{"title":"Developing an Interactive Simulation for Noninertial Reference Frames","authors":"Ted K. Mburu","doi":"10.1063/10.0022473","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1063/10.0022473","url":null,"abstract":"The forces involved in the motion of objects within noninertial reference frames are challenging concepts for introductory and advanced mechanics students. Furthermore, students often struggle to predict the trajectories of an object due to these fictitious forces. While most students encounter noninertial reference frames daily, students often spend most of their physics coursework analyzing situations in which the Coriolis and centrifugal forces are negligible. We developed an interactive and freely accessible simulation of a rotating turntable apparatus that aims to improve understanding of the motion of objects in noninertial reference frames.","PeriodicalId":93662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of undergraduate reports in physics","volume":"77 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139125070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"On the Resonances of Coupled Qubit–Cavity Systems","authors":"Eashwar N. Sivarajan","doi":"10.1063/10.0020898","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1063/10.0020898","url":null,"abstract":"We consider a system consisting of a qubit and a microwave transmission line that are coupled by a capacitor which, in turn, is modulated sinusoidally. The Unruh effect is the simultaneous production from vacuum of a pair of photons, one in the qubit and the other in the cavity. The dynamical Casimir effect is the production from vacuum of a pair of photons in the cavity. We analyze this qubit–cavity system and show that the system can be viewed as a pair of coupled quantum-mechanical oscillators and that both the Unruh effect and the dynamical Casimir effect are resonances of this coupled oscillator system. For the case where the cavity supports two propagating modes, in addition to the Unruh and dynamical Casimir effect at each of the supported modes, we predict a “paired Casimir effect,” where one photon is emitted in the cavity in each of two allowed modes, at the appropriate driving frequency. We also calculate analytical approximations to the driving frequencies for all three effects.","PeriodicalId":93662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of undergraduate reports in physics","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41298804","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jean P. Alvarez, David Gordon, Jack Howard, Joshua Steier, K. Hettiarachchilage, N. Haldolaarachchige
{"title":"Remarkable Topological Features of Electronic Band Dispersion of IrGa and RhGa Compounds from First Principles","authors":"Jean P. Alvarez, David Gordon, Jack Howard, Joshua Steier, K. Hettiarachchilage, N. Haldolaarachchige","doi":"10.1063/10.0020902","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1063/10.0020902","url":null,"abstract":"Exotic behavior of linearly dispersed electronic bands near the Fermi level implies advanced physical properties in a material. In this paper, we present an ab initio study of the electronic properties of IrGa and RhGa, with and without spin-orbit interaction, using first-principles calculations. Linearly dispersed band crossings, reminiscent of topological semimetallic band structures, were identified near the Fermi energy. These include type-I and type-II Dirac points and nodal lines. By applying compressive and tensile stress to the lattice along x, y, and z, the response to the band structure near the Fermi level has been studied.","PeriodicalId":93662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of undergraduate reports in physics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47314938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pranjal Singh, Daniel Valmassei, Anthony Kuchera, Ben Crider
{"title":"Using γγ-Coincidence Spectroscopy to Identify Natural Radiation in Soils Near the Mississippi River","authors":"Pranjal Singh, Daniel Valmassei, Anthony Kuchera, Ben Crider","doi":"10.1063/10.0020899","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1063/10.0020899","url":null,"abstract":"Naturally radioactive nuclides present in soils contain background radiation that humans are exposed to every day. Previous research suggests that there are high background radiation areas (HBRAs) caused by climate, geography, wind, and water currents that accumulate a higher concentration of these radionuclides. An investigation of the Nile Delta confirms the presence of minerals rich in U and Th from monazite and zircon, further suggesting that certain locations have a higher concentration of these radionuclides. The present work is a search for monazite in Great River Road State Park, near the Mississippi River. The acquired samples were measured with a low-background NaI(Tl) spectrometer and digital data acquisition system. Using γγ-coincidence spectroscopy to reduce background radiation, we were able to apply coincidence gates of known gamma-ray energies originating from 238U and 232Th decay chains to identify the presence of the radionuclides in the soil samples. From our results, we confirmed that there is an accumulation of minerals containing 238U and 232Th near the river. Our next steps will focus on calculating activities for quantitative results and collecting samples from an extended region along the river.","PeriodicalId":93662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of undergraduate reports in physics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49404557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Huma Jafree, Rebekah Polen, D. Woolard, Rachele Dominguez
{"title":"The Rotation Curve of the Milky Way Galaxy as Evidence for Dark Matter","authors":"Huma Jafree, Rebekah Polen, D. Woolard, Rachele Dominguez","doi":"10.1063/10.0020862","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1063/10.0020862","url":null,"abstract":"We present neutral hydrogen observations of the plane of the Milky Way galaxy between 0° < l < 80° galactic longitude on the 20-meter telescope at the Green Bank Observatory. These radio spectroscopic signatures returned the 21-cm line of neutral hydrogen at various offsets due to the Doppler shift. By calculating orbital speeds relative to the galactic center, velocity was plotted against radial distance to map the rotation curve of the Milky Way galaxy. The distribution of luminous matter suggests that orbital velocity should fall off at large distances, but empirical observations show otherwise. An abundance of mass which cannot be detected is responsible for this phenomenon, known as dark matter. Although its nature is not understood, dark matter is easily observed indirectly by galactic rotation curves. Our observations confirm that the velocity of the Milky Way’s disk is fairly constant even at large distances from the center of our galaxy, Sagittarius A*.","PeriodicalId":93662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of undergraduate reports in physics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47259656","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An Introduction to Quantum Computing","authors":"Ricco Venterea, Urbas Ekka","doi":"10.1063/10.0020897","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1063/10.0020897","url":null,"abstract":"We present an overview of quantum computing, including relevant physics, processes, and applications. This includes describing the basic framework of the quantum bit, which serves as the foundation for the rest of this paper. We found rapid developments in quantum computing, which will have important consequences for future applications in scientific fields.","PeriodicalId":93662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of undergraduate reports in physics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47832361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Simple Model for Understanding Cloud Diffusion on a Brown Dwarf","authors":"Joseph A. Landsittel, Ryan A. Coldren","doi":"10.1063/10.0020896","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1063/10.0020896","url":null,"abstract":"Brown dwarfs in the L-T spectral class transition commonly experience photometric variability due to the active formation/dissipation of clouds that rotate in and out of our view. Measurements of these photometric oscillations, such as their frequency and amplitude, may help constrain the physical parameters of observed brown dwarfs through their associations with aspects such as rotational period and surface temperature. However, measurements of these oscillations and their significance are obscured by the inclination angle of observed brown dwarfs relative to us. By creating a simplistic model of 2D cloud formation on the surface of a toy model brown dwarf, this paper aims to further explore the relationship between oscillation amplitude and inclination angle for cloudy brown dwarfs and finds agreement with the correlation found observationally between the two factors in Vos et al., 2017.","PeriodicalId":93662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of undergraduate reports in physics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49309907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Dielectric Properties of Nanostructured ZnO Using Impedance Spectroscopy","authors":"Grant Mayberry, Parameswar Hari","doi":"10.1063/10.0020901","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1063/10.0020901","url":null,"abstract":"This study focuses on the dielectric properties of 21.9-nm spherical zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) at room temperature, as a dry powder and suspended in a liquid. Impedance spectra in the frequency range of 100 Hz to 5.1 MHz were used to investigate the frequency-dependent dielectric properties of ZnO NPs. The commercially available ZnO NPs used in this study were suspended in variable volume fractions up to ∼1% in deionized (DI) water and unrefined organic coconut oil and subjected to three sonication conditions: no sonication (NS), 1 hour of bath sonication (BS), and 1 hour of bath sonication followed by probe sonication throughout the experiment (CS, “concurrent sonication”) to determine sonication dependence. Small volumes of the resulting suspension were injected sequentially into a dielectric cell for measuring frequency response. Dry particle tests were conducted similarly. Impedance data suggests that the dielectric behavior of ZnO NPs in a liquid suspension is highly dependent on sonication before and during the test and exhibited a strong dependence of dipole with the polarity of the liquid at low frequencies. In addition, a higher dielectric constant of ZnO NPs was observed when the nanoparticles were in suspension than as a dry powder. For frequencies between 100 Hz and 100 kHz, the average dielectric constant of ZnO NPs in DI water, in unrefined coconut oil, and as a dry particle are 368.63, 24.43, and 7.25, respectively.","PeriodicalId":93662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of undergraduate reports in physics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41338050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Development of an Optical Tweezers Demonstration","authors":"Eric Youngsang Ji, Trey Holik","doi":"10.1063/10.0020900","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1063/10.0020900","url":null,"abstract":"Optical tweezers are important tools that are used in several scientific fields. An optical tweezers demonstration was developed by testing several different lasers, particles, and particle environments. The final product was a semienclosed 3D-printed casing with a sooted base plate. This demonstration picked up soot particles using a 250-mW 650-nm laser coupled to a 29-mm diopter focusing lens by Edmund Optics [1].","PeriodicalId":93662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of undergraduate reports in physics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45951802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Nitrogen Beams with a National Electrostatics Corporation Alphatross Source and a 5SDH Accelerator","authors":"B. Harlow, P. DeYoung, V. A. Bunnell","doi":"10.1063/10.0006342","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1063/10.0006342","url":null,"abstract":"Over the past 15 years, Hope College has been producing hydrogen and helium ion beams with an Alphatross ® ion source and 5SDH Pelletron ® tandem Van de Graaff accelerator. The manufacturer stated the possibility of creating nitrogen ions from this source, but Hope College has not, up until now, attempted to do so. By mixing approximately 1% nitrogen into hydrogen source gas, imidogen (NH ) and amidogen (NH 2 ) ions are created and accelerated through the tandem accelerator. Oxygen and hydroxide beams are also present due to residual water vapor in the source after maintenance. Post acceleration, these ion beams were directed into a scattering chamber by a dipole bending magnet for identification. Alternate beams such as these open up new possibilities for future experiments such as nitrogen implantation.","PeriodicalId":93662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of undergraduate reports in physics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42624326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}