Digital Commons Network^™

Physics-Informed Neural Network Solution Of The 2d Helmholtz Equation With A Gaussian Source, Theodoros Panagiotakopoulos, Chris Velissaris, Aristotelis Nikolaos Rapsomanikis

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

We present a physics-informed neural network (PINN) framework for solving the complex-valued two-dimensional Helmholtz equation with a localized Gaussian source and spatially varying permittivity. Starting from Maxwell’s equations, the frequency-domain scalar Helmholtz formulation under transverse electric (TE) polarization is derived and enforced directly within the neural network loss function. The model employs a sinusoidal representation network (SIREN) architecture to capture the oscillatory nature of wave solutions and incorporates the Sommerfeld radiation condition to impose open boundary conditions. Training is performed using a hybrid collocation strategy combined with a two-stage optimization procedure consisting of Adam followed by L-BFGS. Numerical experiments in …

Comparison Of Anomaly Detection Methods On Event-Based Vision Sensor Data In A High Noise Environment, Will Johnston, Anthony L. Franz, Shannon R. Young, Rachel Oliver, Zachary Theis, Brian Mcreynolds, Michael L. Dexter

Faculty Publications

Event-based vision sensors (EVSs) provide unique frequency analysis opportunities due to their event data output and high temporal resolution. Anomaly detection methods used in hyperspectral analysis can be used on the event frequency spectra to detect targets. However, the introduction of a strong, flickering interfering source can reduce the EVS sensitivity and obscure targets of interest. Previous work presented a method showing that targets could still be detected through an overwhelming source using frequency analysis, background suppression, and statistical filtering. This paper extends that research and compares the ability of five different eigenanalysis anomaly detection methods (principal component background suppression …

Multiple-Valued Quantum Automata For Robotics, Yuchen Huang

Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation introduces a new type of quantum automata, their encoding and circuit realization. I concentrate on possible applications in robotics. Several methods and application of quantum automata and quantum circuit-based controllers for elementary robotic systems, with a focus on humanoid robot motion, emotion, and behavior generation are illustrated in detail. The research introduces several novel methodologies that bridge quantum computing principles with robotic control, aiming to overcome the limitations of classical deterministic and probabilistic approaches.

The dissertation first presents a quantum-circuit-based framework for generating non-repetitive and expressive (e)motions in a humanoid robot actor, using superposition and entanglement to produce …

Eco-Assisted Ultrasonic Synthesis, Characterization, And Electrical Conductivity Study Of Polyaniline/ Silica@Fe3o4 Q1 Nanocomposites, Ali Salim Shaway, Kholoud Dham Khamkheem, Jawad Kadhim Abaies, Athra G. Sager

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

وفي هذه الدراسة الصوتية، أصبحت السيليكا المُنتجة بأكسيد الحديد (Fe₃O₄) ومركبات نانوية قائمة على البولي أنيلين مُطعّم بنسبة 5-15% من السيليكا المُعزز للحديد (Fe₃O₄). وأكملت نهائيا ماء أنيلين والمركبات العلمية المتنوعة الارتباط باستخدام تقنيات FT-IR وUV-Vis وXRD وSEM وTEM. وأحدثت نتائج XRD أن حجم جسيمات البولينج أنيلين الناي (PANI) يبلغ 55.5. مكثف هذا الحجم إلى 45.2 عند تطعيم بولي أنيلين بنسبة 15% وزناً من السيليكا المُغلفة بأكسيد الحديد (Fe₃O₄) مُحضّرة بطريقة جيدة بشكل جيد، مما يميل إلى التمدد بشكل ثابت في تشكيل المركب المتباين المنظم. ضاقت النطاق البصري من 3.2 إلى 2.5 إلكترون فولت مع زيادة نسبة المطعّم، مما يشير …

Augmented Reality In Physics Learning: Trends, Development Patterns, And Instructional Practices From Systematic Literature, Muhammad Musyaddad, Achmad Samsudin, Duden Saepuzaman, Ahmad Aminudin, Nisaul Afifah

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study examines recent developments in the use of augmented reality (AR) in physics education within the evolving landscape of educational technology. The aim is to provide a comprehensive mapping of research trends, pedagogical approaches, and methodological characteristics of AR-based physics learning. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search across four major databases identified 62 eligible studies published over the past five years. The findings reveal a consistent pattern in which AR is primarily used to support conceptual understanding of abstract physics topics, particularly electricity, mechanics, and magnetism, through inquiry-based and laboratory-oriented learning approaches. These implementations are commonly developed using systematic …

Direct Energy Cascade Of 2d Quantum Turbulence In Supersolids, Lukas Farthing

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

The non-equilibrium turbulent response of periodically driven three-dimensional ultracold dipolar gases is induced by an external time-dependent ring potential. To model this system and monitor its non-equilibrium quantum dynamics, we invoke an extended Gross-Pitaevskii framework containing the first-order quantum correction to the mean-field energy functional. The shape of the external perturbing potential is chosen to trigger angular roton excitations, driving the supersolid configuration out of equilibrium and attaining a turbulent state. Following the generation of shallow vortical defects in the bulk, a direct cascade front manifests, transporting energy from larger to smaller length scales. This leads to a non-equilibrium quasi-steady …

Vortex Generation In Dipolar Supersolids, Jacob Harl

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Ultracold atomic gases offer highly tunable platforms for exploring complex quantum many-body phenomena. In addition, dipolar quantum gases of magnetic atoms featuring long-range anisotropic interactions are exquisite systems for realizing exotic phases-of-matter in an experimentally controlled way. A prototypical example is the supersolid state which simultaneously exhibits frictionless flow of superfuids and crystalline density modulation of solids. In this realm, we investigate the dynamical generation of vortex topological defects by imprinting a suitable phase jump in quasi-two-dimensional dipolar supersolids. This protocol enables the nucleation of a dark soliton which consecutively becomes unstable via the eponymous snake instability due to its …

Dynamical Transition From A Two-Dimensional Soliton To A Rogue Wave In Quantum Droplets, Punit Sesha Sai Turlapati

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

We investigate the nonequilibrium dynamics of two-dimensional quantum droplets: ultracold self-bound many-body states stabilized by the interplay of mean-field attractive interactions and repulsive quantum fluctuations. Flat-top ground state droplets are subject to an external potential, an attractive well and a repulsive barrier. Under the influence of the attractive well, we observe signatures of a Townes soliton formation, which for increasing strength of the well transitions into a two-dimensional rogue wave structure, a time-periodic highly localized configuration with amplitude three times larger than the background. The barrier instead favors a dynamical splitting of the droplet. We have developed a parallelized simulation …

Non-Redundant Rovibrational Hamiltonians By Molien Generating Functions And Gröbner-Basis Reduction, Leandro Ajo

University Libraries Undergraduate Research Award

High-resolution molecular spectroscopy requires an effective Hamiltonian whose operator content is both complete, containing every term allowed by molecular symmetry and nonredundant, free of any algebraically dependent operators that would cause ill-conditioned parameter fits. Traditional derivations based on Van Vleck contact transformations satisfy neither criterion automatically. This paper develops a rigorous, algorithmic pipeline that guarantees both properties simultaneously. Starting from the permutation– inversion (PI) group GPI of a molecule (Longuet-Higgins, 1963), we apply Molien’s theorem (Molien, 1897) to the symplectic normal-coordinate representation to obtain the vibrational generating function Φvib(t); integrate over the Haar measure of SO(3) (Weyl, 1946) to obtain …

Skyforge End Effector, Sarah Alexander, Coleman Bubar

Senior Project

Large space structures are necessary for space advancement. However, construction is difficult with the current methods; SkyForge is a robot intended for orbital assembly. The robot will walk on and build the structure by utilizing the end effectors to grasp and position parts.

Machine Learning In Fundamental Physics: From Early Universe Signatures To Qcd Evolution, Brandon Stevenson

Physics Theses and Dissertations

In both cosmology and small-x quantum chromodynamics, the relevant theoretical predictions are well-defined but expensive to evaluate repeatedly over broad parameter spaces or large ensembles of simulated data. The central question of this thesis is when machine learning can accelerate those calculations without weakening the reliability of the final physics conclusions. The thesis develops and tests this idea in three settings. First, it studies the Derivative Approximation for Likelihoods (DALI) as a means of diagnosing when Fisher-matrix forecasts cease to be trustworthy in cosmological parameter inference. Second, it investigates graph-based spherical neural networks for estimating primordial non-Gaussianity directly from simulated …

Breathing Kagome Lattice-Based Nb3i8 Monolayer: Theoretical Insights Into Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Catalysis, Narender Kumar, Radha Somaiya, Ravindra Pandey, Nacir Tit

Michigan Tech Publications

Photocatalytic water splitting is a promising strategy for clean energy production, but its efficiency is restricted by poor light absorption, charge recombination, and slow reaction kinetics in photocatalytic materials. To address these challenges, a breathing Kagome lattice-based Nb3I8 monolayer is considered in the present study. Its photocatalytic performance is assessed via descriptors including the effective d-band center, spin-dependent carrier mobility, Gibbs free energy, and exchange-current density. The results based on density functional theory predict that the Nb3I8 monolayer is a type II magnetic semiconductor, with spin-up and spin-down bandgap energies of 1.06 and 1.77 eV, respectively. The application of biaxial …

Numerical Study Of Nutrient Mixing In Trabecular Bone In Microgravity, Disuse And Normogravity, Sagar Gharti

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Mechanical loading is known to regulate bone remodeling by driving interstitial fluid flow which stimulates cells and drives nutrient transport within the trabecular network. In microgravity, the absence of mechanical stimulation or loading suppresses convective flow processes, causing diffusion-driven nutrient mixing and renewal, and accelerated bone loss. This thesis investigates how oscillation frequency and trabecular bone density jointly control nutrient mixing and wall shear stress within trabecular cavities.

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) framework is developed in STAR-CCM+ using a soft-cap oscillation model that mimics cyclic compression. Three idealized trabecular morphologies are simulated across different frequencies to represent microgravity or …

Developing A Multi-Band Gnss Remote Sensing Station To Measure Precipitable Water Vapor For Flash Flood Nowcasting, Madison Gleydura

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Flash flood nowcasting in Central and Southern Appalachia is particularly challenging due to steep terrain, narrow valleys, highly localized rainfall patterns, and limited measurement coverage. Traditional remote sensing methods, such as Doppler radar and microwave radiometry, suffer from reduced resolution at long range and signal blockage by mountains. GNSS-meteorology offers an established alternative for measuring precipitable water vapor and is currently integrated into several numerical weather models. Recent research demonstrates that commercial-grade GNSS receivers can produce tropospheric products comparable to those from geodetic-grade equipment. The gaps in mountain coverage can be addressed by developing a low-cost, self-contained embedded system that …

Automation Of Discovery And Classification Of Compact X-Ray Binaries In Globular Clusters, Justin Brooks

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

The discovery and classification of Compact X-ray Binaries (CXRBs) within globular clusters improves our understanding of stellar encounters, the evolution of globular clusters, accretion physics, and the high-energy physics of the compact objects involved in these systems. For this reason, scientists compare X-ray observations from the Chandra X-ray Observa?tory with visible and UV observations from the Hubble Space Telescope to find objects of unusual colors and magnitudes which might be CXRBs. However, this process is time-consuming and requires significant amounts of data and expertise to achieve reliable classifications. This paper de?scribes this process, as well as a proposed automated process …

Thermal Vacuum Technical Report, Taiye Ibukun Fatima Ougundare, Ryan Bade

Senior Project

This system enables ground-based testing of components prior to space deployment. It replicates key Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) conditions, including both pressure and temperature. The chamber reduces pressure from atmospheric conditions (~760 Torr) to ~7.6 × 10⁻⁶ Torr. The thermal vacuum system achieves temperatures ranging from −60 °C to +125 °C for realistic environmental simulation.

Skyforge: Payload Isolation, Denzel Ezekiel, Brayden Gogis

Senior Project

As humanity looks to expand its reach into space, there is an increasing need for large space structures. The existence of these structures would enable large-scale infrastructure for further exploration and long-term habitation of humans beyond earth. However, creating such large structures in space is extremely challenging. Extreme environmental conditions (temperature, vacuum, microgravity) make construction and material handling difficult. Manual construction is dangerous and expensive; it is unrealistic for astronauts to complete this work. The “SkyForge” project, inspired by “Skyworker” (2003), attempts to make large space structure construction possible. SkyForge is envisioned as a fully autonomous construction robot designed for …

Time-Correlated Photons From Spontaneous Parametric Down-Conversion (Spdc), Aaron Dubois , ‘26, Tanvir Islam , ‘26, Prashan Thapa Magar , ‘26

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

Time-correlated photons can be used to demonstrate emerging technical applications such as ghost imaging, and they can demonstrate quantum-based phenomena in order to interest undergraduate students in engineering applications involving optics and quantum mechanics. In this work, we use spontaneous parametric down-conversion to generate time-correlated photons. To achieve this, we simulated laboratory parameters with MATLAB and designed optical and electrical setups. Specifically, we used a 405 nm diode laser, various common optical components, and a nonlinear crystal designed to generate time-correlated photons, and we used single-photon detectors, time-to-amplitude converters, custom flash-conversion analog-to-digital converters, a Teensy 4.1 microcontroller, and the Arduino …

Modeling And Constraining Beyond Standard Model Neutrino Self-Interactions, Sabrina Hanning , ‘26

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

Neutrinos are the ideal subject for theories of Beyond Standard Model (BSM) physics. This is because small neutrino interaction cross-sections make them incredibly difficult to detect and result in many open questions regarding neutrino properties, particularly those that do not fit nicely into the Standard Model of particle physics, such as the existence of neutrino masses. BSM neutrino self-interactions are an interesting possibility with connections to dark matter candidates, neutrino mass generation, and in general any measurement that relies on accurate modeling of incident astrophysical neutrino flux.

These self-interactions may take various forms, with different mediator particles; we present a …

Fluid-Mediated Particle Transport: Revisiting Snowstorm Simulations In 2d With An Updated Pressure Calculation Algorithm, E. Maldonado, Michael W. Roth

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

We develop and present computer simulations of snowfall and snowfall management near buildings using deflection fins. Our approach first entails a numerical solution to the Navier – Stokes fluid dynamics equations in order to determine wind velocity profiles with and without deflection fins. Subsequent to finding the velocity field, snow particles are introduced and are subject to Newton’s Laws in order to allow transport, sticking to surfaces, landing and ultimately accumulation. We revisit previous work, presenting and discussing program construction and validation, along with cursory systematic studies of varying geometrical parameters in the simulation. The utility of the simulations is …

Experimental And Computational Investigations Of Li-Ion And Na-Ion Battery Cathode Materials, Shintaro Inaba , ‘26

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

Batteries allow storage of chemical energy and controlled conversion of energy as electricity. Known to mankind since the eighteenth century, batteries have been vital in manufacturing, service industry, and use of portable electronics and electric vehicles. These systems utilize rechargeable batteries, where redox reactions are practically reversible. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are two rechargeable systems that are widely explored in the field of electrochemistry and electrical engineering due to their abundance of materials, relative safety, energy density and power density. Discovery and optimization of those battery materials are crucial in improving their performance and accelerating commercialization. In …

Agglomeration Of Particles Streaming Down A Zigzag, Juan Llamas

Posters - 2026

Zigzags or “letdown ladders” limit the flow speed of dry grains as they flow downward by gravity when loading silos, ships, barges, railcars, or trucks.

• Reduce cracking and shattering of grains.

• Increase grain shelf life.

• Increase grain resale value. • Increase ability of grain to germinate.

• Reduce generation of grain dust, an explosion and environmental hazard.

How can we design a zigzag that we know will not plug?

Information Theory Analysis Of The Solar Wind Magnetic Structures For Space Weather Prediction, Katherine Holland

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Forecasting space weather at Earth is highly complicated, because of the limited measurements of the dynamic processes in the Sun that span multiple temporal, spatial, and energy-scales. The solar wind is a highly structured, multi-scale, evolving plasma and consists of coronal mass ejections (CMEs), stream interaction regions (SIRs), expanding flux tubes (Borovsky, 2008), and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) discontinuities and fluctuations. The aim of this research is to improve our understanding of the evolution and dissipation of different scale-size solar wind magnetic structures as they move from the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 1 (L1) to Earth's bow shock and, ultimately, to …

Exclusive Neutral Pion Electroproduction Cross Section Measurements With A Neutral Particle Spectrometer, Mitchell R. Kerver

Physics Theses & Dissertations

Deep Virtual Compton Scattering (DVCS), the exclusive electron-proton scattering process ep →e′p′γ, provides access to generalized parton distributions (GPDs), which correlate informa tion about the longitudinal momentum and transverse spatial structure of quarks inside the nucleon. Experiment E12-13-010 in Hall C at Jefferson Lab was designed to take high-precision measure ments of the DVCS cross section over an extended kinematic range using the newly commis sioned Neutral Particle Spectrometer (NPS). The NPS features a high-resolution electromagnetic calorimeter and a streaming data acquisition system optimized for operation at high luminosities. This thesis presents the detector and analysis work carried out to …

A Study Of Short-Range Correlated Pair Formation Mechanisms, Noah S. Swan

Physics Theses & Dissertations

Short-Range Correlations (SRCs) refers to pairs of nucleons that are temporary high density fluctuations with high relative momenta and lower center-of-mass momenta com pared to the nuclear Fermi momentum (kF). SRCs account for 20–25% of the nucleons in medium to heavy nuclei, make up essentially all nucleons with momentum greater than kF, and contribute most of the kinetic energy carried by nucleons in nuclei.

The existing semi-inclusive and exclusive measurements only cover a handful of light nu clei or heavy elements. This does not allow for a systematic study of the dependence of SRC pairs on nuclear mass and proton-neutron …

Observations Of An Oscillatory Mechanochemical Reaction Between Tetrathiafulvalene And Chloranilic Acid, Alastair Deans

Physics Theses & Dissertations

Mechanochemistry is the study of chemical reactions driven by the input of mechanical en ergy in addition to thermal activation. Mechanochemical reactions from powders are carried out by manual grinding or milling using various types of ball mills, or in twin extruders. While mechanochemistry has great potential affording economically and environmentally advantageous “green” synthetic methods, a drawback is that its chemical mechanisms are not well understood. One example of such a reaction currently under study involves tetrathiafulvalene, an organic elec tron donor with two polymorphs (orange and brown), and chloranilic acid, an electron acceptor. Previous results show that neat grinding …

Ultra-High Vacuum Outgassing Characterization Of Thermally Processed Low-Carbon Steel For Advanced Particle Accelerator And Gravitational Wave Detector Applications, Aiman H. Al-Allaq

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation investigated AISI 1020 low-carbon steel as an alternative vacuum chamber material to conventional stainless steel for ultra-high vacuum (UHV) and extreme-high vacuum (XHV) applications. After a 400 °C/48 h bake, AISI 1020 tube chambers achieved a hydrogen outgassing rate of 2.4 × 10⁻¹⁶ Torr·L·s⁻¹·cm⁻², approximately 2,300 times lower than the prebaked 316L stainless-steel comparator, among the lowest hydrogen outgassing rates ever reported for an uncoated metallic vacuum chamber. Bare and magnetite-coated AISI 1020 chambers were then compared using throughput and rate-of-rise methods. The magnetite coating yielded 5× lower water outgassing at room temperature, but this advantage disappeared after …

Continuum Observations Of Water Maser Sites, Aman Khan

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Stars form in cores deep within cold (10 K) clouds of hydrogen gas. As material is accreted onto the central object inside these cores (the protostar), powerful outflows that channel mass away from the protostar are also launched. The launching mechanism for these outflows is still not fully understood. This thesis presents observations of the 22 GHz continuum emission from two star-forming regions, NGC 7129 FIRS2 and IC 1396-n. The immediate aim of these observations is to find where this continuum emission is coming from, particularly if it is free-free emission from a jet or outflow, and the long term …

Iron Deficiency And Depressive Symptoms: Effects Of Racial And Ethnic Disparity In Two Reproductive-Aged Us Women, Alexis Monkhouse

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Problem: Reproductive- aged women are one of the populations most at risk for iron deficiency and depression in the United States. While many studies have looked at the relationship between these two illnesses, none have explored it from a biocultural framework, examining how race/ethnicity affects this relationship. Using data from NHANES, this thesis examined the relationship between iron status (total body iron) and depressive symptoms (PHQ-9) among reproductive-aged women in the U.S. and how race/ethnicity affects it. Methods. NHANES survey data from 2005-2010 were pulled. Demographic and laboratory data were used to determine eligibility, total body iron, and depressive scores. …

Quantum Superpositions Of Conscious States In A Minimal Integrated Information Model, Kelvin J. Mcqueen, Ian T. Durham, Markus P. Müller

Philosophy Faculty Articles and Research

Could there be quantum superpositions of conscious states, as suggested by the Wigner’s friend thought experiment? Mathematical theories of consciousness, notably integrated information theory (IIT), make this question more precise by associating physical systems with both quantitative amounts of consciousness and structural characterizations of conscious states. Motivated by a recent proposal that ties wave-function collapse to integrated information, we construct a simple quantum circuit that would, on that proposal, place a minimal system—a feedback dyad—into a superposition of states that differ in their associated conscious states. This “Schrödinger’s dyad” provides a controlled setting for evaluating a central desideratum of consciousness-based …