Facilities for research
Calvin students have access to state-of-the-art facilities and technology for use in various research projects, including:
- several research laboratories and hundreds of computers, funded by external grants and the college. Examples include:
- atom trapping system, "optical molasses" using special magnets and lasers in high vacuum--Prof. M. Walhout
- electronic cellular microprobe system to study electical signals in cell membranes--Prof. L. Haarsma
- sophisticated computer models of atoms in extremely intense laser fields written by Prof S. Haan
- custom built equipment to study lipids and macromolecules--Prof. P. Harper
- two fully-equipped observatories, one on Calvin's campus and a robotically-operated telescope in Rehoboth, New Mexico. These enable
- studies of asteroid dynamics--Prof L. Molnar
- studies of variable stars--Profs. S. Steenwyk and L. Molnar
- access to large university and national telescopes and satellites to study distant galaxies--Prof. D. Haarsma
- specially-equipped student labs, including equipment developed commercially for teaching in advanced laboratory programs by Prof D. Van Baak. Examples include:
- quantum interference with single photons
- quantum entanglement of photon pairs
- measuring nuclear decay and cosmic rays
