Mesoscopic Scaling Of Microwave Transmittance And Disorder-Induced Alignment, Israel Kurtz

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This thesis presents microwave measurements and numerical simulations of wave propagation and transmission through random mesoscopic waveguides. We analyze the scaling of mesoscopic microwave conductance, including departures from Ohm’s law near channel openings, which are frequencies at which new propagating modes enter the system, and the evolution of modal phase alignment within the medium, which leads to the observed diversity of transmission eigenvalues. We extend the transmission matrix formalism to all sample depths using the flux matrix, which relates the flux amplitude within the sample to the incident flux, and decompose the flux at each sample depth into forward- and …

Challenges In Developing Physical Intuition In College General Physics Courses, Vasiliy S. Znamenskiy, Rafael Niyazov

Open Educational Resources

Many students can memorize formulas but struggle to feel what a newton, joule, or volt means; they treat formulas as plug-and-chug templates rather than descriptions of relationships among physical quantities. This presentation introduces three types of learning activities: (1) text-free (“no-text”) problems, in which carefully designed visuals replace prose to convey relationships and constraints; (2) anti-problems, which begin with a mathematical expression and ask students to imagine a physical situation it could describe; and (3) lab games that turn routine measurement into purposeful play, emphasizing estimation, scaling, and unit sense. We provide ready-made, Brightspace-compatible assessments alongside low-tech implementation options. The …

R12 Equivalent Resistance Reduction Steps, Vasiliy S. Znamenskiy, Rafael Niyazov

Open Educational Resources

We present a concise, step-by-step reduction of a symmetric resistor network to its equivalent resistance 𝑅₁₂, emphasizing visual reasoning over algebraic brute force. By redrawing the circuit to expose symmetry, we identify equipotential node pairs joined by ideal conductors; the “bottom” bridging resistor is shown to carry zero current and is removed from consideration. The remaining topology reduces by two repeated series combinations, where each left/right pair of equal resistors collapses to 2R. The final network is a three-branch parallel combination (2𝑅∥𝑅∥2𝑅), yielding the closed-form result 𝑅₁₂=𝑅/2. The procedure illustrates three transferable techniques for introductory circuit …

Citytech Algebra Based Physics Exam1 (Brightspace Quiz), Vasiliy S. Znamenskiy, Rafael Niyazov

Open Educational Resources

This Brightspace-based Exam 1 assesses foundational concepts in algebra-based physics through short, auto-graded items designed to provide clear feedback. The exam targets core learning outcomes from the opening units of the course: measurement and unit analysis, significant figures, one-dimensional kinematics with constant acceleration (relationships among 𝑥, 𝑣, 𝑎, 𝑡), and basic problem-solving with proportional reasoning. Question formats include numerical entry multiple choice focused on common misconceptions, and brief conceptual prompts that test qualitative understanding before calculation. The item set emphasizes translating among verbal descriptions, diagrams, formulas, and graphs; checking the reasonableness of results; and communicating precision. Randomized parameters and pooled …

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 …

Scp 231 Dictionary + Example Problems [General Physics 1], Daniel Capic

Open Educational Resources

Student-written definitions of key physics concepts that appear in SCP 231. There are also student-written word problems with links to instructor-created video solutions.

Structural, Electronic And Magnetic Properties Of Vanadium Doped Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (Tmds), Qudsia Ashraf

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Magnetic semiconductors are a prerequisite for spintronic devices but their ferromagnetism disappears at room-temperature hindering application in room temperature electronic devices. Enormous research has been conducted on the room-temperature ferromagnetic order in monolayer form of bulk van der Waals materials but the few layer system has not been extensively explored.

Doping is an effective approach to modulate the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of two-dimensional (2D) Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and expand their application. The effect of vanadium dopant on structural, electronic and magnetic properties of Tungsten Diselenide (WSe₂) was studied by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Atomic Force …

Physics 100 Level Laboratory Data Collection Tables, Kalani Hettiarachchilage

Open Educational Resources

The physics 100-level laboratory part demonstrates and applies the material learned from related classes. This document shows guidelines for collecting data and analyzing them by using Microsoft Excel. Laboratory components of PHY 114/ PHY 206/SLS 261 (Introduction to Physics and Nature of Physical Processes), PHY116/PHY 121 (Physics I and General Physics I), and PHY 156/PHY 161 (Physics II and General Physics II) at College of Staten Island are in-person mandatory sessions for students and it is required to pass to receive a passing grade for that class. This part is taught by different instructors. Although everyone is supposed to follow …

Enhance Students’ Learning Outcomes By Redesigning Individual Learning Activities Into Group Activities For Introductory Level Physics Courses, Kalani Hettiarachchilage, Neel Haldolaarachchige

Publications and Research

The evolution of science education is a dynamic process driven by advances in pedagogy, technology, and especially, our understanding of how students learn. Educators are exploring innovative teaching and learning methodologies such as active learning, incorporated technology, interdisciplinary approaches, flipped classrooms, personalized teaching, and many more. The goal of all these evolving methodologies is to empower students with not only a strong foundation in scientific knowledge but also with the skills and mindset required to thrive in the future world. By adopting these innovative approaches, educators can help students become effective problem solvers, critical thinkers, and life-learning citizens. Our focus …

Momentech - Modern Explorations Of The Impulse-Momentum Theorem, Todd Gelbord

Publications and Research

Herein we outline the design and construction of an instructional laboratory demonstration of the conservation of linear momentum, by way of the Impulse-Momentum Theorem, utilizing small, commercially available accelerometers attached to microcontrollers. The set-up is equipped with small, OLED screens which are able to display real-time acceleration graphs. Furthermore, a template for an experiment involving this set-up is provided. We also explore various data analysis options for different levels of student sophistication.

Physics Ii, Kalani Hettiarachchilage

Open Educational Resources

Physics II, class code PHY 156 at College of Staten Island is the second part of two two-semester algebra-based introductory physics courses. This course overlaps of the following topics laws of electricity, magnetism, optics, and modern physics. The important laws of physics in these areas and problem-solving are emphasized. Problem solving is an integral part of the course, all contents are designed to think critically, analytically, and logically. Conceptual understanding is reinforced using interactive computer-based techniques, demonstrations, problem-solving strategies, and laboratory experiences. In this document, all the class materials including lectures, worksheets, homework, group work assignments, quizzes, and conceptual Slido …

Physics I, Kalani Hettiarachchilage

Open Educational Resources

Physics I, class code PHY 116 at College of Staten Island is the first part of a two-semester algebra-based introductory physics course. This course overlaps many topics in the laws of classical mechanics, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, wave motion, and sound. The important laws of physics in these areas and problem-solving are emphasized. Problem solving is an integral part of the course, all contents are designed to think critically, analytically, and logically. Conceptual understanding is reinforced using interactive computer-based techniques, demonstrations, problem-solving strategies, and laboratory experiences. In this document, all the class materials including lectures, worksheets, homework and group work assignments, …

Creative Physics Syllabus For Online Class, Kalani Hettiarachchilage

Open Educational Resources

Creative Physics syllabus for all information and guidelines will be a big help for students to know about the class structure, expectations, submission, personalized class materials, class ethics, and requirements in one place. This detailed syllabus will be a very effective way of expressing the information to the class. Creating a detailed syllabus and engaging activity of in the learning management system such as syllabus review activity will help students to navigate through important items on the syllabus.

Introduction To Physics, Kalani Hetti

Open Educational Resources

Introduction to physics, class code PHY 114 at college of Staten Island covers general physics concepts by using very simple algebraic calculations. Topics may include scientific measurements, significant figures, estimation, units, linear and rotational motion, vectors, forces, energy, momentum, collision, impulse, projectile motion, circular motion, thermodynamics, oscillating waves, electricity and magnetism, properties of lights, reflection, refraction, atomic nuclei, and radioactivity. This course is designed to teach general concepts and laws of physics to everyday life enforcing student’s critical thinking, logical patterns, organization, and everyday life applications. In this document, all the class materials including lectures, worksheets, homework assignments, quizzes, and …

Characterization Of Boreal-Arctic Vegetation Growth Phases And Active Soil Layer Dynamics In The High-Latitudes Of North America: A Study Combining Multi-Year In Situ And Satellite-Based Observations, Michael G. Brown

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation examined the seasonal freeze/thaw activity in boreal-Arctic soils and vegetation physiology in Alaska, USA and Alberta, Canada, using in situ environmental measurements and passive microwave satellite observations. The boreal-Arctic high-latitudes have been experiencing ecosystem changes more rapidly in comparison to the rest of Earth due to the presently warming climatic conditions having a magnified effect over Polar Regions. Currently, the boreal-Arctic is a carbon sink; however, recent studies indicate a shift over the next century to become a carbon source. High-latitude vegetation and cold soil dynamics are influenced by climatic shifts and are largely responsible for the regions …

A Quantum Approach To Language Modeling, Constantijn Van Der Poel

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation consists of six chapters. . . Chapter 1: We introduce language modeling, outline the software used for this thesis, and discuss related work. Chapter 2: We will unpack the transition from classical to quantum probabilities, as well as motivate their use in building a model to understand language-like datasets. Chapter 3: We motivate the Motzkin dataset, the models we will be investigating, as well as the necessary algorithms to do calculations with them. Chapter 4: We investigate our models’ sensitivity to various hyperparameters. Chapter 5: We compare the performance and robustness of the models. Chapter 6: We conclude …

Beam-Based Target Alignment For Mu2e, Helenka Casler

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The Mu2e Experiment is a precision experiment at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, searching for charged lepton flavor violation (CLFV) in the conversion of a muon to an electron in the presence of an atomic nucleus. In order to achieve the expected single-event sensitivity of 3 × 10^-17 , Mu2e will require an intense muon beam, generated via pion decay. These pions are the product of a proton beam striking a radiatively-cooled tungsten target. In order to maximize pion production and prevent target failure, the beam will have to be aligned with the target center to within 0.5 mm. The …

Nmr Characterization Of Novel Materials For Battery Electrolyte Applications, Sahana Bhattacharyya

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The extensive application of renewable and non-renewable energy storage devices in commercial products and services and the global warming have created significant motivations to accelerate research in battery technology. In addition, the risk factors generated by the high heat generation and flammability of the batteries are being addressed by inventing new renewable or non-renewable energy resources that do not release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This thesis discusses the applications of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy in characterizing and understanding novel battery materials as potential battery electrolytes. Works discussed include: the variable temperature characterization of water-based solid polymer electrolyte for …

Topological Shadow Of Higher-Order Topological Phases And Non-Hermitian Phases Protected By Generalized Rotational Symmetry, Kai Chen

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Topological phenomena in condensed matter physics have been investigated intensively in the past decades since the discovery of the integer quantum Hall effect (IQHE). For the IQHE, the energy band can be characterized by its topological invariants (Chern number or TKNN invariant), which relates to the quantized Hall conductance directly. Later, this expression was recognized as the first Chern class of a U(1) principal fiber bundle on a torus, where the fibers and torus correspond respectively to the magnetic Bloch waves and the magnetic Brillouin zone. And then, the discoveries of time-reversal symmetric topological insulators in two and three dimensions …

Superfluid Swimmers, German Kolmakov, Igor S. Aranson

Publications and Research

The propulsion of living microorganisms ultimately relies on viscous drag for body-fluid interactions. The self-locomotion in superfluids such as ⁴He is deemed impossible due to the apparent lack of viscous resistance. Here, we investigate the self-propulsion of a Janus (two-face) light-absorbing particle suspended in superfluid helium ⁴He (He-II). The particle is energized by the heat flux due to the absorption of light from an external source. We show that a quantum mechanical propulsion force originates due to the transformation of the superfluid to a normal fluid on the heated particle face. The theoretical analysis is supported by the …

Density Functional Theory Study Of Two-Dimensional Boron Nitride Films, Pradip R. Niraula

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Since graphene was isolated in 2004, the number of two-dimensional (2D) materials and their scientific relevance have grown exponentially. Besides graphene, one of the most important and technolocially promizing 2D materials that has emerged in recent years is hexagonal boron nitride, in its monolayer or multilayer form. In my thesis work, I used density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate the properties of boron nitride films. In particular, I first studied the properties (i.e. formation energy, defect states, and structure) of point charged defects in monolayer and bilayer hexagonal boron nitride, and subsequently, I focused on the linear and nonlinear …

Planck's And Callendar's Blackbody Radiation Formulas And Their Fitness To Experimental Data, Max Tran

Publications and Research

In this paper, we compare the blackbody radiation density formula obtained with classical physics by Hugh L Callendar and the formula obtained by Max Planck using quantization of energy. We use R and Maxima to analyze their fitness on coordinating experimental data and indicate some limitations with experiments in this area.

Sequential Discrimination Between Non-Orthogonal Quantum States, Dov L. Fields

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The problem of discriminating between non-orthogonal states is one that has generated a lot of interest. This basic formalism is useful in many areas of quantum information. It serves as a fundamental basis for many quantum key distribution schemes, it functions as an integral part of other quantum algorithms, and it is useful in experimental settings where orthogonal states are not always possible to generate. Additionally, the discrimination problem reveals important fundamental properties, and is intrinsically related to entanglement. In this thesis, the focus is on exploring the problem of sequentially discriminating between non-orthogonal states. In the simplest version these …

Topological Insulating States In Photonics And Acoustics, Xiang Ni

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Recent surge of interest in topological insulators, insulating in their interior but conducting at the surfaces or interfaces of different domains, has led to the discovery of a variety of new topological states, and their topological invariants are characterized by numerous approaches in the category of topological band theory. The common features shared by topological insulators include, the topological phase transition occurs if the bulk bandgap is formed due to the symmetries reduction, the topological invariants exist characterizing the global properties of the material and inherently robust to disorder and continuous perturbations irrespective of the local details. Most importantly, these …

Characterization Of Hydrophobic Interactions Of Polymers With Water And Phospholipid Membranes Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Mihaela Drenscko

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Polymers and lipid membranes are both essential soft materials. The structure and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of polymers, as well as the solvent they are embedded in, ultimately determines their size and shape. Understating the variation of shape of the polymer as well as its interactions with model biological membranes can assist in understanding the biocompatibility of the polymer itself. Computer simulations, in particular molecular dynamics, can aid in characterization of the interaction of polymers with solvent, as well as polymers with model membranes. In this thesis, molecular dynamics serve to describe polymer interactions with a solvent (water) and with a lipid membrane. …

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies Of Electrode And Electrolyte Materials For Li-Ion Batteries, Lisa Cirrincione

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In this thesis, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopic techniques are used to study lithium electrode and electrolyte materials for advanced rechargeable lithium ion batteries. Three projects are described in this thesis. The first involves ²³Na and ³⁷Al static and magic angle spinning NMR studies of NaAlH₄/C anode materials for advanced rechargeable batteries. The second project is a study of paramagnetic lithium transition-metal phosphate cathode materials for Li-ion batteries, where ⁷Li, and ³¹P single crystal NMR was used in order to obtain detailed information on the local electronic and magnetic environments. The third project investigates …

Photonic Crystals With Alternate Arrays Of Rods And Holes In A Low Dielectric-Index Material, Dimitar L. Dimitrov

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This thesis theoretically deals with the propagation of electromagnetic waves (light beams) in periodically modulated dielectric material structures based on Maxwell’s equations. We are interested in novel light propagation characteristics in these man-made dielectric material structures for practical applications, especially on optical communications and computations. Since the wavelength range of light is on the same order of magnitude as the modulation periods of dielectric materials, an analogy of the light propagation in dielectric-constant modulated structures with the electron transport in solid-state crystals is used throughout my thesis by using a term “photonic crystals (PhCs)” referring to these dielectric structures. I …

Novel Electrolytes For Use In New And Improved Batteries: An Nmr Study, Marc B. Berman

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This thesis focuses on the use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in order to study materials for use as electrolytes in batteries. The details of four projects are described in this thesis as well as a brief theoretical background of NMR. Structural and dynamics properties were determined using several NMR techniques such as static, MAS, PFG diffusion, and relaxation to understand microscopic and macroscopic properties of the materials described within. Nuclei investigate were 1H, 2H, 7Li, 13C, 19F, 23Na, and 27Al. The first project focuses on an exciting new material to be used as a solid electrolyte membrane. T. …

Quantum Crystallography Of Hydronium Cations, Sonjae Sycoria Wallace

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Cationic hydronium clusters of the form [HaOb]^c,(c>0), have been investigated. After investigating over 2000 crystal structures containing hydronium cations found in the Cambridge Structural Database. The hydronium cationic compounds that were most unusual, mischaracterized, or those of apparent aggregates, were investigated further by geometry optimization and in some cases with the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM). The results of our investigations yielded the first reports of stable conformations of cyclic dihydronium cationic clusters. In a second investigation we reported the first theoretically confirmed transition state of a H7O3+conformer captured within a crystal. A third product from our …

Looking For Cosmic Neutrino Background, Chiaki Yanagisawa

Publications and Research

Since the discovery of neutrino oscillation in atmospheric neutrinos by the Super-Kamiokande experiment in 1998, study of neutrinos has been one of exciting fields in high-energy physics. All the mixing angles were measured. Quests for (1) measurements of the remaining parameters, the lightest neutrino mass, the CP violating phase(s), and the sign of mass splitting between the mass eigenstates m₃ and m₁, and (2) better measurements to determine whether the mixing angle θ₂₃ is less than π/4, are in progress in a well-controlled manner. Determining the nature of neutrinos, whether they are Dirac or Majorana particles …