Hearing the Shape of the Universe

John Dulin with Glenn StarkmanHearing the Shape of the UniverseThe past few years of work on discerning the topology of the universe have focused on methods like cosmic crystallography and circles-in-the-sky searches, as well as examinations of the correlation matrix to uncover manifolds with non-trivial topology.  While helping to...

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Dirac theory of topological insulator boundaries

Joseph Flannery with Harsh MathurDirac theory of topological insulator boundariesA topological insulator is a material that behaves as an insulator in its interior but whose surface contains bound conducting states. The bulk of a topological insulator may be described by a massive Dirac model while the gapless surface states follow the massless Dirac...

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Design of a Persistent Switch for 0.35T Magnesium DiBoride Superconducting Magnets

Sean Kinzler with Michael MartensDesign of a Persistent Switch for 0.35T Magnesium DiBoride Superconducting MagnetsRecent progress in magnet design and persistent joints using for the magnesium diboride, MgB2, superconductor has made clear the increasingly important role of the persistent switch in magnet quench protection. The persistent switch is used...

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Connecting Optical, Structural and Spin-dependent Properties for Films of Quantum Dots

Zaarah Mohamed with Jesse BerezovskyConnecting Optical, Structural and Spin-dependent Properties for Films of Quantum DotsThe project aims to discern the connection between structural, optical, and spin-dependent properties for films of semiconductor nanoparticles. These films are to be created through various methods involving solutions of quantum dots, and will vary...

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Investigating the growth mechanism of atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides

Christopher Wagner with Xuan GaoInvestigating the growth mechanism of atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenidesMonolayers of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), such MoS­­2­ and MoSe­2­ ­, have been the subject of increased interest due to their promising potential in nanoelectronics, optoelectronics, and other fields. To date, the synthesis of large area...

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Advanced Undergraduate Acoustics Experiment

Michael Anderson with Jesse Beresovsky Advanced Undergraduate Acoustics Experiment Acoustics represents a body of science that is rich in theory and new concepts and has many applications in everyday life. Unfortunately, many undergraduates are not afforded the opportunity to explore acoustics past a brief introduction. The purpose of this project, then, is...

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Optimization of the Static First Hyperpolarizibility of Many Non-Interacting Fermions

Edwin Bernardoni with Rolfe Petschek Optimization of the Static First Hyperpolarizibility of Many Non-Interacting Fermions Large non-linear electronic polarizabilities would be advantageous for a variety of devices and have been intensely studied for around three decades. This project will examine theoretical limits on the static first non-linear electronic susceptibility of...

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