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Home / Undergraduate Research Highlights / Physics / Astronomy
 
Physics and Astronomy Highlights
Total Listing: 86    (Listed by the order of record adding time, Descending)
( 1 )   Recorded at: 2/14/2008      
Title Detection of charged particles with charge injection devices
Journal Rev Sci Instrum, 2007;78:063301-1, Fletcher KA, Apker B, Hammond S, Punaro J, Marshall FJ, Laine J, Forties R
Description A method for using charge injection devices (CIDs) for detection of high energy charged particles from inertial confinement fusion reactions was described. Because of the relatively small depletion region of the CID camera (depletion depth of ~7 mm), aluminum foils were placed in front of the device to reduce the energy of the charged particles and maximize the energy deposited in the CID. Simultaneous measurements of 2H(d,p)3H protons with a CID and a surface barrier detector indicated that the CID is an efficient detector of charged fusion products. Tests using high energy alpha particles emitted from a radium-226 source were also reported
Faculty Kurt Fletcher is a professor of physics
Student Ben Apker, Samantha Hammond, and John Punaro participated in this work during their junior and senior years. Apker is currently employed for a small technology company, Hammond is a graduate student in physics at UNC-Chapel Hill, and Punaro is a graduate student in the engineering program at Buffalo. Frederic Marshall is a senior researcher at the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics. Jonathan Laine and Robert Forties were both undergraduate researchers at LLE
Fund This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and the University of Rochester – Laboratory for Laser Energetics
 
( 2 )   Recorded at: 2/14/2008      
Title Linear and branched fluoroazo-benzene chromophores with increased compatibility in semifluorinated polymers
Journal J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2007;45:3166-3177, Campbell VE, Paoprasert P, Mykietyn JD, In I, McGee DJ, Gopalan P
Description A family of fluorinated azobenzene-based push-pull chromophores with one, two, and three trifluorovinyl ether groups in linear and branched architecture was synthesized and utilized as active materials in low optical loss electro-optic composites. The composites showed excellent optical clarity, low birefringence, and optical loss less than 0.5 dB/cm, while giving electro-optic coefficients of 3-7 pm/V at the telecommunications wavelength of 1550 nm
Faculty David McGee is professor of physics at Drew. Padma Gopalan is a professor in the materials science and engineering department at UWisconsin-Madison
Student Victoria Campbell, Peerasak Paoprasert, and Insik In are graduate students in the department of materials science and engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Justin Mykietyn was a chemistry major at Drew University and participated in this research as an NSF-REU student at the University of Wisconsin. He is now in the chemistry graduate program at Yale University
Fund This research was supported by NSF-REU, NSF-RUI and NSF-CAREER awards.
 
( 3 )   Recorded at: 2/14/2008      
Title Photoinduced phase-separation in Bi0.4Ca0.6MnO3 thin films
Journal Phys Rev B, 2007;76:104423, Smolyaninova VN, Talanova E, Kennedy R, Kolagani RM, Overby M, Aldaco L, Yong G, Karki K
Description In this paper we report a study of photoinduced and current-induced resistivity changes in Bi0.4Ca0.6MnO3 thin films. The magnitude of the energy barrier separating metastable conducting phase and charge-ordered insulating phase estimated from the temperature dependence of the lifetime of the photoinduced conducting phase was found to be large, of the order of the charge ordering temperature. The possibility of coexistence of two phases with high refractive index contrast on a sub-micron scale makes these materials interesting for potential photonic device applications.
Faculty VN Smolyaninova and Rajeswari M Kolagani are associate professors at the Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geosciences
Student R. Kennedy participated in this research in his junior year and continued as a senior thesis project. He is a high school science teacher now. M. Overby participated in this research in his senior year. Overby is in graduate school at present. L. Aldaco is employed by the US Government. K. Karki contributed to this research during his junior year. He is continuing to participate in research working on his senior thesis project now
Fund This work is supported by the NSF grants DMR-0348939, DMR-0453342 and DMR-04221141, and Research Corporation Grant #CC 629
 
( 4 )   Recorded at: 2/14/2008      
Title Enhancement of photoinduced effects in Bi1-xCaxMnO3 thin films
Journal Appl Phys Lett, 2007;90:222501, Smolyaninova VN, Talanova E, Kolagani RM, Yong G, Kennedy R, Steger M, Schaefer D, Wall K
Description We have found a considerable increase of the photoinduced resistivity changes and the lifetime of these changes in the Bi0.4Ca0.6MnO3 thin films after depositing gold nanoparticles on the surface. A possible interpretation of this effect may be the enhancement of local electromagnetic field at the interface between the film and the metal nanoparticles due to the plasmon resonance. This phenomenon is interesting from the point of view of potential optoelectronic switching and memory device applications
Faculty VN Smolyaninova, RM Kolagani and D Schaefer are professors at the Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geosciences
Student R. Kennedy participated in this research the summer of his senior year. He is a high school science teacher now. M. Steger participated in this work as REU student. K. Wall participated in this research in her senior year. Steger and K. Wall are in graduate schools at present.
Fund This work is supported by the NSF grants DMR-0348939, DMR-0453342, and DMR-04221141.
 
( 5 )   Recorded at: 2/14/2008      
Title Period-color and amplitude-color relations in classical Cepheid variables - V: The Small Magellanic Cloud Cepheid models
Journal Mon Not R Astron Soc, 2007;380:819-827, Kanbur SM, Ngeow C, Feiden G
Description Period-color and amplitude-color relations at maximum, mean and minimum light are constructed from a large grid of full amplitude hydrodynamic models of Cepheids with a composition appropriate for the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). We compare these theoretical relations with those found from observations. The theoretical relations are, in general, in good agreement with their observational counterparts, although there exist some discrepancy from short period (log P < 1) Cepheids. We outline a physical mechanism which can, in principle, be one factor to explain observed PC/AC relations for the long and short period Cepheids in the Galaxy, Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and SMC. Our explanation relies on the hydrogen ionization front (HIF)-photosphere interaction and the way this interaction changes with pulsation period, phase and metallicity. Since the PC relation is connected with the period-luminosity (PL) relation, it is postulated that such a mechanism can also explain observed properties of the PL relation in these three galaxies
Faculty Shashi M. Kanbur is assistant professor in the Department of Physics
Student Greg Feiden is a Physics senior. He did this work while supported for the summer by a grant from the Dean of Arts and Sciences, SUNY Oswego. He hopes to go to graduate school in 2008.
 
( 6 )   Recorded at: 2/14/2008      
Title Structural and chemical changes in ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene due to gamma radiation-induced crosslinking and annealing in air
Journal Bio-Med Mater Eng, 2007;17:257-268, Viano AM, Spence KE, Shanks MA, Scott MA, Redfearn RD, Carlson CW, Holm TA, Ray AK
Description The crystalline features of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, the material most commonly used in the role of cartilage in human joint prostheses, were examined as a function of sterilization and aging in air. Structural changes were correlated with chemical measurements of cross-linking in the polymer, and the results suggest two different cross-linking pathways; one with positive effects on the mechanical properties of the material and one implicating less desirable mechanical performance
Faculty Ann Viano is a professor of physics. Richard Redfearn is a former professor of chemistry. Asit Ray is a professor of chemical and biochemical engineering at Christian Brothers University
Student Karyn Spence, Matthew Shanks, and Drew Scott participated as undergraduate physics majors, and Carl Carlson and Terese Holm participated as undergraduate chemistry majors. All of these students were involved in this project as summer research associates for one or more summers in their undergraduate careers. Spence is currently pursuing a doctorate in physics at Washington University. Scott is currently pursuing an MD at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center. Shanks and Holm are currently employed in industry, and Carlson is employed in education
Fund The research was supported through a Merck-AAAS Undergraduate Science Research Program Award
 
( 7 )   Recorded at: 2/14/2008      
Title Investigations of the nonlinear LMC Cepheid period-luminosity relation with testimator and Schwarz Information Criterion methods
Journal Publ Astron Soc Pac, 2007;119:512-522, Kanbur SM, Ngeow C, Nanthakumar A, Stevens R
Description In this paper, we investigate the linearity versus nonlinearity of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) Cepheid period-luminosity (PL) relation using two statistical approaches not previously applie to this problem: the testimator method andSchwarz Information Criterion (SIC). The testimator method as extended to multiple stages for the first time and is shown to be unbiased, and the variance of the estimated slope can be proven to be smaller than the standard slope estimated from linear regression theory. The Schwarz Information Criterion (also known as the Bayesian Information Criterion) is more conservative than the Aikake Information Criterion and tends to prefer lower order models. By using simulated datasets, we verify that these statistical techniques can be used to detect intrinsically linear and nonlinear PL relations. These methods are then applied to independent LMC Cepheid data sets from the OGLE and MACHO projects. Our results imply that there is a change of slope in longer period ranges for all of the data sets. This strongly supports previous results obtained from independent statistical tests, which show that the observed LMC P-L relation is nonlinear with a break period at or around 10 days
Faculty Shashi M. Kanbur is assistant professor in the Department of Physics and A. Nanthakumar is professor in the Department of Mathematics
Student Richard Stevens graduated in Mathematics and is currently working for a Power Company in the North East
Fund Richard Stevens was a Math senior who contributed significantly to this work. as volunteer who was paid a nominal grant for the work which was supplied from the PI's existing Space Telescope grant
 
( 8 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title An upgraded high-velocity dust particle accelerator at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota
Journal Int J Impact Eng, 2006;33:402-409, Manning HLK, Gregoire JM
Description Concordia College is home to a 2MeV dust particle accelerator originally developed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in the mid-1960's. This is the only dust particle accelerator in the United States and one of three operational dust particle accelerators in the world. Updates to the electronics system and vacuum system were made to this facility to keep it operational and available for use by scientists around the world.
Faculty Heidi Manning is an associate professor of physics.
Student John Gregoire participated in this research the summer after his sophomore and junior years. He is currently a graduate student at Cornell University
Fund The research was supported through a grant from the Minnesota Space Grant Consortium
 
( 9 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title Connecting structure and dynamics in glass forming materials by photon correlation spectroscopy
Journal Phys Rev B., 2007;75:132201-04, Sidebottom DL, Rodenburg BV, Changstrom JC
Description Photon correlation spectroscopy measurements of the a-relaxation in a series of glass forming liquids of widely varying fragility demonstrate a correlation between the non-ergodic level of the liquid and its fragility. This correlation, when combined with a previous correlation established between fragility and the stretching exponent that characterizes the non-exponentiality of the a-relaxation, implies that the a-relaxation should in general conform to scaling that is described by just two parameters: the non-ergodic level and the glass transition temperature
Faculty David Sidebottom is assistant professor of physics
Student Jessica Changstrom is a second year graduate student pursuing a MS. Brandon Rodenburg participated in this research beginning during his sophomore year and has recently graduated with a BS in physics
Fund The research was funded by grants from Research Corporation and from the Petroleum Research Fund
 
( 10 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title Lattice thermal conductivity of nanoscale AlN/GaN/AlN heterostructures: Effects of partial phonon spatial confinement
Journal J Appl Phys., 2006;100:104309-1-104309-8, Zou J, Lange X, Richardson C
Description A detailed theoretical modeling of thermal conductivity in a nanoscale AlN/GaN/AlN heterostructure was reported. Thermal conductivity in a heterostructure was shown to be higher than that in a single GaN thin film due to partial confinement of phonons. The thermal conductivity could also be tuned by adjusting the thickness of the GaN core layer. The obtained results are important for thermal management in nanodevices
Faculty Jie Zou is an assistant professor of physics
Student Xavier Lange and Chris Richardson enrolled in Research in Physics course in spring and summer 2006 and participated in this research as their course project. Xavier Lange is a junior pre-engineering student and will continue his study in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, starting fall 2007. Chris Richardson is currently a junior physics major at the department.
Fund The research was supported through an internal grant from Eastern Illinois University-the Council on Faculty Research grant
 
( 11 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title Global profiles of compressional ultralow frequency wave power at geosynchronous orbit and their response to the solar wind
Journal J Geophys Res., 2007;A05224:1-8, Sanny J, Judnick D, Moldwin MB, Berube D, Sibeck DG
Description The global profiles of compressional wave power in three ULF frequency bands using geosynchronous magnetic field data were investigated. For high and low geomagnetic activity, the greatest power is located in the afternoon sector and around midnight respectively. A summer power minimum in all three frequency bands is observed. The enhancement of ULF power by high solar wind velocity and pressure is greater for the lower-frequency waves, and solar wind plasma parameters have a significantly greater influence on ULF wave power than IMF parameters
Faculty Jeff Sanny is a professor of physics Loyola Marymount University; Mark Moldwin is associate professor of earth and space sciences at UCLA; David Berube is a visiting professor of physics at Loyola Marymount University; David Sibeck is a space physicist at NASA
Student Daniel Judnick participated in this research in the summer of his junior year and during his senior year. He is currently an engineer in the aerospace industry
Fund The research was supported by an NSF Magnetospheric Physics grant.
 
( 12 )   Recorded at: 10/24/2007      
Title . Inflaton fragmentation after lambda phi4 inflation
Journal J Cosmol Astropart P, 2007;2:014, Felder GN, Navros O
Description We used computer simulations to examine the development of spatial inhomogeneities during reheating after inflation in a quartic chaotic inflation model. We confirmed that the process of production of inhomogeneities in this model is qualitatively similar to what had been found for a quadratic model, but we were able to continue our simulations much longer and determine the time scale on which these fluctuations remain non-Gaussian. This information is crucial for attempts to analytically model the subsequent evolution of the fields
Faculty Gary Felder is an assistant professor of physics
Student Olga Navros participated in this work during the summer after her first year at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where she is an undergraduate
Fund This research was supported by NSF grant PHY-0456631
 
( 13 )   Recorded at: 10/24/2007      
Title Equation of state and high-pressure stability of Fe3P-schreibersite: Implications for phosphorus storage in planetary cores
Journal Geophys Res Lett, 2007;34:L06302, doi:10.1029/2006GL029160, Scott HP, Huggins S, Frank MR, Maglio SJ, Martin CD, Meng Y, Santillan J, Williams Q
Description Synchrotron X-ray diffraction and Diamond Anvil Cells (DACs) were used to measure the crystalline structure of Fe3P-schreibersite as a function of pressure. It is well-established that Earth's core is about 10% less dense than pure iron; furthermore, schreibersite inclusions in iron meteorites suggest that the presence of phosphorus may partially explain this density deficit. However, the results of this study indicate that the structure of schreibersite is not stable at the pressures of Earth's core
Faculty Henry Scott is an assistant professor of physics
Student Sabrina Huggins is an undergraduate senior in the same department. Sabrina completed this work during summer 2006. Sabrina will graduate this May and will pursue a master's degree in Earth science beginning next year, but she has not yet made a final decision regarding the school.
Fund This work was funded by the IUSB SMART Summer Fellowship Program. This work was also supported by an ACS PRF Starter Grant.
 
( 14 )   Recorded at: 10/24/2007      
Title Linear growth of spiral SASI modes in core-collapse supernovae
Journal Astrophys J, 2007;656:366-371, Blondin JM, Shaw S
Description We investigated the growth of spiral modes of the recently discovered spherical accretion shock instability using two-dimensional simulations of the post-bounce accretion flow of a core-collapse supernova. We measured linear growth rates of one, two, and three-armed spiral modes, and studied the process by which the distorted accretion shock can efficiently separate angular momentum in the post-shock flow leading to a spin-up of the underlying accreting proto-neutron star
Faculty John Blondin is professor of physics
Student Samantha Shaw began this project during the summer after her junior year and continued throughout her senior year. She is now in the graduate program in mechanical engineering at NC State University
Fund The research was supported through the Terascale Supernova Initiative, funded by a SciDAC grant from the US Department of Energy
 
( 15 )   Recorded at: 4/18/2007      
Title Infrared spectroscopy for the identification of modes of vibration in a temporary HeNe molecule
Journal J Phys Pt B: Atom M P, 2006;39:4683-4700, Bahrim C, Hunt J
Description A quantum model based on a Morse potential was developed for proving the formation of a temporary HeNe molecule during a thermal collision between Helium and Neon atoms. This model reveals the existence of molecular interactions between two rare gas atoms, through the discovery of several modes of vibration within various electronic potential wells of a HeNe* system at interatomic distances less than 6 atomic units. For experimental testing of our results, an infrared laser spectroscopy method is proposed and the abundance of Neon atoms after collision and successful vibrational-electronic excitation is predicted. This study enriches the understanding of the fundamental interactions between rare gas atoms, which are considered chemical inert by the standard models of chemical physics. This finding could improve the efficiency of HeNe lasers, which are widely used in industry and research, today
Faculty Cristian Bahrim is assistant professor of physics
Student Joseph Hunt participated in this research project as McNair Scholar during summer and fall of 2005 after his junior year, and as a senior honors thesis project. He is currently in a master’s program at University of Texas at Austin
Fund The research was supported by the McNair Program of the Department of Education and by Lamar University through a Research Enhancement Grant.
 
( 16 )   Recorded at: 4/18/2007      
Title Deducing the 237U(n,f) cross section using the surrogate ratio method.
Journal Phys. Rev. C, 2006:73, 054604, Burke TJ, Bernstein LA, Escher J, Ahle L, Church JA, Dietrich FS, Moody KJ, Norman EB, Phair L, Fallon P, Clark R, Deleplanque MA, Descovich M, Cromaz M, Lee IY, Macchiavelli AO, McMahan MA, Moretto LA, Rodriguez-Vieitez E, Stephens FS, Ai H, Plettner C., Beausang CW, Crider B
Description The cross section for 237U(n,f) has been deduced over an equivalent neutron energy range from 0 to 20 MeV using the surrogate ratio method. A 55 MeV 4He beam from the 88 inch cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory was used to induce fission in the following reactions: 238U(a,a'f) and 236U(a,a'f). The 238U reaction was a surrogate for 237U(n,f), and the 236U reaction was used as a surrogate for 235U(n,f). Scattered a particles were detected in a fully depleted segmented silicon telescope array over an angle range of 35° to 60° with respect to the beam axis. The fission fragments were detected in a third independent silicon detector located at backward angles between 106° and 131
Faculty Jason Burke, Lee Bernstein, Jutta Escher, Larry Ahle, Jennifer Church, Frank Dietrich, Ken Moody and Eric Norman are scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Larry Phair, Paul Fallon, rod Clark, Marie-Agnes Deleplanque, Martina Descovich, Mario Cromaz, I-Yang Lee, Augusto Macchiavelli, Peggy McMahon, Luciano Moretto, E. Rodriguez-Vieitez and Frank Stephens are scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Student John Ai is a graduate student and Cristina Plettner a postdoctoral fellow at Yale University. Cornelius Beausang is an associate professor at the University of Richmond. Ben Crider participated in this research during his junior year and then continued it as part of his senior project. Ben is currently attending graduate school in physics at the University of Kentucky.
 
( 17 )   Recorded at: 4/18/2007      
Title The role of shock waves in expansion tube accelerators
Journal Am J Phys, 2006;74(12):1071-1076, Olson G, Peterson R, Pulford B, Seaberg M, Stein K, Stelter C, Weber R
Description A recently popular physics classroom demonstration (the “ping pong cannon”) has led to a research effort involving a variety of optical measurements and a numerical simulation of the highly transient fluid dynamics. Only be utilizing the numerical simulation, combined with optical interferometry and schlieren, has it been possible to determine what serves to drive the ball explosively from the cannon at near the speed of sound
Faculty Peterson and Stein are professors of physics at Bethel UniversityPulford and Weber are now graduate fellows in optical physics at the U of NM, while Stelter, Seaberg and Olson are seniors graduating in 2007
Student Research supported by the MN NASA Space Grant and the Carlsen-Lewis endowment at Bethel University
 
( 18 )   Recorded at: 2/22/2007      
Title Variable time lag and backward ejection in full-dimensional analysis of strong-field double ionization
Journal Phys Rev Lett, 2006;97:103008:1-4, Haan SL, Breen L, Karim A, Eberly JH
Description The work employed classical ensembles to do computer modeling of double ionization of atoms by intense laser fields. It was discovered that in most of the double ionizations there was a time lag of a portion of a laser cycle between a recollision event and the actual ionization of the struck electron. This time lag was shown to be crucial to explaining existing experimental results regarding final electron momenta
Faculty Stan Haan is a professor of physics. J.H. Eberly is professor of physics at the University of Rochester
Student Llian Breen was a student worker on the project from January 2004 - December 2005, including two summers fulltime. He has graduated and is working for NOAA. Armin Karim started working on the project in summer 2005. He worked fulltime in summer and part-time during the academic year, and is presently a senior at Calvin College
Fund Student research was supported by an NSF-RUI grant and by Calvin College
 
( 19 )   Recorded at: 2/21/2007      
Title The Absolute Dimensions of the Overcontact Binary FI Bootis
Journal Astron J, 2006;32:1153-1157, Terrell D, Osborn WH, Smolinski JP, Gross J
Description UBVRI photometry of the eclipsing binary FI Bootis was obtained and analyzed simultaneously with previously published photometry and radial velocities. The analysis of the light and radial velocity curves shows that the system is an A-type W UMa system consisting of stars of 0.82 and 0.31 solar masses.
Faculty Wayne Osborn is a professor of physics
Student Jason Smolinski participated in the observations as part of class project in his junior year and assisted with the data analysis as a senior. He is currently a graduate student in astronomy at Michigan State University. John Gross is an observer at the Sonoita Research Observatory, AZ. Dirk Terrell is an astronomer with the Southwest Research Institute
 
( 20 )   Recorded at: 2/21/2007      
Title Measurement of double stars with a CCD camera: Two methods. Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofísica (Serie de Conferencias
Journal , 2006; 25:65-68, Smolinski, JP, Osborn WH
Description This research investigated using equatorial coordinates to determine separation ? and position angle ? for double stars rather than the traditional approach of computing them from rectangular coordinates. A comparison of the derived values from both methods for the same stellar images showed the two methods are equivalent. Measures for 62 neglected double stars were obtained
Faculty Wayne Osborn is professor of physics
Student He is currently a graduate student in astronomy at Michigan State University
 
( 21 )   Recorded at: 12/8/2006      
Title Effect of electrically insulating materials on magnetically induced electrical currents in a tissue-like medium
Journal Am J Phys, 2006;74(4):260-266, Hoffmeister BK, Shores AR, Banerjee S, Malkin RA
Description This study explored how the presence of plastic medical implants in a patient’s body can interact with electric fields produced by the time varying magnetic fields that occur during a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. We developed an analytical model based on Coulomb’s Law and Faraday’s Law that describes the influence of electrically insulating materials on the magnetically induced electric fields. In addition, we performed experimental measurements using Helmholtz coils to produce time varying magnetic fields in a volume of physiologic saline solution that served as a tissue-like medium. Pieces of plastic with different geometries were placed in the saline solution, and electric fields were measured in the saline using an inexpensive homemade probe. Predictions of the theoretical model compared well to experimental measurements
Faculty Brent Hoffmeister and Shubho Banerjee are physics professors at Rhodes College. Robert Malkin is a professor of biomedical engineering at Duke University
Student Andrew Shores participated in this research through his junior and senior years. He is currently a graduate student in electrical engineering at Duke University.
 
( 22 )   Recorded at: 12/8/2006      
Title Nonreactive molecular dynamics force field for crystalline hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5 triazine
Journal J Chem Phys, 2006:124;104508-104517, Boyd S, Gravelle M, Politzer P
Description A classical force field for the use in Molecular Dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations of defect behavior in the explosive substance RDX has been developed extensively tested. Point defects play a crucial role during detonation initiation. This force field will allow us to proceed in the study of the properties of topological defects
Faculty Sylke Boyd is a physics professor at the University of Minnesota - Morris; Peter Politzer is a chemistry professor emeritus at the University of New Orleans
Student Matthew Gravelle tested the force field on vacancies and rotational defects during his junior year, and is working toward a teaching licensure.
Fund The research was funded by a Grant in Aid of Undergraduate Research from the Dean of the Graduate School of the University of Minnesota
 
( 23 )   Recorded at: 12/8/2006      
Title In search of a new molecule
Journal Intnatl J Schol AcadIntellect Div, 2006;8:1-18, Hunt J, Bahrim C
Description A quantum model was developed to prove the formation of a temporary HeNe molecule during a thermal collision between Helium and Neon atoms. This model reveals the existence of molecular interactions between two rare gas atoms, and indicates several electronic potential wells at distances less than 6 atomic units between Helium and Neon atoms. Using a Morse potential model, several modes of vibration within each potential well are identified, as a clear signature for the formation of a HeNe molecule. For experimental testing our results, an infrared laser spectroscopy method is proposed, and the abundance of Neon atoms after collision and successful vibrational-electronic excitation is predicted. This study enriches the understanding of the fundamental interactions between rare gas atoms and also, it could improve the efficiency of HeNe lasers, which are widely used in industry and research, today
Faculty Cristian Bahrim is assistant professor of physics at Lamar University
Student Joseph Hunt participated in this research project as McNair Scholar in the summer after his junior year and then continued it as a senior honors thesis project. This fall, he will start a Master Thesis at University of Texas at Austin
Fund The research was supported through the Research Enhancement Grant at Lamar University.
 
( 24 )   Recorded at: 12/8/2006      
Title Thermally stable Schottky contacts on n-type GaN using ZrB2
Journal Appl Phys Lett, 2006;88:183505-1 – 183505-3, Oder TN, Martin P, Lin J, Jiang H, Williams JR, Isaacs-Smith T
Description The electrical properties and thermal stability of ZrB2 Schottky contacts deposited on n-type GaN were studied. As-deposited contacts had a barrier height of 0.80 eV, which decreased to 0.7 eV after annealing at 300 °C, and to 0.6 eV after additional annealing at 400 °C in nitrogen for 20 min. However, the barrier height remained at about 0.6 eV even when the contacts were annealed at 600 °C for 20 min. The Rutherford backscattering spectra of the annealed contacts showed no reaction at the ZrB2/GaN interface. These results indicate excellent thermal stability of ZrB2/GaN Schottky contacts and therefore make them attractive for fabricating electronic devices for high temperature applications
Faculty Tom N. Oder is a professor of physics at Youngstown State University. Jingyu Lin and Hongxing Jiang are professors of physics at Kansas State University. John R. Williams is a professor of physics at Auburn University. Tami Isaacs-Smith is a research associate at Auburn University
Student Pamela Martin participated in this research in her junior and senior years as a physics undergraduate student at Youngstown State University. She graduated in May 2006 with a B.S. in Physics and is starting her PhD program in materials science and engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Fund This research was supported by funds from Youngstown State University.
 
( 25 )   Recorded at: 12/8/2006      
Title Exact analytical and numerical calculation of the radiative recombination cross sections of fully stripped ions
Journal J Electro Waves Appl, 2006;20(11):1495-1501, Zerrad E, Charlot D, Hahn Y
Description Radiative recombination (RR) is one of the fundamental processes of importance in the studies of astrophysics and plasma physics. In this process, free electrons are captured into one of the infinite number of vacant orbitals of a target ion of charge Z and the excess of energy is emitted as a photon, Analytical expressions for the direct RR cross section are derived within a non-relativistic treatment in the dipole approximation for hydrogenic systems with one electron at any given incident energy
Faculty Essaid Zerrad is an associate professor, Department of Physics/Pre-Engineering at Delaware State University; Yukap Hahn, consultant
Student David Charlot participated in this research in his junior and senior years. Currently, he is a PhD student at University of California San Diego
Fund This research was supported by the Army Research Office
 
( 26 )   Recorded at: 12/8/2006      
Title Ultrasonic characterization of cancellous bone using apparent integrated backscatter
Journal Phys Med Biol, 2006;51:2715-2727, Hoffmeister BK, Jones III CI, Caldwell GJ, Kaste SC
Description This study tested the utility of an ultrasonic backscatter technique called “Apparent Integrated Backscatter” for diagnosing degenerative bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Measurements were performed on specimens of bovine cancellous (i.e., spongy) bone using two different broadband ultrasonic transducers with center frequencies of 1 and 5 MHz. The sensitivity of the technique was found to be strongly frequency dependent, with the 5 MHz transducer exhibiting much better sensitivity to changes in bone density than the 1 MHz transducer
Faculty Brent Hoffmeister is a professor of physics at Rhodes College. Sue Kaste is a member of the faculty at Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Student Charles Jones and Garnet Caldwell participated in this research the summer after their junior and sophomore years, respectively. Jones completed a maters degree in biomedical engineering at Ohio State University and plans to enter medical school
Fund The research was supported through a NSF-RUI grant
 
( 27 )   Recorded at: 7/20/2006      
Title Two-photon spectroscopy of rubidium using a grating-feedback diode laser.
Journal Am J Phys., 2006;74:218-223, Olson AJ, Carlson EJ, Mayer SK
Description Two-photon spectroscopy was used to investigate the transition in rubidium using a single grating-feedback diode laser operating at 778.1 nm (385 THz). Continuous tuning of the laser frequency over 4 GHz allowed for clear resolution of the Doppler-free spectral features and gave rise to accurate measurement of the hyperfine ground-state splitting in rubidium. A direct comparison between Doppler-broadened and Doppler-free spectral features was possible since both were distinctly evident in the two-photon spectra. By independently modifying the polarization state of the two laser fields, the impact of electric dipole selection rules on the two-photon transition spectra were investigated.
Faculty Shannon Mayer is an associate professor of physics at the University of Portland.
Student Abraham Olson and Evan Carlson participated in this research the summer after their sophomore years. Both students are currently juniors at the University of Portland
Fund The research was supported by the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust
 
( 28 )   Recorded at: 7/20/2006      
Title Chromophore orientation dynamics, phase stability, and photorefractive effects in branched azobenzene chromophores
Journal Macromol, 2006;39:957-961, Campbell VE, In I, McGee DJ, Woodward N, Caruso A, Gopalan P
Description The increased solubility and uniform dispersal of branched azobenzed chromophores over their monomeric analogues have been shown to improve the nonlinear optical performance of high glass transition temperature polymers. We investigated the application of these branched chromophores as guest nonlinear optical molecules in the plasticized polymer host polyvinylcarbazole and demonstrated the presence of photorefractive index gratings
Faculty David McGee is associate professor of physics at Drew University, Padma Gopalan is assistant professor of materials science at University of Wisconsin-Madison
Student Victoria Campbell and Insik In are graduate students in materials science at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Nathaniel Woodward and Anthony Caruso participated in this research as undergraduate physics and chemistry majors, respectively, at Drew. Both students started as summer researchers and continued the work as independent study projects for two years. Nathaniel is currently a graduate student in physics at Lehigh University and Anthony is applying to graduate school for chemistry.
Fund McGee, Woodward, and Caruso were supported by a NSF-RUI grant
 
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Title Stratosphere-troposphere evolution during polar vortex intensification
Journal J Geophys Res–Atmos, 2005:110: D24101, Limpasuvan V, Hartmann DL, Thompson DWJ, Jeev K, Yung YL
Description The coupled dynamics between the stratosphere and troposphere were examined during polar vortex intensification events. Anomalous wave activities (originating in the stratosphere) penetrated across the tropopause and significantly influenced the near-surface circulation. These occurrences are prevalent during La Nina climate conditions. Understanding of such coupling mechanisms potentially holds a key to improving mid-range weather forecasting and understanding climate evolution
Faculty Varavut Limpasuvan is an associate professor of applied physics at Coastal Carolina University (CCU). Dennis L. Hartmann is a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Washington. David W. J. Thompson is an assistant professor of atmospheric science at Colorado State University. Yuk L. Yung is a professor of geological and planetary sciences at the California Institute of Technology