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TCNJ Physics Welcomes Dr. Daniel Capic as New HHMI Fellow

TCNJ Physics Welcomes Dr. Daniel Capic as New HHMI Fellow

Dr. Daniel Capic has officially joined TCNJ’s Department of Physics this fall as the HHMI Fellow and Visiting Professor of Physics.

Dr. Capic is a theoretical condensed matter physicist. His research involves the study of skyrmions,  which are quasiparticles that can appear in magnetic systems. Skyrmions have a non-trivial topology, as they appear as defects in the ferromagnetic order, which otherwise prefers the alignment of all magnetic spins in one direction. Skyrmions have a strong potential for computing applications since they can exist at the nanoscale, are easily created and manipulated, and are topologically protected. In addition to studying skyrmions and their properties, he is also interested in other topological quasiparticles that exist in magnetic systems, such as antiskyrmions and Hopfions.
Dr. Capic earned his PhD in theoretical condensed matter physics from the CUNY Graduate Center. While still a graduate student, he taught introductory physics courses at Lehman College. His current teaching interests are introductory physics courses and determining how to tailor them to a general undergraduate audience. He is interested in teaching courses focusing on magnetism in condensed matter systems in the near future.
Dr. Lanz tells us what we need to know about Thursday’s rare “Sunrise Scimitar”

Dr. Lanz tells us what we need to know about Thursday’s rare “Sunrise Scimitar”

If you’re in the tri-state area and look to the skies early on Thursday morning, June 10, you might notice something highly unusual — the rising sun will resemble a crescent moon.

Lauranne Lanz, assistant professor of physics, explains what you need to know about this quirky springtime sunrise.

1. Wait, what?

On June 10, we’ll get to see a partial solar eclipse, Lanz says. Solar eclipses happen when the moon passes in front of the sun from our perspective here on Earth. Partial eclipses happen when the moon is in front of only part of the sun at the start or end of the eclipse. In this case, 80 percent of the sun will be blocked by the moon.

2. It’s not annual — it’s annular.

Lanz explains that what’s happening on June 10 is actually an annular eclipse, which is a specific kind of solar eclipse. And this one is pretty rare, happening only twice in our area in the past 150 years.

“The moon’s orbit of the Earth is an ellipse — an oval — rather than a perfect circle, so sometimes it’s closer to the Earth and sometimes it’s further away,” she explains. “When it’s further away, it’s a little bit smaller than the sun in terms of how much of the sky each fills up, so at the moment of exact alignment, you can see a ring — an annulus — of the sun around the edges of the moon.”

3. Can I see it?

Kind of. On the east coast, we won’t see the full annular eclipse due to timing and alignment. But, we will be able to see the partial alignment that gives rise to a special sunrise described as a scimitar — a curved sword — as long as it’s not cloudy.

“It will be visible right at the east-northeast horizon at 5:32 a.m. and will gradually shift away from the sun and be gone by 6:30 a.m.,” Lanz says.

So set your alarms bright and early for this once-in-a-lifetime magical morning!

— Emily W. Dodd ’03

TCNJ Physics Welcomes Dr. Mariah MacDonald as New Tenure-Track Clare Booth Luce Faculty Fellow

TCNJ Physics Welcomes Dr. Mariah MacDonald as New Tenure-Track Clare Booth Luce Faculty Fellow

Mariah MacDonald

Dr. Mariah MacDonald will be joining TCNJ’s Department of Physics this fall as the Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor of Physics. Dr. MacDonald recently earned a dual-title PhD from Pennsylvania State University in Astronomy & Astrophysics and Astrobiology. She had previously earned bachelor degrees in Physics and Astronomy & Astrophysics from Florida Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on the dynamics of exoplanets, that is the orbits of planets located in solar systems around other stars. She investigates how these systems form and how the locations of planets within them evolve over time, using computational simulations and calculations. In the fall, she will be teaching Physics 163 Astronomy:  Stars and the Universe. The Clare Boothe Luce Professorship was awarded to the TCNJ Physics Department by the Henry Luce Foundation in order to support women in the sciences and engineering.

New Study Abroad Opportunity for TCNJ Physics Majors

New Study Abroad Opportunity for TCNJ Physics Majors

TCNJ Physics majors can take advantage of an outstanding new study abroad opportunity, specifically designed for them:  The Experiential Learning Berlin-America (ELBA) project.   This is a project with our partner institution Beuth University of Applied Science, (https://www.beuth-hochschule.de/) also known as Berlin Institute of Technology (BHT) located in Berlin, Germany.

Over the next 4 years (2021-2024), up to 24 TCNJ physics majors can travel and live in Germany to participate in science/technology experiential learning facilitated by BHT.  The travel occurs during May and June and most of the student travel and living expenses are provided by BHT.  Students may also earn academic credit for this study abroad experience, and may combine this experience with a full-time paid summer research fellowship at TCNJ following their return from Germany.

The project also includes the development and delivery of Collaborative On-line International (COIL) courses and funds for in-person culminating visits for as many as 36 TCNJ students to German research institutes and cultural institutions.  Funds will also support TCNJ faculty and administrative staff training and collaborative engagement with BHT faculty and administrative staff.

TCNJ Physics majors are highly encouraged to start planning their application to these programs early in their second year, in consultation with their faculty advisor.  For more information, contact Prof. David J. McGee at mcgeed@tcnj.edu

TCNJ Physics Students Win National Recognition

TCNJ Physics Students Win National Recognition

Student-Led Physical Sciences Organization is Honored with Award from the National Office of the Society of Physics Students as an Outstanding Chapter

The College of New Jersey’s chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) has won an Outstanding Chapter Award from the SPS National Office. The chapter, advised by Professor of Physics Dr. Romulo Ochoa, has been recognized numerous years in a row for its excellence as a top-tier student-led physical sciences organization, a designation given to fewer than 10 percent of all SPS chapters at colleges and universities in the United States and internationally.

The Society of Physics Students (SPS) is a professional association designed for students and membership is open to anyone interested in physics and related fields. SPS operates within the American Institute of Physics (AIP), an umbrella organization for professional physical science societies.

SPS chapters are evaluated on their level of interaction with the campus community, the professional physics community, the public, and with SPS national programs. The Outstanding Chapter Award recognizes high levels of outreach as well as unique approaches to fulfilling the mission of SPS to “help students transform themselves into contributing members of the professional community.”

Physics Department Seeking Applicants for Assistant/Associate Professor

Physics Department Seeking Applicants for Assistant/Associate Professor

The Department of Physics at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) invites outstanding applicants for a tenure-track position starting late August 2021. Candidates at both the Assistant Professor and Associate Professor level will be considered. The faculty member will serve as a role model and be a leader in helping to further increase and retain TCNJ’s growing number of women physics majors. TCNJ was awarded a prestigious Clare Boothe Luce Professorship by the Henry Luce Foundation. This award may be used to support this position. The Clare Boothe Luce professorship provides exceptional support for career development in teaching and research, including a combination of summer salary, funding for summer research students, travel funding, and discretionary funding. For more information on the Clare Boothe Luce Professorship, please see https://www.hluce.org/programs/clare-boothe-luce-program/.

The online application for this position can be found here: https://tcnj.taleo.net/careersection/00_ex_faculty/jobdetail.ftl?job=20001172&tz=GMT-04%3A00&tzname=America%2FNew_York.  Please contact physics@tcnj.edu with any questions.

Three TCNJ Physics Professors Receive Over $500k in Federal Grants to Study Geology, Optical Microstructures, and Atmospheric Science

Three School of Science faculty members in the TCNJ Department of Physics have been awarded grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to support their research programs and engage undergraduate research collaborators in their work. Dr. David McGee, in collaboration with Associate Professor of Chemistry Dr. Heba Abourahma, received an NSF award to study a new microstructural fabrication system based on supramolecular azopolymer materials and digital polarization optics. Dr. Shannon Graham, Assistant Professor of Physics, received an NSF award to advance her work on slow slip episodes, geologic events that have been linked to large earthquakes. Finally, Dr. Nathan Magee, in collaboration with researchers from Pennsylvania State University, received an award from the Department of Energy to conduct a pilot study on the properties of mid-latitude cold clouds.

For More Information:

Effect of COVID-19 on Campus Measured Seismically

What happens seismically when TCNJ learns and works from home due to COVID-19? TCNJ Physics professor Dr. Shannon Graham, in collaboration with Dr. Alan Kafka of Boston College, has observed a dramatic reduction in seismic activity. The image shows the seismic ‘noise’ on campus in blue and the daily average in orange. A clear trend begins on March 14, 2020. An increase in noise late last week is thought to be due to storms and high winds. (Computed with software from Thomas Lecocq @seismotom.)

COVID-19

Updates Regarding Summer and Fall 2020 Registration

Please see these general registration updates regarding Summer and Fall 2020:
1. Maymester, Summer I and Summer II sessions may be online only.
2. If you are a TCNJ student and would like to take a physics course at another institution, please fill out and submit a Course Authorization Form  (https://liberallearning.tcnj.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/174/2016/09/Course-Authorization-Form.pdf ) to the physics program assistant Erin Chamberlin at physics@tcnj.edu
PLEASE NOTE: you must SAVE the form to your computer FIRST before filling it out, then save again after completing before attaching to your e-mail.
3. You do not need this form if the course is listed on NJ Transfer.
4. Note that we will authorize online labs taken at another institution.  This is a temporary waiver.
5.  If you are taking physics at Rutgers, the equivalent courses are 203+205 (for TCNJ Phy 201) and 204+206 (for TCNJ Phy 202)
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