Physics Commons^™

Mentoring Astronomy Students Through Extensive Research (Master), Dr. Michael Joner

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This Mentoring Environment Grant (MEG) proposed using the Brigham Young University West Mountain Observatory as a mentoring environment where students would experience what it is like to do research at a fully operational observatory by doing a wide variety of observations at regularly scheduled times over the course of several months during the spring and summer terms. The primary project in 2017 involved making nightly monitoring observations of the active Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 509 in support of a worldwide campaign involving more than a dozen ground–based and space–based observatories. In 2018, the primary monitoring campaign for extragalactic objects was …

Using Frequency Noise Feedback To Satabilize Extended Cavity Diode Lasers For Use In Atomic Physics, Mckinley Pugh, Dallin Durfee

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Diode lasers in particular are useful in atomic physics because they are durable, compact, and relatively inexpensive. Unfortunately diode lasers also have linewidths that are much wider than atomic transitions. One common method to narrow the linewidth of diode lasers is to add a reflection grating outside the laser, creating an extended cavity diode laser (ECDL). While ECDLs are effective at narrowing the linewidth, they also introduce so many variables that affect the wavelength of the laser that small changes in the laser’s environment can cause the laser to mode hop, or jump to an entirely different wavelength.

Characterizing The Design Space Of Oscillatory Biological Networks, Leanne Lunsford, Denise Stephens, Eric Hintz

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Characterizing the relevant parameters of a design space in order to satisfy a specific behavior criterion is an important problem throughout all of science and engineering. In this project we proposed to apply model reduction to the case of biological oscillations involving Michaelis-Menten reactions. By removing irrelevant parameters from a fully connected network we were able to reduce a known problem in systems biology to a more general model. Furthermore, significant progress has been made in applying Manifold Boundary Approximation Method (MBAM) to oscillatory models in systems biology.

Fabrication Of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells Using Native And Non-Native Nanocrystals In Ferritin As The Dye, Alessandro Perego, John Colton

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) present a valuable and sustainable alternative to silicon solar cells. These cells present numerous advantages compered to inorganic photovoltaic systems, such as ability of absorb more sunlight per surface area than standard silicon-based solar panels, DSSCs are also able to work even in low-light conditions such as non-direct sunlight and cloudy skies. Finally, they are economical, easy to manufacture and constructed from abundant and stable resource materials. This makes DSSCs an attractive replacement for current photovoltaic technology. Ferritin (FTN) is a 12 nm diameter spherical protein with an 8 nm hollow interior, which naturally contains iron …

Reverse-Engineering Gene Networks That Can Remember Using The Manifold Boundary Approximation Method, Andrew White, Mark Transtrum

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Observable biological behaviors result from the interactions of microscopic elements, which form complex systems that we can model mathematically. Ideally, mechanistic models should predict a biological system’s behavior without misrepresenting the system’s biochemistry. The method of model reduction known as the Manifold Boundary Approximation Method (MBAM) [2, 3] can help us identify which parts of a model are relevant for explaining a particular behavior. This project applies MBAM to gene transcription networks that exhibit a behavior known as “memory,” the ability to retain cellular decisions to activate or silence genes. We hypothesize that MBAM can help us model the behaviors …

Optically Detected Magnetic Resonance Of Silicon Vacancies In Sic: Predicting Resonance Of Cylindrical Cavities, Kyle Miller, John Colton

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Optically Detected Magnetic Resonance is one method of performing Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) on a material. ESR is used to determine the electron spin lifetime of a material, an important parameter for use in quantum computing. Resonant cavities are conducting containers that are frequently used in ESR to create a strong magnetic field near the sample. As such it is valuable to design a resonant cavity and predict its resonant frequency. Cylindrical cavities modified with dielectric resonators (DRs) are viable for such experiments.

Exploring The Weak Mach Reflection Regime, Kevin Leete, Dr. Kent Gee

Journal of Undergraduate Research

When a shock wave reflects off a rigid surface with certain combinations of incident shock strength and angle, a Mach reflection can occur. This is when portions of the incident and reflected waves merge to create a stronger shock called a Mach stem that travels parallel to the reflecting surface. This phenomenon has been studied extensively for two extreme cases: large outdoor explosions and small, laboratory experiments of weak shocks. The purpose of this project was to design and execute an outdoor experiment where this phenomenon could be observed by microphones as well as high speed video imaging to detect …

High Resolution Shock Capturing On Gpus, Forrest Glines, David Neilsen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This research project concerns the development simulation code to confirm neutron star mergers as the progenitors of Short Hard Gamma Ray Bursts. Short Hard Gamma Ray Bursts (SHGBs) are short (less than 2 second) high energy bursts that we observe with satellites. Their exact cause has not yet been confirmed, but they are believed to be created by the merging of either two neutron stars or a neutron star falling into a black hole. Neutron stars are ultra dense, highly magnetic, and compact stars at the end of their evolution. In a binary system the stars lose angular momentum to …

Determining The Size Of A Light Source Using The Hanbury Brown And Twiss Effect, Adam Kingsley, Dallin Durfee

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In 1956, Hanbury Brown and Twiss (HBT) published a paper¹ on a method of determining the angular size of a star by comparing the intensities gathered from two detectors. They used this effect by using two photomultiplier tubes and by increasing the distance between them, saw a drop in the correlation between the currents. Because the correlations are made by the interference at the detectors but only the intensity is measured, the effect is sometimes referred to as intensity interferometry.

The idea arose to use the HBT effect to teach undergraduates various principles of light in a lab setting. …

Phase Matching In Laser Generated Harmonics, David Squires, Justin Peatross

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In this mentored research project, we investigated how intense laser light is scattered by samples of gas. In particular, we measured light scattered in non-phase-matched directions perpendicular to the laser beam.

According to classical phase matching, the intensity of light scattered from a sample depends on whether the sample is best approximated as a continuous medium or a collection of discrete emitters (Figure 1). In the former case, as the angle between the phase-matching direction and the radiated harmonic approaches π/2 radians, the intensity of that radiated harmonic light approaches 0. In the latter case, the light intensity reaches …

Porous Cantilevers As Chemical Sensors, Steven Noyce, Robert Davis

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Many chemical sensing methods rely on the binding mechanism of the analyte to create a measurable response, making it difficult to create new sensors quickly, but resonant sensors require only that an analyte be bound and rely on the resulting change in mass to obtain a measurement. Solid resonant microcantilevers, or small vibrating fixed-free beams, are a type of resonant sensor that have shown extremely high sensitivities in vacuum environments. The sensitivity of these cantilevers, however, decreases greatly in fluid environments such as air or water due to fluid damping. We propose that porous microcantilever sensors offers both a ten …

Measuring Frequency Noise For Use In Preventing Mode Hops In Extended Cavity Diode Lasers, Mckinley Pugh, Dallin Durfee

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Diode lasers are useful in physics because they are relatively cheap and robust, they are available in a number of wavelengths, and they are tunable. However, because diode lasers have large bandwidths compared to atomic resonances, a reflection grating is added outside the laser. This creates the extended cavity in extended cavity diode lasers (ECDLs) and forces the lasers to operate at a narrower line width, one acceptable for use in atomic physics. Unfortunately, because the ECDL has many factors trying to control the wavelength of the laser (e.g. temperature, current, grating angel and position) small changes in the lasers …

Dual Species Calcium And Ytterbium Magneto Optical Trap, Alexander Erickson, Scott Bergeson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

One area of particular interest in modern physics research is creating a viable fusion system for sustainable energy. Fusion occurs when a high energy plasma is manipulated in such a way that small atoms collide together, combining to create larger atoms and releasing tremendous amounts of harvestable energy. However, there are many theoretical, mathematical, and practical roadblocks to creating a stable fusion experiment. One practical limitation and one mathematical limitation are as follows: practically, much of the energy used to create a fusion-grade plasma ends up in the kinetic energy of the electrons and is lost to the experiment; mathematically, …

Reflectometry Of Aluminum Thin Films In The Vacuum Ultraviolet, Benjamin Smith, R. Steven Turley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Vacuum Ultraviolet (VUV) is a range of light on the electromagnetic spectrum corresponding to wavelengths from 40 – 280 nm. VUV photons have too much energy to see visibly and are blocked completely by atmosphere. This wavelength range, however, shows promise for applications in space-based exoplanet research telescopes. Specifically, the chemical fingerprints that this light contains can tell us about the composition and formation of exoplanet atmospheres.

Systematic Analysis Of Nonlinearities In Complex Models, Alexander Shumway, Mark Transtrum

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Mathematical models are ubiquitous in science. Many models are nonlinear in the parameters and may have dozens to thousands of parameters and make hundreds to thousands of predictions. Analysis and application of these models is thus theoretically complicated and computationally expensive.

The standard method of model analysis is a model-by-model approach that relies on the intuition of expert researchers. Recent research, however, has shown that many models—known as sloppy models—are statistically similar, despite coming from widely varied fields⁴. This suggests the possibility of developing a theory of modeling in place of relying on expert intuition. Our research …

Dual Species Magneto-Optical Trap, Daniel Woodbury, Scott Bergeson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In the last several decades, laser cooling has become the primary tool for atomic research and, in our lab, has facilitated the study of ultracold plasma. Using a novel laser cooling setup, we created a vacuum chamber and related hardware for a dual species magneto-optical trap (MOT). The design of the MOT will allow us to improve trapping efficiency and atom density in our plasma, better understand laser cooling and trapping of calcium and ytterbium, and probe their interactions in ultracold hetero-nuclear plasma.

Metal Cnt-M, New Materials And New Approaches To Microfabrication, Richard Vanfleet

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This Mentored Environment Grant (MEG) proposed to explore Carbon Nanotube Templated Microfabrication (CNT-M) approaches that used metal as the infiltration material. We proposed to focus on two specific metal systems; traditionally electrodeposited metals such as nickel and high atomic number metals like tungsten which in many cases cannot be electroplated. Our two objectives were:

Magnetic Memory In Exchange Bias Films, Clarke Safsten, Karine Chenel

Journal of Undergraduate Research

My project for which I received an ORCA grant has advanced considerably. I work with Dr. Chesnel studying magnetic thin films. These films consist of layered ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic materials. In previous experiments, Dr. Chesnel has determined that these types of films exhibit a property called magnetic memory. My project is to determine if the magnetic memory persists, and to what degree, in various circumstances. My project is divided into three primary pieces: experiment, computation, and conclusion.

Transiting Exo-Planets Indirect Detection Of Planets Orbiting Other Stars, Brian Shaw, Denise Stephens

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Introduction Over the past year I have been looking at pictures filled with dots and running them through computers. On the surface that doesn’t seem quite exciting but once one understands what is happening between the pixels, the humdrum atmosphere disappears. Each of those dots represent an actual star in our galaxy. And by analyzing the pixels, I can determine properties of these stars. The Orson Pratt Observatory atop the Eyring Science Center on BYU campus has been collection data of potential transits provided by the KELT-North Project. I have been taking that data and reducing it to the point …

“Ultra Cold” Room Temperature Plasma, Stephen Rupper, Dr. Scott Bergeson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Many scientists throughout the world are currently doing research on ultra cold neutral plasmas (UCNP). These plasmas are difficult to make and require quite a sophisticated setup. A method that we employ in our lab requires multiple laser pulses to be timed perfectly and aligned precisely in order to ionize the atoms. It also requires the use of a magneto optical trap, which traps the atoms before they are ionized. This setup is very time consuming to build and maintain but we have a mathematical model for it. Since the current methods of creating ultra cold plasmas are hard to …

Determining Thin Film Roughness With Euv Reflection, Cody Petrie, Steven Turley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Introduction: Reflection of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light is made difficult by a number of factors. First, most materials have a large, imaginary part of the index of refraction for EUV light, causing absorption. As a result, our experiment is done under vacuum. Second, since the wavelength of EUV light (1-100 nm) is smaller than visible light, it is scattered more strongly than visible light. To overcome this obstacle we need to make our reflecting surfaces smoother. To be able to do this we need a good probe for surface roughness on the scale of EUV wavelengths. Currently the best method …

Wavelength Detection From Filtered Photodiodes, Nils Otterstrom, Dallin Durfee

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Introduction Physics laboratories all over the world depend on accurate wavelength meters to tune their lasers to desired optical frequencies. Our ion interferometry lab, for example, relies heavily on the precision of these instruments to laser cool beams of strontium ions and then split and recombine their wave functions. Unfortunately, some these devices can be extremely expensive and very cumbersome to use. A frequency comb wavelength detector, although remarkably accurate, can cost around $100,000 dollars. In our lab we employ a Michelson-Morley interferometer based wavelength meter, which costs around $8,000 dollars. Despite its relatively high accuracy, the device is extremely …

Porous Cantilevers As Chemical Sensors, Steven Noyce, Robert Davis

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Resonant cantilevers, or small vibrating beams, are used to detect small concentrations of chemicals. As molecules or atoms of the substance to be sensed adhere to the vibrating beam, the resonant frequency changes as a result of the change in mass. These sensors are built on the microscale to allow for mass parallelization. An array of cantilevers could each be coated with a different adhesion layer, making each beam sensitive to a unique substance. These sensors have previously been made of solid materials, but because the sensitivity is proportional to the surface area of the resonator, a porous cantilever could …

Chaotic Scattering In General Relativity, Taylor Hugh Morgan, David Neilsen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

I. Introduction Our research is on the gravitational three-body problem where there are three star-like objects with the only acting force on the objects being gravity. Since the discovery of gravity, many physicists and mathematicians have looked for an analytic solution to the three-body problem including Poincare, Euler, Lagrange, and Jacobi. We now know that there is in fact no analytic solution to this problem. Due to the advent of high performance computing we have discovered much about the chaotic nature1 of this problem and its sensitivity to initial perturbations. For our research we have extended the scope of the …

Determining Surface Roughness Using Extreme Ultraviolet Light, Joshua Marx, Steve Turley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Extreme ultraviolet (XUV) light is light with wavelengths between one and 60 nanometers. The shorter wavelengths of light in this range are on the same order of magnitude as atomic dimensions. Currently, XUV optics have many uses and even more potential applications in a variety of fields, such as photolithography, plasma diagnostics, and astrophysics.

Science In A Nutshell: Studying The Use Of Humor In Science Writing, Meredith Gold, Gus Hart

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Introduction The purpose of this study was to expand upon a previous and successful unofficial study that I did in high school, testing the effectiveness of humor in instructional science writing. Despite the fact that various extenuating circumstances (including multiple cases of prolonged illness) hindered measurable data collection, the first main question asked by the study was answered: It is even possible to write a physics textbook in the style of humor essays? To this, my project responds with a resounding yes. I wrote and began editing the full first draft of my first humorous physics textbook, coming in at …

Relating Quantum Dynamics And Entanglement, John Gardiner, Jean-Francois Van Huele

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Introduction Entanglement is a quantum phenomenon that is important to many applications including quantum computing and cryptography. The way that a quantum system changes in time is encoded in a mathematical object called the Hamiltonian of the system. The goal of this project was to better understand the relation between the quantum dynamics of a system, as described by the Hamiltonian, and the entanglements that arise in the system, with the bigger goal of better understanding how entanglement changes in time. To this end I studied computer simulations of simple quantum systems to observe how certain features of the Hamiltonian …

Pharm: An Environment For Physical Acoustics Research And Mentoring, Kent L. Gee, Tracianne B. Neilsen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

PHARM (PHysical Acoustics Research and Mentoring) has been operating partially with support from a MEG grant. The primary purpose of this mentoring environment is to provide undergraduates in Physics and Applied Physics opportunities to gain experience in fundamental areas of physical acoustics. It has also included students in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and Mathematics. Within the acoustics community, “physical acoustics” refers to a number of subfields (e.g., outdoor sound propagation, aeroacoustics, and nonlinear acoustics). A large number of students have been able to participate in projects related to these areas. Many of these projects have been and are being documented …

Magnetic Order And Fluctuation Dynamics Of Self-Assembled Magnetite Fe3o4 Nanoparticles, Karine Chesnel

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The research plan described in the proposal (section 2.1) was well implemented during the period 2013-2014. Most of the steps listed in the plan were completed thanks to the fund: (1) nanoparticle preparation (2) structural characterization (3) magnetic characterization (4) particle deposition and self-assembling (5) net magnetization of the film measured via XMCD; we are still working on the last steps (6) magnetic order between particles measured via XRMS and (7) dynamical measurements, measured via CXRMS. The fund was especially useful to go and carry out a couple of synchrotron experiments at SSRL, SLAC at Stanford, to complete steps (5-7). …

Sound Reduction In Protheses For Developing Countries, Ashlie Burton, Lawrence Rees

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Introduction 2ft Prosthetics has been making below-the-knee prostheses for developing countries since 2010. While these feet have been helpful, improvements should be made to the design. One of the common complaints about the PVC foot was the amount of noise created during gait. The purpose of this project was to research different sound reduction designs for the PVC prosthesis. Initially two designs were drafted, out of the two, one was built and tested.