Department of Physics
Career trajectories can take many shapes: a steep upward slope, a meandering wave, a steady sequence of steps (let’s not even mention the possibility of a downfall). Glenn Edwards’ career was shaped like a perfect full circle. The Emeritus Professor of Physics joined Duke in 1999 as the director of the Free Electron Laser Laboratory, a facility housing an accelerator-based light source — an apparatus where electrically charged particles are propelled at very high speeds to generate a tunable laser beam. He… read more about A Full-Circle Career: Professor of Physics Glenn Edwards Retires After 25 Years at Duke »
DURHAM, N.C. -- How would it feel to peer into the night sky and behold millions of galaxies across a vast swath of space? What would it be like to hunt for worlds beyond our solar system, or spot the fiery deaths of stars? In the next few years, two U.S.-funded telescopes will allow astronomers to find out. But before that happens, a Duke researcher has been leading an effort, under a broader project called OpenUniverse, to create the most realistic preview yet of what they will see once the missions get underway. In… read more about Building a Prototype of the Cosmos »
The Center for Molecularly Optimized Networks (MONET) has won the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Horizon Prize. MONET is a National Sciences Foundation (NSF) Center that fosters collaboration between researchers nationwide. Under the direction of Stephen Craig, William T. Miller Professor of Chemistry, MONET’s goals are to better understand and improve upon the molecular properties of polymers. Michael Rubinstein, Aleksandar S. Vesic Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Physics, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Sciences… read more about MONET Center Wins Prestigious Royal Society of Chemistry Prize »
The Physics department celebrated its 2023-2024 graduates with a diploma ceremony on Sunday, May 12 at the Love Auditorium & Hall of Science, following Duke's main commencement event. The program included a celebratory lunch and a welcome address by Professor Steffen Bass, Chair of the Physics department. Following the welcome address, Professors Ayana Arce, Director of Undergraduate Studies, John Mercer, Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies and Mark Kruse, Director of Graduate Studies,… read more about Commencement 2023-2024 »
Next November, the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory will celebrate its 60th anniversary. It's among the longest running university-based nuclear physics laboratories in the U.S. and one of the most successful such laboratories in the world. I already knew of it when I was an undergraduate student at Tsinghua University in China in the 1980s because some of my professors collaborated with TUNL physicists. We have Henry Winston Newson to thank for that legacy. Prof. Henry Winston Newson, an accomplished physical… read more about Henry Newson Leaves a Legacy of Innovation and Institution Building »
Starting in Fall 2024, there’s a new sequence for Introductory Physics at Duke that will impact students in life sciences and prehealth programs who take physics as part of their degree paths. Physics 121 and 122 will be phased in to replace the current two-semester introductory sequence of Physics 141/142. Physics 121 and 122 differ from 141/142 by featuring a “math along the way” format where Math modules are built into the courses and calculus is not a prerequisite. The new sequence will also employ student-centered,… read more about New Introductory Physics Sequence Starting in Fall 2024 »
We like our summers in July and our snow in December. Leap Year ensures it remains that way, explains Duke physics professor Ronen Plesser in this short video. Plesser breaks down the math behind adding a day to the calendar every four years so that we remain in sync with the Earth’s rotation around the sun. The annual gap between the calendar year and the Earth's rotation “accumulates at the rate of one day every four years, and after a hundred years, you’re 25 days or a… read more about What Is So Special About Leap Year? »
The Duke chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) has won an Outstanding Chapter Award from the SPS National Office. This designation is given to fewer than 10 percent of all SPS chapters at colleges and universities in the United States and internationally. The Society of Physics Students (SPS) is a professional association designed for students and membership is open to anyone interested in physics and related fields. SPS operates within the American Institute of Physics (AIP), an umbrella organization for… read more about Duke Physics Students Win National Recognition »
Congratulations to Matthew Ennis, recipient of the Deans Award for Excellence in Teaching. This is a very high honor for currently enrolled Ph.D. students and is awarded to only a chosen few who best exemplify the characteristics of effective college teaching as they prepare for lives of service, leadership, and teaching. Matt is the second graduate student in the history of the Physics Department to receive this award. He will be recognized by the Dean of the Graduate School at a… read more about Physics Grad Student Matthew Ennis Wins Deans Award for Excellence in Teaching »
James T. Dobbins III, professor emeritus of Radiology, Biomedical Engineering and Physics, received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023 from the Society of Directors of Academic Medical Physics Programs, Inc (SDAMPP). This award recognizes his substantial contributions nationally in medical physics education. Dobbins spent his entire 37-year career on the faculty and in senior administration at Duke, where he is Associate Vice Provost Emeritus. He is an internationally recognized scholar in imaging science whose… read more about James T Dobbins Receives Lifetime Achievement Award »
The Board of Directors of Optica (formerly OSA), Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide, has elected Martin Fischer, research professor of Chemistry and Physics, to the Society’s 2024 Fellow Class. He is being honored “For pioneering contributions to nonlinear optical microscopy and imaging in biomedicine, materials science and cultural heritage.” Fischer, who directs the Advanced Light Imaging and Spectroscopy (ALIS) facility, researches novel laser microscopy methods that provide non-invasive, high-… read more about Martin Fischer Elected Fellow Member of Optica »
Roxanne Springer, professor of Physics, is the 2023 recipient of the American Physical Society’s (APS) Division of Nuclear Physics Distinguished Service Award. This award will be announced at the DNP 23 Business Meeting. Her nomination letter reads: “For rich and passionate efforts to advocate and improve Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) for DNP members and beyond, especially those from marginalized groups, including steering the DNP Allies program, helping broaden the Allies Program to other APS Units, cofounding… read more about Roxanne Springer Receives APS's 2023 Distinguished Service Award »