Research

The Physics and Astronomy faculty bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to our department. They continue to be active in research and participate in the advancement of science through scholarly papers, talks, and attending national meetings. We have a number of on campus reasearch activities; many of them are well suited for undergraduate participation. Listed below are a number of projects ongoing in our department.

Publications

Presentations

Research Areas

Electro-Optics (V. Sergan and T. Sergan)
Instrumentation (DeGraffenreid and V. Sergan)
Economic Theory (Partovi)
Low and Intermediate Energy Nuclear Physics (Gibson)
Astronomy/Astrophysics (Taylor and Margoniner)

Spectroscopy (DeGraffenreid)
Theoretical Physics (Partovi)
Negative Index Materials (Shoemaker)
Physics Education Research (Hicks, Urone, Shea and Tashiro)
Scientific Ethics and Professionalism (DeGraffenreid)

Recent Publications (2004 - Present)

H. Partovi: "Verschränkung versus Stosszahlansatz : Disappearance of the Thermodynamic Arrow in a High-Correlation Environment." Physical Review E (2008).
H. Partovi: "Intrinsic comparative statics of a general class of profit-maximizing rate-of-return regulated firms." Oxford Economic Papers (2007).
E. Gibson: "The HKS experiment on Λ-hypernuclear spectroscopy via electroproduction at JLab." Nuclear Physics A (2007).
H. Partovi: " Existence of a Universal Comparative Statics Matrix for Differentiable Optimization Problems." Economic Theory (2007).
E. Gibson: "Determination of the Pion Charge Form Factor at Q² = 1.60 and 2.45 (GeV/c)²." Physical Review Letters (2006).
E. Gibson: "Pionic charge exchange on the proton from 40 to 250 MeV." Physics Letters B (2006).
H. Partovi: "A Complete Theory of Comparative Statics for Differentiable Optimization Problems." Metroeconomica (2006).
H. Partovi: "Electrodynamics of a Magnet Moving through a Metallic Pipe." Canadian Journal of Physics (2006). Published with student Eliza Morris.
E. Gibson: "π^±p differential cross sections at low energies." Physics Letters B (2006).
R. Phelps: "CCD Photometry of the Globular Cluster ESO 452-SC11." The Astronomical Journal (2006).
C. Taylor: "The Faint End Luminosity Function of Compact Galaxy Groups." Astronomy & Astrophysics (2006).
R. Phelps: "Photometry and Spectroscopy of Old, Outer Disk Star Clusters: vdB-Hagen 176, Berkeley 29, and Saurer 1." The Astronomical Journal (2006).
E. Gibson: "The π→ππ process in nuclei and the restoration of chiral symmetry." Nuclear Physics A (2005).
W. DeGraffenreid: "Coincidence in the two-photon spectra of Li and Li₂ at 735 nm." Journal of Physics B (2005).
C. Taylor: "A High-Resolution Mosaic of Molecular Gas in Stephan's Quintet." The Astrophysical Journal (2005).
R. Phelps: "A Parsec-Scale Outflow in the Rosette Molecular Cloud?" The Astrophysical Journal (2005). Published with student Jason Ybarra.
H. Partovi: "Universal Measure of Entanglement." Physical Review Letters (2004).
W. DeGraffenreid: "Beam-loss Spectroscopy of Cold Collisions in a Brightened Sodium Beam." Physical Review A (2004).
V. Sergan: "FAST SWITCHING POLYMER STABILIZED SPLAY CELL (PSSC)." Molecular Crystals Liquid Crystals (2004).
E. Gibson: "General properties of the pion production reaction in nuclear matter." Nuclear Physics A (2004).
R. Phelps: "An [S II] Survey of the Rosette Molecular Cloud." The Astronomical Journal (2004). Published with student Jason Ybarra.
T.A. Sergan: "Switchable Broadband Achromatic Half-wave plate with Nematic Liquid Crystals." Optics Letters (2004).
T.Sergan: "Lyotropic Chromonic Liquid Crystals for Optical Applications – an Optical Retardation plate for Twisted Nematic Cells." Molecular Crystals Liquid Crystals (2004).
H. Partovi: "Prinicple Portfolios: Recasting the Efficient Frontier." Economics Bulletin (2004).
T. Sergan: "Liquid Crystalline Device with Reflective Wire Grid Polarizer." Molecular Crystals Liquid Crystals (2004).
T.Sergan: "Negative Birefringence Films from Non-Traditional Materials." Molecular Crystals Liquid Crystals (2004).

Recent Presentations

W. DeGraffenreid: "Scientific Ethics/Professionalism." Society of Physics Students Zone 16 Meeting. University of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff, Arizona. October 2007.
H. Partovi: "Electrodynamics of a magnet moving through a pipe: challenging undergraduates with theoretical projects." Theorists at Primarily Undergraduate Instutions Symposium. Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics. Santa Barbara, California. July 2007.
W. DeGraffenreid: "Teaching Professionalism to Undergraduates" Southern California American Association of Physics Teachers Spring Meeting. University of Southern California. Los Angeles, California. April 2007.
C. Taylor: "Use of Clickers in Introductory Astronomy Courses at California State University Sacramento." 2007 Joint Meeting of the American Astronomical Society and the American Association of Physics Teachers. Seattle, Washington. January 2007.
V. Sergan and T. Sergan: "High-performance active liquid crystalline shutters for stereo computer graphics and other 3D technologies." Liquid Crystal Technology and Applications Conference, SPIE Great Lakes Photonics Symposium. Dayton, Ohio. June 2006.
W. DeGraffenreid and R. Dixon (Sac State Chemistry): "Effects and Use of Spray Electrification in Aerosol Charge Detection for HPLC." International Symposium and Exhibit on High-Performance Liquid Phase Separations and Related Techniques. San Francisco, California. June 2006.
W. DeGraffenreid and R. Dixon (Sac State Chemistry): "Development of an Economical Detector for HPLC Utilizing Spray Electrification." CSU Biotechnology Symposium. San Jose, California. January 2006.
W. DeGraffenreid: "Structure of lithium: what we looked for, what we found, what we discovered en route, and what we discovered looking back." Cal Poly Pomona Physics Seminar Series. April 2006.
F. Hicks: "Physics and Inquiry for Future Teachers." 2006 PTEC Conference.
F. Hicks: "A Parachute Design Activity for Learning Scientific Process Skills." Northern California Nevada AAPT Meeting. Spring 2006.
W. DeGraffenreid: "Coincidence in the Two-photon Spectra of Li and Li₂." APS California Sectional Meeting. October 2005.
W. DeGraffenreid: "Teaching Professionalism/Ethics to Undergraduates." AAPT National Meeting. August 2005.
C. Taylor: "BIMA CO (1-0) Observations of the Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy NGC 404." American Astronomical Society National Meeting. January 2005.