| Paul DeVries | Faculty Profile » |
Research Area:
Computational Physics
Experiment / Theory:
Theory
Research Summary:
Dr. DeVries' research areas are in theoretical atomic, molecular and optical physics, and in computational physics. Once primarily interested in atomic and molecular collision systems, he has more recently investigated the interaction of very intense laser light with simple atomic systems, using quantum mechanics and computers. In such systems, an atom will absorb more than enough photons necessary to ionize, a phenomenon known as above threshold ionization. These systems also emit radiation at multiples of the frequency of the incident radiation, an example of the harmonic generation of light. The inherently time-dependent nature of the problem led Dr. DeVries to abandon the traditional methods of solution in favor of an explicitly time-dependent approach, following the time evolution of the wave packet describing the system. Dr. DeVries was responsible for initiating the department's microcomputer laboratory, and his recently published textbook, A First Course in Computational Physics, is used in our undergraduate curriculum. His current interests are in scientific visualization, image processing and analysis, and the use of computer graphics and animation to enhance comprehension of physical phenomena.