Professor J. A. Sauls
Northwestern University
Department of Physics & Astronomy
About me
I was born in 1952 in California. My elementary education was in Texas and I went to high school in Colorado. I received my BSc in Engineering Physics at Colorado School of Mines in Golden (1975), then moved to New York to do graduate work at SUNY-Stony Brook, where I received a Ph.D. in physics in 1980. I did post-doctoral research at Princeton University in New Jersey (1980-83), NORDITA in Copenhagen and Helsinki University of Technology (1983-84), then joined the Princeton physics faculty for four years (1983-1987). Since 1987 I have been a professor of Physics at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. [Curriculum Vitae]
Research
Theoretical condensed matter research involves the discovery of new concepts related to the collective behavior of enormous numbers of atomic constituents, combined with the application of statistical mechanics and quantum theory to describe the behavior of macroscopic matter. This behavior is clearly revealed at low temperatures, or in the presence of strong electromagnetic or acoustic radiation fields where quantum effects are important. Matter under such conditions is described by quantum field theory. I conduct theoretical studies of matter in which quantum effects are manifest in the observable properties of matter. [Publications] [More about Condensed Matter Physics]
Theoretical Physics
I study the physical world by combining mathematical analysis and observation (generally with the help of experimentally inclined colleagues and students). I try to formulate and apply concepts and principles (physical laws) to relate observations of physical phenomena, such as superconductivity, to fundamental properties of matter and radiation. The laws of physics (e.g. quantum mechanics) are expressed in mathematical equations, so in practice I try to formulate physical questions as mathematical problems. I started research in the nuclear theory group at Stony Brook investigating matter under conditions thought to exist in the interiors of cold, dense stars called neutron stars. My current research is in the field of condensed matter physics. [Research]
James A. Sauls
Professor
PhD, SUNY Stony Brook, 1980
Fellow, American Physical Society
Max Planck Research Prize 1994
Teaching
My teaching and research are entangled. I often teach graduate courses for students who are engaged in research, although I also enjoy teaching first year graduate courses in quantum mechanics of statistical physics. For more information on current and past course offerings see my teaching page. [Teaching]
Department of Physics & Astronomy
2145 Sheridan Road
Evanston, IL 60208-3112
Office: F331 Tech. Inst.
phone: (847) 491-8624
fax: (847) 491-9982
email:
