REU Project Descriptions
Project #1: Optics, Prof. Mario Affatigato
The students in Prof. Affatigato's group will carry out projects involving laser desorption and ionization (LITOF-MS), Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements on oxide glasses. They will be thoroughly involved in the process, from glassmaking and crystal growing to operating the spectrometer, to data analysis. These projects will expose students to a variety of physical instrumentation, from Nd:YAG and nitrogen lasers, to vacuum pumps, to microchannel plates, data acquisition electronics, etc. The first project, on structural characterization using the LITOF-MS, will involve modeling of fragmentation patterns, isotopic signatures, structural models to explain the observed spectra, etc. Complementary Raman/FTIR measurements will also be made. In a second project, the REU student will perform AFM and SEM measurements on glasses that have been modified by laser irradiation and/or for light scattering applications. Finally, REU students will also have the choice to work with Professor Affatigato on the study of heavy metal oxide glasses for high density applications. In this last project, the students will make the samples and characterize them using ultraviolet and infrared wavelength cutoffs, Raman spectra and density. All projects combine condensed matter theory, glassmaking and optical spectroscopy.
Project #2: Materials Science, Prof. Steve Feller
In this area, REU students will participate in a condensed-matter physics group that specializes in developing new glasses and characterizing several of their unique properties. Prof. Feller's materials group has the ability to cool glasses at exceedingly fast rates (over 100,000 °C/sec.) using two state of the art roller quenchers. This equipment allows them to make glasses over extreme compositional ranges. Examples of the types of projects available to students include: development of new alkali and alkaline-earth vanadate glasses; determination of thermal properties in a host of oxide glass systems such as borates, silicates and germates; high precision measurements of density using a variety of techniques; spectroscopic (neutron scattering, FTIR, Raman, X-Ray, and NMR) investigations of the atomic structure of glasses. This research will make use of the new state-of-the-art Raman Spectrometer recently installed at Coe. We also do modeling of atomic structure-physical property relationships in these glasses.
Project #3: Acoustics, Prof. Jim Cottingham
REU students working in Prof. Cottingham's group carry out studies on the acoustics of musical instruments, in particular those wind instruments using so-called "free reeds". These include the harmonium, reed organ, harmonica and the accordion-concertina family. Research in musical acoustics makes extensive use of Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) spectrum analysis and the modal analysis of vibrating systems. Analysis of the air-driven free reed also involves stress-strain mechanics and fluid dynamics. There are several specific areas of investigation in which students may become involved. Studies of reed motion and modes of vibration employ a variety of instruments including variable-impedance-transducer (VIT) proximity sensors, and a laser vibrometer system. Students are also involved in measurement of acoustic input impedance curves of the resonating pipes and theoretical modeling of the motion of the air-driven reed and reed-pipe coupling. Newer areas of study include the investigation of the spectra of attack transients and measurement and visualization of sound fields within the pipe resonators.Project #4: Glassy Materials, Prof. Steve Singleton
Students working on this project will be studying the structure and corrosion of amorphous (glassy) materials. Because glasses do not have long-range or periodic order, understanding their structure is a great challenge. In this work, we utilize a sophisticated laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) apparatus to determine the microscopic environment around probe ions implanted in the glass. We measure the LIF spectrum and emission lifetime to understand the energy transfer processes and, thus, learn about the glass's structure. A new area of research for us involves studying the corrosion of glass surfaces. We use Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), imaging Raman spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to measure the kinetics of the erosion processes that occur when samples are exposed to corrosive gasses and liquids. This work is important for understanding how glasses can be made more durable or compatible with desirable properties for specific applications.
Project #5: Biochemistry, Prof. Maria Dean
Pectinaria gouldii and Phragmatopoma lapidosa are two different marine annelids that make and secrete a bio-cement used to construct a protective enclosure for them to live. Research in Dr. Dean's group employs techniques in protein biochemistry and molecular genetics/biology. The surface properties of the biocements have been explored using Atomic Force Microscopy, Scanning Electron and Raman spectroscopies. This summer, construction of cDNA libraries for both marine worms will be a priority. We will use bioinformatics to help us understand these organisms and the protein biocement they secrete.
Project #6: Organic and Organometallic Chemistry, Prof. Scott Stoudt
Research in Dr. Stoudt's group is focused on the synthesis, structure and reactivity of hypervalent compounds, particularly those of the Group 14 elements. Representative projects include: synthesis of Ar3CSnX3 (X = F, Cl, Br, I) complexes and characterization using 1H, 13C and 119Sn NMR; studies on the rotational dynamics (e.g. aryl ring "flipping") in Ar3CSnX3 compounds using dynamic NMR methods; and electronic structure calculations on Group 14 hypervalent species using semi-empirical and ab-initio MO methods. A student participating in this research would encounter many of chemistry's core topics including bonding theories, stereochemistry, "wet" synthesis and instrumental methods.