Physics and Astronomy

Collection Development Policy Statement

Library's Collection Development Objectives

Support faculty and student research and the curriculum through doctorate degree level in the disciplines astronomy and physics. To support research areas in astronomy, astrophysics and space sciences, atomic physics, condensed matter/solid state, experimental fluids dynamics, experimental general relativity, high energy physic and nuclear physics. To also assist those involved in physics and astronomy research in the Center for Advanced Micro-structures and Devices (CAMD), Experimental General Relativity: Gravitational Waves; Concurrent Computing Laboratory for Materials Simulations and Louisiana Space Consortium.

Curriculum Program Descriptions

The Department of Physics and Astronomy is part of the College of Basic Sciences. The department has forty full time faculty members (twenty-eight support personnel and a broad range of research interest). There are eight associate professors which includes one associate professor research; five assistant professors which includes one assistant professor research; twenty-four professors including two Boyd Professors; and four instructors. Listed below are the number of degrees awarded to students in Physics and Astronomy for the past five years.

E (Empty String)      - (Info unavailable)

New and Expanding Areas of Interest

• Magentoconductance of a 2D electron gas
• Chaotic dynamics and critical phenomena or scale invariant behavior in nonequilibrium dynamical systems.
• Theoretical particle physics.
• Stellar evolution (extra helium stars and very hot subwarfs).
• Role of spin and charge excitations in correlated systems.
• Low energy nuclear structure.
• Astrophysical objects whose emission is generated by accretion onto a compact object.
• Responsible for superconductivity in novel materials.
• Chemical phenomena.
• Theoretical high energy physics.
• Stokes flows.
• Experimental observational gravitational astronomy.
• Collisions between relativistic heavy ions .
• Observational gravitational astronomy .
• Application of synchrotron radiation.
• Measurement of stellar brightness and colors.
• Stars clusters, variable stars, novae, supernovae, and eclipsing binaries.
• Giant molecules and atoms.
• Plasmas.
• Radiation Biology.
• Mesoscopic physics, quantum optics and non-equilibrum statistical mechanics.
• Low energy nuclear structure.
• Physical processes of small molecules.
• Correlated motions.
• Accelerated system of synchrotron radiation.
• Quantum dynamics.
• Electronic states in the substrate material interaction.
• Behavior of films in critical parallel magnetic fields.

Areas of Specialization/Major Faculty Research Interests

• CMM and R Coronae Borealis Stars
• Theoretical nuclear Structure / Nuclear Astrophysics
• Space Science/Participle Astrophysics

Treatment of Subject Depth

The goal of collection development activities in Physics is to support the undergraduate and graduate curriculum, sustained independent research of students and faculty, Center for Advanced Micro-structures and Devices (CAMD), Experimental General Relativity: Gravitational Waves, and Concurrent Computing Laboratory for Materials Simulations. The goal of collection development activities in Physics is to support the undergraduate and graduate curriculum, sustained independent research of students and faculty, Experimental General Relativity: Gravitational Waves, Concurrent Computing Laboratory for Materials Simulations, and the Louisiana Space Consortium. The existing collection strength for Physics is at level 4 and current collecting intensity is at level 3 / 4 ; The existing collection strength for Astronomy is at level 4 and current collecting intensity is at level 3 / 4 (See Appendix -- Classed Analysis).

CD ROMs, Electronic Books, Remotely Accessed Texts

LSU Libraries will purchase CD ROM works on a case by case basis when requested by faculty members or graduate students in need of enhanced capabilities afforded by CD ROMs. The LSU Libraries recognizes that electronic information, e-books, electronic paper, etc. merit attention. The purchase of access to remote data and texts, such as J-STOR and others, will be pursued when the ownership of remote products will benefit the greatest number of students, staff, and faculty at the best possible price. Purchase of remotely accessed texts must follow the policy and procedures set forth in Procedures for Acquiring and Processing Electronic Resources.

Specific Delimitations

Collected Extensively: Specialized reference tools, such as indexes, abstracts, encyclopedias, handbooks, dictionaries, major secondary works (monographs); monographic serials.

Collected selectively: Proceedings, popular treatments, biographies, catalogs, undergraduate and upper division textbooks, laboratory manuals, workbooks, curriculum guides.

Excluded: Popular treatments, juvenile literature.

Collected extensively: Traditional print formats, i.e. monographs, serials; microforms, microfilm.

Collected selectively: CD-ROM, Audio-cassette packets, phonodiscs, charts, pamphlets, loose leaf services.

Collected extensively: Materials published during the last ten years.

Collected selectively: Materials published more than ten years ago.

Collected extensively: United States, Great Britain, Netherlands, Canada, West Germany.

Collected Selectively: All others.

Collected extensively: English, and translations of foreign language works.

Collected selectively: All others.

Collected extensively: The contemporary science as defined by developments of the past ten years.

Collected selectively: All other periods more than ten years ago.

Collected extensively: United States, Canada, Great Britain, West Germany, Netherlands.

Collected selectively: All others.

Overlap with Other Subjects of Collections

Primary: Five overlapping subject areas have been identified for which this statement assumes the primary collection development responsibility.

• Astrophysics -- Mathematics
• Chemical Reaction and Process -- Engineering
• Thermodynamics (Physical) -- Engineering
• Mechanics -- Engineering, Mathematics
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance -- Chemistry, Engineering, Biochemistry
• Nuclear Science (Atomic Physics) -- Nuclear Science, Engineering
• Applied Physics -- Mathematics, Engineering

Secondary: In five other areas only occasionally will selections be made by the Physics/Astronomy selector.

• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance -- Chemistry
• Chemical Engineering -- Engineering, Chemistry
• Electrochemistry - Chemistry
• Numerical Methods -- Mathematics
• Hydrometerology -- Geology/Geophysics

Shared:

• Analytical Mechanics -- Mathematics, Engineering
• Acoustics -- Engineering
• Electricity and Magnetism -- Engineering
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance -- Chemistry
• Chemical Engineering (Mass transfer, Kinetics) -- Engineering
• Nuclear Science -- Engineering
• Computational Physics -- Mathematics, Computer Science
• Microscopy -- Zoology/Physiology Physics
• Surface Science/Materials Science -- Engineering, Chemistry

Cooperative Programs

Louisiana State University relies on document delivery from Knight Ridder - UnCover to supply serial documents. LSU is part of the South Eastern Library Association (SELA) to foster inter-library lending and borrowing practices.

Other Considerations

The Astronomy program is strongly supported by a senior faculty, who is able to identify significant publications for inclusion to the collection. The Physics and Astronomy Department maintains a departmental reading room to supplement holdings in the main library collection.

Classed Analysis

Prepared: January 15, 1998
Updated: March 15, 2003