physics

May 3, 2011

Professor Honored Posthumously

Dr. Dale Sayers, a physics professor and pioneer in the field of extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) who died unexpectedly in 2004, is a 2011 recipient of the Advanced Photon Source’s Arthur H. Compton Award. 

Apr 21, 2011

Fornes to Retire

Raymond Fornes, associate dean for research and professor of physics in the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, announced his retirement effective June 1. 

Mar 9, 2011

How Magnets Work (It’s Complicated)

Occasionally, when looking for scientific issues to write about, I will survey my friends to see whether they have any “fundamental science” questions that I could explore. When someone recently suggested that I find out how magnets work, I thought it would be easy. I was wrong. First of all, I learned that there are… 

Jan 26, 2011

Into The Void: Boosting LED Energy Efficiency

LEDs are already vaunted as an energy-efficient technology for lighting, but new research shows that their efficiency can be increased by a factor of two. A paper describing the work shows that the secret is to decrease the number of defects in the gallium nitride (GaN) films used to create LEDs by incorporating cleverly placed… 

Jan 25, 2011

Voiding Defects: New Technique Makes LED Lighting More Efficient

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are an increasingly popular technology for use in energy-efficient lighting. Researchers from North Carolina State University have now developed a new technique that reduces defects in the gallium nitride (GaN) films used to create LEDs, making them more efficient. 

Jan 18, 2011

Krim Named NSF Fellow

Dr. Jackie Krim, physics professor, was recently selected as an American Creativity and Innovation Fellow by the National Science Foundation’s Division of Materials Research. 

Dec 20, 2010

Dispatches From The North Pole: Santa’s Bag Of Toys

Editor’s Note: This is the last in a series of occasional dispatches from Dr. Larry Silverberg, a researcher at NC State who is leading a visiting scholars program at Santa’s Workshop-North Pole Labs (NPL). Dr. Silverberg is an expert in unified field theory and is accompanied by four other mechanical and aerospace engineers: Drs. Mohammad Zikry… 

Dec 13, 2010

Dispatches From The North Pole: How Santa Gets Around

Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of occasional dispatches from Dr. Larry Silverberg, a researcher at NC State who is leading a visiting scholars program at Santa’s Workshop-North Pole Labs (NPL). Dr. Silverberg is an expert in unified field theory and is accompanied by four other mechanical and aerospace engineers: Drs. Mohammad Zikry… 

Nov 30, 2010

Dispatches From The North Pole: The Science of Santa’s List

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of occasional dispatches from Dr. Larry Silverberg, a researcher at NC State who is leading a visiting scholars program at Santa’s Workshop-North Pole Labs (NPL). Dr. Silverberg is an expert in unified field theory and is accompanied by four other mechanical and aerospace engineers: Drs. Mohammad Zikry… 

Nov 29, 2010

Building a Better Sun-Trap

How does the saying go? Build a better solar cell and the world will beat a path to your efficiently temperature-controlled and environmentally friendly door? Okay, maybe that’s not exactly the saying, but you’ve got to admit that the idea of cheaper, more efficient solar technology is at least as compelling today as the idea… 

Oct 7, 2010

Technique Allows Researchers to Examine How Materials Bond at the Atomic Level

An approach pioneered by researchers at North Carolina State University gives scientists new insight into the way silicon bonds with other materials at the atomic level. This technique could lead to improved understanding of and control over bond formation at the atomic level, and opportunities for the creation of new devices and more efficient microchips.… 

Oct 3, 2010

A Different Take

Since 2002, countless professors and thousands of university students had pored over the leading introductory electrodynamics textbook used today. But something in a recent lesson didn't ring true to physics doctoral student David Babson, who realized - and confirmed - an inconsistency in the text, related to one of the field's most basic principles. 

May 11, 2010

Beichner Wins UNC System Teaching Award

Dr. Robert J. Beichner, a innovator in physics education, received an Award for Excellence in Teaching from the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. 

Apr 20, 2010

Get Smart

Agent 86 would be proud. Dr. Jay Narayan led the way in the development of “smart sensors,” integrating a sensor material called vanadium oxide with silicon chips to create sensors that can manipulate and respond to information (it has to do with something called “domain matching epitaxy”). These sensors are used in a variety of… 

Apr 19, 2010

The Physics of Falling Fruit

Picture this – you’re at the store, in a hurry, and you just need to grab a couple of apples, so you head over to the produce section and pluck a likely looking specimen from the pile…only to watch in horror as the entire pyramid of golden delicious topples at your feet.  If you’ve ever…