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IU Summer REU Research Projects in the Department of Physics
Here are a few examples of potential REU research projects based in the Department of Physics at Swain Hall West.
Construction and Testing of the Full CREST Detector (Prof. Jim Musser, Astrophysics)
Indiana
University is the construction site for the CREST detector, which will be flown from the South
Pole in 2008 to detect high energy cosmic electrons. This project will introduce the student
to the construction and testing of particle detectors, including the analysis of test data. Prof.
Musser has supervised 5 IU undergraduates in research projects and two REU students in
the past three years.
Unifying Inflation and Dark Energy Using an Interacting Holographic Model (Prof. Mike Berger, Physics):
The introduction of an interaction between dark energy and matter and the holographic principle offers a possible way to unify two eras of expansion of the universe, inflation and today's dark energy-driven expansion, using a model based on a simple physical principle. We will develop a possible expansion history for the universe using a model of interacting holographic dark energy. Other recent projects: Attempts to Quantify Tripartite Entanglement Entropy and Quantum Mechanics on S1. Professor Berger has supervised seven REU students, including three in the past three years.
Neural Networks and Dynamical Systems (Prof. John Beggs, Physics and Biocomplexity):
Guided by theories from condensed matter physics, the Beggs lab studies how groups of brain cells collectively process information. Students will develop models for data from live neuronal networks and develop related dynamical models. Prof. Beggs has been at IU since 2003 and has already supervised five REU students as well as two IU undergraduates; see his biographical sketch for publications that have resulted.
Visual Information Processing (Prof. de Ruyter, Physics and Program in Neuroscience):
Vision in animals, including humans, is based on an ongoing interpretation of optical signals gathered by the eye, and the physical properties of these highly complex signals put fundamental limits on visual information processing. With this in mind, using the blowfly as our model system, we study how a real organism processes visual signals. We record signals from photoreceptors that convert light into electrical signals and from neurons deep in the visual brain that are sensitive to moving visual patterns. We also study visually guided behavior in a specially developed flight tracker system. The fly uses adaptive computational strategies to cope with the complexity of the visual input data stream, and we try to understand these strategies on a quantitative basis, hoping to uncover fundamental principles of biological computation. Prof. De Ruyter joined the IU faculty in 2003 and has supervised three REU students and one IU undergraduate.
Wave Propagation in Novel Structures (Prof. John Carini, Condensed Matter Physics)
The student will study
the behavior of microwaves confined within waveguide and photonic crystal structures. This
project involves designing and building the structure and using a microwave network
analyzer to look for novel behavior of the confined microwaves. It will be carried out in
collaboration with theoretical physicists Profs. Londergan (NTC) and Schaich (Physics).
Prof. Carini has previously been involved in the supervision of 5 REU students in
collaboration with Profs. Londergan and Schaich.
Studies of Electron Motion in Two Dimensions (Prof. Londergan, Physics and NTC)
Electrons traveling on 2-D "quantum wires" exhibit dramatic wave-like interference effects,
including bound states in bent wires and resonance phenomena for conduction though
narrow channels. The summer student will perform calculations for the analysis of
resonances and current flows in new wire geometries. About a dozen REU students have
been involved in theoretical projects with Prof. Londergan (and his collaborator, Prof.
Murdock, Tennessee Tech University) in previous summer REU programs at IUCF. This
research project also has an experimental component with Prof. Carini's lab.
Quantum Information and Computation (Prof. Ortiz, Physics)
Quantum simulation, as
conjectured by Feynmann, is the process of faithfully imitating a physical phenomenon using
a quantum computer. The student will simulate few qubit systems using the logic gates
appropriate for an ion trap quantum computer (or simulator). Prof. Ortiz joins us from Los Alamos National Lab, where he participated in research with visiting students for over a decade.
Optical near-field dynamics (Prof. Dragnea, Dept. of Chemistry, and
Prof. Schaich, Dept. of Physics)
The student will help with experiments and simulations of the optical
gradient forces arising in the near-field of metallodielectric
nanostructures. Such structures include arrays of subwavelength holes in
metal films, 3D biomaterials, and double-cusp optical antennas.
Technical skills that will be learned during this project include
nanolithography, scanning probe microscopy, and finite difference
simulations.
The NOvA Neutrino Oscillation Experiment: (Prof. Mark Messier, Physics):
NOvA will measure the muon-to-electron-neutrino oscillation using both neutrinos and anti- neutrinos. The anti-neutrino measurements are made possible by Fermilab's ability to produce very intense beams and as part of NOvA we will be working to increase the intensity of the lab’s proton source. By measuring both neutrinos and anti-neutrinos NOvA will help to answer some basic questions about neutrinos and the universe. Prof. Messier has supervised four REU students in the past five years.
Search for New Particles in the ATLAS Detector at the LHC (Dr. Daria Zieminska and Dr. Vivek Jain, Physics):
The students will work on research projects related to the detection of new particles in the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Recent projects include: Improving Event Selection in Top-Anti-Top Reconstruction and A Signature Of New Physics: Determining Missing Energy In The Atlas Detector. Dr. Zieminska has supervised two REU students in the past three years.
Unifying Inflation and Dark Energy Using an Interacting Holographic Model (Prof. Mike Berger, Physics):
The introduction of an interaction between dark energy and matter and the holographic principle offers a possible way to unify two eras of expansion of the universe, inflation and today's dark energy-driven expansion, using a model based on a simple physical principle. We will develop a possible expansion history for the universe using a model of interacting holographic dark energy. Other recent projects: Attempts to Quantify Tripartite Entanglement Entropy and Quantum Mechanics on S1. Professor Berger has supervised seven REU students, including three in the past three years.
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