Research Interests

I have two broad classes of research interests.

On one hand, I am interested in the uses of controlled cold-atom quantum systems. This includes quantum technologies such as quantum computing, quantum networking, and quantum sensing, as well as using cold-atom systems to explore fundamental physics, such as quantum thermodynamics. My most recent work in this area involves modeling the noise processes that degrade quantum information as it is transmitted through long optical fibers.

On the other hand, I am interested in physics education research, especially in (1) how to effectively teach quantum mechanics and (2) student experiences in physics, at both undergraduate and graduate levels. My most recent work in this area was a national-scale cross-institutional study of the mental health of physics and astronomy graduate students (results of which are being written up).

Recent Publications

P. R. Banner, S. L. Rolston, and J. W. Britton. "BIFROST: A First-Principles Model of Polarization Mode Dispersion in Optical Fiber." (2025). (In review with Physical Review Applied.) Available at: https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.01212

P. R. Banner, K. O'Brien, and C. Turpen. "Co-Designing for Graduate Student Mental Health: An Example of Participatory Research Methods in PER." Physics Education Research Conference Proceedings (2025). Available at: https://www.per-central.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=17116.

D. Kurdak, P. R. Banner, Y. Li, S. R. Muleady, A. V. Gorshkov, S. L. Rolston, and J. V. Porto, "Enhancement of Rydberg Blockade via Microwave Dressing." Physical Review Letters (2025). Available at: https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.123404. Arxiv (no paywall): https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.08236. 

Recent Classes Taught

Phys 4 - General Physics II (E&M) (Spring 2026)
Phys 3 - General Physics I (Mechanics) (Fall 2025)
Phys 107 - Quantum Mechanics (Fall 2025)

Fun Facts about Me

In my first year as an undergraduate student, I took a writing class for which I wrote a paper about the perception of war during the Middle Ages and the impact of those beliefs on today's waging of war. That paper was selected for inclusion in a first-year writing journal, which has since been indexed by Google. As a result, I am rather surprised to say that this first-year class assignment has been cited in several publications in fields ranging from sports medicine to counterterrorism studies.

I am a big fan of owls. And cats.