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Extending The Discovery Space Of Tess: Probing Underexplored Exoplanet Populations, Mallory L. Harris

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

This dissertation investigates how cold exoplanets can be identified despite the strong observational bias of exoplanet surveys toward short-period systems. Planets at wider orbital separations remain comparatively poorly constrained, limiting tests of planetary-system formation and the prevalence of outer architectures beyond compact systems. To address this gap, I use two complementary approaches. First, I develop a transit-search pipeline for TESS Full-Frame Images that identifies both isolated and repeated transit-like signals around nearby M dwarfs and characterizes the dominant false-positive classes that limit sensitivity in this regime. I then present TOI-904 c, the coldest planet discovered by TESS around an M …

An Investigation Of Tess M&Ms And The Occurrence Rate Of Transiting Circumbinary Planets, Dominic Oddo

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

Circumbinary planets (CBPs) are worlds which orbit two stars simultaneously. CBPs are excellent tests of the tenacity of planet formation, but are difficult to detect. The space-based NASA Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission is a nearly all-sky survey designed to detect exoplanets transiting nearby stars. In this dissertation, I analyze the performance of TESS by comparing to the photometric precision of the ESA CHEOPS mission. Then, I define a catalog of low-mass eclipsing binaries (M&Ms), which are the best sources to search for CBPs. I describe my custom transit search methodology and apply it to the M&M catalog. I …

Strategies For Large Dynamic Range, Entanglement-Enhanced Quantum Metrology With Experimentally Demonstrated Resources, Tyler G. Thurtell

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

Quantum metrology studies the use of quantum mechanical systems as measurement devices or sensors. Surprisingly, preparing a sensor in an entangled state can enhance measurement precision. The simplest protocols for entanglement enhancement sense only small changes in a quantity. The range of values over which a measurement protocol works is called its dynamic range. For many types of sensors we require end-to-end protocols that describe how to use entanglement to achieve enhanced precision over a large dynamic range. In this dissertation, we describe two approaches to achieving entanglement-enhanced sensing over a large dynamic range. The first approach uses entangling resources …

Quantum Control Of Qubits And Qudits In Neutral Atom Systems, Sri Datta Vikas Buchemmavari

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

This dissertation explores control of neutral atom quantum systems across multiple levels of abstraction, from atomic physics to system-level fault tolerance, using optimal control to improve performance. First, we propose a Rydberg entangling gate based on dressing with only the qubit control field; an interaction energy near the Rabi frequency benefits both gate speed and Rydberg decay. Second, with Sandia National Laboratories, we show that leakage errors in neutral atom systems can be converted to atom loss errors and detected using two entangling gates with an auxiliary atom, where a SWAP-based leakage detection unit outperforms the standard design. Next, we …

Algorithmic Sculpting Of Complex Fused Silica Surfaces For Nondestructive, Mode-Matched Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics: Adaptive Co2 Milling And Simulation-Guided Ultrafast Inscription, From Fiber Fabry-Perot Cavities To Monolithic Architectures, Meagan E. Parker

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

Quantum sensors achieve exceptional measurement sensitivity through coherent, well-isolated quantum systems, but practical deployment is hindered by destructive readouts that require repeated state preparation and create long system dead times. Optical cavities enable continuous, nondestructive measurements with minimal back-action, yet integrating high-finesse cavities into scalable quantum devices remains limited by existing fabrication methods. To overcome these constraints, an adaptive CO₂ laser-milling platform was developed. Guided by glass thermodynamics and melt dynamics, this closed-loop system uses in-situ phase-shifting interferometry to sculpt complex fused-silica surfaces with sub-nanometer root-mean-square roughness. The platform was validated by fabricating extended-length fiber Fabry–Pérot cavities and monolithic micro-cavity …

Diagrammatic Methods For Calculating Correlation Functions In Low-Dimensional Quantum Gravity, Nicholas A. Parrilla

Master's Theses

This thesis investigates connections between random matrix theory and low-dimensional quantum gravity through the spectral form factor (SFF), a well-studied function that characterizes correlations in the eigenvalue spectrum of an operator. In random matrix ensembles, a feature of the SFF known as the “ramp” is governed by universal spectral correlations, and in Jackiw–Teitelboim (JT) gravity this regime is due to the double-trumpet wormhole geometry. We study the connected correlation functions underlying the SFF using combinatorial, diagrammatic methods from a mathematical formalism known as second-order free probability theory, where they are expressed in terms of annular noncrossing permutations. To access a …

Developing And Testing Visualization Simulations For The Gamma-Ray Energy Tracking Array (Greta), Blake Mcnulty

Physics and Astronomy Summer Fellows

GRETA is a recently-completed Department of Energy-funded project to construct an array of 120 gamma-ray detectors for use in nuclear physics experiments. The Gretina Array was the successful pilot project to construct 48 of the eventual 120 detectors that would be used in the array. UCGretina is a program that is used to simulate the GRETA array for the purposes of planning experiments and analyzing measurements. My job for this summer, with the advent of the full GRETA system, was to implement the new modular mounting structure for the full GRETA array in the simulation code. This involves creating the …

Global Time-Resolved Measurements Of Inlet/Isolator Unstart Induced By Mass Injection, Andrew N. Bustard, Benjamin L. Bemis, Aaron Marques, Matthew J. Zahr, Thomas J. Juliano

Publications

The inner surface pressure of an axisymmetric inlet/isolator model was measured using anodized-aluminum pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) viewing through cast acrylic. Temperaturesensitive paint was utilized to correct for the PSP’s temperature sensitivity. The model was tested under Mach 5.7 flow at 𝑹𝒆 = 7.1 ×106 /m under conventional noise conditions. Transverse jet injection with jet-to-inlet mass-flow ratios up to 0.8 was used to induce unstart in the inlet/isolator. Background-oriented schlieren visualization of the inlet shocks was collected simultaneously with the PSP to determine when the inlet unstarted. Computational fluid dynamics results were used to determine off-wall flow structures and quantify approach …

Tapping Into The Ocean’S Hidden Energy: Feasibility Of A 5 Mw Otec Installation In North Bali, Widodo Setiyo Pranowo, Yani Permanawati, Gisela Malya Asoka Anindita, Agung Kurniawan, Albertus Sulaiman, Johar Setiyadi, Safri Burhanuddin, Ivonne Milichristi Radjawane, Hansan Park, Endro Sigit Kurniawan

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Indonesia is an archipelagic country surrounded by water and faces energy challenges due to the low use of renewable energy. Among the potential renewable options, marine energy is a particularly suitable resource given the country’s geographical nature. Based on this discussion, seawater temperature can be used as an alternative ocean thermal en-ergy known as ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) by using the difference in sea surface and deep-sea water temperatures. Therefore, this study aimed to examine OTEC installations in North Bali waters using closed-cycle OTEC calculations for a 5 MW system. Following this objective, we examined the water conditions by …

Crystal Structural Analysis Of Medieval Human Bones Using Wide-Angle X-Ray Scattering, Selly Altangerel, Leslie Gracia

DePaul Discoveries

Female human second metacarpal (mc2) bones from a medieval cemetery at Wharram Percy, England, were studied using high-energy Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS) at beamline 1-ID of the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. The age-at-death of 33 samples was determined from molar wear and classified into 3 groups:  18-30, 30-50, and 50+ years old.  Rietveld refinements of the WAXS data were performed to obtain lattice parameters of the hexagonal carbonated apatite phase (cAp). Individual fittings for cAp peaks 00.2, 00.4, and 31.0 were performed to obtain their widths and correlate them to collagen retention. For the three samples described …

Experimental And Density Functional Theory Study Of The Structural, Optical, And Electronic Properties Of La2Nimno6 And Nd2Nimno6 Double Perovskite Ceramics, Mahmoud S. Alkathy, Anibal Thiago Bezerra, Person Pereira Neves, Mariama Rebello De Sousa Dias, Alexandre José Gualdi, Marco Daldin Teodoro, Valmo R. Mastelaro, José A. Eiras

Physics Faculty Publications

Despite extensive study of La₂NiMnO₆ double perovskites, a systematic understanding of the effects of A-site rare-earth substitution on coupled structural, electronic, and optical properties remains lacking. Here, we provide the first integrated experimental-computational comparison of La₂NiMnO₆ (LaNMO) and Nd₂NiMnO₆ (NdNMO), establishing quantitative structure–property relationships. Rietveld refinement demonstrates that Nd³⁺ substitution amplifies MnO₆ and NiO₆ octahedral distortions 5-fold (Δd_Mn: 4.69 × 10^–4 to 23.9 × 10^–4; Δd_Ni: 1.18 × 10^–4 to 5.91 × 10^–4), reduces Mn–O–Ni bond …

Detecting And Correcting Systematic Image Distortion In Digital Atomic-Resolution Images From Crystals: Projected Symmetry Of Graphite Calibration Samples For Scanning Prove Microscopy And Subperiodic Crystals For Aberration-Corrected Transmission Electron Microscopy, Tyler Michael Bortel

Dissertations and Theses

Though it is an impressive technology, Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) produces images commonly plagued by small systematic errors, often called "drift". These effects have a variety of causes, most notably nonlinear behavior of piezoelectric actuator tubes responsible for the positioning of the scanning probe or sample. One result of these distortions is a potential incorrect classification of the symmetry groups and projected Laue classes of recorded images from crystals—made possible by using recently developed objective methods. An implementation of a known method for detecting and correcting these errors is presented. This method operates strictly in Fourier space so as to …

On The True Interstellar Anisotropy Of Tev Cosmic Rays And Its Implications For The Local Interstellar Medium, Noufel D. Maalal

Theses and Dissertations

Several ground-based cosmic ray (CR) air shower experiments have produced sky maps of intensity anisotropy in the energy range from 1 TeV to a few hundred TeVs with very high statistics and angular resolution. These measurements provide opportunities to study CR sources and propagation in the interstellar medium (ISM). Such studies present two major difficulties. Firstly, CRs are deflected by the heliospheric magnetic field on the last stretch of their journey to Earth. Secondly, measurements at different latitudes are difficult to compare, leading to uncertainties in latitudinal variations on the order of the observed anisotropy. Experiments usually assume latitudinal variations …

Multi-Angle Dynamic Light Scattering Experiments With Real-Time Autocorrelation Using Field-Programmable Gate Arrays, Spiros Simotas

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Dynamic light scattering (DLS) determines particle size from temporal fluctuations in coherently scattered light. Here a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) computes intensity autocorrelations in real time, and an automated diffractometer with custom 3D-printed cuvette, laser, homing, and GT2-gear mounts enables multi-angle measurements. Square-wave timing tests at 1 Hz, 100 Hz, and 10 kHz verified the correlator response. Calibrated latex spheres were then measured at seven scattering angles from 32.5◦ to 44.5◦. Each autocorrelation function was fit to the standard single-exponential form g(τ ) = B + βe−2Γτ with weights from analytic per-lag Poisson uncertainties σg = pg/N based on coincidence …

Numerical Method For Strongly Variable-Density Flows At Low Mach Number: Flame-Sheet Regularisation And A Mass-Flux Immersed Boundary Method, Matheus P. Severino, Fernando F. Fachini, Elmer M. Gennaro, Daniel Rodríguez, Leandro F. Souza

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

A low-Mach-number flow, in the laminar regime, has intrinsically two characteristic spatial scales for a given time scale, or two characteristic temporal scales for a given spatial scale, and these dual scales are very different due to the disparity between the flow and acoustic speed. Therefore, low-Mach-number flows impose mathematical and computational challenges in their description. Standard numerical methods for compressible flows, which are typically designed for problems with a single dominant spatial and temporal scale, require alternative approaches, such as preconditioning techniques or solvers tailored for low-Mach-number equations. The present work introduces a simplified fluid dynamics model for flows …

Binding Energy Of Muonic Beryllium: Perturbative Versus All-Order Calculations, Shikha Rathi, Ulrich D. Jentschura, Paul Indelicato, Ben Ohayon

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We compute the ground-state binding energy of muonic (Formula presented) (Formula presented) Be in two ways: first, the fully perturbative treatment of the nuclear-size effect often employed in light systems, and second, an approach that accounts for the finite-nuclear-size to all orders (and is inspired by calculations otherwise employed for heavy muonic ions). The results are compared term by term and show that both approaches agree to better than one part-per-million of the total energy. The objective of this work is twofold. The first is practical: to provide a parameterization that allows the extraction of the (Formula presented) (Formula presented) …

Thermal Aberrations And Optical Design For Current And Future Gravitational Wave Detectors, Matthew Richard Todd

Dissertations - ALL

Since the first detection of gravitational waves in 2015, the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collabo- ration has detected over 300 gravitational-wave events. Planned upgrades to each detector will further improve gravitational wave sensitivity limits, pushing the frontier of multi- messenger astronomy and paving the way for next-generation detectors, like Cosmic Ex- plorer and Einstein Telescope. Though many challenges to reach sensitivity goals are being addressed, there are still cru- cial aspects of the detectors that are poorly understood and will inhibit gravitational wave detection commissioners from bringing future detectors to their design sensitivity. In par- ticular, increased circulating arm power targets will exacerbate …

Lafe0.925ti0.075o3 Perovskite Coated With Ethyl Cellulose: A High-Stability, Low-Hysteresis Platform For Advanced Humidity Sensing, Akhmad Futukhillah Fataba Alaih, Djoko Triyono, Rifqi Almusawi Rafsanjani

Makara Journal of Science

Humidity sensors are pivotal in numerous sectors, such as environmental monitoring, industrial automation, and health-care. This study presents the fabrication and detailed evaluation of an advanced humidity sensor using ethyl cellulose (EC)-coated LaFe_0.925Ti_0.075O₃ (LFTO) perovskite nanoparticles synthesized via the sol-gel method. The LFTO nanopar-ticles exhibited a mesoporous structure with an enhanced surface area, which significantly improved their moisture adsorption capabilities. The innovative application of EC coating addresses critical substrate adhesion issues, enhancing mechanical stability without compromising sensor sensitivity. Comprehensive performance evaluations revealed minimal hysteresis (

Portable Trace Gas Analysis With Multipass Cavity Raman Scattering, Charuka Muktha Arachchige

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The continual increase in the production and utilization of chemicals across a growing range of industrial, environmental, and medical applications necessitates accurate and efficient measurement of molecular composition. Trace gas detection is particularly critical in industrialized settings, where the identification of colorless and odorless gases is essential for ensuring operational safety and regulatory compliance. Recent advances in optical instrumentation have positioned spontaneous Raman scattering as a promising analytical technique for trace gas analysis, with multipass cavity enhancement providing a cost-effective pathway to high detection sensitivity. However, existing implementations remain confined to laboratory-scale optical table setups, limiting their applicability in field …

Van Der Waals Interactions Through The Lens Of 2d Materials With Emphasis On Many-Body Effects, Thi Xuan Diem Dang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation addresses the long-standing challenge of accurately and efficiently modeling long-range electron correlations, with a particular focus on van der Waals (vdW) interactions. These interactions play an essential role in predicting the structure, stability, and functionality of molecular systems and condensed matter materials. Although Density Functional Theory (DFT) has become a robust cornerstone of computational materials science, traditional formulations of the theory frequently fail to capture dispersive interactions, leading to significant errors in determining interlayer distances, binding energies, and stacking configurations. These limitations become particularly pronounced in layered materials and vdW heterostructures (HSTs), where weak long-range correlations are sensitive …

The Effect Of Project-Based Learning Model On Entrepreneurship (Pjbl-E) With A Deep Learning Approach On Students' Problem-Solving And Cognitive Skills, Ricce Oktasari, Irwandi Irwandi, Siti Darwa Suryani

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study aims to examine the effect of the Entrepreneurship-based Project Based Learning (PjBL-E) model integrated with a pedagogical Deep Learning approach on students’ problem-solving skills and cognitive learning outcomes in biology learning. The novelty of this study lies in the integration of entrepreneurship values and pedagogical deep learning principles into Project Based Learning to create contextual and meaningful learning experiences. Entrepreneurship integration encourages students to develop innovative products, identify real-world problems, and apply biological concepts in practical and socio-economic contexts. Meanwhile, the pedagogical Deep Learning approach promotes reflective thinking, conceptual understanding, critical analysis, and the ability to connect theory …

Direct Minimization Of Hartree-Fock-Roothaan Energy Functionals Using Derivative-Free Optimization Algorithms: A Case Study On The Use Of Noninteger Slater-Type Orbitals, Ali̇ Bağci

Turkish Journal of Physics

This study presents an evaluation of derivative-free optimization algorithms for the direct minimization of Hartree−Fock−Roothaan energy functionals involving nonlinear orbital parameters and noninteger-order quantum numbers. The analysis focuses on atomic calculations employing noninteger Slater-type orbitals. Analytic derivatives of the energy functional are not readily available for these orbitals. Four methods are investigated under identical numerical conditions: Powell’s conjugate−direction method, the Nelder−Mead simplex algorithm, coordinate-based pattern search, and a model-based algorithm utilizing radial basis functions for surrogate-model construction. Performance analysis is first carried out using the Powell singular function, a well-established test case exhibiting challenging properties, including Hessian singularity at the …

Robust Real-Time Uav Target Tracking With Onboard Vision-Based Yaw Control, Rylan Malarchick, Jose Castelblanco, Enrique Amaya, Carmen Dimario, Graysen Brinkman, Chirag Kumar, Kiwon Yoon, Sajid Berhane

Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal

Autonomous tracking of agile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) presents significant challenges for real-time perception and control systems. This work presents AIRHOUND (Autonomous Intelligent Rotorcraft for Hostile Object Unified Navigation and Detection), a UAV platform implementing vision-based yaw tracking through a modular ROS2 software architecture. The system employs YOLOv8 object detection optimized with NVIDIA TensorRT for embedded deployment on an NVIDIA Jetson Orin companion computer. Detected targets are processed through a geometric tracking module that converts pixel coordinates to angular yaw errors using pinhole camera intrinsics, with a proportional controller generating rate-limited yaw commands. These commands are streamed to a PX4 …

Rapid-Prototyping Nanofabrication: Lcd-Based Projection Lithography And Physical Vapor Deposition, Sabeel Saleem Mohammmed

University Honors Theses

The semiconductor industry's continued growth, driven in large part by demand for artificial intelligence hardware, has highlighted the need for greater workforce development in regions adjacent to major fabrication centers like Oregon's Silicon Forest. This capstone project lays the groundwork for a small scale and student led semiconductor fabrication lab at Portland State University by demonstrating two of the core steps in chip manufacturing: photolithography and thin film deposition. Rather than relying on conventional fixed reticles, this work explores a unique, low cost approach to patterning that uses an ultraviolet-compatible liquid crystal display (LCD) as a programmable reticle, allowing arbitrary …

Structure Functions For The Inclusive Semileptonic B-Quark Decay At Nnlo: A Semi-Analytic Calculation, A. Broggio, B. Capdevila, A. Ferroglia, P. Gambino

Publications and Research

We present a study of the inclusive charmless semileptonic b decay, b → X_uℓv at next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) in perturbative QCD, with the primary aim of extracting the hadronic structure functions Wi at NNLO. The analysis is based on a numerical calculation of the relevant kinematic distributions using a phase-space slicing method to handle infrared-sensitive contributions from real gluon emissions. We use known results from Heavy Quark Effective Theory and Soft-Collinear Effective Theory to extract the singular terms and construct a model for the regular contributions to the structure functions at NNLO, then perform a fit to the …

Hot Jupiter Atmospheres Through Time, Annabelle E. Niblett

Physics and Astronomy Undergraduate Senior Theses

Transmission spectroscopy of hot Jupiters enables mass and atmospheric composition measurements, providing insight into population dynamics and evolution when other methods are hindered by stellar activity. To effectively plan observations and interpret transmission spectra, we must have a robust understanding of how atmospheres evolve over time. To that end, we present a suite of hot Jupiter transmission spectra models with ages ranging from 3 Myr to 11 Gyr. We incorporate the cooling and contraction of the planet, which impacts the atmospheric profile, and the evolution of the stellar UV spectrum, which moderates photodissociation and photoionization. Using PICASO,  VULCAN, and FastChem …

Tracing The Seam: Machine Learning Models Of The Open–Closed Boundary From Upstream Solar Wind Drivers, Arnav Singh

Physics and Astronomy Undergraduate Senior Theses

The open–closed magnetic field line boundary (OCB) demarcates closed terrestrial field lines from those threaded into the interplanetary medium, and its latitude encodes the instantaneous balance between dayside and nightside reconnection that governs much of the high-latitude space-weather hazard. No single instrument resolves it globally in real time. In this thesis I close that gap empirically. Pairing nearly three decades (1983–2012) of Defense Meteorological Satellite Program particle-precipitation boundaries with the 5-minute OMNI solar-wind and geomagnetic-index record yields ∼9.1×10⁵ causally matched crossings, partitioned into six hemispheric/MLT sectors after a |MLat| ≥ 40° physics cut.

On this corpus I train three …

Fabrication Of Two-Dimensional Optoelectrical Devices, Holly Walworth

Honors Projects

Optoelectrical devices enable the exploration of interesting quantum states observed in two-dimensional (2D) condensed material systems. 2D materials, such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides, exhibit unique electronic properties, including the Fractional Quantum Anomalous Hall effect (FQAHE). The realization of the FQAHE offers a pathway toward topological quantum computing via non-Abelian anyons. Still, fabricating high-quality 2D optoelectrical devices remains a significant experimental challenge. Using mechanical exfoliation and stacking techniques within an inert argon environment, we attempted to fabricate optoelectrical devices using twisted molybdenum ditelluride (tMoTe2) and gallium telluride (GaTe). Three devices were successfully assembled; however, structural defects including hexagonal boron …

Winddensity-Mbir: Model-Based Iterative Reconstruction For Wind Tunnel 3d Density Estimation, Karl J. Weisenburger, Gregery T. Buzzard, Charles A. Bouman, Matthew R. Kemnetz

Faculty Publications

Experimentalists often use wind tunnels to study aerodynamic turbulence, but most wind tunnel imaging techniques are limited in their ability to take non-invasive three-dimensional (3D) density measurements of turbulence. Wavefront tomography is a technique that uses multiple wavefront measurements from various viewing angles to non-invasively measure the 3D density field of a turbulent medium. Existing methods make strong assumptions, such as a spline basis representation, to address the ill-conditioned nature of this problem. We formulate this problem as a Bayesian, sparse-view tomographic reconstruction problem and develop a model-based iterative reconstruction algorithm for measuring the volumetric 3D density field inside a …

30 Db On-Chip Ultra-High Inverse Weak Value Amplification, Yuhan Mei, Meiting Song, Andrew N. Jordan, Jaime Cardenas

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Weak value amplification (WVA) has emerged as a powerful technique that enhances measurement precision. However, traditional table-top WVA setups and on-chip demonstrations have not achieved an amplification over 20 dB. The practical limit of the amplification is the fidelity of photon post-selection. To address this limit, we design a weak value device with an over 30 dB interferometer extinction ratio, where the stray light in the dark port is minimized with thermally tunable phase shifters. As a result, the device successfully shows 30 dB WVA, termed ultra-high WVA. This WVA optimization strategy by improving interferometer extinction is extensible to a …