The Department of Physical Sciences is home to several degree programs: Bachelor of Science in Astronomy & Astrophysics, Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics; Bachelor of Science in Space Physics; Master of Science in Engineering Physics; and Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Physics.
The programs offer a unique balance of engineering and physics curriculum, so students can focus on the scientific challenges and planning associated with mission design and space exploration, along with engineering fundamentals.
These programs prepare students to make positive scientific and technological contributions to our increasingly complex society. This highly research-oriented department has one of the oldest and largest Engineering Physics programs in the nation. Students are involved in all the research, which includes grants funded by NASA, the National Security Agency (NSA), and other agencies.
Submissions from 2005
From Young and Hot to Old and Cold: Comparing White Dwarf Cooling Theory to Main-Sequence Stellar Evolution in Open Clusters, Ted von Hippel
Galactic Open Clusters, Ted von Hippel
Acoustic Waves Generated by Gusty Flow over Hilly Terrain, R. L. Walterscheid and Michael P. Hickey Ph.D.
Submissions from 2004
Data-Model Comparison Search Analysis of Coincident PBO Balmer α, EURD Lyman β Geocoronal Measurements From March 2000, J. Bishop, E. J. Mierkiewicz, F. L. Roesler, J. F. Gómez, and C. Morales
TOMEX: Mesospheric and Lower Thermospheric Diffusivities and Instability Layers, R. L. Bishop, M. F. Larsen, J. H. Hecht, Alan Z. Liu, and C. S. Gardner
CLUSTER Encounters with the High Altitude Cusp: Boundary Structure and Magnetic Field Depletions, P. J. Cargill, M. W. Dunlop, B. Lavraud, R. C. Elphic, D. L. Holland, K. Nykyri, A. Balogh, and I. Dandouras
An Overview of Observations of Unstable Layers during the Turbulent Oxygen Mixing Experiment (TOMEX), J. H. Hecht, Alan Z. Liu, R. L. Bishop, J. H. Clemmons, C. S. Gardner, M. F. Larsen, R. G. Roble, G. R. Swenson, and R. L. Walterscheid
Airglow Emissions and Oxygen Mixing Ratios from the Photometer Experiment on the Turbulent Oxygen Mixing Experiment (TOMEX), J. H. Hecht, Alan Z. Liu, R. L. Walterscheid, R. G. Roble, M. F. Larsen, and J. H. Clemmons
The Initial-Final Mass Relationship: Spectroscopy of White Dwarfs in Ngc 2099 (m37), Jasonjot Singh Kalirai, Ted von Hippel, and et al.
Proper Motion Objects in the Hubble Deep Field, M. Kilic, Ted von Hippel, and et al.
Photometric Identification of Cool White Dwarfs, M. Kilic, D. E. Winget, Ted von Hippel, and C. F. Claver
Observations of Overturning in the Upper Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere, M. F. Larsen, Alan Z. Liu, C. S. Gardner, M. C. Kelley, S. Collins, J. Friedman, and J. H. Hecht
Vertical Dynamical Transport of Mesospheric Constituents by Dissipating Gravity Waves, Alan Z. Liu and Chester S. Gardner
Unstable Layers in the Mesopause Region Observed with Na Lidar During the Turbulent Oxygen Mixing Experiment (TOMEX) Campaign, Alan Z. Liu, Raymond G. Roble, James H. Hecht, Miguel F. Larsen, and Chester S. Gardner
Redefining the Empirical ZZ Ceti Instability Strip, Anjum S. Mukadam, Ted von Hippel, and et al.
Thirty-Five New Pulsating Da White Dwarf Stars, Anjum S. Mukadam, Ted von Hippel, and et al.
Re-defining the Empirical ZZ Ceti Instability Strip, Anjum S. Mukadam; Ted von Hippel; D. E. Winget,; and M. H. Montgomery
Geocoronal Hydrogen Studies Using Fabry-Perot Interferometers, S. M. Nossal, E. J. Mierkiewicz, F. L. Roesler, J. Bishop, and R. J. Reynolds
Observations of Solar Cyclical Variations in Geocoronal Hα Column Emission Intensities, S. M. Nossal, F. L. Roesler, E. J. Mierkiewicz, and R. J. Reynolds
Cluster Observations of Magnetic Field Fluctuations in the High-Altitude Cusp, K. Nykyri, P. J. Cargill, E. Lucek, T. Horbury, B. Lavraud, A. Balogh, M. W. Dunlop, and et al.
Influence of the Hall Term on KH Instability and Reconnection Inside KH Vortices, K. Nykyri and A. Otto
Book Review: Sky Vistas: Astronomy for Binoculars and Richestfield Telescopes, T. D. Oswalt
Book Review: The Big Bang: A View from the 21st Century, T. D. Oswalt
Book Review: The Edge of Infinity: Supermassive Black Holes in the Universe, T. D. Oswalt
Spectroscopic and Photometric Analysis of HS 1136+6646: A Hot Young DAO+K7 V Post-Common-Envelope, Pre-Cataclysmic Variable Binary, D. K. Sing, Terry D. Oswalt, J. B. Holberg, M. R. Burleigh, S. A. Good, and et al.
Correction to "Breaking of Thunderstorm-Generated Gravity Waves as a Source of Short-Period Ducted Waves at Mesopause Altitudes", Jonathan B. Snively and Victor P. Pasko
The White Dwarf Luminosity Function: The Shape of Things to Come, Ted von Hippel, M. Kilie, J. Munn, K. Williams, J. Libert, D. E. Winget, T. S. Metcalfe, and Et al.
Submissions from 2003
TOMEX: A Comparison of Lidar and Sounding Rocket Chemical Tracer, M. F. Larsen, Alan Z. Liu, R. L. Bishop, and J. H. Hecht
A Modeling Study of O2 and OH Airglow Perturbations Induced by Atmospheric Gravity Waves, Alan Z. Liu and Gary R. Swenson
Constraining the Evolution of Zz Ceti, Anjum S. Mukadam, S. O. Kepler, D. E. Nather, M. Kilic, F. Mullally, T. von Hippel, S. J. Kleinman, A. Nitta, J. A. Guzik, P. A. Bradley, J. Matthews, K. Sekiguchi, D. J. Sullivan, T. Sullivan, R. R. Shobbrook, P. Birch, X. J. Jiang, D. W. Xu, S. Joshi, B. N. Ashoka, P. Ibbetson, E. Leibowitz, E. O. Ofek, E. G. Meištas, R. Janulis, R. D. Ališauskas, R. Kalytis, G. Handler, D. Kilkenny, D. O'Donoghue, D. W. Kurtz, M. Müller, P. Moskalik, W. Ogloza, S. Zola, J. Krzesiński, F. Johnannessen, J. M. Gonzalez-Perez, J. E. Solheim, R. Silvotti, S. Bernabei, G. Vauclair, N. Dolez, J. N. Fu, M. Chevreton, M. Manteiga, O. Suárez, A. Ulla, M. S. Cunha, T. S. Metcalfe, A. Kanaan, L. Fraga, A. F. M. Costa, O. Giovannini, G. Fontaine, P. Bergeron, M. S. O'Brien, D. Sanwal, M. A. Wood, T. J. Ahrens, N. Silvestri, E. W. Klumpe, S. D. Kawaler, R. Riddle, M. D. Reed, and T. K. Watson
Ion Cyclotron Waves in the High Altitude Cusp: CLUSTER observations at Varying Spacecraft Separations, K. Nykyri, P. J. Cargill, E. A. Lucek, T. S. Horbury, A. Balogh, B. Lavraud, I. Dandouras, and H. rEME
Book Review: Observer's Guide to Stellar Evolution: The Birth, Life, and Death of Stars, T. D. Oswalt
Book Review: Strange Matters: Undiscovered Ideas at the Frontiers of Space and Time, T. D. Oswalt
The Local-Time Variation of the Quiet Plasmasphere: Geosynchronous Observations and Kinetic Theory, Mark Anthony Reynolds, G. Ganguli, Y-J Su, and M.F. Thomsen
Measurement of the Stochasticity of Low-Latitude Geomagnetic Temporal Variations, Mark Anthony Reynolds and James A. Wanliss
Multisite Observations of the PMS δ Delta Scuti Star V351 Ori, V. Ripepi, Terry D. Oswalt, M. Marconi, S. Bernabei, and Et al.
Breaking of Thunderstorm-Generated Gravity Waves as a Source of Short-Period Ducted Waves at Mesopause Altitudes, Jonathan B. Snively and Victor P. Pasko
High Frequency Atmospheric Gravity Wave Damping in the Mesosphere, G. R. Swenson, Alan Z. Liu, F. Li, and J. Tang
Using Optical and Near-Infrared Photometry to Test Macho Lens Candidates, Ted von Hippel and et al.
Intergalactic Globular Clusters, Michael J. West, Ted von Hippel, Patrick Cote, Henry C. Ferguson, Michael D. Gregg, Andres Jordan, Ronald O. Marzke, and Nial R. Tanvir
Seasonal and Nocturnal Variations of the Mesospheric Sodium Layer at Starfire Optical Range, New Mexico, Hu Xiong, Chester S. Gardner, and Alan Z. Liu
Measurements of Atmospheric Stability in the Mesopause Region at Starfire Optical Range, NM, Yucheng Zhao, Alan Z. Liu, and Chester S. Gardner
Submissions from 2002
Metal Abundances and Kinematics of Bright Metal-Poor Giants Selected from the Lse Survey: Implications for the Metal-Weak Thick Disk, Timothy C. Beers, John S. Drilling, Silvia Rossi, Masashi Chiba, Jaehyon Rhee, Birgit Fṻhrmeister, John E. Norris, and Ted von Hippel
Observations of persistent Leonid meteor trails 3. The ‘‘Glowworm’’, Jack D. Drummond, Brent W. Grime, Chester S. Gardner, Alan Z. Liu, Xinzhao Chu, Michael C. Kelley, Craig Kruschwitz, and Timothy J. Kane
Atmospheric Stability and Gravity Wave Dissipation in the Mesopause Region, Chester S. Gardner, Yucheng Zhao, and Alan Z. Liu
Production, Outflow, Velocity, and Radial Distribution of H2O and OH in the Coma of Comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) from Wide-field Imaging of OH, Walter M. Harris, Frank Scherb, Edwin Mierkiewicz, Ronald Oliversen, and Jeffrey Morgenthaler
An Observation of a Fast External Atmospheric Acoustic-gravity Wave, J. H. Hecht, R. L. Walterscheid, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D., R. J. Rudy, and A. Z. Liu
A Simulation Study of Space-based Observations of Gravity Waves in the Airglow using Observed ALOHA-93 Wave Parameters, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D. and J. S. Brown
Further Investigations of a Mesospheric Inversion Layer Observed in the ALOHA-93 Campaign, Tai-Yin Huang, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D., and Tai-Fu Tuan
Characteristics of Quasi-Monochromatic Gravity Waves Observed with Na Lidar in the Mesopause Region at Starfire Optical Range, NM, Xiong Hu, Alan Z. Liu, Chester S. Gardner, and Gary R. Swenson
Search For Oxygen in Cool DQ White Dwarf Atmospheres, M. Kilic, Ted von Hippel, D. E. Winget, D. F. Lester, and D. Saumon
Identification of Cool White Dwarfs in the Noao Deep Wide-Field Survey, M. Kilic, Don E. Winget, T. von Hippel, and C.F. Claver
Comparison of Na Lidar and Meteor Radar Wind Measurements at Starfire Optical Range, NM, USA, Alan Z. Liu, Wayne K. Hocking, Steven J. Franke, and T. Thayaparan
Book Review: Flash!: The Hunt for the Biggest Explosions in the Universe, T. D. Oswalt
Book Review: Neptune: The Planet, Rings and Satellites, T. D. Oswalt
Book Review: The Observing Guide to the Messier Marathon: A Handbook and Atlas, T. D. Oswalt
High Frequency Gravity Waves Observed in OH airglow at Starfire Optical Range, NM: Seasonal Variations in Momentum Flux, Jing Tang, Alan Z. Liu, and Gary R. Swenson
Automated Stellar Spectral Classification and Parameterization for the Masses, Ted von Hippel, Carlos Allende Prieto, and Chris Sneden
WIYN Open Cluster Study XI: WIYN1 3.5m Deep Photometry of M35 (NGC 2168), Ted von Hippel, Aaron Steinhauer, Ata Sarajedini, and Constantine P. Deliyannis
WIYN Open Cluster Study. XI. WIYN 3.5 Meter Deep Photometry of M35 (NGC 2168), Ted von Hippel, Aaron Steinhauer, Ata Sarajedini, and Constantine P. Deliyannis
Submissions from 2001
Gravity Wave Propagation Directions Inferred from Satellite Observations including Smearing Effects, Jason S. Brown and Michael P. Hickey Ph.D.
Observations of Persistent Leonid Meteor Trails. 1. Advection of the "Diamond Ring", Jack D. Drummond, Brent W. Grime, Chester S. Gardner, Alan Z. Liu, Xinzhao Chu, and Timothy J. Kane
Climatology and Modeling of Quasi-monochromatic Atmospheric Gravity Waves Observed over Urbana Illinois, J. H. Hecht, R. L. Walterscheid, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D., and S. J. Franke
Airglow Variations Associated with Nonideal Ducting of Gravity Waves in the Lower Thermosphere Region, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D.
Reflection of a Long-period Gravity Wave Observed in the Nightglow over Arecibo on May 8–9, 1989?, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D.
Acoustic Wave Heating of the Thermosphere, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D., G. Schubert, and R. L. Walterscheid
Secular Variations of OI 5577 Å Airglow in the Mesopause Region Induced by Transient Gravity Wave Packets, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D. and R. L. Walterscheid
A Determination of the Local Density of White Dwarf Stars, J. B. Holberg, Terry D. Oswalt, and E. M. sion
Observations of Persistent Leonid Meteor Trails 2. Photometry and Numerical Modeling, C. A. Kruschwitz, M. C. Kelley, C. S. Gardner, G. Swenson, A. Z. Liu, X. Chu, J. D. Drummond, B. W. Grime, W. T. Armstrong, J. M. C. Plane, and P. Jenniskens
Geocoronal H-A [Alpha] Intensity Measurements Using the Wisconsin H-A [Alpha] Mapper Fabry-Perot Facility, S. Nossal, F. L. Roesler, J. Bishop, R. J. Reynolds, M. Haffner, S. Tufte, J. Percival, and E. J. Mierkiewicz
Plasma Transport at the Magnetospheric Boundary Due to Reconnection in Kelvin-Helmholtz Vortices, K. Nykyri and A. Otto
Book Review: Space Shuttle: The History of the National Space Transportation System: The First 100 Missions, T. D. Oswalt
White Dwarfs in Common Proper Motion Binary Systems: Mass Distribution and Kinematics, Nicole M. Silvestri, Terry D. Oswalt, Matt A. Wood, J. Allyn Smith, I. Neill Reid, and Edward M. Sion
Three-Dimensional Spectral Classification of Low-Metallicity Stars Using Artificial Neural Networks, Shawn Snider, Ted von Hippel, and et al.
Three-Dimensional Spectral Classification of Low-Metallicity Stars Using Artificial Neural Networks, Shawn Snider, Ted von Hippel, Carlos Allende Prieto, Timothy C. Beers, Christopher Sneden, and Et al.
Break Out Session: The Future of White Dwarf Observing, Ted von Hippel
White Dwarfs in Open Clusters: New Tests of Stellar Evolution and the Age of the Galaxy, Ted von Hippel
One-gas Models with Height-dependent Mean Molecular Weight: Effects on Gravity Wave Propagation, R. L. Walterscheid and Michael P. Hickey Ph.D.
Submissions from 2000
Lidar Observations of Elevated Temperatures in Bright Chemiluminescent Meteor Trails During the 1998 Leonid Shower, Xinzhao Chu, Alan Z. Liu, George Papen, and Chester S. Gardner
Meteor Trail Advection Observed During the 1998 Leonid Shower, Brent W. Grime, Timothy J. Kane, Alan Liu, George Papen, Chester S. Gardner, Michael C. Kelley, Craig Kruschwitz, and Jack Drummond
Resolving Ambiguities in Gravity Wave Propagation Directions Inherent in Satellite Observations: A Simulation Study, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D. and Jason S. Brown
Secular Variations of Atomic Oxygen in the Mesopause Region Induced by Transient Gravity Wave Packets, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D., R. L. Walterscheid, and Philip G. Richards
First Observations of Long-Lived Meteor Trains with Resonance Lidar and Other Optical Instruments, M. C. Kelley, C. Gardner, J Drummond, T Armstrong, A Liu, Chu G. Papen, C Kruschwitz, P. Loughmiller, B Grime, and J. Engelman
Book Review: 3-D Atlas of Stars and Galaxies, T. D. Oswalt
Book Review: The Birth of Time: How Astronomers Measured the Age of the Universe, T. D. Oswalt
The White Dwarf Cooling Age of the Open Cluster NGC 2420, Ted von Hippel and Gerard Gilmore
The WIYN Open Cluster Study: A New Color-Magnitude Diagram for M35 - A Twin of the Pleiades, Ted von Hippel, Vera Kozhurina-Platais, Imants Platais, Pierre Demarque, and Ata Sarajedini
Submissions from 1999
A Note on Gravity Wave-driven Volume Emission Rate Weighted Temperature Perturbations Inferred from O₂ Atmospheric and O I 5577 Airglow Observations, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D. and Richard L. Walterscheid
A Review of Automated Stellar Spectral Classification and Surveys, Ted von Hippel and Coryn A.L. Bailer-Jones
Gravity Wave Characteristics in the Lower Atmosphere at South Pole, Matt Pfenniger, Alan Z. Liu, George C. Papen, and Chester S. Gardner
Thermal Plasmaspheric Morphology: Effect of Geomagnetic and Solar Activity, Mark Anthony Reynolds, G. Ganguli, J.A. Fedder, J. Lemaire, R.R. Meier, and D.J. Melendez-Alvira
WIYN Open Cluster Study. II. UBVRI CCD Photometry of the Open Cluster NGC 188, Ata Sarajedini, Ted von Hippel, Vera Kozhurina-Platais, and Pierre Demarque
Observations and Interpretation of Gravity Wave Induced Fluctuations in the O I (557.7 nm) Airglow, G. Schubert, R. L. Walterscheid, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D., and C. A. Tepley
(Teff,log g,[Fe/H]) Classification of Low-Resolution Stellar Spectra using Artificial Neural Networks, Shawn Snider, Yuan Qu, Carlos Allende Prieto, Ted von Hippel, Timothy C. Beers, Christopher Sneden, David L. Lambert, and Silvia Rossi
Submissions from 1998
Semi-Automated Extraction of Digital Objective Prism Spectra, Coryn A.L. Bailer-Jones, Ted von Hippel, and Mike Irwin
Steps Toward Determination of the Size and Structure of the Broad-Line Region in Active Galactic Nuclei. XII. Ground-Based Monitoring of 3C 390.3, M. Dietrich, Terry D. Oswalt, B. M. Peterson, P. Albrecht, M. Altmann, and et al.
Detection of Intergalactic Red-Giant-Branch Stars in the Virgo Cluster, Henry C. Ferguson, Ted von Hippel, and Nial R. Tanvir
A Search for Optical Afterglow from GRB 970828, P. J. Groot, T. J. Galama, J. van Paradijs, C. Kouveliotou, R. A. M. J. Wijers, J. Bloom, N. Tanvir, R. Vanderspek, J. Greiner, A. J. Castro-Tirado, J. Gorosabel, T. von Hippel, M. Lehnert, K. Kuijken, H. Hoekstra, N. Metcalfe, C. Howk, C. Conselice, J. Telting, R. G. M. Rutten, J. Rhoads, A. Cole, D. J. Pisano, R. Naber, and R. Schwarz
Full-wave Modeling of Small-scale Gravity Waves using Airborne Lidar and Observations of the Hawaiian Airglow (ALOHA-93) O(¹S) Images and Coincident Na Wind/temperature Lidar Measurements, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D., Michael J. Taylor, Chester S. Gardner, and Christian R. Gibbons
Contribution of White Dwarfs to Cluster Masses, Ted von Hippel
