Bulletin of the American Physical Society
APS April Meeting 2014
Volume 59, Number 5
Saturday–Tuesday, April 5–8, 2014; Savannah, Georgia
Session C14: Undergraduate Research and Outreach - SPS II |
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Chair: Kendra Redmond, Society of Physics Students - AIP Room: 102 |
Saturday, April 5, 2014 1:30PM - 1:42PM |
C14.00001: Forgotten Trailblazers: The History of Women in Physics and Astronomy Fiona Muir While female physicists and astronomers have historically made up a relatively small fraction of the community as a whole, this was not the only thing holding back women in physics. Even the most prominent women have had their achievements overlooked and diminished. As part of a Society of Physics Students internship at the American Institute of Physics' Center for History of Physics, we researched the lives and work of a range of women in physics, covering a wide span of geographical areas and eras in history. This information was compiled in to lesson plans for high school and college age students, focusing on specific women or certain overarching themes such as collaborative married couples. In this talk, I will discuss our research methods and include examples of the lesson plans and their applications. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, April 5, 2014 1:42PM - 1:54PM |
C14.00002: Models of the rotation curve for the Milky Way Galaxy Robert Moss, James O'Brien In this talk we present synthesis rotation curve data for the milky way galaxy. Galaxy rotation curves have proven to be the testing ground for dark matter bounds in galaxies, and our own milky way is one of many large spiral galaxies that must follow the same models. Here, we present many different models of the rotation curves of the milky way galaxy and their possible implications. Of the models explored, both standard {$\Lambda CDM$} as well as alternative gravitational models will be discussed. A discussion will follow as to how each model attempts to explain recently discovered phenomena in the milky way galaxy. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, April 5, 2014 1:54PM - 2:06PM |
C14.00003: Quantum Effects in Nanoscale MOSFET Devices at Low Temperature Alexandra Day MOSFET transistors are a key component of virtually all modern electronic devices. Today's most advanced MOSFETs are small enough that quantum mechanical effects become relevant when considering their function and use. This project, completed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology as part of a Society of Physics Students internship, presents a first step in describing the theoretical behavior of nanoscale MOSFETs at low temperature. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, April 5, 2014 2:06PM - 2:18PM |
C14.00004: A Solution of Backlight Bleed Drawback of LCDs can be seen by Long Range Ordered Nematic Domain of Liquid Crystal 8CB Dipti Sharma Most common liquid crystal device (LCD) uses nematic to isotropic phase transition of the liquid crystal to get more vibrant images and better contrast ratios in terms of how deep their blacks are. A contrast ratio is the difference between a completely on and off pixel, and LCDs can have ``backlight bleed'' where light (usually seen around corners of the screen) leaks out and turns black into gray. Completely on and off pixel can be related to the orientation of liquid crystal domain from nematic to Isotropic transition. This research focuses how long range ordered nematic domains can affect the nematic to isotropic phase transition of aligned 8CB liquid crystal and brings a quicker and early occurrence of nematic to isotropic phase transition with smaller wing tales. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, April 5, 2014 2:18PM - 2:30PM |
C14.00005: Failure of the Cross Correlation Measurement Technique Ken McGill, Katie Ham, Kris Schock The experiment involves creating a sound wave that propagates down a pipe with 8 transducers attached at equally spaced intervals of 0.01016 meters. The numerical method used to solve for the phase component, the Cross Correlation Method, creates a high correlation value, but the speed of sound varies immensely. The method involves a Fast Fourier Transform of the collected data, which is used to find the phase of the sound wave, and the slope of the position versus time graph, which is used to calculate the speed of sound. This high correlation values shows that the data is correct, but the numerical method for analyzing the data is incorrect. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, April 5, 2014 2:30PM - 2:42PM |
C14.00006: AIP's Career Pathways Project Jose Avila The American Institute of Physics (AIP) Career Pathways Project, funded by the National Science Foundation, aims to increase the number of undergraduates going into STEM careers. The main purposes of this project are to show students the professional opportunities for a STEM career, understand what departments can do to better prepare physics bachelor's degree recipients to enter the workforce, understand what students can do to better prepare themselves, and develop resources based on these findings. I was chosen by the Society of Physics Students (SPS) to be the 2013 summer intern of the AIP's Career Pathways Project. In this talk I will discuss several resources I worked on with the Statistical Research Center of the American Institute of Physics and SPS. These resources include how to write a resume and cover letter, how to perform an informational interview, common job titles for physics bachelors, how to find career information in physics and STEM, how to search and use job postings, and how to network. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, April 5, 2014 2:42PM - 2:54PM |
C14.00007: Going to work with an undergraduate physics degree Toni Sauncy, Kendra Redmond, Roman Czujko With an average 40{\%} of all physics baccalaureate degree recipients opting not to enter graduate school, it is imperative that departments build robust programs that prepare students for a broad range of career paths. However, the default focus of many departments is on preparing students for entry into advanced physics degree programs. Based on the statistical evidence and need for attention on students entering the workforce, the American Institute of Physics (AIP) has undertaken an NSF-funded research effort to understand, compile and disseminate effective practices for preparing undergraduate physics students to enter the STEM workforce upon graduation. The project entailed site visits to eight schools with strong records of students entering STEM fields, in order to discern effective practices in recruitment and preparation of students for those opportunities. We have developed targeted information to engage the students themselves, the faculty advisors, mentors and career professionals who have direct contact with the students, and the administrative ``decision-makers.'' Each of these groups requires information that addresses their particular roles in the collaborative process that will lead to not only an increase in the numbers of students who enter the STEM workforce, but in the quality preparation of those students. The tools for each of these groups will be discussed, with special emphasis on a set of career tools for students and their mentors. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, April 5, 2014 2:54PM - 3:06PM |
C14.00008: Searching for Dark Matter with the NO$\nu$A Neutrino Telescope Liting Xiao NOvA is a particle physics experiment designed to study the properties of neutrino oscillations using a beam of neutrinos from Fermilab. Because of the NOvA detector's unique features, it may be useful for other physics searches beyond its primary purpose. We investigate using the NOvA detector as a neutrino telescope to search for dark matter annihilations at the core of Sun. [Preview Abstract] |
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