Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Optical Activity In The Smectic-A Phase Of A Highly Chiral Liquid Crystal, Joshua D. Rosenzweig , '93, Peter J. Collings

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

Optical-activity measurements in the smectic-A phase of various chiral-racemic mixtures of S-4-(2'-methylbutyl)phenyl-4'-n-octylbiphenyl-4-carboxylate (CE8) demonstrate that contributions from fluctuations in more than one chiral structural mode are important near the transition to the smectic-C* phase. Although these results are similar to earlier measurements in the isotropic phase of highly chiral liquid crystals, previous theoretical work points out that the nature of these fluctuations and the reason for the importance of the second structural mode are very different. Because the present measurements are reported on mixtures of varying chirality, they provide a stringent test of the theory. Agreement between theory and experiment …

Characterization Of Laboratory Generated Turbulence By Optical Phase Measurements, Eric P. Magee

Theses and Dissertations

The resolution achieved by an optical imaging system in the presence of the random effects of the atmosphere is severely degraded from the theoretical diffraction limit. Techniques exist for recovering near diffraction limited performance of an imaging system in the presence of atmospheric turbulence. As opposed to laboratory testing, testing image enhancement techniques in the Earth's atmosphere imposes many limitations. Unfavorable weather conditions could result in the loss of time and money invested in conducting the experiments. With a properly characterized turbulence generator, with statistics that match those of the atmosphere, experimental testing of image enhancement techniques can be conducted …

Self-Referenced Speckle Holography (Srsh) Image Reconstruction Performance, John R. Devey

Theses and Dissertations

The Speckle Holography technique uses a series of short exposure images and associated wave front sensor measurements to reconstruct astronomical images. The reconstruction technique effectively boosts the amplitude of high spatial frequencies to allow for finer resolution of astronomical objects. A simulation package that calculates the optical transfer function (OTF) of a telescopic system was previously developed for the Phillips Laboratory. This software was modified slightly to provide the Speckle Holography system transfer function (STF) for a telescopic system under varying seeing conditions.

Design And Performance Evaluation Of A Gas Chromatograph Micromachined In A Single Crystal Silicon Substrate, Rocky R. Reston

Theses and Dissertations

This investigation designed and developed a miniature gas chromatograph (GC) using silicon micromachining techniques. The GC is composed of a miniature sample injector (10 µl sample loop); a 0.9 m long, rectangular-shaped (300 µm width and 10 micrometers height) capillary column coated with a 0.2 µm thick copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) stationary phase; and a dual-detector scheme incorporating a CuPc-coated chemiresistor and a 125 µm diameter thermal conductivity detector bead. Micromachining was employed to fabricate the sample injector interface, the GC column, and the dual-detector cavity. A novel processing technique was developed to sublime the CuPc stationary phase coating on the …

Construction And Testing Of A Neutron And Gamma Spectrometry System Using Pulse Shape Discrimination With An Organic Scintillator, Robert S. Pope

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this thesis was to construct and test a neutron detector to measure the energy spectrum of 1 to 14-MeV neutrons in the presence of gammas. A spectrometer based on the process of pulse shape discrimination (PSD) was constructed, in which the scintillator NE-213 was used. The primary neutron/ gamma sources used were 78-mCi and 4.7-Ci ²³⁹PuBe sources, while 4.7-µCi and 97.6-µCi ²²Na gamma sources were used for energy calibration and additional testing of the detector. Proton recoil spectra and Compton electron spectra were unfolded with the neutron and gamma unfolding code FORIST to generate the …

Evolution Of Atomic Motion In An Intense Standing Wave, Jian Chen, J. Greg Story, Randall G. Hulet

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We have investigated the effect of the dipole force and its fluctuation on the motion of Li atoms in an intense, one-dimensional, near-resonant standing light wave. The duration of the interaction of the atoms with the standing wave was varied from several tens of spontaneous-emission lifetimes to several hundreds. For a standing-wave frequency blue detuned from resonance, diffusive heating can dominate the time-averaged dissipative dipole force so that there is no steady-state momentum distribution. However, for sufficiently large blue detunings, the rate of diffusion is so slow that the resulting distribution approaches a quasisteady state. For red detunings, the diffusion …

Angular Distributions For Near-Threshold (E,2E) Processes For Li And Mg, Cheng Pan, Anthony F. Starace

Anthony F. Starace Publications

Distorted-wave calculations of the triply differential cross sections for electron-impact ionization of Li and Mg are presented for the coplanar, θ₁₂=π geometry in which the final-state electrons share 2 eV of excess energy equally. Our theoretical approach, described in detail elsewhere [C. Pan and A. F. Starace, Phys. Rev. A 45, 4588 (1992)], employs a partial-wave expansion of initial- and final-state wave functions, treats direct and exchange interactions of initial and final electrons with the target core, and treats the final-state interaction between the two continuum electrons by a screening potential. Li and Mg targets are found to …

Low-Frequency Feature In The First-Order Raman Spectrum Of Amorphous Carbon, David D. Allred, Qi Wang, Jesus González-Hernández

Faculty Publications

In the first-order Raman spectrum of amorphous carbon (a-C) there is a low-frequency feature in the 200-900-cm-1 region. This feature is characteristic of the highly disordered amorphous-carbon materials. We note that the intensity of this feature is very sensitive to the thermal history of samples, thus suggesting that it is an important measure of the degree of disorder of the a-C materials. We also discuss the relationship between this feature and the phonon density of states of graphite.

Exponential Growth Of An Unstable L=1 Diocotron Mode For A Hollow Electron Column In A Warm-Fluid Model, S. Neil Rasband, Ross L. Spencer, Richard R. Vanfleet

Faculty Publications

Numerical investigations of a warm-fluid model with an isothermal equation of state for the perpendicular dynamics of an axisymmetric, magnetically confined pure electron plasma predict an exponentially unstable, l=1, diocotron mode for hollow density profiles. The unstable mode can be identified with a stable, nonsmooth mode that exists in cold drift models but which is destabilized by finite temperature effects. The unstable mode has many properties similar to the experimental results reported by Driscoll [Phys. Rev. Lett. 64, 645 (1990)].

Magnetoresistance Of Multilayered Structures For Currents Perpendicular To The Plane Of The Layers, Horacio E. Camblong

Physics and Astronomy

While most transport measurements on multilayered structures have been done for currents in the plane of the layers, there is an emerging interest in the geometry where the currents are perpendicular to the plane of the layers. We discuss the field and current patterns in these two cases. For the latter, the elastic mean free path is not a relevant length scale; rather, it is the spin-flip mean free path that is important. In the case of currents perpendicular to the plane of the layers, one must distinguish between models which allow spin mixing of the currents and those in …

Measurements Of The Electric And Magnetic Form Factors Of The Neutron From Q2=1.75 To 4.00 (Gev/C)2, A Lung, L M. Stuart, P E. Bosted, L Andivahis, J Alster, R G. Arnold, C C. Chang, F S. Dietrich, W R. Dodge, R Gearhart, J Gomez, K A. Griffioen, R S. Hicks, R A. Miskimen, Gerald Alvin Peterson

Gerald Alvin Peterson

Quasielastic e-d cross sections have been measured at forward and backward angles. Rosenbluth separations were done to obtain RL and RT at Q2=1.75, 2.50, 3.25, and 4.00 (GeV/c)2. The neutron form factors GEn and GMn have been extracted using a nonrelativistic model. The sensitivity to deuteron wave function, relativistic corrections, and models of the inelastic background are reported. The results for GMn are consistent with the dipole form, while GEn is consistent with zero. Comparisons are made to theoretical models based on vector meson dominance, perturbative QCD, and QCD sum rules, as well as constituent quarks.

Multiple Evolutionary Origins Of Magnetotaxis In Bacteria, Edward F. Delong, Richard B. Frankel, Dennis A. Bazylinski

Physics

Magnetosomes are intracellular, iron-rich, membrane-enclosed magnetic particles that allow magnetotactic bacteria to orient in the earth's geomagnetic field as they swim. The magnetosomes of most magnetotactic bacteria contain iron oxide particles, but some magnetotactic species contain iron sulfide particles instead. Phylogenetic analyses of small subunit ribosomal RNA sequences showed that all known magnetotactic bacteria of the iron oxide type are associated with the a subgroup of the Proteobacteria in the domain Bacteria. In contrast, uncultured magnetotactic bacteria of the iron sulfide type are specifically related to the dissimilatory sulfate-reducing bacteria within the δ subdivision of the Proteobacteria. These findings indicate …

Harmonic Generation By An Intense Laser Pulse In Neutral And Ionized Gases, X. Liu, Donald Umstadter, Eric Esarey, A. Ting

Donald Umstadter Publications

Reported are the results of a harmonic generation experiment in a simple gas (hydrogen) using 1-ps, 1-pm laser pulses with a range of intensities extending from below to far above the laser ionization saturation threshold. The scaling with intensity above saturation of the third harmonic generated by a single laser-pulse in a filled gas cell is observed to not fit with a simple model that takes into consideration volume ionization effects alone. In another experiment, a pump-probe type, an upper limit on the conversion efficiency of third harmonic generation in a preformed plasma is determined. It is found to be …

H+-H- Coincidences From The Three-Body Dissociation Of Excited H3+, Orhan Yenen, D. Calabrese, L.M. Wiese, Duane H. Jaecks, Gordon A. Gallup

Gordon Gallup Publications

The laboratory energy distribution of protons in coincidence with an H^- ion, resulting from the dissociation of excited H_3⁺, has been measured for H⁺-H^- pairs emitted along the beam for 4.0-keV H_3⁺-He collisions. An approximate energy distribution of H⁺-H^- pairs for the collinear configuration of the dissociation products is obtained by transforming the measured laboratory spectrum to the H_3⁺ center-of-mass (c.m.) frame. Coincidence data suggest that the reaction producing H⁺-H^- pairs where the H⁺ ion has near-zero energies (3⁺ ions …

A Theoretical Investigation Of The Geometries, Vibrational Frequencies, And Binding Energies Of Several Alkali Halide Dimers, Robert P. Dickey '93, David Maurice '91, Robert J. Cave, Richard J. Mawhorter

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

Results are presented from ab initio calculations on the symmetrical alkali halide dimers made up of Li, Na, K, F, and Cl. We examine the sensitivity of representative monomer and dimer geometries to the variation of the basis set with and without polarization and diffuse functions. The geometries are then compared with available experimental results. We have also calculated vibrational frequencies at the restricted Hartree–Fock level and examined the changes in geometry brought about by correlation using second‐order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory. It is found that Hartree–Fock theory in a modest basis set with diffuse and polarization functions yields results comparable …

Properties Of Photon Density Waves In Multiple-Scattering Media, Bruce J. Tromberg, Lars O. Svaasand, Tsong-Tseh Tsay, Richard C. Haskell

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

Amplitude-modulated light launched into multiple-scattering media, e.g., tissue, results in the propagation of density waves of diffuse photons. Photon density wave characteristics in turn depend on modulation frequency (ω) and media optical properties. The damped spherical wave solutions to the homogeneous form of the diffusion equation suggest two distinct regimes of behavior: (1) a highfrequency dispersion regime where density wave phase velocity V_p has a ω dependence and (2) a low-frequency domain where V_p is frequency independent. Optical properties are determined for various tissue phantoms by fitting the recorded phase (Φ) and modulation (m) response to …

Tissue Characterization And Imaging Using Photon Density Waves, Lars O. Svaasand, Bruce J. Tromberg, Richard C. Haskell, Tsong-Tseh Tsay, Michael W. Berns

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

The optical properties of brain tissues have been evaluated by measuring the phase velocity and attenuation of harmonically modulated light. The phase velocity for photon density waves at 650-nm wavelength has been found to be in the range of 5 to 12% of the corresponding velocity in a nonscattering medium, and the optical penetration depth was in the range 2.9 to 5.2 mm. These results are used to predict the resolution of optical imaging of deep tissue structures by diffusely propagating incoherent photons. The results indicate that structures of a few millimeters in linear dimension can be identified at 10 …

Nonlinear Analysis Of Relativistic Harmonic Generation By Intenselasers In Plasmas, Eric Esarey, A. Ting, P. Sprangle, Donald Umstadter, X. Liu

Donald Umstadter Publications

A linearly polarized, ultra-intense laser field induces transverse plasma currents which are highly relativistic and nonlinear, resulting in the generation of coherent harmonic radiation in the forward direction (i.e., copropagating with the incident laser field). A nonlinear cold fluid model, valid for ultrahigh intensities, is formulated and used to analyze relativistic harmonic generation. The plasma density response is included self-consistently and is shown to significantly reduce the current driving the harmonic radiation. Phase detuning severely limits the growth of the harmonic radiation. The effects of diffraction are considered in the mildly relativistic limit. No third-harmonic signal emerges from a uniform …

Multiplet-Changing Auger Transitions In Valence Double Photoionization, U. Becker, Oliver Hemmers, B. Langer, I. Lee, A. Menzel, R. Wehlitz, M. Ya Amusia

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

The decay of valence satellite states in neon above the first double-ionization threshold has been studied experimentally and theoretically. Special emphasis was given to differentiate between two decay modes: valence Auger and valence-multiplet Auger decay. It is shown that the latter process is predominant in the low kinetic energy part of the spectrum. The main structures of this low-energy Auger spectrum could be designated by help of calculated transition energies and decay rates.

Measurement Of The Casimir-Polder Force, C. I. Sukenik, M. G. Boshier, S. Cho, V. Sandoghdar, E. A. Hinds

Physics Faculty Publications

The authors have studied the deflection of ground-state sodium atoms passing through a micron-sized parallel-plate cavity by measuring the intensity of a sodium atomic beam transmitted through the cavity as a function of cavity plate separation. This experiment provides clear evidence for the existence of the Casimir-Polder force, which is due to modification of the ground-state Lamb shift in the confined space of a cavity. The results confirm the magnitude of the force and the distance dependence predicted by quantum electrodynamics.

In-Medium Behavior Of The Qcd ϴ Term And The Value Of Cp Violation In Nuclei, Vladimir Gudkov

Faculty Publications

The expectation value of the θ term in QCD for nuclear matter is estimated in the nucleon gas approximation. There is no significant renormalization (to an accuracy ∼10%) of the CP violation in nuclei due to the similar behaviors for the in-medium values of the θ term and quark condensates.

Performance Analysis For The Ccn Collection Apparatus, Deborah K. Bircher

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE)

This paper concerns the performance testing of a system to collect and chemically analyze cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). These are the atmospheric particles which nucleate cloud drops.

The air is humidified by passage through the "haze chamber", consisting of parallel vertical plates that are covered with cotton cloth and are kept wet by water supplied at the top edge. The plates are adiabatic , and should equilibrate in temperature at the wet bulb temperature of the incoming air. Measurements of the plate temperature with eighty thermocouples indicate behavior consistent with theory.

Another part of the system is called the CFD …

Motorized Throttle Plate, John D. Crawford

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE)

The objective of this project was to develop a throttle plate mechanism that can be used to simulate transient engine operation. This throttle plate was designed so as to regulate the quantity of air flow entering a Port Fuel Injected (PFI) spark ignition engine prior to the combustion of the fuel-air mixture. The throttle plate is linked to a data acquisition system in order to study the port fuel injection characteristics of the fuel-air mixture. This data acquisition system links the throttle plate angular position information to data obtained using a nonintrusive laser based diagnostic technique, therefore enabling the study …

Active Buckling Control Of Composite Plates, Bradley Wayne Gentelin

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE)

The objective of the research project is to investigate the feasibility of using the rapidly growing technology of smart materials in actively controlling the buckling of laminated composite plates. Advanced composite structures are susceptible to structural instabilities under compression loadings, and the proper control of such instabilities is essential to the effective performance of the structures. The focus of the research activity is to perform an experimental study of using embedded piezoelectric materials for enhancing the critical buckling loads of laminated composite plates. The forces induced by the piezoelectric actuators under the applied voltage fields will be used to counterbalance …

Damage Assessment Of Composite Structures With Embedded Optical Fibers, Peter E. Hackett

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE)

One of the important features of smart composite structures is their capability to observe their own performance for proper functioning and self-diagnostic purposes. The low velocity impact damage of composite structures (matrix cracking, fiber breakage, delamination, etc.) is often difficult to detect visually and can significantly reduce the strength of the structure. The objective of this research is to develop a technique for fabricating composite laminates that will facilitate the embedment of optical fibers. Composite test specimens will be fabricated in the composite material laboratory. The fabrication of composite laminates with a health monitoring and damage assessment system capable of …

Application Of Sunlight Mapping In Solar Car Design, Jeffrey Shapiro, Rob Ziegler, Matt Spaethe, Rick Jenkins

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE)

The design of a solar car is a combination of trade-offs between the mechanical, aerodynamic, and photovoltaic systems. The mechanical and aerodynamic systems can be computationally modeled very well using commercial software. Clouds prevent the photovoltaic system from being modeled as well. This research explores a new way to accurately simulate almost every array configuration imaginable. Using this method, quantitative simulations are produced.

Astronomical Ccd Imaging At Umr: An Interim Report, David A. Thilker, Jon R. Fox

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE)

Progress towards the modernization and update of the UMR observatory through the implementation of astronomical CCD technology is detailed. Preliminary image data is presented, specifically: globular cluster M13 and the lunar surface. An evaluation of the Santa Barbara Instrument Group’s (SBIG) ST-6 CCD camera is presented; bias frames, dark frames, and flat-fields are all examined. A custom optical assembly for instrument focusing and housing BVRI photometry and RGB colorimetry filters is described. The ST60PS data acquisition program, provided by SBIG, is reviewed. Additional work towards the development of a custom image processing utility program is mentioned. Finally, optical telescope collimation …

Catalysis Of Charcoal Emissions, James M. Horak

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE)

This paper is about the development of a system to reduce the emissions of charcoal kilns with the catalyst from automotive catalytic converters. This device, called the charcoal kiln emissions oxidizer (CKEO), was designed and fabricated to meet the goal of a cost effective means to reduce the carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions from charcoal kilns. Testing of the CKEO was never carried out as a test site could not be secured by this writing. The need for the CKEO, the theory behind it, and a procedure to test it are presented.

Two Methods For Attenuation Of Vibration In Structures, Kevin Mark Mcclendon

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE)

The purpose of this report is to discuss methods of suppressing vibration in space trusses. The discussion is centered on the approach, structural attributes, and effectiveness of each method. One approach uses structural active members which are actuated to produce “anti-vibration” to cancel vibrations in the truss. The other method is to implement passive and active damping devices at the base of the space truss, where it will absorb vibrations by fluctuating the stiffness of the structures foundation.

Burnham, Colton, And Pollock Reply, Nancy Burnham, Rj Colton, Hm Pollock

Nancy A. Burnham

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