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Stephen W. Teitsworth

Associate Professor of Physics
Physics
Box 90305, Durham, NC 27708-0305
089 Physics Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Overview


Prof. Stephen Teitsworth's research centers on theoretical and experimental studies of noise-driven processes in far-from-equilibrium systems. Recent activity has centered around the development and implementation of novel metrics such as stochastic area which allow one to quantify how far from equilibrium a system is.  These concepts have been developed and applied to low dimensional systems such as mechanical mass-spring assemblies and coupled electronic circuits driven by out-of-equilibrium noise sources.  

Two problems of current interest are: 1) the extension of the stochastic area and related concepts to high-dimensional spatially continuous systems such as elastic filaments (e.g., strings or rods) embedded in viscoelastic media and driven by active noise sources; 2) studies of first-passage processes associated with heating of trapped ions in Paul traps (in collaboration with the group of Prof. Noel at Duke).

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Associate Professor of Physics · 1995 - Present Physics, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences

Recent Publications


Irreversible dynamics of a continuum driven by active matter.

Journal Article Physical review. E · November 2024 We study the fluctuational behavior of overdamped elastic filaments (e.g., strings or rods) driven by active matter which induces irreversibility. The statistics of discrete normal modes are translated into the continuum of the position representation whic ... Full text Cite

Stochastic line integrals and stream functions as metrics of irreversibility and heat transfer.

Journal Article Physical review. E · August 2022 Stochastic line integrals are presented as a useful metric for quantitatively characterizing irreversibility and detailed balance violation in noise-driven dynamical systems. A particular realization is the stochastic area, recently studied in coupled elec ... Full text Cite

Scaling properties of noise-induced switching in a bistable tunnel diode circuit

Journal Article European Physical Journal B · April 1, 2019 Abstract: Noise-induced switching between coexisting metastable states occurs in a wide range of far-from-equilibrium systems including micro-mechanical oscillators, epidemiological and climate change models, and nonlinear electronic transport in tunneling ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


Switching Dynamics of Electric Field Domains in Semiconductor Superlattices

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2008 - 2012

DHB: Niches and Networks: Studying the Coevolution of Voluntary Groups and Social Networks

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2005 - 2007

Development of Novel Photonic Nanostructures for Measurement in the Duke Femtosecond Terahertz Diagnostic Laboratory

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 2002 - 2005

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Education, Training & Certifications


Harvard University · 1986 Ph.D.