Physics Commons^™

Embedded-Atom-Method Modeling Of Alkali-Metal/Transition-Metal Interfaces, Jake D. Christensen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Understanding the thermal properties of materials is essential to using those materials for technological advancement which can benefit civilization. For example, it has been proposed that essential components of tokamaks, devices which perform fusion, be made out of tungsten with a thin layer of lithium on the surface. To that end, this thesis seeks to calculate the thermal properties of a layer of alkali atoms, like lithium and sodium, on tungsten and molybdenum substrates. We use an Embedded Atom Method (EAM) model to perform our calculations. This type of model has been widely used to describe the interaction between atoms …

Unity In The Theory Of Elementary Particles Through Group Theory, Douglas Karl Lemon

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Science is the process of seeking unity in the diversity of natural phenomenon. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that group theory brings unity to the theory of elementary particles. The prime motivations are first, to find a quantitative representation of the Lorentz transformation, and second, to find a quantitative representation of angular momentum. Since both of these have continuous parameters, groups with continuous parameters, particularly Lie groups, are of interest.

The first portion of the paper develops the definition of Lie groups and their associated Lie algebras. The prerequisite definitions of transformations, groups, group representations, and continuous …