The Physics department maintains its own Web site.More ...
Contact Information
(315) 859-4367
BEYOND THE DAZZLING CONCEPTS AND MIND-BENDING EQUATIONS, physics is simply a quest — an attempt to understand how the universe works. Physicists seek out the basic rules that govern all the natural complexity around us, from why water runs downhill to what makes stars shine. The study of physics and the related field of engineering has produced many of our most crucial scientific, technological and medical milestones: electricity and magnetism, the creation of metals, the existence and behavior of particles and waves, hydraulics, aerodynamics, space exploration, nuclear science, superconductors — the list is endless. But physics at Hamilton is not only about breakthroughs and not only for specialists. A knowledge and appreciation of the physical world sparks the imagination and makes us more fully human. And a fundamental grasp of physics allows us to live with confidence and insight in a technological society. More ...
Academic Program
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
The close student-faculty collaboration that is at the heart of Hamilton's
physics program means that every major completes at least one substantial
research project before graduation – with opportunities for many more. Student
projects often lead to papers that are presented at professional conferences
and/or published in scholarly journals. Recent student-faculty collaborations
have been published in Physical Review,
New Journal of Physics and Classical
and Quantum Gravity.
Hamilton regularly
offers research options in such fields as theoretical quantum gravity, general
relativity, nuclear physics, laser spectroscopy, nonlinear dynamics and astronomy. Faculty members maintain active
research programs in such fields as materials science, laser spectroscopy,
atomic physics, theoretical physics and computational chemical physics. In addition, students may
arrange independent study projects based on topics of interest not offered in
the regular curriculum.
THE SENIOR PROGRAM
All senior physics students work collaboratively with faculty members on research projects as part of the Senior Program. This intensive one-semester project combines original scientific research with reading and understanding the scientific literature. It culminates in a senior thesis that is defended in a series of oral presentations. The Senior Program reflects Hamilton's commitment to a strong grounding in writing and public speaking.
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RESOURCES
State-of-the-art facilities, advanced technology and small classes at the Science Center mean that Hamilton undergraduates have the opportunity to work closely with instruments available only to graduate students at many schools. The Science Center is fully wireless and houses more than 100 teaching and research laboratories as well as offices and classrooms, student areas and a coffee shop.
Instrumentation includes a laser lab, a solar classroom, high-resolution optical spectroscopy, a 500 MHz variable-temperature multinuclear nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, nuclear counting equipment and an advanced computer lab.
Hamilton also is home to the solar-heated C.H.F. Peters Astronomical Observatory, which houses an 11 ¼" Maksutov telescope and several smaller telescopes. The observatory has been recently upgraded and features computer control of the telescope mount and CCD readout for collecting images.
Hamilton's Quantitative Literacy Center offers tutoring in courses that include a mathematics/quantitative component. Students may drop in to review topics as needed or to use computers or the video library. The center also offers a review for the mathematics section of the Graduate Record Exam and workshops to accompany specific courses. Tutors at the center are top students who have been recommended by faculty members and trained to assist other students.
The Physics Department makes its home in Hamilton's Science Center. The $56 million facility provides an array of modern equipment, including supercomputers, a cutting-edge laser lab and a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer.
Hands-on Experience
Each senior physics major undertakes independent research with a faculty member that culminates in a senior thesis. This remarkable opportunity to do — and often to publish — professional laboratory work in collaboration with a distinguished working scholar is reserved at many schools for graduate students.
Summer Research
Many physics students also opt to join summer research projects on campus — yet another opportunity to work with, and publish journal articles with, faculty members. In a typical year, more than 70 students receive grants to do scientific research at Hamilton during the summer.
Study the Stars
Hamilton's C.H.F. Peters Astronomical Observatory houses a number of telescopes for student research and occasional public use, and also includes facilities for solar energy research.
The Physics Department makes its home in Hamilton's Science Center. The $56 million facility provides an array of modern equipment, including supercomputers, a cutting-edge laser lab and a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer.
Hands-on Experience
Each senior physics major undertakes independent research with a faculty member that culminates in a senior thesis. This remarkable opportunity to do — and often to publish — professional laboratory work in collaboration with a distinguished working scholar is reserved at many schools for graduate students.
Summer Research
Many physics students also opt to join summer research projects on campus — yet another opportunity to work with, and publish journal articles with, faculty members. In a typical year, more than 70 students receive grants to do scientific research at Hamilton during the summer.
Study the Stars
Hamilton's C.H.F. Peters Astronomical Observatory houses a number of telescopes for student research and occasional public use, and also includes facilities for solar energy research.
The Physics Department makes its home in Hamilton's Science Center. The $56 million facility provides an array of modern equipment, including supercomputers, a cutting-edge laser lab and a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer.
Hands-on Experience
Each senior physics major undertakes independent research with a faculty member that culminates in a senior thesis. This remarkable opportunity to do — and often to publish — professional laboratory work in collaboration with a distinguished working scholar is reserved at many schools for graduate students.
Summer Research
Many physics students also opt to join summer research projects on campus — yet another opportunity to work with, and publish journal articles with, faculty members. In a typical year, more than 70 students receive grants to do scientific research at Hamilton during the summer.
Study the Stars
Hamilton's C.H.F. Peters Astronomical Observatory houses a number of telescopes for student research and occasional public use, and also includes facilities for solar energy research.
The Physics Department makes its home in Hamilton's Science Center. The $56 million facility provides an array of modern equipment, including supercomputers, a cutting-edge laser lab and a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer.
Hands-on Experience
Each senior physics major undertakes independent research with a faculty member that culminates in a senior thesis. This remarkable opportunity to do — and often to publish — professional laboratory work in collaboration with a distinguished working scholar is reserved at many schools for graduate students.
Summer Research
Many physics students also opt to join summer research projects on campus — yet another opportunity to work with, and publish journal articles with, faculty members. In a typical year, more than 70 students receive grants to do scientific research at Hamilton during the summer.
Study the Stars
Hamilton's C.H.F. Peters Astronomical Observatory houses a number of telescopes for student research and occasional public use, and also includes facilities for solar energy research.
AFTER HAMILTON
Hamilton graduates who concentrated in Physics are pursuing careers in a variety of fields, including:
Solar Engineer, Southern Energy Management
Computer Scientist, New York University Medical Center
Director, National Observatory of Athens
Director, Global Financial Systems, Foster Wheeler Corp.
Mettler Professor of Engineering/Applied Science, California Institute of Technology
Optical Physicist, NASA
President, Logicat, Inc.
Professor of Medicine, University of California/Los Angeles
Systems Architect, NASD
Teacher, Edgemont High School
Vice President of Sales & Marketing Systems, Standard & Poor's
