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K-State Today

April 14, 2011

Symposium/celebration Monday for distinguished physics professor

Submitted by Greg Tammen

C. Lewis Cocke, distinguished professor in physics.

In celebration of the work and guidance of C. Lewis "Lew" Cocke, distinguished professor in physics, the department of physics is holding a daylong symposium/retirement celebration Monday, April 18.

"Chasing Attosecond Dynamics of Atoms and Molecules with Electrons, Ions and Lasers -- the Last Forty Years," begins at 8:50 a.m. in the K-State Alumni Center, with the final event scheduled for 8:35 p.m. The symposium will include 20 internationally recognized speakers from around the world. A dinner and reception will be in the evening.

Throughout his 40-year career at K-State, Cocke has made outstanding contributions to atomic, molecular and optical physics, or AMO physics, and has received numerous professional awards. He has been a prolific researcher and mentor who kept the scientific work at the J. R. MacDonald Laboratory in the department of physics at a high internationally recognized level. Much to his credit, the K-State AMO physics program is currently ranked 14th in the U.S., equal to Princeton University.

At the end of this spring semester, Cocke will officially retire as a university distinguished professor. Even though he plans to continue conducting research in the coming years, this juncture of his career is an appropriate time to recognize his contributions to AMO physics.