Physics Commons^™

Ogden College Of Science & Engineering Newsletter (Winter 2014), Cheryl Stevens, Dean

Ogden College of Science & Engineering Publications

No abstract provided.

A Potential Foundation For Emergent Space-Time, Kevin H. Knuth, Newshaw Bahreyni

Physics Faculty Scholarship

We present a novel derivation of both the Minkowski metric and Lorentz transformations from the consistent quantification of a causally ordered set of events with respect to an embedded observer. Unlike past derivations, which have relied on assumptions such as the existence of a 4-dimensional manifold, symmetries of space-time, or the constant speed of light, we demonstrate that these now familiar mathematics can be derived as the unique means to consistently quantify a network of events. This suggests that space-time need not be physical, but instead the mathematics of space and time emerges as the unique way in which an …

Physics: Rethinking The Foundations, Kevin H. Knuth

Physics Faculty Scholarship

Physics is traditionally conceived of as a set of laws that universally governs the behavior of physical systems. These laws, however they are decreed, are believed to govern the behavior of not only everything in the universe, but the form of the universe itself. However, this traditional concept of physics as a universal governance is at odds with our modern theories of quantum mechanics and relativity, which place the observer and information in a central role. In this talk, I aim to rethink the foundations and attempt to build physics from the bottom up based on a very simple foundational …

Casimir Energies In Spherically Symmetric Background Potentials Revisited, Matthew Beauregard, Michael Bordag, Klaus Kirsten

Faculty Publications

In this paper we reconsider the formulation for the computation of the Casimir energy in spherically symmetric background potentials. Compared to the previous analysis, the technicalities are much easier to handle and final answers are surprisingly simple.

Fractal Growth On The Surface Of A Planet And In Orbit Around It, Ioannis Haranas, Ioannis Gkigkitzis, Athanasios Alexiou

Physics and Computer Science Faculty Publications

Fractals are defined as geometric shapes that exhibit symmetry of scale. This simply implies that fractal is a shape that it would still look the same even if somebody could zoom in on one of its parts an infinite number of times. This property is also called self-similarity with several applications including nano-pharmacology and drug nanocarriers. We are interested in the study of the properties of fractal aggregates in a microgravity environment above an orbiting spacecraft. To model the effect we use a complete expression for the gravitational acceleration. In particular on the surface of the Earth the acceleration is …

The Mass Of Graviton And Its Relation To The Number Of Information According To The Holographic Principle, Ioannis Haranas, Ioannis Gkigkitzis

Physics and Computer Science Faculty Publications

We investigate the relation of the mass of the graviton to the number of information 𝑁 in a flat universe. As a result we find that the mass of the graviton scales as 𝑚_gr ∝ 1/√𝑁. Furthermore, we find that the number of gravitons contained inside the observable horizon is directly proportional to the number of information 𝑁; that is, 𝑁_gr ∝ 𝑁. Similarly, the total mass of gravitons that exist in the universe is proportional to the number of information 𝑁; that is, 𝑀_gr ∝ √𝑁. In an effort to establish a relation between the graviton …

Ogden College Of Science & Engineering Newsletter (Fall 2014), Cheryl Stevens, Dean

Ogden College of Science & Engineering Publications

No abstract provided.

One-Dimensional Weakly Nonlinear Model Equations For Rossby Waves, David Henry, Rossen Ivanov

Articles

In this study we explore several possibilities for modelling weakly nonlinear Rossby waves in fluid of constant depth, which propagate predominantly in one direction. The model equations obtained include the BBM equation, as well as the integrable KdV and Degasperis-Procesi equations.

Mapcores 2013-2014 Assessment Report, Kristen Nairn, Pamela L. Bacon, Jim Crumley, Yu Zhang

MapCores Faculty Publications

This is a report showing the assessment results for the MapCores (MAthematics, Physics, COmputer science REsearch Scholars) program at the College of Saint Benedict. Started in 2009, MapCores is a cohort-based program designed to increase women's interest and achievement in mathematics, physics, computer science and engineering. The report was submitted for the National Science Foundation grant number 0965705.

Volume 06, Kristen Gains, Amanda Willis, Holly Backer, Monika Gutierrez, Cara O'Neal, Sara Nelson, Sasha Silberman, Jessica Beardsley, Jamie Gardner, Edward Peeples, Matthew Sakach, Tess Lione, Emily Wilkins, Kelsey Holt, Jessica Page, Jamie Clift, Charles Vancampen, Gilbert Hall, Jenny Nehrt, Kasey Dye, Amanda Tharp, Jamie Leeuwrik, Ashley Mcgee, Emily Poulin, Michael Kropf, Nick Pastore, Austin Polasky, Morgan Glasco, Laura L. Kahler, Melinda L. Edwards, Brandon C. Smith, Mariah Asbell, Cabell Edmunds, Amelia D. Perry, Alyssa Hayes, Irina Boothe, Perry Bason, James Early

Incite: The Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Introduction from Dean Dr. Charles Ross

Caught Between Folklore and the Cold War: The Americanization of Russian Children's Literature by Kristen Gains

Graphic Design by Amanda Willis

Graphic Design by Holly Backer

Prejudices in Swiss German Accents by Monika Gutierrez

Photography by Cara O'Neal

Photography by Sara Nelson

Edmund Tyrone's Long Journey through Night by Sasha Silberman

Photography by Jessica Beardsley

Photography by Jamie Gardner and Edward Peeples

The Republican Razor: The Guillotine as a Symbol of Equality by Jamie Clift

Graphic Design by Matthew Sakach

Genocide: The Lasting Effects of Gender Stratification in Rwanda By Tess Lione and Emily …

Evolution Of Perturbations In Flow Field Mechanics, Samantha R. Bell, David Forliti, Nils Sedano, Kriss Vanderhyde

STAR Program Research Presentations

This project explores the stability analysis of a given flow field. Specifically, where the peak disturbance occurs in a flow as this is the disturbance that is most likely to occur. In rocket combustion, it is important to understand where the maximum disturbance occurs so that the mixing of fuel can be stabilized. The instabilities are the results of frequencies in the area surrounding the flow field. The linear stability governing equations are employed to better understand the disturbance. The governing equations for continuity and momentum in the x and y directions are used to form an equation for the …

Integrability, Recursion Operators And Soliton Interactions, Boyka Aneva, Georgi Grahovski, Rossen Ivanov, Dimitar Mladenov

Book chapter/book

This volume contains selected papers based on the talks,presentedat the Conference Integrability, Recursion Operators and Soliton Interactions, held in Sofia, Bulgaria (29-31 August 2012) at the Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Included are also invited papers presenting new research developments in the thematic area. The Conference was dedicated to the 65-th birthday of our esteemed colleague and friend Vladimir Gerdjikov. The event brought together more than 30 scientists, from 6 European countries to celebrate Vladimir's scientific achievements. All participants enjoyed a variety of excellent talks in a friendly and stimulating atmosphere. …

Complex Absorbing Potential Method For Dirac Operators. Clusters Of Resonances, Jimmy Kungsman, Michael Melgaard

Articles

For both nonrelativistic and relativistic Hamiltonians, the Complex Absorbing Potential (CAP) method has been applied extensively to calculate resonances in Physics and Chemistry. We study clusters of resonances for the perturbed Dirac operator near the real axis and, in the semiclassical limit, we establish the CAP method rigorously by showing that resonances are perturbed eigenvalues of the nonselfadjoint CAP Hamiltonian, and vice versa.

Mathematical And Physical Aspects Of Complex Symmetric Operators, Stephan Ramon Garcia, Emil Prodan, Mihai Putinar

Pomona Faculty Publications and Research

Recent advances in the theory of complex symmetric operators are presented and related to current studies in non-hermitian quantum mechanics. The main themes of the survey are: the structure of complex symmetric operators, C-selfadjoint extensions of C-symmetric unbounded operators, resolvent estimates, reality of spectrum, bases of C-orthonormal vectors, and conjugate-linear symmetric operators. The main results are complemented by a variety of natural examples arising in field theory, quantum physics, and complex variables.

Rheological Signatures In Limit Cycle Behaviour Of Dilute, Active, Polar Liquid Crystalline Polymers In Steady Shear, M. Gregory Forest, Panon Phuworawong, Qi Wang, Ruhai Zhou

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

We consider the dilute regime of active suspensions of liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs), addressing issues motivated by our kinetic model and simulations in Forest et al. (Forest et al. 2013 Soft Matter 9, 5207-5222 (doi:10.1039/c3sm27736d)). In particular, we report unsteady two-dimensional heterogeneous flow-orientation attractors for pusher nanorod swimmers at dilute concentrations where passive LCP equilibria are isotropic. These numerical limit cycles are analogous to longwave (homogeneous) tumbling and kayaking limit cycles and two-dimensional heterogeneous unsteady attractors of passive LCPs in weak imposed shear, yet these states arise exclusively at semi-dilute concentrations where stable equilibria are nematic. The results in Forest …

Scalar Wave Scattering By Two-Layer Radial Inhomogeneities, Umaporn Nuntaplook, John Adam

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

It is shown that the iteration technique gives a better approximation for the problem with long wavelengths.

Length Effects Of A Built-In Flapping Flat Plate On The Flow Over A Traveling Wavy Foil, Nansheng Liu, Yan Peng, Xiyun Lu

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Flow over the traveling wavy foil with a built-in rigid flapping plate at its trailing edge has been numerically studied using the multi-relaxation-time Lattice Boltzmann method and immersed boundary method. The effect of the plate length on the propulsive performance such as the thrust force, energy consumption, and propeller efficiency has been investigated. Three modes (body force dominated, body and tail force competing and tail force dominated modes) have been identified that are associated with different hydrodynamics and flow structures. It is revealed that there exists a better performance plate length region and, within this region, a high propeller efficiency …

Network-Based Assessments Of Percolation-Induced Current Distributions In Sheared Rod Macromolecular Dispersions, Feng Shi, Simi Wang, M. Gregory Forest, Peter J. Mucha, Ruhai Zhou

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Conducting high-aspect-ratio rods with 1-10 nm-scale diameters dispersed in poorly conducting matrices at extremely low, O(1%), volume fractions induce dramatic gains in bulk conductivity at rod percolation threshold. Experimentally [Nan, Shen, and Ma, Annu. Rev. Mater. Res., 40 (2010), pp. 131-151], bulk conductivity abandons the prepercolation, linear scaling with volume fraction that follows from homogenization theory [Zheng et al., Adv. Funct. Mater., 15 (2005), pp. 627-638], and then postpercolation jumps orders of magnitude to approach that of the pure rod macromolecular phase as predicted by classical percolation theory [Stauffer and Aharony, Introduction to Percolation Theory, CRC …