Ken Menningen

Associate Professor
UWW Physics Department

Courses

Research

Accomplishments

Personal Interests

Mailing address:
Department of Physics
800 West Main Street
Whitewater, WI 53190

Office:
Goodhue Hall 322
Phone: (262) 472-1080
FAX: (262) 472-5633

Email:
menningk@uww.edu

Courses Taught

Dr. Menningen often teaches the following courses:

He has also taught:

Lamp technology. I have recently worked on the physics of conventional Hg-Ar fluorescent lamps and high intensity discharge lamps and has explored alternative chemistries in lighting plasmas.
Laboratory astrophysics. I have recently been measuring molecular band oscillator strengths of astrophysical interest by using vacuum ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy at the Synchrotron Radiation Center in Stoughton, WI.
Diamond thin film deposition. As an extension of my thesis work, I measured molecular radical densities during the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of diamond thin films. My most recent efforts concerned measurements in an atmospheric pressure oxyacetylene flame deposition system.
Hydrogen energy. A future research project may involve working on a photoelectrochemical water splitting cell that produces hydrogen from water using only sunlight.

	Ph.D. Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1995
	B.S. summa cum laude, Physics, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, 1990

	National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship, Office of Naval Research, 1991-1994
	Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation Fellowship, UW-Madison Graduate School, 1990-1991
	James H. Albertson Medallion Award, UW-Stevens Point, 1990
	Arthur J. Pesja Aerospace Engineering Scholarship, UWSP Department of Physics, 1988, 1989
	Culver-Rogers Award, UWSP Departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, 1989
	Distinguished Achievement Award, UWSP Academy of Letters and Sciences, 1989

	NASA $24,184, 1999-2000, Oscillator strengths for ultraviolet atomic and molecular transitions
	UW-Whitewater $1,750, 1999, Oscillator strengths for ultraviolet atomic and molecular transitions
	Research Corporation $31,300, 1996-1997, Spectroscopy during diamond growth
	Petroleum Research Fund $20,000, 1996, Spectroscopy during diamond growth

	S. R. Federman, M. Fritts, S. Cheng, K. M. Menningen, David C. Knauth, and K. Fulk,, "Oscillator Strengths for B-X, C-X, and E-X* Transitions in Carbon Monoxide," Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, vol. 134, p.133, 2001. *published with wrong initial
	K. L. Menningen and J. E. Lawler, "Radiation Trapping of the Hg 185 nm Resonance Line," Journal of Applied Physics, vol. 88, p.3190, 2000.
	S. J. Firchow and K. L. Menningen, "Radical Density Measurements in an Atmospheric Pressure Oxyacetylene Torch," Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, vol. 32, p. 937, 1999.
	M. D. Welter and K. L. Menningen, "Radical Density Measurements in an Oxyacetylene Torch Diamond Growth Flame," Journal of Applied Physics, vol. 82, p. 1900, 1997.
	S. R. Federman, K. L. Menningen, Wei Lee, and J. B. Stoll, "Relative Band Oscillator Strengths for Carbon Monoxide: A ¹P - X ¹S⁺ Transitions," Astrophysical Journal, vol. 477, p. L61, 1997.
	Full List of publications

	K. L. Menningen, "Converting to a Hydrogen Economy," Atomic Physics and Applications Symposium in honor of Professor L. W. Anderson, Madison, WI, November 8, 2003.
	K. L. Menningen, L. Kjeldsen, S. Warren, and J. Turner, "Band Edge Engineering of GaInP₂ for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting," 204^th Electrochemical Society Meeting, Orlando, FL, October 12-17, 2003.
	K. L. Menningen, “Highly Sensitive Absorption Spectroscopy with Detector Arrays,” American Chemical Society National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 18-22, 2002.
	K. L. Menningen, and J. E. Lawler, “Radiation Trapping of the Hg 185 nm Resonance Line,” APS DAMOP 2002, Williamsburg, VA, May 29-June 1, 2002.
	Full List of presentations

I have a number of personal interests, including:

	Family I enjoy spending time with my wife, Laura, and our children Alex (9), Nathan (6), Carolyn (4), Susie (2) (not pictured), and Jamison (6 mos) (not pictured). You can read more about our family here.
	Christianity I am a practicing Christian, and have a particular interest in the (often caustic) interplay between science and Christianity. I firmly believe the two are compatible, and my assertion is supported by a number of high quality modern scientists who are also Christians, as well as by historical examples such as Isaac Newton and Blaise Pascal who were great scientists and had a deep personal faith in Jesus Christ. I am also interested in discussions concerning the validity of the theory of evolution.
	Tennis I like to follow pro tennis, and I like to whack a ball around the court, too, though I'm not particularly talented at it. My favorite player is Pete Sampras, because he's at the top of his game but he's also poised, gracious, and unconceited on the court.
	Model Rocketry I still enjoy the hobby of my youth, model rocketry, and every once in awhile you might see one of my rockets streak skyward from the football practice field north of the baseball field.
	Airplanes I enjoy riding in airplanes and watching them fly, especially at the annual EAA Fly-In in Oshkosh, WI. Someday I might get a private pilot's license.
	Piano I like to play the piano for relaxation, and occasionally for church. I have been playing since I was eleven years old.

UWW Physics Department Webmaster
menningk@uww.edu
Last Update: KLM 11/28/03