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Full-Text Articles in Astrophysics and Astronomy

Probing Charge Recombination In Organic Solar Cells, Ally C. Hurd, Awwad Alotaibi, Acacia Patterson, Obaid Alqahtani, James Doyle, Brian Akira Collins May 2024

Probing Charge Recombination In Organic Solar Cells, Ally C. Hurd, Awwad Alotaibi, Acacia Patterson, Obaid Alqahtani, James Doyle, Brian Akira Collins

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

Printable and flexible organic solar panels are promising sources of inexpensive, large-scale renewable energy, where panels can be manufactured by printing from polymer inks. There are some limitations to these types of solar cells, however. First, toxic halogenated solvents have historically been necessary to dissolve polymers to make the ink. In addition, organic solar cells typically have high rates of recombination, which limits their efficiency. Here, we use a transient photovoltage (TPV) technique to measure charge lifetimes in cells made from two different organic solvents. The first solvent is toxic, halogenated dichlorobenzene (DCB) which is typically used to make organic …


Investigation Of Tantalum Sodium Lead Borate Glass Using Laser Ionization Time Of Flight Mass Spectrometry (Litof-Ms), Siri Erickson-Green May 2024

Investigation Of Tantalum Sodium Lead Borate Glass Using Laser Ionization Time Of Flight Mass Spectrometry (Litof-Ms), Siri Erickson-Green

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

Laser ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (LITOF-MS) is a spectrometry method which can measure, with exceptional accuracy, the composition of ions within a glass system. Additionally, unlike other spectroscopy and spectrometry methods, this technique allows insight into the abundance of each kind of ion within a given glass system. This specific project tackled the topic of tantalum-doped sodium and lead borate glasses, as sodium and lead borate glasses doped with a transition metal is a topic which has not been thoroughly explored. Our group synthesized such a glass and was able to use LITOF-MS to gain insights into how …


Strain Methods For Changing Local Electric Field Gradient In Bafe2as2, Caleb Williams May 2024

Strain Methods For Changing Local Electric Field Gradient In Bafe2as2, Caleb Williams

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

In this study, we introduce a novel approach aimed at advancing the investigation of local nematicity in BaFe2As2 via dynamically pulsed strain fields. Our research is motivated by the pursuit of a more sensitive alternative to existing static strain methods. Employing nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, we measure the nuclear quadrupolar energy splittings, utilizing them as a sensitive indicator of the electric field gradient (EFG) that couples strongly to the orbital occupations of the 75As p-orbitals. In the new method, we discern an EFG response through changes in the phase acquired by the nuclear magnetization while time-evolving in the strain field, …


Linking The Population Of Binary Black Holes With The Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background, Olivia X. Laske May 2024

Linking The Population Of Binary Black Holes With The Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background, Olivia X. Laske

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

The astrophysical stochastic gravitational-wave background (SGWB) is the product of overlapping waveforms that create a single unresolvable background. While current LIGO sensitivity is insufficient to uncover the SGWB, future space-based detectors and Third Generation (3G) experiments are expected to probe deep enough for detection. Predictions of the SGWB can constrain future searches as well as provide insight into star formation, merger history, and mass distribution. Here, three primary methods are used to calculate a theoretical SGWB. The first method integrates over a precomputed mass distribution probability grid, while the second and third employ Monte Carlo integration with simulated data. After …


Simulation Of Polymerization On Surfaces: Implications For Abiogenesis, Sylvia Greene May 2024

Simulation Of Polymerization On Surfaces: Implications For Abiogenesis, Sylvia Greene

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

How did life arise from the prebiotic conditions of the early earth? This problem has vexed scientists for decades with no consensus on its solution. Significant spontaneous formation of biopolymers such as proteins and nucleic acids in the aqueous phase appears to be improbable due to thermodynamic constraints. It has been proposed that mineral surfaces could have served as a catalyst for the initial formation of biopolymers. However, the feasibility of this mechanism has not been thoroughly studied. In this study, a particle simulation of polypeptide formation on surfaces is developed to assess the feasibility of this mechanism. Elementary processes …


Variability Of High-Degree Modes Over Multiple Solar Cycles Using Local Helioseismic Data From Gong, Nicholas Cebula, Sushanta Tripathy, Kiran Jain, John M. Cannon May 2024

Variability Of High-Degree Modes Over Multiple Solar Cycles Using Local Helioseismic Data From Gong, Nicholas Cebula, Sushanta Tripathy, Kiran Jain, John M. Cannon

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

In this investigation we use the local helioseismic technique of ring diagrams to study the power, energy, and damping rates of high degree solar acoustic modes. Our data covers the period from the maximum phase of solar cycle 23 to the ascending phase of cycle 25. The goal is to examine the variations in the mode parameters with solar activity as well as the differences between different cycles. For this, we use different proxies of solar activity. We use 10.7 cm radio flux measurements and a measure of magnetic flux known as magnetic activity index from magnetograms.


Ammonia Emission In The Milky Way Galactic Bar Dust Lanes, Charles G. Burton May 2024

Ammonia Emission In The Milky Way Galactic Bar Dust Lanes, Charles G. Burton

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

The Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) of the Milky Way is a region of molecular gas within the inner few hundred parsecs of the Galaxy. This inner region of the Milky Way is hotter and more turbulent when compared with the disk of the Milky Way. Gas is thought to be funneled into the CMZ through dense gaseous dust lanes that are associated with the Galactic Bar. I studied two regions of one of these dust lanes using the NH3 inversion transitions of (J,K) = (1,1), (2,2), (3,3), and (4,4). Data has been obtained from the Green Bank Telescope targeting these …


Technology Innovation Is The Key To Future Space Science Missions, Ji Wu May 2024

Technology Innovation Is The Key To Future Space Science Missions, Ji Wu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Space science is one of the important space activities of China together with space technology and space application. Although it is a space program aimed at scientific discovery and breakthrough, with the development of technology and the increasing number of achievements received in the past, space science missions require more and more technological innovation to achieve their goals. This study first reviews the development trend of space science missions since their birth, then analyzes the cultivation process of space science mission proposals with technological innovation and the responsibilities of the chief scientist leading such tasks, and finally analyzes and proposes …


Table Of Contents May 2024

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.


Synchronicity: An Analysis Of Einstein's Halfway Rule, Preslava Nikolova Jan 2024

Synchronicity: An Analysis Of Einstein's Halfway Rule, Preslava Nikolova

Rushton Journal of Undergraduate Humanities Research

For the modern world to function, Global Positioning System satellites must synchronize to clocks on Earth. This paper examines a concept that underlies GPS systems, namely Albert Einstein’s halfway rule—the idea that a line of simultaneity exists between two events in different systems. This essay discusses how Einstein used conventionalist methods to establish ½ as a constant value for σ to take advantage of the property of symmetry.


Genealogical Vs Phylogenetic Mutation Rates: Answering A Challenge, Robert Carter Dec 2023

Genealogical Vs Phylogenetic Mutation Rates: Answering A Challenge, Robert Carter

Proceedings of the International Conference on Creationism

There is a discrepancy between the mutation rate we can measure today and the rate at which evolution is supposed to have proceeded. The former is sometimes called the genealogical mutation rate, for it is obtained by comparing individuals whom we know to be related. The latter is sometimes called the phylogenetic mutation rate. It is calculated by counting the fixed differences between two species and dividing by the estimated time since their common ancestor. Genealogical mutation rates are generally several orders of magnitude faster than phylogenetic estimates. This causes problems for the evolutionary model. For example, using the genealogical …


Development Of A Particle-In-Cell/Monte Carlo Simulation For Weakly Ionized Plasmas, Xiaochuan (Chloe) Zheng, James Doyle Jun 2023

Development Of A Particle-In-Cell/Monte Carlo Simulation For Weakly Ionized Plasmas, Xiaochuan (Chloe) Zheng, James Doyle

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

A plasma is a gaseous system that contains large numbers of electrons and ions that are subject to forces produced by electric and magnetic fields. Weakly ionized plasmas, where the plasma density is much lower than the background gas density, are common in laboratory, atmospheric, and astrophysical situations. Theoretical calculations of plasma properties are challenging due to the complexity of the differential equations used to characterize fundamental physics. Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations bypass the mathematical difficulties associated with analytic models, at the expense of more complex and time-consuming computer calculations. In this work we developed a one dimensional PIC simulation of …


Tools For Refining The Baryonic Tully-Fisher Relation, Ezra D. Wolf Jun 2023

Tools For Refining The Baryonic Tully-Fisher Relation, Ezra D. Wolf

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

This paper discusses the development of tools for galactic photometry using wise, and for reduction and analysis of 21cm galaxy spectra. These Python-based tools can then be applied to selected data in order to refine the Baryonic Tully-Fisher Relation. This relation, between baryonic mass and rotational velocity of a galaxy, proves useful for extragalactic research, particularly in calculating redshift-independent distances. While these tools could be further improved, they provide a robust process for calculation of particular galaxy characteristics.


Hydrosphere: Modeling The Planetary Structure Of Ocean Planets And Icy Moons, Karlee R. Taylor Jun 2023

Hydrosphere: Modeling The Planetary Structure Of Ocean Planets And Icy Moons, Karlee R. Taylor

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

In recent years, “water worlds” have become increasingly of interest to astrobiologists due to their high potential for habitability, as the large amount water on their surfaces is not only necessary for life, but also promises long-term climatic stability. However, also necessary for life is the exchange of chemical compounds between the geosphere and the hydrosphere - something which may be ob- structed by the presence of high pressure ices on these ocean planets and icy moons. In order to explore the habitability of bodies with various surface temperatures, water masses, and core radii, this project develops a model of …


From Experiment To Theory: Investigate The Effect Of Pump Beam Size On Photovoltaic Material Behavior, Dengyu Tu Jun 2023

From Experiment To Theory: Investigate The Effect Of Pump Beam Size On Photovoltaic Material Behavior, Dengyu Tu

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

In orde to investigate the effect of the pump beam size on an ultrafast conductivity measurement experiment, an experiment using Femto XL-500 laser and a simulation using Mathematica were performed. From the experiment data, we found that as the size of the pump beam decreases beyond certain limit, the Drude model can not accurately predict the relationship between conductivity and frequency. In addition, the simulation results corroborate with the experiment result that there is a limit for the size of the pump beam.


Machine Learning Refinements To Metallicity-Dependent Isotopic Abundances, Haoxuan Sun Jun 2023

Machine Learning Refinements To Metallicity-Dependent Isotopic Abundances, Haoxuan Sun

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

The project aims to use machine learning algorithms to fit the free parameters of an isotopic scaling model to elemental observations. The processes considered are massive star nucleosynthesis, Type Ia SNe, the s-process, the r-process, and p-isotope production. The analysis on the successful fits seeks to minimize the reduced chi squared between the model and the data. Based upon the successful refinement of the isotopic parameterized scaling model, a table providing the 287 stable isotopic abundances as a function of metallicity, separated into astrophysical processes, is useful for identifying the chemical history of them. The table provides a complete averaged …


Machine Learning Applications For Materials Science: Predicting Properties Of Two-Dimensional Magnetic Materials, Paige Stevenson Jun 2023

Machine Learning Applications For Materials Science: Predicting Properties Of Two-Dimensional Magnetic Materials, Paige Stevenson

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

We trained successful neural networks to predict the formation energy and magnetic moment of 2-dimensional ferromagnetic materials of similar structure to Cr2Ge2Te6. We collect elemental data on materials with known and unknown properties from easily accessible sources to screen for viable materials for use in future research. Random forest regressors were used to identify the most important predictors of our target qualities, which perform better on predictions of formation energy than magnetic moment. We predict the properties of 1225 materials that are candidates for further research in two-dimensional magnetism and identify several potential sources of error in our models that …


Fabricating Perovskite Solar Cells: Fabrication Guide For Limited Lab Capabilities, Erin F. S. Leary Jun 2023

Fabricating Perovskite Solar Cells: Fabrication Guide For Limited Lab Capabilities, Erin F. S. Leary

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

Within the realm of emerging photovoltaics, Perovskite cells are one of the most intriguing technologies. Within a little over a decade, Perovskite solar cells have rivaled the efficiencies of traditional silicon solar cells and strongly outpaced other emerging photovoltaic technologies. This paper aims to show a fabrication guide for creating Perovskite solar cells in a limited lab setting. The fabrication guide created structures with strong physical reliability, but limited electrical reliability. More research is needed to ensure greater reliability and proper electrical function.


Solar Radio Bursts —Deployable Low-Band Ionosphere And Transients Experiment (Dlite) Arrays, Jonathan M. Kazor, Jason Kooi Jun 2023

Solar Radio Bursts —Deployable Low-Band Ionosphere And Transients Experiment (Dlite) Arrays, Jonathan M. Kazor, Jason Kooi

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

Solar radio bursts, phenomenon that often accompany CME, solar flares and other solar events, can be detected on earth and used in the prediction of solar weather that affects earth systems in several ways. As part of the NREIP Program supporting the Naval Research Laboratory, Remote Sensing Division, approximately ten interns participated in the analysis of data collected by DLITE and WAVES radio data. Data from DLITE is often used as a complement to data from WAVES due to differences in frequency range and resolution. The analysis helps to correlate the DLITE data with the data collected from other sources. …


Mapping The Tesseral Field Of Saturn, Aurora Hiveley Jun 2023

Mapping The Tesseral Field Of Saturn, Aurora Hiveley

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

Saturn's rotation rate is still uncertain, and while it is theorized to exhibit differential rotation much like Jupiter, this claim is somewhat disputed. By analyzing the properties of waves in the ring system of Saturn as measured by the Cassini spacecraft, we aim to provide observational evidence of this phenomenon. The results of wave analysis allow us to characterize the perturbers responsible for the production of these waves, which are believed to be mass anomalies in the interior of Saturn itself. By calculating the masses of these anomalies and attempting to pinpoint their locations inside of the planet, we provide …


Trinification With A Bi-Adjoint Higgs Field, Ross Ferguson Jun 2023

Trinification With A Bi-Adjoint Higgs Field, Ross Ferguson

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

In this paper, we propose a novel extension of the Standard Model of particle physics, based on the trinification gauge group $SU(3)_C \times SU(3)_L \times SU(3)_R$. Symmetry breaking is achieved using a bi-adjoint Higgs field (transforming under the left- and right-handed subgroups) along with a more conventional bi-triplet to ensure the correct breaking and pattern of fermion masses. To preserve a discrete $Z_2$ symmetry (T-parity), we also introduce a right-handed triplet to completely break trinification symmetry to the Standard Model. The minimization conditions and conditions for the boundedness of the potential for this model are calculated. Additionally, the Standard Model …


Adding Classical Novae Contribution To The Isotopic Scaling Model, Mengxi Chen Jun 2023

Adding Classical Novae Contribution To The Isotopic Scaling Model, Mengxi Chen

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

The Isotopic Scaling model(West & Heger, 2013) provides a complete average isotopic decomposition for our Milky Way as a function of metallicity and it requires an initial Solar Abundance Decomposition as a starting point. The previous Solar Abundance decomposition work is not perfect(West & Heger, 2013), since Classical Novae abundances are ignored. My research intends to improve the current solar abundance decomposition by adding Classical Novae Abundance contribution, then to update the Isotopic Scaling model.


Table Of Contents May 2023

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.


Improvements To Isru For Rocket Fuel Generation, Justin Sharp May 2023

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 …


Table Of Contents Oct 2022

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.


2022 Scas Annual Meeting Program And Bulletin Oct 2022

2022 Scas Annual Meeting Program And Bulletin

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.


Continuum Damping Effects In Nuclear Collisions, Hossein Sadeghi, Mahdieh Ghafouri Aug 2022

Continuum Damping Effects In Nuclear Collisions, Hossein Sadeghi, Mahdieh Ghafouri

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

The Time-Dependent Skyrme Hartree-Fock (TDSHF) calculations have been conducted to study 100Sn+16O, 116Sn+16O, and 122Sn+16O collisions on a 3-Dimensional (3D) mesh with SV-bas SF. For the 100Sn+16O collision, the continuum damping width of the rotational amplitudes in Ecm = 100, 150, 200, and 250 MeV has been achieved around 108, 185, 277, and 318, with the time evolution width for z2 around 15/5, 13/5, 13/9, or 14/3 fm2. The quadrupole deformation, kinetic energy, and rotational amplitude are studied. It is seen that the compound nucleus becomes uniform and spherical as time grows. The results of the time evolution show the …


Table Of Contents Jun 2022

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.


Twisting Lasers With The Faraday Effect, Harrison Werrell May 2022

Twisting Lasers With The Faraday Effect, Harrison Werrell

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

Our objective with this project was to create a system and procedure to quantify the magnetization of a material with polarized light by using the Faraday Effect, where the light is rotated according to the magnetization. This type of system has seen use in technologies such as magneto-optical drives and optical isolators, and is part of the study of optical materials, along with the similar MagnetoOptical Kerr Effect. Our system, specifically, is intended to be used as part of an advanced Physics Lab in the future. It uses an electromagnet to magnetize a sample, and a laser to observe the …


Electrical Analysis Of A Pem Electrolysis Cell, Joey Wehrley, James Doyle May 2022

Electrical Analysis Of A Pem Electrolysis Cell, Joey Wehrley, James Doyle

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) electrolysis is a form of electrolysis that is heavily used in commercial capacities. It functions by using a membrane and an electric charge in order to perform electrolysis water, splitting it into its component parts - Hydrogen and Oxygen. These parts can then be used in a number of different applications, including reversing the electrolysis process to regenerate some energy in the form of electricity. During this experiment, multiple currents were run through a PEM cell, and voltages across the membrane were measured. It was found that a standard R/C charging model can be fit to …