Ryan K. Cole
Assistant Professor of Physics
Associations
Physics and Astronomy
About
Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering), University of Colorado Boulder
B.A. (Physics, Mathematics), Colby College
My research interests include frequency comb spectroscopy, optical sensing, and precision measurement. Specifically, my lab develops and deploys instruments based on laser absorption spectroscopy. These instruments take advantage of the interactions between light and matter to measure things we care about – such as the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere or the magnetic and dynamic processes in the Sun. My research seeks to improve optical sensing approaches through fundamental laboratory spectroscopy to improve the models used to interpret spectroscopic measurements and by utilizing advanced laser sources (optical frequency combs) to improve the precision and accuracy of our measurements.
Expertise
Current Courses
Fall Semester 2025
Energy, Matter, and Motion
A calculus-based introduction to physics for students interested in the physical sciences. Starting from the concept of energy, the course develops mechanics and thermodynamics with a focus on conservation laws for mass, momentum, and energy. Students examine the atomic nature of matter and its impl…
Laboratory Physics/Lab
Students investigate selected experiments relevant to the development of contemporary physics and the practice of experimental physics research. They are introduced to the use of electronic instruments and computers for data acquisition and analysis, techniques of error analysis, and the practice of…
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.