Nathan E. Lundblad
Phillips Professor of Physics
About
PhD (Physics) California Institute of Technology
BA (Physics, Astrophysics) University of California, Berkeley
My research focuses on the physics of matter cooled to just barely above absolute zero, and explores the phenomenon of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) terrestrially and in microgravity. I perform experiments (with students) at Bates and (with collaborators) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory using ultracold atoms trapped in ultrahigh vacuum with magnetic fields and lasers.
Are you interested in summer research? I’m always hiring students of all years; please contact me via email. For more information please see my laboratory home page.
Expertise
Current Courses
Fall Semester 2026
Information is Physical: From Classical to Quantum Computers
The natural sciences and computing have long been intertwined disciplines. This connection is deeply established although not always readily apparent: first, in that computing is a fundamentally physical process, something in and of nature and not merely abstract; second, in that the evolution of ou…
Electronics
A laboratory-oriented study of the basic principles and characteristics of electronic components and their applications in circuits and instruments found in a research laboratory. Both analog and digital systems are studied, as are microcontrollers and their applications. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 210,…
Senior Thesis
An independent study program for students working on a research problem in a field of interest, culminating in the writing of a senior thesis. Students register for PHYS 457 in the fall semester. Majors writing an honors thesis register for both PHYS 457 and 458.
Winter Semester 2027
Energy, Matter, and Motion
A calculus-based introduction to physics for students interested in the physical sciences. Organized around interactions and conservation laws, the course develops mechanics and thermodynamics with a focus on energy, linear momentum, and angular momentum. Students analyze physical systems at both ma…
Spacetime, Waves, and Photons
An exploration of several core topics in modern physics: waves and optics, special relativity and spacetime, the wave and particle (photon) nature of light, and the consequences of energy quantization as applied to atomic structure and spectra. Laboratory investigations probe related phenomena. Addi…
Physics of Materials and Devices
A study of crystal structures and the electronic properties of solids, together with an investigation of some active areas of research. Topics include crystal binding, X-ray diffraction, lattice vibrations, metals, insulators, semiconductors, electronic devices, superconductivity, and magnetism. Rec…
Senior Thesis
An independent study program for students working on a research problem in a field of interest, culminating in the writing of a senior thesis. Students register for PHYS 458 in the winter semester. Majors writing an honors thesis register for both PHYS 457 and 458.