Physics Professor Wins NSF Grant

Associate Professor of Physics Rodney Yoder has won a $145,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to support his work on pyroelectric crystals, a major achievement for Yoder and Goucher’s Physics Program. Yoder is performing research to see if the crystals, which produce electric fields when heated, can be used to create and accelerate a beam of electrons.

“This award makes it possible for me to begin the next stage of my research into new methods for creating miniature particle accelerators,” says Yoder. “Having the resources to carry out a full experimental test of a new concept is an exciting opportunity for me and my students.” The project is called “RUI: Electron Beam Production for Optical-Scale Accelerators using Pyroelectric Crystal Arrays.” Yoder and his students will begin research this summer.