Kansas State University Department of Physics

09/18/2026

Join us tomorrow night for the local International Observe the Moon Night Celebration—a fun, FREE evening of space, science, and discovery for the whole family!

Highlights include:
🔭 Telescope views of the Moon (weather permitting)
🎨 Hands-on activities for kids
🎤 Short, engaging space talks
🎟️ FREE telescope raffle!

🗓️ When: Saturday, Sept. 19 at 7:00 PM

📍 Where: Douglass Activity Center, 925 Yuma St, Manhattan, KS

✨ Presented by: Event Horizon

Bring your family and friends, and let’s celebrate the Moon together with skywatchers worldwide!

09/17/2026

After working deep underground on high energy physics with the DUNE experiment in South Dakota, graduate research assistant Nabila Majeed is returning to campus tomorrow to present her preliminary exam in person.

Join us to catch up with Nabila, hear about her work at the detector site and Fermilab, and cheer her on as she reaches this exciting academic milestone!

🗓️ When: Friday, September 18
📍 Where: Cardwell 119
💻 Zoom: E-mail [email protected]

09/16/2026

We were thrilled to welcome back four-time Kansas State University alumnus Dr. Lawrence Escalada to campus for the K-State Alumni Association Hispanic Reunion events, along with his wife, Dr. Alison Beharka!

During his visit, Larry reconnected with his research advisor, Emeritus Professor Dean Zollman, and Dean’s wife, Dr. Jackie Spears—a physics alumna (MS '72) and former K-State College of Education professor and Dean at K-State Olathe. He also caught up with Kim Coy, former K-SUPER group administrator and current department graduate coordinator.

A Garden City native who came to K-State to pursue his passion for physics and science education, Dr. Escalada earned four K-State degrees: a B.S. in Education with a specialty in Physics Teaching (’88), a B.S. in Physics (’89), an M.S. in Physics (’95), and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction in Physics and Science Education (’97).

Today, he serves as Professor of Physics and Science Education and Chair of Science Education at the University of Northern Iowa, where he has made a huge impact in the physics curriculum development, teacher training, and student outreach programs across Iowa.

It was wonderful to have Larry back in Manhattan and to celebrate the lifelong connections that make our department and Wildcat family so special. 💜

We hope to see you again soon, Larry!

09/14/2026

Exciting news from the lab!

In late August Laser Focus World featured Dr. Meng Han’s latest breakthrough in ultrafast optics: a record-setting 18-attosecond light pulse!

Why does 18 attoseconds matter?
An attosecond is just 10^−18 seconds — one billionth of a billionth of a second. At 18 attoseconds, their pulse provides an ultrafast “camera shutter” for probing fundamental electron dynamics, photoionization, and real-time charge migration in atoms and molecules.

How did they do it?
💡 Industrial Yb laser platform: They demonstrated that post-compressed, high-power ytterbium lasers can push beyond the sub-20-attosecond barrier.
✨ Extreme brightness: They generated a photon flux exceeding 10^12 photons/sec across the 50–320 eV spectral range in the soft X-ray regime — approximately 1,000 times brighter than traditional soft X-ray attosecond sources.
🎯 Precise measurement: They characterized the pulse using angle-resolved photoelectron streaking in helium.

Congratulations to Dr. Han’s research team and all of their collaborators!

It’s such an exciting step forward for tabletop ultrafast spectroscopy, opening new opportunities to explore electron dynamics on their natural timescales.

Read the entire piece in Laser Focus World 👇
https://www.laserfocusworld.com/lasers-sources/article/55400998/a-new-record-set-for-attosecond-isolated-light-pulses

09/10/2026

Physics grad students are always ready to tackle a challenge—even after the final whistle! 💜

Following the Wildcats’ win over Nicholls last weekend, members of the Physics Graduate Student Council (PGSC) rolled up their sleeves to clean up a few sections under the bright lights of Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

This cleanup effort was a fantastic way for our students to serve the university community while raising funds for upcoming PGSC activities and events.

Great work, Wildcats! 💜👏

09/09/2026

Thinking about leveling up your degree? Come talk physics with our undergraduate program director Dr. J.T. Laverty and academic advisor Devon Hoffman-Colburn at the Discovery Expo today!

Curious about adding a physics major, double major, or minor? Physics pairs well with almost any STEM degree—and we’ve got plenty of opportunities to put your physics skills to work.

Stop by to learn more about exciting undergraduate research opportunities, explore what a physics degree can add to your career, and ask us your burning quantum questions!

Plus, you can enter for a chance to win some of that $3,000! 💰

Come see why physics might be the perfect addition to your academic journey!

📍 Where: Student Union Courtyard
⏰ When: TODAY (Wed, Sept. 9) | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Thinking about changing your major or adding a minor or certificate? Wondering about research and other applied learning opportunities?

Visit the College of Arts and Sciences Discovery Expo on Wed to chat with any of our departments about their offerings and enter our scholarship drawing! We'll be giving away $3,000!

All K-State students are welcome.

Wed., Sept. 9
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Student Union Courtyard

09/04/2026

The Department of Physics will be closed on Monday for Labor Day alongside the rest of campus—giving everyone a chance to rest, recharge, and lower their kinetic energy after K-State Sports Football kicks off the season on Saturday!

Let’s watch the team apply maximum force, transfer that momentum down the field, and bring home the first WIN of the season for the Cats and Coach Klein! 🏈💜

We’ll resume normal operations on Tuesday. Have a safe, fun, and high-momentum Labor Day weekend!

08/28/2026

Week 1: SURVIVED.

Whether you spent the week battling quantum mechanics, finding your classrooms, or consuming dynamic amounts of coffee—you made it.

Your weekend status report:

System Entropy: High.
Potential Energy: Maxed out.
Current State: Ground state (couch).

Recharge your batteries and let your brain relax over the weekend.

Great job, Wildcats! ⚛️☕📚

08/25/2026

MS Thesis & Farewell Celebration!

Join us tomorrow afternoon to celebrate Wren Sanders! Wren completed their MS this summer and will soon be relocating to the East Coast. Let’s gather to congratulate them on earning their degree and wish them all the best on their next chapter.

🗓️ Date: Tomorrow (Wednesday, Aug 26)

⏰ Time: 3:30 PM

📍 Location: 119 Cardwell Hall

Hope to see you there to give Wren a warm send-off! 💜

08/24/2026

Join us this afternoon as our department head, Tim Bolton, kicks off the fall semester with our welcome colloquium!

📍 Note the Room Change!

Colloquium: 4:30 PM | Cardwell 103

Refreshments: 4:15 PM | Cardwell 119 (Cookies & Coffee ☕🍪)

Come early to grab a snack, make some new connections, and stick around for the talk. We hope to see you there!