Charles D. Brown II facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles D. Brown II
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| Alma mater | University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Yale University |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Theoretical physics, many body physics, ultracold atoms, optical lattices, quantum fluid dynamics |
| Institutions | University of California, Berkeley |
| Thesis | Optical, Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Superfluid Liquid Helium Drops Magnetically-Levitated in Vacuum (2019) |
| Doctoral advisor | Jack Harris |
Charles D. Brown II is an American scientist who studies physics. He works at the University of California, Berkeley. He researches tiny particles called ultracold atoms and how they behave together.
Dr. Brown is also a main organizer of #BlackInPhysics week. This special event helps to celebrate and share the amazing work of Black physicists. It also creates a supportive community for them.
Contents
Becoming a Scientist
Early Life and School
Charles Brown studied physics at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Science, in 2013. While he was an undergraduate student, he spent ten weeks doing research at the University of Chicago. This research was supported by the National Science Foundation.
He then went to Yale University for his advanced studies. He earned his PhD in physics in 2019. His research there focused on how very cold liquids behave, which is called quantum fluid dynamics.
His PhD Research
For his PhD, Dr. Brown studied tiny drops of superfluid liquid helium. Superfluid helium is a special liquid that can flow without any friction. He looked at how light and vibrations affected these drops. He was especially interested in how light waves interacted with the surface movements of these drops. These drops were held up in the air using magnets, a method called magnetic levitation.
Dr. Brown received several awards during his time at Yale. These included the Leigh Paige Award in 2013 and the D. Allan Bromley Fellowship in 2017. He also received a Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship in 2018.
While he was a graduate student, Dr. Brown helped lead the National Society of Black Physicists. He also helped start the Yale League of Black Scientists.
What He Studies Now
Research at Berkeley
In 2019, Dr. Brown joined the Department of Physics at the University of California, Berkeley. Here, he continues to study ultracold atoms. These atoms are trapped in special patterns called two-dimensional optical lattices.
His current research looks at how many of these atoms interact with each other. This is called many-body physics. He is especially interested in atoms arranged in a unique pattern known as a kagome geometry.
Teaching at Yale
In January 2023, Dr. Brown also became an assistant professor. He joined the Department of Physics at Yale University.
Helping Others in Science
#BlackInPhysics Week
Dr. Brown is a key organizer of the first #BlackInPhysics Week. This event happened from October 25 to 31, 2020. He worked with other scientists like Jessica Esquivel and Eileen Gonzales.
The idea for #BlackInPhysics Week came from another successful event called Black Birders Week. The goal was to make sure more people saw and appreciated the scientific work of Black physicists. It also aimed to build a strong community for Black physicists around the world.
This initiative received a lot of attention from the media. Many science organizations supported it, including Nature Physics, Physics World, Physics Today, and the American Institute of Physics.
Awards for Community Work
For his efforts in helping the community, Dr. Brown received an award. He got the 2021–2022 Chancellor's Award for Civic Engagement. This award came from the University of California, Berkeley.
Dr. Brown is also a member of the National Society of Black Physicists.
