Dwight Whitaker
Assistant Professor of Physics
at Pomona College
since 2007
Education/Experience
- University of Connecticut 1992, B.S.
- Brown University 1994 Sc.M., 1999 Ph.D.
- JILA Bose-Einstein Condensation Group, Research Associate 1998-2001
- Williams College Assistant Professor of Physics 2001-2007
Contact Information
- Office: Millikan 108
- Lab: Andrew 053
- Phone: (909) 607-9795
- E-mail: dwight.whitaker@pomona.edu
Courses given
Williams College
- Physics 301: Introductory Quantum Physics
- Physics 100: Physics of Everyday Life
- Physics 010: Electronics
- Physics 142: Foundations of Modern Physics
- Physics 201: Electricity and Magnetism
- Physics 015: Light and Holography
Pomona College
- Physics 101: Atomic and Nuclear Physics
- Physics 51a: General Physics Laboratory
- Physics 175: Thermodynamics and Statistical
Mechanics
- Physics 17: Physics in Society: A Critical
Analysis of Energy Policy
- ID1: Light, Perception, and Art
Research Interests:
Bose-Einstein Condensation:
Our
lab makes Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) of rubidium-87. The atoms are evaporatively cooled in
an all-optical trap created from a focused CO2 laser beam. Below a critical temperature the
atoms held in our trap undergo a quantum phase transition and form a new form
of matter (the BEC). Condensates
are a coherent form of matter and a BEC differs from a cloud of warmer atoms
like the light from a laser differs from that of a light bulb. Our group is currently working on
creating a simple method to form large condensates in an optical trap. We also have developed an inexpensive imaging
system that uses a CCD camera designed for amateur astronomers.
Investigations of Rapid
Biological Movements:
In
collaboration with Joan
Edwards in the Biology Department at Williams College we are documenting
and understanding the rapid (sub-millisecond) movements of different plant and
fungi. The most rapid motion of
any biological system occurs through the release of stored elastic energy
rather than chemically driven and slower muscle twitching. Since plants too can slowly store
elastic energy by growing or moving water, they too can move quickly. The fastest plants (and fungi) move on a
timescale shorter than any animal movements. Our group looks to understand how the morphology and
physical properties of a plant enable it to move quickly. With an understanding of the
relevant physical parameters it is easier to identify what traits are co-opted
from similar species to produce the rapid motion. For an informative (and pretty) webpage about the
explosive opening of the bunchberry flower go here.
Links
to podcasts about our Science paper
on the exploding capsules of Sphagnum moss:
Science
podcast, BBC Science in Action (our bit starts at
16:00).
Physics Demonstration Database:
The
high-speed video camera used in our biophysics project has also given rise to a
collection of ultra slow motion videos of some popular physics demonstrations.
You can access these streaming videos, which are sortable by course number or
course description here.
Selected publications (links may require subscriptions)
- “Kinematic evidence for superfast locomotory muscle in two species of teneriffiid mites”, Grace C. Wu, Jonathan C. Wright, Dwight L. Whitaker and A. N. Ahn, J. Exp. Bio. 213, 2551-2556, (2010) .
- “Sphagnum Moss Disperses Spores with Vortex Rings”, Dwight Whitaker, Joan Edwards, Science, 329, 406, (2010) [subscription required]
- "High-speed images: Capture processes in botanical systems", Dwight Whitaker, Laser Focus World, 44, 77-80, (2008). [Feature Article]
- "The biomechanics of Cornus canadensis stamens are ideal for catapulting pollen vertically",D. L. Whitaker, L. A. Webster, and J. Edwards, Functional Ecology, 21 (2), 219, (2007).
- "Modified control software for imaging ultracold atomic clouds", D. L. Whitaker, A. Sharma, and J. M. Brown, Rev. Sci. Instr., 77, 126101 (2006)
- "A
record-breaking pollen catapult.", J. Edwards, D. Whitaker,
S. Klionsky, and M. Laskowski, Nature
435, 164,
(2005).
- "Simplified System for Creating a Bose-Einstein Condensate," H.J. Lewandowski, D.M Harber, D.L. Whitaker. E.A. Cornell Journal of Low Temp Phys, 132, 309-367, (2003).
- "Observation of Anomalous Spin-State Segregation in a Trapped Ultracold Vapor," H. J. Lewandowski, D. M. Harber, D. L. Whitaker, and E. A. Cornell, Phys. Rev. Lett., 88, 070403, (2002).
- "Theory of the Small Amplitude Shape Oscillations of a He-II Drop", D. L. Whitaker, C. Kim, C. L. Vicente, H. J. Maris, G. M. Seidel, J. Low Temp. Phys., 114, 523 (1999).
- "Shape Oscillations in Levitated He II Drops" D. L. Whitaker, C. Kim, C. L. Vicente, H. J. Maris, G. M. Seidel. J. Low Temp. Phys., 113, 491 (1998).
- "Oscillations of Charged Helium II Drops". D. L. Whitaker, M. A. Weilert, C. L. Vicente, H. J. Maris, and G. M. Seidel, J. Low Temp. Phys. 110, 173 (1998).
- "Magnetic Levitation of Liquid Helium" M. A. Weilert, D. L. Whitaker, H. J. Maris, and G. M. Seidel, J. Low Temp. Phys. 106, 101 (1997).
- "Magnetic Levitation of Liquid Helium" M. A. Weilert, D. L. Whitaker, H. J. Maris, and G. M. Seidel, Czech. Jour. of Phys. 46, 373 (1996).
- "Magnetic Levitation and Noncoalescence of Liquid Helium" M. A. Weilert, D. L. Whitaker, H. J. Maris, and G. M. Seidel, Phys Rev. Lett, 77, 4840 (1996).
- "Laser Levitation of Superfluid Helium" M. A. Weilert, D. L. Whitaker, H. J. Maris, and G. M. Seidel, Newsletter of the IEEE Society for Lasers and Electro-Optic Devices, February 1995.
- "Laser Levitation of Superfluid Helium", M. A. Weilert, D. L. Whitaker, H. J. Maris, and G. M. Seidel, J. Low Temp. Phys. 98, 17 (1995).