Session B1: Poster Session

Oceans: No Global Warming Hiatus

Ninety percent of the earth's heat content is in the oceans. When NOAA used the more accurate temperature data from thousands of new ocean buoys, the so-called ``hiatus,'' or slowing of global warming since 1998, has disappeared (1). The older sea temperature data was taken from ships. New satellite data from over the Arctic, where there are few land-base temperature sensors, was also included. There has never been a ``hiatus'' in sea level rise, which is presently four times faster that of the last century. Half of the rise is from the ocean's thermal expansion. The other half comes from the melting of Greenland, West Antarctica, and mountain glaciers. The recent mean sea level rise data taken from satellites is more accurate than earlier tide gage measurements. The satellite approach does not require combining data from thousands of sensors. The best measure of global warming is rising sea levels. \\REFERENCE (1) Thomas R. Karl et. al. ``Possible artifacts of data biases in the recent global surface warming hiatus.'' \textit{Science Express }sciencemag.org/content/early/recent / 4 June 2015 / Page 1 / 10.1126/science.aaa5632   

Sudden viscous dissipation in compressing plasma turbulence

Compression of a turbulent plasma or fluid can cause amplification of the turbulent kinetic energy, if the compression is fast compared to the turnover and viscous dissipation times of the turbulent eddies. The consideration of compressing turbulent flows in inviscid fluids has been motivated by the suggestion that amplification of turbulent kinetic energy occurred on experiments at the Weizmann Institute of Science Z-Pinch \footnote{ E. Kroupp et al. PRL \textbf{107}, 105001 (2011)}. We demonstrate a sudden viscous dissipation mechanism whereby this amplified turbulent kinetic energy is rapidly converted into thermal energy, which further increases the temperature, feeding back to further enhance the dissipation. Application of this mechanism in compression experiments may be advantageous, if the plasma can be kept comparatively cold during much of the compression, reducing radiation and conduction losses, until the plasma suddenly becomes hot.   

A Useful End-of-Semester Physics Course Assessment Survey

This scantron-based survey examines the teacher/learner collaboration. It includes questions which probe student preparedness, behaviors, attitudes, and expectations -- as well as questions addressing key measures of excellence in teaching and course structure. We find that the most valuable information is revealed when survey responses are displayed at the level of individual students - for it is there that we find data which we can use to improve our guidance of student learning and cognitive development. This presentation provides illustrative examples of actual survey results, processed and color-coded using Mathematica.   

Thermal Effects on Returned Laser Scatter Signals

Laser radar (also called Lidar) is a very effective tool for understanding characteristics of the Earth's atmosphere. It employs detection of laser light scattered from atmospheric constituents to map atmospheric properties over altitude and time. The Micro Pulse Lidar system (MPL) is a single frequency ground based system that employs a single telescope for both laser transmission and collection of backscattered light. Signals detected by systems of this type can be affected by small thermal gradients. A periodicity was observed in some backscatter signals over time from laser scatter signals collected by a Micro-Pulse Lidar System housed indoors that transmits out an optical glass window. The signal's cycle was found to correlate with ambient thermal variations induced by laboratory heating systems. Results offer important information for experimental protocols and data analyses for MPL-type lidar systems.   

In Situ and Remotely Sensed Aerosol Extinction Using Optical Light Scattering

A CLidar (CCD Camera Lidar) system, was employed to remotely sense aerosols in the lower atmosphere. Due to non-uniform distribution, most aerosols are found within the first few kilometers of the atmosphere in an aerosol rich boundary layer. The CLidar is used to determine aerosol extinction coefficients, which is the sum of total aerosol scattering and the (typically small) total aerosol absorption. A lower extinction coefficient means that air being measured is relatively clear of aerosols. A second instrument, a nephelometer, was also used to for in situ measurements of suspended particles in the atmosphere. The nephelometer draws a sample of air into the instrument and uses a light source and a detector for scattering measurements. The total scatter from aerosols is a function of the light reflected back to the detector. Experiments were conducted to study how well remote sensing measurements could track the in situ measurements of aerosols in the boundary layer. Results provide insight on variability of aerosols over small altitude scales.   

Experimental and Analytical Techniques to Map Tropospheric Aerosols Using High Powered Lasers

High powered laser pulses sent up into the troposphere scatter off air molecules and suspended atmospheric aerosols. CCD imaging detection of this laser scattering can be accomplished experimentally, and when combined with detailed analysis, reveals a map of aerosols located in the troposphere. This technique provides a greater resolution of lower atmospheric regions than that achieved by many more traditional lasing and detection systems. Wide angled optics capture the scatter from the entire laser beam and image the scattered intensities at each altitude onto a CCD chip. Pixel intensities are analyzed through IDL software and molecular and aerosol scattering can be determined. Techniques are discussed and results are presented for measurements of aerosols at Central Connecticut State University.   

Multi-band Observations of the Black Hole X-ray Binary V404 Cygni During Its Brief and Violent Outburst in 2015

The black hole X-ray binary system V404 Cygni went through a brief period of violent activity during 2015 June-July. Multiwavelength observations spanning from radio to $\gamma$-rays showed that the flux from the source varied rapidly, sometimes by a factor of 30 within an hour, during this outburst. Using Wheaton College Observatory's 12'' telescope, equipped with an astronomical CCD and Johnson-Cousins BVRI filters, we observed V404 Cyg throughout the nights of 2015 June 24-25 and June 26-27. The results of these observations are presented here. Significant color evolution correlated with the optical luminosity was observed. The variability timescale favors a compact emission region, possibly originating in a jet outflow. The V-, R-, and I-band emission during the June 27 observing run appears to be dominated by an outflowing jet. A strong $H\alpha$ line from the accretion disk also likely contributes significantly in the R-band.   

On the pressure dependence of white light emitted by NIR-excited Ytterbium(III) -doped Yttrium Silicate nanopowders

The production of white light by exciting nanopowders doped with rare earth ions with several infrared laser radiation has attracted the attention of researchers. In the present study, we have directed our attention to yttrium silicate nanopowders doped with 5{\%} per mole ytterbium (III) illuminated by the output of a diode laser LDI-820 (975 nm). The particle size was found as \textasciitilde 70 nm from Scherrer equation. In particular, we have investigated the effect of pressure on the emission from the nanopowders and we have found a considerable difference while varying this physical parameter. At high pressure, the output from the nanopowder is represented by groups of sharp lines due to ytterbium cooperative emission and unwanted erbium impurities. As the pressure decreases to 0.01 mbar, the spectrum changes to a wide band resembling the white light spectra.   

Process optimization for the synthesis of cathode materials for Li ion rechargeable batteries

Considerable research has been done in the last decade to identify novel cathode materials for high energy density Li ion rechargeable batteries. The optimized cathode should have stable structure upon Li ion deintercalation/intercalation during charging and discharging, respectively with reasonable discharge capacity and cycleability at high C, lower synthesis cost and environmentally friendly. It has been reported that electrochemical properties of spinal LiMn$_{\mathrm{2}}$O$_{\mathrm{4\thinspace }}$cathode materials can be improved by partly replacing with transition metal ions e.g. Co, Fe Ni, Cr, Cu etc. In this work we have optimized the synthesis process to synthesize LiMn$_{\mathrm{2-X}}$Fe$_{\mathrm{X}}$O$_{\mathrm{4}}$ (0 $\le $ x $\le $ 0.5) cathode materials. The synthesis of the materials were carried out via sol-gel process. As-prepared synthesized materials were studied using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA). Based upon the transition temperatures observed in DSC spectra we have calcined the materials corresponding to each transition, and then XRD was taken in order to study the phase purity of the materials. The detailed results of our investigation will be presented during the meeting.   

BEAR Team Observations of Exoplanets, Asteroid 2343 Siding Spring, and Supernova ASASSN-16ad

In September 2015, Bridgewater State University was awarded a MA NASA Space Grant to run a 1-year pilot observing program: the BSU Experimental Astrophysics Research (BEAR) Team. Since that time, the ten official student participants have observed multiple exoplanets, asteroid 2343 Siding Spring, and Supernova ASASSN-16ad among other targets, such as mystery star KIC 8462852 and various galaxies and nebulae. We present preliminary light curves of the photometry targets and some astrophotography.   

Glass Transition Kinetics Of Se$_{\mathrm{\mathbf{80-x}}}$\textbf{Te}$_{\mathrm{\mathbf{20}}}$\textbf{Ag}$_{\mathrm{\mathbf{x}}}$\textbf{ Glassy Alloys}

The present study shows the glass transition kinetics of Se$_{\mathrm{80-x}}$Te$_{\mathrm{20}}$Ag$_{\mathrm{x\thinspace }}$(X $=$ 0, 5 and 10) glassy alloys prepared by quenching technique under a high vacuum of 10$^{\mathrm{-5}}$ Torr. Using calorimetric technique, it is found that the glass transition (Tg) moves towards lower temperature when Ag is incorporated in the host SeTe glassy alloy from 0{\%} to 10{\%}. The Tg appears at 336.8 $^{\mathrm{o}}$C, 336.0 $^{\mathrm{o}}$C and 333.0 $^{\mathrm{o}}$C respectively. Tg also shows a shift in its appearance for different heating rates and follows a kinetic behavior. The glass transition behavior is interpreted in terms of thermal relaxation phenomena where the enthalpy of the transition relaxes towards new equilibrium state isothermally when alloys is heated and shows a decrease in its kinetic energy. The activation energy of Tg is also found decreasing when the presence of Ag is increased in the host glassy alloy. \textbf{Keywords}: Glassy alloy, Silver, Calorimetry, Quenching, Heat flow, Kinetics, Glass transition.   

Photometric Observation and Analysis of Supernova J081659.74$+$511233.7 and Search for New Supernovae in Multi-Galactic Fields with BSU's 14'' Celestron EdgeHD Telescope and Apogee Alta U47 CCD Camera

Photometric observations of supernovae J081659.74$+$511233.7, ASASSN-15la, ASASSN-15li, and ASASSN-15ln were obtained with BSU's 14'' telescope and Apogee Alta U47 CCD on clear nights between February 27th and July 13th, 2015. Images were processed in MaxIm DL and lightcurves of the supernovae in B and luminance bands generated using MaxIm DL's differential photometry tool. A Gaussian fit to the early declining redshift-corrected lightcurve of type Ia supernova J081659.74$+$511233.7 with RMS 0.995 reveals a decline in luminance of 0.27 magnitudes from peak to phase $+$15. The fit to ASASSN-15la's reveals a decline in B of 0.16 magnitudes from peak to phase $+$15 with RMS 0.988. We present lightcurves for each type Ia supernova target. Multi-galactic fields were imaged between May 22nd and July 11th, 2015 with no cataclysmic variables detected. Future work includes generating lightcurves in V and R, and comparison of our luminance filter data to RVB passband data gathered for ASASSN-15la and -15li to attempt to determine a width-luminosity relationship for type Ia supernovae in luminance magnitude. More observations of type Ia supernovae, particularly in B and luminance, are recommended to confirm the existence of such a relationship.   

Frequency Domain Sampling in Image Processing for Artifact Reduction

Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) is one of the most widely used technologies to detect, diagnose, and study various diseases. Coils placed in the MRI machine detect waves that are released from hydrogen atoms in a particular section of the body. The images produced by MRI are accurate and clear. However, there are still some drawbacks to the technology—the MRI does produces clear and rich representations of the area imaged, but it takes a long production time to do so. Such time consumption is mainly caused by MRI’s use of data in spatial frequency. The main purpose of this research was to develop a better algorithm that would both enhance the quality of the final image and decrease the amount of time taken to produce it. An ideal and efficient LPF(Low Pass Filter) would be able to increase the resolution of an image as well as decrease the Ringing Artifact. In this research, new experiments were carried out with several modified filters to reduce the ringing effect and improve the resolution of an MRI image to a degree, which resulted in an efficient function as a new filter. Also, it is explained how the Gaussian function captures more frequencies.   

Synthesis and Characterization of CoFe$_{\mathrm{2-x}}$Ni$_{\mathrm{x}}$O$_{\mathrm{4\thinspace }}$Magnetic Nanoparticles

The synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials has recently become a very prominent research field in materials science. At very small scales, nanomaterials exhibit properties that may be drastically different from the material at bulk, such as optoelectronic and magnetic properties. Of specific interest are the properties of Magnetic Nanoparticles (MNP). MNPs have been hypothesized to be of use in biophysics, digital storage, medical physics, and manufacturing. In this work, we have synthesized CoFe$_{\mathrm{2-x}}$Ni$_{\mathrm{x}}$O$_{\mathrm{4}}$ (x$=$0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) MNPs via co-precipitation method using acetates as precursor materials. The synthesized materials were optically characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV-visible spectroscopy techniques. The thermal characterizations were carried out using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).   

The Speed of Light limit may only apply to EM Photons

Many years ago, after Maxwell first introduced his Maxwell's Equations, there was a large effort to produce a Fluid model to explain how Faraday's and Ampere's law produced a wave front, that could carry Momentum. According to Oliver Heaviside, just having either a static Magnetic field, or a static Electric field would not produce a wave front, only the time variance of either of the fields would do. Now we call the wave front a Photon. Other two field Photons exist and those muddy the waters. For instance, Mesons are a quark, antiquark pair. We say that these are Particles, however, not some hidden Maxwell type equation applied to a quark and antiquark field, to produce a Meson wave front. The quarks don't seem to exist independently, and in that way mimic the E and M fields, which if one believes Particle Physics, don't exist except via a Virtual Photon. Other Photon like entities exist, the Neutrino, which seems to be a three-field Fermion Photon. According to Heaviside the velocity of the wave front for EM is the permittivity times the permeability. What is the velocity for three fields? This Author doubts it is c, and also doubts the validity of Particle Physics as a Complete Theory. The theory of Invariants may be wrong and Fluid Mechanics may still have a solution.