Physics Commons^™

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Characterization For The Study Of Beyond Lithium-Ion Battery Electrolytes, Allen Zheng

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

To achieve a sustainable future, key issues in the energy and construction sectors such as the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources and recycling of waste construction materials must be addressed. While fossil fuels offer a high energy density source of quick, consistent energy, renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric offer intermittent energy output, requiring energy storage systems to maintain steady energy availability for consumers. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are widely used in consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and grid storage due to their high energy density, low self-discharge, and rechargeability. However, they are limited by high …

Spin State Of Positronium In Two Dimensions, Emille Bryant

Theses and Dissertations

We investigate the spin state of the electron-positron system positronium to determine experimental criteria that can identify a positronium anyon. Anyons have been posited to be the basis for a truly fault-tolerant quantum computer, but they have not been indisputably observed in experimental systems. Through the analysis of the fully relativistic symmetry group of fermions and bosons in three dimensions, we investigate the symmetry of its subgroups to determine that positronium in two dimensions behaves as a scalar with respect to rotations. We conclude that positronium in two dimensions has an arbitrary relative spin orientation of annihilation photons and only …

Synthesis And Properties Study Of Layered Magnetic Topological Materials, Gokul Acharya

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The discovery of topological materials (TMs) has opened up exciting opportunities for probing fundamental physics and enhancing innovative device integrations. These materials display various exotic properties, such as large magnetoresistance, high mobility, chiral anomaly, and surface Fermi arcs. The magnetic versions of ZrSiS family, LnSbTe and LnPS (Ln = lanthanide) have attracted intensive attention as these materials provide a new platform to study interplay between magnetism, topological states, and electron correlations. The vast pool of topological materials has provided exciting avenues to precisely engineer the topological states by modulating spin-orbital coupling, electronic dimensionality, and lattice constant through element substitutions. This …

Low-Cost Cutaneous Protoporphyrin Ix (Ppix) Detection (Cpd) Device For Follow-Up Monitoring Of Patients After Photodynamic Therapy, Md Asaduzzaman Rasel

Graduate Masters Theses

Background: Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) utilizes specific wavelengths of light to activate photosensitizing chemical compounds, known as photosensitizers, which induce the generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) for the targeted destruction of cancer cells. Among various photosensitizers for PDT, Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is widely employed in oncology and dermatology due to its natural in situ generation via the metabolic conversion of 5- aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a non-phototoxic prodrug. Systemic administration of ALA after 3-6 hr drug delay leads to peak PpIX accumulation in tissues, facilitating therapeutic and diagnostic applications. However, PpIX can persist in the skin for 24–48 hours post-treatment, …

Design And Development Of A Standalone Digital Holographic Microscope Employing Phase-Driven Reconstruction And Classification For Biomedical Imaging And Optical Diagnostics, Charlotte Kyeremah

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Access to advanced biomedical imaging technologies remains a significant challenge in resource-limited settings, especially for early disease detection and monitoring of diseases such as malaria, HIV, and other blood-borne diseases. Although point-of-care (POC) devices have gained popularity in global health, many rely on antibody-based tests, lateral flow strips, or optical readouts that often lack quantitative capabilities, sensitivity to early infections, or versatility in different diagnostic targets. In addition, these systems are typically dependent on disposable reagents or manual interpretation, which limits their effectiveness in remote areas. Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM) presents a promising alternative as a label-free imaging method capable …

Sociohydrodynamics: Data-Driven Modeling Of Social Behavior, Daniel S. Seara, Jonathan Colen, Michel Fruchart, Yael Avni, David G. Martin, Vincenzo Vitelli

Data Science Faculty Publications

Living systems display complex behaviors driven by physical forces as well as decision-making. Hydrodynamic theories hold promise for simplified universal descriptions of socially generated collective behaviors. However, the construction of such theories is often divorced from the data they should describe. Here, we develop and apply a data-driven pipeline that links micromotives to macrobehavior by augmenting hydrodynamics with individual preferences that guide motion. We illustrate this pipeline on a case study of residential dynamics in the United States, for which census and sociological data are available. Guided by Census data, sociological surveys, and neural network analysis, we systematically assess standard …

Symmetrically Threaded Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices As Next-Generation Kerr-Cat Qubits, Bibek Bhandari, Irwin Huang, Ahmed Hajr, Kagan Yanik, Bingcheng Qing, Ke Wang, David I. Santiago, Justin Dressel, Irfan Siddiqi, Andrew N. Jordan

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Kerr-cat qubits are bosonic qubits offering autonomous bit-flip protection, traditionally studied using driven superconducting nonlinear asymmetric inductive element (SNAIL) oscillators. Here, we theoretically explore an alternative circuit for Kerr-cat qubits based on symmetrically threaded superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). The symmetrically threaded SQUID (STS) architecture employs a simplified flux-pumped design that suppresses two-photon dissipation, a dominant loss mechanism in high-Kerr regimes, by engineering the drive Hamiltonian’s flux operator to generate only even-order harmonics. By fulfilling two critical criteria for practical Kerr-cat qubit operation, the STS emerges as an ideal platform: (1) a static Hamiltonian with diluted Kerr nonlinearity (achieved via …

Spectrum Analysis Of Thermally Driven Curvature Inversion In Strained Graphene Ripples For Energy Conversion Applications Via Molecular Dynamics, James M. Mangum, Md R. Kabir, Tamzeed B. Amin, Syed M. Rahman, Ashaduzzaman, Paul M. Thibado

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

The extraordinary mechanical flexibility, high electrical conductivity, and nanoscale instability of freestanding graphene make it an excellent candidate for vibration energy harvesting. When freestanding graphene is stretched taut and subject to external forces, it will vibrate like a drum head. Its vibrations occur at a fundamental frequency along with higher-order harmonics. Alternatively, when freestanding graphene is compressed, it will arch slightly out of the plane or buckle under the load. Remaining flat under compression would be energetically too costly compared to simple bond rotations. Buckling up or down, also known as ripple formation, naturally creates a bistable situation. When the …

Gravitational Torques From Lopsided Young Stellar Component Sustain High Black Hole Accretion Rates In Ngc 4593, N. Winkel, K. Jahnke, J. A. Fernández-Ontiveros, T. A. Davis, F. Combes, M. Gaspari, J. Neumann, M. Singha, J. S. Elford, Vardha N. Bennert, M. A. Malkan

Physics

Context. Supermassive black holes (SMBHs) grow primarily through gas accretion, observed as active galactic nuclei (AGNs). While mergers can drive luminous AGN episodes, secular processes may fuel a substantial portion of cosmic black hole growth. Whether these mechanisms can sustain high black hole accretion rates remains uncertain.

Aims. The aim of this study is to identify the secular mechanism driving high SMBH accretion rates, by targeting a galaxy with a moderately massive SMBH, high central gas densities, accretion rates of a few percent of the Eddington limit, and gas kinematics resolved close to black-hole-dominated scales.

Methods. A blind search led …

Computational Detection Of Articulation Transients In Clarinet Performance, Whitney L. Coyle, Max Griffin, Makayle S. Kellison

Faculty Publications

Accurate measurement of note-to-note transitions is essential for analyzing articulation in clarinet performance. Traditional methods rely on either subjective amplitude thresholds—such as the time between 5% and 95% RMS levels—or direct measurement of tongue-reed contact time using reed-mounted sensors. These approaches are limited by their dependence on user-defined parameters or invasive hardware. This study proposes a computational alternative: ΔT, a curvature-based metric defined as the time interval between surrounding minima in the second derivative of the mouthpiece pressure envelope. Using data from a sensor-equipped mouthpiece (SEM), we compare ΔT to both threshold-based timing (T_t) …

The Core-Collapse Supernovae Particle Physics Interactions, Skylar G. Butler

Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal

This study investigates the role of specific particle physics interactions in simulations of core collapse supernovae, with a focus on understanding how varying levels of inclusion impact the accuracy of gravitational wave predictions and results of simulations. Different research groups often approach these simulations with varying degrees of complexity, cutting corners by omitting certain reactions or simplifying others. This project systematically evaluates the implications of these choices, comparing the particle physics interactions included, the dimensionality of the simulations, and the governing equations used. Our goal is to identify how these factors influence the precision of numerical simulations. By providing a …

Entanglement-Assisted Metrology Under Spatiotemporally Correlated Quantum Noise, Francisco U. Riberi

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Quantum sensors operating at the microscale are an emerging branch of quantum technologies where tangible experimental successes have already been reported. State-of-the-art atomic interferometers allow to measure and estimate a variety of physical parameters with unprecedented precision. In principle, exploiting the full power of quantum mechanics would lead to quantitatively better performance bounds over the best possible classical strategies under the same given set of resource constraints. However, the quantum systems' fragility to external disturbances has so far hindered most of these gains to be reached in practice, particularly in the limit of large probe number $N$. Parallel, {\em purely …

Quantum Error Correction: Studying Correlated Errors On Surface Codes, Reu/Fri Program Physics And Astronomy, Pritesh Thakur

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Quantum Ai To Factor Intergers Midterm Presentation, Reu/Fri Program Physics And Astronomy, Kai Sandberg

Student Works

No abstract provided.

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

Student Works

No abstract provided.

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …