Joseph P. Hooper
Assistant Professor of Physics
Ph.D. Physics, Tulane University, 2006

Dr. Hooper joined NPS in 2011, following five years as a Research Physicist for the Navy at NSWC Indian Head. His research interests include explosives, shock physics, high-velocity impact, and material behavior at extreme conditions. Current projects include atomistic simulations of new explosives and nanomaterial-reinforced armors, as well as experimental work in ballistic impact and fragmentation.

Phone: 831-656-2601, Email: jphooper@nps.edu

Experience:

Assistant Professor of Physics June 2011 to current
Naval Postgraduate School
Research areas: energetic materials, high strain-rate loading of solids, novel nanocom-
posites, rst principles simulations.

Research Physicist May 2007 to June 2011
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head

Naval Research Lab/ASEE Fellow June 2006 to May 2007
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head
Advisor: Dr. Frank Zerilli

Education:

Tulane University 2002-2006 Doctor of Philosophy, Physics
Specialization: Condensed matter physics.
Dissertation: "Studies of the itinerant metamagnet Sr3Ru2O7."
Internship: Naval Research Enterprise Intern at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian
Head: May to August, 2005.

Georgia Institute of Technology 1998-2002
Bachelor of Science, Computer Science, summa cum laude

Selected Publications:

J. P. Hooper. "Impact fragmentation of aluminum reactive materials." J. Appl. Phys.
112, 043508 (2012).

K. S. Williams, J. P. Hooper, J. M. Horn, J. M. Lightstone, H. Wang, Y. J. Ko, and
K. H. Bowen. "Magnetic structure variation in manganese-oxide clusters." J. Chem.
Phys. 136, 134315 (2012).

C. S. Stoltz, B. P. Mason, J. P. Hooper, "Nano-void volume linked to sensitivity of
RDX explosive." NIST National Center for Neutron Research Annual Review, pg. 26,
2011.

K. S. Williams and J. P. Hooper, "Structure, thermodynamics, and energy content of
aluminum-cyclopentadienyl clusters." J. Phys. Chem. A 115, 14100 (2011).

J. Hooper, "Vibrational energy transfer in shocked molecular crystals." J. Chem. Phys.
132, 014507 (2010).

C. Stoltz, B. Mason, and J. Hooper. "Neutron scattering study of internal void struc-
ture in RDX." J. Appl. Phys. 107, 103527 (2010).

J. Koch, S. Piecuch, J. Carney, J. Lightstone, and J. Hooper. "Time-resolved mea-
surements of near infrared emission spectra from explosions: pure PETN and PETN
mixtures of silver and aluminum nanoparticles." J. Appl. Phys. 108, 036101 (2010).

C. Konek, B. Mason, J. Hooper, C. Stoltz, and J. Wilkinson, "Terahertz absorption
spectra of 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane (HMX) polymorphs." Chem. Phys. Lett.
489, 48 (2010).

D. Fobes, T. J. Liu, Z. Qu, M. Zhou, J. Hooper, M. Salamon, and Z.Q. Mao. "Anisotropy
of magnetoresistivities in Sr4Ru3O10: Evidence for an orbital-selective metamagnetic
transition." Phys. Rev. B, 81, 172402 (2010).

J. Hooper, R. Lee, S. Thuot, J. Jouet, J. H. Wilkinson, and J. G. Rogerson, "Im-
pact fragmentation and combustion of porous aluminum spheres." In press, JANNAF
Journal of Propulsion and Energetics.

J. Jouet, R. Lee, J. Hooper. "Reactive materials at Indian Head Division, Naval Surface
Warfare Center." In press, JANNAF Journal of Propulsion and Energetics.

J. Hooper, E. Mitchell, C. Konek, J. Wilkinson. "Terahertz optical properties of the
high explosive -HMX." Chem. Phys. Lett. 467, 309 (2009).

S. Thuot, J. Wilkinson, R. Lee, J. Carney, J. Hooper, J. Lightstone, J. Jouet, and J.
Rogerson, "Impact fragmentation and ballistics of pressed aluminum powder projec-
tiles." Shock Compression of Condensed Matter, eds. M. Elert et al, 1011 (2009).

J. Hooper, V. Cooper, T. Thonhauser, and D.C. Langreth. "Predicting C-H/ inter-
actions with nonlocal density functional theory." Chem. Phys. Chem. 9, 891 (2008).

J. Wilkinson, S. Caulder, and J. Hooper. "Signatures for improvised explosive devices
using terahertz spectroscopy." Proceedings of the NATO Specialist Meeting on THz

Wave Technology for Stand-O Detection of Explosives (SET-129), May 2008.
J. Hooper, N. Romero, and F. Zerilli. "Predicting noncovalent interactions with nonlo-
cal density functional theory." Shock Compression of Condensed Matter, eds. M. Elert
et al, 381 (2007).

F. Zerilli, J. Hooper, and M. Kukla. "Ab initio studies of crystalline nitromethane
under high pressure." J. Chem. Phys. 126, 114701 (2007).

J. Hooper, M. H. Fang, M. Zhou, D. Fobes, N. Dang, Z. Q. Mao, C. M. Feng, Z.A.
Xu, M.H. Yu, C.J. O'Connor, G.J Xu, N. Anderson, and M. Salamon. "Competing
magnetic fluctuations in Sr3Ru2O7 probed by Ti doping." Phys. Rev. B 75, 060403
(2007).

J. Hooper, M. Zhou, Z.Q. Mao, Y. Liu, R. Perry, and Y. Maeno. "Critical current of
the Sr2RuO4-Sr3Ru2O7 eutectic system." Phys. Rev. B 73, 132510 (2006).

Z.Q. Mao, M. Zhou, J. Hooper, V. Golub, and C. O'Connor. "Phase separation in the
itinerant metamagnetic transition of Sr4Ru3O10." Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 011801 (2006).

J. Hooper, M. Zhou, Z.Q. Mao, R. Perry, and Y. Maeno. "Tunneling magnetoresistance
studies of Sr3Ru2O7." Phys. Rev. B 72, 134417 (2005).

J. Hooper, Z.Q. Mao, R. Perry, and Y. Maeno. "Unusual oscillation in tunneling
magnetoresistance near a quantum critical point in Sr3Ru2O7." Phys. Rev. Lett. 92,
257206 (2004).

J. Hooper, Z.Q. Mao, K.D. Nelson, Y. Liu, M. Wada, and Y. Maeno. "Anomalous
Josephson network in the Ru-Sr2RuO4 eutectic system." Phys. Rev. B 70, 014510
(2004).

M. Zhou, J. Hooper, D. Fobes, Z.Q. Mao, V. Golub, and C. O'Connor. "Electronic
and magnetic properties of triple-layered ruthenate Sr4Ru3O10 single crystals grown
by a floating-zone method." Mat. Res. Bull. 40, 942 (2005).

R. Fittipaldi, A. Vecchione, S. Fusanobori, K. Takizawa, H. Yaguchi, J. Hooper, R.S.
Perry, and Y. Maeno. "Crystal growth of the new Sr2RuO4-Sr3Ru2O7 eutectic system
by a floating zone method." J. Crystal Growth 282, 152 (2005).

Selected Presentations:

"High-velocity impact fragmentation of brittle, granular aluminum spheres." Oral
presentation at Hypervelocity Impact Symposium in Baltimore, MD, September 2012.

"Scale-invariant behavior in the impact fragmentation of aluminum reactive materials."
Seminar at Lawrence Livermore National Lab, December 16 2011.

"Early-time thermal events behind a shock front and their relation to explosive initia-
tion." Invited talk at the 2011 APS Shock Compression of Condensed Matter confer-
ence in Chicago, Il, June 2011.

"Fractal behavior in the fragmentation of brittle reactive materials." Oral presentation
at the 2011 APS Shock Compression of Condensed Matter conference in Chicago, Il,
June 2011.

"On the role of phonon scattering processes in shock induced initiation." Oral presen-
tation at 14th International Detonation Symposium, Coeur d'Alene, ID. April 2010.

"Impact fragmentation and combustion of porous aluminum spheres." Oral presenta-
tion at JANNAF 43rd Combustion Subcommittee Meeting, La Jolla, CA, December
10 2009.

"Vibrational energy transfer in shock molecular crystals." Oral presentation at 2009
APS Shock Conference in Nashville.

"THz spectroscopy and ab initio modeling of explosives." Inivited talk at 2009 South-
eastern University Research Association meeting on Applications of Terahertz Tech-
nology in Washington, DC.

"Microscopic model of initiation." Technical review for NAVSEA, May 6 2009.

"Vibrational energy transfer in shocked solid explosives." 2008 Gordon Conference on
Energetic Materials, Tilton, NH.

"Predicting noncovalent interactions with nonlocal density functional theory." 2007
Shock Compression of Condensed Matter Conference, Kona, HI.

"Ab initio studies of high pressure states of crystalline nitromethane." 2006 American
Physical Society March Meeting.

Awards: 

Navy 2010 Delores Etter Top Scientists and Engineers Award (as part of NSWC Indian
Head's Reactive Materials Team) for work on development of new structural reactive
materials.

2009 NSWC Indian Head Harold R. Stark Award for Innovation (as part of Reactive
Materials Team) for work on fragmentation of reactive materials.