Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Temporal And Spectral Analysis Of 1es 2344+514 In Two Flaring States Observed By Veritas, Connor Poggemann

Physics

VERITAS observed the bright blazar 1ES 2344+514 during two flaring periods, one from Dec. 17 to Dec. 18, 2015 (MJD 57373-57374) with a peak flux of ~60% of the Crab and another from Nov. 28 to Dec. 3, 2021 (MJD 59546-59551) with a peak flux of ~20% of the Crab. This blazar, located at a redshift of z = 0.044, is classified as an extreme high-frequency-peaked BL Lacertae object (HBL). It is known to be variable, including several previous day-scale flares: Whipple on Dec. 20, 1995, VERITAS on Dec. 7, 2007, and MAGIC on Aug. 11, 2016. The VERITAS near-nightly …

Developing A Data Acquisition System For Use In Cold Neutral Atom Traps, Jonathan E. Fuzaro Alencar

Physics

The rising interest in quantum computing has led to new quantum systems being developed and researched. Among these are trapped neutral atoms which have several desirable features and may be configured and operated on using lasers in an optical lattice. This work describes the development of a new data acquisition system for use in tuning lasers near the precise hyperfine transition frequencies of Rb 87 atoms, a crucial step in the functionality of a neutral atom trap. This improves on previous implementations that were deprecated and limited in laser frequency sweep range. Integration into the experiment was accomplished using an …

Rigid Aggregation Of Inclusions Embedded In Quasi 2d Fluids, Natalie Xochitl Ryan

Physics

Diffusion is a transport process common in several biological systems. In this process particles of different species mix together through random (stochastic) motion at molecular length scales. Diffusion in fluids is unique as the coupling of the flow and fluid have been found to produce giant concentration fluctuations. The molecular length scale of these concentration fluctuations are magnitudes larger than the movement of the particles themselves, earning them the title “giant”. The diffusion of particles in bio-membranes displays a combination of 2D and 3D hydrodynamic properties; the movements of the particles are restricted to the plane of the membrane and …

Interactive Physics Display: Air Cannon, Marina Smeltzer, Sydney Hosokawa, Jordan Nguyen, Jessica Ouyang

Mechanical Engineering

The San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden (SLOBG) is a non-profit organization that provides a place for visitors to connect with and explore nature. The sponsors from SLOBG sought an interactive physics display to be implemented in their children’s garden that will educate children and adult visitors about physics concepts in a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere. The research done showed that customers are looking for a “wow” factor with the display to surprise and engage them. Patents showed the design and build of interactive playground equipment. Government reports described the curriculum for the target audience and also outlined the safety precautions …

Physics Engine On The Gpu With Opengl Compute Shaders, Quan Huy Minh Bui

Master's Theses

Any kind of graphics simulation can be thought of like a fancy flipbook. This notion is, of course, nothing new. For instance, in a game, the central computing unit (CPU) needs to process frame by frame, figuring out what is happening, and then finally issues draw calls to the graphics processing unit (GPU) to render the frame and display it onto the monitor. Traditionally, the CPU has to process a lot of things: from the creation of the window environment for the processed frames to be displayed, handling game logic, processing artificial intelligence (AI) for non-player characters (NPC), to the …

Learning Assistant And Instructor Communication: Impacts On Perceived Efficacy, Jahangir Rassouli, Laura Ríos

Physics

The Learning Assistant (LA) Model was co-developed by Richard McCray and Valerie Otero at the University of Colorado Boulder in 2003. In this model, senior undergraduate students serve as facilitators for group discussion in lower-division courses, and employ evidenced-based practices for promoting inquiry and active learning [1]. Since its inception, the LA model has grown to various departments, disciplines, and universities.

At California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), the LA program in the physics department is still in its early stages. As such, it is an environment rich for exploration into the affordances, limitations, and benefits of …

Mechani-Kits Senior Design Project, Jake Utley, Sophie Carson, Vincent Seguin

Mechanical Engineering

Studies suggest that when designed and executed well, hands-on activities can enhance student understanding of key mechanics concepts. Current products are expensive and typically not designed to meet a variety of learning objectives. Through the Mechanics of Inclusion and Inclusivity in Mechanics grant, the Cal Poly Physics and Engineering Departments are seeking to incorporate new hands-on activities into their courses. Our team has designed three inexpensive ”MechaniKits” to be used in physics, statics and dynamics courses [1]. This Final Design Review outlines our findings, objectives, and final designs for this project. It also explains our manufacturing and design verification plans. …

Host-Galaxy Morphology Of 14 Local Active Galaxies As Imaged By The Hubble Space Telescope, Tomas Henry Snyder

Physics

Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are galaxies with super-massive black holes, that are undergoing accretion, at their centers. The study of these objects provides us with a deeper understanding of how the black holes evolved along with their host galaxies since black hole mass is highly correlated with bulge mass. A sample of 66 AGNs were imaged using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and 14 of those are analyzed in this paper to determine their structure, bulge luminosity, and bulge type. The program GALFIT is implemented to determine these parameters, that will be used in further research in the future. These …

Visualizing Relationships Between Related Variables: Improving Physics Education Through D3.Js Network Visualizations, Stephanie Friend

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies

phiMap is a web application started by Cal Poly professors and students to aid professors in teaching physics. I developed Javascript visualizations for phiMap that serve to simplify the processes of both teaching and learning physics. These visualizations aim to present relationships between physics variables in an easy to understand manner, and they could eventually have a huge impact on physics education.

Exploring The Relationship Between A Fluid Container's Geometry And When It Will Balance On Edge, Ryan J. Moriarty

Physics

At some point while consuming a beverage, many people will idly try to balance its container on edge. The act itself is physically straightforward, merely involving the system's center of mass and achieving a static equilibrium between the opposing torques caused by gravity and the normal force between the container and the surface on which it balances. Further analysis of the act, however, illuminates the richness of the exercise.

These nuances are apparent even in simplified two-dimensional models because of the depth of the relationship between a container's geometry and achieving balance. The purpose of such analysis is threefold: first, …

Gravity Evolved, Clark Duvall

Computer Science and Software Engineering

Gravity Evolved is a galactic physics game, created for mobile devices. In the game, you make your own solar system by creating planets, and then placing weapons on the planets. The physics of these planets and projectiles shot by the weapons are then simulated. Gravity Evolved has a Battle mode, where your solar system is pitted against an opposing solar system. In Battle mode, you earn money to unlock, create, and upgrade items in your solar system. Gravity Evolved will be on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in the summer of 2013.

Michael's Awesome Italian Adventure (With A Bit Of Science, Too), Michael W. Haskin

Physics

This senior project will provide the reader with a brief background about neutrinos, neutrinoless double beta decay, and the CUORE experiment being constructed in the Gran Sasso National Laboratory in Assergi, Italy. The remainder of the paper will follow my experience working as an undergraduate researcher at the laboratory during the summer of 2012. It will discuss the process of performing a cool down with the CUORE-0 cryostat as well as quality assurance testing of Teflon spacers to be used in the CUORE towers.

Quantum Programming In Python: Quantum 1d Simple Harmonic Oscillator And Quantum Mapping Gate, Matthew Hoff

Physics

A common problem when learning Quantum Mechanics is the complexity in the mathematical and physical concepts, which leads to difficulty in solving and understanding problems. Using programming languages like Python have become more and more prevalent in solving challenging physical systems. An open-source computer algebra system, SymPy, has been developed using Python to help solve these difficult systems. I have added code to the SymPy library for two different systems, a One-Dimensional Quantum Harmonic Oscillator and a Quantum Mapping Gate used in Quantum Computing.

Analysis Of The 2008 Flare Of Markarian 421 Flare With Veritas, Casey Allard

Physics

A theoretical light curve model is fit to an observed short term flare of Markarian (Mrk) 421 in the very high energy spectrum. The flare is characterized by its measured light curve from the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging telescope Array System (VERITAS). The flare we analyzed occurred in May 2008. We successfully fit a theoretical model to the Mrk 421 data light curve. The data appears to agree with the Wagner [1] and Salvati [2] models. These models appear to fit both broad and sharp flaring regions found in the measured light curve. Furthermore the Wagner model is used to …

Determining Pulsation Period For An Rr Lyrae Star, Leah M. Fabrizio

Physics

No abstract provided.

Survey Of Meteorite Samples For 92nb, 98tc, And 60fe Using Gamma Ray Spectroscopy, Robert Maxwell

Physics

The focus of this senior project was the use of gamma ray spectroscopy to survey meteorite samples for 92Nb, 98Tc, and 60Fe. The presence of measurable amounts of 26Al (half-life 717,000 years) in meteorites leads astrophysists to believe that 92Nb, 98Tc, and 60Fe should also be present in detectable amounts, though they have not yet been conclusively found. Since the isotopes that were looked for in this senior project are not long lived in comparison to the age of the solar system, their presumed presence indicates that they are continuously being made in outer space and deposited on space objects.