posters

FACULTY POSTERS:

ADAM GREEN, UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS

FROM PYTHAGORAS TO SCHWARZCHILD IN FOUR WEEKS: A SHORT COURSE ON TENSORS AND RELATIVITY

The tensor formulation of Special Relativity (SR) is foundational to graduate courses such as General Relativity (GR), electrodynamics, quantum field theory, and particle physics. However, tensors are rarely taught in smaller undergraduate physics or math departments, so many students are under-prepared for those graduate topics. To fill this gap in our own curriculum, we created a J-term short-course to see if the essentials could fit comfortably in just 15 90-minute class periods for students who had taken Linear Algebra and Modern Physics. The answer is yes. In fact, we were able to introduce most of the important details of tensors and SR in 10-11 days, leaving 4-5 days for a bit of GR, including a derivation and analysis of the Schwarzschild metric—a satisfying capstone to the course. This was a project-based course with no exams or specific assignments other than weekly online portfolios. Students had freedom to investigate any aspect of the material outside of class with the aid of resources posted online. Judging by the quality of portfolios, lively conversations, and course evaluations, students understood most of the concepts, could perform standard calculations, and were enthusiastic about the subject and course structure. We plan to offer this course every 2-3 years. This poster highlights our topic coverage, excerpts from portfolios, and resources in case instructors would like to adopt some ideas.

LAURA McCULLOUGH, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN – STOUT

DOING DEI? NOW?! THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUING DEI WORK

Though the current anti-DEI legislation makes things difficult, it is important that educators and institutions continue to make physics more accessible and welcoming. This poster will give you tips on keeping up the good work while not making yourself a target. Language choices are key, as is how you frame activities.

     STUDENT POSTERS:

  PEYTON CRAMER, ADAM GREEN, UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS

MODELING ORBITS IN SCHWARZCHILD SPACETIME USING NUMERICAL SOLUTIONS

The Schwarzschild metric describes the space outside a spherically symmetric, non-rotating body. In this geometry, orbital trajectories can have some different behaviors from the typical Newtonian/Euclidean orbits we are used to. This project visualizes these differences using the Runge-Kutta method of differential equation solving to simulate the orbital trajectories of multiple masses in Schwarzschild spacetime.

PARNIAN SEMSAR, MICHAEL WOOD, UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS

DETERMINING THE ORBITAL PERIOD FOR ECLIPSING BINARY STARS

Understanding stars is crucial for understanding our galaxy, and therefore the universe and its evolution. The evolution of a star is primarily based on its mass, and the most accurate way to acquire the mass of stars is studying eclipsing binary star systems. By studying eclipsing binaries, we can derive the fundamental parameters of the stars including mass, radius, and temperature. Recent high-precision light curves from NASA’s Kepler and TESS missions have opened new systems for detailed study. By measuring the orbital period and applying Kepler’s Third Law with Newton’s Law of Gravity, we can calculate the mass of a star; therefore, the orbital period is the key parameter that quantifies a binary star and is needed for any subsequent light curve analysis. In this study, we are developing a Python code designed to automatically determine the orbital period of binary star systems using light curve data. Results for sample systems will be shown, and future development work will be discussed.

ETHAN SHMITZ, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA – MORRIS

WORK ON THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MORRIS OBSERVATORY: REVIVAL AND EXPANSION

We worked on the Morris telescope in summer 2024. The objective was to become familiar with the instrument, clean it, repair it, and expand its capability with a new CMOS camera with filter wheel for astrophotography. This project lead to a revival of the observatory for regular public observing nights, as well as new student research opportunities. We will present our work with the 16-inch Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope and explain its capability, challenges, and functions. We installed a new CMOS camera, learned how to focus the telescope, and search efficiently for objects in the night sky. Image settings, as well as post-processing will be discussed. We have also run several successful open observing nights in which we have had a total of 350 people over the course of the fall semester. The poster will include information on our moon observing with the Gateway students, and outline future student research opportunities with the camera, telescope, image processing, and future public observings.

ETHIOPIA KEBEDE, MARK ENGEBRETSON, JESUS OCHOA, SETPHEN MENDE, AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY

EXAMINING THE CONTEXT OF GEOMAGNETIC DISTRUBANCES (GMDs) AS OBSERVED BY THE HIGH ALTITUDE ULTRAVIOLET IMAGER ON NASA’S ELLIPICALLY ORBITING SATELITE IMAGE DURING 2000-2002

Large, localized 5 to10-minute spikes in Earth’s magnetic field are occasionally observed by ground-based magnetometers at high and middle latitudes. These events, named geomagnetic disturbances (GMDs), have been found to be associated with nearby intensifications of auroras viewed from ground-based auroral cameras. Large GMDs have become of increased interest in the last decade because they can induce geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) that can disrupt large-scale electric power grids and cause large scale power outages such as the province-wide Ontario blackout in 1989. Because the numbers of research magnetometers and auroral cameras continue to be limited, elliptically orbiting high-altitude satellites that can obtain global views of the aurora at far ultraviolet (FUV) wavelengths are advantageous. However, no such satellite images have been available since the early 2000s, before the time of greatly increased interest in GMDs. The goal of this study was to determine whether large GMDs could be observed using global satellite images. It is timely in that global satellite-based imagers (e.g., the Links mission) are a key component of missions recommended by the recently published Solar and Space Physics Decadal Survey. Our results have confirmed that large GMDs can be associated with bright auroral features observed by satellite global imagers. The brightness of auroral features is consistent with GMD derivative amplitudes.

McKENZIE WAGNER, LUCAS LiaBRAATEN, LIFENG DONG, HAMLINE UNIVERSITY

EXPLORING ECO-FRIENDLY DEPOSITION OF BISMUTH THIN FILMS FOR LEAD DETECTION

The presence of heavy metals, such as lead, in drinking water is a growing concern in the United States. Traditional lead ion detection methods often involve toxic substances and complex techniques. This research aims to develop a simple and environmentally friendly method for preparing bismuth thin films to enhance lead ion detection in drinking water. We focused on the electrochemical deposition of bismuth onto a copper base using a non-toxic bismuth nitrate solution, as opposed to the more hazardous nitric acid and acetate buffer solutions commonly used. Bismuth was chosen for its accessibility and non-toxic properties. Our experiments explored various parameters, including voltage, concentration, and deposition time, resulting in a range of bismuth deposits with distinct nanoscale structures. Our results revealed three types of deposit morphologies: microscopic bismuth particles, shard-like deposits, and speckled textures. Deposits made with a concentration of ≥ 1.0 mM yielded bismuth nanoparticle clusters and nanowires. The optimal conditions for producing speckled morphology were found to be a concentration of 0.75 mM, a deposition time of 30 seconds, and a voltage of -1.4 V. This morphology was also observed at 0.16 mM under similar conditions. Time primarily affected the amount of bismuth deposited, often leading to overgrowth rather than desirable structures. These findings contribute to a better understanding of electrochemical deposition techniques and their application in preparing bismuth thin films for effective lead ion detection.

SAGE BENZ-NARVESON, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA - MORRIS

PHOTOMETRY OF STARS IN LARGE IMAGES TAKEN BY THE TURBO TELESCOPES

During summer 2023 and parts of summer 2024, I worked with the team for the telescope TURBO (Total-coverage Ultra-fast Response to Binary mergers Observatory). TURBO is designed to take pictures of the sky very quickly to find new sky events. It can map many of the brightest stars faster than any other telescope. While this functionality is mostly reserved for observing gravitational wave emitters, to find those emitters the telescope must map out a significant area of the sky regularly. This allows for a wealth of star information to be available to study. Using this data, I have begun a Python program that runs photometry, a measurement of apparent brightness, on many stars at once. This program uses application programming interfaces from Astrometry.net and the PANSTARRS catalogue to adjust the science images (cleaned up and adjusted images that account for the telescope's individual limitations and more accurately show the sky as the telescope viewed it) provided by TURBO semi-automatically, and currently can list the brightest stars. I used them to test that the program was working, as calculating the full amount of stars required a massive amount of processing power. I am not done with the data gathering phase, but I can be sure that the data I’ve gathered is clean.

ELEANOR FLYNN, FRANCESCA SAVIO, MATTHEW L. BECKMAN, MOUMITA DASGUPDA, AUGSBURG UNIVERISTY

DAPHNIA MAGNA LOCOMOTION UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DOPAMINE

Daphnia magna, a small crustacean inhabiting freshwater environments, holds pivotal significance in ecological, toxicological, and pharmacological research. Its locomotion, primarily driven by antennae movements, remains inadequately quantified despite its importance. Our study aims to provide a comprehensive, detailed analysis of Daphnia's motion. We conducted observations of their free-swimming behavior in a quasi-2D chamber and examined their antennal movements while tethered. Leveraging deep learning software (SLEAP), we gathered precise positional, temporal, and orientation data, enabling the categorization of distinct Daphnia magna gaits. We administered a dopamine receptor agonist—a known agent that reduces the average swimming speed of these organisms and observed the changes to their position, velocity, and orientation. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the changes remain elusive. Our study aims to identify the specific features of swimming gaits that give rise to discernible mobility patterns, consequently contributing to the reduction in overall swimming speed.

LUCAS LiaBRATTEN, GIEGO LUNA UTIERREZ, SHELBY PHILLIPS, McKENZIE WAGNER, LIFENG DONG, HAMLINE UNIVERSITY

OPTIMIZING ECO-FRIENDLY NANOPARTICLE SYNTHESIS FOR LEAD DETECTION IN DRINKING WATER

Lead contamination in drinking water remains a critical issue across the United States. Efficient and cost-effective detection methods are essential for both municipalities and individuals in order to prevent exposure to contaminated water. This research focuses on developing an economical and green lead detection method using bismuth nanoparticles in a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) system, as a substitute for the more expensive silver and gold nanoparticles. Bismuth was selected due to its advantageous properties, including cost-effectiveness, safety, and minimal environmental impact compared to other heavy metals. Our synthesis of bismuth nanoparticles utilized lemon juice as both a reducing and capping agent, optimizing parameters such as pH (above 12), temperature (80°C or higher), and bismuth precursor concentration (approximately 10 millimolar). The nanoparticle purification process involved a two-stage centrifugation: two rounds of 10 minutes using a larger, slower centrifuge, followed by a single 10-minute round in a smaller, faster centrifuge. Characterization via scanning and transmission electron microscopy confirmed that the nanoparticles are approximately 50 nanometers in diameter. With consistent synthesis, we are now exploring and optimizing the application of these nanoparticles for lead detection. This work will serve as a foundation for future outreach initiatives in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood and the whole of Saint Paul.

LEO JONES, LIFENG DONG, HAMLINE UNIVERSITY

UTILIZING NATURAL ACTIVATORS IN WOOD FOR SUSTAINABLE BIOCHAR PRODUCTION IN COIN-TYPE SUPERCAPACITORS

As global interest in sustainable energy increases, so does the demand for environmentally friendly energy storage devices like coin-type supercapacitors. Traditionally, biochar activation for electrodes involves multi-step, energy-intensive physical and chemical processes that require corrosive chemicals and high temperatures. This research offers a sustainable alternative by creating a simple one step activation utilizing natural activators in various types of wood. This technique of one step activation was used for three different types of wood chips: white pine, white cedar and bur oak. Bur oak was selected as a base line while white pine and white cedar were selected due to their high porous levels and content of calcium oxalate. During pyrolysis, the biochar from these woods was naturally activated through the presence of calcium oxalate. After the pyrolysis the biochar was mixed with Carbon black and other agents to form a slurry. This slurry was then spread on aluminum and copper substrates, dried, punched out into electrodes and assembled into a coin-type supercapacitor with Na2SO4 electrolyte for testing. Of the tested supercapacitors, white pine showed the highest specific capacitance (256 F/1g) at 0.1mA). Far out performing a commercial capacitor (36 F/g ). Both the white cedar and bur oak had around the same capacitance. White cedar( 6.4 F/g), Bur Oak (6.8 F/g) which were unexpectedly low capacitances. Future research will focus on stabilizing the charge-discharge rates and investigating other types of chemical compounds found in various species of wood as potential self-activators for biochar.