Physics Commons^™

On Quantum Processes And The Epistemic Constraints, Varun Immanuel Premkumar Immanuel

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This doctoral dissertation on the foundations of quantum theory tells the story of a conceptual protagonist I have called “Epistemic Constraint.” Here, epistemic constraints are the definite, intersubjectively agreeable, ordinary-language conditions under which experiments are described.

The usual formulation of the quantum measurement problem, which I call the Schrodingerian measurement problem, has the structure of an anomaly: if we take quantum theory at face value, we expect no definite values, and yet we see definite values in experiments. The responses to this problem have been either to solve it or to dissolve it. These responses, which have taken the form …

Improving Modeling Of Corrosion Products In The Primary Circuit Of Light Water Reactors Through The Experimental Determination Of Crud Characteristics, Sri Saravana Konganapuram Narasimma Bharathi

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

High-temperature water flowing through the coolant circuits in pressurized water reactors (PWRs) creates a harsh environment, deteriorating these materials. This corrosion results in the formation of oxide layer(s) primarily composed of nickel ferrites, iron oxides, nickel oxides, and other nickel-iron-chrome spinel oxides. Being exposed to fluid with high flow rates and pressure, these oxide layers can be eroded, resulting in particulate fouling due to the release of corrosion products (Chalk River Unidentified Deposits, CRUD) into the coolant circuit. When CRUD subsequently deposits on fuel surfaces, it negatively affects the fuel performance (heat transfer and fuel failure); in addition, the particles …

Three-Photon Rydberg Eit Lineshape Analysis In Rubidium, Jackson Lake

Honors Theses

Electromagnetically Induced Transparency detection of high-lying Rydberg states in room-temperature rubidium vapor was investigated using a four state ladder-type excitation scheme with light provided by three External Cavity Diode Lasers (ECDLs) at 780 nm, 776 nm, and 1266 nm. This detection technique was studied by characterizing the lineshape parameters of the EIT transmission peak, specifically the height, width and area of the transparency window as functions of the dressing and coupling laser powers. With the goal of characterizing the linewidth of the transmission signal, a confocal etalon was built and implemented in the optical setup to perform frequency calibration of …

Hyena: An Observing System Simulation Experiment For Hypothetical Energetic Neutral Atom Imagers, Joel Tibbetts, Amy Keesee, Matina Gkioulidou, Robert Demajistre, Viacheslav Merkin

Faculty Publications

Mesoscale plasma sheet flows are widely understood to be a critical component of the overall picture of energy, particle, and magnetic flux transport during periods of geomagnetic activity. Without simultaneous measurements with true global coverage, the short lifetime (~10 min) and localized spatial extents (~1–3 R_E in azimuth) of these structures make obtaining a global picture of their contributions to stormtime magnetosphere dynamics difficult to characterize. Energetic neutral atom (ENA) imaging can enable remote mapping of plasma energization in the magnetosphere; however, its line-of-sight integrated nature, coupled with the challenging-to-characterize attributes of the target physical phenomena, means that numerous …

I Think, Therefore I Can: Self-Efficacy, Self-Regulation, And Sense Of Belonging In Introductory Physics, Danielle Christine Maldonado

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cognitive and affective beliefs in physics classrooms are important indicators of student success beyond traditional measurements of academic performance. This body of work explores major beliefs and processes, including self-efficacy, self-regulation, and sense of belonging, as they relate to academic achievement among introductory undergraduate physics students. First, this dissertation explores the development of physics self-efficacy and physics sense of belonging, two highly correlated variables. This work identifies unique sources of physics self-efficacy and sense of belonging development from current and prior academic experiences, personality factors, and demographic variables. Then, relationships between early- semester self-efficacy and sense of belonging, mid-semester …

Energy Partition And Heating Mechanisms In Asymmetric Antiparallel Magnetic Reconnection, Aleksandra Abova-Volkova

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental plasma physics process whereby a change in magnetic field connectivity drives the conversion of magnetic energy into energy of the surrounding plasma, often explosively. One of the many settings where it occurs is at the dayside magnetopause of Earth and other planets, where the magnetic field, number density, and/or temperature in the plasmas on the two sides upstream of the reconnection site are asymmetric. How the incoming magnetic energy gets partitioned into outgoing energies during asymmetric reconnection remains an outstanding question; of special interest is the fraction that gets converted into internal energy of ions …

Comparison Of Push-Pull Air Curtain To Overhead Downdraft Systems On Aerosol Containment And Distribution In Controlled Environments, Manal Mutairi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

Comparison of Push-Pull Air Curtain to Overhead Downdraft Systems on Aerosol Containment and Distribution in Controlled Environments.

This dissertation looks at the ongoing issue of tiny airborne particles created during medical and dental procedures and evaluates ways to reduce the risk of exposure for healthcare workers and patients to these particles. The first study focuses on the size, how long particles stay in the air, and how far they travel from common medical procedures that create aerosols, showing that tiny particles (less than 5 µm) can stay in the air long enough to escape basic droplet controls. As a …

A Chandra View Of Spt-Cl J0217–5014: A Massive Galaxy Cluster At A Cosmic Intersection At Z = 0.53, Dan Hu, Shida Fan, Zhongsheng Yuan, Junjie Mao, Norbert Werner, Yuanyuan Su, François Mernier, Yuanyuan Zhao, Liyi Gu, Haiguang Xu

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Context. Galaxy clusters trace the densest regions of the cosmic web and are crucial laboratories for studying the thermodynamic and chemical evolution of the intracluster medium (ICM). The massive galaxy cluster SPT-CL J0217−5014 (z ∼ 0.53; M₅₀₀ ∼ 3 × 10¹⁴ M_⊙) is one of the Swift X-Ray Telescope serendipitous galaxy clusters with the highest reported Fe abundance (∼1.3 ± 0.4 Z_⊙ within ∼ 1_.^′7) and a potentially disturbed morphology.

Aims. SPT-CL J0217−5014 presents an intriguing opportunity to investigate ICM chemical enrichment and cool-core survival. With this study, we aim to …

A Uniform Analysis Of Gas-Phase Metallicity Evolution With 1–3 Gyr Time Sampling Over The Past 12 Gyr, Shweta Jain, Ryan L. Sanders, Ali Ahmad Khostova, Tucker Jones, Alice E. Shapley, Naveen Reddy, Alex M. Garcia, Paul Torrey, Alison L. Coil

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We present a systematic investigation of the evolution of the mass–metallicity relation (MZR) and fundamental metallicity relation (FMR) using uniform metallicity diagnostics across redshifts z ∼ 0 to z ∼ 3.3. We present new Keck/Deep Imaging Multi-Object Spectrograph measurements of the [O II]λλ3726, 3729 emission line doublet for star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 1.5 with existing measurements of redder rest-optical lines from the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field survey. These new observations enable uniform estimation of the gas-phase oxygen abundance using ratios of the [O II], Hβ, and [O III] lines for mass-binned samples of star-forming galaxies …

Energy Levels Of Multiscale Bound States From Qed Energy-Momentum Trace, Michael I. Eides, Vladimir A. Yerokhin

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Energy levels of quantum electrodynamics (QED) bound states, which depend on a number of independent mass parameters, can be calculated as matrix elements of the QED energy-momentum tensor trace. As an example of such system we consider muonic hydrogen. The leading one-loop corrections to its energy levels depend on the electron and muon masses. These corrections are calculated as matrix elements of the energy-momentum tensor trace. Respective one-loop trace diagrams are different from the standard Lamb shift diagrams. We explain analytically and diagrammatically why two different sets of diagrams lead to the same results. Similar relationships should also hold beyond …

Fe Xviii–Xxiv Kβ Inner-Shell Absorption Lines In The X-Ray Spectra Of Neutron Star And Black Hole Binaries With Xrism, Masahiro Tsujimoto, Daiki Miura, Hiroya Yamaguchi, Ehud Behar, Chris Done, María Díaz Trigo, Chamani M. Gunasekera, Peter A. M. Van Hoof, Stefano Bianchi, Maryam Dehghanian, Gary J. Ferland

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The advent of the X-ray microcalorimeter spectrometer Resolve onboard the XRISM space telescope opened a new era for high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy of astrophysical plasmas. Many spectral features were newly detected, including the Kα and Kβ inner-shell transition lines of mildly ionized (F- to Li-like) Fe at 6–8 keV in the spectra of X-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei. The widely used atomic databases contain information on the Kα but not Kβ lines of these ions. We conducted the atomic structure calculation using FAC to derive the Fe Kα and Kβ lines and verified the …

Pull-Out Performance Of Multiple Glued-In Rods In Sustainable Inorganic-Bonded Bamboo Composite Under Perpendicular-To-Grain Loading, Jing Ru Yao, Shaohua Yu, Qingxia Yue, Hanshu Zhang, Ernian Zhao

Physics and Engineering Science

As a sustainable bio-based material derived from bamboo crops, inorganic-bonded bamboo composite (InorgBam) exhibits excellent environmental sustainability, fire resistance, and long-term durability. To enable its broader adoption in structural applications, robust and efficient connection methods are essential. Glued-in rod (GiR) connections, characterized by high strength, stiffness, and superior fire performance, are especially well-suited for modern engineered bamboo and timber connections. The pull-out behavior of multiple GiRs in InorgBam material under perpendicular-to-grain loading was experimentally investigated using double-, triple-, and quadruple-rod specimens. The influence of anchorage length and spacing on failure modes and load-carrying capacity was systematically analyzed. Results demonstrate that …

A Novel Simulation Framework To Estimate Dynamic Response Of A Solar Panel Array Under Stationary Stochastic Wind Loads, Hanshu Zhang, You Jia Li, Matthew J. Dejong

Physics and Engineering Science

This paper presents a novel simulation framework for estimating the dynamic response of a full-scale ground-mounted solar panel array under stationary wind loads that are spatially correlated across the length of the solar panel array. Specifically, the framework uses mean pressure coefficient distributions along the length of a 1:10 prototype scale of the solar panel array from smooth inflow derived using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation software The Wind Engineering with Uncertainty Quantification (WE-UQ). Note that for the CFD simulation, the input wind field across the length of the solar panel array is uniform along the horizontal direction, and …

Preliminary Observations From The Relativistic Electron Atmospheric Loss (Real) Satellite Mission, Evzen Selvon, Robyn Millan

Wetterhahn Science Symposium Posters

The Relativistic Electron Atmospheric Loss (REAL) spacecraft (launched in July 2025) is a 3U cubesat designed to measure the precise energies (1 keV – 2MeV) and pitch angles of electrons entering the Earth’s ionosphere. The mission involves Dartmouth, BU, JHUAPL, MSU, and NASA. REAL carries three particle sensors measuring low, medium, and high energies. This work is focused on the ElectroStatic Analyzer (ESA) instrument, designed to measure lower energy electrons (1-40 keV) in the directions parallel and perpendicular to the Earth’s magnetic field. This research aims to identify notable events observed by the REAL spacecraft for future analysis.

An Exploration Of Geomagnetically Induced Currents And The Accessibility Of Geomagnetic Data Collection, Richard Le

Physics Theses

Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GICs) are electrical currents induced in long grounded conductors during geomagnetic disturbances. They represent one of the primary space weather hazards to critical infrastructure, particularly high-voltage power transmission systems and other grounded conductor networks such as pipelines. As modern society becomes more dependent on these systems, understanding and mitigating the impacts of space weather has become increasingly important. This thesis examines the physical mechanisms that generate GICs, from the interaction of the solar wind with Earth’s Magnetosphere to Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere (MIT) coupling and the current systems that drive geomagnetic disturbances (GMDs). Case studies from Zimbabwe and Finland illustrate …

Computational Study Of Rotating Detonation Combustors, Aditya Balasubramaniam

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Theses

Rotating detonation combustors (RDCs) are pressure-gain combustion devices that sustain one or more continuously rotating detonation waves, offering potential thermodynamic and performance advantages over conventional deflagration-based systems. Their behavior depends strongly on combustor geometry and operating conditions. Understanding these effects is therefore essential for the design and optimization of practical RDCs. Accordingly, this thesis numerically investigates annular RDCs with two primary objectives: (1) to evaluate the effects of propellant mass flux and (2) to assess the influence of annular width on detonation-wave dynamics and combustor performance.

A finite-volume framework is used to solve the compressible reactive Euler equations with hydrogen–air …

The Hitran2024 Molecular Spectroscopic Database, I. E. Gordon, L. S. Rothman, R. J. Hargreaves, F. M. Gomez, T. Bertin, C. Hill, R. V. Kochanov, Y. Tan, P. Wcisło, V. Yu. Makhnev, P. F. Bernath, M. Birk, V. Boudon, A. Campargue, A. Coustenis, B. J. Drouin, R. R. Gamache, J. T. Hodges, D. Jacquemart, E. J. Mlawer, A. V. Nikitin, V. I. Perevalov, M. Rotger, S. Robert, J. Tennyson, G. C. Toon, H. Tran, V. G. Tyuterev, E. M. Adkins, A. Barbe, D. M. Bailey, K. Bielska, L. Bizzocchi, T. A. Blake, C. A. Bowesman, P. Cacciani, P. Čermák, A. G. Császár, L. Denis, S. C. Egbert, O. Egorov, A. Yu. Ermilov, A. J. Fleisher, H. Fleurbaey, A. Foltynowicz, T. Furtenbacher, M. Germann, E. R. Guest, J. J. Harrison, J. -M. Hartmann, A. Hjältén, S. -M. Hu, X. Huang, T. J. Johnson, H. Jóźwiak, S. Kassi, M. V. Khan, F. Kwabia-Tchana, T. J. Lee, D. Lisak, A. -W. Liu, O. M. Lyulin, N. A. Malarich, L. Manceron, A. A. Marinina, S. T. Massie, J. Mascio, E. S. Medvedev, V. V. Meshkov, G. Ch. Mellau, M. Melosso, S. N. Mikhailenko, D. Mondelain, H.S.P. Müller, M. O' Donnell, A. Owens, A. Perrin, O. L. Polyansky, P. L. Raston, Z. D. Reed, M. Rey, C. Richard, G. B. Rieker, C. Röske, S. W. Sharpe, E. Starikova, N. Stolarczyk, A. V. Stolyarov, K. Sung, F. Tamassia, J. Terragni, V. G. Ushakov, S. Vasilchenko, B. Vispoel, K. L. Vodopyanov, G. Wagner, S. Wójtewicz, S. N. Yurchenko, N. F. Zobov

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The HITRAN database is a curated compilation of validated molecular spectroscopic parameters, established in the early 1970s. It is used by various computer codes to predict and simulate the transmission and emission of light in gaseous media (with an emphasis on terrestrial and planetary atmospheres). The HITRAN compilation is composed of six major components. These components include the line-by-line spectroscopic parameters required for high-resolution radiative-transfer codes, experimentally derived absorption cross-sections (for molecules where it is not yet feasible for representation in a line-by-line form), collision-induced absorption data, aerosol indices of refraction, and general tables (including partition sums) that apply globally …

References, Appendices & All Parts Merged, Konstantin Likharev

Essential Graduate Physics

Includes: Appendix MA: Selected Mathematical Formulas; Appendix UCA: Selected Physical Units and Constants; References; EGP merged file (all parts, appendices, and references)

The Scattering Algebra Of Physical Space: Squared Massive Constructive Amplitudes, Moab Croft, Neil Christensen

Faculty publications – Physics

The Algebra of Physical Space (APS) is used to explore the Constructive Standard Model (CSM) of particle physics. Namely, this paper connects the spinor formalism of the APS to massive amplitudes in the CSM. A novel equivalency between traditional CSM and APS-CSM formalisms is introduced, called the Scattering Algebra (SA), with example calculations confirming the consistency of results between both frameworks. Through this all, two significant insights are revealed: The identification of traditional CSM spin spinors with Lorentz rotors in the APS, and the connection of the CSM to various formalisms through ray spinor structure. The CSM’s results are …

Amorphous Selenium Photodetectors For Liquid Noble Detectors, Michael Rooks

Physics Dissertations - Archive

Physics offers a way to connect deeply with the mysteries that surround us. Advances in detector physics, particularly in neutrino experiments and rare-event searches, have expanded our ability to probe phenomena that challenge how we describe the universe. Each discovery brings us closer to understanding the unknown, returning us to a sense of wonder that motivates exploration. My work on detector technology was inspired by a concept paper from Professor David Nygren, in which he noted the speculative possibility of integrating photon detection into a charge readout for pixelated liquid argon time projection chambers (LArTPCs) using the photoconductor amorphous selenium …

Wiener-Granger Causality To Model Banking Sector Contagion, Riya Bhasin

CMC Senior Theses

In this thesis, we explore the main drivers behind the 2008 Global Financial Crisis and how the interconnectivity of banking sectors contributed to the worldwide spread of its effects. To understand how this became a global phenomenon, we apply linear Wiener-Granger Causality as a form of network analysis, building on pre-existing methodology in order to study continent banking indices. We find connections across locales on the continent and country level, but ones that are weak. Our modelling was insufficient to completely capture existing and well-known relationships accurately. This occurs due to limitations of the data and of the linear models’ …

Analyzing Rydberg Atoms Of Rubidium At Room Temperature: Applying Electromagnetically Induced Transparency, Bridger Stiles

Honors Theses

This thesis describes an experimental exploration of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in atoms of 85Rb using a new MOGLabs external cavity diode laser. A two-step ladder technique of EIT was applied using a 5S_1/2→5P_3/2 probe transition and 5P_3/2→nD_5/2 coupling transitions. Significant apparatus tuning was done, including developing a reliable procedure of regulating frequency and scanning the coupling laser over a sufficient mode-hop free range. A Doppler-reduced technique was applied by counter-propagating the probe and coupling beams through the Rb vapor cell. EIT signals were collected at various probe and coupling laser powers to analyze changes in signal size and linewidth. …

Part Sm: Statistical Mechanics, Konstantin Likharev

Essential Graduate Physics

Includes: Review of Thermodynamics; Principles of Physical Statistics; Ideal and Not-So-Ideal Gases; Phase Transitions; Fluctuations; Elements of Kinetics

Laser Beam Shaping Using A Neural Network, Azeem A. Hakim

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Multiphoton lithography (MPL) is a method of laser-based 3D-printing for fabricating micron-scale structures point-by-point in a photopolymerizable medium. MPL’s high-resolution capabilities have made it a powerful method for the fabrication of many devices, such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and tissue scaffolds.  The throughput of MPL processes can be increased by using spatially shaped laser beams that expose large areas or volumes simultaneously. A laser beam can be reshaped by passing it through a spatial light modulator (SLM) displaying a pre-designed phase mask. One type of laser beam profile used for this purpose is the Bessel beam, a type of structured …

Ultrafast Vibrational Dynamics In Important Wide-Bandgap Semiconductors, Dielectrics And Energetic Materials, Dinusha Madushanka Senarathna

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation applies time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (tr-CARS), to measure ultrafast vibrational dynamics in technologically important solid-state and van der Waals molecular systems. The central goal is to use time-domain Raman methods to resolve mode-specific phonon and vibrational dephasing processes with high temporal precision, high spectral selectivity, and sufficient experimental flexibility to probe materials ranging from wide-bandgap semiconductors and oxide crystals to energetic molecular crystals. Across the work, I show that carefully designed tr-CARS measurements can access vibrational lifetimes from hundreds of femtoseconds to several picoseconds, enabling direct observation of decay pathways, relaxation mechanisms, and dispersion effects that shape …

Utilizing Computer Modeling To Optimize Electric Fields Within Xenon Time Projection Chambers, Miles Meloni

Honors Theses

XENONnT is a physics experiment designed with the goal of detecting dark matter particles. The detector is a time projection chamber; a series of charged electrodes creates an electric field, surrounding a central body filled with liquid and gaseous xenon. Photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), positioned on either end of the chamber, serve to detect light signals. We seek to minimize the root mean square of the electric field norms experienced by the PMTs. This quantity corresponds to the variance in the electric field observed by the PMTs. Establishing a consistent electric field is important to maintaining these sensitive components. The electric …

Ultra-Low Noise Ion Detection For Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay Searches, Karen E. Navarro

Physics Dissertations

Neutrinos are the most abundant particles in the universe that carry mass. Yet, we know very little about them since they are electrically neutral and interact weakly. A small instance after the Big Bang, an imbalance occurred that caused matter to be produced in greater quantities than antimatter. A leading candidate for this unexplained process is leptogenesis. Leptogenesis predicts that neutrinos are Majorana particles: a particle that is its own antiparticle. Today, particle detectors are being constructed to search for this property through the yet unobserved neutrinoless double beta decay (0νββ) . If observed, this would demonstrate that neutrinos are …

Bursty Bulk Flows: The What, The Why, And Their Impacts On The Earth, Fariza Tanvir

2026 Spring Honors Capstones Projects

Due to solar wind-magnetosphere interactions, the Earth's magnetic field lines stretch into a long, comet-shaped magnetotail, which extends thousands of miles away from the Earth. Bursty Bulk Flows (BBFs) are transient, high-speed ion bulk flows in the magnetotail that play an essential role in energy and mass transport. Characterized by their short-lived duration, they are related to magnetic reconnection events. This investigation focuses on being able to identify BBFs using the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) probes, a mission consisting of four probes arranged in a tetrahedron to study the Earth’s magnetosphere. We examine parameters such as energy spectra, spin bulk velocity, …

Holographic Sensors For The Detection Of Volatile Organic Compounds, Graceson Antony

Doctoral

Volatile organic compound (VOC) monitoring at parts-per-million (ppm) concentration levels is essential for occupational safety, indoor air quality, and regulatory compliance. Although holographic gas sensors have been widely investigated, most operate in reflection mode as qualitative visual indicators, with limited quantitative evaluation of sensing mechanisms and scarce systematic demonstrations of repeatable multi-cycle validation for VOCs at ppm concentrations. A physics-based optimisation framework for transmission-mode holographic gas sensors which can bridge this gap has remained largely undeveloped.

This thesis presents the development and optimisation of real-time transmission-mode volume phase transmission holographic grating (VPTHG) sensors for ppm-level VOC detection. A comprehensive theoretical …

Evidence For A Spectral Break Or Curvature In The Spectrum Of Astrophysical Neutrinos From 5 Tev To 10 Pev, Karen Andeen

Physics Faculty Research and Publications

We report improved measurements of the all flavor astrophysical neutrino spectrum with IceCube by combining complementary neutrino samples in two independent analyses. Both analyses show evidence of a harder spectrum at energies below  ∼30  TeV compared to higher energies where the spectrum is well characterized by a power law. The spectrum is better described by a log parabola or a broken power law, the latter being the preferred model. Both, however, reject a single power law over an energy range 5 TeV–10 PeV with a significance  >4⁢𝜎, providing new constraints on properties of cosmic neutrino sources.