J F
Jan Fiala

Jan
Fiala

Associate Professor of Physics

Courses Taught

  • NAS 1010, How Things Work
  • PHY 1010/1011, Introduction to Physics I and Lab
  • PHY 1020/1021, Introduction to Physics II and lab
  • PHY 3010/3011, College Physics I and Lab
  • PHY 3020/3021, College Physics II and Lab
  • PHY 3030, Electronics
  • PHY 4010, Quantum Physics

Research Interests

  • Mathematical Physics
  • Modeling natural phenomena using Mathematica, Python, MATLAB, Octave, GeoGebra
  • Statistical Physics – Farey Fraction Spin Chain, Nucleation Theory
  • Wolfram Demonstration Projects (my FINS project, research, education codes)

Awards

  • Outstanding Teaching, UVA Wise, VA 2020
  • Excellence in Teaching Award, The National Society of Leadership and Success, Wise, VA, 2014
  • Outstanding Graduate Student, Orono, ME, 2004

Selected Publications

J. Fiala, Projectile Motion: More Geometry, More Physics, Phys. Teach. 62, 210–213 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0094435 

O. F. Bandtlow, J. Fiala, P. Kleban, T. Prellberg, Asymptotics of the Farey Fraction Spin Chain Free Energy at the Critical Point, J.Stat.Phys., 138, 447-464 (2010).

J. Fiala, and P. Kleban, Intervals between Farey fractions in the limit of infinite level, Ann. Sci. Math. Québec 34, no 1, 63–71 (2010).

T. Prellberg, J. Fiala, P. Kleban,  Cluster Approximation for the Farey Fraction Spin Chain, J. Stat. Phys., 123, 455-471 (2006).

J. Fiala, P. Kleban, Generalized Number Theoretic Spin Chain-Connections to Dynamical Systems and Expectation Values, J. Stat. Phys., 121, 553-577 (2005).

J. Fiala, P. Kleban, Thermodynamics of the Farey Fraction Spin Chain, J. Stat. Phys., 116, 1471-1490 (2004).

J. Fiala, P. Kleban, and A. Ozluk, The Phase Transition in Statistical Models Defined on Farey Fractions, J. Stat. Phys., 110, 73-86 (2003).

Education
Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Clark University, Worcester, MA, 2005-2007
Ph.D., Physics, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 2004
M.Sc., Mathematical Physics, Czech Technical University, Prague, Czech Republic, 1997
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