Matter and Energy

From the vast wonders of the cosmos to the intricacies of the atom, the methods of physics can be applied at all levels of complexity and organization, both animate and inanimate. Physics is the study of space, time, and energy. Physics involves a method of analysis by which complex physical problems are broken down into sets of relatively simple processes that are easier to understand.

At Lafayette, you may choose either a B.S. or an A.B. degree program. The B.S. program is designed for students who plan careers in physics or closely related fields. The A.B. program is less highly structured and allows for a wide selection of electives. Both are flexible enough for you to tailor a program to meet your individual interests. Some students have developed interdisciplinary specialties in such areas as biophysics, geophysics, and material science. An Astronomy track is offered within either A.B. or B.S. programs. The variety of courses offered is designed to furnish an appreciation of contemporary scientific activity, an understanding of phenomena basic to further work in science, and preparation for professional work in physics.

Excellent Facilities

The physics and chemistry departments share space in the new $25 million Hugel Science Center. Designed to facilitate collaborative learning and eliminate the traditional boundaries between classrooms and laboratories, the 90,000-square-foot complex features state-of-the-art teaching and research areas, electronic classrooms, seminar rooms, student study lounges, faculty-student research areas, and faculty offices. The Department of Physics now occupies facilities that are among the finest at any undergraduate college in the nation.

Major instrumentation includes a 300 MHz Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, a high-pressure laboratory setup for study of the compressibility of liquids and plastic solids, a visual imaging laboratory for the study of complex pattern formation such as dendritic crystal growth, and a laboratory for the study of atomic and molecular physics.

For those interested in astonomy, the department operates a radiotelescope on the roof of Hugel Science Center, a 14-inch telescope equipped with a CCD camera at a Metzgar Field site, six 6-inch and one 8-inch telescopes at a site adjacent to Merrill Creek Reservoir, N.J., and a portable Questar telescope. Public star-gazing parties are held occasionally.

Equipment for laboratory classes includes a multichannel analyzer, fast digital storage oscilloscopes, three 100 MHz oscilloscopes, an FTT spectrum analyzer, and other electronic instruments. Each introductory lab workstation has a PC interfaced to the Vernier LoggerPro data acquisition system. All students in intermediate and advanced courses also have access to networked Unix/Linux workstations in the department.

After Graduation

Physics is part of the natural sciences division at Lafayette. In the Class of 2001, 57 percent of natural sciences majors accepted full-time employment, 34 percent enrolled in graduate school, and 5 percent were doing volunteer service, traveling or part-time work.

Recent graduates have gone on to study PHYSICS at Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Lehigh University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York University, University of Chicago, University of Delaware, University of Pennsylvania, Washington State University; BUSINESS at Washington University; COMPUTER SCIENCE at Georgia Institute of Technology; MATHEMATICS at Brown University, Northwestern University; MEDICINE at University of Pittsburgh, and University of Pennsylvania; PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY at University of Chicago; and TEACHING certification at West Chester University.

Graduates have taken jobs at IBM, National Semiconductor, National Steel, United States Patent and Trademark Office, and Western Electric.

Faculty and Staff

Bradley C. Antanaitis, Associate Professor. Ph.D., Columbia University. Special interests: medical and biological physics; biophysics, especially structure-function correlation studies of metal-bearing proteins and enzymes.

Andrew J. Dougherty, (Home Page), Associate Professor. Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania. Special interests: Newtonian and relativistic dynamics; electronics; condensed matter experiments, especially pattern formation at interfaces that are not in equilibrium.

G. Lyle Hoffman, (Home Page), Professor and Head of Physics. Ph.D., Cornell University. Special interests: acoustics; astrophysics and cosmology, especially radio astronomy and the structures of galaxies and clusters of galaxies. Recipient of Mary Louise Van Artsdalen Prize for outstanding scholarly achievement.

Andrew Kortyna, (Home Page), Assistant Professor. Ph.D., Wesleyan University. Special interests: atomic and molecular physics, particularly the application of laser spectroscopic techniques to the study of low energy scattering phenomena.

Anthony D. Novaco, (Home Page), Marshall R. Metzgar Professor. Ph.D., Stevens Institute of Technology. Special interests: solid state physics; theoretical condensed matter physics in two dimensions, especially quantum solids and liquids. Recipient of Thomas Roy and Lura Forrest Jones Award and Jones Lecture Award.

Michael J. Stark, (Home Page), Assistant Professor. Ph.D., University of Maryland-College Park. Special interests: high energy observations of compact astrophysical objects, particularly neutron stars and black holes; gamma-ray bursts.

G. Lyle Hoffman
Head, Physics
(610) 330-5211
hoffmang@lafayette.edu

For general information:
Office of admissions
Lafayette College
Easton, PA 18042
(610) 330-5100
FAX (610) 330-5355
admissions@lafayette.edu