Degrees

• Ph.D. - Goethe Universität, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 1977
• M.S. - Goethe Universität, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 1974
• B.S. - Goethe Universität, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 1971

Research Area

• Theoretical nuclear physics, computational physics
• RESEARCH FUNDING: US Department of Energy, Division of Nuclear Physics

Current Research

• for details see Prof. Oberacker's main Website: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/A&S/physics/volker/
• The main goal of my research is to calculate theoretically the basic properties of atomic nuclei. The nuclear structure is described in terms of the constituent particles (protons and neutrons), and in terms of the fundamental forces acting between these (strong and weak nuclear force, electromagnetic force). In particular, nuclear structure theory aims to predict the shape and size of any given nucleus, the spatial distribution of neutrons and protons within the nucleus, the formation of neutron and proton pairs, the total binding energy, and other properties. A major challenge for our research is that the atomic nucleus is a quantum system of many particles (up to about 250), and the calculations must be carried out on the fastest computers available (supercomputers).
• Our research group is studying in particular the structure of atomic nuclei with more than twice as many neutrons than protons. These nuclei are very far away from the "valley of stability" and very short-lived.
• Particularly fascinating is the connection to astrophysics: most of the heavier elements in our solar system are believed to have been created during nova and supernova explosions. The study of these giant explosions requires input from nuclear structure physics, in particular very short-lived (highly unstable) nuclei with a large excess of neutrons or protons.
• Practical applications of nuclear physics are: a) radioactive tracers in industry and medicine; b) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET); c) radiation treatment of cancer cells; and d) nuclear fission and fusion to create energy

Current Courses

• for details see Prof. Oberacker's main Website: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/A&S/physics/volker/

Current Positions

• 1994-Present : Professor of Physics, Vanderbilt University

Previous Positions

• 1985-1994 : Associate Professor of Physics, Vanderbilt University
• 1980-85 : Assistant Professor of Physics, Vanderbilt University
• 1978-80 : Research Scientist, Physics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Professional Societies

• Member, the American Physical Society (APS)
• Member, Southeastern Section of the APS
• Member, Division of Nuclear Physics of the APS
• Member, Division of Computational Physics of the APS
• Member, Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility Users Group (elected in 1996)
• Member, Rare Isotope Accelerator (RIA) Theory Working Group (since 2003)

Professional Honors

• Award for "The best Ph.D. thesis written at the Goethe University of Frankfurt in 1977" (awarded by the Association of Friends and Supporters of the University)
• DOE Grand Challenge Award, High-Performance Computing and Communications Program, project entitled "The Quantum Structure of Matter", five CO-PI's (Vanderbilt-Oak Ridge Nat. Lab, 1992)
• Award, Provost's Initiative on Technological Innovation in the Classroom, "Advanced computer visualization in teaching introductory physics to non-science majors", Vanderbilt University (May 1994)
• "Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award" of the College of Arts & Science, Vanderbilt University (Dec. 2005)

Graduate Students

• Artur Blazkiewicz, (2001 - 2005), software designer, Glasgow, KY
• Jun Chen, (1998- 2001), Computational Analyst at Bloomberg Financial Services, New York City
• David Russell Kegley (1991 - 1996); senior staff member at ITT Corporation, Roanoake, Virginia; currently Manager of Reliability Engineering, Silicon Wireless Corp.
• Jack C. Wells, (1988 - 1994); postdoc at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, Mass.; Wigner fellow at Oak Ridge Nat. Lab.; Group leader, Center for Computational Sciences, Oak Ridge Nat. Lab.
• Dwight P. Russell (co-chair with Prof. Pinkston, 1983-1986); Asst. and Assoc. Professor at University of Texas at El Paso; currently Assoc. Professor at Baylor University, Waco, Texas.
• Mohammad W. Katoot (1983 - 1986); Chairman and CEO, MK Industries, Tucker, GA; deceased Aug. 2000

Publications

• for details see Prof. Oberacker's main Website: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/A&S/physics/volker/

Biography

Volker Oberacker was born in Germany. After emigrating to the US, he became a US citizen in 1987. He received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Goethe-Universitaet Frankfurt am Main, Germany in 1971, 1974 and 1977, respectively. His thesis advisers were Professors Werner Scheid and Walter Greiner, and the thesis topics were in the area of theoretical heavy-ion physics. Oberacker has been a Research Associate at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory from 1978-1980. He became an Assistant Professor of Physics at Vanderbilt University in 1980. In 1985, he was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure, and in 1994 he became a Full Professor.

Miscellaneous

last Website update: August 23, 2007