Gravity Wave Breaking Over Northern Utah With An Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper And Sodium Lidar, Eric Davis

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Considerable progress has been made in recent decades in the understanding of gravity wave (GW) dynamics. However, there remain important aspects and effects that are poorly understood. In particular, the coupling and deposition of their energy and momentum into the mesosphere lower thermosphere (MLT) region and the interaction and instability dynamics that are directly associated with GW breaking. Using an Advanced Mesosphere Temperature Mapper (AMTM) several strong wave breaking events were observed in the summer of 2015 at USU’s BLO research station. These events have exhibited high momentum fluxes and associated strong wave breaking, prompting detailed data analyses. Rossby waves, …

Geometric Algebra For Field Theory In Curved Spacetime, Kevin Rhine

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Physics seeks to understand the universe by uncovering the fundamental laws that govern matter, energy, space, and time. At its heart lies the challenge of unification: finding a mathematical framework that consistently describes these interactions across all scales, from the subatomic to the cosmological.

This thesis explores geometric algebra, a mathematical language that unifies algebra and geometry, as a tool for advancing this understanding. By extending this framework to curved spacetimes, where gravity influences the structure of space and time, we investigate its ability to describe physical phenomena such as electromagnetism and general relativity. A notable contribution includes the geometric …

Conservation Laws For Asymptotically Perfect Fluid Spacetimes, Lyle Arnett Jr.

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

In physics, conservation laws, like those for energy or momentum, are powerful tools that help us understand how systems evolve and interact. In general relativity, where spacetime itself is curved by matter and energy, defining such conservation laws becomes especially subtle and complex. Traditional methods rely on idealized conditions like empty space or special symmetries, which limit their usefulness in more realistic, dynamic settings such as an expanding universe.

This dissertation explores a modern mathematical framework, developed by Iyer and Wald, that allows conservation laws to be derived directly from the equations governing spacetime. Using this approach, I examine not …

Investigation Of High-Frequency Electron Spin Dynamics In The Kagome-Lattice Ymn6sn6 Crystal, Lovia Ofori

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Kagome magnetic crystals received a great deal of research attention in the recent past for their intriguing magnetic properties. Recently, YMn6Sn6 (Y166) has shown to exhibit several nontrivial magnetic phases (such as the Distorted Spiral (DS) phase, Transverse Conical Spiral (TCS) phase, Fan-like (FL) phase and the Forced-Ferromagnetic (FF) phase) and complex magnetic interactions. In this work, we employed very high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (VHF-EPR) spectroscopy to investigate the local microscopic magnetic interactions of Mn ions in the Kagome Crystal Y166 to better understand the new observed magnetic phases. Particularly, we studied the temperature-dependent EPR behavior at variable very-high microwave …

Predicting Healthcare Service Quality Based On A Kalman-Optimized Bi-Lstm-Inspired Deep Learning Model, Mohammed K. Al-Khafaji, Eman S. Al-Shamery

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Health is one of the most important aspects of human well-being, and access to high-quality healthcare is essential for a good quality of life. Providing top-level health services at all times is crucial. However, the research in healthcare poses significant challenges due to the diversity and variations of medical practices across different hospitals. This paper aims to tackle the challenge of data missing and scattering during data collection. Then, the quality of services (QoS) offered by healthcare facilities will be analyzed and predicted from the patient's perspective. The model begins preprocessing data by data cleaning, handling missing values, and scattering …

Dust And Metals In Distant Galaxies, Fatima Elkhatib

Theses and Dissertations

Interstellar dust causes reddening and dimming of light from background objects. To analyze how different the dust in distant galaxies is compared to dust in nearby galaxies, we look at multiple background quasars and try to fit their spectra with various models for known galaxies that have differing dust grain populations combined with a quasar spectrum template. Through fitting these models, we found that dust in most of the foreground galaxies we analyzed is similar to the SMC bar, a relatively thin area selected from the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). However, we note that all the objects we studied did …

Photometric Redshifts Of Galaxies In Quasar Fields, Ananthavishnu Santhigiri Unni

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the gas in and around galaxies is crucial for understanding galaxy evolution. Absorption lines detected in the spectra of background quasars offer a powerful tool to study the gas in and around the intervening galaxies. As a part of an effort to understand how the gas interacts with the stellar component of galaxies, our team previously obtained imaging and spectroscopic observations for a large sample of galaxies using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), the Very Large Telescope (VLT), and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA). This sample includes thousands of galaxies, including many without spectroscopic data. The overall goal …

Power-Beaming: Wireless Energy Transfer Using Lasers, Spencer L. Barnett

ATU Scholars Symposium

The objective of the project is to implement a wireless energy transfer system utilizing laser technology. This system involves modulating the laser’s beam profile and spatial distribution through precise optical manipulation. The energy transmitted by the laser is captured by a photovoltaic array, commonly referred to as a solar panel, which is engineered to convert incident photons into direct current (DC) electrical power. The current challenge is to develop a reliable wireless energy transfer mechanism capable of operating over extended distances, thereby overcoming the constraints imposed by wired connections, particularly in environments where wiring is impractical, such as in space. …

Light As A Lasso: The Design And Construction Of An Optical Trap, Joseph E. Temple

ATU Scholars Symposium

The goal of our work is the design and construction of an optical trap, also known as an "optical tweezer," using equipment commonly available to the undergraduate physics laboratory. Such devices allow us to observe and manipulate micron-scale (on the order of one-thousandth of a millimeter) objects in 3-dimensional space using only light.

The system consists primarily of five components: a laser, two mirrors to collimate (make parallel to the optical table) the beam, two lenses forming a beam expander, two more lenses granting control over the trapping plane, and a microscope objective to focus the beam. Thus far we …

Analyzing Quantum Mechanical Properties Of Electrons Via The Anomalous Zeeman Effect To Verify The Bohr Magneton, Gunner W. Hodges, Anthony J. Mclain

ATU Scholars Symposium

At the turn of the 19th century, scientists were gradually realizing that nature did not behave as it had been thought for centuries. Many thought the concrete laws governing nature were soon to be completed. As we now know, their deterministic optimism was far from reality. Electromagnetic theory predicted that the spectral line emissions from a bulb would split into three distinct bands in the presence of a uniform magnetic field. This behavior was proven in what is known as the Normal Zeeman Effect. What was not expected though was the host of extraneous bands that accompanied the predicted triplet …

Computational Modeling Of Poly-Peptide Chains, Nathan F. Surles, Kaitlin A. Edwards

ATU Scholars Symposium

Investigations of the structural properties of polypeptides are essential for understanding their conformational behavior, stability, and potential biological interactions. In this study, we employed computational techniques to determine the optimized structures of two model polypeptides: tri-glycine and di-tryptophan.

Charge-To-Mass Ratio Of The Electron, Joseph E. Temple, Zachary D. Jimerson

ATU Scholars Symposium

We measured the charge-to-mass ratio (q/m) of the electron via a method similar to that used by J.J. Thomson in 1897. Our calculated value is q/m = (1.752 +/- 0.046) x 10^11 C/kg, which agrees with the textbook value of 1.759 x 10^11 C/kg within an error of 0.36%. This confirms the viability and accuracy of Thomson's approach for determining the electron's q/m ratio. Observed uncertainties are attributed to variations in the magnetic field within the Helmholtz coil apparatus and fluctuations in current over time.

An Analysis On The Time Effectiveness Of Speeding While Driving A Vehicle, Joy Skaggs

ATU Scholars Symposium

Speeding is responsible for roughly a third of all crashes, often coming at a deadly cost. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports many negative consequences, such as a greater likelihood of loss of vehicle control, reduced protection equipment effectiveness, increased stopping distance, crash severity, and fuel consumption (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, n.d.). Yet despite these costs, drivers continue to speed. In fact, in our fast paced world, speeding is so normalized that it’s uncommon to encounter a driver following the speed limit. Hawaiian psychology professor Leon James explains it best: people have twisted their definitions of speeding to …

Implications Of The Cosmic Calibration Tension Beyond ��₀ And The Synergy Between Early- And Late-Time New Physics, V. Poulin, Tristan L. Smith, R. Calderón, T. Simon

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

The cosmic calibration tension is a >5⁢�� discrepancy between the cosmological distance ladder built from baryonic acoustic oscillations calibrated by the Planck/Λ cold dark matter (Λ⁢CDM) sound horizon (��_��) and type Ia supernovae calibrated instead with the SH0ES absolute magnitude, assuming the distance-duality relationship holds. In this work, we emphasize the consequences of this tension beyond the value of the Hubble constant ��₀ and the implications for physics beyond Λ⁢CDM. Of utmost importance, it implies a larger physical matter density ��ₘ≡Ωₘ⁢ℎ², as both the fractional matter density Ωₘ and ℎ ≡��₀⁡/100 km/s/Mpc are well constrained from late-time data. …

Measuring Small Currents At Fast Speeds Using A 2nd Generation Electrometer, Donna Metcalf

Physics Capstone Projects

This project presents the development of a second-generation electrometer designed to measure extremely low currents with improved speed and sensitivity. Based on the foundational architecture developed by Vladimir Zavylov, this iteration focuses on enhancing performance through optimized circuit components, modular configuration, and a custom-designed, battery- powered power supply that enables high-voltage floating measurements. The work encompasses the complete design cycle—creating a full schematic, developing a tailored power delivery system, assembling printed circuit boards (PCBs), constructing wiring harnesses, and integrating components into a protective housing.

Lunar Secondary Crater Identification Through Semi-Automated Data Aggregation: The Beginnings Of The Pipeline, Annalyse Dickinson

Physics and Astronomy Honors Papers

Based on the number of primary craters on a surface, one can determine the age of that surface, but secondary craters contaminate that count. No single characteristic can distinguish primaries from secondaries with certainty; a feature that is present in one collection of secondaries can be absent in another due to the multitude of processes involved in their formation and degradation. We aim to develop a pipeline that will classify craters based on characteristics that have been used to differentiate secondaries on the Moon, including elevation profiles, degradation state, radar circular polarization ratio, rock abundance, and spatial clustering. We utilize …

Computational Analysis Of Proton Conductivity Factors In Grotthuss-Style Mechanisms, Brock Dyer

Physics and Astronomy Honors Papers

The mechanism and fundamental molecular properties involved in proton conduction are discussed. Four calculable properties are presented: the proton affinity, binding energy (between protonated and neutral forms), intramolecular tautomerization barrier, and proton hopping barrier. An overview of the computational methods used in this thesis, including an introduction to the many-body Schrödinger equation and Density Functional Theory, as well as a look at Plane-Wave Density Functional Theory and Gaussian-Type Orbital Density Functional Theory are presented. 4,5-dimethyl-[1,2,3]-triazole is used as a model system, with 10 variations being generated with varying amounts and positions of fluorine substitution on the methyl groups. Preliminary calculations …

Young Professionals, Zachary Gibson

Journal Articles

Like many of us, I have attended numerous panels, seminars, and workshops geared toward helping young professionals and students. The more senior professionals are gathered for us to question and tap them for wisdom and anecdotes. One such question that inevitably comes up in one form or another is, “How did you get to where you are?” A thinly veiled question intending to ask how can one get to the same or similar position. The response often begins with a soft chuckle and a “well … ” Their answers are caveated by “my path was not the typical path.”

Using The Epic Algorithm For Radio Astronomy, Samuel D. Michaud

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The EPIC (E-field Parallel Imaging Correlator) algorithm is a direct imaging correlator for radio interferometer arrays. Bypassing the expensive processing step of cross correlation and immediately computing a spatial fast Fourier transform allows it to generate extremely high framerate radio images. EPIC serves to efficiently process signals from a very high count of radio antennas in an array with parallel computing, scaling as Nlog(N). This research project investigates the advantages and limitations of using EPIC for astronomy. This was done by stress testing both the user interface and back-end database through SQL commands to validate the output data it processed …

Experimental Impacts Into Sloped Targets, J.L.B. Anderson, Tyler S.L. Kadrie, A.L. Miller, C.J. Cline Ii

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Asymmetric craters have been ob-served on sloped surfaces on the Moon [1] and extensively across Vesta [2] and Ceres [3]. For example, Lowell Crater (Fig. 1A) is a large crater on the surface of the Moon that has a small-er crater, Lowell H, which formed when an asteroid impacted the sloped surface of Lowell’s crater rim [1]. The topography map of Lowell H (Fig. 1B) shows the original sloped crater wall, the highly asymmetric and slumped Lowell H crater, and the debris flows that formed during its collapse.

Typically, impact cratering experiments are performed into smooth, flat-lying targets as a …

There's A Method To This Physics Madness, Hanna J. Ross

Physics and Astronomy Presentations

Physics tends to be seen by the general public as scary and unattainable, especially for students who are non-STEM majors. However, at Ursinus College (as well as many other institutions) the professors employ the use of specific problem-solving strategy instruction to mitigate these fears and further general problem solving skills. This study reviews previous experiments evaluating the merit of this strategy and analyzes its results as it relates to Physics on Screen, a physics class at Ursinus geared specifically towards non-majors.

Microwave Frequency Probes Of Graphene, Xinyi Du

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

We investigate high-frequency microwave spectroscopy as a probe of the electronic structure of graphene, focusing on compressibility, magnetic response, and the potential for detection applications. Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice, exhibiting unique electronic properties due to its band structure and reduced dimensionality. While traditional compressibility measurements rely on low-frequency capacitance techniques, this thesis explores a high-frequency approach using superconducting resonators to probe the compressibility of graphene in the GHz regime. Originally conceived as a means to examine the diamagnetic response, the method faces fundamental limitations due to resistive losses, revealing key challenges …

A Comparison And Investigation Of 2d Axisymmetric And 3d Models For The Wave Augmented Varicose Explosions Atomizer, Caleb Miller

Senior Honors Theses

Atomization of non-Newtonian, high-viscosity fluids is a challenging task with many applications. One method of atomizing these types of flows is the Wave Augmented Varicose Explosions (WAVE) atomizer. Using this framework, the study establishes an analysis methodology, investigates the relationship between 2D axisymmetric (2DA) and 3D models, and provides analysis of geometric, non-geometric, and non-dimensional parameter influences on the atomizer characterization in 2DA models. The study found that 2DA models can provide viable predictions of certain 3D model characteristics, established several mathematical models for parameter relationships among 2DA models, and identified certain metrics as inadequate predictors of atomizer characteristics in …

Volume 16, Maggie Duncan, Madeline Little, Alicia Hoffman, Megan Livesay, Gabrielle Quaresma, Serenity Allen, Laina Pfountz, Ainslie Allred, Sabrina Robles, Nicholas J. Duellman, Trinity L. Deguzman, Melissa H. Savage, Margaret Dudley, Jocelyn Escobar, Olivia Hildreth, Olivia Hopkins, Benjamin Gettier, Lee Kassay, Jade Riddle, Ashley Seiders

Incite: The Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Introduction Dr. Amorette Barber, Director, Office of Student Research

From the Editor Dr. Hannah Dudley-Shotwell

Artist’s Statement Maggie Duncan

On Mentoring Dr. Lee Millar Bidwell

The Hujum Campaign in Uzbekistan and its Consequences by Madeline Little

Wet Cupping Compared to Dry Needling for Treatment of Patients with Low Back Pain: A Critically Appraised Topic by Alicia Hoffman and Megan Livesay

Optimization of eDNA Air Sampling Via 3D Printed Fan by Gabrielle Quaresma

Beyond the Classroom: A Qualitative Study of Teacher Attrition and Retention by Serenity Allen and Laina Pfountz

The Treatment of Subacromial Impingement Syndrome with Platelet-Rich plasma Injections Verses …

Charging And Discharging Capacitors: Brightspace Package Of An Arithmetic Quiz, Vasiliy Znamenskiy

Open Educational Resources

Description:

This material is a quiz in the Brightspace Learning Management System (LMS). The quiz includes 10 physics problems on the topic of charging and discharging capacitors through a resistor.

The quiz assesses student understanding of key concepts, including voltage and charge of a capacitor, exponential functions, time constants, and dynamic changes in voltage and current.

Quiz problems are called in Brightspace LMS as arithmetic questions. The Problems give students random initial values to provide many quiz variants.

The quiz is appropriate for high school AP Physics or introductory college-level physics courses.

Key Features:

10-question quiz in Brightspace importable format …

Developing An Unfolding-Incorporated Coarse-Grained Polymer Model For Fibrinogen To Study The Mechanical Behaviour, Vivek Sharma, Poulomi Sadhukhan

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

Fibrinogen is a protein found in blood that forms Fibrin polymer network to build a clot during wound healing process when there is a cut in the blood vessel. The fibrin fiber is highly stretchable and shows a complex mechanical properties. The fibrin monomer, Fibrinogen, has a very complex structure which is responsible for its unusual elastic behaviour. In this work, we focus on mechanism of unfolding of D-domain of Fibrinogen, and study its effect in the mechanical behaviour. We develop a coarse-grained (CG) bead-spring model for Fibrinogen which captures the unfolding of folded D-domains along with other necessary structural …

Understanding Flow: An Experimental Analysis Of A Magnetohydrodynamic Fluid Pump, Quintin Yates, Emily Hawkins

Honors Thesis

When a magnetic field and electrical current are perpendicular to each other, an ionized fluid will experience a force called the Lorentz force. This force can be applied to create a pump. These pumps have potential applications in desalination and fluid systems in space. The technology is new, and still not well understood but are a potential alternative to typical mechanical pumps. This thesis develops a comprehensive experimental understanding of the fluid flow through a 3D-printed magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) pump. Lagrangian particle tracking (LPT) uses neutrally buoyant particles and a camera system to collect quantitative velocity information of a system. Particle …

An Intercomparison Of Wall Fluxes In A Turbulent Thermal Convection Chamber: Direct Numerical Simulations And Wall-Modeled Large-Eddy Simulations Enhanced By Machine Learning, Aaron Wang, Silvio Schmalfuß, Kamal Kant Chandrakar, Hadi Zanganeh Kia, Fan Yang, Mikhail Ovchinnikov, Raymond A. Shaw, Yunsoo Choi

Michigan Tech Publications

Thermal convection in a closed chamber is driven by a warm bottom, a cold top, and side walls at various temperatures. Although wall fluxes are the source of convection energy, accurately modeling these fluxes (i.e., the wall model) is challenging. In large-eddy simulations (LESs), many wall models are traditionally derived from the canonical boundary layer, which may be unsuitable for thermal convection bounded by both horizontal and vertical walls. This study conducts a model intercomparison of dry convection in a cubic-meter chamber using three direct numerical simulations (DNSs) and four LESs with different wall models. The LESs employ traditional wall …

Speed Of Shear Waves As A Function Of Frequency In Micellar Fluid, Michael Basha

Honors Theses

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the frequency dependence of shear wave speed in a micellar fluid. A high-concentration CTAB-NaSal micellar fluid seeded with microspheres was used in the experiment. Shear waves were generated using a wave driver and a function generator, while a high-speed camera captured video recordings. Since the frequency of the wave driver producing the shear waves in the micellar fluid is a constant value set by the experimenter, changes in shear wave speed can be determined by measuring their wavelengths at different frequencies.The captured video was then broken down into frames using MATLAB. These …

Stability, Binding, And Charge Localization In Amorphous Tin Monoxide: A-Sno And A-Sn-Ta-O With Variable Composition, Julia E. Medvedeva, Joshua Santy, Mathew Pollard

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

The structural, electronic, and optical properties of amorphous SnO and Sn-Ta-O (with Sn:Ta ratios 5:1, 3:2, and 1:2) are investigated as a function of density and metal composition using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and hybrid functional calculations. The short- and medium-range structures of amorphous oxides are thoroughly studied by calculating the effective coordination numbers, effective distances, distortion, and their time variances for metal-oxygen (M-O), O-M, M-M shells, the M-O-M and O-M-O angle distribution, as well as the volume, shape, and distribution of structural voids. Disorder is found to suppress both Sn-O and Sn-Sn coordination but not the O-Sn coordination. …