Thomas HuberFaculty

Professor and Department Chair in Physics

Tom Huber has a broad range of interests in physics, physics teaching, musical acoustics, and issues of science and society.

Tom received his Ph.D. from the University of Wyoming in 1989; his thesis experiment was a search for mixing of muonium to antimuonium. This was an experiment that was performed at the TRIUMF accelerator in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. After joining the Gustavus faculty in 1989, he continued to collaborate with a group at TRIUMF studying muon-catalyzed fusion. He received two National Science Foundation grants, two grants from Research Corporation to enable Gustavus students to participate in this project.

Starting in about 2000, he shifted his primary research focus from nuclear physics to acoustics. He worked with Charles Hendrickson, president of the Hendrickson Organ company, in a study of the vibration of reeds in reed organ pipes. Other studies in musical acoustics focused on vibration of guitars. The centerpiece of his acoustics lab and research program is a state-of-the-art $300,000 Polytec PSV-400 scanning laser Doppler vibrometer that can be used to measure vibrations and operating deflection shapes of objects, and propagation of ultrasonic waves. Starting in 2006, he received National Science Foundation funding for a research program directed at non-contact modal vibration excitation of small structures using the acoustic radiation force from a focused ultrasound transducer. Collaborators on this project included researchers from the Mayo Clinic, Purdue University and University of Massachusetts-Lowell. His most recent National Science Foundation grant (2016-2019) is focused on using a scanning vibrometer to measure propagation of ultrasonic waves in water and air. 

Education

B.S. St. John's, 1983; Ph.D. Wyoming, 1989



Courses Taught

Past
Synonym Title Times Taught Terms Taught
PHY-271 Electronics and Instrumentation Lab 21 2024/SP, 2023/SP, 2017/SP, 2016/SP, 2015/SP, 2014/SP, 2013/SP, 2010/SP, 2009/SP, 2008/SP, 2005/SP, 2003/SP, 2002/SP, 2001/SP, 2000/SP, and 1999/SP
PHY-305 Experimental Modern Phys Lab 14 2023/FA, 2015/FA, 2014/FA, 2013/FA, 2012/FA, 2011/FA, 2009/FA, 2008/FA, 2007/FA, 2006/FA, 2002/FA, 2001/FA, 2000/FA, and 1999/FA
PHY-305 Experimental Modern Physics 14 2023/FA, 2015/FA, 2014/FA, 2013/FA, 2012/FA, 2011/FA, 2009/FA, 2008/FA, 2007/FA, 2006/FA, 2002/FA, 2001/FA, 2000/FA, and 1999/FA
PHY-270 Electronics and Instrumentation 13 2024/SP, 2023/SP, 2016/SP, 2015/SP, 2014/SP, 2010/SP, 2009/SP, 2008/SP, 2003/SP, 2002/SP, 2001/SP, 2000/SP, and 1999/SP
PHY-370 Advanced Math Methods 11 2017/SP, 2016/SP, 2015/SP, 2014/SP, 2013/SP, 2012/SP, 2003/SP, 2002/SP, 2001/SP, 2000/SP, and 1999/SP
PHY-121 General Physics I Lab 9 2022/FA, 2021/FA, 2018/FA, 2005/FA, and 2004/FA
PHY-250 Applied Math Sci & Eng 8 2023/FA, 2022/FA, 2021/FA, 2020/FA, 2017/FA, 2016/FA, 2015/FA, and 2014/FA
FTS-100 FTS:Climate Change/Energy Use 8 2022/FA, 2021/FA, 2020/FA, 2013/FA, 2011/FA, 2009/FA, 2008/FA, and 2005/FA
PHY-365 Project in Physics 7 2024/SP, 2023/SP, 2022/SP, 2021/SP, 2020/SP, 2019/SP, and 2009/JN
PHY-210 Scientific Programming 7 2017/JN, 2016/JN, 2015/JN, 2014/JN, 2012/JN, 2010/JN, and 2002/JN
PHY-360 Optics Lab 6 2024/SP, 2023/SP, 2022/SP, 2021/SP, 2020/SP, and 2019/SP
PHY-360 Optics 5 2024/SP, 2023/SP, 2022/SP, 2021/SP, and 2020/SP
PHY-350 Electromagnetic Theory 5 2022/SP, 2019/SP, 2008/SP, 2007/SP, and 2005/SP
PHY-399 Senior Seminar 5 2016/FA, 2007/FA, 2006/FA, 2005/FA, and 2004/FA
PHY-196 Cosmic Universe Lab 4 2019/FA, 2018/FA, and 2016/FA
PHY-380 Thermal and Statistical Physics 4 2007/FA, 2006/FA, 2005/FA, and 2004/FA
PHY-221 Classical Physics II Lab 4 2007/SP, 2006/SP, and 2005/SP
PHY-091 Honors Thesis 3 2020/SP, 2019/SP, and 2015/SP
PHY-235 Robotics Workshop 3 2013/JN, 2008/JN, and 2007/JN
PHY-220 Classical Physics II 3 2007/SP, 2006/SP, and 2005/SP
PHY-206 Mechanical Univ Lab 2 2022/SP and 2020/SP
PHY-171 General Physics II Lab 2 2021/SP and 2020/SP
PHY-195 Cosmic Universe 2 2019/FA and 2018/FA
PHY-104 Sound & Music w/Lab 2 2017/FA and 2012/SP
PHY-330 Nuclear Physics Lab 2 2009/SP and 2006/SP
PHY-330 Nuclear Physics 2 2009/SP and 2006/SP
PHY-310 Electronics and Instrumentation II 2 2009/JN and 2005/JN
PHY-200 Classical Physics I 2 2002/FA and 2001/FA
PHY-390 Quantum Mechanics 2 2000/FA and 1999/FA
PHY-204 Engineering Modeling 1 2020/JN
PHY-216 Electromag. Univ. Lab 1 2017/FA
PHY-225 Quantum Universe 1 2013/SP
NDL-130 How Music Instrmnt Work 1 2011/JN
CUR-260 Natural World 1 2010/SP
PHY-268 Career Exploration 1 2006/JN
PHY-120 General Physics I 1 2004/FA
PHY-108 Computer as a Tool 1 2001/JN
Courses prior to Spring semester 1999 are not displayed.