Kent A. Chambers PhD - SACS - Hardin-Simmons University

Assistant Professor of Physics
Hardin-Simmons University
2200 Hickory
Abilene, TX 79698
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
KENNETH F. STEPHENS II, PHD
E-mail: kstephens@hsutx.edu
Work: (325) 670-1500
Home: (325) 928-4332
Ph.D. – Theoretical Physics. University of North Texas, Denton, TX, August 2000.
Space-Charge Saturation and Current Limits in Cylindrical Drift Tubes and Planar
Sheaths. August 1996 – August 2000
M.S. – Physics. University of North Texas, Denton, TX, May 1996. June 1994 –
May 1996.
B.S. – Physics. University of Texas, Austin, TX, May 1993. August 1988 – May
1993.
PROFESSIONAL AND ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
August 2002
to present
October 2000
to May 2002
August 1996
to August 2000
Assistant Professor of Physics, Department of Chemistry and
Physics, Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, Texas.
Teach undergraduate physics courses and corresponding laboratories,
including algebra- and calculus-based introductory physics, integrated science
(chemistry, physics and astronomy) for pre-service K-4 teachers, and acoustics.
Responsible for advising physics majors and developing new curricula to meet
physics requirements of other schools and departments.
Developed “Introduction to Acoustics;” a course to provide music and
speech/language pathology majors with a core science class directly related to
their field; it is now a required course for speech/language pathology.
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Scanning-Tunneling Microscopy Laboratory,
University of North Texas, Denton, Texas.
Conducted research into oriented carbon nanotube (CNT) growth using
thermal chemical vapor deposition and their resulting properties using scanning
electron and scanning tunneling microscopy. The growth procedure requires
coating a substrate with a thin (~150 nm) metallic film, which serves as a
catalyst for the CNT growth. The sample is pre-treated with either hydrogen or
ammonia gas as the temperature is increased to approximately 700º C. A
hydrocarbon, e.g., acetylene, is introduced and dehydrogenated, providing the
required agents for carbon nanotube growth.
Research Assistant, University of North Texas, Denton,
Texas.
Studied the kinetics of planar plasma sheaths, extending the theory to include
current-carrying sheaths. Beginning with a qualitative electric potential profile
within the sheath (the transition region between a plasma and a plasma-facing
solid), the distribution functions for plasma ions, plasma electrons and
secondary electrons are determined by kinematic requirements. Applying
boundary conditions to the total charge density and flux, e.g., quasi-neutrality of