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Prescott Campus - College of Arts and Sciences Department of Physics Faculty
Dr. Darrel Smith specializes in neutrino physics. Neutrinos are subatomic particles produced in nuclear reactions which have no electrical charge, which makes them extremely hard to detect. What is more, it seems different types of neutrinos can change into a different type, and then back again. This is known as neutrino oscillation, and is the subject of the majority of Dr. Smith's research. He also is well versed in experimental propulsion systems.
Dr. Phillip Anz-Meador studies the natural and man-made space environment. In addition to modeling the current space environment, he directs the orbital debris telescope on Embry-Riddle¹s campus. Dr. Anz-Meador involves undergraduates in the Space Physics program in both operation of the telescope and in the other areas of his research. He worked as a Lockheed contractor to the NASA Johnson Space Center¹s Orbital Debris Program Office (¹85-¹95), including serving as the Program Manager for debris (computer) modeling. In 1994 he co-founded Viking Science and Technology, where he served as Vice President and Principal Scientist (¹94-¹06). Throughout his career he¹s specialized in the physical characterization of orbital debris (optical and radar, as well as returned surfaces), modeling of the space environment, protection of space assets, and policy development. Dr. Anz-Meador joined Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University¹s Space Physics degree program in August ¹03 and serves as the Assistant Chair of the Physics Department. Dr. Anz-Meador¹s doctoral dissertation (¹89, Baylor) was on the thermal and electrostatic evolution of cosmic dust, or micrometeoroids, in magnetospheres.
Dr. Quentin Bailey is currently focused on the theoretical and experimental aspects of testing Lorentz symmetry, the spacetime symmetry of Special Relativity. The motivation for this work is twofold. First, Lorentz symmetry is a cornerstone of modern physics. As such, it should be an experimental precedent to test this principle in as many ways as possible. Second, recent work on fundamental theories of physics, that attempt to unify the Standard Model of particle physics and General Relativity, has pointed to the possibility of deviations from perfect Lorentz symmetry. In the ongoing search for new physics, high-precision, typically low-energy tests of Lorentz symmetry offer a promising alternative to conventional high-energy accelerator experiments.
Dr. Brent Buckalew came to Embry-Riddle in 2007 following a postdoctoral scholar position at the California Institute of Technology. His research interests are in the areas of observational astrophysics related to the evolution and composition of nebulae in our Galaxy and beyond. His current projects deal with understanding the importance of a star cluster's photoionizing radiation field on the dust, molecular hydrogen, and polycyclic hydrocarbon composition around these star clusters using Spitzer imaging and spectroscopy in conjunction with millimeter and optical imaging and spectroscopy.
Many nonlinear dynamical systems undergo spontaneous symmetry breaking, transitioning from a spatially homogeneous state to a periodic structure. For example, a layer of fluid heated gently from beneath can transition to a hexagonal array of convection cells. That this has more to do with the symmetry of the problem than with convection itself is illustrated by the variety of systems that show such pattern formation, which includes slime molds, ocean currents, flame fronts, video feedback, predator-prey models, fingerprints, cardiac arrhythmias, Faraday crispations, cloud streets, embryonic development, tumor growth and block copolymer melts. Dr. Callahan uses group theoretical methods to study the dynamical behavior of such systems in a way that is independent of the particular system involved.
The best galaxies are the nearby ones because they are the largest and brightest. Dr. Nick Devereux has looked carefully at the following; the Andromeda galaxy (M31), the Pinwheel (M33), the Whirlpool (M51), M81, M 95, M 101 and NGC 6946. The observations were obtained with a variety of telescopes, including space based observatories; primarily the Infrared Astronomical Satellite and the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as ground based telescopes at Kitt Peak National Observatory and Cerro Tololo in Chile. The results of these observations and others are published in the Astronomical Journal and the Astrophysical Journal which are publications of the American Astronomical Society.
Dr. Andri Gretarsson works on LIGO, The Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory. LIGO is a set of three “listening posts” aimed at the detection of gravitational waves from astrophysical sources such as colliding black holes, supernovae, neutron stars etc. LIGO consists of three long-baseline (2 or 4 km) optical interferometers that sense the gravitational wave induced motion of hanging mirrors. The focus of his research is the improvement of these high-reflective mirrors that lie at the heart of the LIGO detectors.
Dr. Litt's research interests include theoretical investigations of many-body systems such as the atomic nucleus represented by an independent many-particle wave function. The application of constrained variational calculations is applied to improve and simplify independent particle models. Applications include the study of stellar interiors, lasers, and low-temperature physics. Dr. Litt received his Ph.D. in 1979 from Texas A&M University. While at TAMU, he designed and built a thrust fault simulator that was used for earthquake prediction research. At TAMU, he also participated in the design and built a dye laser that was used for hyperfine structure research. Later Dr. Litt developed mathematical and computer models that simulated blast propagation characteristics and predicted human injury and incapacitation while a physicist at the Army Research Labs. Dr. Litt also taught courses in Physics, Astronomy, and Mathematics at Towson University for 8 years.
Dr. Brian Rachford is an astrophysicist who specializes in research on stars and the interstellar medium. This research includes studies of the analogs of solar activity on stars slightly hotter than the Sun as well as the chemical composition and evolution of those stars. His interstellar medium research involves the portion of the "galactic recycling" process where material expelled from dying stars gathers into massive clouds of gas and dust that will eventually form new stars and planets.
Dr. Michele Zanolin’s research is in experimental general relativity within the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC). His focus is in data analysis and detector characterization necessary for the detection of sub-seconds gravitational waves. He also has an ongoing interest in underwater acoustics (mainly for archeology applications) since there are a lot of data analysis techniques that are in common with the search of Gravitational Waves. |
Dr. Tim Callahan
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