My research focus, when I have time to focus, relates to the optical properties of minerals. My dissertation applied dielectric tensor analysis to model the optical properties of composite minerals. Recent investigations use atomic polarizabilities to calculate the optical properties of minerals, with an emphasis on the effects of ionic substitution on optical parameters.

How could this be useful? Zeolites are frequently used to absorb various chemical spills. Pretend a zeolite is being used to absorb lead from wastewater, but we need to monitor the zeolite so that we know when it is saturated and needs to be replaced. Well...the optical properties of the zeolite change in response to the absorbed lead. If a relationship between the amount of absorbed lead and certain optical properties can be worked out, then a quick, cheap measurement of the optical properties could be used to monitor the lead uptake of the zeolite.

Other projects that have been on the back burner for a long time now are the origin of sector-zoned fluorescence in local gypsum crystals and the origin and characterization of the Manning fused glass (also found locally).