Don Thornton specializes in holography and optical physics, with decades of research experience in passive solar holographic daylighting technologies. He is particularly fascinated by visual art holograms, mathematics (non-Euclidean geometries), quantum mechanics, relativity and string theory.
Before joining the faculty at RISD, Thornton ran the holographic research facility at Brown University’s department of Physics and then worked with Hendrik J. Gerritsen and former students in the Advanced Environmental Research Group (AERG) in Cambridge, MA. His focus there was on holographic daylighting, and the group was funded by the Department of Energy’s Solar Building Program.
Courses
Fall 2024 Courses
SCI 1045-01 - TOPICS IN PHYSICS
LevelUndergraduate
UnitHistory, Philosophy, and the Social Sciences
Subject Science
Period Fall 2024
Credits 3
FormatLecture
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
SCI 1045-01
TOPICS IN PHYSICS
LevelUndergraduate
UnitHistory, Philosophy, and the Social Sciences
Subject Science
PeriodFall 2024
Credits3
FormatLecture
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2024-09-04 to 2024-12-11
Times: TH | 7:00 PM - 10:00 PMInstructor(s): Donald ThorntonLocation(s): College Building, Room 442Enrolled / Capacity: 25Status: Open
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Advanced and basic topics in the physical sciences are explored in this class. An overview of space-time and the expanding universe is followed by topics in: light quantum, the atom, and quantum physics. Other topics include wave-particle duality, gravity, time, black holes, and the special and general theories of relativity. Then we examine the unification of physics through the emerging result of (super) string theory which in spite of the incompatibility between general relativity and quantum mechanics harmoniously unites (and also requires) these conflicting theories. The already non-intuitive dimensions of space-time beautifully expand in the quantum geometry of string theory.
