Raise your hand if you know what country the Malagasy language hails from. Anyone? Ah, a few! Today’s #FacultyFriday feature speaks Malagasy—the language of Madagascar—fluently, in addition to French, English, and German. Dr. Vola Andrianarijaona grew up in Madagascar and attended school in Belgium and France before ending up teaching physics here at PUC for over a decade now. He has taught a slew of courses on varying topics in physics, and manages a lot of undergraduate research taking place in his department. As an experimental scientist, he enjoys working in the labs with his students very much. Allow us to introduce you to Dr. Andrianarijaona.
Name: Dr. Vola Masoandro Andrianarijaona
Title: Professor of Physics
Email: vola@puc.edu
Faculty since: 2006
Classes taught: PacificQuest, Introduction to Physics laboratory; General Physics I, II, III; Physics with Calculus I, II, III; Applied Optics; Applied Physics; Elementary Modern Physics; Biophysics; Medical Physics; Electromagnetic Theory I, II, III; Experimental Physics; Thermal Physics; Quantum Physics I; Special Topics in Physics; Independent Study; Independent Research; Advanced Experimental Physics
Education: Doctorat en Sciences, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium; DEA en Physique des Lasers et Applications, Université de Paris XIII, France; DEA en Physique des Solides, Université de Paris VII, France; Maîtrise de Physique et Applications, Université de Paris XIII; CAPEN en Physique-Chimie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Madagascar
What made you decide to be a teacher?
I did not decide to be or become a teacher per se. I am just following God’s will.
What are some of your hobbies?
Playing with my children and cooking.
What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?
I am a first generation student, more precisely high school student. I am also a first generation immigrant.
What’s your favorite thing about PUC?
Diversity.
What’s your favorite spot on campus?
Chan Shun room 238-a.
What’s your favorite song?
This is a hard question if you want just one answer. There are three hymns that I like the most: “Amazing Grace” by John Newton, “Abide with Me” by Henry Francis Lyte, and “We Have This Hope” by Wayne Hooper. Other songs that I admire and can listen tirelessly: “Ny lanitra mangamanga” by Randafison Sylvestre, “Salakao” by Salala, “Shma Israel” by Sarit Hadad, and “Ashoov eleicha” by Yaron Yerahmiel Cherniak.
What advice would you give to an incoming freshman?
Enjoy your time and do not underestimate the relationship/connection with your peers, with your teachers and even with the community.
Professional Activities:
Note: Since Dr. Andrianarijaona’s list of professional publications and presentations is extensive, we have chosen to list only the most recent three of each.
Selected Publications:
“Quantum Neutron Unit Gravity”
- Chakeres and V. M. Andrianarijaona
Journal of High Energy Physics, Gravitation and Cosmology, 3, 267-276 (2017)
“Line ratios for soft-x-ray emission following charge exchange between
O8+ and Kr.”
D.G. Seely, V. M. Andrianarijaona, D. Wulf, K. Morgan, D. McCammon, M. Fogle, P.C. Stancil, R.T. Zhang, and C. C. Havener
Phys. Rev. A 95, 052704 (2017)
“A frequency-equivalent scale-free derivation of the neutron, hydrogen quanta, Planck time, and a black hole from 2 and π”
- Chakeres, R. Vento, and V. M. Andrianarijaona
Journal of Applied Mathematics and Physics, 5, 1073-1091 (2017)
Selected Presentations:
Invited poster (May 27th, 2014), 23rd International Conference on the Application of Accelerators in Research and Industry (CAARI 2014), San Antonio, TX, USA
Title: “Line ratios of soft X-ray emissions following charge exchange between C6+ and Kr“
Invited talk (August 8th, 2012), 22nd International Conference on the Application of Accelerators in Research and Industry (CAARI 2012), Fort Worth, TX, USA
Title: “Intense decelerated ion beams for the study of low-energy charge transfer“
Award Winning Poster at CAARI 2012
“High Resolution X-Ray Spectroscopy of Charge Exchange Collisions of Astrophysical Interest”