Bulletin of the American Physical Society
2021 Virtual Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics
Friday–Sunday, January 22–24, 2021; Virtual
Session U19: Condensed Matter, Renewable Energy, OtherInteractive Live
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Chair: Karen Olsen, University of Arizona |
Sunday, January 24, 2021 12:00PM - 12:10PM |
U19.00001: Evaluation and Optimization of the 3D Neutron Wall Load for Generic Stellarator Configurations Huaijin Wang Nuclear fusion by magnetic confinement is a promising technology for large-scale, carbon-free energy generation. Typical experimental design consists of deuterium-tritium plasma at high temperature ($\sim$10 keV) confined by a strong and torus like closed magnetic field. Wendelstein 7-X is an advanced stellarator plasma experiment that aims to bring the stellarator concept to maturity in order to prepare a next-step device towards a stellarator fusion power plant. To this end, extensive plasma simulations and optimization studies are done on a wide range of stellarator design parameters. Neutronic analysis determines the distribution of highly energetic neutrons on the stellarator first wall, and is essential in the design of blanket and critical components such as the magnetic field coils. In this presentation, I will describe a novel method for fast evaluation of the Neutron Wall Load distribution for arbitrary stellarator geometry and its application in stellarator optimization studies, which will inform design decisions on future stellarator power plant designs. [Preview Abstract] |
Sunday, January 24, 2021 12:10PM - 12:20PM |
U19.00002: Density Functional Theory Investigations of Change-Transfer Cofactors in Photosynthesis Amanda Malnati, Elijah Gruszecki, Jean-Joseph Benoit, Dan Xiao, Amga Baldansuren, K. V. Lakshmi Energy demands continue to grow as we deplete our fossil fuel resources and damage the global environment. The world is in need of affordable and efficient renewable energy, so we turn to nature to provide a blueprint. Photosynthesis performs highly efficient solar energy conversion and our goal is to better understand and replicate its design principles. Quinones play an important role in charge-transfer during photosynthesis. The two quinones in photosystem II (PSII), the primary and secondary plastoquinone, Q$_{\mathrm{A}}$ and Q$_{\mathrm{B}}$, have identical chemical structures but perform different functions, namely, Q$_{\mathrm{A}}$ participates in electron transfer reactions while Q$_{\mathrm{B}}$ conducts proton-coupled electron transfer reactions. In this study, we used density functional theory (DFT) to investigate the electronic structure, solvent effects, energy levels and magnetic properties of the primary quinone of PSII and related quinone models. We validated our DFT calculations by comparing the calculated and experimental magnetic parameters. [Preview Abstract] |
Sunday, January 24, 2021 12:20PM - 12:30PM |
U19.00003: Plasma Edge Turbulence Analysis from the Gas Puff Imaging Diagnostic on a Spherical Torus Amelia Reilly, Stewart Zweben The National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) is aimed at testing the principles of plasma confinement in a more spherically shaped tokamak in order to create a clean energy alternative. This project focuses on calculating the frequency spectrum of edge turbulence in NSTX. This data came from the gas puff imaging diagnostic which makes a 2-D image of the density fluctuation at the edge. Using this data, a spectrum was calculated using the fast Fourier transform function in IDL. The result is a broad spectrum from approximately 1 to 70 KHz. This demonstrates the turbulent nature of these fluctuations. Edge turbulence is relevant in determining the particle and energy confinement and the plasma-wall interactions in both present and future magnetic fusion devices such as the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). [Preview Abstract] |
Sunday, January 24, 2021 12:30PM - 12:40PM |
U19.00004: Photovoltaic behavior of polymerizable ionic liquid based fixed-junction light-emitting electrochemical cells Avalon Hayes, Corbit Sampson, Ariel Garcia, Janelle Leger Although silicon solar cells dominate the solar power market, polymer solar cells (PSCs) are a subject of recent study, and show potential for easier fabrication and wider application than silicon cells. One type of PSC, first proposed in 1994, uses a light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC) structure, in which an applied electrical bias causes mobile ions within a polymer layer to separate towards opposing electrodes. Most LECs have dynamic junctions, meaning that ion separation disappears as soon as the bias is removed, which prohibit functionality as a solar cell; however, fixed-junction LECs maintain their ion separation and thus produce a notable photovoltaic response. Our group has developed a chemically fixed junction LEC by blending a light-emitting polymer with a polymerizable ionic liquid (PIL). It is hypothesized that ions from the PIL bind to the polymer after separation, preventing deterioration of the junction. PIL-based LECs have shown improvements, in general metrics such as light output, over other chemically-fixed junctions. We are presently testing the photovoltaic response of these devices, by measuring current during light application, in order to reveal more about their microscopic behavior and create a foundation for further study. [Preview Abstract] |
Sunday, January 24, 2021 12:40PM - 12:50PM |
U19.00005: Classical Correlations in Quantum Networks Amanda Gatto Lamas, Eric Chitambar Quantum networks consist of nodes that are linked by exchanging quantum bits (``qubits'') or receiving them from a common source. Quantum networks can outperform classical networks for information processing by exploiting quantum resources such as entanglement and nonlocality. However, not all quantum networks manifest nonlocality, and those that do not can be simulated classically. Therefore, characterizing which quantum networks demonstrate nonlocality is fundamental to understanding which networks have distinctively quantum features that can be harnessed. In this work, we identify a classical model that simulates a quantum bipartite 4-party cycle network, in which the parties share the Bell state \begin{figure}[htbp] \centerline{\includegraphics[width=1.57in,height=0.27in]{030120211.eps}} \label{fig1} \end{figure} \textbar $\beta $\textgreater $=$1/$\surd $2 (\textbar 00\textgreater $+$ \textbar 11\textgreater ) and make projective measurements in the Bell basis. Our results thus place necessary conditions on the structure of quantum networks if they are able to surpass classical approaches. [Preview Abstract] |
Sunday, January 24, 2021 12:50PM - 1:00PM |
U19.00006: The Functions and Applications of Low Frequency Oscillators Abigail Drayer In my presentation I will focus on Low Frequency Oscillators (LFO) and LFO modulation. I will explore what LFO modulation is and how it affects the sound of whatever wave it is imposed onto, as well as exploring the effect this sound has on the listener. The frequency of an LFO is lower than the audible range that humans can hear, so what does an LFO sound like in conjunction with an audible oscillator? In what context would one want to apply the sound it creates? While on their own, LFO's cannot be detected by the human ear, though the low frequency sound waves they produce can be physically felt by the listener. The applications of LFO's are vast, spanning several applications and uses such as film scores, noise cancelling headphones, and Long Rang Acoustic Devices (LRADs). [Preview Abstract] |
Sunday, January 24, 2021 1:00PM - 1:10PM |
U19.00007: Quantum Signal Detection Simulations on IBM Quantum (IBMQ) Processors Makayla Dixon, Gregory Quiroz, Paraj Titum Quantum detection methods are important for sensing Gaussian signals in noisy environments. By tuning qubit sensitivity to the signal frequency, a qubit decoheres to its ground state faster in environments with signal than without.~Our approach~tunes~qubit sensitivity~through quantum circuits. We inject signal and control via gates. Then, the circuits are run on IBMQ devices, which provide noise. To maximize qubit decoherence in the presence of a signal, we optimize the number of gates, time between gates, and gate rotation angles though variational quantum algorithms. Our current research verifies optimal control parameters for the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) sequence (Titum~et al 2020) using the IBMQ~Qasm~simulator. We optimized the time between gates and gate rotation angles with two algorithm types: Simultaneous Perturbation Stochastic Approximation (SPSA) and Genetic Algorithms (GA). Continuous and discrete SPSA performed well for small numbers of CPMG cycles. Discrete GA performance depended on the crossover method. One crossover method (DEAP~cxOrdered) proved consistent for large numbers of CPMG cycles, significantly outperforming discrete SPSA. We hope our optimizer analysis helps future~experimentation~on IBMQ hardware. [Preview Abstract] |
Sunday, January 24, 2021 1:10PM - 1:20PM |
U19.00008: Exploring free energy states of small quantum systems Gaukhar Yesmurzayeva, Sarah Shandera, Unnati Akhouri In quantum mechanics quantum bit or qubit is used to describe the simplest unit of quantum information. It is usually represented as a superposition of two states. Properties of natural objects in the Universe can be described by thermodynamics. The question is whether there is a simple thermodynamical description of the basic properties. In order to asses the complex phenomena, it is helpful to start with simple systems. The goal of the research is to find the analog of these phenomena with the use of simple qubit systems by assessing the free energy, dynamics, and other factors. The research is focused on the thermodynamical aspects of the systems and findings of the amount of qubits needed to satisfy the local free energy equations. The research is conducted under the supervision of Prof. Sarah Shandera and Akhouri Unnati. [Preview Abstract] |
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