TABLE OF CONTENTS
I.
FOREWORD .................................................................................................................. - 2 -
II.
ORGANIZATION .......................................................................................................... - 3 A. Staff ........................................................................................................................... - 3 B. Departmental Committees for 2008-2009 ................................................................ - 3 -
III.
FACULTY ...................................................................................................................... - 4 A. Areas of Specialization ............................................................................................. - 4 B. Honors and Awards................................................................................................... - 4 C. Grants and Gifts (awarded 2008-2009)..................................................................... - 4 D. Proposal Submissions (2008-2009) .......................................................................... - 4 E. Publications ............................................................................................................... - 5 F. Professional Talks Presented and Meetings Attended .............................................. - 6 G. Service ....................................................................................................................... - 8 -
IV.
ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT & SUPPORT PROGRAMS ........................................ - 10 A. Course Offerings and Enrollments.......................................................................... - 10 B. Innovative Curricular Initiatives ............................................................................. - 12 C. Research Opportunities for Undergraduates ........................................................... - 12 D. Physics Department Colloquia ................................................................................ - 12 E. SPS/ΣΠΣ Activities................................................................................................. - 13 -
V.
STUDENTS .................................................................................................................. - 13 A. Enrollment Statistics ............................................................................................... - 13 B. Degrees Awarded .................................................................................................... - 14 C. Honors, Awards, and Scholarships ......................................................................... - 15 -
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I.
FOREWORD
Eight students graduated with physics degrees in 2008-09, the highest graduation total in
a decade. Moreover, the Department of Physics & Physical Oceanography continues to
aggressively pursue initiatives that will attract more undergraduates to the physics major
in the years ahead. Noteworthy among these is the effort this year to restructure the B.S.
degree program to allow for a second „track‟ or option in Physical Oceanography. Under
the leadership of Dr. Morrison, and with a big assist from Drs. Bingham and McNamara,
the Physical Oceanography degree option has been submitted for approval and is
expected to take effect by September, 2010. The new oceanography option is directly
supported by six new course offerings (along with two existing ones) that will be taught
on a regular basis.
Involving undergraduates in faculty research continues to be a major emphasis area for
the Department, as is promoting other, diverse opportunities for academic enrichment.
Two of this year‟s graduates wrote honors theses under the direction of UNCW physics
faculty, and two current physics majors have initiated honors projects that are slated for
completion in Spring, 2010. Two other undergraduate majors will assist Professor Liping
Gan in cutting-edge research this summer at the Thomas Jefferson National Laboratory,
and a third will participate in the 2009 UNCW Summer Physics Program in Germany (in
cooperation with the Universität Ulm). Faculty scholarship continued at a respectable
pace for 2008-09; for the period, physics faculty published thirteen papers in refereed
journals, made fourteen presentations to professional audiences, and wrote nine grant
proposals requesting more than $3,000,000 in external funds.
This year also saw a noteworthy personnel change within the Department. Effective
September 23, 2008, Professor Russell Herman was appointed Professor of Physics in the
Department of Physics & Physical Oceanography. This is a rare joint appointment on the
UNCW campus, as Dr. Herman retains his title as Professor of Mathematics & Statistics.
Dr. Herman‟s affiliation with the Physics Department goes back to the time he joined the
UNCW faculty in 1990. Since then, he has taught a physics class in nearly every term
(including summer), sponsored physics students in numerous Directed Study and Senior
Seminar projects, and has been a frequent attendee at physics colloquia and other
functions. For his continuing and dedicated support of physics throughout the years, I
believe this appointment is richly deserved, and I am proud to count Dr. Herman among
the physics faculty.
Finally, I note with mixed emotions that June 30, 2009 marks the end of my tenure as
Physics Department Chair. While I have enjoyed [for the most part] the opportunity to
lead in this way for what is now ten years, I also firmly believe that change will serve us
well, bringing as it does fresh ideas and new perspectives. I credit the cooperation of you,
the physics faculty, for whatever success I have enjoyed as Chair, and hope that you will
extend the same courtesy to my successor. And I leave knowing the Department is in
good hands. Professor Herman is a strong, competent, and visionary leader; I am
confident that, with our support and cooperation, he will take the Department to even
greater heights in the coming years.
Curt A. Moyer
June, 2009
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II.
ORGANIZATION
A. Staff
Yvonne Marsan, Laboratories Manager
Bonnie L. Mattis, Department Secretary
Faculty Emeriti
Hildelisa C. Hernandez
Marvin K. Moss
Associate professor emerita of physics
Professor emeritus of physics & physical oceanography
Professors
Moorad Alexanian
Frederick M. Bingham
Brian F. Davis
Russell L. Herman
John M. Morrison
Curt A. Moyer
Edward A. Olszewski, Jr.
Ph.D. Indiana University, 1964
Ph.D. University of California, San Diego, 1990
Ph.D. North Carolina State University, 1982
Ph.D. Clarkson University, 1988
Ph.D. Texas A&M University, 1977
Ph.D. State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1971
Ph.D. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1976
Associate Professors
Timothy C. Black
Liping Gan
Ph.D. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1995
Ph.D. University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada, 1998
Assistant Professors
Dylan E. McNamara
Ph.D. Scripps Institution of Oceanography/UCSD, 2006
B. Departmental Committees for 2008-2009
Lab Development Committee
E. Olszewski, chairperson
F. Bingham
T. Black
L. Gan
Undergraduate Committee
C. Moyer, chairperson
B. Davis
D. McNamara
J. Morrison
Colloquium Coordinator
M. Alexanian
Library Representative
F. Bingham
SPS | Sigma Pi Sigma Advisor
B. Davis
C. Moyer
Computing Resources Coordinator
E. Olszewski
Faculty Senate Representative
T. Black
CTE Liaison
F. Bingham
Academic Advising
M. Alexanian
L. Gan
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III.
FACULTY
A. Areas of Specialization
1. Atomic Physics
Charge exchange in atomic collisions; response of atoms to intense electromagnetic fields; atomic structure studies; autoionization.
Professors Alexanian, Davis, Moyer
2. Marine Sciences
Physical oceanography; general ocean circulation; air-sea interaction and climate;
global distributions of sea surface salinity; ocean observing systems; coastal fluid
dynamics and large-scale coastal morphology; coral reef ecology.
Professors Bingham, McNamara, Morrison, Moss
3. Mathematical Physics
Nonlinear wave equations; complexity theory and chaos; coupled humanenvironmental dynamical systems; general relativity; geometric methods for
pde's; numerical analysis; generalized transforms.
Professors Herman, McNamara
4. Nuclear and Particle Physics
Low energy few-nucleon systems; hypernuclear physics; quantum chromodynamics; string theory.
Professors Black, Gan, Olszewski
5. Physics Education
Instructional technology; general physics pedagogy.
Professors Black, Herman, Moyer
B. Honors and Awards
1. Professor John Morrison currently chairs the Duke/UNC Oceanographic
Consortium Policy Board.
C. Grants and Gifts (awarded 2008-2009)
Agency and Investigators
Title / Subject
National Science Foundation
Timothy Black
“Collaborative Research:
Neutron Interferometry
Experiments for Nuclear
Physics”
Amount
$16,500
(supplement)
D. Proposal Submissions (2008-2009)
1. Bingham, F. (with P. Schaefer) “Advanced Communications at Speed and
Depth”, to Navy SBIR; amount requested $26,757 (declined).
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2. Bingham, F. (with M. Fuentes) “Statistical Evaluation of the in situ Sea Surface
Salinity Field for Comparison with Aquarius”, to NASA Earth and Ocean
Sciences; amount requested $221,000 (pending).
3. Gan, L. (with others) “RUI: Test of QCD Symmetries via Study of Light
Pseudoscalar Mesons”, to NSF; amount requested $271,545 (pending).
4. McNamara, D. (with M. Smith and J. Zhang) “Building the Foundation: Fishing
Behavior, Fish Abundance, and Climate Change”, to NOAA; amount requested
$175,000 (declined).
5. McNamara, D. (with C. Finelli and L. Leonard) “Development of an
interdisciplinary flume facility for research and teaching at the University of
North Carolina Wilmington”, to NSF; amount requested $328,000 (pending).
6. McNamara, D. (with M. Smith) “Towards an Empirical Foundation for Marine
Ecosystem-based Management: Fishing Behavior, Fish Abundance, and Climate
Change”, to Duke Center on Global Change; amount requested $32,000
(pending).
7. Morrison, J. (with others) “Biodiversity and Upwelling Dynamics of the
Galápagos Marine Reserve”, to NASA; amount requested: $1,066,000 (declined).
8. Morrison, J. (with B. Song) “Phytoplankton community dynamics in the SAB:
Comparative quantification of phytoplankton community dynamics in the South
Atlantic Bight using absorption spectra and 454 pyrosequencing technologies”, to
NASA; amount requested $206,455 (declined).
9. Morrison, J. “The Dynamics of Ocean Circulation in the Galápagos Marine
Reserve”, to NSF; amount requested $760,000 (pending).
E. Publications
1. Black, T. (with M.G. Huber et. al.) “Precision Measurement of the n-3He
Incoherent Scattering Length Using Neutron Interferometry”, Phys. Rev. Lett.
102, 200401 (2009).
2. Black, T. (with K. Slifer et. al.) “3He Spin-Dependent Cross Sections and Sum
Rules”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 022303 (2008).
3. Gan, L. (with O. Hashimoto et. al.) “Hypernuclear spectroscopy program at
JLab Hall C”, Nucl. Phys. A804, 125 (2008).
4. Gan, L. (with H. Mkrtchyan et. al.) “Transverse momentum dependence of semiinclusive pion production”, Physics Letters B665, 20 (2008).
5. Gan, L. (with M. Battaglieri et. al.) “First measurement of direct f0(980)
photoproduction on the proton”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 102001 (2009).
6. Gan, L. (with S. Gevorkyan et. al.), “Photoproduction of Pseudoscalar Mesons
off Nuclei at Forward Angles”, e-print arXiv:0903.4715 [hep-ph] (2009).
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7. Gan, L. (with P. Martel et. al.), “Nuclear Targets for a Precision Measurement of
the Neutral Pion Radiative Width”, e-print arXiv:0811.2132 [nucl-ex] (2009).
8. Gan, L. (with K. Slifer et. al.), “Spin Structure Moments of the Proton and
Deuteron”, e-print arXiv:0812.0031 [nucl-ex] (2009).
9. Herman, R. (with A. Rose), “Numerical Realizations of Solutions of the
Stochastic KdV Equation”, J. Mathematics and Computers in Simulation,
accepted (2009).
10. Herman, R. (with G. Lugo), “Open Source Resources for Teaching and
Research in Mathematics”, Proceedings of the Twentieth International
Conference on Technology in Collegiate Mathematics, p. 107 (2009).
11. McNamara, D. (with A. B. Murray et. al.) “Geomorphology, complexity, and the
emerging science at the Earth's surface”, Geomorphology 103, 496 (2008).
12. McNamara, D. (with M. D. Smith et. al.) “Beach Nourishment as a Dynamic
Capital Accumulation Problem”, Environmental Economics and Management,
accepted for publication (2009).
13. Morrison, J. (with W.V. Sweet, et. al.) “Water Mass Seasonal Variability in the
Galápagos Archipelago”, Deep-Sea Research I 54(12), 2023 (2007).
14. Morrison, J. (with B. Schaeffer et. al.) “Phytoplankton biomass distribution and
identification of productive habitats within the Galapagos Marine Reserve by
MODIS, a surface acquisition system, and in-situ measurements”, Remote
Sensing of Environment 112(6), 3044 (2008).
15. Morrison, J. (with B. Schaeffer et. al) “Phytoplankton biomass distribution and
seasonal change within the Galapagos Marine Reserve”, Remote Sensing of
Environment, accepted for publication (2009).
16. Morrison, J. (with W.V. Sweet et. al) “Tropical Instability Waves within the
Galapagos Archipelago”, Deep-Sea Research I, accepted for publication (2009).
F. Professional Talks Presented and Meetings Attended
Contributed Talks (including Poster Presentations as noted)
1. Bingham, F. (with H. Seim et. al.) “Observing System Depiction of Circulation
in the SE US Coastal Ocean”, presented to the US/EU Baltic International
Symposium, Estonia, May 30, 2008 (not previously reported).
2. Gan, L. “Properties of PbWO crystals”, presented to the General Purpose
Electromagnetic Calorimeter Workshop, Jefferson National Laboratory, Newport
News, VA, Oct. 31, 2008.
3. Gan, L. “The η Rare Decays in Hall D”, presented to the General Purpose
Electromagnetic Calorimeter Workshop, Jefferson National Laboratory, Newport
News, VA, Oct. 31, 2008.
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4. Herman, R. (with G. Lugo) “Adventures in 3D Modeling Using VPython”,
presentation to the Twenty-first International Conference on Technology in
Collegiate Mathematics, New Orleans, LA, Mar. 14, 2009.
5. Herman, R. (author only, with G. Lugo, presenter) “Mathcasts of Reusable
Learning Resources”, presentation to the Twenty-first International Conference
on Technology in Collegiate Mathematics, New Orleans, LA, Mar. 13, 2009.
6. Herman, R. (with G. Lugo) “Propagation of Solitons Under Colored Noise”,
presentation to the MAA-AMS Joint Meeting, Washington, DC, Jan. 2009.
7. McNamara, D. (author only, with F. Feddersen, presenter) “Modeling the surf
quality at Lower Trestles”, presentation to the International Multi-purpose Reef
Conference, South Africa, May 2009.
8. McNamara, D. “Dynamics of Nourishment Resources in a Coupled Economic
and Coastal Dynamics Model”, presentation to the American Geophysical Union
Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 2008.
9. McNamara, D. (author only, S. Sandin, presenter) “Spatial dynamics of
herbivory and coral growth”, presentation to the International Coral Reef
Symposium, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Jul. 2008.
10. Morrison, J. “Connectivity and Upwelling Dynamics in the Galápagos Marine
Reserve (GMR)”, presentation to the Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography,
Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, Nov. 24, 2008.
Invited Presentations
11. Bingham, F. “Benjamin Franklin: The First Marine Scientist”, public lecture
delivered as part of UNCW Randall Library exhibition - Benjamin Franklin: In
Search of a Better World, Oct. 1, 2008.
12. Gan, L. “Electromagnetic Properties of the Pseudoscalar mesons with the 12
GeV Jlab Energy Upgrade”, seminar presented to the National Institute of
Nuclear Physics, Genova, Italy, Jul. 2, 2008.
13. McNamara, D. “What will the North Carolina coastline look like in 50 years?”,
colloquium delivered to the UNCW Department of Geography and Geology,
Wilmington, NC, Jan. 2009.
14. Olszewski, E. “Magnetic Monopoles”, colloquium delivered to the UNCW
Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, Wilmington, NC, Nov. 21,
2008.
Other Meetings Attended (Professional Development)
1. Bingham, F. attended the meeting “The Impacts of Climate Change on an
Evolving North Carolina Coast”, Center for Urban and Regional Studies, UNC
Chapel Hill, Oct. 17, 2008.
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2. Bingham, F. attended CTE Workshops “Second Life in Education”, Mar. 25,
2009; “Increasing Student Motivation”, Apr. 8, 2009; “Google Docs”, Apr. 22,
2009.
3. Morrison, J. attended the COSEE Workshop, UNCW Center for Maine Science,
Wilmington, NC, Jun. 23-27, 2008.
4. Morrison, J. chaired the Duke/UNC Oceanographic Consortium Annual
Meeting, Beaufort, NC, Nov. 16, 17, 2008.
5. Morrison, J. attended the Ocean Educator‟s Retreat, Washington, DC, Nov. 18,
2008.
G. Service
Especially noteworthy examples of service to the profession and the community for
the 2008-2009 academic year include:
1. Professor Moorad Alexanian has reviewed manuscripts for the journals Physical
Review A (9), and Physical Review Letters (3).
2. Professor Fred Bingham is a member of the Committee to Plan Climate Change
Learning Community, charged with planning a climate change learning
community at UNCW over the next two years, and the Global Warming Regional
Report Committee, charged with drafting a response of the State of NC to climate
change (http://www.uncw.edu/aa/documents/UNCW Global Climate Change
Final Report.pdf). He also serves on the UNCW Faculty Senate Budget
Committee, the University College Advisory Board, the Synergy (UNCW
Common Reading) Committee, the Student Affairs Committee, and the Center for
Marine Science (CMS) Education Committee.
3. Professor Fred Bingham continues as Executive Committee member and
webmaster for the American Geophysical Union Ocean Sciences Section
(www.agu.org/sections/oceans/).
4. Professor Fred Bingham reviewed a proposal for NSF; he also reviewed
manuscripts for the Journal of Geophysical Research- Oceans (4), Geophysical
Research Letters (3), Journal of Atmospheric and Ocean Technology (2), and
Deep Sea Research (2).
5. Professor Fred Bingham was a Science Judge for the National Ocean Science
Bowl held Feb. 21, 2009, and was a guest speaker at the Wilmington Academy of
Arts and Sciences (Spring 2009) and Alderman Elementary School (May 1,
2009).
6. Professor Timothy Black continues as coordinator for the UNCW Summer
Physics Program in Germany, a study-abroad opportunity in cooperation with the
University of Ulm. For the second consecutive year, just one undergraduate
participated in this program, due to financial and other constraints.
7. Professor Timothy Black (with C. Moyer) developed two rubrics for evaluating
student performance in laboratory and in writing research reports, thereby
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completing the complement of evaluative tools called for in the Physics Outcomes
Assessment Plan.
8. Professor Brian Davis again represented the Physics Department at the College
of Arts and Science‟s 7th Annual College Day event (Oct. 25, 2008), where he
presented a lecture titled “The Three Great Tollans of Central Mexico”.
9. Professor Liping Gan serves as co-supervisor for the Ph. D. thesis research of
Mr. Liyang Jiang (Mar. 2007- present), a visiting student from the China Institute
of Atomic Energy.
10. Professor Liping Gan is a member of the Advisory Board to CSURF (Center for
the Support of Undergraduate Research and Fellowship), the Oversea Asian Study
program at UNCW, and is a faculty mentor for WISE (Women in Science and
Engineering).
11. Professor Liping Gan continues as designated Spokesperson and Chair of the
Data Analysis Review Committee for the PrimEx Collaboration, Jefferson
National Laboratory. This year she also helped organize the General Purpose
Electromagnetic Calorimeter Workshop, held Oct. 31, 2008 in Newport News,
VA.
12. Professor Liping Gan assisted in Physics Department recruiting activities held on
three separate occasions throughout the year: the UNCW Academic Majors Fair
(Oct. 1, 2008), UNCW Seahawk Saturday (Oct. 11, 2008), and the UNCW
Academic and Student Services Fair (Mar. 28, 2009).
13. Professor Russell Herman chairs the UNCW Academic Standards Committee
and the BOG Awards Committee, and is a member of the CTE Advisory Board,
the Honor‟s Council, and the Engineering Program Task Force. He also served as
a reviewer for the CSURF Undergrad Research Fellowships.
14. Professor Russell Herman is editor of the Journal of Effective Teaching, is a
member of the MAA Committee on Technologies in Mathematics Education, and
presided over the Partial Differential Equations session of the MAA-AMS Joint
Meeting held Jan. 2009 in Washington, DC.
15. Professor Dylan McNamara played a major role in planning the curriculum and
new courses supporting the proposed Physics BS Degree Option in Physical
Oceanography. He is also a member of the CMS Ad Hoc PhD planning
committee, charged with developing a planning document for a new PhD program
in Marine Science at UNCW, and coaches the UNCW Surf Team.
16. Professor Dylan McNamara is a member of the NSF Community Surface
Dynamics Modeling System Group, and serves as a Scientific Advisor to the
National Park Service.
17. Professor John Morrison is primary or co-advisor to numerous graduate
students, including two doctoral candidates from NCSU and UNCW MS
candidates Michael Taylor (with F. Bingham), and Ebenezer Nyadjro. He also
supports/mentors four postdoctoral students, three at NCSU and Wendy Woods at
UNCW.
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18. Professor John Morrison took the lead in planning the curriculum and courses
supporting the proposed Physics BS Degree Option in Physical Oceanography.
He chairs the Ad Hoc Committee on Establishing a Ph.D. in Coastal and Marine
Science, and the UNCW Faculty Athletic Council, and serves as a member of the
UNCW Marine Science Center CRISP (Center Researchers Involved in Strategic
Planning), the UNCW Marine Science Strategic Planning Committee, the
Planning Committee for Master‟s Degree in Ocean Policy, and the Review
Committee for UNCW Men‟s Basketball Program.
19. Professor John Morrison is a member of various national and regional research
organizations, including the Ocean Color Research Team, the NASA Biodiversity
Research Team, the Pan Ocean Remote Sensing Conferences (PORSEC)
Scientific Organizing Committee, and UNOLS Regional Class Advisory
Committee. He serves on the Executive Committees of PORSEC, the Southeast
Coastal Ocean Observing System (SE-COOS) Planning Committee, and SURA‟s
Southeastern Coastal Ocean Observing Program (SCOOP). He is also the UNCW
representative to the Duke/UNC Oceanographic Consortium Program Committee,
the Consortium for Ocean Research and Education, the Joint Oceanographic
Institutions, Inc., the Consortium for Ocean Leadership, the Southeast Coastal
Ocean Observing Regional Association, and the Planning Committee for
Carolinas Marine Sciences Cooperative Institute (CMSCI). In Jul. 2008, he was
also a Guest Speaker of the Southeast Center for Excellence in Ocean Science
Education.
20. Professor Curt Moyer is Coordinator of Physics Outcomes Assessment, and
developed (with T. Black) two rubrics for evaluating student performance in
laboratory and in writing research reports, and in Mar. 2009 administered (for the
1st time) the Major Field Test for Physics to all May 2009 and December 2009
graduates.
21. Professor Curt Moyer served as a judge for the Science Fair held at the MCS
Noble Middle School, Jan. 15, 2009.
22. Professor Curt Moyer serves on several university committees: the Center for
Marine Science (CMS) Internal Advisory Committee, the J. Marshall Crews
Scholarship Selection Committee, the Engineering Program Task Force, and the
Export Control Advisory Committee.
23. Professor Edward Olszewski was a guest speaker at the Pendelea Elementary
School (Willard, NC), where he spoke on the topics of electricity and magnetism
and performed numerous related demonstrations.
IV.
ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT & SUPPORT PROGRAMS
A. Course Offerings and Enrollments
Summer 2008
PHY 101 Elementary College Physics
PHY 102 Elementary College Physics
PHY 201 General Physics
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Instructor
Enrollment
Olszewski, E.
Olszewski, E.
Herman, R.
81
72
62
PHY 202 General Physics
Black, T.
22
Olszewski, E.
Olszewski, E.
Moyer, C.
Morrison, J.
Bingham, F.
Black, T.
Davis, B.
Davis, B.
Alexanian, M.
Herman, R.
Black, T.
Black, T.
Alexanian, M
Bingham. F.
Gan, L.
Herman, R.
Black, T.
Bingham/Kieber
87
88
82
23
24
35
51
38
7
12
12
9
10
2
9
1
1
2
Olszewski, E.
Olszewski, E.
Moyer, C.
Bingham, F.
Black, T.
Davis, B.
Davis, B.
Black, T.
Black, T.
Alexanian, M.
Alexanian, M.
Herman, R.
Gan, L.
Morrison, J
McNamara, D.
McNamara, D.
Black, T.
Herman, R
Alexanian, M.
Gan, L.
McNamara, D.
Alexanian, M.
Black, T.
McNamara, D.
Morrison, J
McNamara, D.
Morrison, J.
McNamara, D.
85
87
47
32
21
24
64
7
9
6
7
6
6
6
7
2
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
2
6
1
1
1
Fall 2008
PHY 101 Elementary College Physics.
PHY 101 Elementary College Physics
PHY 101 Elementary College Physics
PHY 103 Great Ideas in Physics
PHY 105 Introductory Physics
PHY 201 General Physics
PHY 201 General Physics
PHY 260 Introduction to Astronomy
PHY 311 Mathematical Physics
PHY 321 Classical Dynamics
PHY 335 Modern Physics
PHY 400 Advanced Lab
PHY 411 Electricity & Magnetism
PHY 420 Global Climate Change
PHY 444 Quantum Theory
PHY 495 Physics Seminar
PHY 499 Honors Work in Physics
PHY 576 CHM & PHY Analysis of Seawater
Spring 2009
PHY 102 Elementary College Physics
PHY 102 Elementary College Physics
PHY 102 Elementary College Physics
PHY 105 Introductory Physics
PHY 202 General Physics
PHY 202 General Physics
PHY 260 Introduction to Astronomy
PHY 292 Phenomenon & Physics of Music
PHY 300 Analog Circuits
PHY 322 Classical Dynamics II
PHY 412 Electricity & Magnetism II
PHY 445 Optics
PHY 455 Thermal Physics
PHY 475 Physical Oceanography
PHY 490 Special Topics – Fluid Dynamics
PHY 491 Directed Individual Study
PHY 495 Physics Seminar
PHY 495 Physics Seminar
PHY 495 Physics Seminar
PHY 495 Physics Seminar
PHY 495 Physics Seminar
PHY 499 Honors Work in Physics
PHY 499 Honors Work in Physics
PHY 499 Honors Work in Physics
PHY 575 Physical Oceanography
PHY 592 Fluid Dynamics
PHY 599 Thesis
PHY 599 Thesis
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B. Innovative Curricular Initiatives
Professor Timothy Black initiated another new course “Phenomenon and Physics of
Music”, which he taught on a trial basis as PHY 292 in the Spring ‟09 term. The class
attracted a mix of majors and non-majors, all of whom shared a common interest in
music and were eager to learn of its scientific basis. Plans call for offering the course
again in Spring ‟10 and seeking approval for it to be included as a regular course
offering carrying Basic Studies credit.
C. Research Opportunities for Undergraduates
The following undergraduate research projects were active during the 2008-2009
academic year:
1. During June and July 2008, UNCW physics major Erik Minges assisted Professor
Liping Gan with her research at Jefferson National Laboratory (JLab), developing
a low energy recoil detector for experiments testing predictions of Quantum
Chromodynamics. Erik was supported by research grants from NSF and Jefferson
Lab. The JLab summer experience is a unique ongoing research opportunity for
undergraduates that has involved more than fifteen UNCW students since 2001.
2. Physics major Thomas Shafer completed an honors thesis in Spring ‟09 under the
supervision of Professor Moorad Alexanian. Tom‟s thesis, titled “Collapse and
Revival in the Jaynes-Cummings-Paul Model”, explores the non-classical
behavior of a two-level „atom‟ in the presence of a quantized radiation field.
3. Physics major Tristan Swartz completed an honors thesis in Spring ‟09 under the
supervision of Professor Timothy Black. Tristan‟s thesis, titled “Development of
Software for Visualizing Correlations Between Proton-Deuteron Scattering
Parameters”, utilizes a Monte Carlo evolutionary algorithm to select expectation
values of various scattering parameters at different energies. Parameter subsets
expected to exhibit statistical correlations were analyzed and displayed using a
Matlab program devised for that purpose.
4. Two other honors projects – both directed by Professor Dylan McNamara – were
initiated in Spring ‟09. Chelsea Hopkins will study “Nonlinear Forecasting of Rip
Currents using Genetic Algorithms”, and Zachary Williams has begun a study of
“Chaotic Generation of Low Frequency Swash Motion”. Both projects are slated
for completion in Spring ‟10.
D. Physics Department Colloquia
Date
September 19
Speaker/Affiliation
Dr. Robert Riehn, NC State
University
Title
Nanofluidic DNA Analysis –
Applications and Physics
September 26
Dr. Christopher Walter, Duke
University
Experimental Neutrino Physics
October 10
Dr. Eric P. Loewen, General ElectricHitachi Nuclear
Recycling Nuclear Reactors
October 23
Dr. Susan Lozier, Duke University
Deconstructing the Conveyor Belt
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November 14
Dr. Jose Goity, Hampton
University/JLab
The Symmetries of Quantum
Chromodynamics
November 21
Dr. Edward Olszewski, UNC
Wilmington
Magnetic Monopoles
January 23
Dr. Earl Saito, GE Hitachi Nuclear
Using a Physics Degree in Industry
January 30
Dr. Inseok Baek, GE Hitachi Nuclear
A Mathematical Model for Inhaled
Radioactive Gases
February 11
Dr. Nicola Scafetta, Duke University
Climate Change and Its Causes. A
Discussion about Some Key Issues
February 27
Dr. Tad Schmaltz, Duke University
From Causes to Laws: Descartes,
Malebranche, Berkeley.
April 2
Dr. Robert T. Rood, University of
Virginia (Harlow Shapley Lecture)
The Nature of Extraterrestrial
Civilizations or How to Search for
Unicorns
April 3
Dr. Robert T. Rood, University of
Virginia (Harlow Shapley Lecture)
The Saga of Helium-3
E. SPS/ΣΠΣ Activities
On April 2, 2009, the UNCW chapter of Sigma Pi Sigma, the national physics honor
society, admitted to membership seven undergraduate students: Bryan James Black,
Grace Anne Connelly, Nicholas Karl Corak, Jonathan Richard Flynn, Chelsea
Elizabeth Hopkins, Kevin Daniel Majewski, and Zachary Cole Williams. The
induction ceremony followed a public lecture by Dr. Robert Rood, Professor of
Astronomy at the University of Virginia, who spoke about “The Nature of
Extraterrestrial Civilizations or How to Search for Unicorns”. Refreshments (pizza and
soda) were served during a social hour following the ceremony.
Under the leadership of chapter president Kyle Barefoot, the UNCW chapter of the
Society of Physics Students (SPS) sponsored a picnic for physics faculty, students,
and friends on the afternoon of Oct. 18 at the site of the North Carolina Battleship
Memorial. After about 30 minutes, inclement weather forced participants to move
indoors for the remainder of the event.
V.
STUDENTS
A. Enrollment Statistics
Undergraduate Physics Majors
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Year
Freshman Sophomores Juniors Seniors Second Fall
(Fall)
(Fall)
(Fall)
(Fall) Majors Total
(Fall)
19941995
19951996
19961997
19971998
19981999
19992000
20002001
20012002
20022003
20032004
20042005
20052006
20062007
20072008
20082009
Annual Graduates
0
4
9
12
N/A
25
B.A.
Degrees
1
1
4
7
8
N/A
20
3
3
0
12
5
10
N/A
27
5
6
0
7
11
11
1
29
5
3
0
3
5
15
2
23
6
3
0
4
1
12
1
17
3
5
0
4
3
6
1
13
3
2
0
5
2
5
2
12
2
2
0
2
10
4
4
16
3
1
0
9
5
9
1
23
3
4
0
6
8
8
2
22
0
4
1
1
4
11
1
16
1
6
0
8
7
7
1
22
1
5
1
6
15
10
6
32
3
3
1
4
11
14
4
30
2
6
B. Degrees Awarded
December, 2008
Bachelor of Arts:
Jeffrey William Ecker
Justin Coit Loiacono
Bachelor of Science:
May, 2009
Bachelor of Science:
Adam Kyle Barefoot
Kenneth Daniel Ells
Mary Margaret McEachern
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B.S.
Degrees
4
Graham Lucas Medlin
Thomas Rodney Shafer
Tristan J. Swartz
Bachelor of Arts
C. Honors, Awards, and Scholarships
Hildelisa Hernandez Departmental Award in Physics: Chelsea Elizabeth Hopkins
The Hernandez award, named for retired Professor Emeritus Hildelisa Hernandez,
recognizes outstanding academic achievement of a rising senior who is seeking
the B.S. degree in physics. The award carries a stipend of $500 to help defray
educational expenses incurred at UNCW.
Chelsea compiled an overall GPA = 3.748, has undertaken a Departmental
Honors project [with Dr. McNamara] titled “Nonlinear Forecasting of Rip
Currents using Genetic Algorithms”, and was selected for a prestigious NSF-REU
fellowship for summer ‟09 at the University of Delaware. She is also one of seven
undergraduates inducted into Sigma Pi Sigma for 2009.
Marvin K. Moss Scholarships: Kenneth Daniel Ells
Established in 2007, this annual scholarship is named for Professor Emeritus
Marvin Moss and is open to all students in the physical sciences (Chemistry,
Mathematics, and Physics), with preference given to qualifying physics majors.
Selection criteria are financial need followed by strong and demonstrated
academic performance.
Ken is highly deserving of this recognition, and 2008-09 marks the second
consecutive year he has received the Moss Scholarship. Ken graduates this May
and in Fall ‟09 will begin graduate studies in the Earth & Ocean Sciences
Department at Duke University.
Walter Schmid Award: Thomas Rodney Shafer
The Schmid Award is presented to a graduating senior who, in the opinion of the
physics faculty, shows great potential for contributing to the fields of theoretical
or applied physics. The award consists of a plaque inscribed with the winner‟s
name, and a cash prize.
Tom has an overall GPA = 3.991 and a perfect physics GPA = 4.000. He also
completed requirements for the BA degree in Mathematics, in the process again
compiling a perfect 4.000 grade point average. Tom graduates with Honors in
Physics, having completed an honors thesis titled “Collapse and Revival in the
Jaynes-Cummings-Paul Model”.
Jefferson Lab Summer Fellowships: Erik Hall Minges, Margaret Elizabeth
Schneider
Erik and Maggie were selected by faculty member Professor Liping Gan to assist
this summer at the Thomas Jefferson National Laboratory, NewPort News, VA, in
developing a low energy recoil detector for experiments testing predictions of
QCD (Quantum Chromodynamics). Students in the program are supported by
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research grants from NSF and Jefferson Lab. This marks Erik‟s second
consecutive selection for this fellowship.
Bookstore Scholarship Award Winners: Chelsea Elizabeth Hopkins and Erik Hall
Minges (both are second-time winners of this award)
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