The members of the physics faculty come from diverse backgrounds and bring to the department a wide range of research interests. They include: biophysics, acoustics, foundations of quantum theory, passive solar heating, atomic force microscopy, laser spectroscopy, computational physics, non-linear systems, psychophysics, and astronomy.
Before coming to Hamilton in 1986, Collett was a staff fellow at National Institutes of Health and a visiting assistant professor of physics at Mt. Holyoke College. Collett received a Ph.D. from Princeton University. Over the past few years Collett has concentrated on computational and electronic projects. He is developing programs to help teach various aspects of physics, such as time dependent wave functions and three dimensional models of electromagnetic fields. Current projects include developing a 1-D CCD detector system for spectroscopy, visualising electromagnetic fields, using finite element methods to find quantum mechanical wave functions, and developing robots for teaching electronics.
Seth Major's research is in quantum gravity, a field devoted to finding the structure of spacetime on the smallest scales (see the link below for more information). Recently his research has focused on possible observable consequences of quantum gravity, particularly on how granular spatial geometry might be indirectly observed. In 2010 Major published an article outlining a model for possible effects in high energy particle scattering experiments (arXiv:1005.5460). Tomasz Konopka ('02) and Major set tight constraints on a modified special relativity using astrophysical observations (hep-ph/0201184). With Sumati Surya and David Rideout, Major published a series of papers on how the shape (or topology) of space in the causal set approach to quantum gravity.
Prior to taking a position at Hamilton Major was a Lise Meitner Fellow at the Institute for Theoretical Physics of the University of Vienna and taught at Swarthmore College and Deep Springs College. He earned a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Pennsylvania State University.
More about Seth Major ...
Ring earned his Ph.D. in nuclear physics from the University of Rochester. His research interests include scattering of pions from Hydrogen, investigating H-bonded liquids by dielectric costant, viscosity measurements and by neutron scattering, analyzing low counting rate experiments for evidence of the validity of Phil Pearle's continuous spontaneous localization theory, environmental physics such as radon dangers, health physics such as nuclear fallout, solar energy such as our solar classroom and global warming such as the geochronology of sedimentation in the Antartic Peninsula. His research has been published in The Physics of Simple Liquids. in Civil Defense: A Choice of Disasters ( book published by the American Institute of Physics), Physical Review, Journal of Chemical Physics, Health Physics, Indoor Air, Energy and Buildings, Environment International and American Journal of Archeology. Ring's accomplishments have given him a listing in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Technology Today, and in American Men and Women of Science, as well as a science faculty fellowship from NSF, research grants from NSF and a prize from The Academy for Educational Development for his design and execution of The Solar Classroom at Hamilton.
Silversmith specializes in looking at laser spectroscopy of rare earths in insulating solids. In 1989, Silversmith joined the Hamilton College faculty after completing a Ph.D. at the Australian National University and doing post-doctoral work at the IBM Almaden Research Center. Silversmith introduced laser spectroscopy, an aspect of physics easily accessible to students, to the Hamilton Physics Department and has supervised more than 30 research students. Two of her student collaborators were named finalists for the Apker Award, given annually by the American Physical Society for excellence in undergraduate research. Silversmith specializes in developing new laser materials that would be useful in the solid state laser industry and is currently investigating the spectroscopy of rare earth doped sol-gel glasses. Her research has been funded by the Research Corporation and National Science Foundation. Silversmith's recent papers have appeared in the Journal of Noncrystallized Solids and the Journal of Luminescence.
More about Ann Silversmith ...Back to Physics overview.
The Physics Department makes its home in Hamilton's Science Center. The $56 million facility provides an array of modern equipment, including supercomputers, a cutting-edge laser lab and a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer.
Each senior physics major undertakes independent research with a faculty member that culminates in a senior thesis. This remarkable opportunity to do — and often to publish — professional laboratory work in collaboration with a distinguished working scholar is reserved at many schools for graduate students.
Many physics students also opt to join summer research projects on campus — yet another opportunity to work with, and publish journal articles with, faculty members. In a typical year, more than 70 students receive grants to do scientific research at Hamilton during the summer.
Hamilton's C.H.F. Peters Astronomical Observatory houses a number of telescopes for student research and occasional public use, and also includes facilities for solar energy research.
The Physics Department makes its home in Hamilton's Science Center. The $56 million facility provides an array of modern equipment, including supercomputers, a cutting-edge laser lab and a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer.
Each senior physics major undertakes independent research with a faculty member that culminates in a senior thesis. This remarkable opportunity to do — and often to publish — professional laboratory work in collaboration with a distinguished working scholar is reserved at many schools for graduate students.
Many physics students also opt to join summer research projects on campus — yet another opportunity to work with, and publish journal articles with, faculty members. In a typical year, more than 70 students receive grants to do scientific research at Hamilton during the summer.
Hamilton's C.H.F. Peters Astronomical Observatory houses a number of telescopes for student research and occasional public use, and also includes facilities for solar energy research.
The Physics Department makes its home in Hamilton's Science Center. The $56 million facility provides an array of modern equipment, including supercomputers, a cutting-edge laser lab and a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer.
Each senior physics major undertakes independent research with a faculty member that culminates in a senior thesis. This remarkable opportunity to do — and often to publish — professional laboratory work in collaboration with a distinguished working scholar is reserved at many schools for graduate students.
Many physics students also opt to join summer research projects on campus — yet another opportunity to work with, and publish journal articles with, faculty members. In a typical year, more than 70 students receive grants to do scientific research at Hamilton during the summer.
Hamilton's C.H.F. Peters Astronomical Observatory houses a number of telescopes for student research and occasional public use, and also includes facilities for solar energy research.
The Physics Department makes its home in Hamilton's Science Center. The $56 million facility provides an array of modern equipment, including supercomputers, a cutting-edge laser lab and a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer.
Each senior physics major undertakes independent research with a faculty member that culminates in a senior thesis. This remarkable opportunity to do — and often to publish — professional laboratory work in collaboration with a distinguished working scholar is reserved at many schools for graduate students.
Many physics students also opt to join summer research projects on campus — yet another opportunity to work with, and publish journal articles with, faculty members. In a typical year, more than 70 students receive grants to do scientific research at Hamilton during the summer.
Hamilton's C.H.F. Peters Astronomical Observatory houses a number of telescopes for student research and occasional public use, and also includes facilities for solar energy research.
