Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Construction Of A Viscinal Ice Slab For Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Alicia Burns

Summer Research

An ice-vapor viscinal surface that satisfies Pauling's ice rules within the periodic boundary conditions was constructed for use in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. An existing code, created by Buch et al., which produces flat ice slabs in MD, was used as the platform from which new code was written. Computational methods within Python were used to apply a viscinal shift to the existing coordinates, identify the donor and acceptor defects, propagate these defects through the ice crystal, and produce new coordinates for the residues. The result of this process was the creation of a viscinal ice slab that can be …

Finitely Presented Groups For The Undergraduate Algebra Student, Davis Shurbert

Summer Research

The concept of a finitely presented group is a topic which students do not normally see until graduate school. Through contributions to the open source computer algebra system Sage, I was able to accomplish my goal of making finitely presented groups more accessible to undergraduate students. Implementing this goal required a series of smaller tasks, all building together to expand the original framework regarding this type of group representation. I began my research by creating a catalogue of named groups easily accessible to the user as finitely presented group objects, along with a method to convert from a permutation group …

Optimal Control For A Class Of Age Structured Dynamic Models, Ameneh Mccullough

Summer Research

The mathematical theory of optimal control plays an important role in natural resource conservation efforts. In many applications, the underlying models are simple and deterministic. While scalar models can be used effectively on many problems, age-structured models can provide a more nuanced modeling tool. However, the theory and application becomes more complicated in this setting. This work examines a class of age-structured dynamic models with potential applications to age-targeted harvesting, motivated by the case of Shearwater harvesting management. We tailored several pre-existing styles of models to our problem. The models are created, but further analysis needs to be done.

A Petrologic Study Of The Teanaway Basalt: Eocene Slab Window Volcanism In Central Wa, Liz Roepke

Summer Research

The Teanaway Basalt (TB) includes subaerial basalt to andesite flows, mafic to felsic tuffs, and rhyolite domes in the Central Cascades of Washington State. These volcanics overlie the extensive ~47 Ma Teanaway Dike Swarm (TDS) that cuts the underlying Swauk Formation. Samples were collected from 3 main localities: Easton Ridge (ER) in the west, Liberty Ridge (LR) in the east, and the Middle Fork of the Teanaway River (MF) in the center.

The bimodal TB consists predominantly of basaltic andesite and andesite (45.3–63.1 wt% SiO₂) with subordinate rhyolite (75.9–79.4 wt% SiO₂). The mafic rocks classify as …

Observations Of Quantized Conductance Over Nanowires, Nick Davenport

Summer Research

Nanowires are conductive wires that have a constrictive width that is only a few atoms across. Scientists are just now starting to look deeper into the properties of nanowires and how they can be useful in the construction of nanostructures. In order to gain a better understanding the properties of nanowires, I will be conducting an experiment that examines how the diameter of the wire compares with its electrical conductive properties, once the wire has been etched down to an atomic level. This process involves using a very controlled method of creating a nanowire. I can use a dilute nitric …

Synthesis Of Bipyridine-Derived Iron Catalysts For Hydrogenation, Jack Elder

Summer Research

Industrially, alkene and carbonyl hydrogenation reactions are catalyzed by iridium, rhodium and ruthenium-centered catalysts. These highly toxic metals are very expensive, both to attain and to dispose of after degradation. This ongoing research seeks to investigate cleaner and more economical alternative catalysts by synthesizing and testing a bipyridine-derived iron catalyst utilizing the unconventional ligand-assisted heterolytic cleavage of hydrogen mechanism to facilitate double bond hydrogenation. In the time allotted, this segment of research sought to synthesize the two catalyst ligands 6-hydroxy-2,2’-bipyrdine and 6,6’-dihydroxy-2,2’-bipyridine, and to model ligand-iron attachment using commercially available iron complexes. The former of the two ligands was synthesized …

Development Of New Arsenic Based Amidation Catalysts, Cameron Chrisman

Summer Research

The formation of amides is a reaction that is contucted on a multi-ton scale annually in the pharmaceutical industry. Because the reaction requires the use of toxic and expensive reagents and because a substantial ammount of waste is generated, much effort is being devoted to eliminating both of these limitations. Current research is aimed at finding an efficient catalyst for this reaction that will significantly reduce waste and can be recycled. While some catalysts have been developed for this reaction, currently there are no catalysts that are efficient enough to be used on a large scale. Studies in the Boisvert …

A Structural And Paleomagnetic Analysis Of The Basalts Of Summit Creek, Anne Fetrow

Summer Research

This study is a detailed analysis of the structural geology and paleomagnetism of the Basalts of Summit Creek. Located southeast of Mount Rainier, this section of layered basaltic flows formed during the Eocene Epoch (55 to 45 Ma). The exact origin of the Basalts of Summit Creek is unknown, but there appears to be a growing connection between the Basalts of Summit Creek and the Crescent Basalts, which are Eocene flood basalts located on the Olympic Peninsula (Clark, 1989). This study attempts to provide a greater understanding of the emplacement and deformation of the Basalts of Summit Creek and any …

Experimental And Numerical Analysis Of Coupling Between Musical Drumheads, Ben Boe

Summer Research

The low frequency vibrations of two-headed musical drums are known to couple. However, little is known regarding the factors that determine the degree of coupling at higher frequencies. In this study the effects that depth, diameter and head tension have on the tendency of the drumheads to couple are investigated. Commercial finite element software was used to model a wide range of drums and to identify trends of coupling according to these factors. The numerical results were used to guide which parameters should be tested in the lab. Experimentally, two oppositely facing Electronic Speckle-Pattern Interferometry systems were used to optically …

The Propagation Of Light Through Dark Matter, Audrey Kvam

Summer Research

A concordance of observations indicates that around 80% of the matter in the universe is some unknown dark matter. This dark matter could be comprised of a single structureless particle, but much richer theories exist. Signals from the DAMA, CoGeNT, and CDMS-II dark matter detectors along with the non-observation of dark matter by other detectors motivate theories of composite dark matter along with a “dark” electromagnetic sector. The composite models propose baryon-like or atom-like dark matter. If photons kinetically mix with the “dark” photons, then light traveling through dark matter will experience dispersion. We expect the dispersion to be approximated …

Stochastic Optimal Harvesting Applied To Fisheries, Spencer Dechenne

Summer Research

We investigated alternative regularization schemes within a discrete time stochastic fishery model using stochastic dynamic programs.

The Relationship Between Ocean-Climate Indices And Diet Of Rhinoceros Auklets (Cerorhinca Monocerata) , Christine Anderson

Summer Research

Marine system productivity varies as a result of changing ocean-climate indices and cascade through trophic levels, impacting marine mammals and birds. Rhinoceros Auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) are nesting seabirds in the North Pacific and can indicate variation in marine conditions via diet composition. I will analyze the relationship of Rhinoceros Auklet diets and ocean-climate indices by comparing diet composition and diversity on two islands in differing marine systems. I will also use oceanographic indices to evaluate any correlations between ocean-climate effects and diet variability in populations, providing insights into what physical forcing mechanisms may affect diet, and ultimately reproductive performance, of …