Joseph O. West

Assistant Professor of Physics

Pre-Engineering Advisor

B.A. 1988 Wabash College

M.S. 1993 Arizona State University

Ph.D. 1995 Arizona State University

MBA 2003 Indiana State University

(812) 237-2037

E-mail: jwest4@isugw.indstate.edu

Member

APS, AAPT, SPS, CUR.

Research Interests

Solid State Physics

The dynamics of the electronic to vibrational energy transfer process in CsCl crystals with CN^- and F-center defect pairs is the primary system of interest.  Experimentally, this system is studied with a tunable laser, and a high resolution spectrometer to obtain Raman spectra.  Plans for the immediate future include the use of a femto-second pulsed laser system in order to obtain Time-Resolved Raman spectra.  Dr. West is also involved in theoretical quantum mechanical interpretation of the experimental results.

Fun Stuff (Suitable for undergraduates.)

Dr. West has always had an interest in research projects that can actively involve students in all aspects of the project.  Some of the topics that students have worked on, or on the list to choose from include: coupled masses subject to wind resistance, orbital dynamics of a point mass in the plane of a massive thin ring, orbital dynamics of a point mass in a plane perpendicular to the plane of a massive thin ring, the effects of the variation of the force of gravity with altitude near the surface of the Earth on an ideal Atwood’s machine, the distribution pattern of aimed shots from archers, least time radii for point-to-point motion of a simple pendulum, relativistic two-stage rockets, the dynamics of vortex rings (smoke rings, 20 cm in diameter), time evolution of fermions in a one-dimensional potential, the dynamics of ArrowCopters (a fun toy), special relativity in rotating reference frames, two-dimensional dipole-dipole repulsion under the influence of an external electric field, simulation of waves in one and two dimensions, Fresnel focusing of waves in water, and anything that is promising that a student would like to suggest.

Publications

J. West, "A relativistic rotating frame with physics majors, photons and mirrors: causality lost," The European Journal of Physics, 29, 885 - 900 (2008).

J. West, “A light clock satisfying the clock hypothesis of special relativity,” The European Journal of Physics, 28, 693 – 703 (2007): EJP/247157.

R Wesely Tobin and J. West "Closed orbits about a massive thin ring," Eur. J. Phys. 27 (2006) 215-223.

J. West, “Perpetual Motion in The Industrial Physicist.”  The Industrial Physicist 9, pg. 6, December2003/January2004 (Letters).  The letter to the editor addressed the educational impact of an article published in TIP in the August/September 2003 issue.

J. West “Quantum Measurement, the Cat is Still Loose.” The Industrial Physicist 9, pg. 8, October/November2004 (Letters).  The letter to the editor addressed an ongoing debate concerning the theory of measurement, quantum entanglement, and the Schrodinger Cat thought experiment.

J. West, Letter to the Editor: “Perpetual Motion in The Industrial Physicist?” The Industrial Physicist 9 (December2003/January2004), pg. 6.

J. West, “N-coupled masses with resistive forces linear in velocity: Exact expressions for the final system position,” Am. J. Phys. 71, 402 - 403 (2003).

J. West, “Comment on “Fermat’s principle and the variational analysis of an optical mode for light propagation exhibiting a critical radius,” by M. Marklund, D. Anderson, F Cattani, M. Lisak, and L. Lnudgren [Am. J. Phys. 70, 680, 2002],” accepted for publication Jan. 2003, expected publication date May of 2003.

J. West, Barry N. Weliver (class of ’00), “The Atwood Machine: Two Special Cases,” The Physics Teacher 37(2), 83 1999.

J. West, S. Dassanayake (class of '98), and A. Daniel (class of '98), "Bound Orbits with Positive Energy," Am. J. Phys. 66(1), 25 (1998).

J. West, K. T. Tsen, S. H. Lin, and F. Luty, "An Absorption Line Shape Model for F-Center/CN- Molecule Defect Pairs in CsCl," Phys. Rev. B 50, 9759 (1994).

J. West, S. H. Lin and K. T. Tsen, "Critical Analysis of the Band-shape Function of a Molecular System Imbedded in a Host Crystal: Application to F centers," J. Chem. Phys. 99, 7574 (1993).

K. T. Tsen, C. Chia, J. West, and J. Morkoc, "Population Relaxation Time of Optical Phonons in GaAs-AlAs Multiple Quantum Well Structures," Modern Physics Letters B 7, 887 (1993).

Presentations

J. West, What a Physicist Does, invited talk to Mrs. Smudde’s first grade class.  Lost Creek Elementary School, Terre Haute, IN, May 12, 2007.

J. West , “Temperature-Dependent Time-Resolved Raman Scattering,” Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, March 30, 2006.

Seth Ross and J. West, “Trebuchet Dynamics,” ISU CAS Undergraduate and Graduate Research Showcase, Indiana State University, April 27, 2006.

David Young and J. West, “The chaotic double pendulum lifetime and radioactive decay,” ISU CAS Undergraduate and Graduate Research Showcase, Indiana State University, April 27, 2006.  David won second prize in the Undergraduate Oral Session, Physical.

J. West “The physic$ of roller coasters at the carnival of carnage,” Camp Own It! 2005 summer program in the College of Business (CREED), Indiana State University, July 26, 2005.

J. West, I, Robot, You Jane

For the Geology Club Movie Night I presented the “pre-movie” science lecture before the showing of “I, Robot.”  I discussed some of the physics that was right, and wrong, in the special effects of the movie, and also addressed issues in regards to the current state of affairs in robot design, and robot component design, such as artificial muscle.  February 10, 2005, S-138, Indiana State University.

J. West and Ryan Tobin, “Point Mass-Thin Ring Dynamics: A Zoo of Closed Orbits,” October 14, 2003, DePauw University.

J. West “Bound Orbits About a Massive Ring: A Student Research Project” ISU Physics/APS departmental colloquium, September 11, 2003.

Ryan Tobin (class of ‘05) and J. West, The Zoo of Closed Orbits About a Massive Ring, Seventh Annual Undergraduate/Graduate Research Showcase, Indiana State University, Terre Haute IN, 47809, April 19, 2003.

J. West, “N coupled masses with linear wind resistance,” APS March Meeting, Indianapolis, IN March 18, 2002.

J. West, "Old Physics, New Tricks: N coupled masses, and none of them matter,” California Lutheran, Thousand Oaks, CA, March 4, 2002.

J. West, “Two-stage Relativistic Rocket Science, Optimization and A Field Trip to Vega,” AAPT Spring meeting Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, 4/01.

J. West, Z. Hiland, S. Stamm, and J. Smith (all students), “Least Time Pendulum for Fixed Endpoints,” AAPT Spring meeting Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, 4/01.

J. West, “Bound Orbits with Positive Energy about a Variable Annulus,” Ball State University, Spring 1998 meeting, Ohio Section of APS, 5/98.

J. West, S. Dassayanake, A. Daniel (class of ’98) and S. Gramby (class of ’98), "Bound Orbits with Positive Energy," Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, IN 7/98, Kenyon University, Gambier, OH 2/98, Washington and Jefferson University, Washington, PA, 3/98, and Monmouth College, Monmouth, IL 3/98.

J. West, "Computer Projects in Physics 8."  Teaching and Learning Committee Summer Presentation at Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN 8/97.

J. West, and S. Gramby(class of ’99), "The Black Hole Breakfast Trilogy."  Wabash "Ides" colloquium for college faculty, Crawfordsville, IN 8/97.

S. Dassanayake, J. West, and A. Daniel (class of ’98), "Stability of Circular Orbits of a Point Particle about a Massive Ring."  Argonne Symposium of Undergraduate Research, Argonne, IL 10/96.

J. West, "Physicists: Machiavellian Mathematicians or Approximating Anarchists," Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN 8/96.

J. West, K. T. Tsen, and S. H. Lin, "Cyanide: Spectrum Splitter, Emission Killer," Depauw University, Greencastle, IN, and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terra Haute, IN, 3/96.

J. West, K. T. Tsen, and S. H. Lin, "A Practical Application of nearly Degenerate Perturbation Theory," Indiana State University, Terra Haute, IN, 2/96.

J. West, "Climbing the Ladder to Employability." Invited talk at the winter national meeting of the AAPT in Reno Nevada, 1/96.

J. West, K. T. Tsen, and S. H. Lin, "Tormenting a caged electron," Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN, 3/95.

J. West, K. T. Tsen, S. H. Lin, and F. Luty, "Experimental and theoretical studies of the absorption spectra of F-Center/CN^- defect pairs in CsCl," APS March Meeting, Pittsburgh PA, 3/94.