StFX Department of Physics

Dr. Michael Steinitz is a professor of Physics at StFX, where he has been since 1973.  He does research in Solid State Physics, in neutron scattering and magnetic structures of rare-earth and transition metals, especially incommensurate and density-wave structures, as well as dilatometry at cryogenic and very high temperatures. Together with Jan Genossar of the Technion, he developed the tilted-plate capacitance displacement sensor, which allows angstrom resolution at temperatures exceeding 1000 C.

From 2006 to 2020 he was the editor-in-chief of the Canadian Journal of Physics.

In 2005 he was coordinator of Canadian efforts for the World Year of Physics 2005 (as declared by the United Nations) for the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP).  A highlight of this year in Canada was the lecture tour by Clifford Will on "Was Einstein Right?" together with performances by the Borealis String Quartet of a string quartet commissioned for the World Year of Physics by the CAP.  The quartet was composed by Aaron Hryciw, a student of Canadian composer, Malcolm Forsyth's, at the University of Alberta, who was then also a PhD candidate in physics.  The program cover was designed by Michael's former student, Nicole MacDonald.