Home
Dr. William Ratcliff II
I am a Physicist at the NIST Center for Neutron Research and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Maryland in both the Physics and Materials Science & Engineering departments.
I am a Fellow of the American Physical Society and currently serve as Chair of the APS Topical Group on Magnetism.
Research Interests
My research focuses on:
- Multiferroic materials - materials exhibiting both magnetic and ferroelectric order
- Topological materials - particularly the interplay of magnetism with topological band structures
- AI/Machine Learning - accelerating neutron scattering measurements and analysis
Connect
Institutional Pages
Blog Archive
Archived posts from my previous blog “Just Another Datapoint”:
Posts
-
Heavy Water Tastes Sweet
Apparently you can taste the difference between light and heavy water! So can rats!
-
Today I learned a new word: Ultracrepidarianism
I recently learned a new word: ultracrepidarianism - “the giving of opinions and advice on matters outside of one’s knowledge.”
-
Machine Learning at the APS March Meeting
I attended the American Physical Society’s March Meeting in Los Angeles and observed significant growth in machine learning sessions. One session drew such large crowds that a 30 minute line formed to get into the room due to fire code restrictions.
-
Machine Learning
I have become interested in the intersection of machine learning with science. Two of my students will pursue projects in this area during the summer. One project focuses on classification tasks, while the other involves reinforcement learning methodologies.
-
Where Good Ideas Come From
I recently read Steven Johnson’s book Where Good Ideas Come From. While some biological analogies in the work are overstated, Johnson’s key recommendations for fostering creativity are worth noting:
-
The Role of Government
This post examines government’s role in spurring innovation by discussing three books: Mariana Mazzucato’s The Entrepreneurial State, Peter Thiel’s Zero to One, and Steven Johnson’s Where Good Ideas Come From.
-
Instabilities
I’ve been reflecting on insights from my graduate research on frustrated magnetism. In frustrated magnets—materials with triangular atomic arrangements and antiferromagnetic interactions—the system cannot simultaneously satisfy all interactions, yet often orders anyway in practice.
-
Edge of Tomorrow
I recently watched “Edge of Tomorrow” and found it an interesting exploration of heroism and courage, drawing comparisons to “Groundhog Day.”
-
Some Thoughts on Home Ownership
Is buying or renting a $300,000 townhouse in Maryland financially comparable? Let me break down the numbers.
-
Uncontrolled!
I recently read Jim Manzi’s book Uncontrolled, which examines the philosophy of science and the role of randomized experimentation across different fields.
-
Some Light Martial Arts Fiction
I recently read the CUHK Series novel “Fox Valant of the Snowy Mountain” by Jin Yang.
-
Seismic Imaging
I recently acquired two technical books on seismic imaging:
-
Star Trek: Into Darkness (warning, contains spoilers!)
I recently watched the 2013 Star Trek film. The 3D cinematography and action sequences are impressive, but I have mixed feelings about the overall narrative approach.
-
Inferno (a novel)
I recently read Dan Brown’s novel Inferno, which centers on Malthusian theory about population growth outpacing resource availability.
-
Getting Started with D3
I recently read “Getting Started with D3” by Mike Dewar and wanted to share my initial impressions of the D3 visualization library.
-
What's Math Got to Do with It?
I recently read Jo Boaler’s What’s Math Got to Do with It?, which explores the disconnect between how mathematics is taught in American schools versus how mathematicians actually practice the discipline.
subscribe via RSS