P 
F. Eugene Dunnam
E-Mail: dunnam@phys.ufl.edu
Professor of Physics, Emeritus
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Ph. D., Physics, Louisiana State University, 1958
Background
Grew up at 'Hope', a diversified plantation [cotton, cattle, timber, pecans]
on Bayou Rapides [Rapides Parish], Louisiana.
Hope House was placed on
the National Registry of Historic Places in 1990. Hope House and grounds were sold in 2004.
Jobs held at various
times: Cotton Gin Manager; Motor-Fuel Chemist; Food/Nutrition Lab Technician;
Electronics Technician; Radiochemistry Laboratory Assistant; Physics Instructor;
Physics Research Fellow; Technical Consultant; Physics Department Chairman;
Part-time choir director; College Senior Associate Dean; Professor.
Retired as Professor Emeritus December 31, 2007.
Received the University of Florida President's Medallion "For 50 years of loyal and dedicated service to the University."
Professional Interests & Activities
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Principal research area: Experimental Nuclear Physics, particularly nuclear
reactions/spectroscopy of astrophysical interest.
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Recent work: with colleagues Prof. Luis Muga and Dr. Robert Coldwell
we designed a cosmic ray detector/particle identifier
that we hoped to place on a satellite or other spacecraft. Utilizing an
array of thin-film scintillators [a device invented by Dr. Muga], this
instrument would permit detailed measurement of the mass, energy, and
charge-state(s) of the heavy-mass and anomalous components of the cosmic
radiation.
- With
colleague Dr. Henri Van Rinsvelt and students, the leaching of
arsenic and other heavy elements from treated wood products into
surrounding soils was investigated using PIXE analysis.
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Other research interests: Computer-simulated physics demonstrations; Musical
acoustics, particularly the wave-formation mechanisms of woodwind instruments
and organ pipes.
Accelerator!
Courses Taught, 2003 - 2008
PHY2054
- "Physics 2 (Summer 2008)"
PSC3803C
- Our Physical World: Physical Science for Elementary Teachers
PHY3840: Building Scientific
Equipment
Other Courses:
IDH 2931
Honors -"Energy"
Avocations
Vegetable gardening, with a specialty in hot
peppers
; Automobile mechanics; Music [Willis Bodine Chorale, Gainesville
Civic Chorus and Choristers; church choir]; Humor, especially
paronomasia and other forms of verbal circumlocution.
visitors accessed this homepage since 22 August 1996
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Last updated: 17 December 2008.
This is a personal home page and [it is to be fervently hoped] does
not represent the opinions of the University of Florida.
Compliments on the information content & entertainment value
of this page may be sent to dunnam@phys.ufl.edu