Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Electronics Development For The Cherenkov Telescope Array, Margaret C. Murphy, Justin Vandenbrouke

STAR Program Research Presentations

Gamma-ray astronomy promises to elucidate the highest-energy particle accelerators in the Universe, and could play a key role in identifying the nature of dark matter. The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), currently in the research and development stage, will study and capture gamma-rays with an order of magnitude grater sensitivity than the instruments already in place. Each telescope in the array will be equipped with dozens of camera modules each containing four TeV Array Readout with GSa/s sampling and Event Trigger (TARGET) chips. TARGET 4 has many internal settings, several of which were tested and analyzed to achieve an optimal operating …

Analyzing Wind Turbine Controller Effects On Structure Stress, Leo Groner, Susan Frost

STAR Program Research Presentations

Wind turbines generate electric power from clean renewable sources. They must be robust and reliable. Utility-scale turbines are designed to produce power within a set of wind speed parameters. When winds change, wind turbine blade pitch is used to protect the turbine from over speed damage.

Advanced control algorithms can increase power by extending the performance envelope or they can extend lifetime by reducing stress. A FAST simulation written in MATLAB / Simulink is used to simulate the dynamics of the integrated aerodynamic, mechanical and control subsystems of the turbine. Resonance modes may lead to large amplitude displacements and damage. …

The Double Pendulum: Construction And Exploration, Benjamin J. Knudson

Physics

The exploration of a nonlinear mechanical system, the Double Pendulum, a physical pendulum on the end of a physical pendulum, using analytic and experimental approaches. Also included discussion of the design and construction of the Double Pendulum apparatus to work with Vernier LabPro and LoggerPro. The apparatus outputs live data of the angles to a LoggerPro which collects and produces time evolution graphs as well as a corresponding animation lending itself to comparison with theoretical models. Normal mode frequencies are found both analytically and experimentally for the the general (real) double pendulum. Examples of both simple (periodic) and complex (chaotic) …

Development Of A Pyrotechnic Shock Simulation Apparatus For Spacecraft Applications, Joseph Binder, Matthew Mccarty, Chris Rasmussen

Aerospace Engineering

This report details the research, design, construction, and testing of a pyrotechnic shock simulation apparatus for spacecraft applications. The apparatus was developed to be used in the Space Environments Lab at California Polytechnic State University. It will be used for testing spacecraft components with dimensions up to 24”x12”x12” as well as CubeSats. Additionally, it may be used as an instructional or demonstrational tool in the Aerospace Department’s space environments course. The apparatus functions by way of mechanical impact of an approximately 20 lb stainless steel swinging hammer. Tests were performed to verify the simulator’s functionality. Suggestions for improvement and further …

Analysis Of Focal-Plane Measurements For Veritas Telescopes, William Hemmo Schuur

Physics

In this experiment we measured the Point Spread Function (PSF) of the telescope at different image locations using a python GUI and servo motors to automate a screen along the focal axis of the telescope. Our results show that the telescope T4 has a well-defined image distance at each elevation, but this distance shifts as the telescope is lowered. Additionally, off-axis telescope orientations are degraded by aberrations and at low elevation possibly some structural warping of the mirror. The VERITAS Telescopes are located in Southern Arizona at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory.

Inductive Metal Identification, Paul Maggi

Electrical Engineering

This project focuses on creating a device to differentiate between various types of metals via magnetic induction. Magnetic induction is used because it is both non-optical and non-contact. It achieves this by generating a varying magnetic field, which induces eddy currents in the metal. These eddy currents produce small disturbances in the surrounding magnetic field, which can be sensed with Hall Effect Sensors (HES). The primary challenge in this project was generating a sufficiently strong magnetic field to detectable disturbances. In order to achieve better results, a stronger magnetic field must be used as well as more sensitive Hall Effect …