“ Radiative Transport in Type 1a Supernovae ”
Christopher Cain - Azusa Pacific University
Mentor: Dr. Eddie Baron
Supernovae (plural of supernova) form when stars, most commonly either White Dwarfs
or Red Giants, explode. These events can take months to fully transpire, and during that
time information about the explosion can be gained from the observed optical electromagnetic
power spectra of the supernova. Spectral lines form for various elements with characteristics that depend
on certain physical parameters, such as the optical depth (thickness) of
the elements, and their velocity. Specically, the distribution of velocities of elements in the
ejecta of a supernova (termed "abundance stratication") is of particular interest to theorists.
We will be using the supernova simulation code SYNOW (SYnthetic NOW) to match
simulated spectra with known specified parameters to observed spectra of the supernova
classified SN2012fr. After obtaining rough fits, we will move to more advanced software for
more accurate estimates. Our goal will be to understand how the velocity and distribution
of various elements in the ejecta of SN2012fr, particularly Silicon, change with time.
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“Simulated IR Spectrum of Alkanethiol SAM on Au(111) ”
Antonius Ghanim - Whitworth University
Mentor: Dr. Lloyd Bumm
The results from the STM produced images showed that the alkanethiol
SAMs have a 4-molecule basis structure. This motivated the group to build a
model that could explain the results. A model was built using molecular
dynamics which gave insight to what might be happening under the surface
of the layer and so far, it agrees with what we observe on the surface.
Another experimental result is the IR spectrum of the monolayer which we
are using to compare our simulated IR spectrum from the model with.
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“ Lagurerre-Gaussian Beam Mode Purity ”
Nia Burrell - Lafayette College
Mentor: Dr. Eric Abraham
I am working with Dr. Eric Abraham on experimental atomic, molecular, and optical physics. I will be using
electromagnetic radiation and diffractive optics to generate different modes of Laguerre-Gaussian beams. The data
that I collect is obtained from images of these beams at different propagation distances. I utilize Python to
calculate power of the beams as a function of propagation distance. I will be able to analyze these values to
produce the best profiles of the beams and maximize their purity, where intensity is proportional to the
Laguerre polynomial.
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“ HALT/HASS Testing of ATLAS Pixel Detector Modules ”
Jessica Johnson - Hastings College
Mentor: Dr. John Stupak
The ATLAS detector is one of two main particle detectors in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The detector's inner most detection area, the
pixel detector, is about to be upgraded. The pixel detector modules that are to be used in the upgrade need to be tested before being put in
the detector. Using HALT/ HASS testing the modules will undergo thermal and vibration stresses that will simulate the stresses they will encounter
in their lifetime in the detector. The purpose of this is to design a testing station to determine if there are any defects in the modules before
they are put into the detector. This project will specifically look at the design and testing of the cooling platform of the testing station.
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“ Stabilizing Laser and Microwave Fields for Coherent Control
of Spin-Exchange Collisions in Ultracold Sodium Gases ”
Jeremy Norris- University of Southern Mississippi
Mentor: Dr. Arne Schwettmann
Spin-exchange collisions in ultracold sodium gases create quantum entanglement between atoms with spin up and spin down.
This opens the door for experiments on matter-wave quantum optics in spin space, similar to what has been done with
entangled beams of light. One example is quantum enhanced interferometry. To implement such experiments, cooling of
the gas and precise control over the collisions are necessary. In sodium, this can be done with near-resonance laser
fields at ~589 nm and microwaves at 1.8 GHz. In my project, I will implement methods to stabilize and control the
amplitude and frequency of those fields using active feedback loops and computer controlled direct digital synthesis.
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“ Title: Rotating Periods of Asteroids ”
Jordan Van Nest- Trevecca Nazarene University
Mentor: Dr. Mukremin Kilic
This presentation is on detecting the rotation periods of asteroids. Eight nights of observation were analyzed with image subtraction in order
to locate asteroids in the night sky. By tracking the positions of these asteroids, the software that is responsible for the image subtraction
can also give a measurement of the asteroids optical magnitude. The light curve of an asteroid is obtained by plotting the magnitudes of the
asteroid throughout the night. Since the asteroid is an assumably non-spherical object rotating periodically, the light curve should have some
periodic properties. A Fourier analysis of the light curve should define a clear rotation period for an asteroid.
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“ Population of the Oort Cloud ”
Katherine Shepard- Sarah Lawrence College
Mentor: Dr. Nate Kaib
The Oort Cloud is a theoretical sphere of icy cometary bodies that surrounds our solar system. It was formed during the early years of the solar
system as a result of the formation and gravitational influences of the four giant planets. Simulations however, do not yield the expected
population. Standard models of the Oort Cloud formation suggest that the population should be approximately 10 - 100 times greater than what
the simulations are showing. A possible solution to this discrepancy is the incorporation of an Ultra-Wide binary star system during the early
years of the solar system. The presence of the binary star would aid in the capture and scattering of cometary bodies before the system was
destroyed. We are currently simulating the control system, which omits the binary star. Future simulations will include the binary star and
will hopefully result in an increase in Oort Cloud population that will match the models.
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“ Properties of Void Galaxies ”
Sean Bruton- University of Oklahoma
Mentor: Dr. Xinyu Dai
Void galaxies are galaxies which occupy under-dense regions of the universe, called voids. This allows them to evolve with few neighboring
gravitational interactions, giving us a glimpse at galaxy formation through the collapse of gas clouds. They have different properties from
galaxies in clusters, most of which are derived from their higher stellar formation rate. However, they also have some properties which are
similar to cluster galaxies, such as their percentage of active galactic nuclei (AGN). This can constrain models regarding how AGN become
triggered. Thus, further study of void galaxies may reveal information about galaxy formation, AGN, and cosmological parameters. To this end,
we are constructing a catalog of void galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and WiggleZ Dark Energy Survey spectroscopic data for analysis.
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“ Vector-like leptons ”
Miranda Brugman- University of Oklahoma
Mentor: Dr. Brad Abbott
The Large Hadron Collider collects an immense amount of data on sub-atomic collisions of protons. The standard model for particle physics
describes the behaviors of known particles. The group I am working with is searching for theoretical particles in data from the LHC that are not
described by the standard model. I am helping to build code that searches for signature decays of such particles in hopes of verifying or
finding modifications for the standard model.
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“ Influence of Stellar Companions on Fomalhaut's Ring ”
Ethan White- University of Oklahoma
Mentor: Dr. Nate Kaib
About 50% of all stars are thought to exist in binary star systems.
For this reason it is important to
understand how binary stars effect one another and their solar systems.
Our project seeks to determine the
cause of Fomalhaut's ring's eccentricity. We propose that the orbit of
Fomalhaut's binary companion passed
close enough to Fomalhaut's ring to cause the observed eccentricity without
completely destroying it. To
do this, we have run several simulations with varying conditions and are
now in the process of analyzing
these results to determine if our hypothesis is plausible.
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“ Dilute Nitride (GaInNAs) Solar cells ”
Hannah Harrell- University of Oklahoma
Mentor: Dr. Ian Sellers
While multi-junction solar cells collect a wider range of wavelengths making
them more efficient, the introduction of new materials often leads to alloy
fluctuations, impurities, and other defects within the sample decreasing
overall efficiency. Hydrogen and rapid thermal annealing (RTA) have been
known to help pacify these defects. We have been using various methods to
analyze the effects of passivation throughout the samples including
temperature and power dependent photoluminescence (PL). We will continue
to analyze these samples with electroluminescence (EL) which will allow
us to compare radiative and no radiative procedures happening within the
sample and external quantum efficiency (EQE) measurements which will allow
us to determine where defects are forming within the sample.
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“ Laser Spectroscopy of C02 ”
Christopher Leonard- University of Oklahoma
Mentor: Dr. Jim Shaffer
For this experiment, laser spectroscopy of a carbon dioxide gas sample is used to characterize the behavior of a quantum cascade laser in the range of 4320-4350 nm wavelengths. Frequency of the laser will be measured by varying input conditions and observing their relationship to the absorption spectrum of carbon dioxide, and power will be measured by a photodetector. The goal of this setup is to calibrate the laser for use in exciting individual electrons confined to the surface of a dielectric for potential use in quantum computing.
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“ Protostars in the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex ”
Lisa Patel- University of Oklahoma
Mentor: Dr. John Tobin
Stars from inside relatively dense and huge complexes of interstellar gas and dust called molecular clouds, which are
composed mostly of molecular hydrogen and have a temperature ranging from 10-50 K. Class 0 phase, the earliest
recognizable phase of star formation, is characterized by the formation of a hydrostatically supported protostar within
an infalling envelope of gas and dust. Typically, the next phase, Class I protostars, will have weaker envelopes.
Identifying and studying these youngest sources is crucial for making statistical inferences of properties such as
lifetimes, evolutionary class and luminosity evolution as well as answering unknown questions about the origin of
multiplicity and properties of stellar disks. Using the sensitivity and resolution power of ALMA, the largest and
most complete survey of 331 protostars in the Orion A and B at 0.09 degree resolution was conducted to enable a statistical
analysis of disk properties and multiplicity. Currently, we are in the data processing stage of the 331 sources
which includes calibration of the raw data and imaging using a package software called CASA.
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“ Quantifying Quasar Outflows ”
Collin Dabbieri- University of Oklahoma
Mentor: Dr. Karen Leighly
A quasar is a system built around a supermassive black hole consisting of, among other things,a thin, hot accretion disk with high thermal luminosity.
This disk expels winds of gas and dust throughout the host galaxy, and when radiation from the accretion disk is emitted, it can be partially
absorbed by these windy outflows. By analyzing quasar spectra and fitting its absorption lines one is able to gain information about the physical
conditions of the quasar outflows. We use a fitting method known as Emcee to fit the absorption and continuum profile for 26 quasar spectra and
deterimine physical conditions of their host quasars.
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“ Indium Arsenide (InAs) Quantum Dots for Applications in Intermediate Band Solar Cells (IBSC) ”
Tristan Thrasher- University of Oklahoma
Mentor: Dr. Ian Sellers
Photo-luminescence is utilized to observe self assembled Indium Arsenide Quantum Dot Structures.
Manipulation of the system using a Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) -Antomony (Sb) matrix reduces the effective
band gap and allows for a more qualitative spectral overlap and favorable conversion of the solar spectrum.
Temperature Dependent External Quantum Efficiency measurements show an improvement in the QD regions with
increasing temperature.
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“ Zinc Oxide and its Photovoltaic Properties for its use
in Solar Cells ”
Jill Kozlowski- University of Oklahoma
Mentor: Dr. Ian Sellers
The purpose of this research is to study zinc oxide (ZnO) and zinc oxide
with cobalt (Co) as semiconductors to be used in solar cells. Thus far,
this research has collected data on annealed ZnO as a reference for ZnOCo.
The ZnO samples were each put in the rapid thermal annealer at different
temperatures before having temperature dependent studies performed on them.
In studying the photovoltaic properties of the samples, a laser was aimed
at each sample and the relationship between intensity and wavelength of the
output light was measured. This relationship combined with temperature
dependent measurements gives information regarding the band gap of the zinc
oxide and therefore its overall photovoltaic properties and potential use
in solar cells.
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“ Identifying White Dwarf Candidates ”
Courtney Crawford- University of Oklahoma
Mentor: Dr. Mukremin Kilic
abstract:I identify white dwarf candidates by cross matching targets with significant (5 sigma) proper motion in the HSOY catalog to photometric data from SDSS, using that data to create a proper motion diagram to identify objects kinematically grouped with white dwarfs, and then fitting the optical data with white dwarf atmospheric models to estimate temperature and composition of each object. I have a specific interest in identifying ultra cool hydrogen based white dwarfs.
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