We as faculty encourage students to seek out research experiences, maybe here on the UMM campus, maybe through a summer research project at a different institution. Ask us or your fellow students about how to get involved. Your undergraduate research activity may become an invaluable part of your career in science.
Check out what our current students are doing:
Jason Bonde: Data analysis of SiO Maser emissions of Mira
Jason worked on a radio-astronomic research project together with UMM professor Gordon McIntosh
during the summer between his freshmen and sophomore years. Here is what he has to say about it:
"SiO maser emission data for Mira had been collected for roughly 5 years. I
reduced/analyzed data for the v=1, J 1->0 transitional phase. Once the data
was reduced, we applied a correlation function to the data. A Gaussian was
fit to the correlation data, and a characteristic lifetime for the masers was
found. We also used an autocorrelation function to find the average
linewidth of the masers.
I really enjoyed the project. I learned quite a bit of astronomy, which
increased my interest in it. I also became much more fluent with Excel,
Psi-Plot, and Mathematica. In my opinion, the most important part of the
project was having a glimpse at how research is conducted."
Ben Rislow: A study of various effects surrounding primordial Black Holes
During the summer of 2007, I participated in the physics REU program at the College
of William and Mary , working with professors Josh Erlich and Marc Sher. I found out about this REU in a conversation
with UMM professor Len Keeler about my interest in a theoretical project.
My project involved performing calculations on the
various effects of primordial black holes (PBHs). Unlike black holes created
by the collapse of a star, PBHs are theorized to have been formed shortly
after the Big Bang when the density of matter in the Universe was much
greater than the current time. PBHs can be as small as the size of a proton,
but with a mass of 10^-12 kg. My calculations found that it would take a PBH
longer than the age of the Universe to “eat” the Sun. I also found that not
only are PBHs the same size as a proton, their gravitational potential energy
is on the same order of magnitude as a proton’s electrostatic potential.
This meant that PBHs can have an electron in orbit, forming a system much
like an atom.
The project exposed me to several areas of physics that I had been
previously unfamiliar with. I had to learn the basics of perturbation theory
and some General Relativity in order to successfully execute my calculations.
Perhaps the most worthwhile aspect of the project was my interaction with
theoretical physicists. UMM does not have any string theorists and it was
interesting to see first hand how they conducted their research, what
motivated their research, and how their research fit in to the rest of
physics.
http://physics.wm.edu/~kossler/REUProg.html
One of the calculations I did involved calculating the change in energy of a
hydrogen atom's electron in the 1s state near a PBH. I've attached a diagram
of the system and a graph of the energy change.
Joshua Giefer: An Experimental Study of Ultrasound in a Reflective Horn - Evidence for Chaotic Behavior
Biology major Josh Giefer has been working with UMM professor Len Keeler during the spring semester 2007. Together, they have built an experimental apparatus in the shape of a two-dimensional horn, which should allow to look for chaotic behaviour in multiple scattering of ultrasound.
For several decades, theorists have been studying reflecting systems that generate chaotic patterns. One such example is that of the sound emerging from an ideal horn. Sound is reflected many times within the horn. Eventually sound waves are emitted out the end of the horn. With horns of a specific shape, the emerging sound waves are predicted to be chaotic in time. This experimental study is motivated by a theoretical group from the College of William and Mary who have developed a new analytical approach to analyzing data from chaotic systems. We have constructed a horn of their design out of aluminum. Adapting an ultrasound rangefinder device, they introduce a short pulse of 40kHz sound waves into the back of the horn and record the sound output as a function of time using an ultrasound receiver, amplifier, and digitizing oscilloscope. Josh and Len presented their experimental method, results, and compared these with numerical simulations of the system. They also performed a simple nearest neighbor distribution test of the experimental data to look for evidence of chaotic behavior.
Josh presented his results at the UMM Undergraduate Research Symposium in April 2007.
Ben Rislow: Study of the silicon monoxide masers associated with VY Canis Majoris
Ben has been working with physics faculty member Gordon McIntosh since Fall 2006. His research is focusing on data evaluation of radio-astronomic measurements of masers. He worked on the graphical representation of the time-development of maser spectra, using data that had been accumulated over a multi-year period. After finding our about the opportunity during the Modern Physics Copurse in Spring 2006, Ben was funded by a grant from the MOrris Area Partners (MAP) program for the year. In Fall 2007, his work will continue as a UROP grant. He
spent the first semester extracting linear polarization and the second
semester plotting the radiation intensity.
Masers, a form of non-thermal radiation, originate in clouds of gas existing in the region around some giant stars. Using radio-astronomical spectra taken from the Haystack Radio Telescope operated by the Massachusetts INstitue of Technology, Ben generated images of the emission of the silicon monoxide maser source VY Canis Majoris as a function of the speed of the light source and time. Data were taken at various times from 2003 through 2006. Radiation is emitted when the maser undergoes transition from a higher energy state to a lower energy state. Quantum mechanics allows molecular energy states to change only in discrete steps with some examples of energy states being rotational and vibrational. Ben and Gordon observed emissions caused by the J=1-0 transition at the v=0,1,2, and 3 vibrational states. These emissions have been graphed separately. These graphs allow Ben to visually, qualitatively assess emission trends within individual vibrational states and compare trends between different vibrational states.
Ben presented these results as a poster at the UMM Undergraduate Research Symposium in April 2007.
Anne Hayes: Scintillator Calibration at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory
Anne Hayes had an internship at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory
in East Lansing, Michigan during the summer of 2006. The cyclotrons at this facility
accelerate ions up to half the speed of light using electric fields. These ions usually then impact a
target, and the results of that collision are studied.
Anne worked with a group of researchers whose goal is to discover new neutron-rich nuclei.
The experimental setup (Called MoNA for Modular Neutron Detector Array) is configured so that
a heavy beam impacts a target and shatters into dozens of lighter nuclei right before the detectors.
Some of the nuclei created are neutron-rich. However, the highest-neutron nuclei have decay times on
the order of nanoseconds or less and decay before reaching the detectors. The setup addresses this problem:
Any neutrons emitted in this decay are detected by MoNA, and the resulting nuclei are detected
by plastic scintillators.
Anne’s main project was the development of an efficient calibration procedure for the scintillators.
Previously there had been no documentation on their calibration, and researchers had to use guess-and-check
to obtain some of the important parameters. Anne used scripts to simplify procedures that had previously
been done by hand and created a procedure that eliminated guess-and-check in the calibration. She then wrote
a manual detailing how the calibration should be performed. Her manual was used in an experiment in late July.
Aside from doing her calibration project, Anne helped prepare for and run an experiment in July.
Among other things, she worked on the electronics of a neutron detector and did preliminary data analysis.
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Anne will present results from her research experience on a national conference in October 2006.
Sam Geller: Monte Carlo Simulations of Vacancy behavior
Sam expressed interest in a research project suggested by UMM professor Sylke Boyd, and has been working on the project since May 2006.
The project aims to develop an efficient Monte Carlo program that will be used in order to investigate the behaviour of vacancy
clusters in molecular solids. The code does make use of the parallel-computing capabilities of the existing hardware
and be transferable to supercomputers. Sam's background as a physics and computer science major helped him to master
a new field for both, him and Sylke Boyd, by developing FORTRAN code utilizing MPI which will employ a Monte Carlo
algorithm for vacancy insertion into a crystalline material.
Due to the complexity of molecular solids, the project has to be conquered in stages. During the summer of 2006, Sam
developed code in order to explore the properties of vacancies in a well-known system: solid Argon. This enables him to test the
MOnte Carlo algorithm, and to organize a meaningful way of load distribution to multiple processors. Sam will continue to work on the project during
Fall 2006.
Sam presented his preliminary results at the MAAPT meeting in November 2006, and at the UMM Undergraduate Research Symposium in 2007.
Anna Schliep: Computer model of dislocations in RDX
Since July 2006, Anna has been working on the development of computer models for the dislocation in crystalline RDX.
The project is part of the research interest of UMM professor Sylke Boyd. Edge dislocations are a very common type of defects in
RDX, which is an energetic substance, or, in other words an explosive. An edge dislocation is a type of defect in a crystal which consists
of an incomplete stacking plane.
Experimentally, the density of defects, in particilar dislocations, has been correlated
with the sensitivity to detonation of the substance. Ann is studying the possible geometries, energetics and stability of
edge dislocations in a computer model. She is testing out possible geometries for these defects using molecular dynamics simlations under constant pressure and temperature conditions.
In order to minimize stress in the structures, the systems need to be chosen fairly large. An initial shift of the crystal planes in the anticipated direction, as well as an initial relaxation under very high pressure on the order of the bulk modulus lead to a successful equilibration.
Anna presented her
results at the UMM Undergraduate Research Symposium in Spring 2007.
Ryan Kalmoe: Imaging of Variable Stars - Instrumentation and Calibration
Ryan Kalmoe is a research assistant to UMM professor Kristin Kearns. He is involved in supporting and
developing the hardware at the UMM telescope. The project was supported by
a grant from the MAP program, as well as the MSAFP during Spring 2006.
Ryan's work during summer
of 2006 was two-fold: he worked with UMM professors Kristin Kearns and Len
Keeler at the 16-inch UMM Telescope towards magnitude calibration. He also
constructed, and calibrated three ping devices for UMM professor Keith
Brugger to use in his glacial research in Sweden. The latter is, in
Ryan's opinion, "not the primary focus, but having Physics help
out Geology definitely emphasizes the liberal arts philosophy at
UMM!"
How did he get involved?
“My previous experiences were expanded into this. This included, during my first day here at UMM, being asked by Kristin to help run the telescope during public observing. This gradually evolved into preparing for CCD Photometry, which is where we still are today!”
Variable stars are stars that change
in brightness over time for a variety of physical reasons. The observation
of variable stars is particularly suited to observers with small, local
telescopes because meaningful datasets are comprised of regular
observations over long time periods (months to years), and there are many
relatively bright variable stars in need of observation.Professional observatory scheduling is
not well suited to this requirement, thus a significant contribution to
variable star research is provided by small observatories similar to the
UMM 16-inch telescope. We have chosen the star U Ori as a test target for
our instrumentation project.U Ori
is a Mira-type variable, meaning it is an old, evolved star that
periodically changes in size, resulting in a change in luminosity.
Long-term photometric studies of such stars provide a basis for refining
current models of post-main sequence stellar evolution.In order to produce scientifically valid,
magnitude-calibrated images of variable stars such as U Ori with the UMM
telescope and CCD imager, the optical systems must be designed
and the hardware components assembled, pointing and calibration mechanisms
must be integrated into this system, and the processes for observation and
analysis must be mapped out, evaluated and standardized.This report will describe the current
state of this ongoing project, focusing on the assembly of imaging hardware,
fabrication of a flat field screen, and tests of the image calibration
process.
Ryan has presented his work at the UMM Undergraduate Research Symposium in
Spring 2006 as well as the Minnesota American Association of Physics
Teachers Meeting (MAAPT) in April 2006.
Jacob Melby: Fabrication and Characterization of Organic Thin Film Transistors (OTFT)
Jacob joined the research team of Dr. C. Daniel Frisbie at the MRSEC
( Materials Research Science and Engineering Center )
for the summer of 2006. UMM professor Ted Pappenfus suggested this REU (Research Experiences for
Undergraduates) program at the University of Minnesota to him. Jacob is a senior majoring in chemistry and physics.
Jacob's take on the project:
“I would highly recommend this for Physics
majors. It was a wonderful experience. (Not just for upper classmen!!!)
Make sure freshman apply aswell. It is never too soon to start
research and it doesn't hurt to apply even if you do not get
accepted.”
There is a need to develop air stable organic semiconducting devices while also
considering key performance parameters such as: on-to-off current ratio,
field effect mobility, and threshold voltage. This research will focus on
the fabrication and characterization of new p-channel OTFTs based on
pentacene and novel thiophene-acene hybrid molecules. Highly crystalline
thin films will be deposited from the vapor phase onto various
gate/insulator substrates followed by deposition of metal electrodes. Thin
film structure and morphology will be examined using X-ray diffraction and
atomic force microscopy. The electrical properties of OTFTs will be
observed using a top-contact transistor geometry and probe station. The connection
between molecular/crystal structures and electronic properties provides a
foundation for elucidating structure-property relationships and facilitates
development of
new organic semiconductors with enhanced transport properties.
The project was well-rounded and possible to complete within the summer time.
Chris Orth: Numerical Simulations of the Mantle Dynamics of Venus - Thermal convection and Magmatic resurfacing
Since 2003, Chris Orth
has been working with Dr. Chris Reese (UMM Physics from 2001-04, now at Washington University
in St. Louis) on a project that began and was originally funded through a
Morris Academic Partnership and then continued through the NASA Planetary
Geology and Geophysics Undergraduate Research Program (PGGURP) at
Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, during the summer of 2005
( Read more )
under the direction of both Dr. Slava Solomatov and Dr.
Reese.
Chris has presented
this research at the UMM Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Spring
of 2004 as well as at both the Meeting of the Minnesota Academy of
Science 18th Annual Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium and the
Spring Meeting of the Minnesota Area Association of Physics Teachers that
same year. This work was also presented at the Meeting of the Chapman
Conference on Exploring Venus as a Terrestrial Planet in 2006 by Dr.
Solomatov. Many of the details of this research topic can be found in his
senior thesis and in an upcoming article in the Journal of Geophysical
Research for which he is a co-author with Dr. Reese and Dr. Solomatov.
In addition to this
research, Chris has also actively participated in research on Mars
concerning local magma ocean evolution with Dr. Reese and Dr. Solomatov
and on Padé Approximants, Algebraic Approximants, and the Method of Borel
Resummation applied to a divergent series that arises in Quantum
Mechanics when calculating the energy of the anharmonic oscillator with
Dr. Barry McQuarrie (UMM Mathematics). His research on Mars has resulted
in him being a co-author (with Dr. Reese and Dr. Solomatov) of an article
that will appear in a GSA book titled “The Origins of Melting
Anomalies: Plumes, Plates, and Planetary Processes” later this
year. The details of his work with Dr. McQuarrie can be found in his
mathematics senior seminar as well as on a poster displayed in the
science building and was presented at the 2006 UMM Undergraduate Research
Symposium.
Chris is graduating in
May 2006 and will attend Graduate School at Washington University
in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences from Fall 2006 on.
Anne Hayes: Velocity Structures of MASERS in R Cassiopeia
Anne Hayes has been
working with UMM Professor Gordon McIntosh on the search for evidence of
silicon oxide masers in the surrounding of periodic stars since Fall
2005. The project is supported by a MAP grant. She has presented her
research at the UMM Undergraduate Research Symposium in Spring 2006 as
well as the Minnesota American Association of Physics Teachers Meeting
(MAAPT) in April 2006. Her research
utilizes remote access to the radio-astronomic
Haystack observatory at MIT.
Silicon monoxide masers originate in the circumstellar environment of long period
variable stars. Theories suggest that this region expands due to the
passage of shock waves and contracts due to gravity. This cycle is
expected to be correlated with the phase of the star. We have observed
silicon monoxide maser emission from R Cassiopeia over several stellar
periods and have analyzed the spectra to look for changes in the velocity
structure that indicate the passage of a shock. Silicon monoxide maser
spectra, velocity information, and phase correlations will be presented.
Gus Rustan: Determining the orbital period of R Aquarii
Gus Rustan is working
with UMM Professor Gordon McIntosh on a study of the orbital period of R
Aquarii. The project is supported by a UROP grant. Gus presented his
research at the UMM Undergraduate Research Symposium in Spring 2006 as
well as the Minnesota American Association of Physics Teachers Meeting
(MAAPT) in April 2006. His research
utilizes remote access to the radio-atronomic
Haystack observatory at MIT.
R Aquarii is a long
period variable star that exhibits silicon monoxide maser emission and is
part of a binary system.Published
velocity data for R Aqr has been collected and combined with SiO data
taken at UMM in an effort to extract the orbital parameters of the binary
star system. Accurate orbital
information is essential to the understanding of the mass transfer
mechanism that may be occurring in this and similar binary star
systems.The recent UMM SiO data
suggests that the period may be 35 years, rather than the previous estimate
of 44 years (Hinkle, 1989).
Matt Gravelle: Computer study of point defects in an RDX crystal
Matt Gravelle has been involved
in computational modeling of RDX crystals from Fall 2004 to Spring 2006,
including the summer of 2005. He is working with UMM professor Sylke
Boyd. The project has been supported by a UROP grant, as well as a Grant
in Aid form the Dean of the Graduate School of the University of Minnesota.
Matt presented his research at the UMM Undergraduate Research Symposium
in April 2005, as well as at the 14th Conference on Current
Trends in Computational Chemistry in Jackson, MS,
in November 2005. He won the third place in the student poster
competition at the latter conference.
Read more...
Matt is co-author of a paper published in the Journal of Chemical Physics:Sylke Boyd,
Matthew Gravelle and Peter Politzer, Non-Reactive Molecular Dynamics Force
Field for Crystalline RDX, Journal of Chemical Physics, volume 124/10.
Defects in a
crystalline energetic compound are incorporated during the crystal growth
from solution. It has been shown that they are crucial in the early
stages of detonation. Their energetically exposed position changes
the local electronic structure, thus facilitating the initial bond
breaking process. The initial energy release then propagates the reaction
to the surrounding lattice. While extended defects such as dislocations
may play a role, vacancies and vacancy clusters have been identified as
possible candidates since they allow for significant motion during the
passing of a compression wave. Therefore, the properties and
incorporation mechanisms of these defects are interesting with regard to
our ability to control their presence.
Matt is graduated with a degree in Mathematics in
May 2006 and is currently working on his licensure for math and physics education.
Anna Schliep: Sound generation by strings in moving air
Anna has been working
on a strings-in wind project since January 2006. The project, under guidance
from UMM professor Sylke Boyd, is supported by a grant from UROP.
The Aeolian harp is
one of the first examples of using the wind to generate sound. An Aeolian
harp consists of a stringed, wooden box with a sound hole. As the wind
blows through the strings a smooth, almost eerie sound is evident. The
production of sound is governed by the physical phenomena of
aeroelasticity and turbulent flow. Anna investigates the conditions for
creating sounds on strings due to moving air. She created a wind tunnel
to maintain constant wind conditions. The experiments
should aid us in designing a wind harp that would be suitable for use in
a sound playground.
Morris with its West-Central Minnesota location offers ideal
conditions for a wind driven park or playground. While the idea of
constructing an entire sound playground is intriguing there are many
challenges. Experimentation and physical understanding are essential
elements in the design of functional setups involving wind to generate
pleasant sounds.
Anna presented her results at the Fall Meeting of the MAAPT in Minneapolis, November 2006.
