Department of Physics

William M. Hetherington Associate Professor

Background

• B.S. in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley in 1971.
• Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Stanford University in 1977.
• Postdoctoral Reseach Associate in the Department of Chemistry at Columbia University, 1977-80.
• Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, 1980-87.
• Associate Professor of Physics at Oregon State University, 1987 - present.

Research

• A new research activity is molecular electronics, currently utilizing a piezoelectric-driven break-junction device to observe quantum conductance and electron tunneling.
• Surface/nanoscale structure and surface/nanoscale photodynamics research is ongoing using an ultra-sensitive linear reflection concept.
• Surface/nanoscale nonlinear optical phenomena are studied from a theoretical perspective at this time, with experimental work to resume in 2006.

Teaching Highlights

• Energy Alternatives, a Baccalaureate Core Science, Technology and Society course, has become popular as energy issues appear more frequently in the news.
• Nonlinear Optics is an interdisciplinary course cross-listed with the Chemistry and ECE departments.

William M. Hetherington

Department of Physics

© Department of Physics, Oregon State University 2005

12 October 2005