SOCIETY OF PHYSICS STUDENTS (SPS) SOME SENIOR PROJECT TOPICS PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

Check out our Society of Physics Students’ website: http://www.sps.calpoly.edu/

(Left to right): Ben Knudson, Connor Drake, Ryan Moriarty, Tim Wolf, Robin Reil, Laura Mitchell

Physics Department California Polytechnic State University

San Luis Obispo, CA 93407

Email: physics @calpoly.edu Phone: (805) 756-2448; FAX: (805) 756-2435

http://www.calpoly.edu/~phys

2009 Graduates

Here at the Cal Poly chapter of the SPS we have all the things you might expect of a physics club; white boards covered with equations, heated debates over the nature of a single electron universe, computer jokes that no one gets but us, and all night sessions to write up lab reports. What makes us a group of friends, as well as an academic club, are the individual outside interests that the students (and even the faculty) bring into the lounge every day. We have a group that surfs every Tuesday, an intramural co-ed soccer team, quarterly student/faculty cook-offs, and discussions on subjects ranging from free will to fantasy football. Give the Physics Department a call and ask to talk to one of us. If you can, stop by and give us a look. We would love to answer your questions or show you around. Above all else, the physics and physical science students at Cal Poly love to learn. We look forward to what you new students have to teach us.

Mass Ratio of Neutrinos: A Quantum Field Theory of Weak Nuclear Force—Quantum Field Theory; Calculations of the Vacuum Expectation Value of the Stress-Energy Tensor for Massless Scalar Fields in Nontrivial Flat Space-time Manifolds—Relativity and Gravitation; Investigating the Ion Wind Theory—Electricity and Magnetism; Designing and Building a Large Dobsonian Telescope—Astronomy; Ship Stability—Applied Physics; Numerical Modeling of Polymer-Based Bulk Heterojunction-Photovoltaics; Calibration of Optical Tweezers Via Position Sensing with a Quadrant Photodiode—Optics; The Electronics of Flight: An Alternate Approach to Making a UAV—Electronics; Optical Laser Spectroscopy on Gaseous Rubidium Atoms—Atomic Physics; Experiments in Aggregate Dynamics on the Self-Assembly of Polystyrene Microspheres via DNA Hybridization—Nano Technology; Teaching of Biophysics—Teaching of Physics; Theoretical Design of a Cellular Phone Jamming Device—Electronics; Construction and Theory of an Acousto-Optic Modulator using Water as an Optical Medium—Optics and Lasers; The Scanning Electron Microscope- Atomic Force Microscope Probe (SAP)—Nano Techology; Free Expansion of a Photon Gas—Statistical Mechanics; The System of our Sol: A Visual Primer—Astronomy; Summary and Applications of Quantum Field Theory and the Standard Model—Quantum Field Theory and Applied Physics; Pattern Formation in a Non-Linear Optical System—Optics; The Ultrasonic Attenuation of Water—Acoustics; 40 Ar/39 Ar Age Determination of Mid-Cenozoic Lava Flow Samples from Southeastern Queensland, Australia—Geology; Investigating Energy Use in a Typical San Luis Obispo, CA Home—Energy Conservation; Theoretical Design of a Police Scanner—Electronics; Dual-Beam Steerable Trap Optical Tweezers—Optics; The Design and Development of an Autonomous Ocean Optics Sensor Platform—Oceanography; Resolving Modes in a Helium Neon Laser—Lasers; Laser Doppler Anemometry: Optical Data Analysis—Optics and Lasers; Experimental Design for Magnetic Blocks and Research Applications of Piagetian Constructivism—Physics Education; Optic Tweezers: A Noisy Over-Damped Oscillator Model—Optics; Sound Clarity and Response of a String as a Function of String Length and Tension—Acoustics; Synchronous High Voltage Induced Breakdown Spectrometer—Spectrometer; Nano-Particle Production and Characterization—Particle Physics; Rhino Robotic Arm Motor Control—Electronics and Technology; A Low-Cost, Off-the-Shelf Dual Channel Photometer: Utilization of Thin Film Technology—Astronomy and Astrophysics; Ultrasonic Attenuation YBCO Near Tc—Ultrasonics; Preliminary Model of the Thermal Structure of the Troposphere—Environmental Physics; Using Prolog to Solve One-Dimensional Kinematics Problems—Computing; Varying Oxygen Content in YBCO Superconductors—Solid State Physics; . Cosmic Air Shower Array: CASA at Cal Poly—Cosmic Rays; Development and Construction of Inquiry-Based Science Kits for Use by Pre-Service Teachers in Secondary School Classrooms—Teaching of Physics; Technique of Locating Possible Cosmic Strings…

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SPS OFFICERS

PHYSICS DEPARTMENT PHYSICS DEPARTMENT FACULTY RESEARCH LABORATORIES

Department Chair Dr. Matthew Moelter

Department Staff

Rosa Jones, Administrative Coordinator Dale Wilbur, Administrative Assistant

David Arndt, Technician

Jim Hilsinger, Technician Steve Soderberg, Technician

August 2009

The Physics Department offers both a BS and a BA in Physics and two concentrations associated with the BS in Physics: electronics and electro-optics. The BS in Physics is the appropriate choice for those students planning a career in industry or government laboratories, and those seeking a strong foundation in physics for graduate study. The BA in Physics serves students who plan to teach high school, and those who plan a career in science-related fields for whom a physics background would be an asset. Physics graduates pursue graduate studies in physics, math, chemistry, engineering, biophysics, geophysics, medicine, law, business and administration. They also become teachers, environmental engineers, computer engineers, nuclear engineers, oceanographers, astrophysicists and geophysicists. Physics majors are encouraged to attend the weekly physics colloquium and become involved in the research projects of faculty members (see list of senior projects below). The department prides itself on close contacts with our physics majors who have their own “h-bar and grill” (our student study room) for academic and social interactions, as well as five mini-research rooms for student projects.

Astronomy: Twelve-inch Cassegrain, two 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrains, 6-inch refractor. Astronomy instrumentation laboratory with spectrograph, cameras, CCDs. Optics Laboratory: Continuous and pulsed lasers, laser diodes, digital imaging and analysis systems, equipment for optical spectroscopy and metrology. Material Science Laboratory: High temperature furnace, presses, and closed cycle refrigerator for measurements at low temperatures; synthesize and characterize novel materials (superconductors and magnetic materials). Nanoscience Laboratory: In collaboration with other departments, we have capabilities in Atomic Force Microscopy (2 microscopes), Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, and optical microscopy. We also have use of hardware related to molecular biology and colloidal physics. Paleomagnetism Laboratory: Magnetometers, demagnetization devices, computer graphics, fieldwork equipment. Trace Meteor/Lunar Radioactivity Sampling Laboratory: Very low-background, multi-dimensional--ray spectrometer. Theoretical Studies: Biophysics, particle physics, cosmology, astrophysics, physics education. Ultrasonics Laboratory: High-frequency, pulsed, ultrasonic system; velocity and attenuation studies in solids/liquids.

TEACHING LABS

Electro-Mechanical Instrumentation Laboratory: Electro-robotics with image processing and holography. Quantum Physics Laboratory: Cosmic ray detector, Compton spectrometer, Mossbauer Effect, pulsed NMR.

Solid State Physics Laboratory: X-ray diffraction, optical spectroscopy, electrical/magnetic properties of solids.

Thomas Bensky (PhD, U. Virginia, 1998). Laser and experimental ocean physics. Jodi Christiansen, (PhD, U. Wisconsin, 1993). Observational cosmology and astroparticle physics. Robert Echols (PhD, U. California-Santa Cruz, 1999). Photovoltaic devices, particle physics/cosmology, atmospheric dynamics, and energy technology. Sean Echols (PhD, U. California-Santa Cruz, 2009). String theory, particle phenomenology, cosmology. John Fernsler (PhD, U. Colorado, Boulder, 2004). Soft condensed matter physics: liquid crystals and biophysics. Neil Fleishon (PhD, U. California-Berkeley, 1979). Theoretical particle physics, computers in education. Antonio Garcia (PhD, U. California-Santa Barbara, 2001). Geomorph- ology, and quaternary geology. Glen Gillen (PhD, Ohio State U., 2002). Optical and atomic physics. Katrina Gillen (PhD, Ohio State U., 2005). Optics, atomic physics, quantum computing. Brian Granger (PhD, U. Colorado-Boulder, 2001). Theoretical and computational atomic, molecular and optical physics; parallel and distributed computing. Elizabeth Griffith (PhD, Cornell U., 2000). Fluid mechanics, instrumentation and physical oceanography. Tom Gutierrez (PhD, U. California-Davis, 2000). Neutrinoless double beta decay, nuclear and particle physics, quantum information. Chance Hoellwarth (PhD, U. California-Davis, 1997). Condensed matter physics, superconducting and magnetic materials, research in physics learning. Robert Holtzapple (PhD, Stanford U., 1996). Accelerator physics, non- linear beam dynamics, remote operation of accelerator diagnostics. Gayle Iddings (PhD, U. Colorado, 1983). Theoretical particle physics, cosmology. John Jasbinsek (PhD, U. Wyoming, 2008). Global Seismology. Scott Johnston (PhD, U. California-Santa Barbara, 2006). Regional tectonics, metamorphic petrology and geochronology. John Keller (PhD, U. Arizona, 2006). Astronomy education research, planetary science research, science teacher preparation and professional development. Jennifer Klay (PhD, U. California-Davis, 2001). Relativistic nuclear collisions. Randall Knight (PhD, U. California-Berkeley, 1979). Laser physics, atomic and molecular physics, research in physics learning. Arnab Mitra (PhD, U. Arkansas, 2009). Quantum Optics David Mitchell (PhD, U. California-San Diego, 2004). Observational astronomy, extra solar planets. Matthew Moelter (PhD, Brown U., 1989). Condensed matter physics, ultrasonics, research in physics learning. Richard Saenz (PhD, Cornell U., 1977). Theoretical astrophysics, relativity, black holes. Karl Saunders (PhD, U. Oregon, 2001). Condensed matter physics, liquid crystals, nonlinear systems. Peter Schwartz (PhD, Princeton U., 1998). Nanotechnology, surface science, biophysics, sustainability. John Sharpe (PhD, Edinburgh U., 1989). Applied optics. Nilgun Sungar (PhD, U. Missouri, 1985). Gauge field theory, biophysics, protein dynamics, neural networks, nonlinear systems. Ronald Zammit (PhD, Purdue U., 1975). Applied optics, electronics, holography.