Alan DeWeerd

Professor
Physics

Alan DeWeerd

Education

B.S. Physics, University of California - Irvine

M.S. Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Ph.D. Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Contact

Appleton Hall 120
P: 909.748.8658
E: alan_deweerd@redlands.edu

Schedule - Spring 2024

  • PHYS 391/491: MWF 8:00 - 9:15 am
  • PHYS 232: MWF 9:25 - 10:40 am
  • PHYS 232L: Th 9:25 am - 12:05 pm and 1:15 - 3:55 pm
  • Office Hours: MTu 12:00 - 2:00 pm

Areas of Expertise

  • Physics Education
  • Quantum Optics

Description of Research

My current research is in quantum optics experiments involving single photons and entangled pairs of photons.  I have worked with students on a wide variety of projects, including light scattering from microscopic particles, optical tweezers, and negative refraction.  I have also published frequently in physics education journals.

Courses Taught at Redlands

  • Elementary Physics (PHYS 104) - no longer offered

  • Physics for Poets (PHYS 105) - no longer offered

  • Physics Comes to Light (PHYS 106)

  • Topics in Physics: Gastrophysics (PHYS 160)

  • Fundamentals of Physics I and II (PHYS 220 and 221)

  • General Physics I-III (PHYS 231-233)

  • Instructional Techniques (PHYS 291)

  • Electronics Applications (PHYS 310)

  • Classical Mechanics (PHYS 331)

  • Electricity and Magnetism (PHYS 332)

  • Quantum Mechanics (PHYS 341)

  • Thermal Physics (PHYS 344)

  • Advanced Experimental Physics (PHYS 349)

  • Topics in Physics: Relativity (PHYS 360)

  • Topics in Physics: Microcontroller Projects (PHYS 360)

  • Physics Research (PHYS 378)

  • Junior Seminar (PHYS 391)

  • Senior Seminar (PHYS 491)

Previous Teaching Experience

1996-1998: Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Creighton University, Omaha, NE.

Awards, Honors and Grants

2002: Faculty Research Grant and Hewlett Faculty Development Grant (for construction of an optical tweezers)

1991-1994: Department of Education Graduate Assistantship in Areas of National Need

1990-1991: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation Graduate Fellowship

1990: Outstanding Senior in Physics

1989: Sigma Pi Sigma Physics Honor Society

1988: Phi Beta Kappa

Publications

Most of my publications can be found on ResearchGate.

"Oblique collisions between billiard balls for introductory physics," submitted for publication.

"Conservation of Angular Momentum with a 3D-Printed Launcher," with S. Eric Hill, Phys. Teach. 62 (5), 340-341 (2024).

"Conservation of Angular Momentum with Slightly Modified Commercial Apparatuses," with S. Eric Hill, Phys. Teach. 61 (8), 680-681 (2023).

"Inexpensive Single and Double Slits Using a Fine-Toothed Comb," Phys. Teach. 60 (5), 380-381 (2022).

"CD, DVD, and Blu-Ray Disc Diffraction with a Laser Ray Box," Phys. Teach. 54 (5), 300-301 (2016).

"An Investigative Interdisciplinary Case Study on the Eye," with C.C. Barney, C. Mader, K. Winnett-Murray, and L. Hertel, in Tested Studies for Laboratory Teaching, Vol. 30, edited by K.L. Clase (2009), pp. 195-223.

"Another Look at the Wine Butler," Phys. Teach. 45 (7), 438-439 (2007).

"Reflection with a Twist: the Helical Mirror," with S. Eric Hill, Phys. Teach. 44 (8), 496-497 (2006).

"Comment on ‘Anamorphic images,' by J.L. Hunt, B.G. Nickel, and Christian Gigault [Am. J. Phys. 68 (3), 232-237 (2000)]," with S. Eric Hill, Am. J. Phys. 74 (1), 83-84 (2006).

"Observing longitudinal inversion in a vehicle's rear-view mirror," Phys. Educ. 40 (6), 504-505 (2005).

"The Dizzying Depths of the Cylindrical Mirror," with S. Eric Hill, Phys. Teach. 43 (2), 90-92 (2005).

"Optics over a cup of tea: images in concave and convex surfaces," with S. Eric Hill, Phys. Educ. 40 (1), 13-14 (2005).

"Reflections on Handedness," with S. Eric Hill, Phys. Teach. 42 (5), 275-279 (2004).

"The Image between the Lenses: Activities with a Telescope and a Microscope," with A.J. Cox, Phys. Teach. 41 (3), 176-177 (2003).

"An Experiment to Measure Mie and Rayleigh Total Scattering Cross Sections," with A.J. Cox and Jennifer Linden, Am. J. Phys. 70 (6), 620-625 (2002).

"Interaction-Free Measurement," Am. J. Phys. 70 (3), 272-275 (2002).

"Recent Developments on the STAR Detector System at RHIC," with H. Wieman et al. (STAR Collaboration), Nuc. Phys. A 638 (2), 559-564 (1998).

"Relations between Fusion Cross Sections and Average Angular Momenta," with A.B. Balantekin and S. Kuyucak, Phys. Rev. C 54 (4), 1853-1862 (1996).

"Subbarrier Fusion in the Interacting Boson Model," with A.B. Balantekin, J.R. Bennett, and S. Kuyucak, Phys. Rev. C 46 (5), 2019-2027 (1992).

"Measurement of Charge Asymmetry in Hadronic Z Decays," with D. Decamp et al. (ALEPH Collaboration), Phys. Lett. B 259, 377-388 (1991).

"Measurement of the Strong Coupling Constant αs from Global Event-Shape Variables of Hadronic Z Decays," with D. Decamp et al. (ALEPH Collaboration), Phys. Lett. B 255, 623-633 (1991).

"Search for Excited Neutrinos in Z Decay," with D. Decamp et al. (ALEPH Collaboration), Phys. Lett. B 250, 172-178 (1990).

"Measurement of the Electroweak Parameters from the Z Decay into Fermion Pairs," with D. Decamp et al. (ALEPH Collaboration), Z. Phys. C 48, 365-392 (1990).

"Searches for the Standard Higgs Boson," with D. Decamp et al. (ALEPH Collaboration), Phys. Lett. B 246, 306-314 (1990).

Professional Affiliations

  • American Association of Physics Teachers

  • American Physical Society

  • Council on Undergraduate Research

Running

 A map of all of my runs since the start of 2019 can be viewed at City Strides. I ran every public street of Redlands during 2020, except Hwy 38 and a short, dangerous section of Fern Ave. I had run those before. The few streets listed as incomplete are either private or don't exist.