Office Location: Box 90305, Durham, NC 27708-0305
Email Address: rgb@duke.edu
Web Page: http://www.phy.duke.edu/~rgb/
Specialties:
Theoretical condensed matter physics
Atomic, molecular, and optical physics
Education:
Ph.D., Duke University, 1982
Research Categories: Theretical Condensed Matter Physics
Current projects: GPL Gtk flashcard viewer and XML flashcard language, "Dieharder", a random number tester integrated with the Gnu Scientific Library random number generators, wulfware, a set of software packages for supporting cluster computing, xmlbenchd, a benchmark daemon to support autotuning software algorithms, Engineering a Beowulf-style Compute Cluster (online book), Introductory Physics I (online book)
Research Description: Prof. Robert G. Brown is interested in using algebraic and statistical methods to study a wide range of equilibrium and nonequilibrium problems. With collaborator Dr. Mikael Ciftan, Dr. Brown has developed new Monte Carlo Langevin equation-based techniques that allow dynamic/nonequilibrium and static/equilibrium phenomena to be studied on the same footing. His recent work includes algebraic and computational studies in dynamic and static critical phenomena in quantum optics and magnetism. In earlier work, Dr. Brown also developed a generalized (non-muffin-tin) stationary multiple scattering theory including applications to band theory and quantum chemistry. This work formally eliminates the muffin-tin approximation from KKR-type band theory and its equivalents in quantum chemistry, without the need for so-called "near field" corrections.
Areas of Interest:
Physics
Teaching
Cluster Computing and Beowulfs
Software Development
Writing Fiction and Poetry
Philosophy
Teaching (Fall 2024):
Recent Publications (More Publications)
Highlight:
Prof. Robert G. Brown is interested in using algebraic and statistical methods to study a wide range of equilibrium and nonequilibrium problems. With collaborator Dr. Mikael Ciftan, Dr. Brown has developed new Monte Carlo Langevin equation-based techniques that allow dynamic/nonequilibrium and static/equilibrium phenomena to be studied on the same footing. His recent work includes algebraic and computational studies in dynamic and static critical phenomena in quantum optics and magnetism. In earlier work, Dr. Brown also developed a generalized (non-muffin-tin) stationary multiple scattering theory including applications to band theory and quantum chemistry. This work formally eliminates the muffin-tin approximation from KKR-type band theory and its equivalents in quantum chemistry, without the need for so-called "near field" corrections.