Peter Cook

About

Peter enjoys conducting physics demonstrations; he feels that a good demonstration or experiment can immediately help someone to understand some aspect of the physical world and often more forcefully than a long explanation. Peter is a pianist and especially enjoys playing and singing with others. The physics of sound and music is his favorite aspect of physics that he teaches.

Research Interests

Peter enjoys shining x-rays on organic dyes to learn about their electronic structure. He is also interested in alternative energy sources, especially next-generation solar cells that are inexpensive to produce. Peter is fascinated by the interface and interaction of faith, reason and science.

Publications

• Himpsel, F.J., Cook, P.L., Zegkinoglou, I., Boukahil, I., Qiao, R., Yang, W., Pemmaraju, S.C., Prendergast, D., Kronawitter, C.X., Kibria, M.G., Mi, Z., Vayssieres, L. (2015). Synchrotron-based spectroscopy for solar energy conversion. Proc. SPIE 9560, Solar Hydrogen and Nanotechnology X. 95600G.
• Johnson, P.S., Garcia-Lastra, J.M., Kennedy, C., Jersett, N., Boukahil, I. Himpsel, F.J., Cook, P.L. (2014). Crystal field of porphyrins and phthalocyanines from polarization-dependent 2p-to-3d multiplets.
  J. Chem. Phys. (140). 114706.
• Himpsel, F.J., Cook, P.L., de la Torre, G., Garcia-Lastra, J.M., Gonzalez-Moreno, R., Guo, J.H., Hamers, R.J., Kronawitter, C.X., Johnson, J.S., Ortega, J.E., Pickup, D. Ragoussi, M.E., Rogero, C., Rubio, A., Ruther, R.E., Vayssieres, L., Yang, W. Zegkinoglou, I. (2013). Design of Solar Cell Materials via Soft X-ray Spectroscopy.
  Review article at J of Electron Spectroscopy and Related Phenomena (190) (2).
• Johnson, P.S., Cook, P.L., Zegkinoglou, I., García-Lastra, J.M., Rubio, A., Ruther, R.E., Hamers, R.J., Himpsel, F.J. (2013). Electronic Structure of Fe- vs. Ru-Based Dye Molecules.
  J. Chem. Phys. (138). (044709).

Education

• 2011 – Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D.) – Experimental Condensed Matter Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 2007 – Master of Arts (M.A.) – Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 2006 – Bachelor of Science (B.S.) – Physics, Calvin College