MODELING TRAPPED NoN-NEUTRAL PLASMAS WITH A PIECEWISE PARABOLIC METHOD

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Rachel K. Berg, Physics and Astronomy The objective of my undergraduate research at Brigham young University was to adapt a numerical algorithm known as the piecewise parabolic method to solve problems of interest in the study of trapped non-neutral plasmas. The project took the better part of a year, but ultimately I was successful. The […]

A PRESENTATION OF THE MAPPING OF LBN434 AND ITs RAMIFICATIONS ON THE ASSUMPTION OF CLEAR SEEING AT HIGH GALACTIC LATITUDES

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Kristen Adams We recorded three to four images of each section of the nebula. Each group of images was identical in the data recorded; thus, after reduction, the individual images of each group could be combined directly to yield a higher intensity signal output. To reduce the data, I performed the following ~tandard CCD procedures: […]

Finding Neutron Detector Efficiency Using Monte Carlo Neutron Particle (MCNP) Calculations

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Eva Wilcox and Dr. Lawrence Rees, Physics and Astronomy A neutron detector, made by Bart Czirr, has components of plastic and a new compound called lithium gadolinium borate, with a chemical formula of LiGd(BO3)3:Ce3+. The lithium in this detector is responsible for capturing neutrons that have collided with protons in the detector, making them slow […]

Study of the Eclipsing Binary AH Cancri

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Delora Chere’ Tanner and Dr. Benjamin Taylor, Physics and Astronomy Unlike research in many other disciplines, astronomical research is highly dependent upon the weather. My original proposed research was to further the task of calibrating standard stars in the M67 open cluster. Unfortunately the weather was unfavorable during the window of time that this cluster […]

Charge Injection in Semiconductor Nanocrystals and Its Effect on Luminescence and Spin Resonance

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James Owen Ostler and Dr. Bret C. Hess, Physics and Astronomy With diameters of only about 4-5 nanometers, semiconductor nanocrystals exhibit different properties than bulk semiconductors. Because of this there has been a focus in research to discover and exploit these new properties. The CdSe nanocrystal is smaller than the normal wave function of an […]

A Proposed Thin Film Process for Shortening Carbon Nanotube AFM Probes

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Dale S. Kitchen and Dr. Robert C. Davis, Physics and Astronomy This report describes the growth of carbon nanotubes on sharp silicon cantilevers through chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and the implementation of thin film and acid etch techniques to shorten the grown nanotubes. Silicon and silicon-nitride probes serve as the principle imaging tools for Atomic […]

Work Towards Building an Extreme Ultraviolet Ellipsometer

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Cort N. Johnson and Dr. David D. Allred, Physics and Astronomy The extreme ultraviolet (EUV) optics group at Brigham Young University uses thin film technology to develop multiplayer mirrors and designed to reflect well at certain EUV wavelengths. We need methods of measuring layer thickness on the order of a few angstroms. One method often […]

Direct CVD Growth of Carbon Nanotubes on Silicon Nitride Atomic Force Microscope Probes

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Matthew Housley and Dr. Robert Davis, Physics and Astronomy Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is currently one of the most important analytical techniques in nanoscale science and technology. Because it can image surface topography with a resolution better than 10 nm, AFM has allowed the visualization of many nanoscale structures which other microscopic techniques cannot see. […]

Physical Vapor Deposition of Silicon Dioxide from a Silicon Tetraacetate Precursor for Anchoring Nanotubes to Atomic Force Microscopy Probe Tips

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Jed Whittaker and Dr. Robert Davis, Physics and Astronomy It has been previously shown1 that silicon tetraacetate vapor thermally decomposes to a silicon dioxide thin film and gas phase acid anhydride at 160-170°C. Here a method is developed to anchor carbon nanotubes to atomic force microscope (AFM) tips with such a silicon dioxide thin film. […]

Determining Optical Constants with an EUV Polarimeter

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Fabian Walter and Dr. R Steven Turley, Physics and Astronomy Characterizing mirrors is of great importance when designing optical devices. In order to control the reflectivity, these mirrors are made of multilayer structures. The index of refraction n, which allows for the calculation of the reflectivity, depends on the wavelength of the light. In the […]