Prof. Dr. habil. Michael Vollmer IWZ1, Room302 phone.: 03381 / 355-347 Fax: 03381 / 355-367 E-mail: vollmer@fh-brandenburg.de

• short CV
• Projects
• diploma thesis with industry 
• selected talks at international conferences since 2001
• other activities
• publications

short CV:

diploma in physics on atomic spectroscopy (1983), PhD on cluster binding energies (1986) and Habilitation on optical properties of metal clusters (1991) at the University of Heidelberg/Germany, lecturer at University of Kassel, longer stays abroad: Berkeley / USA (1987/88),  Bangkok / Thailand (1994), New York / USA (2005), Boston / USA (2008).
Since April 1994 professor of experimental physics at the university of applied sciences in Brandenburg/Germany
main interests: optics, spectroscopy, infrared thermal imaging, didactics of physics, atmospheric optics
                hands-on and demonstration experiments for schools and universities, organization of in-service teacher
                training seminars
          

some projects: (most links only in German)

• organisation of teacher training seminars
• Science report (1999) Methods and applications of IR thermal imaging
• Other projects on IR imaging, see list of publications
• UV-VIS-NIR Spectrometer (HBFG 2003)
• Near IR camera system (FuGG 2007)
• physics education research
• small IR-Image gallery
• atmospheric optics: international conference
• Natural sciences on money bills

diploma thesis with industry

e.g.:

• Firma Inventron in Mölndal (Gothenborg / Sweden)
• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in Magdeburg and Freiburg
• Astro- und Feinwerktechnik Adlershof
• Brown University (RI, USA)
• Volkswagen (Wolfsburg)
• Astrophyikalisches Institut Potsdam
• Katana Technologies (Kleinmachnow)
• PicoQuant (Berlin Adlershof)
• Fraunhofer Institut für Physikalische Messtechnik (Freiburg)
• Institut für angewandte Gewässerökologie (Seddin/Brandenburg)
• Sacher-Lasertechnik (Marburg)

selected talks at international conferences since 2001

•  A random walk through the cultural history of the rainbow and More laboratory experiments in atmospheric optics,  Topical Meeting on Meteorological Optics, 4. - 08.06.2001, Boulder Colorado, USA

• Visualization of physical phenomena involving energy transfer, Gordon Research Conference on Science Education and Visualization, 5. - 10.08.2001, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, USA                                              

• Hands on experiments in physics education, conference on Teaching Physics: A European Confrontation in Les Houches /France,  24.-28.6.2002

•  There is more to see than eyes can detect,   GIREP conference on Physics in new fields and modern applications  - opportunities for physics education, Lund/Sweden, 5.-9.8.2002

• Physics teacher training and research in physics education in Europe, conference of  European Physics Education Network (EUPEN), 5.-8.9.2002, Varna, Bulgaria

• Optical Phenomena of  Aerosols, German Chinese Symposium on Clusters and Nanoparticles in Nanjing, March 31 - April 5, 2003

• Effects of absorbing particles on coronas and glories  and Experiments and simulations for teaching coronas, glories and supernumerary rainbows,  8th international meeting on Atmospheric Optics, 13. - 17. June 2004 in Bad Honnef/Germany

• Identification and suppression of Thermal Reflections in Infrared Thermal Imaging,  Inframation conference 2004 in Las Vegas / USA, 4. - 8. 10. 2004

• Coronas and glories, Physics Department der University of Southern California, Los Angeles,  14.02.2005

• Locomotion by blowing into the sail of your own sailboat: Muenchhausen story or real physics? 
  3^rd International GIREP Seminar, Ljubljana 5.-9. September 2005 

• Thermography of microwave ovens, Inframation conference 2005 in Las Vegas / USA , 17.-21.10.2005

• Hands-on experiments in physics education, International meeting Fisica Nocturna, Puebla, Mexico, 24.-28.5.2006

• Influence of Gaseous species on Thermal Infrared Imaging Inframation conference 2006,  23.- 27. 10. 2006 in Las Vegas/USA.

• Demonstration of Quetelet fringes, Illuminance during a solar eclipse and Luminance during a total lunar eclipse,  9th International Meeting on Light and Color in Nature, 25-29 June, 2007 in Bozeman, Montana (USA)

• Looking through matter: quantitative IR imaging when observing through IR windows, Inframation conference 2007, 15.-19.10.2007 in Las Vegas/USA

• Physics for Nonscientists, Show with experiments (with K.-P. Möllmann), Inframation 2007, 15.-19.10.2007 in Las Vegas/USA

selected other activities

• referee for various scientific journals

• various academic positions at university and in boards of German Physical Society

• referee in program Physik und Schule of  DPG und WE-Heraeus-Stiftung (since 2000)

• member of advisory board/referee of  internet-based German journal of physics education phydid since 2001

• member of advisory board of German Journal Physik in unserer Zeit, since January 2003

• member of advisory panel and editorial board of IOP journal Physics Education

• member of editorial board of IOP journal European Journal of Physics, since January 2006

publications:

Books:

1. M. Vollmer
   Lichtspiele in der Luft - atmosphärische Optik für Einsteiger
   Spektrum-Elsevier, will be published October/November 2005
2. U. Kreibig und M. Vollmer:
   Optical Properties of Metal Clusters,
   Springer Series Materials Science 25, Springer (1995)

articles in journals and books (since 2001):

A:    Physics education related, in English

B:    Physics education related, in German

C:    Atmospheric Optics, in English

D:    IR imaging, in English

·   Newton´s law of cooling revisited, M. Vollmer, Eur. J. Phys. 30, 1063-1084 (2009)

· The surface to volume ratio in thermal physics: from cheese cube physics to animal metabolism,
G. Planinsic, M. Vollmer, Eur. J. Phys. 29/2, 369-384(2008), corrigendum 29/3, 661 (2008)

·   Michelson Interferometer for your kitchen table, M. Vollmer, K.-P. Möllmann,
The Physics Teacher 46, 114-117 (2008)

· Locomotion by blowing into the sail of a sailboat? From a basic physics question to 
thrust reversal of jet airplanes,M Vollmer, K.-P. Möllmann, F. Arnold , Phys. Ed. 42, 369-377 (2007)

·   Infrared thermal imaging as a tool in university physics education, K.-P. Möllmann and M. Vollmer,
Eur. J. Phys. 28, S37-S50 (2007)

·  Learning Physics from the experiments
    Ch. Chiaverina, M. Vollmer
    Girep seminar in Ljubljana 2005, ed. G. Planinsic, see: http://www.girep2005.fmf.uni-lj.si/

· Diffraction revisited, position of diffraction spots upon rotation of a transmission grating, M. Vollmer
        Physics Education, October 2005
·  Hot gases: transition from line spectra to thermal radiation, M. Vollmer,
        Am. J. Phys. 73, 215-223 (2005)
·   Microwave oven experiments with metals and light sources, M. Vollmer, K.-P. Möllmann, D. Karstädt,
        Physics Education 39 500-508 (2004)  
·  More experiments with microwave oven, M. Vollmer, K.-P. Möllmann, D. Karstädt,
        Physics Education 39/4, 346 – 351 (2004)
·   Bad food and good physics: The development of domestic microwave cooker, K. Parker, M. Vollmer,       
        Physics Education 39/1, 82-90 (2004)
·       Physics of the  microwave oven, M. Vollmer,
        Physics Education 39/1, 74-81 (2004)
·   Infrared thermal imaging for physics education: visualization of physical phenomena, M. Vollmer
        Proceedings of the GIREP International conference on Physics in new fields and modern applications, held    
        August 5 - 9, 2002, in  Lund, Sweden,  published in 2004
·  Physics Teacher Training and Research in Physics Education: results of an Inquiry by the European
        Physical Society, M. Vollmer, Europ. J. Phys., 24 131-147 (2003)  (online available)
        also in Inquiries into European Higher Education in Physics, European Physics Education network series
        Vol 7., Eds.: H. Ferdinande, E. Valcke, T. Formesyn, University of Gent (2003)
·         There is more to see than eyes can detect: visualization of energy transfer processes and the laws of
        radiation for physics education, D. Karstädt, K.P. Möllmann, F. Pinno, M. Vollmer,
        The Physics Teacher 39, 371-376 (September 2001)
 

B:   Physics education related, in German

·  Blauer Mond: poetische Methapher oder beobachtbares Phänomen ? M. Vollmer, S.D. Gedzelman,      
    Naturwissenschaftliche Rundschau 62/6, 285-291 (2009)

·  Sonnen- und Mondfinsternisse: Beobachtungen Messungen und quantitative Modelle,

    M. Vollmer, Praxis d. Naturwiss. Physik, 58/2, 38-44 (2009)

·   Thermographie - Grundlagen, Forschung und moderne Anwendungen in Industrie und Technik,
     M. Vollmer, K.-P. Möllmann, 

     Praxis d. Naturwiss. Physik, 57/8, 5-14 (2008)

·   Infrarotkameras - es gibt mehr zu sehen als unsere Augen wahrnehmen, M. Vollmer, K.-P. Möllmann, 

     Naturwiss. Rundschau 61/11, 557-565 (2008)

· Ins eigene Segel blasen: von grundlegender Physik zur Schubumkehr bei Flugzeugtriebwerken,

          K.-P. Möllmann, M. Vollmer, Physik in unserer Zeit 39/5, 241-245 (2008)

·  Interferometrie auf dem Küchentisch

K.-P. Möllmann, M. Vollmer, Physik in unserer Zeit 39/1, 30-33 (2008)

·  Physiklehrerweiterbildung am Physikzentrum Bad Honnef, V. Nordmeier, W.B. Schneider, M. Vollmer

          S. 61-63 in B. Schoch (Hrsg.), Physikzentrum Bad Honnef- Ein Platz für Dialog und Inspiration, Bonn (2006)

·  Farben der Sonne: die Rolle der optischen Dicke der Atmosphäre,
M. Vollmer, Praxis d. Naturwiss. Physik, 55/3, 24—28 (2006)

·  Koronen: farbige Ringe um Sonne und Mond; L. Cowley, P. Laven, M. Vollmer
            Physik in unserer Zeit, eingereicht, erscheint  November 2005
·  Anfassen erwünscht – Science Center unter der Lupe, W. Schneider, M. Vollmer,
           Physik in unserer Zeit 36/2, 98-99 (2005)
·  Zur Intonation von Blechblasinstrumenten bei sehr niedrigen Umgebungstemperaturen, M. Vollmer,
            K. Wogram, Instrumentenbau-Zeitschrift - Musik International 59/3-4, 69-74 (2005)
·     Von Oasen, Seeungeheuern  und Spielereien der Fata Morgana, M. Vollmer
            Astronomie und Raumfahrt im Unterricht, 41/4, 36-39 und 41/5, 36 - 37 (2004)
·     Eier im Wellensalat: Experimente mit der Haushaltsmikrowelle, D. Karstädt, K.-P. Möllmann,
            M. Vollmer, Physik in unserer Zeit , 35/2, 90-96 (2004)
·  Jahrgangsübergreifendes Projekt zum Wetter für die Grundschule, S. Christmann, M. Vollmer
            cd-rom der Frühjahrstagung des Fachverbandes Didaktik der Physik in der DPG 2004 in Düsseldorf
·      Kochen mit Zentimeterwellen: Die Physik der Haushaltsmikrowelle, K.-P. Möllmann, M. Vollmer
            Physik in unserer Zeit , 35/1, 38-44 (2004)
·  Spektroskopie von Nanopartikeln, Uwe Kreibig, M. Vollmer
            Praxis der Naturwissenschaften – Physik in der Schule 4/52, 24-28 (2003)
·  Umweltanalytik mit Atomabsorptions- und Fourier-Transform-Infrarot- Spektroskopie, Chr. Niehus,
            K.-P. Möllmann, Th. Trull und M. Vollmer, Praxis der Naturwiss. – Physik in der Schule 4/52, 29-36 (2003)
·  Freihandexperimente zur Spektroskopie im Unterricht und als Hausaufgabe, M. Vollmer
            Praxis der Naturwissenschaften – Physik in der Schule 4/52, 9-18 (2003)
·  Grundlagen der optischen Spektroskopie in der Schule, M. Vollmer
            Praxis der Naturwissenschaften – Physik in der Schule 4/52, 2-8 (2003)
·   Physikdidaktik in Deutschland: Ergebnisse einer Umfrage der Europäischen Physikalischen Gesellschaft
            Michael Vollmer, phydid 2/2, 90-99 (2003) (www.phydid.de ), siehe auch cd-rom der Frühjahrstagung des FV
            Didaktik der Physik in der DPG 2003 in Augsburg
·   Grundlagen und Anwendungen der Spektroskopie, Chr. Niehus, Th. Trull, K.-P. Möllmann, M. Vollmer
            Physik in unserer Zeit, 33/6, 274-282 (2002)
·    Über die Farben der Sonne und des Himmels: Rayleigh- und Miestreuung in Demonstrationsexperimenten
            M. Vollmer, auf cd-rom der Frühjahrstagung 2002 des FV Didaktik der Physik in der DPG 2002 in Leipzig
·  Vakuumphysik im Alltag: Physikalische Freihand- und Low-cost-Experimente, M. Vollmer
            PhyDid 1/1, (2002) S. 19-32 unter www.phydid.de, Siehe auch cd-rom der Frühjahrstagung 2002 des FV
            Didaktik der Physik in der DPG 2002 in Leipzig
·  Freihandspektroskopieexperimente im Unterricht und als Hausaufgabe, M. Vollmer,
            auf cd-rom der Frühjahrstagung 2002 des FV Didaktik der Physik in der DPG 2002 in Leipzig
·  Haloerscheinungen am Himmel: Natürliche Ursache oder göttliche Warnung, M. Vollmer,
           in Wege in der Physikdidaktik 5, Hrsg. K.H. Lotze, W.B. Schneider, Palm und Enke (Erlangen) (2002)
·  Oasen, Seeungeheuer und weitere Spielereien der Fata Morgana, M. Vollmer
             in Wege in der Physikdidaktik 5, Hrsg. K.H. Lotze, W.B. Schneider, Palm und Enke (Erlangen) (2002)
·  Es gibt mehr zu sehen, als unsere Augen wahrnehmen ... Sinnvoller Einsatz von Infrarotkameras in der
            Lehre (mit Farbabb./Videos), D. Karstädt, K.-P. Möllmann, F. Pinno, M. Vollmer, cd-rom Beiträge zur
            Didaktik der Physik 2001 in Bremen, Lehmanns Fachbuchhandlung GmbH, Berlin (2001)
·  Coole Experimente, D. Karstädt, K.P. Möllmann, M. Vollmer,
            Physik in unserer Zeit 32/5, 222-228 (2001)
·  Strahlungsgesetz und Augenempfindlichkeit: Bemerkungen zu einer klassischen Fehlinterpretation,
            M. Vollmer, MNU ( Der mathematische und naturwissenschaftliche Unterricht) 54/4, 196—200 (2001);
            ausführliche Version, siehe cd-rom Beiträge zur Didaktik der Physik 2001 in Bremen, Lehmanns
            Fachbuchhandlung GmbH, Berlin (2001)

C:   Atmospheric Optics, in English

·  Progress in atmospheric optics and light and color in nature, S.D.Gedzelman, M. Vollmer,  Bull. Am. Met.  
    Soc. 90, 689-693 (May  2009)
·  Mirrors in the air:mirages in nature and in the laboratory,

    M. Vollmer, Physics Education 44/2, 165-174 (2009)

·  Simulating irradiance during lunar eclipses: the spherically symmetric case,

     M. Vollmer, S. D. Gedzelman, Applied Optics 47/34, H52-61 (2008)  (see note below)

·  Simulating irradiance and color during lunar eclipses using satellite data,

     S. D. Gedzelman, M. Vollmer, Applied Optics 47/34, H149-156 (2008)  (see note below)

·  Lunar Eclipse Photometry: Absolute Luminance Measurements and Modeling

     N. Hernitschek, E. Schmidt, and M. Vollmer, Applied Optics 47/34, H62-71 (2008)  (see note below)

·  Atmospheric Optical Phenomena and Radiative Transfer,
      S. Gedzelman, M. Vollmer, Bull. Am. Met. Soc. 89, 471-485 (April 2008)
      free download at: http://ams.allenpress.com/perlserv/?request=get-abstract&doi=10.1175%2FBAMS-89-4-471
·  Optical Phenomena in the Atmosphere; M. Vollmer
    p. 1182-1203, Sect. 19.6, in Springer Handbook of Lasers and Optics, F. Träger (Hrsg.) 2007

    free download at:     http://www.springer.com/cda/content/document/cda_downloaddocument/radiations+optics+atmos.pdf?SGWID=0-0-45-384698-0
·   Measurements and predictions of the illuminance during a solar eclipse, K.-P. Möllmann and M. Vollmer, Eur. J. Phys. 27 (2006) 1299-1314
·   Colors of the sun and moon: the role of the optical air mass
     M. Vollmer, S. Gedzelman, Eur. J. Phys. 27 299-309 (2006)
·  Rings around sun and moon: coronae and diffraction, L. Cowley, Ph.Laven, and M. Vollmer,
        Physics Education 40/1, 51-59 (2005)
·   Estimating the Thickness of the Atmosphere by Rayleigh Scattering, M. Vollmer
        Am. J. Phys. 71/10, 979-983 (2003) 
·  Effects of absorbing particles on coronas and glories, M.Vollmer,
        Appl. Opt. 44/27, 5658-5666 (2005)  (see note below)
·  Experimental simulations of pollen coronas, W. Schneider, M.Vollmer
        Appl. Opt. 44/27, 5746-5753 (2005)  (see note below)
·  More Halo and Mirage Experiments in Atmospheric Optics, Michael Vollmer, Robert Greenler
        Applied Optics 42, 394-398 (2003) (see note below)
·  Laboratory Experiments in Atmospheric Optics, M. Vollmer, R. Tammer,
        Applied Optics 37, 1557 - 1568 (1998), also Optics Express 5/4, 75-86 (1999) (see note below)

note:

D: IR imaging, in English

·   IR imaging of gases: potential applications for CO₂ cameras, M. Vollmer, K.-P. Möllmann
      Inframation 2009, Proc. Vol 10, p.
·   IR imaging of gases: quantitative analysis, M. Vollmer, K.-P. Möllmann,  
      Inframation 2009, Proc. Vol 10, p.

·   IR feedback loops to spotlights: thermography and contemporary dancing,
      Michael Vollmer, Miloš Vujković , Yoann Trellu, Inframation 2009, Proc. Vol 10, p.

·   Solar load and reflection effects and respective time constants in outdoor building inspections,
      F. Pinno, K.-P. Möllmann and M. Vollmer, Inframation 2009, Proc. Vol 10, p.

·   Microscopic and high-speed thermal imaging: a powerful tool in physics R&D,
      K.-P. Möllmann, F. Pinno, M. Vollmer, Inframation 2009, Proc. Vol 10, p.
·   Perspectives of IR imaging for industrial detection and monitoring of CO₂,
     M.Vollmer, K.-P. Möllmann, Proceedings Temperatur 2009, Ed.:PTB Berlin, p.27-36 (2009)

·  Cheese cubes, light bulbs, soft drinks: An unusual approach to study convection, radiation and size

    dependent heating and cooling, M. Vollmer, K.-P. Möllmann, F. Pinno, Inframation 2008 Proceedings Vol. 9

·  Night Sky Radiant Cooling – Influence on Outdoor Thermal Imaging Analysis,

    K.-P. Möllmann, F. Pinno, M. Vollmer, Inframation 2008 Proceedings Vol. 9

·  Thermography of window panes – problems, possibilities and troubleshooting

    F. Pinno, K.-P. Möllmann and M. Vollmer, Inframation 2008 Proceedings Vol. 9

·  Looking through matter: quantitative IR imaging when observing through IR windows

M. Vollmer, K.-P. Möllmann, F. Pinno, Inframation 2007, Proceedings Vol. 8, 109-127

·  Influence of  wind effects on thermal imaging results – Is the wind chill effect relevant ?

K.-P. Möllmann, F. Pinno, M. Vollmer, Inframation 2007, Proceedings Vol. 8, 21-31

·  Cost and energy savings for a factory building after modernizing the heating system.

F. Pinno, K.-P. Möllmann and M. Vollmer, Inframation 2007, Proceedings Vol. 8, 521-527

·  Influence of gaseous species on thermal infrared imaging  

D. Karstädt, K.P. Möllmann, F. Pinno and M. Vollmer

Inframation 2006 Proceedings Vol.7, 65-78

·  Thermal image quality – Visualization of spatial and thermal resolution in thermal imaging,

D. Karstädt, K.P. Möllmann, F. Pinno, and M. Vollmer, 

Inframation 2006 Proceedings Vol.7, 79-91

·  Energy savings for an old factory building by optimization of the heating system

D. Karstädt, K.P. Möllmann, F. Pinno, and M. Vollmer, 

Inframation 2006 Proceedings Vol.7, 253-261

·  Thermography of microwave ovens, M. Vollmer, F. Pinno, K.-P. Möllmann, D. Karstädt,
Inframation 2005 Proceedings Vol.6, 29-40

·  Optimization, quality control and minimization of damages of floor heating systems, F. Pinno, D. Karstädt,
K.-P. Möllmann, and M. Vollmer, Inframation 2005 Proceedings Vol.6, 313-321

·  Selected critical applications for thermography: convections in fluids, selective emitters and highly reflecting materials,
K.-P. Möllmann, D. Karstädt, F. Pinno, and M. Vollmer, Inframation 2005 Proceedings Vol.6, , 161-173

·  Thermography of Microsystems, K.P. Möllmann, N.Lutz, M. Vollmer,  and Ch. Wille
Inframation 2004 Proceedings Vol.5, 183-196

·  Identification and suppression of thermal reflections in infrared thermal imaging, S. Henke, D. Karstädt,
K.P. Möllmann, F. Pinno, and M. Vollmer, Inframation 2004 Proceedings Vol.5, 287-298

·  Challenges in infrared imaging: low emissivities of hot gases, metals, and metallic cavities, S. Henke,
D. Karstädt, K.P. Möllmann, F. Pinno, and M. Vollmer, Inframation 2004 Proceedings Vol.5, 355-363