of atmospheric science and meteorology (ASME), designed to educate, train, and prepare a diverse group of students for careers in physics, atmospheric sciences, technology, engineering, and applied physics. Physics majors at both the undergraduate and graduate levels will learn how to analyze complex phenomena, think critically, solve problems, develop independent learning skills, and use good judgment and practical skills in various laboratory environments. These graduates will be prepared to meet our nation’s scientific workforce needs in state and federal governments, the industrial workplace, research laboratories, higher education, and secondary schools.

The Department of Physics is a recognized leader in physics education, teaching, research, and scholarship. It plays a central and critical role in building an Interdisciplinary University through the use of novel technologies in education and research.

Degrees Offered

Physics - Bachelor of Science
Physics (Engineering Physics) - Bachelor of Science Physics (Biological Physics) - Bachelor of Science
Physics (Interdisciplinary Physics) - Bachelor of Science Physics (Secondary Education) - Bachelor of Science
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology - Bachelor of Science

General Program Requirements

In addition to the general admission requirements of the University, a student must have two units of algebra, one unit of plane geometry, and 1/2 unit of trigonometry.

Enrichment Opportunities

The Department of Physics provides quality instruction, mentoring, and training in order to produce competitive graduates who are trained in the arts of critical thinking, analytical reasoning, independent learning, and problem solving. The department has strong and active collaborations with major research institutions such as Appalachian State University, Colorado State University, Cornell University, Duke University, Emory University, Howard University, Princeton University, University of Alaska, University of California - Davis, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Washington, , and Desert Research Institute. Collaborations with national laboratories include the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (JILA), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab), National Center For Atmospheric Research (NCAR), NOAA Earth Systems Research Lab (ESRL), and NOAA Severe Storm Laboratory (NSSL). More than half of our physics majors participate in summer research at other institutions. International Collaborations include Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Addis Ababa University, National Taiwan University, National Central University (Taiwan), and Yonsei University (Korea).

Enrichment Facilities

Departmental teaching facilities include smart classrooms, computerized undergraduate laboratories, an astronomy observatory, a planetarium, a nuclear lab, a space science and solid-state physics lab, and a chemical physics lab, Atmospheric physics/chemistry lab that houses a smog chamber for studies of aerosol photochemical aging. The Department plays a major role in many interdisciplinary campus research activities and program developments. In addition, the department provides numerous service courses to meet the science, technology, engineering, and mathematical needs.

Research Programs

Experimental Low and Medium Energy Physics: Research carried out on campus, at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, and at the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratories. Research topics include: investigations of the spin structure of the nucleon, tests of fundamental symmetry-breaking predictions in the theory of the strong force through precision measurement of meson decay widths, and signature of materials by gamma exposure. The research work involves construction of detectors, data acquisition, test and calibrations, and data analysis. The research work is supported by the National Science Foundation.
Chemical Physics, Experimental and Theoretical: Spectroscopic techniques applied to the study of chemical reactions, non-reactive energy transfer processes, and cluster photochemistry, as well as theoretical calculations involving density matrix functional theories. Program supported by the National Science Foundation.
Atmospheric Science: The research and technology integrated themes include: Climate and weather modeling, experimental atmospheric chemistry research focused on measuring optical and chemical properties of biomass burning aerosols and other forms of aerosols using laser spectroscopic methods, field studies in air quality. This research is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
Physics of Materials: Experimental and theoretical research into the physical properties of amorphous, ordered, and nanostructured solids. Investigated materials include metals, insulators, semiconductors and amorphous solids.
Biological and Soft Matter Physics: Experimental and numerical research into developing sperm as an active matter model system and use it to study the phase behaviors in active matter, and sperm motility under the influence of different physical environment such as fluid low and fluid rheology. Numerical and behavioral research into vision and olfactory signal processing by neurons. Both programs are supported by the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health.
Physics Education: Space and Earth Science Education development supported through a NASA grant. Research on the ionospheric phenomenon along the geomagnetic equator Also, research on web-based education and innovative teaching methods and on creating a responsive learning environment.
Computational Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics: Structural studies of organic molecular crystals. Visualization of DFT functional differences.

Career Opportunities

A knowledge and understanding of the principles of physics not only lead to a profound understanding of the physical world but also supply the scientist with the insight to develop new and innovative ideas. The technology and devices that influence our daily lives are based upon the discoveries of physics. Theoretical and experimental physicists are on the cutting edge of this exciting and vital progress. Physics graduates Physics graduates are everywhere: they work in industry, in national laboratories, on college campuses, and on Wall Street. They are astronauts in the space shuttle. They are astronomers who hunt for new planets beyond our solar system and who are concerned with the origin and evolution of the universe. They are men and women who are interested in how things work and in how things might work. A physics education develops problem-solving skills and provides a firm knowledge of basic science and the ability to apply and adapt that knowledge within the workplace. Owing to their training, physicists excel at solving complex problems, which allows them to seek employment.

Directory of Faculty

Abdellah Ahmidouch; Professor and Dean of the College of Science and Technology
B.S., Mohammed V. University; M.S., Joseph Fourier Grenoble I University; Ph.D., University of Geneva

Solomon Bililign; Professor
B.S., M.S., Addis Ababa University; Ph.D., University of Iowa

Ashot Gasparian; Professor and Interim Chairperson
B.S., M.S. Yerevan State University, Armenia, Ph.D., Yerevan Physics Institute, Armenia

Floyd J. James; Associate Professor
B.S., M.S., M.S., Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Abebe B. Kebede; Associate Professor
B.S., Addis Ababa University; M.A, Ph.D., Temple University

Yuh-Lang Lin; Professor
B.S., Fujen Catholic University, M.S., South Dakota School of Mines and Tech., Ph.D., Yale University

Ademe Mekonnen; Associate Professor
B.S., Addis Ababa University; M.S., University of Reading; Ph.D., University of Albany

Athina Meli; Assistant Professor
B.S., University of Bucharest, Romania; Ph.D. Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK

Ronald S. Pedroni; Associate Professor
B.A., Jacksonville University; Ph.D., Duke University

Brian Schuft; Lecturer
M.S., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Vijay Singh; Assistant Professor
B.Sc., St Stephens College, Delhi University; M.Sc., Indian University of Technology, Kanpur; Ph.D., Emory University

Chih-Kuan Tung; Associate Professor
B.S., National Taiwan University, Taipei; Ph.D., Princeton University

Jing Zhang; Professor
B.S., M.S., Nanjing University, Nanjing; Ph.D., Peking University, Beijing