Harold T. Stokes

Harold T. Stokes is an American physicist and computational scientist who has made significant contributions to the field of crystallography and solid-state physics. He is best known for his work in developing computational tools and methods for analyzing crystal structures and phase transitions in materials science.

Stokes has spent much of his career at Brigham Young University, where he has served as a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. His research focuses primarily on the application of group theory to crystallographic problems, particularly in understanding structural phase transitions and the symmetry properties of crystalline materials. He has been instrumental in developing software tools that help researchers analyze and predict crystal structures.

One of his most notable contributions is his work on the ISOTROPY software suite, which provides computational tools for analyzing phase transitions in crystalline materials. This software has become widely used in the crystallography and materials science communities for studying structural distortions and phase relationships in various materials. The tools help researchers understand how crystal structures change under different conditions such as temperature and pressure variations.

Stokes has collaborated extensively with other researchers in the field, particularly in developing theoretical frameworks for understanding complex crystallographic phenomena. His work has applications in various areas including the study of ferroelectric materials, magnetic systems, and other functional materials that undergo structural phase transitions. Through his research and software development, he has contributed to advancing the understanding of structure-property relationships in crystalline materials, which has implications for materials design and engineering applications.