Download What can you do with a degree in Physics?

PHYSICISTS AT WORK
DID YOU
KNOW?
•AT&T Bell Laboratories
researcher Janis Valdmanis
makes equipment
adjustments while
measuring super-fast
electrical pulses through a
new electro-optic
technique. (Photo courtesy
AT&T Bell Laboratories
A knuckleball can flutter
up and down as much as
a foot on its way to the
batter. The erratic flow of
air around the baseball's
stitching causes this
effect. Air turbulence is
another subject covered
in physics courses.
NASA astronauts in weightless
spaceflight conditions. The
weightless conditions of
spaceflight can be simulated
by flying an airplane in a
special arc. (Photo courtesy
NASA.)
The laboratory of the physicist extends from the edge of the universe to inside the
nucleus of an atom. A physicist may work in a laboratory designing materials for the
computer chips of tomorrow, or smashing atomic particles in a quest to understand
the “laboratory” inside the atom .
Exciting Mars Research
UNR PHYSICS OFFERS GREAT
OPPORTUNITIES TO UNDERGRADS
A Physics undergrad and Professor, ready for science in a Nevada gold mine!!
Diamond Anvil Cell
Rick Kraus,
Reno High School 2003
B.S., Physics, University of Nevada, Reno 2007
M.S., Physics, Cambridge University, 2008
Next Stop:
Harvard University, where he plans to pursue a Ph.D. in the
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Research Experiences while a student at UNR:
2003-2007 Optical Properties of Materials Lab
2005 Summer Research Intern, Stanford University
2006 Summer Research Intern, Los Alamos National Lab
2007-2008 Studentship, Cambridge University
Senior Thesis Title: Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy of
Polycarbonate at High Pressure,
R.G. Kraus, E.D. Emmons, J.S. Thompson and A.M. Covington,
Journal of Polymer Science, Part B, Polymer Physics, Vol. 46 734-742 Mode Grüneisen parameters for
poly carbonate (PC) determined
(2008).
using HP Raman microCo-Authored 5 other refereed publications while at UNR!
spectroscopy,
UNR has Programs for Undergrad, M.S., and Ph.D.
in Atmospheric Science!
Mountain Meteorology
Mesoscale Modeling
Air Pollution, Atmospheric Chemistry
Cloud Physics and Radiation
Instrument Development
Undergrad Program:
• Part of Physics.
• Students intern at UNR, DRI,
NWS, etc.
• Pat Arnott, Physics, Director.
• [email protected]
• 775-784-6834
Grad Program:
• Interdisciplinary program.
• Administered by Physics.
• Very strong participation by the
Division of Atmospheric Sciences at
DRI.
• Darko Koracin, DRI, Director.
Undergrad Program:
http://www.physics.unr.edu/ATMS.html
Grad Program:
http://www.dri.edu/GradPrograms/gradprogram_atmospheric_sciences.php
Student Atmospheric Science Club at UNR:
http://www.ametsoc.org/chapters/renotahoe/
Atmospheric Science
physics
climate
chemistry
fluids, dynamics, physics
Atmospheric Science at the Interface of Science and Society
This is the City, Las Vegas Nevada ...
9,000 Years Ago, Throwing Spears at 20’ Giant Sloths Near Las
Vegas, Nevada!
Some Energy States of Water Molecules
http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/water/vibrat.html
... of Carbon Dioxide Molecules
Vibration modes of carbon dioxide. Mode (a) is
symmetric and results in no net displacement of
the molecule's "center of charge", and is therefore
not associated with the absorption of IR radiation.
Modes (b) and (c) do displace the "center of
charge", creating a "dipole moment", and
therefore are modes that result from EM radiation
absorption, and are thus responsible for making
CO2 a greenhouse gas.
Atoms and Molecules
Carbon Monoxide
C
O
Atoms: The smallest units of each chemical element.
Positively charged protons and neutral neutrons in the nucleus.
Negatively charged electrons around the nucleus.
A single grain of sand can contain 10 million billion atoms.
92 different atoms in nature, from hydrogen (H, 1 proton) and
helium (He, 2 protons) up to uranium (U, 92 protons).
Molecules: Made of several atoms bound together by
electric forces.
Internal Energy for Atoms/Molecules
•Mass: Changes in nuclear reactions, and different atoms (nuclei) can be produced.
•Electric potential energy: Depends on how far the electrons are from the nucleus.
•Kinetic energy: In the motion, rotations, and vibrations of atoms and molecules.
•Gravitational potential energy: Plays a large role over astronomical distances.
•Big surprise, Quantum Physics: Each kind of atom or molecule can only be in certain
specific states!
•When electrons change state, light can be emitted (electron loses energy) or absorbed
(electron gains energy).
UNR is Plasma Physics Central!!
•Plasma is a partially ionized gas. Electrons are ripped from their atoms.
•Some electrons are free rather than being bound to an atom or molecule.
•Positive and negative charges move somewhat independently. Plasma is
electrically conductive so that it responds strongly to electromagnetic fields.
•Plasma has properties quite unlike those of solids, liquids or gases and is
considered to be a distinct state of matter.
•Plasmas are the most common phase of matter in the universe, by mass
and volume.
•All the stars are made of plasma.
•Colors are from electrons relaxing to lower energy states when they
recombine with ions.
•Light color is characteristic of the atoms or molecules in the gas.
Plasma Physics and the Earth
Photo of aurora borealis
As the speeding solar wind hits the Earth's magnetic field, it creates a shock wave,
compresses the forward side of the field, and stretches the far side into a long
magnetotail. The field traps particles into the donut-shaped Van Allen radiation belts,
which then protect the Earth against the wind. The interaction of the wind and the Earth's
field generate two rings of electrical current that flow around the magnetic poles (which
are offset relative to the rotation axis) and that in turn create the aurora borealis. (From
Stars, J. B. Kaler, Scientific American Library, Freeman, NY, 1992.)
www.astro.uiuc.edu/~kaler/aurora.html
Ranges of Plasma
Plasma Propulsion for Deep Space Exploration
Plasma
Propulsion
Engine
•Ion thruster uses plasma in some part of the thrust generation process.
•Much less powerful than conventional rocket engines.
•Very efficient, good for long-distance Interplanetary space travel missions.
•First developed by Russia during 1963-1965 to propel spacecraft to Mars. Now in
common use!
What can you do with a degree in
Physics and Atmospheric Sciences?
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Astronomy
Astrophysics
Weather, Climate, and Air Pollution
Biophysics
Chemical Physics
Education (primary, secondary, college)
Patent Law
Space Law
Laser technology
Engineering
Health care (medicine, dental, pharmacy, etc.)
Optical physics