Dr. Peter Cook

Education

PhD Experimental Condensed Matter Physics, University of Wisconsin – Madison, 2011.

Thesis: NEXAFS Spectroscopy of Biomimetic Dye Molecules for Solar Cells

MA Physics, University of Wisconsin – Madison, 2007.

BS Physics (with optics and math), Calvin College, 2006.

Courses

PHYS 107 – Algebra based Introductory Mechanics
PHYS 201 – Calculus based Introductory Mechanics
PHYS 202 – Calculus based Introductory Electromagnetism and Optics
PHYS 311 – Classical Mechanics
PHYS 321 – Electrical Circuits and Electronics
PHYS 375 – Advanced Physics Laboratory
PHYS 381 – Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
PHYS 448 – Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

Interests

• Shining X-rays on organic dyes to learn about their electronic structure.
• Alternative energy sources especially next generation solar cells that are inexpensive to produce.
• Physics demonstrations – A good demonstration or experiment can immediately help someone to understand some aspect of the physical world and often more forcefully than a long explanation. Other times a demonstration doesn’t seem to help. I want to better understand what makes the difference.
• Music – I am a pianist and I especially enjoy playing and singing with others. The physics of sound and music is my favorite part of physics that I teach each year.
• Philosophy/theology – The interface and interaction of faith, reason, and science fascinates me.
• Students who want to understand the world around them.

Recent Publications

F J Himpsel, P L Cook, I Zegkinoglou, I Boukahil, R Qiao, W Yang, S C Pemmaraju, D Prendergast, C X Kronawitter, M G Kibria, Z Mi, L Vayssieres.
Synchrotron-based spectroscopy for solar energy conversion.
Proc. SPIE 9560, Solar Hydrogen and Nanotechnology X, 95600G (2015).

P S Johnson, J M Garcia-Lastra, C Kennedy, N Jersett, I Boukahil, F J Himpsel, P L Cook.
Crystal field of porphyrins and phthalocyanines from polarization-dependent 2p-to-3d multiplets.
J. Chem. Phys. 140, 114706 (2014).

F J Himpsel, P L Cook, G de la Torre; J M Garcia-Lastra, R Gonzalez-Moreno, J-H Guo, R J Hamers, C X Kronawitter, P S Johnson, J E Ortega, D Pickup, M-E Ragoussi, C Rogero, A Rubio, R E Ruther, L Vayssieres, W Yang, I Zegkinoglou.
Design of Solar Cell Materials via Soft X-ray Spectroscopy.
Review article at J of Electron Spectroscopy and Related Phenomena 190, 2 (2013).

P S Johnson, P L Cook, I Zegkinoglou, J M García-Lastra, A Rubio, R E Ruther, R J Hamers, F J Himpsel.
Electronic Structure of Fe- vs. Ru-Based Dye Molecules.
J. Chem. Phys. 138, 044709 (2013).