Physics

Research

The Tennessee Tech Physics Department is nationally recognized for its efforts to involve its majors in the research activity of its faculty, an opportunity available at no other undergraduate institution in the area. One goal of this research is to learn more about the basic forces at work in the nuclei of atoms. Theoretical work is performed on campus and in collaboration with other scientists throughout the world.

Experiments have been conducted both at Tennessee Tech and off campus at such places as Duke University, Oak Ridge National Lab, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, and the Institut Laue Langevin, France. Undergraduate experimental assistants frequently visit the laboratories with their faculty supervisors to participate in these experiments.

Another area of interest and student participation is Physics Education Research (PER), which studies the ideas and thought processes used when people think about the way the physical world works. Participation in these research programs brings students into contact with outstanding professional physicists from many leading institutions and provides rare opportunities to share in the excitement of cutting edge research.

Many students have co-authored articles in prestigious research journals and have presented papers on their research at national conferences. In addition, a student may earn $2,000 or more per summer while undergoing this unique learning experience.

 

Research Activities

Physics Education:

› Curriculum Development (Robinson, Engelhardt)
› Problem Solving (Robinson, Engelhardt)

Experimental Low-Energy Nuclear Physics:

›Nuclear Structure (Rajabali)
›Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay (Kidd)

Experimental Fundamental Physics:

›Ultracold Neutrons (Holley, Reid)

Interdisciplinary:

›Applied Gamma-ray Spectroscopy (Kidd, Rajabali)

Theoretical Nuclear Physics:

›  Heavy-ion reaction dynamics (Ayik - Emeritus)

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