Seth Major
Litchfield Professor of Astronomy
Seth Major's research is in quantum gravity, a field of theoretical physics devoted to finding the deep structure of space-time, and in the phenomenology of quantum geometry. Recently Major has focused on possible observable consequences of quantum gravity, particularly on how granular spatial geometry might be indirectly observed. He has worked on the quantum deformation of quantum gravity, causal sets, operators in quantum gravity and modified dispersion relations. Major was a Lise Meitner Fellow at the Institute for Theoretical Physics of the University of Vienna and taught at Swarthmore and Deep Springs colleges. He earned a doctorate in theoretical physics from Pennsylvania State University.
Recent Courses Taught
Electromagnetism
Topics in Mathematical Physics
Electromagnetic Theory
Distinctions
Dean’s Scholarly Achievement Award for Early Career Achievement 51ÁÔÆæ, 2012
Cottrell Science Grant, Research Corporation, 2002, renewed 2005
Class of 1966 Career Development Award, 51ÁÔÆæ, 2002
Lisa Meitner Fellow, University of Vienna 1998-1999
Selected Publications
- F. Girelli, F. Hinterleitner, S. Major. SIGMA 8 (2012) 098 arXiv:1210.1485.
- F. Hinterleitner and S. Major. Class. Quantum Grav. 29 (2012) 065019 arXiv:1106.1448.
- S. Major. Class. Quantum Grav. 27 (2010) 225012 arXiv:1005.5460.
- S. Major, D. Rideout, S. Surya. Class. Quantum Grav. 23 (2006) 4743-4751 arXiv: gr-qc/0506133.
- S. Major. Am. J. Phys. 67 (1999) 972-980 arXiv: gr-qc/9905020.
- S. Major. Class. Quantum Grav. 25 (2008) 065003 arXiv: 0708.0750.
- D. Craig, F. Dowker, J. Henson, S. Major, D. Rideout, R. Sorkin. J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 40 (2007) 501-523 arXiv:quantphys/0605008.
- S. Major, D. Rideout, S. Surya. J. Math. Phys. 48 (2007) 032501 arXiv: gr-qc/0604124.
- F. Hinterleitner and S. Major. Phys. Rev. D 68 (2003) 124023 arXiv: gr-qc/0309035.
- S. Major. Class. Quant. Grav. 17 (2000) 1467-1487 arXiv: gr-qc/9906052.
- S. Major. Class. Quant. Grav. 16 (1999) 3859-3877 arXiv: gr-qc/9905019.
- S. Major. Nuc. Phys. B 550 (1999) 531-560 arXiv: hep-th/9810071.
- V. Husain and S. Major. Nuc. Phys. B 500 (1997) 381-401 arXiv: gr-qc/9703043.
College Service
- Long Term Planning Committee, 2014-15
- Adirondack Program Committee, 2014-present
- Committee on Appointments, 2013-15
- Faculty Appeals Board Committee, chair 2013
- Sub-Committee on First Year Courses, 2013
- Committee on Academic Policy, 2005-08; chair 2007-08, 2010-11
- Assessment Advisory Group, 2009-present
Professional Affiliations
Anacapa Society Board
American Physical Society
American Association of Physics Teachers
Appointed to the Faculty
2000Educational Background
Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
M.S., Syracuse University
B.A., Swarthmore College
