Jeremy Mock with Prof. Thomas ShuttRemoving Krypton Impurities from Xenon with Chromatographic AdsorptionThe Large Underground Xenon (LUX) detector uses high-purity xenon to search for WIMP dark matter particles which are theorized to interact rarely. Thus the xenon must be free of as much background radiation as possible, and krypton...
2008
Zachary Newman with Professor Kathleen KashPlasma-Assisted Liquid Phase Epitaxial Growth of III-NitridesThe wide bandgap group III-nitrides including GaN, AlN, and InN are important for visible/UV optoelectronics as well as high power devices. In this project we will attempt to grow low defect single crystal films of III-nitrides on sapphire...
Daniel Riley with Prof. John Ruhl Construction of a Cryogenic Rotational Mechanism for the SPIDER Half Wave PlateThe purpose of the project will be to design and construct a mechanism for rotating a large sapphire half wave plate in a cryogenic environment using a stepper motor to provide discrete rotations....
John Roush with Prof. Charles Rosenblatt Growth Rates in the Linear Domain of the Rayleigh-Taylor InstabilityThe Rayleigh-Taylor Instability refers to the acceleration of a dense fluid through a less-dense fluid, often by the force of gravity. In such a case, it is difficult to mechanically establish the initial density gradient...
Patrick Shively with Prof. Jie ShanInvestigation of Charge Transport in Organic PhotoconductorsUnderstanding electronic charge transport in organic materials is of both fundamental and technological importance. Phthalocyanine (Pc) derivatives belonging to a family of discotic liquid crystals will be investigated as a model system. These disk-like molecules can self-assemble into...
William Simmons with Prof. John Ruhl Superconducting Magnetic BearingThe goal of this project is to design, build and test a superconducting magnetic bearing. The design may be used in a balloon borne polarimetry experiment, where it will be used to rotate a half wave plate. A superconducting bearing is optimal...
Karen Vaughn with Prof. Mehran Mehregany (Dept. of EECS)MEMS Resonators for High-Temperature ApplicationsMicroelectromechanical systems (MEMS) resonators are used in a variety of devices to act as a frequency reference, and, in some applications, frequency stability is required for temperatures well above 300°C. It is hypothesized that silicon carbide (SiC)...
Erik Walker with Prof. Charles RosenblattControl of an Oil Drop Formation in a Liquid Crystal MatrixWhen an oil and liquid crystal mixture is cooled quickly from high temperatures, phase separation may occur. Oil droplets appear and may form a pearl-like chain along the director. I am trying to control...
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