Perspective Online

UWG Physics Professor Awarded NSF Grant

by Bryan Jones

UWG Physics Professor Awarded NSF Grant Dr. Nicholas Sterling, assistant professor of physics at the University of West Georgia, has been awarded a three-year, $320,399 grant from the National Science Foundation to collect data on the properties of rubidium and bromine ions.

“The primary goal of my funded research is to study the photoionization, recombination, and collisional excitation properties of rubidium and bromine ions,” explains Dr. Sterling. “I have detected these two elements in the spectra of planetary nebulae (as have other astronomers), but we cannot determine their abundance without the necessary atomic data.”

Dr. Sterling will be aided in his research by a number of colleagues from Western Michigan University, the University of Montana, the University of Georgia and the University of Kentucky. In addition, undergraduate physics students at UWG will also have an opportunity to be hired as research assistants to participate in this grant.

“The students will gain experience with research-grade software used to determine atomic properties and to model astrophysical nebulae,” he adds. “In addition, students will have the opportunity to travel to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to participate in experimental atomic physics measurements. Finally, each student will present results of their work at a national astronomy conference. These experiences will be invaluable for students who plan to attend graduate school.”

 

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