Physics & Astronomy
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Physics & Astronomy: A quick guide to the major Wright Laboratory of Physics I 110 N. Professor Street I Oberlin, Ohio, 44074 I (440) 775-8330 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Physics and Astronomy Department Third/Fourth Year(s) in the Major: Schedules are at Oberlin! We are happy to hear that you are more varied with students choosing from the following interested in being a physics major. This short guide different core and elective offerings depending on their offers some information about typical coursework, concentrations and interests. research opportunities, special departmental features, Fall: Computational Modeling (Physics 290)* and common career paths of our graduates. Quantum Mechanics (Physics 312) Intermediate Laboratory (Physics 314) To learn more, please contact [email protected], Waves and Optics (Physics 316)* read the longer version of this document, and/or just Electrodynamics (Physics 411)/Applied stop by the department. Quantum Mechanics (Physics 412) Spring: Electronics (Physics 242)* TYPICAL COURSE SEQUENCE FOR MAJORS: Astrophysics I - Stars and Planets (Ast. 301)* The start into the majors sequence depends on your Astrophysics II - Galaxies and Cosmology past experience in math and physics. Talk with the (Ast. 302)* physics department chair and/or other faculty Electricity and Magnetism (Physics 311) members teaching in the introductory sequence Materials Physics (Physics 340)* courses (PHYS 110, 111, and 212) to see what start Statistical Mechanics (Physics 410) makes the most sense for you. Advanced Laboratory (Physics 414) *Offered alternate years. Over the past ten years, about half of all majors begin taking physics at Oberlin with PHYS 110 in Students are also encouraged to take related courses the Fall of their first year, a quarter take this class as in other departments such as Chemistry and sophomores (having taken Calculus I their first year), Biochemistry, Computer Science, Geology, and and the remaining quarter start farther into the Mathematics. See www.oberlin.edu/catalog for sequence due to AP/IB or college/university credit. more details and specific requirements. After the first two years of coursework, schedules vary as students choose one of three different RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES: concentrations: in physics, in astrophysics, or in materials physics. The typical pathway of courses is Most physics majors get involved in a physics-related listed below: research experience or independent project at some point during their time at Oberlin. If you already have an idea in mind of something that you would First Year in the Major: like to do, you should approach the faculty member Fall: Mechanics and Relativity (Physics 110) whose research interests (see page 3) most closely Calculus II (Math 134) align with your topic. Faculty members engage in Spring: Electricity, Magnetism, Thermodynamics research in many areas including astronomy, optics, (Physics 111) materials physics, engineering, computational physics Multivariate Calculus (Math 231) and theoretical physics—something should match up! Second Year in the Major: The natural times to get started are during Winter Fall: Modern Physics (Physics 212) Term or as a special project, research experience, or Differential Equations (Math 234) private reading in the semester (PHYS 451/PHYS Spring: Classical Mechanics (Physics 310) 555/PHYS 995); there are usually a dozen different students involved in this way in a given semester. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 These experiences can lead to something more infrared spectrometers, several closed-cycle helium substantial, such as a (paid) summer research cryostats, an argon-filled glovebox, a vibrating internship or a year-long honors project (for sample magnetometer, a reflecting telescope with a academic credit and honors at graduation). In a state-of-the-art CCD camera, an electrically shielded given year, roughly 6-10 majors work over the room, and several computer labs. A multipurpose X- summer in research, and 3-4 students participate in ray diffractometer is shared with the chemistry and the department honors program. geology departments. OTHER DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES: In addition, majors have off-hours access to a seminar room for group problem sessions (Wright Besides classes and research experiences, be sure to 102A), a computer room (Wright 107), and a reading join us for events like: lounge (Wright 108). • The Physics Lecture Series, featuring talks from outside speakers (3-4 times a semester, CAREER PATHS AFTER OBERLIN: usually Thurs. 4:35 pm in Wright 201) • Monthly pizza lunches, with some type of The department graduates about 14 physics majors informal presentation (Wed. at noon in each year—a number that typically places us on the Wright 209) American Institute of Physics list of top producers • Open Observatory/Planetarium sessions (1st of physics majors from bachelors-degree only and 3rd Fridays of the month at the top of institutions. Peters Hall) So what do our students do after Oberlin? • Physics coffee/tea and cookies (Mon.-Thurs. in the semester 4:30-5:30 pm in the reading lounge Wright 108) Surveying the past ten years of Oberlin physics graduates, we found that the most common choice is • The end-of-year departmental picnic more schooling—about 60% go on to graduate complete with dessert competition and school in places all across the country and the world. faculty vs student volleyball game Recent graduates are at: Harvard, MIT, UConnecticut, NYU, Cornell, UPenn, Ohio State, Students also get involved in a variety of (paid) UMichigan, UWisconsin, UChicago, UCDavis, departmental jobs such as: Stanford, and UArizona to name some institutions in • Lab assistant vaguely geographical order. • Observatory assistant • Tutor About 70% of those going on do so either in physics • Homework grader or related fields (such as astronomy, chemistry, or different types of engineering), 20% pursue DEPARTMENTAL FACILITIES: something more generally science-related such as medical school or science policy, and the remaining The physics and astronomy department is primarily 10% go to graduate school in something not very located in the Wright Laboratory of Physics, which is related to physics (like history or divinity school). the eastern side of the Oberlin Science Center. The building houses offices, classrooms, teaching and Other common categories for Oberlin physics major research laboratories, and a machine shop and an graduates are careers in electronics shop. The department’s observatory and planetarium are located further south on Professor • computer programming or data analysis St. at the top of Peters Hall. (about 10%), • high school science and math teaching Departmental research equipment includes a (another 5-10%), and femtosecond frequency comb, a high-vacuum • other science-related positions like laboratory chamber for thin film deposition, two high precision technicians (about 10%). Page 2 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Physics & Astronomy: Contact information Wright Laboratory of Physics I 110 N. Professor Street I Oberlin, Ohio, 44074 I (440) 775-8330 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Jason Stalnaker TEACHING MEMBERS Associate Professor of Physics Stephen FitzGerald (440) 775-8336 / [email protected] Professor of Physics, Chair of Physics and Astronomy Interests: Atomic and molecular physics, nonlinear (440) 775-8334 / [email protected] optics, laser physics Interests: Infrared spectroscopy, hydrogen storage, experimental condensed matter physics Daniel (Dan) Stinebring Francis D Federighi Professor of Physics (440) 775-8331 / [email protected] Yumi Ijiri Professor of Physics Interests: Radio astronomy, pulsars, cosmology, (440) 775-6484 / [email protected] Astrophysics Interests: Magnetic materials, x-ray and neutron scattering, experimental condensed matter physics Daniel (Dan) Styer John and Marianne Schiffer Professor of Physics Melinda Keller (440) 775-8183 / [email protected] Lecturer/Physics Lab Instructor Interests: Quantum mechanics and its classical limit, (440) 775-8339 / [email protected] Relativity for non-scientists, theoretical physics Interests: Optics, physics education OTHER DEPARTMENTAL STAFF David (Dave) Lengyel Observatory and Planetarium Coordinator Diane Doman (440) 775-8636/[email protected] Administrative Assistant Interests: Observational astronomy projects (440) 775-5205 / [email protected] Robert (Rob) Owen Brett Hernandez Laboratory Technician Assistant Professor of Physics (440) 775-5204 / [email protected] (440) 775-8566 / [email protected] Interests: General relativity, numerical relativity, computation, theoretical physics Elaine McQuate Departmental Assistant John Scofield (440) 775-8330 / [email protected] Professor of Physics OTHER SCIENCE DEPARTMENTAL STAFF (440) 775-8333 / [email protected] Interests: Photovoltaic and wind energy, energy use Doug Feller in buildings, experimental condensed matter physics Machinist (440) 775-6965 / [email protected] Jillian Scudder Assistant Professor of Physics Bill Mohler (440) 775-6730/ [email protected] Laboratory Technician Interests: Galaxy evolution across cosmic time, galaxy- (440) 775-8069 / [email protected] galaxy interactions, public outreach ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ .