Western Kentucky University

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is in Bowling Green, KY, a city with a population of 55,000 located 110 miles south of Louisville and 65 miles north of Nashville, TN.  You can learn more about Western from the links below on the WKU web site.

• Western Kentucky University - The main university web site.

• About WKU - An overview of the WKU community, history and traditions.

• WKU Campus Tour - A virtual tour of the buildings on the Western campus.

• WKU Community Links - A collection of links about the campus and Bowling Green.

• How to Get to Western - A map with printed directions to the WKU campus.

• How to Get to TCCW - A map with directions to the WKU Department of Physics and Astronomy.

The WKU Department of Physics and Astronomy

The Department of Physics and Astronomy is located on "top of the hill" on WKU's campus in the Kelly Thompson Complex for Science, Center Wing.  There are approximately 50-60 enrolled students progressing toward a B.S. in Physics. In addition to courses provided for majors, the department offers a wide array of service courses ranging from algebra-based college physics to biophysics and astronomy.   

• The normal credit load for full-time, tenured/tenure-track faculty is 12 hours per semester.

• Our staff currently consists of 15 full-time permanent faculty, 5 visiting full-time faculty, and a number of research associates and support staff.

• Over the last seven years, department faculty have brought in more than $5 million dollars of external research support.  Undergraduate students are directly involved in most of these research projects.  

On campus research and teaching laboratories

 The laboratories listed below are all located in Thomson Complex, Central Wing (TCCW).

• Biophysics Laboratories --  These general purpose laboratories serve students who take the introductory algebra-based biophysics courses. This laboratory also allows for temperature controlled, steady-state fluorimetry measurements for polarization studies of biological samples. (Wieb van der Meer)
   

• Nuclear Physics Laboratory -- This laboratory is used for the modern physics laboratory course, the senior level nuclear physics course, and for the senior level radiation biophysics course. (Phil Womble, Alex Barzilov).
   

• Electronics Laboratory -- This laboratory is used for the physical measurements and electronics laboratory courses. (Phil Womble).
   

• Interactive Engagement Classrooms -- These classrooms are designed for teaching physics using interactive methods.  The table has four large round tables which seat up to nine students each.  Students work in groups of three with each group having access to a networked laptop computer.  (Scott Bonham, Doug Harper)
    

• Optics Laboratory -- In addition to the equipment for standard introductory optics experiments, the optics laboratory has several special lasers:  a small CO2 laser, an industrial grade pulsed CO2 laser, and a pulsed Nd:YAG laser with a frequency doubling crystal (Dudley Bryant).
   

• Solid State Physics/Surface Physics Laboratory -- This laboratory is used for the senior level solid state physics course.  It contains a vintage General Electric X-Ray Diffraction unit, a helium cryostat with optical grade windows and other miscellaneous apparatus used in the solid state lab.  An ultra-high vacuum system with an electron gun, sample manipulator and optical spectrometer is also available (Doug Harper).
   

• University Physics Laboratories -- In the fall of 1998 faculty in the department received a National Science Foundation Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement grant to create a "Transferable-Skills-Based Laboratory for University Physics".   In this new laboratory students gain experience in computerized data acquisition (using LabVIEW) and data analysis (using Microsoft Excel and Igor Pro from WaveMetrics) as they study the principles of physics.  (Doug Harper).

Research facilities located beyond TCCW

• The Applied Physics Institute -- The Applied Physics Institute is a multidisciplinary center performing research and development projects in the areas of nuclear physics, nuclear engineering, material science, electronics, wireless data communication, and homeland security. Projects at the Applied Physics Institute have been funded through grants from the US DoE, the DHS, the DoD, the National Science Foundation and contracts with companies. (Alex Barzilov).

• The Bell Astrophysical Observatory -- The department operates the Bell Astrophysical Observatory, located 12 miles southwest of Bowling Green. The observatory consists of a 0.6m telescope with a newly modernized control system , allowing manual, remote (from campus) and robotic operating modes. The telescope is equipped with a CCD camera, and BVRI filters. Research with this facility includes studies of the time variability of AGN, searches for transits of extra solar planets and multi-color imaging of extended regions in this and other galaxies (Mike Carini).
   

• Hardin Planetarium -- With a 40-foot dome housing a Spitz A3P star projector, various special-effect projectors, and a seating capacity of approximately 150, the planetarium  supports astronomy laboratories and demonstrations for departmental astronomy classes, as well as providing educational presentations for off-campus school groups and the general public. (Roger Scott).
   

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 Contents Copyright 1999 - 2009.