Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Improvements To Isru For Rocket Fuel Generation, Justin Sharp

James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal (JMURJ)

The development of efficient in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) technologies is crucial for the establishment of an extraterrestrial, self-sustaining colony. The generation of rocket fuel at potential colony locations is necessary to provide the transportation of people and cargo to and from these locations.Three processes are discussed for the improvement of ISRU methods to generate rocket fuel: electrolysis and electrochemical improvements to the process of crude fuel production, physical and chemical methods for separation of gaseous H2 and O2, and materials and cryogenics engineering for storage and transportation of liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOX). Storage and transportation of cryogenics …

Curvature In Compressed Thin Cylindrical Shells Approaching The Isometric Limit, Nicole Voce

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

The ability to manipulate surface elastic instabilities finds many applications in engineering smart interfaces, e.g. in fluid-structure interaction and micro-fabrication. We study the buckling of a thin cylindrical shell constrained to slide onto an inner non-deformable pipe. Our goal is to characterize the relationship between the shell thickness and the localization of stresses by using curvature measurements. First, we induce surface buckling by immobilizing one end of the shell and applying force to the other end. Then, we obtain a virtual reconstruction of the surface from 3D optical scanning and compute the Gaussian curvature for every point on the mesh. …

High Consequence Scenarios For North Korean Atmospheric Nuclear Tests With Policy Recommendations For The U.S. Government, Thomas S. Popik, Jordan T. Kearns, George H. Baker Iii, Henry F. Cooper, William R. Harris

Department of Integrated Science and Technology - Faculty Scholarship

The government of North Korea has declared high-altitude EMP-capability to be a “strategic goal” and has also threatened an atmospheric test of a hydrogen bomb. Atmospheric nuclear tests have the potential to cripple satellites and the undersea cable networks critical to communication, and navigation necessary for trans-Pacific trade among the U.S., China, and other nations. When a nuclear warhead is detonated at high altitude, a series of electromagnetic pulses radiate downward within the line of sight of the blast. These pulses can disable equipment with miniature electronics and long conductors. Electric grid controls and transmission systems are especially vulnerable. Intense …

Testimony Of Dr. George H. Baker, Senior Advisor To The Congressional Emp Commission, George H. Baker Iii

Department of Integrated Science and Technology - Faculty Scholarship

This is the script of testimony before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. It offers a vision for a future in which our electric power systems will be able to operate through or quickly recover from catastrophic failure due to electromagnetic pulse (EMP), cyber, and physical attacks. The scope of the term ‘EMP’ used in this testimony includes both naturally occurring solar storms and the more energetic man-made EMP hazards. The vision has been discussed with members of the electric power industry, and prominent EMP/cyber/physical protection advocates who find it to be supportable and actionable. The nature of EMP, cyber, and …

Evolution And Rationale For United States Department Of Defense Electromagnetic Pulse Protection Standard, George H. Baker Iii

Department of Integrated Science and Technology - Faculty Scholarship

The United States (US) Department of Defense (DoD) Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) protection standard offers a solid basis for protecting commercial communication, data, and control facilities. Because of the standard’s shielded barrier and test requirements, it is not surprising that there is a strong temptation within industry and government to dismiss the MIL-STD 188-125 approach in favor of less rigorous protection methods. It is important to understand that US DoD EMP protection standard for fixed facilities, MIL-STD-188-125, reflects an evolution by trial and error that spanned a period of decades beginning with the acquisition of the Minuteman Missile System in the …

Measurements Of Photon Beam Intensity At The High Intensity Gamma-Ray Source (Higs) Facility For Astrophysically Relevant Photodisintegration Reaction Cross Section, Evan G. Meekins

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

How nuclear reactions in stars and stellar explosions such as supernovae have forged the elements out of hydrogen and helium leftover from the Big Bang is a longstanding, still timely research topic in nuclear astrophysics. Although there is a fairly complete understanding of the production of the chemical elements and their isotopes up to iron by nuclear fusion in stars, important details concerning the production of the elements from iron to uranium remain puzzling. Current knowledge is that the nucleosynthesis beyond iron proceeds mainly via neutron capture reactions and subsequent electron decays to stability. However, some 35 proton-rich stable isotopes, …

Thermoelectric Properties Of Nano-Meso-Micro Β-Mno2 Powders As A Function Of Electrical Resistance: Experiment And Theory, Morgan Hedden

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

In this work, the thermoelectric properties of Beta-MnO² powders as a function of electrical resistance are measured and compared to theoretical models. The discovery of a giant Seebeck coefficient by Song et al. in these powders rejuvenated interest in understanding the physical mechanism behind it. A simple pestle and mortar method was used to modify the MnO² powder sizes. We and the largest S coefficient, power factor, and thermal conductivity values were found to be S=-316 uV/K, (sigma)S² =5.8x10^-7 W/mK² and k=0.2096 W/(mK), all observed at a particle electrical resistance of R=9.8 Ohms. From these …

Aqueous Foam Stabilized By Tricephalic Amphiphilic Surfactants, Seth A. Heerschap

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Aqueous foams can be described as a close packing of gas bubbles stabilized by surface active molecules. Their complex and diverse properties make them attractive for many chemical and physical applications where foaming, emulsifying or coating processes are needed. The recent synthesis of multi-cephalic and multi-tailed amphiphilic molecules have reportedly enhanced their antibacterial activity in connection with tail length and nature of the head group.

This report covers the foamability of two triple head, double tail cationic surfactants (M-1,14,14, M-P,14,14) and a triple head single tail cationic surfactant (M-1,1,14) and compares them with commercially available single headed, single tailed anionic …

Archive - A Data Management Program, James H. Devilbiss, C. Steven Whisnant, Yasmeen Shorish

Department of Physics and Astronomy - Faculty Scholarship

To meet funding agency requirements, a portable data management solution is presented for small research groups. The database created is simple, searchable, robust, and can reside across multiple hard drives. Employing a standard metadata schema for all data, the database ensures a high level of standardization, findability, and organization. The software is written in Perl, runs on UNIX, and presents a web-based user interface. It uses a fast, portable log-in scheme, making it easy to export to other locations. As research continues to move towards more open data sharing and reproducibility, this database solution is agile enough to accommodate external …

Polariton Evaporation: The Blackbody Radiation Nature Of The Low-Frequency Radiation Emitted By Radiative Polaritons To The Surrounding Space, Yosep Schwab, Harkirat S. Mann, Brian N. Lang, Giovanna Scarel

Department of Physics and Astronomy - Faculty Scholarship

Upon formation, radiative polaritons in thin oxide films or crystals emit radiation to the surrounding space. This radiation is confined in a small range of the microwave to far-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, independently of the oxide chemistry. This work shows that the low-frequency radiation is blackbody radiation associated with a temperature directly related to the boson character of the radiative polaritons and to their amount. The proximity of this temperature to absolute zero Kelvin explains the confinement of the frequency. This phenomenon is named polariton evaporation.

Effective Thermoelectric Power Generation In An Insulated Compartment, Harkirat S. Mann, Yosep Schwab, Brian N. Lang, Jarrett L. Lancaster, Ronald J. Parise, Giovanna Scarel

Department of Physics and Astronomy - Faculty Scholarship

The Seebeck coefficient S is a temperature- and material-dependent property, which linearly and causally relates the temperature difference ΔT between the “hot” and “cold” junctions of a thermoelectric power generator (TEC-PG) to the voltage difference ΔV . This phenomenon is the Seebeck effect (SE), and can be used to convert waste heat into usable energy. This work investigates the trends of the effective voltage output ΔV (t ) and effective Seebeck coefficient S′(t ) versus several hours of activity of a solid state TEC-PG device. The effective Seebeck coefficient S′(t ) here …

Origin Of The Low Frequency Radiation Emitted By Radiative Polaritons Excited By Infrared Radiation In Planar La2o3 Films, Anita J. Vincent-Johnson, Yosep Schwab, Harkirat S. Mann, Mathieu Francoeur, James S. Hammonds Jr., Giovanna Scarel

Department of Physics and Astronomy - Faculty Scholarship

Upon excitation in thin oxide films by infrared radiation, radiative polaritons are formed with complex angular frequency ω, according to the theory of Kliewer and Fuchs (1966 Phys. Rev. 150 573). We show that radiative polaritons leak radiation with frequency ωi to the space surrounding the oxide film. The frequency ωi is the imaginary part of ω. The effects of the presence of the radiation leaked out at frequency ωi are observed experimentally and numerically in the infrared spectra of La2O3 films on silicon upon excitation by infrared radiation of the 0TH type radiative polariton. The frequency ωi is found …

Excitation Of Radiative Polaritons By Polarized Broadband Infrared Radiation In Thin Oxide Films Deposited By Atomic Layer Deposition, Anita J. Vincent-Johnson, Andrew E. Masters, Xiaofeng Hu, Giovanna Scarel

Department of Physics and Astronomy - Faculty Scholarship

This work contributes to the understanding of infrared radiation interaction with matter and its absorption for energy harvesting purposes. By exciting radiative polaritons in thin oxide filmswith polarized infrared radiation, a further evidence is collected that a link exists between radiative polaritons and the heat recovery mechanism hypothesized in previous research. In the voltage transient occurring when the infrared radiation is turned on, the observed time necessary to reach the maximum voltage and the voltage intensity versus angle of incidence exhibit a mismatch when generated by polarized and nonpolarized infrared radiation. The existence of collective charge oscillation modes in the …

High & Low Resolution Techniques To Solve Protein Structures, Nathan Wright

Science Enabled by Photon Sources: Local Research Interests in Virginia

Protein structure and dynamics form the platform on which almost all biomedical research is currently based, including hot topics like computer-aided drug design and established problems like creating a cure for cancer. Since most proteins are too small to visualize with even an electron microscope, biochemists must use either NMR spectroscopy or x-ray diffraction to determine what the structures look like. In my lab, we combine both techniques to describe fundamentally how normal and mutated proteins behave in muscle cells. We are specifically interested in the structural protein obscurin. This giant muscle protein helps to organize muscle cells, sense muscle …

Optical Techniques To Probe Internal Dynamics Of Soft Materials, Klebert Feitosa

Science Enabled by Photon Sources: Local Research Interests in Virginia

Like many other soft materials, foam displays complex fluid behavior. Under different circumstances it may behave like an elastic solid or a typical fluid depending on driving forces and the interactions between individual bubbles. To understand the inherent complexities of foam flow, an effective method to visualize its internal structure and dynamics is paramount. In this talk, I will introduce two techniques we have used in our lab to probe foam dynamics at the bubble level: optical tomography and confocal microscopy. The results show great promise to unveil the internal mechanisms that lead to the complex fluid behavior of foams.

X-Ray Fluorescence Microscopy: A Tool For Biology, Life Science & Nanomedicine, Stafan Vogt

Science Enabled by Photon Sources: Local Research Interests in Virginia

Trace elements, in particular metals, play a significant role in most known life forms. It is estimated that one-third of all known proteins contain metal cofactors, and the majority of these function as essential metalloenzymes catalyzing biochemical reactions. Trace metals are increasingly recognized as having a critical impact on human health both in their natural occurrence and via therapeutic drugs (e.g., environmental exposure to heavy metals, treatment with cisplatin-based drugs in chemotherapy, ...), and in diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Quantitative study of the distribution of trace elements on the cellular and subcellular level provide important information about functions and pathways …

Harvesting Heat Through Seebeck Spin Tunneling Effect, Costel Constantin

Science Enabled by Photon Sources: Local Research Interests in Virginia

Harvesting the wasted heat released in the atmosphere by electronic devices has become an important issue in microelectronics as devices shrink toward nanoscale dimensions while achieving an increase in operating speed. Spintronic devices that make use of electrons’ spin as an information carrier offer a promising path to create novel efficient devices thus reducing this wasted heat. Thermoelectronics, on the other hand, explores the possibility of converting heat into electrical power. Spin caloritronics is an exciting new research field that takes advantage of both spintronics and thermoelectronics. In this talk, I will present the design of a spin caloritronic device …

The Role Of Photon Sources In Materials Research: Past, Present, & Future, E. Ward Plummer

Science Enabled by Photon Sources: Local Research Interests in Virginia

In this lecture I will trace the development of Light Sources from the early days of parasitic operation to the new billion dollar dedicated facilities. Clearly, the mode of usage has changed, but so has the type of user. How have these facilities balanced the need for beyond the state-of-the art experiments and serving the needs for routine characterization of materials? How can and should these facilities address the needs for the development of a workforce needed for the next generation of machines and science? Have they produced the science and scientists anticipated? Where do we go next, what is …

Pmma Nanocomposites Composed Of Optically Active Doped Inorganic Nanocrystals, Kyle Gipson

Science Enabled by Photon Sources: Local Research Interests in Virginia

As technology advances, more efficient, cost-effective materials and processes are being developed to serve the duties of optical materials within networks. As light transfers data through polymer optical materials, the polymeric matrix absorbs the signal and this phenomenon is known as attenuation. Attenuation occurs via the higher vibrational energies with respect to fluoropolymers that are inherent with hydrocarbon amorphous polymers like polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).

One solution to realize efficient light emission is to incorporate nanoparticles into the polymer matrix. In the research presented, aqueous solution-polymer precipitation was used to synthesize light harvesting ligand capped luminescent nanoparticles. Tb3+:LaF3 was the chromophore …

Optical Properties& Energy Transfer Dynamics Of Atmospheric Species, Daniel K. Havey

Science Enabled by Photon Sources: Local Research Interests in Virginia

Our research group is interested in how light interacts with small molecules and particulate matter that are important to atmospheric chemistry and climate change. An active project currently being performed in the James Madison University Undergraduate Laser Laboratory involves a detailed mapping of energy transfer rates from excited or metastable states of atomic or molecular species. This talk describes a specific example study with potential relevance to the JLAMP VUV/Soft X-ray User Facility that would investigate relaxation dynamics of metastable Krypton atoms using two-photon photoacoustic spectroscopy at 819 nm and 124 nm. A study like this would provide useful reference …

Surface Modification & Characterization Of Nano-Composite Polymers, Chris Hughes, Brian Augustine

Science Enabled by Photon Sources: Local Research Interests in Virginia

We have studied the modification of surfaces of both PMMA and nano-composite polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) containing acrylics. These nano-composites can be spun cast from a variety of solvents and the surface chemistry can be modified by exposure to oxygen-containing plasmas. However, we have found that interesting surface structure evolve over the space of several hours after these films are deposited. We have also found that the solvent used for the spin casting of these layers can alter the behaviors of these surfaces. In particular, we found that halogenated solvents can form complexes with the PMMA backbone to increase the …

Research Potential Of The Twisted Photon Beams, Andrei Afanasev

Science Enabled by Photon Sources: Local Research Interests in Virginia

The fact that photon beams can carry large orbital angular momenta was pointed out in a pioneering work by Allen and collaborators [1] and was later demonstrated experimentally. When quantized, such beams can be described in terms of twisted photons [2] that have a peculiar property: their total angular momentum projected on the direction of propagation may range from a few to hundreds of units of h. Accelerator-based light sources may generate such twisted light with high intensities, leading to new applications in several fields of physics. Examples of such applications will be presented in this talk.

[1.] L. Allen …

Development Of A 60,000 Rpm X-Ray Chopper With 25 Nsec Phase Jitter For Crystallography, Eric Maslen

Science Enabled by Photon Sources: Local Research Interests in Virginia

A high speed X-Ray chopper (mechanical shutter) was developed for sub microsecond time-resolved photocrystallography using a synchrotron source. Based on a rim-slotted titanium wheel rotating at a nominal 60,000 r/min, the device has an upper bound timing alignment (aperture passage compared to source pulse edge) jitter of 23 nsec RMS and has been operated consistently at jitters as low as 7 nsec RMS. The spindle was derived from a commercial turbo-molecular pump whose drive was adapted in a fairly simple manner to enable fine control by a secondary wheel phase regulator using conventional, off-the-shelf components. Because the spindle uses magnetic …

Imaging And Rheology Of Complex Granular & Granular-Fluid Flows, Brian Utter

Science Enabled by Photon Sources: Local Research Interests in Virginia

Granular materials are ubiquitous in nature and industry, from avalanches to the mixing of pharmaceuticals, yet the behavior of these “fluids” is poorly understood. While individual particles interact simply through friction and inelastic collisions, the non-linear forces and large number of particles leads to an unpredictable, complex system. History dependence, strong fluctuations and sudden failure are commonly observed, making predictive equations of macroscopic flow difficult or impossible to determine. Our recent work focuses on jamming, avalanching and shear banding in dense granular and granular-fluid flows and, in particular, the effects of external vibration and surface chemistry on flow properties. Ongoing …

Effects Of Metallic, Semiconducting, And Insulating Substrates On The Coupling Involving Radiative Polaritons In Thin Oxide Films, Anita J. Vincent-Johnson, Kyle A. Vasquez, Giovanna Scarel, James S. Hammonds Jr., Mathieu Francoeur

Department of Physics and Astronomy - Faculty Scholarship

Through simulations, this work explores the effects of conducting, semiconducting, and insulating substrates on the absorption of infrared radiation by radiative polaritons in oxide layers with thicknesses that range from 30 nm to 9 μm. Using atomic layer deposition, oxide layers can be formed in the nanometer scale. Our results suggest that the chemistry and conductivity of the substrate determine the amount of absorption by radiative polaritons in oxide layers thinner than the skin depth. The effects of the chemistry and conductivity of the substrate are especially effective for oxide films thinner than about 250 nm, which we label as …

Wetting Properties Induced In Nano-Composite Poss-Ma Polymer Films By Atomic Layer Deposited Oxides, Kyle A. Vasquez, Anita J. Vincent-Johnson, W. Chris Hughes, Brian H. Augustine, Kyoungmi Lee, Gregory N. Parsons, Giovanna Scarel

Department of Physics and Astronomy - Faculty Scholarship

Due to their unique properties, nano-composite polyhedral oligomeric silsequioxane (POSS) copolymer films are attractive for various applications. Here we show that their natural hydrophobic character can become hydrophilic when the films are modified by a thin oxide layer, up to 8 nm thick, prepared using atomic layer deposition. A proper choice of the deposition temperature and thickness of the oxide layer are required to achieve this goal. Unlike other polymeric systems, a marked transition to a hydrophilic state is observed with oxide layers deposited at increasing temperatures up to the glass transition temperature (∼110 °C) of the POSS copolymer film. …

Holism And Non-Separability Applied To Quantum Mechanics, Catherine E. Nisson

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Einstein was never satisfied with quantum mechanics. He argued that quantum mechanics was incomplete for two main reasons; it violated the locality principle and the separability principle. The violation of separability is an unavoidable consequence of quantum interactions. Non-separability can be seen in quantum entanglement. Non-locality, however, is more controversial. Einstein and his associates published the EPR paper in order to argue for the incompleteness of quantum mechanics. Years later, John Bell formulated what became known as the Bell Inequalities in response to the EPR paper. The Bell Inequalities are seen as a major obstacle for quantum locality. I will …

Heat Recovery Mechanism In The Excitation Of Radiative Polaritons By Broadband Infrared Radiation In Thin Oxide Films, Anita J. Vincent-Johnson, Kyle A. Vasquez, John E. Bridstrup, Andrew E. Masters, Xiaofeng Hu, Giovanna Scarel

Department of Physics and Astronomy - Faculty Scholarship

This work probes radiative polaritons in thin oxide layers as a mean to capture and absorb broadband infrared radiation and transform it into heat. A heat recovery mechanism, based on the Seebeck effect, is used as the tool of the investigation. Heat production challenges the current understanding which views the excitation of radiative polaritons as only accompanied by the emission of electromagnetic radiation. The heat recovery mechanism presented here can inspire the design of infrared energy harvesting devices, similar to photovoltaic cells, and other devices to convert energy from a wide range of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum using thermoelectric power …

Proposal For A Dod Combined Battlefield Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E3) Initiative, George H. Baker Iii

Department of Integrated Science and Technology - Faculty Scholarship

The presentation emphasizes the growing importance of electromagnetic survivability and compatibility. Operation Desert Storm demonstrated the clear military advantage provided by sophisticated electronic weapon and communication systems. In addition, the offensive tactic of taking out the enemy's eyes and ears during the air war paid off, giving our military decisive air superiority. The lessons for the future are clear. High-tech electronics now so dominates the battlefield that the outcome of future conflicts could well be decided by electronics attrition rather than human casualties. Our Desert Storm experience thus accentuates the importance of guaranteeing that our electronic systems will not be …

Damage Analysis Modified Trac Computer Program (Damtrac), George H. Baker Iii, Alan D. Mcnutt, G. Bradford Shea, David M. Rubenstein

Department of Integrated Science and Technology - Faculty Scholarship

A computer program tailored for EMP damage analysis of solid-state circuitry has been developed by modifying the existing TRAC network analysis program. Modification of the TRAC diode and transistor models to include breakdown parameters and the addition of a semiconductor device parameter library have greatly simplified the analyst's task. An added feature is a subroutine that automatically calculates the amplitude and duration of transient power dissipated in electronic circuit components.