Digital Commons Network^™

The Manhattan Project And The Globalization Of Nuclear Weapons, Cole Schreiber, Paul Shand

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

Morphological Study Of Voids In Ultra-Large Models Of Amorphous Silicon, Durga Prasad Paudel

Dissertations

The microstructure of voids in pure and hydrogen-rich amorphous silicon (a:Si) network was studied in ultra-large models of amorphous silicon, using classical and quantum- mechanical simulations, on the nanometer length scale. The nanostructure, particularly voids of device grade ultra-large models of a:Si was studied, in which observed three-dimensional realistic voids were extended using geometrical approach within the experimental limit of void-volume fractions. In device-grade simulated models, the effect of void morphology; size, shape, number density, and distribution on simulated scattering intensities in small- angle region were investigated. The evolution of voids on annealing below the crystallization temperature …

Polarization Properties Of Airy And Ince-Gaussian Laser Beams, Sean Michael Nomoto

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The description of polarization states of laser light as linear, circular polarization within the paraxial scalar wave approximation is adequate for most applications. However, this description falls short when considering laser light as an electromagnetic wave satisfying Maxwell's equations. An electric field with a constant unit vector for direction of the field and a space dependent complex scalar amplitude in the paraxial wave approximation does not satisfy Maxwell equations which, in general, requires all three Cartesian components of electric and magnetic fields associated for a nonzero laser beam to be nonzero.

Physical observation of passing a linearly polarized laser through …

Extended-Range Oscillations And The First Sharp Diffraction Peak In Amorphous Silicon: A Systematic Study, Devilal Dahal

Master's Theses

The first sharp diffraction peak (FSDP), which characterizes the static structure factor of many glassy systems near the wave vector region of 1-2 Å^-1 has been observed depending on the temperature, pressure and the degree of annealing of the system. The presence of the FSDP is indicative of the intermediate range order (IRO). In current work, we study the role of the extended- range oscillations on the parameters of the FSDP, i.e., intensity, position, area, and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) by using high-quality simulated models of amorphous silicon. The radial distance up to half of the …

Commissioning Of Micro-Cube Thermoluminescent Dosimeters For Small Field Dosimetry Quality Assurance In Radiotherapy, Brandon Luckett

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Small field dosimetry presents complications and uncertainties that could be circumvented by using detectors which are smaller than the radiation field. This study evaluates the reproducibility and accuracy of TLD micro-cubes for use in stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) remote auditing quality assurance (QA) for treatment centers participating in clinical trials. This study tested the hypothesis that TLD micro-cubes could be commissioned to evaluate small field dosimetry, and provide reproducibility within 3%, as well as assure agreement between measured dose and calculated doses to within 5%.

The aims of this thesis were to characterize and commission TLD micro-cubes as well as to …

Enhancing Transport In Classical And Quantum Systems Using Non-Hermiticity, Fatemeh Mostafavi

Theses and Dissertations

Non-Hermiticity, the presence of gain and loss in the structures, provides a flexible platform to utilize the wave propagation in classical and quantum system. Here in this thesis by using this advantage we aim to enhance the transport in both realms.

Modeling Proton Relative Biological Effectiveness Using Monte Carlo Simulations Of Microdosimetry, Mark A. Newpower

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Proton therapy is a radiotherapy modality that can offer a better physical dose distribution when compared to photon radiotherapy by taking advantage of the Bragg peak, a narrow region of rapid energy loss. Proton therapy is also known to offer an enhanced relative biological effectiveness (RBE) compared to photons. In the current clinical standard, RBE is fixed at 1.1 at all points along the proton beam, meaning protons are assumed to require 10% less dose than photons to achieve target coverage and organ at risk (OAR) sparing. However, there is mounting clinical evidence, and a significant number of in vitro …

Quantifying Uncertainty In A Measurement-Based Assessment Of Relative Biological Effectiveness In Carbon Ion Radiotherapy, Shannon Hartzell

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

One of the largest inconsistencies in dose delivered during carbon ion therapy is due to uncertainties in relative biological effectiveness (RBE), a value that is calculated via one of several clinically implemented algorithms. This study investigates the uncertainty in measured microdosimetric parameters for RBE calculation by the Microdosimetric Kinetic Model (MKM), Repair Misrepair Fixation model (RMF), and Local Effect Model I (LEM) using a Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter (TEPC).

Microdosimetric spectra, kinetic energy spectra, and dose fragment contributions were calculated using Monte Carlo (GEANT IV) for monoenergetic and SOBP carbon beams of clinical energy. From microdosimetric spectra, lineal energy values …

Development Of A Ground-Based Aerial-Tracking Instrument For Open-Path Spectroscopy To Monitor Atmospheric Constituents, Haden Hodges

Civil Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

A ground-based aerial-tracking instrument, known as the Ground Tracker, designed to provide spectral data to quantify greenhouse gases is under development. The Ground Tracker includes an Optical System including a high power rifle scope, video camera, and spectrometer used to locate an active light source from the Emitter, and collect spectral data by utilizing an actuating mirror. The implementation of this instrument could be made low cost by utilizing existing weather balloon infrastructure to allow the Emitter to be placed into the lower stratosphere. The recovery of the emitter will be possible by tracking the GPS coordinates. Weather balloon instrument …

Applied Symmetry For Crystal Structure Prediction, Scott William Fredericks

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This thesis presents an original open-source Python package called PyXtal (pronounced "pi-crystal") that generates random symmetric crystal structures for use in crystal structure prediction (CSP). The primary advantage of PyXtal over existing structure generation tools is its unique symmetrization method. For molecular structures, PyXtal uses an original algorithm to determine the compatibility of molecular point group symmetry with Wyckoff site symmetry. This allows the molecules in generated structures to occupy special Wyckoff positions without breaking the structure's symmetry. This is a new feature which increases the space of search-able structures and in turn improves CSP performance.

It is shown that …

Pseudo-Periodic Natural Higgs Inflation, I. G. Marian, N. Defenu, Ulrich D. Jentschura, A. Trombettoni, I. Nandori

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Inflationary cosmology represents a well-studied framework to describe the expansion of space in the early universe, as it explains the origin of the large-scale structure of the cosmos and the isotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation. The recent detection of the Higgs boson renewed research activities based on the assumption that the inflaton could be identified with the Higgs field. At the same time, the question whether the inflationary potential can be extended to the electroweak scale and whether it should be necessarily chosen ad hoc in order to be physically acceptable are at the center of an intense …

Radiative Transfer Distortions Of Lyman Α Emitters: A New Fingers-Of-God Damping In The Clustering In Redshift Space, Chris Byrohl, Shun Saito, Christoph Behrens

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Complex radiative transfer (RT) of the Lyman α photons poses a theoretical challenge to galaxy surveys that infer the large-scale structure with Lyman α emitters (LAEs). Guided by RT simulations, prior studies investigated the impact of RT on the large-scale LAE clustering, and claimed that RT induces a selection effect which results in an anisotropic distortion even in real space but in an otherwise negligible effect in redshift space. However, our previous study, which relies on a full RT code run on the Illustris simulations, shows that the anisotropic selection effect was drastically reduced with higher spatial resolution. Adopting the …

Computational Studies Of Thermal Properties And Desalination Performance Of Low-Dimensional Materials, Yang Hong

Department of Chemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

During the last 30 years, microelectronic devices have been continuously designed and developed with smaller size and yet more functionalities. Today, hundreds of millions of transistors and complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor cells can be designed and integrated on a single microchip through 3D packaging and chip stacking technology. A large amount of heat will be generated in a limited space during the operation of microchips. Moreover, there is a high possibility of hot spots due to non-uniform integrated circuit design patterns as some core parts of a microchip work harder than other memory parts. This issue becomes acute as stacked microchips get …

A Search For A High-Order Excitation Of Surface Phonon Polaritons On Silicon Carbide Metasurfaces, Md Litan Ali

Theses and Dissertations

Metasurfaces promise a control of light in free and confined spaces like optical waveguides using subwavelength-scale nanostructures. In this work, we experimentally investigate a variety control of light in more confined spaces which is localized surface waves of light. A control of surface waves has been challenged because of a lack of efficient nanostructures. For example, conventional and widely used metallic nanostructures have a high coupling efficiency of light due to free charge carriers but the charge carriers induce a high optical power loss. We recently designed and fabricated metal/dielectric multilayer aperture on ionic crystal, which shows a strong resonance …

Classification Of Isometry Algebras Of Solutions Of Einstein's Field Equations, Eugene Hwang

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Since Schwarzschild found the first solution of the Einstein’s equations, more than 800 solutions were found. Solutions of Einstein’s equations are classified according to their Lie algebras of isometries and their isotropy subalgebras. Solutions were taken from the USU electronic library of solutions of Einstein’s field equations and the classification used Maple code developed at USU. This classification adds to the data contained in the library of solutions and provides additional tools for addressing the equivalence problem for solutions to the Einstein field equations. In this thesis, homogeneous spacetimes, hypersurface-homogeneous spacetimes, Robinson-Trautman solutions, and some famous black hole solutions have …

Hyper Wide Field Imaging Of The Local Group Dwarf Irregular Galaxy Ic 1613: An Extended Component Of Metal-Poor Stars, Ragadeepika Pucha, Jeffrey Carlin, Beth Willman, Jay Strader, David Sand, Keith Bechtol, Jean Brodie, Denija Crnojević, Duncan Forbes, Christopher Garling, Jonathan Hargis, Annika Peter, Aaron Romanowsky

Faculty Publications

Stellar halos offer fossil evidence for hierarchical structure formation. Since halo assembly is predicted to be scale-free, stellar halos around low-mass galaxies constrain properties such as star formation in the accreted subhalos and the formation of dwarf galaxies. However, few observational searches for stellar halos in dwarfs exist. Here we present gi photometry of resolved stars in isolated Local Group dwarf irregular galaxy IC 1613 (M sstarf ~ 108 M ⊙). These Subaru/Hyper Suprime-Cam observations are the widest and deepest of IC 1613 to date. We measure surface density profiles of young main-sequence, intermediate to old red giant branch, and …

Spatially Resolved Stellar Kinematics Of The Ultra-Diffuse Galaxy Dragonfly 44. I. Observations, Kinematics, And Cold Dark Matter Halo Fits, Pieter Van Dokkum, Asher Wasserman, Shany Danieli, Roberto Abraham, Jean Brodie, Charlie Conroy, Duncan Forbes, Christopher Martin, Matt Matuszewski, Aaron Romanowsky, Alexa Villaume

Faculty Publications

We present spatially resolved stellar kinematics of the well-studied ultra-diffuse galaxy (UDG) Dragonfly 44, as determined from 25.3 hr of observations with the Keck Cosmic Web Imager. The luminosity-weighted dispersion within the half-light radius is ${\sigma }_{1/2}={33}_{-3}^{+3}$ km s−1, lower than what we had inferred before from a DEIMOS spectrum in the Hα region. There is no evidence for rotation, with ${V}_{\max }/\langle \sigma \rangle \lt 0.12$ (90% confidence) along the major axis, in possible conflict with models where UDGs are the high-spin tail of the normal dwarf galaxy distribution. The spatially averaged line profile is more peaked than a …

Projectile Coherence Effects In Simple Atomic Systems, Michael Schulz, A. Hasan, B. Lamichhane, T. Arthanayaka, M. Dhital, S. Bastola, L. Nagy, S. Borbely, F. Jarai-Szabo

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Recent studies of projectile coherence effects in ion-atom collisions are presented. For intermediate-energy proton collisions an extensive literature provides strong support for the importance of such effects. In this regime coherence effects are now used as a tool to study the few-body dynamics very sensitively. In contrast, for high-energy ion impact the literature is much sparser and here an important role of coherence effects cannot be regarded as being established. In this context, a recent claim that in COLTRIMS experiments the coherence properties are determined only by the target beam is rebutted.

The Production Cross Section Of The J/Ψ Meson Measured Using The Phenix Detector At √ S =510 Gev, Katherine Marie Deblasio

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

The inclusive differential production cross section of the J/ψ meson is measured with the PHENIX detector for p + p collisions at √ s = 510 GeV using the 2013 RHIC dataset. The measurement is performed using the dimuon decay channel at forward and backward rapidity ranges of 1.2 < |y| < 2.2 and for transverse momenta up to 12 GeV/c. The experimental results are compared to current predictions in NRQCD and serves to shed light on the ambiguity of the J/ψ production mechanism. The 2013 RHIC dataset provides unique challenges to the cross section measurement due to the effects of detector pile-up from multiple collisions. Techniques to quantify these effects are discussed.

Measurement And Control For Quantum State Tomography, State Preparation, And Metrology, Ezad Shojaee Mr.

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

Quantum information science can deliver its promises in technology if we have access to near-perfect quantum states, quantum channels, and readout. These are the building blocks of any quantum informatics in computation, communication, and simulation. Invasiveness of quantum measurement is one of the major challenges in this realm. The fact that after a measurement the quantum state changes is now a rule of the game. We need smart ways to gain information about a quantum state, given finite resources, in order to characterize it prior to any task.

In this dissertation, we realize the optimal way to do quantum state …

Quantum Algorithms With Applications To Simulating Physical Systems, Anirban Ch Narayan Chowdhury

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

The simulation of quantum physical systems is expected to be an important application for quantum computers. The work presented in this dissertation aims to improve the resource requirements of quantum computers for solving simulation problems, by providing both novel quantum algorithms and improved implementations of existing ones. I present three main results that cover diverse aspects of simulation including equilibrium physics, the preparation of useful quantum states, and simulations based on classical stochastic processes. The results rely on established quantum algorithms and other recent techniques which I review. My first original contribution is a new quantum algorithm to sample from …

The Delay Time Of Gravitational Wave — Gamma-Ray Burst Associations, Bing Zhang

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

The first gravitational wave (GW) — gamma-ray burst (GRB) association, GW170817/GRB 170817A, had an offset in time, with the GRB trigger time delayed by ∼1.7 s with respect to the merger time of the GW signal. We generally discuss the astrophysical origin of the delay time, Δt, of GW-GRB associations within the context of compact binary coalescence (CBC) — short GRB (sGRB) associations and GW burst — long GRB (lGRB) associations. In general, the delay time should include three terms, the time to launch a clean (relativistic) jet, Δtjet; the time for the jet to break out from the surrounding …

A Comprehensive Assessment Of The Low-Temperature Thermal Properties And Thermodynamic Functions Of Ceo2, Tyler D. Morrison, Elizabeth Sooby Wood, Phillippe F. Weck, Eunja Kim, Sung Oh Woo, Andrew T. Nelson, Donald G. Naugle

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

Reported is an experimental and computational investigation of the low temperature heat capacity, thermodynamic functions, and thermal conductivity of stoichiometric, polycrystalline CeO2. The experimentally measured heat capacity at T... (See full abstract in article).

Ice Spiral Patterns On The Ocean Surface, Andrei Ludu, Zhi Zong

Publications

We investigate a new two-dimensional compressible Navier-Stokes hydrodynamic model design to explain and study large scale ice swirls formation at the surface of the ocean. The linearized model generates a basis of Bessel solutions from where various types of spiral patterns can be generated and their evolution and stability in time analyzed. By restricting the nonlinear system of equations to its quadratic terms we obtain swirl solutions emphasizing logarithmic spiral geometry. The resulting solutions are analyzed and validated using three mathematical approaches: one predicting the formation of patterns as Townes solitary modes, another approach mapping the nonlinear system into a …

Resonance Electron Interaction With Five-Membered Heterocyclic Compounds: Vibrational Feshbach Resonances And Hydrogen-Atom Stripping, Stanislav A. Pshenichnyuk, Ilya I. Fabrikant, Alberto Modelli, Sylwia Ptasińska, Alexei S. Komolov

Department of Physics and Astronomy: Faculty Publications

Low-energy (0–15 eV) resonance electron attachment to a series of five-membered heterocyclic rings (isoxazole, imidazole, pyrazole, pyrrole, 1-methyl-, and 2-methylimidazole) is studied under gas-phase conditions by means of electron transmission spectroscopy and dissociative electron attachment spectroscopy (DEAS). Experimental spectral features are assigned on the basis of Hartree-Fock and density functional theory calculations. Sharp features, with a width of less than 0.1 eV, observed in the electron transmission spectra of imidazole, pyrazole, and pyrrole close to 0.45 eV, i.e., well below the energy of their lowest-lying π^∗ shape resonances detected at 1.90, 1.87, and 2.33 eV, respectively, are associated with …

Anisotropy And Orbital Moment In Sm-Co Permanent Magnets, Bhaskar Das, Renu Choudhary, Ralph Skomski, Balamurugan Balasubramanian, Arjun K. Pathak, Durga Paudyal, David J. Sellmyer

Department of Physics and Astronomy: Faculty Publications

Structural and magnetic properties of iron-free and iron-substituted SmCo₅ have been investigated theoretically and experimentally. The nanocrystalline ribbons of SmCo_5−xFe_x (0 [] x [] 2), which were produced by rapid solidification, crystallize in the hexagonal CaCu₅ structure for x [] 0.75. Small Fe additions (x = 0.25) substantially improve the coercivity, from 0.45 to 2.70 T, which we interpret as combined intrinsic and extrinsic effect. Most of our findings are consistent with past samarium-cobalt research, but some are at odds with findings that have seemingly been well established through decades of rare-earth transition-metal research. In …

Search For Resonant Double Higgs Production With Bbzz Decays In The Bbℓℓνν Final State In Pp Collisions At √S = 13 Tev, Rami Kamalieddin

Department of Physics and Astronomy: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Since the discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012 by the ATLAS and CMS experiments, most of the quantum mechanical properties that describe the long-awaited Higgs boson have been measured. Due to the outstanding work of the LHC, over a hundred of fb⁻¹ of proton collisions data have been delivered to both experiments. Finally, it became sensible for analyses teams to start working with a very low cross section processes involving the Higgs boson, e.g., a recent success in observing ttH and VHbb processes. One of the main remaining untouched topics is a double Higgs boson production. However, an …

Solar Response And Long‐Term Trend Of Midlatitude Mesopause Region Temperature Based On 28 Years (1990–2017) Of Na Lidar Observations, Chiao-Yao She, Uwe Berger, Zhao-Ai Yan, Tao Yuan, F.-J. Lübken, David A. Krueger, Xiong Hu

All Physics Faculty Publications

We present midlatitude solar response and linear trend from Colorado State University/Utah State University Na lidar nocturnal temperature observations between 1990 and 2017. Along with the nightly mean temperatures (_Ngt), we also use the corresponding 2‐hr means centered at midnight (_2MN), resulting in vertical trend profiles similar in shapes as those previously published. The 28‐year trend from _Ngt (_2MN) data set starts from a small warming at 85 km, to cooling at 87 (88) km, reaching a maximum of 1.85 ± 0.53 (1.09 ± 0.74) at 92 (93) km and turns positive again at 102 (100) km. The 6‐month winter …

Searching For Supermassive Binary Black Holes And Their Gravitational Waves, Karishma Bansal

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

The recent discovery of gravitational waves (GWs) by the LIGO collaboration has opened a new observing window on the universe, but it is limited to the GWs in the frequency range of 10-1000 Hz. The main motivation of this thesis is to consider the possibility of detecting low frequency (nHz) GWs. In the pursuit of these waves, we need to understand their source of origin and build a detector with the required sensitivity. Low-frequency waves are expected as a result of coalescing binary supermassive black holes (SMBBHs). We hope to detect these waves in the near future using pulsar timing …

Topological Nodal Line Semimetals In Graphene Network Structures, Jian-Tao Wang, Hongming Weng, Chengfeng Chen

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

Topological semimetals are a fascinating class of quantum materials that possess extraordinary electronic and transport properties. These materials have attracted great interests in recent years for their fundamental significance and potential device applications. There have been intensive studies suggested that three-dimensional graphene networks support topological semimetals with two types of continuous nodal lines: one is to form closed nodal rings in Brillouin zone and the other ones traversing the whole Brillouin zone to be periodically connected. Carbon has negligible spin-orbit coupling, non-magnetism and great diversity of allotropes, which makes it very promising in realizing topological nodal line semimetals. Here we …