Dr. Chris Varney
- Position: Assistant Professor
- Department: Physics
- Office Location: Building 4, Room 444
- cvarney@uwf.edu
- Campus: 8504742271
Biography
Dr. Christopher N. Varney, an Assistant Professor in Physics, has published more than a dozen scholarly articles on such topics as quantum magnetism, ultra-cold atomic gases, topological insulators, and quantum spin liquids. Varney, who joined UWF in 2013, earned a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of California at Davis, where he focused on strongly correlated electronic systems and computational physics, particularly quantum Monte Carlo. He then had two two-year postdoctoral fellowships, one at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and one at Georgetown University/Joint Quantum Institute. He also received a M.S. in Physics from the University of California at Davis and a B.S. in Physics from Northern Arizona University.
Varney’s research background is in computational condensed matter physics. He is interested in using computer algorithms to understand models for phenomena that are observed in materials. His tools for investigation include exact diagonalization, quantum Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics. Varney’s work has been published in Physical Review Letters, New Journal of Physics, Physical Review B, Virtual Journal of Atomic Quantum Fluids and elsewhere.
Degrees & Institutions
Ph.D. Physics, University of California at Davis, 2009
M.S. Physics, University of California at Davis, 2005
B.S. Physics, Northern Arizona University, 2004
Research
Varney’s research background is in computational condensed matter physics, quantum magnetism, topological insulators, exact diagonalization and Quantum Monte Carlo.
Current Courses
- University Physics II
- University Physics I Lab
- Introduction to Scientific Computing
Classes Taught
- University Physics I
- University Physics II
- University Physics I Lab
- Mathematical Physics I
- Mathematical Physics II
- General Physics I
- General Physics II
- Introduction to Scientific Computing
Special Interests
He is interested in using computer algorithms to understand models for phenomena that are observed in materials.
Publications
Varney’s work has been published in Physical Review Letters, New Journal of Physics, Physical Review B, Virtual Journal of Atomic Quantum Fluids and elsewhere.
Keywords: quantum magnetism, ultra-cold atomic gases, topological insulators, quantum spin liquids, strongly correlated electronic systems, exact diagonalization, quantum Monte Carlo, molecular dynamics, computational physics
