Edward Thomas (physicist) facts for kids

Edward E. Thomas Jr. is an American plasma physicist. He is a Professor of Physics at Auburn University. He also helps lead research and graduate studies there.

Professor Thomas is known for his work with dusty plasmas. These are special gases that contain tiny dust particles. He also studies how highly magnetized plasmas flow. He leads the Magnetized Plasma Research Laboratory at Auburn University.

He is recognized by many important science groups. These include the National Society of Black Physicists and the American Physical Society.

Becoming a Scientist

Edward Thomas studied at several universities. He earned his first degree from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1989. This was a Bachelor of Science degree.

Graduate Studies and Awards

He then went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). There, he worked on a project called Alcator C-Mod. He earned his master's degree in 1993.

Later, he moved to Auburn University. He completed his Ph.D. in Physics in 1996. For his excellent work, he won an Outstanding Dissertation Award. This award came from the National Society of Black Physicists.

Teaching and Leadership Roles

After finishing his Ph.D., Professor Thomas taught at Fisk University. He was an assistant professor there until 1999.

He then returned to Auburn University. He became an associate professor in 2002. By 2007, he was a full professor. In 2017, he became the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies. This means he helps guide research and learning for advanced students.

What is Plasma Physics?

Professor Thomas studies different parts of plasma physics. Plasma is often called the fourth state of matter. It is like a gas but with electrically charged particles. He looks at how waves and particles interact in these special materials. He also studies how microgravity (like in space) affects dusty plasmas.

Studying Dusty Plasmas

From 1998 to 1999, Professor Thomas received money from the National Science Foundation (NSF). This funding helped him develop a new way to study dusty plasmas. He used a method called particle image velocimetry. This method helps scientists see how tiny particles move.

For this important work, he was honored in 2015. He was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society. This is a big honor for physicists.

The MDPX Experiment

In 2009, Professor Thomas led a big project. It was called the Magnetized Dusty Plasma Experiment (MDPX). This project cost over $2 million. It was funded by Auburn University and the NSF.

The MDPX experiment uses a very strong superconducting magnet. It helps scientists study dusty plasmas in a special way. The lab for this experiment was finished in 2014. Professor Thomas now directs this facility. He works with his colleague Uwe Konopka.

Awards and Recognition

Professor Thomas has received many honors for his work.

• In 2011, he was elected a Fellow of the National Society of Black Physicists.
• In 2012, he became a Fellow of the Alabama Academy of Sciences.
• In 2015, he was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society. This award recognized his work with particle-image velocimetry. It also honored his great service to the plasma physics community.