Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Overcoming Controls And Noise Challenges For High Power Interferometric Gravitational-Wave Detectors, Elenna Capote

Dissertations - ALL

In August 2017, the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors made the first coincident detection of gravitational waves from a binary neutron star merger, GW170817. This multi-messenger detection, measured with both gravitational wave detectors and electromagnetic telescopes, emphasized the ability of ground-based gravitational-wave detectors to make exciting astrophysical discoveries that revolutionize understanding of the universe. In this new era of gravitational-wave astronomy, high detector sensitivity and reliable operation are required to enable more of these exciting detections. Ground-based gravitational-wave observatories are generally limited in sensitivity at low frequency by technical noise, at mid frequency by coating thermal noise, and at …

Defects And Deformation In Passive And Active Structural Glasses, Julia Ann Giannini

Dissertations - ALL

Glasses and disordered granular media represent a class of materials that are quite familiar to us, from the glass in windows and phone screens, to piles of fruits, grains, and sand. Further, living and active systems such as cellular tissues, collections of robots, and even human crowds behave as disordered solids when they are gathered at high enough densities. Despite their ubiquity, there are still many behaviors of these amorphous systems that lack a full understanding. Contrasting crystalline solids, the thermodynamic, vibrational, energetic, and mechanical properties of glasses are not well-characterized by solid state theory. In the case of active …

Entanglement With Neutral Atoms In The Simulation Of Nonequilibrium Dynamics Of One-Dimensional Spin Models, Anupam Mitra

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

Quantum entanglement is a key ingredient for quantum information processing with capabilities beyond that of classical computation. We study the generation and role of entanglement in the dynamics of spin-1/2 models, both for the design of quantum gates for general-purpose quantum computation and for quantum simulation of interacting spin models. We introduce the neutral atom Mølmer-Sørensen gate, involving rapid adiabatic Rydberg dressing interleaved in a spin-echo sequence. We show its robustness to quasi-static experimental imperfections and favorable scaling with the time-energy scales of Rydberg-mediated entanglement generation. In quantum simulation, we consider critical behavior in quench dynamics of transverse field Ising …

Removal Of Phenol From Oilfield Produced Water Using Non-Conventional Adsorbent Medium By An Eco-Friendly Approach, Salem Jawad Alhamd, Mohammed Nsaif Abbas, Hassan Jameel Jawad Al-Fatlawy, Thekra Atta Ibrahim, Zaid Nsaif Abbas

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Petroleum extraction generates substantial quantities of produced water, a challenge compounded by water scarcity in oil-producing regions, notably the Middle East. Leveraging produced water effectively, adhering to environmental standards, can offer a viable solution to the issue of water scarcity. This study explores the potential of mandarin peels as an available, cost-effective adsorbent for treating synthetic aqueous solution simulated to oil-field produced water, specifically targeting phenol, a dangerous pollutant. Employing a batch-mode adsorption unit, six operational factors—phenol concentration, acidity, agitation speed, contact time, adsorbent dose, and temperature—were investigated. Results revealed an inverse relationship between phenol removal and pH, concentration, and …

Motion History Images: A New Method For Tracking Microswimmers In 3d, Max Riekeles, Hadi Albalkhi, Megan Marie Dubay, Jay Nadeau, Christian A. Lindensmith

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Quantitative tracking of rapidly moving micron-scale objects remains an elusive challenge in microscopy due to low signal-to-noise. This paper describes a novel method for tracking micron-sized motile organisms in off-axis Digital Holographic Microscope (DHM) raw holograms and/or reconstructions. We begin by processing the microscopic images with the previously reported Holographic Examination for Life-like Motility (HELM) software, which provides a variety of tracking outputs including motion history images (MHIs). MHIs are stills of videos where the frame-to-frame changes are indicated with color time-coding. This exposes tracks of objects that are difficult to identify in individual frames at a low signal-to-noise ratio. …

Supercontinuum Generation With A Ti: Sapphire Laser And Photonic Crystal Fiber, Joseph Lange

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

A broad spectrum of visible light was produced by focusing the 50-fs, 800-nm, 5-nJ pulses from an unamplified Ti:sapphire laser into a 20-cm-long photonic crystal fiber. A prism pair was used to compensate for material dispersion of the system. Different focusing methods were investigated including beam telescopes and lenses of various focal lengths. A 3X beam expander telescope near the laser output and a 3-cm focal length achromatic lens after the prism pair were found to work best for coupling the light into the fiber which has a core diameter of 1.7 μm.

Development Of A Two-Photon Laser Scanning Microscope, Jess Hollenbaugh

Student Research Symposium

The objective of this project was to convert a Sarastro 2000 confocal laser scanning microscope into a system capable of imaging using two-photon excitation (TPE) fluorescence for the use of the PSU biology department. TPE microscopy operates on the ability of fluorophores to accept two photons each with half the energy of a desired transition in a single quantum event via a virtual energy state and then emit a higher energy photon upon relaxation. This is preferable to single-photon excitation (SPE) due to the lower energy photons causing less damage to delicate biological samples. The adaptation process included physically altering …

Reed Research Reactor Neutron Beam Characterization And Analysis, Vee Bartko, Jerry Newhouse

Student Research Symposium

Using neutron activation analysis of 99% pure gold foils, the authors characterize the neutron dose and shape of the neutron beam at the Reed Research Reactor (RRR). The experimental procedure followed extensive modeling in Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) and Tool for Particle Simulation (TOPAS) simulations, in which the beam was projected to be roughly collimated. The shape, defined in terms of neutron flux, was measured by placing the foils directly on top of the neutron beam cap at powers of 1, 5, and 10 kilowatts. The flux was then converted to neutron dose via the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's neutron fluence …

Neutron Time Of Flight Spectrometry As A Diagnostic Tool For Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Fusion Plasmas, Andrew H. Dempsey, Erik J. Sanchez

Student Research Symposium

Inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) is a method for achieving fusion of light nuclei wherein ions are injected into a spherically symmetric system of concentric electrodes. When the innermost electrode is held at negative high voltage with respect to the outer electrode, ions injected into the reactor at cathode (ground) potential accelerate toward the anode where they may undergo collisions with sufficient energy to overcome Coulomb repulsion and achieve nuclear fusion. The most commonly used IEC fusion fuels are deuterium-deuterium (D-D) and deuterium-tritium (D-T). Both fuels undergo fusion reactions that result in production of fast neutrons with distinct energies. Neutron production …

Going Down An Incline With Chatgpt, Corey R. Sissons

Student Research Symposium

In our Large Language Model (LLM) research, examining ChatGPT 4, we devised a physics problem involving an object descending an inclined plane. Through variations in terminology such as "rolling," "sliding," "solid sphere," "hollow sphere," "wooden ramp," "no-slip ramp," and more, we sought to evaluate LLM responses for different scenarios. Our analysis aimed to discern whether the LLM’s answers exhibited expertise in the field of physics. This experiment sheds light on LLM’s ability to give accurate and precise physics answers as well as variation in responses to nuanced changes in problem formulation. This provides valuable insights into its proficiency and potential …

Development Of A Fast-Neutron Source Localization System, Abdulsalam F. Al Mutairi

Student Research Symposium

Power generation by nuclear fusion is a continuing ambition that has been the focus of nuclear fusion research for nearly a hundred years. However, small-scale fusion reactors have further propulsion and neutron imaging applications that don’t require greater than breakeven efficiencies that a fusion energy source needs. Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) fusion devices have the potential for miniaturization, making them a strong candidate for such applications. Yet the contributions of different interactions within an IEC fusion device are still not fully understood. Imaging an IEC device and investigating each interaction's Neutron Production Rate (NPR) can enhance design efficiency. Neutron imaging …

Simulating Cross-Scale Solid-Fluid Interaction Phenomena, Jinyuan Liu

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Solid-fluid interactions are ubiquitous in nature, and accurate simulation methods are essential for realistic animation, industrial design, and engineering analysis. Com- pared to large-scale coupling phenomena, simulating fine-scale interactions poses extra challenges due to factors such as surface tension, material wettability, and geometric complexity. In this thesis, we pursue novel methodologies to accurately model in- terfacial dynamics between surface-tension fluids and codimensional solids, involving capillary interactions, controllable wettability, and robust contact behaviors. Our ini- tial approach involves developing a novel three-way coupling method, which utilizes a thin liquid membrane, modelled as a simplicial mesh, to facilitate accurate momen- tum transfer, …

Creating An Interdisciplinary Learning Community Between Two Cross-Departmental Courses, Krista Mcbride, Maggie Monteverde

Faculty Scholarship Symposium

An Interdisciplinary Learning Community (ILC) consisting of two cross-departmental general education courses has been created. Advantages to linking these courses will be presented. Further, the assignments and course material used to make this learning community successful will be presented. Challenges to developing and evaluating shared assignments for such linked classes will also be discussed. Finally, student feedback will be shown from students enrolled in these courses, which illustrate the positive effects blending these two classes had on the student’s learning experience. As an example, an ILC between a general physics course and a literature course will be introduced.

Optical Tweezers Explorations: Dna-Mitoxantrone Interactions At 20pn, Heléna Kathryn Beeloo

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Mitoxantrone is a chemotherapy drug that treats a variety of cancers by inhibiting cancer cell replication through intercalation with DNA. Intercalation is the process by which certain small molecules slide flat planar regions in their structure between the base pairs of DNA. This increases the stacking force in the DNA double helix, preventing DNA replication by increasing the force required to separate the two strands that compose the helix. In this study, dual-beam optical tweezers were used to determine the binding kinetics and dissociation constant of Mitoxantrone to single molecules of DNA at 20 pN of force. This study utilized …

The Ring-Closing Reaction Of Cyclopentadiene Probed With Ultrafast X‑Ray Scattering, Lisa Huang, Lauren Bertram, Lingyu Ma, Nathan Goff, Stuart W. Crane, Asami Odate, Thomas Northey, Andrés Moreno Carrascosa, Mats Simmermacher, Sri Bhavya Muvva, Joseph D. Geiser, Matthew J. Lueckheide, Zane Phelps, Mengning Liang, Xinxin Cheng, Ruaridh Forbes, Joseph S. Robinson, Matthew J. Hayes, Felix Allum, Alice E. Green, Kenneth Lopata, Artem Rudenko, Thomas J. A. Wolf, Martin Centurion, Daniel Rolles, Michael P. Minitti, Adam Kirrander, Peter M. Weber

Martin Centurion Publications

The dynamics of cyclopentadiene (CP) following optical excitation at 243 nm was investigated by time-resolved pump−probe X-ray scattering using 16.2 keV X-rays at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). We present the first ultrafast structural evidence that the reaction leads directly to the formation of bicyclo[2.1.0]pentene (BP), a strained molecule with three- and four-membered rings. The bicyclic compound decays via a thermal backreaction to the vibrationally hot CP with a time constant of 21 ± 3 ps. A minor channel leads to ring-opened structures on a subpicosecond time scale.

Nonlinear Rogue Wave Generation For All-Optical Switching In Optical Fibers And Photonic Integrated Circuits, Samuel Alexander Bechtold

Honors Program Theses and Projects

For my thesis we discuss the history of optics, electronics and photonicsproviding a framework from which I investigate the viability of engineering a Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) that takes advantage of the nonlinear optical process known as Rogue Wave Generation (RWG) for an all-optical switching mechanism that is capable of switching speeds in the Peta-Hertz (PHz) frequency regime. This topic is introduced through a discussion of how technological advances such as the transistor, laser and optical fiber made modern computing and telecommunications possible. This is followed by a theoretical explanation of the nonlinear optical phenomena known as supercontinuum generation (SCG) …

New Quantum Information Science Study At Bsu: A Theoretical Study And Research Towards Pic Generation Of Entangled Photons, Peyton Brown

Honors Program Theses and Projects

The first part of this thesis explores the abstract quantum state vector space using Dirac formalism, providing a comprehensive analysis of quantum mechanics’ fundamental concepts. Emphasis is placed on the Dirac notation’s pivotal role in elucidating quantum phenomena such as superposition and entanglement. Through detailed examinations of quantum states, polarization, and the CHSH inequality, this study not only reinforces the theoretical foundations of quantum information science but also demonstrates its practical applications in quantum information and quantum computing. The discussion delves into the manipulation of qubits and quantum gates, showing the potential of quantum information theory in enhancing computational efficiencies …

The Rubidium Magneto-Optical Trap: Designing A Robust System For Measurement & Control, Thomas Melody

Honors Program Theses and Projects

This thesis is a culmination of our efforts to construct a robust and flexible opto-mechanical system to fully deliver and control all of the parameters related to the required laser wavelength, polarization, power, beam size, and directionality for both the pump and the re-pump laser beams, delivered from two different lasers, necessary for neutral-atom laser trapping and cooling. This is an extension of the neutral Rubidium Magneto-Optical Trap (MOT) at BSU which afford a macroscopic scale collection of cold atoms where the effective governing laws of physics are quantum in nature rather than classical. My predecessors had done work on …

Comparison Of The Fluorescence Of Bulk Cadmium Sulfide And Cadmium Sulfide Nanoparticles, Jacob Goranson

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

The fluorescence of bulk cadmium sulfide and cadmium sulfide nanoparticles were compared. This was done using an 800-nm, unamplified Ti:sapphire laser producing 50-fs pulses. The pulses were frequency doubled using a beta barium borate (BBO) crystal. The 400-nm beam was used to induce fluorescence in the nanoparticles, while the original 800-nm beam was used to induce fluorescence in the bulk CdS by two-photon absorption. The bulk CdS showed a single fluorescent peak at 523 nm. The nanoparticles showed fluorescence at various wavelengths across the visible spectrum. In general, the nanoparticles showed a broad fluorescent spectrum between 500 nm and 750 …

Student Mathematical Sensemaking In The Transition From Spins To Positions In Quantum Mechanics, Anthony R. Pina

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Quantum mechanics (QM) is a fundamental theory in physics that was developed based on a series of experiments. Rather than being built up from first principles, QM is built on a series of postulates that describe the outcomes of those experiments. The postulates establish both the mathematical formalism and basic concepts used to model quantum systems. While different systems require varying degrees of complex mathematics to model, the basic principles remain.

“Spins-first” QM instruction takes advantage of these varying degrees of mathematical difficulty by first introducing students to spin-1 2 systems which can be modeled with relatively simple mathematics. These …

A Realist Interpretation Of Unitarity In Quantum Gravity, Indrajit Sen, Stephon Alexander, Justin Dressel

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Unitarity is a difficult concept to implement in canonical quantum gravity because of state non-normalisability and the problem of time. We take a realist approach based on pilot-wave theory to address this issue in the Ashtekar formulation of the Wheeler–DeWitt equation. We use the postulate of a definite configuration in the theory to define a global time for the gravitational-fermionic system recently discussed in Alexander et al (2022 Phys. Rev. D 106 106012), by parameterising a variation of a Weyl-spinor that depends on the Kodama state. The total Hamiltonian constraint yields a time-dependent Schrodinger equation, without semi-classical approximations, which we …

Signal Processing Algorithms For Doppler Lidar Sensors, Samantha Grubb

Physics and Astronomy Honors Papers

Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is a remote sensing technology that obtains relative distance and velocity measurements between a sensor and a defined target by using light transmitted and received from the target. FMCW Doppler LiDAR, a particular variant of LiDAR, functions by analyzing the frequency shift in the reflected light to determine the target's range and velocity. This technology plays a crucial role across various sectors including defense, aerospace, and automotive. This paper presents signal processing algorithms designed to optimize data obtained from Doppler LiDAR sensors. By applying various window functions to time domain data, the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) …

Near-Collapse Of The Geomagnetic Field May Have Contributed To Atmospheric Oxygenation And Animal Radiation In The Ediacaran Period, Wentao Huang, John A. Tarduno, Tinghong Zhou, Mauricio Ibañez-Mejia, Laércio Dal Olmo-Barbosa, Edinei Koester, Eric G. Blackman, Aleksey V. Smirnov, Gabriel Ahrendt, Rory D. Cottrell, Kenneth P. Kodama, Richard K. Bono, David G. Sibeck, Yong Xiang Li, Francis Nimmo, Shuhai Xiao, Michael K. Watkeys

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

Earth’s magnetic field was in a highly unusual state when macroscopic animals of the Ediacara Fauna diversified and thrived. Any connection between these events is tantalizing but unclear. Here, we present single crystal paleointensity data from 2054 and 591 Ma pyroxenites and gabbros that define a dramatic intensity decline, from a strong Proterozoic field like that of today, to an Ediacaran value 30 times weaker. The latter is the weakest time-averaged value known to date and together with other robust paleointensity estimates indicate that Ediacaran ultra-low field strengths lasted for at least 26 million years. This interval of ultra-weak magnetic …

Time Resolved X-Ray Spectroscopy Of Highly Charged Ar, Nd, And Pr, Timothy Burke

All Dissertations

Highly Charged Ions (HCIs) may be considered ideal mini-laboratory in which one can study the physics of matter and light in an environment of high internal electric field that can not be recreated with standard lab equipment. The remaining electron(s) exist in the extremely large electric field of the nucleus and therefore measurements of electronic transitions in these systems provide stringent tests of our understanding of physics in extreme conditions. Quantum electrodynamics (QED) despite being a powerful theory exhibits large discrepancies for systems under extreme conditions. The work here investigates the atomic properties within non-Maxwellian plasmas. The HCI plasmas studied …

Design, Fabrication, And Characterization Of Advanced High-Power Single-Mode 9xxnm Semiconductor Lasers, Xiaolei Zhao

All Dissertations

This thesis presents the comprehensive design, fabrication, and demonstration of advanced high-power, high-efficiency single-mode semiconductor lasers operating at a wavelength of 9xxnm. We begin with the design of the laser epitaxial structure, serving as the cornerstone for achieving high-power high-efficiency lasers. Our methodology integrates a semi-analytical calculation model, which accounts for Longitudinal Spatial Hole Burning (LSHB) and Two-Photon Absorption (TPA) effects, facilitating a thorough exploration of how design parameters influence output power and conversion efficiency. This approach offers an effective and time-efficient epitaxial structure optimization strategy compared to conventional full 3D simulation models.

Subsequently, we demonstrate high-power, high-efficiency ridge waveguide …

Oscillations Of Capillary Surfaces With Volume And Edge Effects, Dingqian Ding

All Dissertations

Capillary surfaces are defined by an interface endowed with surface tension that is partially supported by a solid substrate and are susceptible to oscillations reflecting a balance between fluid inertia and the restorative force of surface tension. The wave dynamics strongly depend upon volume change within the domain and edge effects through the boundary conditions applied at the contact-line formed at the liquid-gas-solid interface, while the spatial wave structure conforms to the geometry of the capillary surface. This dissertation develops mathematical models to address these effects for several canonical capillary surfaces, which are organized into two parts that are focused …

Numerical Simulation Of Laser Induced Elastic Waves In Response To Short And Ultrashort Laser Pulses., Alireza Zarei

All Dissertations

In an era of intensified market competition, the demand for cost-effective, high-quality, high-performance, and reliable products continues to rise. Meeting this demand necessitates the mass production of premium products through the integration of cutting-edge technologies and advanced materials while ensuring their integrity and safety. In this context, Nondestructive Testing (NDT) techniques emerge as indispensable tools for guaranteeing the integrity, reliability, and safety of products across diverse industries.

Various NDT techniques, including ultrasonic testing, computed tomography, thermography, and acoustic emissions, have long served as cornerstones for inspecting materials and structures. Among these, ultrasonic testing stands out as the most prevalent method, …

Experimental Analyses Of Emission Lines In The Uv/Vis/Nir Range For Astrophysically-Important Elements: From The Iron Group To R-Process Elements, Brynna Neff

All Dissertations

Analysis of astrophysical phenomena requires an understanding of the electronic

structure and transition probabilities of the elements present in that environment,

yet there are still many charge states of heavy elements whose electronic

structures and spectroscopic properties are not yet well understood. To address this,

we investigated the spectroscopic properties of three different elements through an

analysis of spectra collected from three different experimental apparatuses.

In order to better understand the spectroscopic properties of Ni I and II, we

analyzed spectra collected from the Compact Toroidal Hybrid (CTH) apparatus at

Auburn University. In this experiment, a nickel sample was inserted …

Impact Of Property Covariance On Cluster Weak Lensing Scaling Relations, Zhuowen Zhang, Arya Farahi, Daisuke Nagai, Erwin T. Lau, Joshua Frieman, Marina Ricci, Anja Von Der Linden, Hao-Yi Wu, Lsst Dark Energy Science Collaboration

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

We present an investigation into a hitherto unexplored systematic that affects the accuracy of galaxy cluster mass estimates with weak gravitational lensing. Specifically, we study the covariance between the weak lensing signal, ΔΣ, and the ‘true’ cluster galaxy number count, N_gal, as measured within a spherical volume that is void of projection effects. By quantifying the impact of this covariance on mass calibration, this work reveals a significant source of systematic uncertainty. Using the MDPL2 simulation with galaxies traced by the SAGE semi-analytic model, we measure the intrinsic property covariance between these observables within the three-dimensional vicinity of …

Simulating Ice Particle Properties Under Varying Electric Fields, Joseph Thomas Cooney

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In this study, the interactions between atmospheric water molecules and an electrically charged dust particle were simulated in python to determine the role of electric charge and electric fields in atmospheric ice formation. Multiple levels of electric charge were tested, corresponding to different strengths of atmospheric electric fields. The TIP4P-2005 model for water was used to simulate these molecules under the influence of a central electric potential to represent the charged dust particle. These included a control group with no electric field (0 C), a group under a fair-weather strength of electric field (1.6*10-14 C), a foul-weather electric field (1.6*10-12 …