Physics
We aspire to help students forge tools to reveal the stunning quantitative vistas on our universe. Given the various trajectories of Hamilton students, this education prepares students for physics graduate school; supports students in their pursuit of different quantitative interests including engineering, chemical physics, and careers where quantitative analysis is employed; fulfills the one-year introductory physics requirements for students pursuing health professions, chemistry, and graduate work in other sciences; and includes courses accessible to students across the campus with a wide variety of interests and mathematical backgrounds.
The Senior Program
All senior physics students work collaboratively with faculty members on research projects as part of the Senior Program. This intensive one-semester project combines original scientific research with reading and understanding the scientific literature. It culminates in a senior thesis that is defended in a series of oral presentations. The Senior Program reflects Hamilton's commitment to a strong grounding in writing and public speaking.
Recent projects in physics include:
- Frequency Stability and Error Reduction in the BL3 Neutron Chopper Experiment
- Introduction of Mixed Particle Statistics and Chemical Potential in Black Hole Thermodynamics in a Loop Quantum Gravity Framework
- Constructing a 2-Dimensional Robotic Arm
- Quantization of Plane Gravitational Waves in Loop Quantum Gravity
- Applications of Thermodynamics to Improve Home Cooling Efficiency and Investigating the Effect of Active Layer Thickness on the Power-Conversion Efficiency of Organic Solar Cells
- Assessment of a-Quartz Preparation Using Atomic Force Microscopy
- Developing the Anisotropic 3-Point Correlation Function as a Tool for Next-Generation Cosmology
- Computer Modeling of AFP NMR to Explain Experimental 3HE Polarization Loss
- Modification and Optimization of a Rubidium Magnetometer
- Development of Microfluidic Devices for a Particle-Sorting Apparatus
- Calculating the Post-Newtonian Parameters for Conformally Equivalent Theories
- Measuring the Neutron Spectrum: BL3’s Neutron Chopper
- Automated Analysis For Atomic Positions in 2D Silicates
- Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle for Bacterial Research in Meromictic Lakes
- Measurement of the Neutron Lifetime: Neutron Chopper for BL3
- Continuing the Modification and Optimization of a Rubidium Magnetometer
Contact
Department Name
Physics Department
Contact Name
Kate Brown, Chair
Clinton, NY 13323
