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Kent Leung

Assistant Professor, Physics and Astronomy, College of Science and Mathematics

Office:
Richardson Hall 269A
Email:
leungk@montclair.edu
vCard:
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STUDENT DROP-IN HOURS in my office (Richardson 269A):
Tue Jan 20, 3:30pm - 5pm
Thu Jan 22, 3:30pm - 5pm
Tue Jan 27, 3:30pm - 5pm
Thu Jan 29, 3:30pm - 5pm
Tue Feb 03, 3:30pm - 5pm
Wed Feb 04, 2:30pm - 4pm (off-pattern)
Tue Feb 10, 3:30pm - 5pm
Thu Feb 12, 3:30pm - 5pm
Tue Feb 17, 3:30pm - 5pm
Thu Feb 19, 3:30pm - 5pm

Work phone (VoIP call or text): +1 (973)604-9626
‬Do not hesitate to reach out if I'm supposed to be in my office or if the door into the RICH 269 office suite is locked.

Assistant Professor of Physics, Montclair State University (2021-current)
Affiliated-Faculty in Experimental Nuclear Physics Group, NCSU, Raleigh, NC (2021-current)
Research Assistant Professor of Physics, Duke University, Durham, NC (2020-2021)
Research Assistant Professor of Physics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC (2017-2020)
Post-doc: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC (2013-2017)
Doctor of Natural Science: Technical University of Munich, Germany (2007-2013)
Doctoral research fellowship: Institute Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France (2007-2011)
B.S. & M.S.: University of Auckland, New Zealand (2005 & 2007)

Montclair State Experimental Nuclear Physics research group website:
https://montclairstatenuclear.wordpress.com/

Maintained list of publications: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=_pf63jQAAAAJ
CV at the bottom of page.

My research interests are in nuclear physics, fundamental symmetries, and searches for Beyond Standard Model physics. I am particularly interested in low-energy, high-precision experiments, performed at low-temperatures involving neutrons. These experiments allow us to address fundamental questions, such as:
- How was more normal matter than anti-matter generated during the Big Bang?
- Are there undiscovered forces or particles out there, and could these explain the missing Dark Matter?
- What are the symmetries of our physical laws? Why are some violated, some conserved, and some extremely fine-tuned?
- How did the primordial light elements form during the Big Bang?
- How do protons, neutrons, and quarks interact to form nuclei?

In order to push our experiments to the next-level of precision, we constantly implement and develop cutting-edge technologies. The interdisciplinary techniques I'm interested in are, for example, cryogenic devices and apparatuses involving superconductors and superfluid helium at milli-Kelvin temperatures, quantum sensors for magnetic and electric fields, nuclear magnetic resonance with hyper-polarized gases and solids, scintillation and fluorescence radiation detection, synthesis of high-purity deuterated polymers and coatings, and surface morphology and properties measurements.

I am a first-generation university student, born to asylum-seeking parents from Hong Kong who later immigrated to New Zealand, where I grew up. My passion for physics was sparked in my final year of high school after reading "A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking, at a time when I was still uncertain about attending university. That experience taught me how reading and extracurricular exploration can open doors, foster deep connections across ideas, and ignite lasting interests.

Coming from a working-class background, I spent my summers operating manufacturing machines and driving forklifts—experiences that continue to shape my perspective on physics. For me, physics is everywhere: it enriches daily life if you know where, and how, to look. In the classroom, I strive to connect abstract principles to everyday experiences, showing students that physics is not obscure or esoteric but an active force in the world around us.

Physics is a key driver of current and future technologies, and it provides the deep insights for a wide range of fields. At the same time, history has shown us that fundamental research—-often pursued decades before actual applications are realized—-is required to plant the seeds for transformative understanding. I believe a balanced investment in both short-term applications and long-term foundational research best serves the advancement of science and society.

Resume/CV

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