Assistant Professor Zach Meisel
By Jamison Lahman
Physics & Astronomy PACE writer
The Physics & Astronomy Department welcomes a new faculty member to the Athens campus this fall.
Dr. Zachary Meisel, Assistant Professor, joins the department and the Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics after completing postdoctoral research at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. He obtained a Ph.D. in physics from Michigan State University with a focus on nuclear astrophysics. While completing his postdoctoral research, Meisel traveled to Ohio University to perform an experiment at the Edwards Accelerator Laboratory, where he now bases his research.
Meisel’s research primarily deals with the origin of the elements, specifically the nuclear reactions which are thought to be responsible with their formation. He has been published more than 40 times, including in scientific journals such as Physical Review Letters, Physical Review C, The Astrophysical Journal, and Nuclear Instruments and Methods A. Some of his publications include:
- Urca cooling pairs in the neutron star ocean and their effect on superbursts. A Deibel, Z Meisel, H Schatz, EF Brown, A Cumming, The Astrophysical Journal. (2016)
- Dependence of x-ray burst models on nuclear reaction rates. R.H. Cyburt, A. M. Amthor, A. Heger, E. Johnson, L. Keek, Z. Meisel, H. Schatz, K. Smith Accepted to The Astrophysical Journal (2016)
- Mass Measurement of 56Sc Reveals a Small A =56 Odd-Even Mass Staggering, Implying a Cooler Accreted Neutron Star Crust. Z Meisel, S George, S Ahn, J Browne, D Bazin et al. Physical Review Letters 115.162501 (2015)
- Mass Measurements Demonstrate a Strong N =28 Shell Gap in Argon. Z Meisel, S George, S Ahn, J Browne, D Bazin et al. Physical Review Letters 114, 022501. (2015)
- β-delayed proton emission of 69Kr and the 68Se rp-process waiting point. M Del Santo, Z Meisel, D Bazin et al. Physics Letters B, 738 (0370-2693), 453-456 (2014)
Meisel is teaching “PHYS 6751,” a graduate-level laboratory course during the fall semester. In the class, he assists students in performing hands-on experiments regarding low-energy nuclear and particle physics using modern equipment as well as performing data and error analysis.
During Spring 2017, Meisel will be teaching “PHYS 2001 – Introduction to Physics” which is intended to be the first course in physics where students gain an understanding of basic principles without using calculus.
More information on Meisel’s research and teaching can be found on his professional page.
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