Other Physics Commons^™

Entropic Dynamics Approach To The Classical Limit Of Quantum Mechanics: Decoupling Of The Center Of Mass Motion For A Mesoscopic Particle, Fatimah Judayba

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

In the Entropic Dynamics (ED) approach, quantum mechanics is derived from the principles of entropic inference and information geometry. The ED approach differs from other interpretations by making a clear commitment to distinguishing which variables are ontic (real) and which are epistemic. The classical limit for the center of mass (CM) coordinate is achieved for a large number of particles, M →∞, while Planck’s constant ℏ remains finite. Typically, the emergence of the classical limit requires decoherence through interactions with the external environment. In this work, we investigate whether the classical behavior of the CM coordinate in a mesoscopic system …

A Stability Analysis Of The Phase-Lock Equations, Brian M. Sunguza

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ginzburg and Landau have provided a set of equations that relate superconductivity to magnetic fields. Through a transformation process, Zhan has derived what are now called the phase-lock equations. A stability analysis of the spatially-independent phase-lock equations is the purpose of this presentation. This simplification is significant since it allowed for the analytical determination of equilibria, their stability, and the influence of a periodic forcing function. Through the use of an original code, numerical simulations are shown to corroborate the analytical results described above.

This analysis includes novel Lyapunov functions that allowed for the analytical determination of the instability region. …

A New Avenue For Higgs Boson Self-Coupling Measurements: Combined Searches For Higgs Pairs In Multilepton Final States With The Atlas Experiment, Reagan E. Thornberry

Physics Theses and Dissertations

The Higgs boson self-coupling (λ) is a fundamental parameter of the Standard Model that sets the shape of the Higgs potential and probes the mechanism of electroweak symmetry breaking. This coupling can be directly measured through Higgs boson pair production (HH), which has a predicted production rate roughly 1000 times smaller than single-Higgs production at the LHC.

A combined search for non-resonant Higgs boson pair production in final states with multiple light leptons (e,µ), hadronically decaying τ leptons, and photons is presented, using 140 fb−1 of 13 TeV proton-proton collision data collected by the ATLAS detector during Run 2 of …

Using Feynman's Technique To Evaluate Non-Elementary Integrals Used In Physics, Dominick Dingus, Christopher Wengert, Madouna Barsoum

Student Scholar Symposium

In numerous physical applications, such as those in the fields of optics and thermodynamics, the quantitative description of various phenomena requires evaluating certain definite integrals whose antiderivatives cannot be expressed using elementary functions. As a result, these integrals are typically evaluated numerically using a suitable program. However, it is possible to evaluate some of these types of integrals using a strategy known as Feynman’s Technique, an approach named after Richard Feynman, the American physicist who popularized the method during the mid-20th century. This project aims to highlight the usage of Feynman’s Technique for evaluating some of these integrals while applying …

Assessing The Electrical Efficiency Of The Thompson Coil, Christopher Wengert, Dominick Dingus, Madouna Barsoum, Jacqueline Ceballos, Michael Ent, Jackson Stephens

Student Scholar Symposium

The Thompson Coil is a well-known system used in undergraduate electromagnetism courses to demonstrate electromagnetic induction. Traditionally, the system employs a “jumping ring” to visualize induced currents. This project seeks to repurpose this phenomenon for practical energy transfer by replacing the jumping ring with a wire coil, allowing the measurement of the power delivered to an electric load. Using Faraday’s Law of Induction, 𝜖 = −𝑑Φ𝐵 /𝑑𝑡 , where Φ𝐵 represents the magnetic flux, the induced electromotive force (EMF) in the receiving coil is determined. Finally, the system’s power transfer efficiency is evaluated using the formula 𝜂 =𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑡/ 𝑃𝑖𝑛 ×100% …

Towards Spatial Inversion Of Aerial Gamma-Ray Survey Data For Measurement Of Naturally Occurring Radioactivity, Daniel A. Haber

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Aerial gamma-ray surveying (AGRS) is used in geologic and environmental contexts to provide data on the surface spatial distribution of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) or other gamma-ray-emitting isotopes. The standard data reduction workflow for AGRS data involves a process whereby pointwise gamma-ray spectral data are denoised, corrected for numerous sources of background radiation and aircraft height, and are finally converted to physical values by empirical conversion factors. The reduced pointwise data are then typically spatially interpolated to form a continuous surface map.

This dissertation introduces and explores a novel spatial inversion method for reduced AGRS data that considers aircraft …

First-Principles Insights Into Binary Oxide Systems Under Extreme Pressure, Daniel Schacher

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Pressure is powerful tool by which one can manipulate the properties of materials. In this work we utilize pressure to explore binary oxide systems and characterize their structural and electronic properties. The observation of anomalous structural and electronic behavior in the rutile to CaCl2 phase transition in SnO2 led to the prediction that such behavior is inherent to all oxides experiencing such a phase transition sequence.[1] Here, the ultra-wide band gap semiconductor GeO2 is confirmed to exhibit anomalous behavior during the rutile to CaCl2 phase transition. A phase pure rutile GeO2 sample synthesized under high-pressure, high-temperature, conditions is probed using …

Improving The Electrochemical Properties Of Mno2 By Doping With Fe For Water Splitting And Supercapacitor Application, Joseph Okwe

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

An Abstract of the Thesis by

Joseph Okwe

These days when the issue of energy is talked about, it is usually more than just the usefulness of different types of energy. This topic now encompasses ways of generating and storing energy in the most efficient and sustainable way. For this reason, various research has shown that materials that are fabricated for the purpose of energy storage and conversion also find applications in other areas such as water splitting and supercapacitors. And so certain materials, when synthesized, can serve more than one purpose in either generating or storing energy. This project …

Unsaturated Fatty Acid Oil-Based Microdroplets: A Promising Novel Class Of Microdroplets, Ramiz S. Alejilat

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Droplet-based microfluidics has rapidly advanced numerous fields, including chemistry, biology, materials science, medicine, food science, and cosmetics. In these systems, fluorocarbon oil combined with fluorinated surfactants is the preferred medium for fluid encapsulation, offering exceptional stability and biocompatibility essential for sensitive biological and chemical processes. However, growing concerns about the environmental and biological risks associated with fluorinated chemicals have prompted a search for alternatives.

This study is the first to explore the use of unsaturated fatty acids derived from emu oil for microdroplet formation. We characterized droplet formation based on flow rates and the presence non-fluorinated surfactant at a certain …

Fish-Spec: Fast Identification System For Handheld Spectroscopy And Species Classification, Mitchell Sueker, Nicholas Mackinnon, Gregory Bearman, Amanda Tabb, Diane Kim, Rosalee S. Hellberg, Alireza Akhbardeh, Hamid Reza Marateb, Jianwei Qin, Moon Kim, Fartash Vasefi, Hossein Kashani Zadeh

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Accurate fish species identification is critical to prevent mislabeling and fraud in the seafood industry. We present a handheld multi-mode point spectroscopy system that combines fluorescence (365 and 395 nm excitation) and reflectance measurements in the visible to near-infrared (∼350–900 nm) and short-wave infrared (∼900–1700 nm) regions for rapid, non-destructive classification of fish fillets. Tissue spectra were acquired at 25 positions on 68 fillets from 11 species, in both frozen and thawed states. Feature-level fusion across all four modes enabled higher classification accuracy than any single mode alone. A global machine-learning model classified all species with 85 ± 2.8 %, …

Thermal Properties Of Novel Materials, Wilarachchige D.C. Bhagya Gunatilleke

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Thermal properties play an important role in various aspects of applications of technology startingfrom the materials property determinations to device performance improvements and their safety and stability. Measurements of the thermal properties of such materials of interest pose challenges due to the demands of these measurements for determination of intrinsic materials properties. The research included in this dissertation involved both synthesis of novel materials and their measurement of thermal properties. Solid-state materials synthesis involves various synthesis and processing techniques, while specific technological applications demand synthesis of defect-free single crystals. Such synthesis techniques were explored for the research included in this …

Practical Real-Time Permanent Magnet Energy Spectrometer Using A Diode Array For Therapeutic Electron Beam Tuning And Quality Assurance, Mason W. Heath

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Purpose: Develop a practical, real-time permanent magnet electron energy spectrometer and evaluate it for beam tuning and quality assurance (QA) of therapeutic electron beams.

Methods: Aim 1: A 0.55 T permanent magnet was coupled to Sun Nuclear SRS MapCHECK® PC boards, providing two interlaced diode arrays. Detector response, R_meas(z_diode) versus diode position z_diode, was extracted from raw diode array readings, correcting for diode sensitivity and other factors. Using Monte Carlo (MC) computed, monoenergetic detector response functions, a curve-fitting algorithm extracted the energy spectrum, from R_meas(z_diode). The energy spectra for 7-20 …

Active Galactic Nuclie In Diverse Galactic Environments, Divya A. Patel

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

We examine how the presence of active galactic nuclei (AGN) correlates with location in large-scale cosmic structures using the Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey across the G09, G12, and G15 fields. Our sample contains 18,927, 9,273, and 1,148 galaxies {with} highly dense filaments, moderately dense tendrils, and highly underdense voids, respectively. AGN galaxies were identified using Baldwin-Phillips-Telverich (BPT) diagnostic diagrams based on [NII], [SII], and [OI]. We compare AGN fractions in filament, tendril, and void regions, and as a function of distance from the nearest filament centerline. Our results reveal a mild excess in filament compared to void, when …

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 …

Beta Particles Impact On The Optical Properties Of Tio₂ Thin Films, Farah S. Dakhil, Hassan M.Jaber Al-Ta’Ii

Al-Bahir

TiO₂ is a semiconductor with a wide band gap and is utilized in various applications, including photovoltaics, solar cells, and photocatalysis. In this work, TiO₂ thin films were fabricated using the doctor blade technique and deposited onto glass substrates. The purpose of the study was to investigate how beta irradiation affected the optical properties of the TiO₂ films. The produced samples' absorbance and photon energy were the main subjects of the measurements. While the samples exposed to beta rays for 30, 60, and 90 minutes had direct band gaps of 3.87 eV, 3.75 eV, and 3.66 eV, …

Euler’S Original Derivation Of Elastica Equation, Shigeki Matsutani

Euleriana

Euler derived the differential equations of elastica by the variational method in 1744, but his original derivation has never been properly interpreted or explained in terms of modern mathematics. We elaborate Euler's original derivation of elastica and show that Euler used Noether's theorem concerning the translational symmetry of elastica, although Noether published her theorem in 1918. It is also shown that his equation is essentially the static modified KdV equation which is obtained by the isometric and isoenergy conditions, known as the Goldstein-Petrich scheme.

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 …

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

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

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