Other Physics Commons^™

Operation Characteristics And Bio Application Of An Atmospheric Dielectric Barrier Discharge., Chee Kin Lai

Student Works (2010-2019)

This research project involved the construction of a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system capable of producing low temperature plasma at atmospheric pressure. The DBD was characterized for the purpose of investigating the effectiveness of low temperature plasma for inactivation of bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, and Bacillus cereus. The discharge was ignited in the air gap between two parallel copper disc electrodes (3.8cm diameter each) where one of the electrodes was insulated by a dielectric barrier. Glass ( thickness = 2mm) and alumina ( thickness = 1.0mm) were used as the barrier. The DBD was powered by a …

Saturated Absorption For A Magneto-Optical Atom Trap As A Step Toward Atomic Dipole Traps In A Diffraction Pattern From A Circular Aperture, Andrew Ferdinand

Physics

Neutral atom quantum computing is a promising avenue toward the realization of a physical quantum computer. The diffraction pattern formed by laser light immediately behind a circular aperture can be used as optical atomic dipole traps, and has the potential to be scaled up to create a two dimensional array of individually addressable qubit sites. In working towards experimental demonstration of the dipole traps, we are constructing a MOT. The function of the MOT is to cool and trap ⁸⁷Rb in a localized cloud in our vacuum chamber, which will be used to load the dipole traps. One critical …

Analysis Of Flow Fields In A Flexible Tube With Periodic Constriction, Swati Mukhopadhyay, Prativa R. De, Mani S. Mandal, G. C. Layek

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

Numerical techniques based on pressure-velocity formulation have been adopted to solve approximately, the governing equations for viscous flows through a tube (simulating an artery) with a periodic constriction. The effect of the constriction as well as the rigid of the tube, on the flow characteristics, and its consequences for arterial disease is the focus of this investigation. The unsteady incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are solved by using the finite-difference technique in staggered grid distribution. The haemodynamic factors like wall shear stress, pressure and velocity are analyzed through their graphical representations. Maximum resistance is attained in case of rigid stenosed tube rather …

Multidimensional Inverse Boundary Value Problem For A System Of Hyperbolic Equations, M. A. Guliev, E. M. El-Hadidi

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

In the paper we investigate the solvability of the inverse multidimensional boundary value problem for the system of hyperbolic type equations. A method is proposed to reduce the considered problem to some non infinite system of differential equations. The proposed method allows one to prove the existence and uniqueness theorems for the multidimensional inverse boundary value problems in the class of the functions with bounded smoothness.

Symbolic Quantum Circuit Simplification In Sympy, Matthew Curry

Physics

In the field of quantum information science, one can design a series of quantum logic operations known as a circuit. Circuits are the basis for quantum computations in quantum computing. As circuits will most likely be designed from a logical standpoint, there could exist mathematical redundancies which will lead to a larger circuit than necessary. These redundancies are computationally expensive, and there is a need for them to be found and eliminated to simplify the circuit. We present our research on finding the rules for simplifying circuits and its implementation in SymPy.

Logistic Curves, Extraction Costs And The Effective Size Of Oil Resources, Robert J. Brecha

Physics Faculty Publications

The size of potential fossil fuel resources is an issue of perennial interest and controversy. Fundamentally, there appears to be a conflict in interpretation of available data for both past and future extraction histories. As fossil-fuel prices rose dramatically over the past several years, the question of resources once again became acute. In this paper we concentrate on conventional and non-conventional oil resources and make four main points, with the overarching theme that one can determine an effective oil resource that represents significantly less availability for consumption than usually posited by tallying resources in place.

First, looking at oil production …

Projected Pinhole Diffraction, David Moore

Physics

The goal of this experiment was to observe the effects of passing light through a pinhole, more specifically, to observe the interference and diffraction that occurs due to the pinhole and to successfully achieve CCD camera recording of a projected diffraction pattern from a pinhole. This experiment involved the diffraction of a laser incident upon a 100-mm diameter circular aperture. The diffraction pattern is then projected using a 100-mm focal length plano-convex lens. The lens allows for the pattern to be magnified and stretched a few focal lengths past the lens where it can be then viewed using a CCD …

Development Of A Cubesat Instrument For Microgravity Particle Damper Performance Analysis, John Trevor Abel

Master's Theses

Spacecraft pointing accuracy and structural longevity requirements often necessitate auxiliary vibration dissipation mechanisms.  However, temperature sensitivity and material degradation limit the effectiveness of traditional damping techniques in space.  Robust particle damping technology offers a potential solution, driving the need for microgravity characterization.   A 1U cubesat satellite presents a low cost, low risk platform for the acquisition of data needed for this evaluation, but severely restricts available mass, volume, power and bandwidth resources.  This paper details the development of an instrument subject to these constraints that is capable of capturing high resolution frequency response measurements of highly nonlinear particle damper dynamics.

Analysis Of Mueller Matrices Of Metamaterials And Multiferroics, Paul D. Rogers

Dissertations

The optical spectra of complex materials such as magnetic-dielectric media, magnetoelectric and multiferroic crystals, materials with intrinsic chirality, and metamaterials are studied. These media are important both for: (i) their interesting optical effects, such as Negative Index of Refraction (NIR) and impedance matching; and (ii) possible device applications such as switching devices and anti-reflection coatings. Proper characterization of complex materials requires advanced spectroscopic approaches and the development of theoretical models for data analysis. Berreman’s 4´4 matrix formalism is used to derive forward models for the optical spectra of Reflectivity, Transmission, Rotating Analyzer Ellipsometry (RAE), and Mueller Matrices (MM). The forward …

G-Factors For Ternary Crystals Of Groups Iii And V, Liviu Mateescu

Theses

The objective of this thesis is to present a method of calculating the g-factors of ternary crystals of III-V group elements.

There is an increasing interest in knowing the magnetic behavior of different semiconductor materials, due to advances in the domain of spintronics. The g-factors were calculated for the conduction electrons, since they have the greatest contribution to the magnetic properties of the crystal. The thesis presented here proposes a method to calculate the magnetic g-factor of whole families of crystals made of three elements, of the form A_1-xB_xC, for eleven values, x ε {0, 0.1, …

The Quantum Dialectic, Logan Kelley

Pitzer Senior Theses

A philosophic account of quantum physics. The thesis is divided into two parts. Part I is dedicated to laying the groundwork of quantum physics, and explaining some of the primary difficulties. Subjects of interest will include the principle of locality, the quantum uncertainty principle, and Einstein's criterion for reality. Quantum dilemmas discussed include the double-slit experiment, observations of spin and polarization, EPR, and Bell's theorem. The first part will argue that mathematical-physical descriptions of the world fall short of explaining the experimental observations of quantum phenomenon. The problem, as will be argued, is framework of the physical descriptive schema. Part …

Prioritizing Investment In Residential Energy Efficiency And Renewable Energy: A Case Study For The U.S. Midwest, Robert J. Brecha, Austin Mitchell, Kevin P. Hallinan, J. Kelly Kissock

Physics Faculty Publications

Residential building energy use is an important contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and in the United States represents about 20% of total energy consumption. A number of previous macro-scale studies of residential energy consumption and energy-efficiency improvements are mainly concerned with national or international aggregate potential savings. In this paper we look into the details of how a collection of specific homes in one region might reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, with particular attention given to some practical limits to what can be achieved by upgrading the existing residential building stock. Using a simple model of residential, single-family home …

Guateca: A Carbon Footprint Viability Analysis, Kyle Reynolds

Physics

This report seeks to analyze the carbon footprint of the Guateca summer school program in 2011 run by Dr. Pete Schwartz. Through use of the listed carbon footprints of various substances in a Materials Engineering database, the CO₂ emissions associated with various technologies and practices to be implemented by Guateca in the village of San Pablo, Guatemala are calculated and compared to estimated emissions of alternative standard practices that are currently in use or might be in the near future. The results are varied, and while many are heavily reliant on how well they can be implemented, most of …

Modification And Implementation Of The Rpc Heterogeneous Thorax Phantom For Verification Of Proton Therapy Treatment Procedures, Anthony Blatnica

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

The Radiological Physics Center (RPC) provides heterogeneous phantoms that are used to evaluate radiation treatment procedures as part of a comprehensive quality assurance program for institutions participating in clinical trials. It was hypothesized that the existing RPC heterogeneous thorax phantom can be modified to assess lung tumor proton beam therapy procedures involving patient simulation, treatment planning, and treatment delivery, and could confirm agreement between the measured dose and calculated dose within 5%/3mm with a reproducibility of 5%. The Hounsfield Units (HU) for lung equivalent materials (balsa wood and cork) was measured using a CT scanner. The relative linear stopping power …

Quantifying Harmony And Dissonance In Piano Intervals And Chords, Michael Blatnik

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

The level of dissonance in piano intervals and chords was quantified using both experimental and computational methods. Intervals and chords were played and recorded on both a Yamaha YPT-400 portable keyboard and a Steinway & Sons grand piano. The recordings were run through spectral analyses, and dissonance values were calculated using a dissonance equation. The result was a ranking of comparative dissonance levels between each chord and interval. Though the goal was to find a universal ranking of chords, it was instead determined that such a ranking cannot exist. The non-universal rankings revealed that the transition from least dissonant to …

Two-Photon-Excited Tryptophan Fluorescence Microscopy For Leukocytes And Cancer Cells Imaging, Jesus A. Valdez^, Chunqiang Li*

COURI Symposium Abstracts, Spring 2011

Cancer screening and early diagnosis is an important yet controversial issue due to the safety and practicality of methods used. Our objective is to study the efficiency of an in vivo two-photon microscope developed in our laboratories to monitor cell inflammation. First, leukocytes were separated by subpopulation.  The tryptophan fluorescence intensity level of each type of leukocyte was then quantified with two-photon microscopy, in their naïve and inflamed states, respectively. Finally the tryptophan fluorescence intensity of multiple myeloma cells was quantified and correlated to the resulting images. The cancerous tissue auto-fluorescence from NADH and FAD was also recorded as a …

Equations Of State Of A Strongly Interacting Dense Fermion System, Jason P. Keith^, Efrain J. Ferrer*

COURI Symposium Abstracts, Spring 2011

Our ultimate goal is to study the possibility of color superconductivity in neutron stars. Under the high densities that prevail within some neutron stars the quarks are liberated from the nucleons, and due to their strong interaction they can form di-quark pairs that act as Cooper pairs in a BCS phase. If the interaction between the quarks is stronger than it is for the Cooper pairs, which could be realized if the stars density is decreased, then the pairs can become Bose-Einstein condensates, with totally different characteristics. We investigate the equations of state in the two mentioned regimes of dense …

Sbs-Based Radar True Time Delay, Mark Bashkansky, David Walker, Armen Gulian, Michael Steiner

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) based slow light is considered for application to squint-free (true time delay) steering of phased array radar antennae. Results are presented on true time delay radar requirements, including delay precision and bandwidth. We experimentally investigated the level of delay precision that exists in actual slow-light systems (based on Brillouin scattering). The practical use of SBS to meet the necessary requirements for radar use is discussed.

Modeling Of Magnetic Field Driven Simultaneous Assembly, Rene David Rivero

Dissertations

The Magnetic Field Driven Simultaneous Assembly (MFDSA) is a method that offers a non-statistical and deterministic solution to the problem of assembly via batch processing; a hybrid of serial and parallel processing. The technique requires the use of electromagnets as well as soft and hard magnetic materials that are applied to devices and recesses respectively. The MFDSA approach offers the ability to check and correct errors in real-time and is capable of scalable, versatile, and high-yield integration.

Devices, coated with a layer of soft magnetic material, are moved from initial to final positions along predetermined pathways through the action of …

Radio-Derived Three-Dimensional Structure Of A Solar Active Region, Samuel D. Tun

Dissertations

Solar active regions are the source of the most violent events observed on the Sun, some of which have a direct impact to modern civilization. Efforts to understand and predict such events require determination of the three-dimensional distributions of density, temperature, and magnetic fields above such active regions. This thesis presents the structure of the solar atmosphere above active region AR 10923, observed on 2006 Nov 10, as deduced from multi-wavelength studies including combined microwave observations from the Very Large Array (VLA) and the Owens Valley Solar Array (OVSA). The VLA observations provide excellent image quality at a few widely …