Research Interests

• The Cauchy problem of the Einstein equations
• The initial-boundary-value problem of the Einstein equations
• The characteristic problem of the Einstein equations
• Null foliations of spacetime
• Formulating gravitational lensing from the point of view of spacetime
• Optical wavefronts in gravitational lensing
• Thick gravitational lenses
• Gravitational lenses in motion

UndergraduateTeaching

• Outside of the physics major (all students)
  • SPRG-103 The Big Bang Theory and beyond (spring term odd years)
• Within the physics major (physics/math students)
  • PHYS-361 Mechanics (fall term odd years)
  • PHYS-372 Electromagnetism (spring term even years)
  • PHYS-402 Optics (fall term even years)

Undergraduate Research

• Prerequisites
  • MATH-215 Calculus III and MATH-315 Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (or institutional equivalents)
  • PHYS-213 General Analytical Physics III (or institutional equivalent)
  • One of PHYS-361 Mechanics or PHYS-402 Optics
  • Self-motivation! Be prepared for sustained hard work that doesn't seem to lead anywhere
• Requirements
  • Ten weeks of full time research in the summer, or equivalent during the academic year
  • Presentation/poster at a UR Symposium (locally: University of Pittsburgh or Duquesne)
  • Term paper
• Open opportunities
  NOTE: Approach me with at least 3 months notice in order to process the request for funds.
  • Gravitational-lensing project for a student with background in computer science
  • General-relativity project for a student with background in general relativity
  • Gravitational-lensing project for a student with an interest in astrophysics
• Projects supervised

  	Null geodesic deviation by thick Weyl curvature with power law tails Amanda Mazzoni, summer 1998 Supported with start-up funds After following her calling to teach in highschool for a few years, Amanda works now as a civilian Physicist with the Navy.
  	Image distortion by thick gravitational lenses Thomas Oberst, summer 2000 Supported with NSF funds Tom is currently pursuing a PhD at Cornell University.
  	Undergraduate gravitational lensing primer Paul Stumpf, summer 2001 Supported with a Bayer scholarship. After obtaining a Masters in Astronautic Engineering at NASA, Paul took a job with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.