Physics Commons^™

Break Junction Technique For Studying Individual Biological Molecules, Brian Mayorga

Undergraduate Research at FIU (URFIU) Conference

Single molecule biophysics is a rapidly growing field that has great implications in the broader area of nanotechnology. The quantum properties of complex biological molecules can also be studied through the use of advanced techniques that examine molecules on an individual scale. Current methods for studying individual molecules often lack the accuracy needed to yield satisfactory data. In our experiments, we attempted to use a Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) based break junction method to study the quantum tunneling current through small biomolecules. By probing the currents changes through these molecules on an individual scale under external gating and in a …

Calculating Vsin(I) Of Planet-Hosting Young Stars, Jennifer Medina

Undergraduate Research at FIU (URFIU) Conference

Constraining the spin-orbit alignment of close-in planets in young systems can provide insight on their migratory history. We can combine Vsin(i) with measurements of the stellar rotation period and radius to determine the star's orbital inclination, which we can compare to that of the planet as determined from the transit. Vsin(i) is determined from the rotational broadening on the star's spectral lines, so it is ideal to work with young, fast-rotating stars where broadening is more easily measured. We measure Vsin(i) of seven planet-hosting stars within the Praesepe star cluster by using high-resolution spectra from the Immersion Grating INfrared Spectrometer …

Examining The Relationship Between Career Outcome Expectations And Physics Identity, Camila Monslave

Undergraduate Research at FIU (URFIU) Conference

A small percentage of physics degrees are awarded each year. Previous studies about career outcome expectations, or what students hope to achieve in their careers, have revealed strong relationships between outcome expectations and STEM career choice. Drawing from a US national survey with responses from 15,847 students in mandatory College English courses (Outreach Programs and Science Career Intentions, NSF # 1161052), we examined the relationship between student’s outcome expectations and physics identity. It has previously been found that students with certain outcome expectations are more likely to develop a physics identity. Expanding beyond prior work, we focus on how outcome …

Effect Of Structural Disorder On Magnetic Properties Of Mncrval, Juliana Herran, Rishabh Dalal, Paul Gray, Pavel Lukashev

Research in the Capitol

Operation of virtually any modern electronic device relies on magnetic materials. In particular, these materials are the cornerstone of data storage and processing in computer hardware elements, such as hard drives and random access memories. Here, we theoretically study an interplay between structural and magnetic properties of MnCrVAl, a material which recently attracted significant attention due to its rather exotic electronic structure. In particular, this material behaves either as an insulator or as a metal, depending on which “spin” (an intrinsic property of any fundamental particle) of the electron is considered. Using advanced computer simulation techniques (density functional calculations on …

Tio2 Coating Method For Nanocellulose Aerogel, Byron Fritch, Tim Kidd

Research in the Capitol

Titanium dioxide has been shown to be an effective catalyst for splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen gas. By increasing the surface area of the titanium dioxide catalyst, the rate of water splitting may increase. A possible method to increase the splitting of water uses a high surface area composite material formed by coating nanocellulose aerogels with titanium dioxide. Different coating methods were studied using titanium isopropoxide as the titanium dioxide source to create such composites. It was found that the most consistent titanium dioxide coatings were formed during a 12 hour titanium isopropoxide vapor bath. Other coating methods collapsed …

Stacking 2d Materials, Michael Hernandez, John C. Mann

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Monolayer Transition Metal Dichalcogenides are atomically thin semi-conductors that are considered quasi 2D materials due to their extremely small thickness. It has been observed that atomically thin crystals exhibit different physical properties than their bulk counterparts due to quantum confinement effects. We are attempting discover new physical properties by developing a technique to stack two different monolayer crystals, MoS2 and MoSe2.

P16. Ralmo Rotational Raman Temperature Retrieval: First Steps Towards The Application Of Optimal Estimation Method (Oem), Shayamila N. Mahagammulla Gamage, Robert Sica, Alexander Haefele

Western Research Forum

Background:

Temperature is an important atmospheric parameter that plays an extensive role in the fields of atmospheric dynamics, climatology, meteorology, and chemistry. Light detection and ranging (lidar), is a remote sensing technology that can be used for atmospheric temperature profiling. A lidar transmits short laser pulses into the atmosphere and the light scattered by the particles in the atmosphere is collected and measured using a telescope. The atmospheric temperatures can be retrieved by analysing the Pure Rotational Raman (PRR) scatter measurements from the nitrogen and oxygen molecules in the atmosphere.

Methods:

In this study use the Optimal Estimation Method (OEM) …

Designing Novel Nanostructured Permanent Magnets, Ali Al Kadhim

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Rare earth element based alloys have been the source of high performance magnetic alloys, and have played a paramount role in the development of various technologies, including: memory devices (such as credit cards, random-access memory), sensors, and various biomedical applications. However, there is a tremendous need to replace rare earth metals with material with powerful magnetic properties. Our group recently found CrTe-based materials that show very promising magnetic properties in nanostructured form. The magnetic modeling of such material in nanostructured form prior to their fabrication demonstrates their magnetic properties in bulk form. In this project, we investigate the behavior of …

The Property Of Mass: An Interdisciplinary Metaphysical Investigation, Benjamin Hayworth

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

The property of mass as used in the physical sciences is somewhat of a metaphysical conundrum. Not only has the definition of mass changed with various paradigm shifts in physics, but the powers belonging to the property have also varied. In my study, I begin by examining the historical context surrounding the term, including the changes to its definition. In doing so, it is revealed that various definitions of mass are used and circulated in general discussion, so a cogent criterion of identity is established by which each definition can be measured. After determining the distinctions between each mass term, …

Improving Sers-Based Readout Strategy For Biomarker Detecting Immunoassays, Joseph Smolsky

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Detection and monitoring of disease biomarkers increases probability of successful disease treatment. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has several advantages over conventional readout strategies utilized in detecting immunoassays. SERS provides a method for chemical characterization based on molecular vibrational spectra. Raman signals are typically weak and need to be enhanced. This can be done using plasmons in nanoparticles of noble metals, we use gold (Au). Molecules with known spectra, Raman reporter molecules (RRM), can be adsorbed to Au nanoparticles. This enhances the Raman signal of the RRM when illuminated by a laser of optimal wavelength. Adding antibodies to nanoparticles modified …

Between-Day Reliability Activity Fluctuations In Young Adults At Baseline And 6-Months Follow-Up, Connor J. Wicks

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Human Daily Motor Activity (DMA) is characterized by complex temporal fluctuations and scale invariance. DMA is estimated from a time series composed of continuous amounts of activity recorded with the Actigraph GT9X monitor. The purpose of this study was to measure the complex temporal fluctuations in several young healthy adults over a 7-day period. After six months there was a follow-up of another 7-day period. Future collections will involve healthy older adults and adults with Parkinson’s disease. For the first phase of this study, 24 healthy young adults wore the monitor on their non-dominant hand for seven straight days. For …

Data Collection And Analysis At The Atlas Detector, Savannah Thais

Yale Day of Data

No abstract provided.

Verifying The Implementation Of An Anisotropic Grain Boundary Energy Model In Idaho National Lab’S Marmot, John-Michael H. Bradley, Evan D. Hansen, Jarin C. French, Yongfeng Zhang (Mentor)

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

This work aims to verify the correct implementation of an anisotropic grain boundary (GB) energy model for face-centered cubic (FCC) and fluorite materials in Idaho National Laboratory’s phase field fuel performance code MARMOT. The model was recently implemented in MARMOT with the purpose of enabling higher fidelity simulations of UO₂ nuclear fuels. As part of verification, tests were performed to measure the energy dependence on misorientation of high symmetry GBs in an FCC metal (Cu). The energies of the [100], [110], and [111] twist boundaries result as predicted, as do the energies of the [111] symmetric tilt boundaries. However, …