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The WMU Physics Department offers research opportunities in many fields, with both theoretical and experimental emphasis. In most cases, these opportunities are open to undergraduates as well as graduate students, and often involve collaboration with physicists from other universities and laboratories. More detailed information may be found by clicking on the groups on the right hand side of this page and in the paragraphs below.
In Astronomy, our research concentrates on the acquisition and interpretation of spectroscopic observations, primarily emission lines from a variety of celestial objects. Of particular interest are active galaxies, quasars, and interstellar gas clouds.
Our astronomer often utilizes spectroscopic data from the Hubble Space
Telescope.
In Atomic and Molecular Physics, we have a particularly active group of researchers. On the experimental side, they take data with our own tandem Van de Graaff accelerator, as well as larger accelerators off site. We have a strong presence at the Advanced Light Source at the LBNL in California, as well as the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne outside of Chicago (see also Condensed Matter Physics). Topics of interest include excitation, ionization, and charge transfer processes between ions and atoms, and detailed atomic, ionic, and molecular spectroscopy using lasers and synchrotron radiation. Our atomic theorist provides model calculations to support the interpretation of these data, as well as many of the observations made by our astronomer.
In Nuclear Physics, we also perform experiments at large user facilities off campus, in particular the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at nearby Michigan State University. Members of this group specialize in both few-nucleon and heavy-ion studies of the strong nuclear force, sometimes using polarization. Some of these studies also have astrophysical applications, in such areas as neutron star structure, and the formation of the elements in supernova explosions. The theoretical group investigates quark models of baryon structure, strangeness exchange reactions, and general reaction theory.
The Condensed Matter group also contains both theoretical and experimental physicists. Here there are opportunities to study high temperature superconductors, as well as other solid, liquid, or even biological systems. Theoretical work is being done on Anderson localization, dynamic Heisenberg magnetic alloys, and the quantum Hall effect.
Physics Education is our newest area of research specialization. This group is applying the latest results of educational theory to the unique problems of learning physics. Specific topics include student cognition, conceptual learning, problem solving, as well as assessment and research methodology issues.
There are also opportunities to use the accelerator lab on campus to do research in various areas of applied physics (see Accelerator Facility). Here, relatively low-energy ions in a variety of charge states and species, as well as secondary gamma rays, can be used to probe materials, alter crystal structure, or test detectors/electronics.
There are also opportunities to use the accelerator lab on campus to do research in various areas of applied physics (see Accelerator Facility). Here, relatively low-energy ions in a variety of charge states and species, as well as secondary gamma rays, can be used to probe materials, alter crystal structure, or test detectors/electronics.