Boyd Edwards

Physics

Professor

Contact Information

Office Location: SER 204
Phone: 435-797-8411
Email: boyd.edwards@usu.edu
Additional Information:

Google Scholar Profile

Educational Background

PhD, Applied Physics, Dept. of Applied Physics, Stanford University, 1985 Dissertation

Nonlinear convection of dilute superfluid 3He-4He mixtures in a small-aspect-ratio box

MS, Dept. of Physics, Utah State University, 1983 Thesis

Magnetic flux ropes of Venus: evidence for restrictions on the electromagnetic theory of collisionless plasmas

BS, Dept. of Physics, Utah State University, 1980

Biography

I grew up in Logan, Utah and completed bachelor's and master's degrees in physics at the Logan campus of Utah State University. After completing a doctorate in applied physics at Stanford University and a postdoctoral research appointment at Sandia National Laboratories, I taught physics at West Virginia University for 24 years, where I held the Russell and Ruth Bolton Professorship for excellence in teaching. In 2015, after five years as dean of the USU Uintah Basin Campus, I began service as a professor of physics at the USU Logan campus, where I remain.

Teaching Interests

I love to share my enthusiasm for physics with students, whose questions and insights allow me to see the beauty of nature with fresh eyes. I enjoy teaching courses at all levels and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in research. I hold weekly meetings with my research students.

Research Interests

As a theorist in nonlinear dynamics, fluid physics, and statistical physics, I see beauty in the mathematics that describe our universe. My goal is for my students to see this, too, and to experience the thrill of discovering and publishing some new facet of our world. I've received funding from DHS, DOE, NASA, and NSF for my research.

Awards

John R. Williams Outstanding Teacher Award , 2017

June Harless Award for Exceptional Teaching , 1998

Physics Nominee for WVU College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Researcher Award , 1992

WVU College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Teacher Award , 1992

WVU Foundation (University-level) Outstanding Teacher Award , 1992

Publications | Journal Articles

Academic Journal

Choi, M.H, Hong, L., Chamorro, L.P, Edwards, B., Timperman, A.T, (2024). Measuring the electrophoretic mobility and size of single particles using microfluidic transverse AC electrophoresis (TrACE). Lab on a Chip, 24, 20-33. doi: 10.1039/D3LC00413A
Edwards, B., Pankey, C., Edwards, J., (2022). Inertial motion on the earth's spheroidal surface. Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science, 32, 113122. doi: 10.1063/5.0123896
Haugen, P.T, Smith, A.D, Edwards, B., (2022). Normal-mode oscillations for the circular and dipolar states of a filled hexagonal magnetic dipole cluster. Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science, 32, 063108 (8 pp). doi: 10.1063/5.0076147
Smith, A.D, Haugen, P.T, Edwards, B., (2022). Hysteretic transition between states of a filled hexagonal magnetic dipole cluster. Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 549, 168991 (11 pp). doi: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2021.168991
Edwards, B., Edwards, J., (2021). Geodetic model for teaching motion on the Earth's spheroidal surface. European Journal of Physics, 43, 015003 (20 pp). doi: 10.1088/1361-6404/ac0e87
Edwards, B., Edwards, J., (2021). Forces and conservation laws for motion on our spheroidal Earth. American Journal of Physics, 89, 830-842. doi: 10.1119/10.0004801
Ji, J., Edwards, B., Spencer, J., Held, E.D, (2021). Potential, field, and interactions of multipole spheres: Coated spherical magnets. Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 529, 167861 (7 pp). doi: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2021.167861
Edwards, B., Johnson, B., Edwards, J., (2020). Periodic bouncing modes for two uniformly magnetized spheres I: Trajectories. Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science, 30:1, 013146 (20 pp). doi: 10.1063/1.5125924
Edwards, B., Johnson, B., Edwards, J., (2020). Periodic bouncing modes for two uniformly magnetized spheres II: Scaling. Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science, 30:1, 013131 (9 pp). doi: 10.1063/1.5125925
Edwards, B., Edwards, W.F, (2020). Truth or Cherry Picking: A Statistical Approach to Chiastic Intentionality: Chiasmus: The State of the Art. BYU Studies Quarterly Supplement, 59:2, 311-317.
Haugen, P., Edwards, B., (2020). Dynamics of two freely rotating dipoles. American Journal of Physics, 88:5, 365-370. doi: 10.1119/10.0000625
Edwards, B., Edwards, J., (2017). Dynamical interactions between two uniformly magnetized spheres. European Journal of Physics, 38:1, 015205 (25 pp). doi: 10.1088/0143-0807/38/1/015205
Edwards, B., Edwards, J., (2017). Periodic nonlinear sliding modes for two uniformly magnetized spheres. Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science, 27:5, 053107 (15 pp). doi: 10.1063/1.4982202
Edwards, B., Riffe, D.M, Ji, J., Booth, W.A, (2017). Interactions between uniformly magnetized spheres. American Journal of Physics, 85:2, 130-134. doi: 10.1119/1.4973409
Booth, W.A, Edwards, B., Jo, K., Timperman, A., Schiffbauer, J., (2017). Diffusion layer formation drives zone migration in travelling-wave electrophoresis. Analyst, 142, 1554-1561. doi: 10.1039/c6an01268j
Edwards, B., Sam, D.D, Christiansen, M.A, Booth, W.A, Jessup, L.O, (2014). Angry Birds realized: water balloon launcher for teaching projectile motion with drag. European Journal of Physics, 35, 1-17. doi: 10.1088/0143-0807/35/3/035009
Correll, R.L, Edwards, B., (2012). Velocity plateaus in traveling-wave electrophoresis. Physical Review E, 86, 041916 (8 pp). doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.86.041916
Jo, K.D, Schiffbauer, J.E, Edwards, B., Carroll, R.L, Timperman, A.T, (2012). Fabrication and performance of a microfluidic travelling wave electrophoresis system. Analyst, 137, 875-883. doi: 10.1039/c1an15669a
Reschke, B.R, Schiffbauer, J., Edwards, B., Timperman, A.T, (2010). Simultaneous separation and detection of cations and anions on a microfluidic device with suppressed electroosmotic flow and a single injection point. Analyst, 135, 1351-1359. doi: 10.1039/b921914e
Edwards, B., Edwards, W.F, (2010). When Are Chiasms Admissible as Evidence?. BYU Studies, 49:4, 131-154.
Reschke, B.R, Luo, H., Schiffbauer, J., Edwards, B., Timperman, A.T, (2009). A theoretical and experimental study of the electrophoretic extraction of ions from a pressure driven flow in a microfluidic device. Lab on a Chip, 9, 2203-2211. doi: 10.1039/b823154k
Edwards, B., (2009). Self-similar nested sequences on a chaotic attractor for traveling-wave electrophoresis. Physical Review E, 80, 036205 (14 pp). doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.80.036205
Edwards, B., Timperman, A.T, Carroll, R.L, Jo, K., Mease, J.M, Schiffbauer, J.E, (2009). Traveling-Wave Electrophoresis for Microfluidic Separations. Physical Review Letters, 102, 076103 (4 pp). doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.076103
Edwards, B., (2006). Propagation velocities of chemical reaction fronts advected by Poiseuille flow. Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science, 16, 043106 (8 pp). doi: 10.1063/1.2358954
Edwards, B., Edwards, W.F, (2006). Does Joseph’s Letter to Emma of 4 November 1838 Show that He Knew about Chiasmus?. Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Dialogue Paperless:E-paper # 4, 1-9.
Edwards, B., Edwards, W.F, (2006). Response to Earl Wunderli’s “Critique of Alma 36 as an Extended Chiasm”. Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, 39:3, 164-169.
Edwards, B., Edwards, W.F, (2004). Does chiasmus appear in the Book of Mormon by chance?. BYU Studies, 43:2, 103-130.
Spangler, R.S, Edwards, B., (2003). Poiseuille advection of chemical reaction fronts: Eikonal approximation. Journal of Chemical Physics, 118, 5911-5915. doi: 10.1063/1.1553752
Vasquez, D.A, Smith, D.H, Edwards, B., (2002). Influence of terrain on scaling laws for river networks. Water Resources Research, 38:11, 42 (5 pp). doi: 10.1029/2000WR000152
Edwards, B., (2002). Poiseuille advection of chemical reaction fronts. Physical Review Letters, 89, 104501 (4 pp). doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.104501
Edwards, B., Smith, D.H, (2002). River meandering dynamics. Physical Review E, 65, 046303 (12 pp). doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.65.046303
Edwards, B., Smith, D.H, (2001). Critical wavelength for river meandering. Physical Review E Rapid Communications, 63, 045304 (4 pp). doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.63.045304
Edwards, B., Wilder, J.W, Scime, E.E, (2001). Dynamics of falling raindrops. European Journal of Physics, 22, 113-118. doi: 10.1088/0143-0807/22/2/302
Gray, D.D, J.H, Edwards, B., (2001). Two-dimensional magnetothermal plumes. International Journal of Engineering Science, 39, 1837-1861. doi: 10.1016/S0020-7225(01)00028-3
Huang, J., Gray, D., Edwards, B., (1998). Magnetic control of convection in nonconducting diamagnetic fluids. Physical Review E Brief Reports, 58:4, 5164-5167. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.58.5164
Huang, J., Edwards, B., Gray, D., (1998). Magnetic control of convection in nonconducting paramagnetic fluids. Physical Review E Rapid Communications, 57:1, R29-R31. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.57.R29
Huang, J., Gray, D., Edwards, B., (1998). Thermoconvective instability of paramagnetic fluids in a nonuniform magnetic field. Physical Review E, 57:5, 5564-5571. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.57.5564
Wilder, J.W, Vasquez, D.A, Edwards, B., (1997). Nonlinear front evolution of hydrodynamic chemical waves in vertical cylinders. Physical Review E, 56:3, 3016-3019. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.56.3016
Huang, J., Edwards, B., Gray, D.D, (1997). Thermoconvective instability of paramagnetic fluids in a uniform magnetic field. Physics of Fluids, 9:6, 1819-1825. doi: 10.1063/1.869297
Vasquez, D.A, Wilder, J.W, Edwards, B., (1996). Chemical wave propagation in Hele-Shaw cells and porous media. Journal of Chemical Physics, 104:24, 9926-9931. doi: 10.1063/1.471720
Huang, J., Guo, X., Edwards, B., Levine, A.D, (1996). Cut-off model and exact general solutions for fragmentation with mass loss. Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General, 29:23, 7377-7388. doi: 10.1088/0305-4470/29/23/008
Huang, J., Edwards, B., (1996). Pattern formation and evolution near autocatalytic reaction fronts in a narrow vertical slab. Physical Review E, 54:3, 2620-2627. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.54.2620
Wilder, J.W, Vasquez, D.A, Edwards, B., (1996). Simulation of nonlinear front evolution equations for two dimensional chemical waves involving convection. Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena, 90:1-2, 170-178. doi: 10.1016/0167-2789(95)00224-3
Wu, Y., Vasquez, D.A, Edwards, B., Wilder, J.W, (1995). Convective chemical-wave propagation in the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction. Physical Review E, 51:2, 1119-1127. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.51.1119
Vasquez, D.A, Edwards, B., Wilder, J.W, (1995). Finite thermal diffusivity at onset of convection in autocatalytic systems: Discontinuous fluid density. Physics of Fluids, 7:10, 2513-2515. doi: 10.1063/1.868697
Gyure, M.F, Ferer, M.V, Edwards, B., Huber, G., (1995). Mass distribution on clusters at the percolation threshold. Physical Review E, 51:3, 2632-2635. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.51.2632
Wu, Y., Vasquez, D.A, Edwards, B., Wilder, J.W, (1995). Transitions between convective patterns in chemical fronts. Physical Review E, 52:6, 6175-6182. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.52.6175
Vasquez, D.A, Littley, J.M, Wilder, J.W, Edwards, B., (1994). Convection in chemical waves. Physical Review E, 50:1, 280-284. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.50.280
Wilder, J.W, Edwards, B., Vasquez, D.A, Sivashinsky, G.I, (1994). Derivation of a nonlinear front evolution equation for chemical waves involving convection. Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena, 73:3, 217-226. doi: 10.1016/0167-2789(94)90158-9
Masere, J., Vasquez, D.A, Edwards, B., Wilder, J.W, Showalter, K., (1994). Nonaxisymmetric and axisymmetric convection in propagating reaction-diffusion fronts. The Journal of Physical Chemistry, 98:26, 6505-6508. doi: 10.1021/j100077a014
Vasquez, D.A, Wilder, J.W, Edwards, B., (1993). Convective Turing patterns. Physical Review Letters, 71:10, 1538-1541. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.71.1538
Vasquez, D.A, Wilder, J.W, Edwards, B., (1993). Hydrodynamic instability of chemical waves. Journal of Chemical Physics, 98:3, 2138-2143. doi: 10.1063/1.464192
Wilder, J.W, Vasquez, D.A, Edwards, B., (1993). Modification of the eikonal relation for chemical waves to include fluid flow. Physical Review E, 47:5, 3761-3764. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.47.3761
Huang, J., Vasquez, D.A, Edwards, B., Kolodner, P., (1993). Onset of convection for autocatalytic reaction fronts in a vertical slab. Physical Review E, 48:6, 4378-4386. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.48.4378
Vasquez, D.A, Wilder, J.W, Edwards, B., (1992). Convective instability of autocatalytic reaction fronts in vertical cylinders. Physics of Fluids A: Fluid Dynamics, 4:11, 2410-2414. doi: 10.1063/1.858482
Edwards, B., Gyure, M.F, Ferer, M., (1992). Exact enumeration and scaling for fragmentation of percolation clusters. Physical Review A, 46:10, 6252-6264. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.46.6252
Wilder, J.W, Edwards, B., Vasquez, D.A, (1992). Finite thermal diffusivity at onset of convection in autocatalytic systems: Continuous fluid density. Physical Review A, 45:4, 2320-2327. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.45.2320
Gyure, M.F, Edwards, B., (1992). Fragmentation of percolation clusters at the percolation threshold. Physical Review Letters, 68:17, 2692-2695. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.68.2692
Cai, M., Edwards, B., Han, H., (1991). Exact and asymptotic scaling solutions for fragmentation with mass loss. Physical Review A, 43:2, 656-662. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.43.656
Huang, J., Edwards, B., Levine, A.D, (1991). General solutions and scaling violation for fragmentation with mass loss. Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General, 24:16, 3967-3977. doi: 10.1088/0305-4470/24/16/031
Vasquez, D.A, Edwards, B., Wilder, J.W, (1991). Onset of convection for autocatalytic reaction fronts: Laterally bounded systems. Physical Review A, 43:12, 6694-6699. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.43.6694
Edwards, B., Wilder, J.W, Showalter, K., (1991). Onset of convection for autocatalytic reaction fronts: Laterally unbounded system. Physical Review A, 43:2, 749-760. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.43.749
Edwards, B., Cai, M., Han, H., (1990). Rate equation and scaling for fragmentation with mass loss. Physical Review A, 41:10, 5755-5757. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.41.5755
Edwards, B., (1988). Crossed rolls at onset of convection in a rigid box. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 191, 583-597. doi: 10.1017/S0022112088001727
Kerstein, A.R, Edwards, B., (1987). Percolation model for simulation of char oxidation and fragmentation time-histories. Chemical Engineering Science, 42:7, 1629-1634. doi: 10.1016/0009-2509(87)80167-7
Kerstein, A.R, Edwards, B., (1986). Crossover from contact propagation to chemical propagation in first-passage percolation. Physical Review B, 33:5, 3353-3369. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.33.3353
Edwards, B., Kerstein, A.R, (1985). Is there a lower critical dimension for chemical distance?. Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General, 18:17, L1081-L1086. doi: 10.1088/0305-4470/18/17/004
Edwards, B., Fetter, A.L, (1984). Onset of oscillations in Rayleigh-Benard convection: Horizontally unbounded slab. Physics of Fluids, 27:12, 2795-2802. doi: 10.1063/1.864594

In-House Journal

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Other

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Teaching

PHYS 2110 - General Physics-Life Sciences I, Fall 2023

PHYS 2120 - The Physics of Living Systems II, Spring 2023

PHYS 2110 - General Physics-Life Sciences I, Fall 2022

PHYS 2120 - The Physics of Living Systems II, Spring 2022

PHYS 2110 - General Physics-Life Sciences I, Fall 2021

PHYS 2120 - The Physics of Living Systems II, Spring 2021

PHYS 2110 - General Physics-Life Sciences I, Fall 2020

PHYS 3550 - Intermediate Classical Mechanics, Spring 2020

PHYS 2120 - The Physics of Living Systems II, Spring 2020

PHYS 2110 - General Physics-Life Sciences I, Fall 2019

PHYS 2220 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers II, Fall 2019

PHYS 3550 - Intermediate Classical Mechanics, Spring 2019

PHYS 2120 - The Physics of Living Systems II, Spring 2019

PHYS 2110 - General Physics-Life Sciences I, Fall 2018

PHYS 3550 - Intermediate Classical Mechanics, Spring 2018

PHYS 2120 - The Physics of Living Systems II, Spring 2018

PHYS 2110 - General Physics-Life Sciences I, Fall 2017

PHYS 2120 - The Physics of Living Systems II, Spring 2017

PHYS 2110 - General Physics-Life Sciences I, Fall 2016

PHYS 2120 - The Physics of Living Systems II, Spring 2016

Graduate Students Mentored

Jared Arnell, Physics 2022

Peter Haugen, Physics 2022

James Vopal, Physics 2013

William Booth, Physics 2013

Jarrod Schiffbauer, Physics 2010

Robert Correll, Physics 2009

Robert Spangler, Physics 2005

Yunqing Wu, Physics 1997

Jie Huang, Physics 1994

Joseph Littley, Physics 1992

Dan Yao, Physics 1991

Jie Huang, Physics 1990

Xiaopei Guo, Physics 1990

Research Highlights

Hysteretic transition between states of a filled hexagonal magnetic dipole cluster (2022)

We predicted a hysteretic transition in a filled hexagonal dipole cluster and observed it experimentally. A "circular state" applies when the central dipole is weak and a "dipolar state" applies when it is strong. Over an intermediate range of strengths, both states are locally stable and the state of the system depends upon its history. The work was done by Andrew Smith, an undergraduate student at the University of Cambridge, and Peter Haugen, who received his 2022 PhD from Utah State University under my supervision.

Read the accepted version of the article (free) or the version published in the Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials (requires institutional access or a fee).

circular state, theory

circular state, experiment

Forces and conservation laws for motion on our spheroidal Earth (2021)

The size of the earth's equatorial bulge is comparable to a single thickness of duct tape wrapped around a volleyball. This tiny bulge plays a large role for frictionless motion on the earth's surface because it neutralizes the centrifugal force, leaving the weaker Coriolis force to govern the motion in the rotating frame. This work is featured in an Inside Science article and as an editor's pick in the American Journal of Physics. The work was done in collaboration with my brother John Edwards, a USU Computer Science professor who wrote the amazing, freely available CorioVis software for visualizing the motion.

Watch the video abstract that introduces this work. Read the accepted version of the article (free) or the version published in the American Journal of Physics (requires institutional access or a fee).

motion on a sphere

motion on a spheroid

Periodic bouncing modes for two uniformly magnetized spheres I: Trajectories (2020)

This featured article in Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science considers the motion of a uniformly magnetized sphere that moves in the field of a second, identical, fixed sphere, making elastic hard-sphere collisions with this sphere. We identify 1,243 distinct periodic bouncing modes with a rich variety of behaviors and beautiful, symmetric trajectories, including states with up to 157 collisions and 580 angular oscillations per period. My collaborators are USU undergraduate student Bo Johnson (now a graduate student in physics at Indiana University) and my brother John Edwards, a USU Computer Science professor. John wrote the amazing, freely available MagPhyx software for visualizing the motion.

Read the accepted version of the article (free) or the version published in Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science (requires institutional access or a fee).

"the owl"

"the alien"

Interactions between uniformly magnetized spheres (2017)

This frequently cited article proves that the magnetic energy, forces, and torques between two uniformly magnetized spheres are identical to those between two point magnetic dipoles. The proof exploits the equivalence of the field outside of one such sphere and the field of a point dipole, and pertains to spheres of arbitrary sizes, positions, and magnetizations. The work was done in collaboration with Mark Riffe and Jeong-Young Ji, both USU physics faculty members, and William Booth, a teacher at Terra Academy in Vernal, Utah who received his 2013 PhD from West Virginia University under my supervision.

Read the accepted version of the article (free) or the version published in the American Journal of Physics (requires institutional access or a fee).

proof, steps 1-3

proof, steps 4-5

Research Team

Here's the A-team of undergraduate students, graduate students, and senior researchers with whom I have collaborated since 2016, including one prospective student: