Physics Commons^™

Tabletop Isotropic Source For Neutron Science Training Poster, Reu/Fri Program Physics And Astronomy, Jarom Peterson

Student Works

To develop affordable tabletop neutron sources for neutron science research and education, GS20 scintillator glass doped with Americium-241 is being evaluated inside the BYU Isotropic Fission Chamber (IFC). Our 1985 sample was assessed for radiation damage and found to be in good condition. Neutrons from Am-241 interactions were optically flagged and observed using the IFC in conjunction with the LGB-PVT Neutron Pseudo Spectrometer Detector. Data was recorded via a CAEN desktop digitizer. The analysis code continues to be developed, and the neutron detector will be calibrated using deuterium-deuterium (DD) interactions in the future.

The Atmospheric Characterization Of Abnormally Blue Early T-Dwarfs Midterm Presentation, Reu/Fri Program Physics And Astronomy, Madalyn Chapleski

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Investigation Of Co-Current And Counter-Current Multiphase Flow In Upstream Drilling And Production Applications, Hazem Fleifel

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In the domain of upstream Petroleum Engineering, the dynamics of co-current and counter-current multiphase flows present huge challenges, significantly impacting the efficiency of associated processes. This study investigates two specific applications concerning these flow behaviors, involving both laboratory experiments and transient computer simulations. This work investigates two distinct well control and production enhancement processes, involving multiphase flow dynamics: the bullheading kill procedure and liquid-assisted gas lift (LAGL).

The first topic (Topic 1) explores the bullheading process, a type of well control methods, by challenging the traditional understanding that gas removal efficiency increases monotonically with injection pump flow rate. Through 1D …

Using Novel Technology And Sensemaking In The Classroom, Reu/Fri Program Physics And Astronomy, Julio Escobedo

Student Works

This project looked into the usefulness of various new and unique technologies in a science classroom setting to allow for more sensemaking to occur among students. This was done through professional developments or training for multiple educators on how to use these devices in the classrooms. We found that each new technology had a unique set of useful capabilities and drawbacks. These findings suggest that implementation of these technologies can increase sensemaking if done properly and with proper training beforehand.

Spatially Resolved Kinematics Of Slacs Lens Galaxies. I. Data And Kinematic Classification, Shawn Knabel, Tommaso Treu, Michele Cappellari, Anowar J. Shajib, Chih-Fan Chen, Simon Birrer, Vardha N. Bennert

Physics

We obtain spatially resolved kinematics with the Keck Cosmic Web Imager (KCWI) integral-field spectrograph for a sample of 14 massive (11 < log₁₀(M₍★₎/M☉) < 12) lensing early-type galaxies at z ∼ 0.15–0.35 from the Sloan Lens ACS (SLACS) Survey. We integrate kinematic maps within the galaxy effective radius and examine the rotational and dispersion velocities, showing that 11/14 can be classified as slow rotators. The data set is unprecedented for galaxy-scale strong lenses in terms of signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), sampling, and calibration, vastly superseding previous studies. We find the primary contributions to systematic uncertainties to be the stellar template library and wavelength range of the spectral fit. Systematics …

Probing The Effect Of Peg-Dna Interactions And Buffer Viscosity On Tethered Dna In Shear Flow, Fatema Tuz Zohra, Huda Al-Zuhairi, Jefferson Reinoza, Hyeongjun Kim, Andreas Hanke

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

DNA flow-stretching is a widely employed, powerful technique for investigating the mechanisms of DNA-binding proteins involved in compacting and organizing chromosomal DNA. We combine single-molecule DNA flow-stretching experiments with Brownian dynamics simulations to study the effect of the crowding agent polyethylene glycol (PEG) in these experiments. PEG interacts with DNA by an excluded volume effect, resulting in compaction of single, free DNA molecules in PEG solutions. In addition, PEG increases the viscosity of the buffer solution. By stretching surface-tethered bacteriophage lambda DNA in a flow cell and tracking the positions of a quantum dot labeled at the free DNA end …

Simulating Chemiluminescence Spectra Of Oh Radical Using Quantum Dynamical Simulations, Triet M. Cao

Research from the Berry Summer Thesis Institute, 2025

Chemiluminescence is a phenomenon of light emission that occurs when molecules transition from an excited state to the ground state. This phenomenon is widely utilized in applications ranging from quantifying product yields in chemical reactions to biological imaging and atmospheric chemistry studies. It has also been used in many crucial applications in the scarce conditions of heat and electricity, such as light sources for astronomy discovery or deep-sea diving. A notable example of such reactions is combustion, where highly reactive hydroxyl radicals (OH) are products. These radicals exhibit a chemiluminescence spectrum because of the interaction between their ground state and …

Equilibration And Transport Of Binary Mixtures On Planar And Porous Nanomaterials, Andrew Torres

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

We present results of a Kinetic Monte Carlo investigation of the adsorption dynamics of binary gas mixtures on planar and porous sorbents, with a focus on identifying and characterizing kinetic processes involved in uptake evolution and how they influence equilibrium conditions. We also investigate varying thermodynamic simulation parameters such as interactions, alkane lengths, partial pressures and pore configurations to determine how they impact these kinetic processes as well as equilibrium properties. This study matters both for better understanding how kinetics and equilibrium are connected and for improving practical techniques in separation applications. For planar surfaces, weak species overshoot kinetic processes …

Self Spin-Orbit Torques, Ryan Greening

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Spin–Orbit torques (SOTs) provide an energy-efficient pathway to control magnetization in nanoscale heterostructures. Recently, spin-orbit coupling within ferromagnets has been shown to generate self spin-orbit torques (SSOTs) on the magnetization itself. Previous work on self spin-orbit torques relies on thick ferromagnets with complicated film structures with chemical disorder or compositional gradients to generate inversion symmetry breaking. This dissertation advances experimental methodology and presents data on the quantification of self spin-orbit torques in magnetic thin films due to the spin-orbit coupling of standard 3d ferromagnets.

First, I develop an oblique-incidence magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) technique that exploits a mirror-assisted double reflection …

The Design Of Coplanar Waveguide Traveling-Wave Kinetic-Impedance Parametric Amplifiers, Jordan Scott Savoie

Master's Theses

Astronomical observations and many physics experiments rely on cryogenic amplifiers for readout. Current sensitivity is limited by the noise figure of high-electronmobility transistor (HEMT) amplifiers, which have proven di!cult to decrease further in recent years. Traveling-wave kinetic-impedance parametric amplifiers (TKIPAs) are an emerging class of amplifiers which have the potential to substantially improve the sensitivity of microwave low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) while also accepting relatively high input powers and amplifying over a wide bandwidth. In this thesis, I present the design, modeling, and testing procedures for coplanar waveguide (CPW) TKIPAs developed by our group at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. Using …

Lattice And Continuum Anomalies : Bridging The Gap, Arnab Pradhan

Dissertations - ALL

In this thesis, we explore anomalies both in the continuum and on the lattice, and attempt to establish a connection between the two frameworks. In the continuum limit, we work with Kähler-Dirac fields, while in the discrete setting, we focus on staggered fermions. To facilitate insights relevant to the growing field of quantum computing, we consider a Hamiltonian formalism in addition to the path integral. Anomalies offer a concrete bridge between ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) physics, understanding how anomalies manifest on the lattice versus in the continuum provides a powerful predictive framework. By numerically studying lattice gauge theories, we …

Marine Heatwaves Detected By A Network Of Buoys Along The Entire Us West Coast Shelf, Gavin Plume, Ryan K. Walter, Piero L.F. Mazzini, Michael Dalsin

Physics

Marine heatwaves (MHWs), prolonged periods of anomalously warm waters, pose an increasing threat to marine ecosystems globally. While satellite-based data offer insights into MHW patterns, coastal upwelling regions are prone to satellite biases and require long-term in-situ datasets for accurate characterization. Using two decades of temperature data from 22 surface buoys distributed along the US West Coast continental shelf (10–50 km offshore) spanning nearly 2000 km of coastline, we investigated, for the first time, coast-wide patterns of MHWs in this valuable region. The spatial extent of MHWs varied from 100% of buoys during the 2014–2016 North Pacific MHW, to less …

Holographic Scaling And Cosmological Correlators, He Li

Dissertations - ALL

It is well-established that the two-point correlator of a scalar field in AdS follows either of two scaling laws, ∆± =d/2 ± ν, where ν =Sqrt((d/2)^2+ m^2) is a function of the scalar bulk mass. The transition between these two scalings occurs in the renormalization group evolution from the UV to the IR of a dual 4D conformal theory deformed by a relevant double-trace deformation. In this thesis, we identify a new holographic scaling law, ∆UV = ν, in the context of the AdS/CFT correspondence where there exists a UV cutoff brane. Specifically, when ν > 1, the ∆− scaling that …

Comparative Modeling Of Nuclear Energy Consumption In The United States And France: An Optimized Structure-Adaptive Grey Model, Alae Chahid '25, Naima Shifa

Student Research

This study investigates nuclear energy consumption trends in the United States, and France by applying advanced time-series modeling and computational optimization techniques. Using annual consumption data from 2005 to 2023, the research compares the predictive accuracy under data scarcity of the AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), Grey Model (1,1,t), Grey Model(1,1,t²), and an Optimized Structure-Adaptive Grey Model (OSGM). This OSGM (1,1,_) the traditional Grey Model (1,1) by introducing time-dependent terms and parameter tuning through particle swarm optimization and Monte Carlo simulations. Models are trained and tested using an in-sample and out-of-sample period framework. Then, forecast accuracies are compared using Mean …

Full-Stack Quantum Computing, Benjamin C A Morrison

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

Quantum computing is a promising tool for solving computational problems in several areas, including the simulation of physical and chemical systems. The design of practical quantum computing systems for these applications is a daunting task, requiring collaborative work by interdisciplinary teams considering different abstractions of the same systems. This dissertation presents work on the development of those abstractions, and on components that bridge multiple layers of abstraction. I first provide an introduction to quantum circuit model computation, error correction with stabilizer codes, and physics simulation algorithms. In joint work with the QSCOUT software team, I then describe the development of …

Improving High Frequency Absorptive Filters For Quantum Computing, Christopher B. Sutton

Graduate Masters Theses

Coaxial transmission lines in superconducting quantum circuits are subject to infrared radiation (IR) leakage as signals travel from room temperature (≈ 300 K) to low temperature (≈ 10 mK). Current experimental configurations typically include an epoxy based filter on all cables connecting classical devices (pulse generators, VNA, etc.) to the quantum circuit. The epoxy is characterized by its dielectric properties per unit length and acts as an absorber, attenuating IR noise. Historically, such IR filters have been fabricated by the experimentalists who require them, more recently they have become commercially available. This work investigates the performance of filters which were …

Is Criticality A Unified Setpoint Of Brain Function?, Keith B. Hengen, Aaron Shew

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Brains face selective pressure to optimize computation, broadly defined. This is achieved by mechanisms including development, plasticity, and homeostasis. Is there a universal optimum around which the healthy brain tunes itself, across time and individuals? The criticality hypothesis posits such a setpoint. Criticality is a state imbued with internally generated, multiscale, marginally stable dynamics that maximize the features of information processing. Experimental support emerged two decades ago and has accumulated at an accelerating pace despite disagreement. Here, we lay out the logic of criticality as a general computational endpoint and review experimental evidence. We perform a meta-analysis of 140 datasets …

Effect Of Bond Strength Variation And Ionizing Radiation On Mutations In Cytosine-Guanine Islands, Joshua Robert Bedwell, Yan Poniatovskyi, Vola Andrianarijaona

Achieve

Ionizing radiation produces free electrons within cells which then ionizes DNA and has the potential to cause carcinogenic mutations. Cytosine-Guanine (CpG) islands are regions that are rich in cytosine and guanine bases and are common sites of single point mutations and strand breaks. In this study, density function theory (DFT) is used to calculate the potential energy of DNA nucleotide dimers varying bond lengths in five different ionized states. Crossing between two ionized states can be seen in the potential energy curves, indicating the possibility of natural transition between the two states. Potential energy curves are used to determine bond …

Analyzing The Strength Of The Amine Bond Of Guanine Via Potential Curve Analysis: A Computational Approach, Yan Poniatovskyi, Joshua Robert Bedwell, Vola Andrianarijaona

Achieve

The deamination of guanine can be a cause of single point DNA mutations. In this study, the strength of the amine bond was examined using DFT and B3LYP to map out the bond’s potential curves under conditions of various charges being imposed on the molecule. Such an approach yielded a few potential curves that do not exhibit the expected behavior and rather, show crossings in potential energy curves. Discussions regarding the suspected causes of these unexpected behaviors are included in the poster presentation. The Mulliken charge analysis of guanine under these conditions is coherent with the proposition that the deamination …

Development Of A New Ground-Based Instrumentation Technique For Low-Resolution Exoplanet Transmission Spectroscopy, Mary Anne Limbach, Luke M. Schmidt, Ryan J. Oelkers, Darren L. Depoy

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We present a new instrumentation technique for high-precision, ground-based spectrophotometric measurements ideal for low-resolution (R ∼ 20–60) exoplanet transmission spectroscopy. This technique employs novel thin-film coating technology for wide-band, simultaneous multi-band imaging, enabling high-precision differential photometry through self-referencing and comparison stars. Theoretical calculations and on-sky results show that this method effectively reduces 96% of amplitude scintillation noise and other systematics that typically limit ground-based spectrophotometric precision for bright stars. On-sky results are demonstrated using the custom-built Exoplanet Transmission Spectroscopy Imager (ETSI), deployed at the McDonald Observatory 2.1 m telescope in 2022. For a V = 9.7 mag star, ETSI …

Modeling Lensed Quasars With Neural Posterior Estimation: Complex Mass Models, Logan C. O’Brien

Master's Theses

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is expected to discover ∼ 103 galaxy-scale strongly lensed AGN systems during its 10 year operation conducting the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). I use a machine learning neural posterior estimation method to automatically model these systems with the intention of using them for time-delay cosmography, to constrain the Hubble constant and, ultimately, the properties of Dark Energy. In the work shown here, the neural network that I utilize is trained on simulated lens systems with simple mass distributions that consist of a single main deflecting galaxy. I am testing the robustness of …

Bridging Scales In Epidemic Modeling From Individuals To Networks And Ecosystems, Saiprasasd Vr

Theses and Dissertations

Epidemics have shaped the trajectory of human history, repeatedly exposing vulnerabilities in healthcare systems and influencing socio-economic dynamics on a global scale. The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, underscored the pressing need for flexible and responsive modeling framework capable of adapting to dynamic and evolving epidemic scenarios. Motivated by these challenges, this thesis explores the development of innovative epidemic models that integrate classical mathematical modeling techniques, network-based frameworks, and modern data-driven approaches. Each chapter addresses a distinct dimension of epidemic spread, from vaccination dynamics and community coupling to ecological complexity and adaptive human behavior, culminating in a model-free paradigm suitable for …

Techno-Enviro-Economic Approach For Electrification Of Rural And Shrimp Farming Regional Development Of An Isolated Island In Indonesia By Utilizing Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems, Fiqih Akbar Wijaya, Mohammad Akita Indianto

Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings

One of the challenges in developing and archipelagic countries such as Indonesia is maintaining energy demand in rural and isolated areas due to difficulties in electrical distribution. For instance, in areas like Bawean Island, no additional electricity capacity has been introduced in the past year, leading to an unmet potential customer demand. One of the possible options is by utilizing Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRES) that are integrated with existing fossil fuel-based energy systems to support the growing energy demand in the remote island. A case study in Bawean Island is conducted with the projected energy demand covers the energy …

Remaining Life Assessment And Fitness For Service Evaluation Of Aging Chemical Reactors In Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin Industry, Aditya Pahlawan Munthe, Donanta Dhaneswara, Wahyuaji Narottama Putra, Gama Widyaputra

Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings

Aging chemical reactors in the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin industry require comprehensive evaluation to ensure safe continued operation. This study conducts a remaining life assessment (RLA) and fitness-for-service (FFS) evaluation on five 30-year-old reactors, based on API 510, API 579/ASME FFS-1, and ASME BPVC Section VIII Div. 1 standards. The analysis involves corrosion rate measurement, future corrosion allowance (FCA) projection, and minimum thickness verification. Among the reactors, R-120 was found to have the shortest remaining life less than 15 years. FFS assessments using three criteria Average Measured Thickness, MAWP from Point Thickness Readings, and Minimum Measured Thickness confirm that R-120 …

A Comprehensive Study On The Use Of Sub-Coherent Self Heterodyne Linewidth Estimations, Genevieve Gutierrez

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A fundamental requirement for many precision spectroscopic applications is the development of stable lasers with narrow linewidths. However, accurately verifying laser linewidths becomes increasingly challenging as the linewidth decreases. In the field of frequency metrology, the delayed self-heterodyne technique has long been regarded as one of the most reliable and accessible methods for linewidth characterization, favored for its low equipment cost and reproducible results. Traditionally, self-heterodyne measurements employ an optical delay line significantly longer than the coherence length of the laser, with analysis performed via either the instantaneous power spectral density or the noise power spectral density. However, the use …

Pylro: A Python Calculator For Analyzing Long-Range Structural Order, Kevin Parrish

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

We present PyLRO, an open-source Python calculator designed to detect, quantify, and display long-range order in periodic structures. The program’s design methodology, workflow, and approach to order quantification are thoroughly described and demonstrated using a simple toy model. Great care is considered in the detailing of the calculation logic, as is standard in the development of computational methods. Additionally, we apply PyLRO to a series of metastable AlPO4 structural intermediates from a prior high-pressure study, demonstrating how to compute and visualize structural order in all directions on a Miller sphere. We further highlight the program’s capabilities through a high-throughput analysis …

A Study Of Wear Measurement And Life Prediction Of Insert Chute Liner On Gold Ore Processing, Ferry Ardika Natanael, Nony Maulidya, Dedi Priadi

Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings

Chutes are critical materials handling assets to transport solid particles from one process step to another in mineral processing, coal mining and cement industries. The material transport, because of material characteristics, cause severe wear on internal lining of chutes or bins’ structure. The wear problem on internal lining of bins or chutes needs to be checked to keep production efficiency. Therefore, not checked wear rate causes liner replacement schedule becomes unpredictable. It leads to production loss and highly cost maintenance in industry. This study shows that condition-based maintenance through regular thickness measurement using Ultrasonic Transducer (UT) to predict life service …

Ultracold Collisions Of A Neutral Atom With A Trapped Ion In One Dimension, Seth T. Rittenhouse, Lorenzo Oghittu, Arghavan Safavi-Naini, Rene Gerritsma, Angela D. Graf, Nirav P. Mehta

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Research

We present a fully quantum mechanical description of a free Li atom scattering from a trapped Yb+ ion in one dimension. By reformulating the system in polar coordinates and employing the adiabatic representation, we extract a set of coupled adiabatic potentials representing the atom interacting with the ion in different trap states. In an approach similar to quantum defect theory, we leverage the vast difference in energy scale between the interaction, the trap, and the scattering energy to encapsulate the short-range atom-ion scattering behavior in a single phase parameter. The presence of trapped (Yb⁢ Li)+ molecular-ion states leads to a …

Analysis Of Leak Testing Planning For Carbon Dioxide Piping Systems In The Development Of Carbon Capture, Utilization, And Storage Facilities In The Bintuni Basin, Devi Sentiani, Akhmad Herman Yuwono Professor

Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings

Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies have become a key strategic response to global efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions. This study presents a leak testing strategy designed for a carbon dioxide (CO₂) piping system as part of a Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) project in the Bintuni Basin, West Papua, Indonesia. This study aims to ensure the system is properly prepared before commissioning by designing a leak test plan that is both practical and technical, based on ASME B31.3, ASME PCC-2, and API STD 520 Part 1. We conducted the process, which involves identifying the system boundaries, …

Collapse Of A Quantum Vortex In An Attractive Two-Dimensional Bose Gas, Sambit Banerjee, Kai Zhou, Shiva Kant Tiwari, Hikaru Tamura, Rongjie Li, Panayotis Kevrekidis, Simeon I. Mistakidis, Valentin Walther, Chen Lung Hung

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We experimentally and numerically study the collapse dynamics of a quantum vortex in a two-dimensional atomic superfluid following a fast interaction ramp from repulsion to attraction. We find the conditions and timescales for a superfluid vortex to radially converge into a quasi-stationary density profile, demonstrating the spontaneous formation of a vortex soliton like structure in an atomic Bose gas. We record an emergent self-similar dynamic caused by an azimuthal modulational instability, which amplifies initial density perturbations and leads to the eventual splitting of a solitonic ring profile or direct fragmentation of a superfluid into disordered, but roughly circular arrays of …