Physics Commons^™

Climate Change, Development, And The Global Commons, Robert J. Brecha

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

An important link between energy, climate change, human development, and human rights comes in the form of a question that has yet to be answered satisfactorily: The earth’s atmosphere and other physical systems are the ultimate example of the global commons. Do future generations have a human right to an unchanged earth system? Sustainable Development Goals 13, 14, and 15 imply an affirmative answer. Given that climate scientists have a good estimate of the amount of carbon dioxide that can be emitted before the safe uptake capacity of the atmosphere is breached, how do we allocate that remaining atmospheric capacity …

Co2 Conversion Over Supported Coni Bimetallic And Conipd Trimetallic Catalyst Via Dry Reforming With Methane, Scott Bamonte

Post & Beyond

Greenhouse gas emission is a problem for the earth, and is causing warming

of the climate, and acidification of the oceans. The primary objective of

this project is to develop novel cobalt based catalysts, to enhance catalytic

conversion of CO₂ by methane into, value added chemicals and fuels. The

heterogeneous Co-based bimetallic and tri metallic catalysts were synthesized

via a wet incipient impregnation method to uniformly coat the metal

salts to the pre-treated support (TiO₂, SiO₂, and La-ZrO₂). The catalyst was

dried in the oven at 80∞ C for two hours before subjected …

University Of Minnesota Smallsat And High Altitude Ballooning Development And Collaboration, Luke Zumwalt, Ricardo Saborio, Athanasios Pantazides, Aaron Nightingale, Demoz Gebre Egziabher, Lindsay Glesener

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

The Experiment for X-ray Characterization and Timing (EXACT) mission is a 3U CubeSat technology-development project being built by the SmallSat team at the University of MN – Twin Cities which is a joint research effort of the Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics (AEM) Department and the School of Physics and Astronomy (SPA). The main objective of this spacecraft is to carry a payload including a detector designed to measure energy and time of arrival time of individual hard x-ray photons emitted from the Sun and from other astrophysical sources. During the development process for EXACT, flights provided by the High-Altitude Student …

Measurement Of Speed Of Sound Profile Using Laaces Balloon, Zhuang Li, Brett Schaefer, Brian Schaefer, William Dever, Tyler Morgan, Matthew Foltz

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

The goal of this mission is to test the speed of sound at different altitudes and ultimately at a maximum height of 100,000 feet (30 km). In conjunction with this testing, environmental parameters including temperature, pressure, and humidity are measured and used to calculate the speed of sound to compare to the measured results. The team constructed the payload “Dorothy” using polystyrene foam due to its lightweight and thermal isolation property. An ultrasonic sensor with a reflection mirror were installed outside payload box to measure speed of sound. All the sensors were calibrated. Software for the project was developed in …

Calibration Of Temperature Sensors In Preparation For The 2017 Total Solar Eclipse, Erick Agrimson, Kaye Smith, Ana Taylor, Vina Onyango-Robshaw, Rachel Lang, Alynie Xiong, Peace Sinyigaya, Grace Maki, Rachel Dubose, Brittany Craig, James Flaten, Gordon Mcintosh

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

In preparation for the 2017 total solar eclipse, St. Catherine University developed a calibration protocol for the temperature sensors flown during thermal wake boom experiments. The calibration method used a standard two-point technique that corrected each individual sensor for both slope and offset errors using a high quality NIST certified thermocouple as the temperature standard. Our method is not absolute but corrects each sensor relative to the NIST standard so that we feel some confidence that individual sensor variations are mitigated. In preparation for the eclipse, calibration curves were generated for over 200 individual digital and thermistor temperature sensors.

Pressure Regulator For A High Altitude Balloon, Kala Brown, Darci Snowden, Joe Cuthbertson, Jessica Kisner, Addison Wenger

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

High altitude balloons are large latex balloons filled with gas that carry a payload to near space. Because they can travel to around 100,000 feet, they provide a convenient way to study the Earth’s atmosphere. Per Boyle’s Law, the pressure and volume of a confined gas are inversely proportional. Thus, as the balloon ascends and the atmospheric pressure decreases, the gas inside the balloon expands. This pressure difference allows the balloon to ascend, but it also causes it to continuously expand until it bursts. For some observations, one might want their balloon to remain at about the same altitude for …

Controlled Heading Automation Device, Robert Coulson

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

One of the most significant limitations of weather balloon-based data collection is that instruments and payloads cannot depend on particular orientations or predictable rotation. Several investigators have used payload heading control devices to overcome this limitation in order to collect directional data and record motion controlled video footage. The work described in this presentation builds on the Controlled Heading Automation Device (CHAD) developed by Kruger et al. (2016) and was carried out at DePaul University in summer 2017 as an undergraduate research project. Our goal was to record stable video of the shadow of the moon on Earth’s surface during …

Sonoluminescence: Sound Into Light, Alexandra Lynn

Post & Beyond

Sonoluminesence is the conversion of sound into light. We were trying

to see whether the intervals between the light flashes that had been seen

would be affected by the temperature of the water . To determine this, we

essentially used an RLC circuit where a flask of degassed water with piezoelectric

transducers glued to either side acted as the capacitor. We used

the piezos to pump a sinusoidal wave through the water and at circuit and

acoustic resonance, small bubbles inserted into the water, stabilized in the

center of the flask, collapsed and emitted blue light. This experiment uses

the …

Evolution Of Barred Galaxies In Spinning Dark Matter Halos: High Resolution N-Body Simulations At Dlx, Angela Collier, Isaac Shlosman, Clayton Heller

Commonwealth Computational Summit

Observations show that galaxies are dominated by stellar disks immersed in much more massive, slowly tumbling dark matter (DM) halos. Large fraction of galactic disks, at least 75%, are barred (see Hubble Fork on the right). Stellar bars form either via spontaneous break of axial symmetry or via galaxy interactions.

The formation and evolution of stellar bars is not fully understood. Stellar bar evolution is highly nonlinear and cannot be treated analytically. The main approach to study these disk-halo systems is via numerical simulations, whose goal is to explain why galaxies have such a wide range of morphologies as shown …

Thermodynamics Of An Evolving Gene Sequence, Brian Clark

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

The Behavior Response Of Antlion Larvae To Alternating Magnetic Fields, Lindsey Wagner, Caleb L. Adams

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

A Critical Firing Rate In Synchronous Transitions Of Coupled Neurons, Annabelle Shaffer, Epaminondas Rosa, Rosangela Follmann

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Mathematical Modeling Of Inhibitory Effects On Chemically Coupled Neurons, Nathhaniel Harraman, Epaminondas Rosa

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Temperature Effects On Neuronal Tonic-To-Bursting Transitions, Manuela Burek, Epaminondas Rosa

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

A Brief History Of Neuroscience, Zachary Mobille, Epaminondas Rosa

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Thermomechanical Properties Of Aluminium Heaters To Test The Compact Muon Solenoid Cooling System For Phase Two Upgrade, Sandra Jimena González, Timothy Matthew Jones

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

The main objectives of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider are precision studies of the Standard Model of Particle Physics and the discovery of physics beyond it. To meet that, it is essential for the CMS detector to function at the highest efficiency for detecting subatomic particles within various technical constraints. In particular, the readout chips of the Pixel Tracker sub-detector produce significant heat and must be kept at -10 °C to ensure optimal performance and reduce cumulative damage in the high radiation environment. Thus, it is necessary to design a cooling system to extract …

Design And Fabrication Of An Electrical Breakdown Facility, Prit Chovatiya, Animesh Sharma, Alexey Shashurin

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Usage of traditional experimental instrumentation has not kept up with the rate of advancement in the modern educational material. Teaching aids used in academia have to be updated to ensure effective understanding of content among the students. The use of outdated vacuum chambers as visual aids in plasma physics classrooms have proven to be ineffective for the students and teachers, due to limited viewing ports on the metallic walls of the vacuum chamber for viewing the plasma discharge phenomenon. It is important to address this challenge, which invigorates the need for the use of a transparent vacuum chamber as a …

Optimization And Control Of Production Of Graphene, Atharva Hans, Nimish M. Awalgaonkar, Majed Alrefae, Ilias Bilionis, Timothy S. Fisher

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Graphene is a 2-dimensional element of high practical importance. Despite its exceptional properties, graphene’s real applications in industrial or commercial products have been limited. There are many methods to produce graphene, but none has been successful in commercializing its production. Roll-to-roll plasma chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is used to manufacture graphene at large scale. In this research, we present a Bayesian linear regression model to predict the roll-to-roll plasma system’s electrode voltage and current; given a particular set of inputs. The inputs of the plasma system are power, pressure and concentration of gases; hydrogen, methane, oxygen, nitrogen and argon. This …

Raman Spectroscopy Of Oxygen Evolution Catalysts And Psii Manganese Model Compounds, Sergei Shmakov, Daniel A. Hartzler, Alireza Karbakhsh Ravari, Yulia Pushkar

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Photosynthesis is the basis of life on earth, and oxygen evolution catalysts are key components of this complicated, yet not fully understood process. Photosystem II, a large membrane bound pigment-protein complex, is the key system that facilitates oxygenic photosynthesis via the oxygen evolving complex (a natural oxygen evolving catalyst). It is a key component in oxygen producing catalysts, which can be used in fields such as energy production and biomimetic catalysts. The oxygen evolution cycle, or Kok cycle going within it is still not studied completely. In this project, we were studying the vibrational (and structural) state of a Manganese …

Machine Learning In Xenon1t Analysis, Dillon A. Davis, Rafael F. Lang, Darryl P. Masson

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

In process of analyzing large amounts of quantitative data, it can be quite time consuming and challenging to uncover populations of interest contained amongst the background data. Therefore, the ability to partially automate the process while gaining additional insight into the interdependencies of key parameters via machine learning seems quite appealing. As of now, the primary means of reviewing the data is by manually plotting data in different parameter spaces to recognize key features, which is slow and error prone. In this experiment, many well-known machine learning algorithms were applied to a dataset to attempt to semi-automatically identify known populations, …

Searching For The Origins Of Matter, Joshua L. Barrow

Andrews Research Conference

The big bang and inflation are experimentally confirmed by multitudes of astronomical observations, yet theoretical tension still exists upon a very important question: why is there something rather than nothing? In other words, why are there unequal amounts of matter and antimatter? Why did a supposedly initially symmetric state not annihilate perfectly?

The breaking of this symmetry has allowed for all of material existence--also known as baryogenesis, the prevalence of matter over antimatter--and yields the theoretical possibility of direct detection by observation of baryon number violating mechanisms, which have previously never been observed.

One such plausible mechanism can be found …

Optimization Of Cardiac Pacing Stimulation By Current Configuration –A Theoretical, Numerical And Experimental Study., Flavio H. Fenton, Hila Dvir, Neil Hardy

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Find, Build, And Export Information For 3d Printing Of Your Favorite Molecules And Crystal Structures At Two Dedicated Websites, Paul R. Destefano, Peter Moeck

Student Research Symposium

As 3D printers require instructions, the Nano-Crystallography Group at Portland State University is creating two websites (http://nanocrystallography.org/3dconvert/ and http://nanocrystallography.research.pdx.edu/3d-print-files/convert/) where such instructions are created, interactively, for the atomic arrangements of virtually all known molecules and crystals.

We will prepare a "pipeline" into which crystallographic information enters from two curated open access crystallographic databases, is manipulated to create the desired 3D models, and then is exported in either STL format (the standard for monochrome 3D printing) or VRML/X3D (the ISO successor to STL). The two aforementioned databases are the North-American mirror of the Crystallography Open Database (http://nanocrystallography.org) …

Finite Element Method Analysis Of Resonant Cavity For Whispering Gallery Acoustic Sensing Microscopy, Thanh N.D. Le, Ha Tran, Andres H. La Rosa

Student Research Symposium

Whispering Gallery Acoustic Sensing (WGAS) has been studied by Department of Physics at Portland State University as a mean of controlling sample to probe distance in tuning-folk-based scanning probe microscopy (TF-SPM). WGAS uses the microscope frame as a resonance acoustic cavity. The setup shows high potential because of high-quality factor nature of acoustic cavity as well as using mechanical motions of the TF itself instead of electrical signals. However, the analytic solution of the eigenfrequencies of the current microscope frame is very complex due to the asymmetric geometry. The purpose of this study is to use finite element method to …

Quasi-Optical Measurement For Low Loss Material Characterization In Submillimeter Wave Range, Ha Khiem Tran, Thanh Ngoc Dan Le, Branimir Pejcinovic

Student Research Symposium

An accurate knowledge of dielectric constant of materials is required in many sub-millimeter wave applications. Free-space measurement of materials has always been one of the first choices due to their non-destructive nature and relatively simple sample preparation. However, free-space measurement systems at sub-millimeter frequency range suffer from two main problems: high loss because of divergent beam pattern and diffraction when the beam waist of the radiated beam is relatively large compared to the size of the sample under tests. In order to mitigate these issues, we set up a quasi-optical system using off-axis parabolic mirrors, which enhance the dynamic range …

Resonances Of 25,26f Atomic Nuclei, Matthew Tuttle-Timm

Celebration of Learning

The structure of very unstable atomic nuclides are still not completely understood. The unstable atomic nuclides in this study emit a neutron, which requires determining the energy of decay to better understand the structure. The energy of decay may be calculated from the energy and momentum of the remaining charged fragment and neutron. From the calculated decay energy, information about an isotope’s nuclear structure can be found. At the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory experiment, a ²⁷Ne ion beam hit a liquid deuterium target that resulted in many produced atomic nuclides. One of the isotopes produced was unstable ²⁶F, …

Global Ranking Of U.S. Adults Concerned About Climate Change, Eric Marek

Undergraduate Research Conference

Even with a plethora of evidence and the vast majority of climate scientists supporting climate change, there remains a considerable amount of denial among the public. The purpose of this research is to examine where the United States stands in relation to other countries on the topic of climate change. The aspects explored include the history of climate change, the effects of climate change on the environment, science literacy and pseudoscience beliefs, opposition to climate change, the mitigation of climate change, as well as public opinion of climate change. This paper will include measures taken by governments and businesses to …

Using An Atomic Molecular Optics Laboratory For Undergraduate Research And Mentoring Of Physics Students In Georgia, Matthew P. Dallas

Georgia College Student Research Events

Using an Atomic Molecular Optics Laboratory for Undergraduate Research and Mentoring of Physics Students in Georgia

An Atomic and Molecular Optical (AMO) Physics research lab is an excellent tool to train and mentor undergraduate students in advanced laboratory techniques. Students gain valuable basic experience in experimental designs, data acquisition techniques, working with high precision optical equipment, building electronics, and working in the machine shop. The current project is building and testing an enclosure for the diode laser to reduce sound and vibrational interference. In addition, we are developing and evaluating a new, more compact laser cavity which is 3d printed. …

Key Encryption Through Quantum Optics, Madison Durrance, Zach Galberd, Abbey Savage, Tristan Cabrera, Josh Hoffman

Georgia College Student Research Events

Cryptography has been around since the dawn of human civilization to send private messages for commercial, military, and political purposes. Some of the most important ciphers are the Vigenère cipher, the enigma, and the more modern RSA. Because of the development of the internet, private encryption has also become increasingly more important. The weakest link of encryption is the key creation and key distribution. A key is needed to encrypt and decipher codes and is needed by both the user and sender. A solution to this problem is the generation of quantum key distributions. In our experiment, we are now …

3d Printing Plastic Scintillators, Madison Durrance, Nicolas Merino, Emily Vanderwolf

Georgia College Student Research Events

Scintillation is the production of visible light in a transparent material when exposed to either an electron, ion, or some other high energy particle. There are many ways to manufacture scintillators, but unfortunately many of these methods involve the costly machining of crystal materials. We plan to reduce this cost by attempting to manufacture plastic scintillators using a 3D printer. The most difficult challenge has been making transparent prints. We have had success with PET filament, the same plastic used in soda bottles. Upon successful clear prints, we intend to use recycled bottles to manufacture our own doped fiber. Organic …