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 …

Multiparticle Quantum Plasmonics: Fundamentals And Applications, Mingyuan Hong

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Quantum plasmonics explores the interaction between light and collective charge oscillations at metal-dielectric interfaces, enabling strong light confinement and enhanced quantum effects at the nanoscale. While traditional quantum optics has primarily focused on single-photon systems, an intermediate regime exists between classical and single-photon optics - multiparticle (or multiphoton) quantum optics. In this regime, classical light sources, when analyzed through techniques such as photon-number-resolving (PNR) detection and projective measurement, can reveal nontrivial quantum correlations. This thesis investigates how multiparticle quantum plasmonics harnesses these correlations to control quantum statistical properties, enhance coherence, and enable novel applications in quantum technologies.

In this thesis, …

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. …

Search For Continuous Gravitational Waves From Known Pulsars In The First Part Of The Fourth Ligo-Virgo-Kagra Observing Run, A. G. Abac, R. Abbott, I. Abouelfettouh, F. Acernese, Teviet Creighton, Mario C. Diaz, Francisco Llamas Villarreal, Soma Mukherjee, Volker Quetschke, Wenhui Wang

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Continuous gravitational waves (CWs) emission from neutron stars carries information about their internal structure and equation of state, and it can provide tests of general relativity. We present a search for CWs from a set of 45 known pulsars in the first part of the fourth LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA observing run, known as O4a. We conducted a targeted search for each pulsar using three independent analysis methods considering single-harmonic and dual-harmonic emission models. We find no evidence of a CW signal in O4a data for both models and set upper limits on the signal amplitude and on the ellipticity, which quantifies the …

Analyticity And Supershift With Regular Sampling, Fabrizio Colombo, Irene Sabadini, Daniele C. Struppa, Alain Yger

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The notion of supershift (in itself a generalization of the notion of superoscillation arising in quantum mechanics) expresses the fact that the sampling of a function in an interval allows to compute the values of the function far from the interval. In this paper, we study the relation between supershift and real analyticity. We use a classical result due to Serge Bernstein to show that real analyticity for a complex-valued function implies a strong form of supershift. On the other hand, we use a parametric version of a result by Leonid Kantorovitch to show that the converse is not true. …

Detection And Parameter Estimation Of Supermassive Black Hole Ringdown Signals Using A Pulsar Timing Array, Xuan Tao, Yan Wang, Soumya D. Mohanty

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Gravitational wave (GW) searches using pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) are commonly assumed to be limited to a GW frequency of ≲4 ×10−7  Hz given by the Nyquist rate associated with the average observational cadence of 2 weeks for a single pulsar. However, by taking advantage of asynchronous observations of multiple pulsars, a PTA can detect GW signals at higher frequencies. This allows a sufficiently large PTA to detect and characterize the ringdown signals emitted following the merger of supermassive binary black holes (SMBBHs), leading to stringent tests of the no-hair theorem in the mass range of such systems. Such large-scale …

Statistical Study Of Solar Wind Conditions Prior To Substorm Onsets, Luke H. Francis

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Due to complex, multi-region, coupled plasma systems, auroral substorm onsets have been historically difficult to predict. The northward turning of the interplanetary magnetic field was considered the primary candidate as an external triggering mechanism for substorm onsets. However, that was later shown to be coincidental in nature. This study is motivated by recent multi-spacecraft observations that show how several magnetosheath jets at the bow shock were heavily correlated to substorm onsets, indicated by a strongly radial IMF interval. In the past, studies have looked at small samples of substorms in order to make large-scale predictions. However in this study, a …

Ligo Detector Characterization In The First Half Of The Fourth Observing Run, S. Soni, B. K. Berger, D. Davis, F. Di Renzo, A. Effler, T. Ferreira, E. Goetz, Francisco Llamas Villarreal, Volker Quetschke, J. Glanzer

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Progress in gravitational-wave (GW) astronomy depends upon having sensitive detectors with good data quality. Since the end of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory-Virgo-KAGRA third Observing run in March 2020, detector-characterization efforts have lead to increased sensitivity of the detectors, swifter validation of GW candidates and improved tools used for data-quality products. In this article, we discuss these efforts in detail and their impact on our ability to detect and study GWs. These include the multiple instrumental investigations that led to reduction in transient noise, along with the work to improve software tools used to examine the detectors data-quality. We end …

White Pupil Fibre-Fed Echelle Spectrograph Of The Russian-Turkish 1.5 M Telescope: Optical Design And Analysis, Cevdet Bayar, Nuri̇ Unal

Turkish Journal of Physics

This study presents optical designs of two fibre-fed èchelle spectrographs (FES), which differ from each other in terms of cross-dispersers, and optical analyses of the spectra (orders) obtained from the designs. Optical analyses of both designs were performed by interpreting the results obtained from the spot diagram, footprint diagram, and encircled energy diagram in the ZEMAX (OpticStudio) optical design program. In the first spectrograph design, prisms were used as the cross-disperser. Specifically, two symmetric N-F2 glass prisms with 42-degree apex angles were used as the cross-disperser. In the second design, a grism was used as the cross-disperser. This grism was …

Rotating Anisotropic Bose Gas With Large Number Of Vortices, Ahmet Keleş

Turkish Journal of Physics

Rapidly rotating atomic gases provide a platform for studying phenomena akin to type-II superconductors and quantum Hall systems. Recently, these systems have attracted renewed interest due to technological advances in the trap anisotropy control, in-situ observation capabilities, and cooling and rotating complex atomic species such as dipolar gases. Understanding the vortex lattice formation and quantum melting is crucial for exploring quantum Hall physics in these systems. In this paper, we theoretically investigate the vortex lattices in anisotropic quantum gases. We formulate the rotating gas Hamiltonian in the Landau gauge, and consider the effects of additional perturbations such as the trap …

Supersymmetric Exploration Of External Field Effects On Spinning Cosmic Strings With Aharonov–Bohm Interaction, Bi̇lgehan Bariş Öner, Özlem Yeşi̇ltaş

Turkish Journal of Physics

We have conducted a supersymmetric analysis of the spacetime of a spinning cosmic string, focusing on the behavior of an electron in magnetic fields. Our study involves examining the Dirac system through the lens of exceptional orthogonal polynomials, specifically the exceptional orthogonal Laguerre $X_{m}$ polynomials. This analysis transforms the Dirac system into a relativistic system with a nonlinear isotonic oscillator. Additionally, we introduce new potential models that extend the radial oscillator by incorporating rational terms. Comprehensive analyses of the potential, energy levels, and probability density graphs are provided for various topological defects of cosmic strings and different parameters of the …

The Fractography Of Bone: Impact Of Flat Bone And The Story It Tells, Abigail Hoffmeister, Chase Freeman, Brandon Mendoza, Nathaniel Fitch, Annie Markarian, Jack Tran, Joshua Lau, Nicholas Tran

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Fractography as a method for fracture analysis has been applied widely to materials that range from glass to ceramics and polymers of varying compositions. Very limited research has been done, however, to apply this knowledge of fractography and fracture patterns to bone. With the goal of telling the story of how a bone was broken, this research focuses on observing known patterns of fracture in polymers, and applying these patterns to bone. For the purposes of this research, porcine scapulae were acquired, dissected from surrounding tissue, and broken using a standardized weight drop at varying heights. The fractured bone was …

Probing Freeze Out Sensitivity In Nuclear Collisions Using Exact Solutions Of Fluid Dynamics, Julia Johnson

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

One of the primary goals in the field of high-energy nuclear collisions is to create and study a novel phase of matter known as quark-gluon plasma (QGP), a substance which can be extremely well described by fluid dynamics. However, two different criteria are often used to identify the point of freeze out, which defines when the fluid dynamical simulation of a nuclear collision should be terminated: either when the QGP fluid has cooled below a given temperature, or when it has reached a certain Knudsen number (a quantity that estimates how well the system can be modeled by a fluid). …

Effect Of Energy-Dependent Proton Irradiation On Thin-Film Ybco-1237 Superconductor, Nolan Miles, Hope Weeda, Joseph Fogt, Trevor Harrison

24th Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2025)

We investigated the effect of proton irradiations (0.6 MeV and 1.7 MeV) on the superconducting and normal-state properties of thin-film YBCO-1237 superconductors (Tc = 90 K) and found that the relationship between the critical temperature and dimensionless scattering rate obtained during proton irradiation approximates the generalized d-wave Abrikosov–Gor'kov theory better than the previous reports obtained from electron irradiations. This was unexpected since electron irradiation is generally thought to be more effective than proton and other heavier ion irradiations at suppressing superconductivity. The details of the experimental setup and results will be presented.

Investigation Of Tc Change Due To Proton Irradiation In Tbcco Superconductors, Trevor Harrison, Joseph Fogt, Nolan Miles, Hope Weeda

24th Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2025)

We studied the effect of 600 keV proton irradiation on thin film cuprate superconductors. A 650 nm thick TBCCO-2212 sample was subjected to a series of proton irradiations totaling a fluence of 5.2 x 10^16 protons/cm^2. Superconducting critical temperature (Tc) was decreased from 100 K towards zero Kelvin, and the normal state resistivity increased accordingly. The rate of Tc reduction to resistivity increase will be used to discuss the fundamental properties of the superconductor.