The following topics are available for undergraduate research projects. For more information, contact the faculty member associated with the project.

Adapt a 512 element photo-diode array into compact spectroscopy system (Dr. Berney).

Magneto-optic  trapping of rubidium atoms using diode lasers (Dr. Brecha). Currently Ben Johnson is working on this project.    Using the light from a pair of diode lasers along with a magnetic field, it is possible to capture and confine a sample of rubidium atoms in an evacuated cell.  The slowing (cooling) and trapping process reduces the temperature of the gas sample from ~300K to 100mK.  Even at these extremely low temperatures, however, the sample does not condense because the density is so low.

Spectroscopy of oxygen (Dr. Brecha).  I have been concentrating my efforts on this experiment for several years.  Right now I am interested in collecting data on the amount of light absorbed by oxygen at various wavelengths.  The goal of the experiment is to extract absorption parameters from the data by doing a non-linear least-squares fitting.  This experiment consists of  quite a bit of computer work, as well as work with a laser diode system for taking data.

Two-photon absorption in rubidium (Dr. Brecha).   As an extension of the work on oxygen, I have begun setting up an experiment that has the goal of making precise measurements of the absolute frequency at which oxygen absorbs light, to a level of about one part in 10⁸.  We will use a pair of transitions in atomic rubidium to serve as our standard reference, with which we will compare the frequencies of the oxygen absorption features.  The absorption in rubidium is a two-photon process, in which light at two different wavelengths is simultaneously absorbed. 

Optical rotation of light in sugar solutions (Dr. Brecha).  Polarized light traveling through certain solutions experiences a rotation in the plane of polarization that is dependent on the material, the pathlength, and on the wavelength of the incident light.  I would like to use several diode lasers at different wavelengths (probably four) to make a compact system for measuring the optical rotation characteristics of solutions, and to see if it is possible to determine concentrations and to identify different constituents of the solution using this technique.

Computer interfaced nonlinear systems and computer modeling of physical systems (Dr. Berney).

Using sounds in science and mathematics instruction (Dr. Erdei). This project is a follow-up of a recent honors thesis. Sounds are used as a tool to help in the instruction of concepts and behaviors in science and mathematics in elementary or secondary schools.

The fractal nature of the human EEG and it's relationship to music ( Dr. Erdei). Human electroencephalograms have been used previously to generate musical sounds as well as short pieces of music. The EEG has a fractal character, and this project will explore this fractal character and compare it to fractal characteristics of music. A relationship between EEG and music could be exploited in areas such as music therapy.

Stochastic resonance in mathematical models (Dr. Erdei). A Stochastic resonance occurs when the addition of noise to a signal actually increases the signal to noise ratio. This behavior will be explored in certain mathematical models.

Quantum theory of microcavity lasers (Dr. Pedrotti).

Bell's Theorem and quantum wierdness (Dr. Pedrotti).

Cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) (Dr. Powers).  Cavity ring-down is a technique that measures a very small absorption of light. Ring down measurements are important for applications such as trace species detection where one wants to measure a small number of molecules in an air sample (parts per billion to parts per trillion). The idea behind CRDS is to inject a pulse of light into a cavity. Once in the cavity, the pulse slowly leaks out (because we use high reflectivity mirrors). By measuring how long it takes the pulse to leak out of the cavity, or to "ring down," one can determine how much light was absorbed in the cavity. The amount of absorption can then be related to the number of absorbing molecules in the cavity.  This project involves setting up the initial ring-down cavity and the associated data acquisition. Once this is completed we will go to an ultra-sensitive mode that uses a continuous wave laser instead of a pulsed laser.

Applied Nonlinear Optics (Dr. Powers).  We use nonlinear optical techniques to frequency convert lasers to the near infrared.  The nonlinear frequency conversion is a tunable process so that broad spectral regions can be covered with a single system.  We are actively pursuing research projects that further develop the tunable light sources.  We are also pursuing new and novel applications based on the tunable light sources. 

 Study of nonlinear processes and chaos using the van der Pol oscillator (Dr. Yaney). The project would be a study of the various features of the device and to correlate with other physical processes, if possible .

Create a high accuracy mathematical or empirical model of a dye laser lineshape function for fitting CARS data. this would also include carrying out fittings and analyses of data sets (Dr. Yaney).

Laboratory development activities in setting up new labs (Dr. Yaney). Ultimately this would involve setting up a new laser faciltiy to obtain a tunable laser system using an OPO.

Additional research opportunities exist at the University of Dayton Research Institute, either on campus or at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Also, there are numerous research opportunities through SOCHE, the Southwestern Ohio Council Council for Higher Education. Check in the Physics Department for current announcements.

Various projects, presentations and research publications by students:

Mentor: Dr. Berney
John Nowakowski, UD Physics Major & Mechanical Engineering Major, Honors Student, 1999.  "A Computer Controlled Experiment in Nonlinear Mechanical Resonance," John Nowakowski and Rex Berney, APS-Ohio Section Meeting, November 1999.

Amanda Barnett, UD Engineering Major and Honors Student - 1995:
Audio Enhanced Techniques for the Instruction of Mathematics and the Science, University of Dayton Honors Thesis (December 1995).

Matthew Bold, UD Physics Major - 1994:
Intern at the Dayton Museum of Natural History (Fall, 1993)

Christopher O'Dell, UD Physics Major and Honors Student - 1995:
Honors Thesis: "Nonlinear Forecasting Analysis of the Human Electroencephalogram: A study of the Dynamical Nature of the EEG", May, 1995.

O'Dell, C. W., Erdei, J. E., and Zeller, P. J., "The Stochastic Behavior of the Human Electroencephalogram", The Stander Symposium for Undergraduates, University of Dayton (02/15-16/94).

O'Dell, C. W. and Erdei, J. E., "The Stochastic Behavior of Electroencephalograms", Argonne Symposium for Undergraduates in Science, Engineering and Mathematics, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne Il (11/5-6/93).

O'Dell, C. W., Zeller, P. J., and Erdei, J. E., "Nonlinear Forecasting Analysis of EEG", Bull. Amer. Phys. Soc. 38, No. 7, 1661 (1993).

Peter J. Zeller, UD Physics Major - 1993:
Zeller, P. J., and Erdei, J. E., "Modeling the Scaling Behavior of an Electroencephalogram", Argonne Symposium for Undergraduates in Science, Engineering and Mathematics, 11/6-7/92.

Elaine Brunsman, UD Physics Major - 1992:
AFOSR Summer Faculty Research Program Student Fellow (1992). Erdei, J. E., Brunsman, E. B., and Badeau, A. F., "Scaling in an Electroencephalogram", SIAM Conference on Applications of Dynamical Systems, 10/17/92.

Brunsman, E. M., "Quantitative Measures of the Chaotic Behavior of Electroencephalographs", Technical Report, Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research, 1992.

Erdei, J. E., and Brunsman, E. B., "Fractal and Multifractal Nature of an Electroencephalogram", SFRP/RPL Technical Reports, 12-1 (1992). Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research, , Summer 1991.

Brunsman, E. M., and Erdei, J. E., "The Scaling Behavior and Fractal Dimension of an Electroencephalogram", Bull. Amer. Phys. Soc. 37 No. 9, 1877 (1992).

"Scaling Behavior of an Electroencephalogram - II", Department of Physics Seminar, University of Dayton, 10/25/91.

Brunsman, E., M., and Erdei, J. E., "Self-Affine Nature of an Electroencephalogram", Argonne Symposium for Undergraduates in Science, Engineering and Mathematics, 11/8-9/91.

Brunsman, M. E., and Erdei, J. E., "Variation in the Scaling Behavior of an Electroencephalogram as a Function of Task," Stander Symposium for Undergraduate Research, University of Dayton (3/10-11/92).

Mentor: Dr. Pedrotti
Robert Loper, UD Physics Major - 1994
"The Motion of Objects in the Vicinity of Black Holes."

Jack E. MullenUD Physics Major - 1993
"The Injection of Squeezed Light into a Laser Cavity."

Vincent E. Sacksteder, UD Physics Major - 1992
"The Significance of Bell's Theorem."

Rice, Perry R., Yin, Xiasong, Wladen, James, Gea-Banacloche, Julio, Pedrotti, Leno, and Mullen, Jack E., "Laser with Injected Squeezed Vacuum: Phase Diffusion and Intensity Fluctuations," Phys. Rev. A., 50, 4176 (1194).

Mentor: Dr. Powers
Adam Kocolski, current UD Physics Major
"Image processing for astronomy"

Joel Helton, UD Physics Major, 2002
"Nd:YVO4 Laser Development."  honors thesis in progress.

Justin Biddle, UD Physics Major, 1999.
"Optical Parametric Generator Studies. "

Matt Hartings, UD Physics & Chemistry Major, 1999.
"Sensitive Chemical Detection Using Novel Light Sources.""