Master of Science in Physics Theses and Plan B Project Papers
Persistent link for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/11299/227781
This collection contains some of the final works (theses and Plan B project papers) produced by master's degree students in the Master of Science in Physics graduate program. Students in this program complete either a Plan A (thesis-based) program or a Plan B (project-based) program. Additional Plan As (theses) can be found in the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Dissertations and Theses collection.
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listelement.badge.dso-type Item , Winter heat content and summer stratification in Lake Superior(2024-12) Boedigheimer, KaitlinThe Large Lakes Observatory has deployed subsurface moorings in Lake Superior since 2005. Temperature data from these moorings is used to constructcomplete subsurface thermal profiles for most years between 2005-2022. Total lake heat content, which is a function of temperature and depth, is computed from this data in order to analyze heat flux in Lake Superior and gain further insight on winter heating influences of summertime surface warming. Relationships among winter seasonal characteristics such as heat content, ice cover, and air temperature are explored using linear regression techniques. From surface water temperature data, yearly date of summer stratification is determined to examine connections with winter heat content and ice cover. Analysis of fit parameters indicates that winter heat content holds the stronger relationship, and it is shown to be a reliable predictor of summer stratification timing.listelement.badge.dso-type Item , Stabilizer States and the Holographic Entropy Cone(2024-07) Osthus, NoahThe quantum entropy cone encapsulates all possible entropic structures for quantum states. The linear entropy inequalities that define it are a subset of those that define the analogous structure for holographic states: the holographic entropy cone. We define and review all of these concepts. Given the connection between AdS/CFT holography and quantum error correction, we seek to characterize the holographic entropy cone through a class of quantum states primarily used in quantum error correcting codes: qudit stabilizer states. We develop prerequisite formalism for the analysis of stabilizer states and especially their entanglement entropies. Then, we focus on a subset of stabilizer states called XZ-separable stabilizer states in order to simplify the expression for entanglement entropy. Finally, we look at ways of constructing XZ-separable states from entropy vectors, and apply this to many of the extreme rays of the 5-region holographic entropy cone.listelement.badge.dso-type Item , A Review of Classical and Quantum Optical Trapping of Neutral Particles(2023-08-20) Franco, Jonathan WThe purpose of this report is to briefly explore the forces behind optical trapping of dielectric spheres and neutral particles. For this report, we will be examining two regimes. First, we consider larger dielectric particles classically, and then move briefly into individual atoms quantum mechanically.listelement.badge.dso-type Item , Predicting Microfluidic Droplet Diameters in Glass Capillary Devices Using Machine Learning(2023-06) Holte, SerenaI have successfully generated a graphic user interface that predicts microfluidic droplet diameters from a neural network. The neural network inputs are fluid properties and geometries of 3D glass capillary devices. For water-in-oil single emulsions, the mean-squared error at the end of 100 epochs for training and validation converged to 7.2% and 7.4%, respectively. The deep machine learning model provides an alternative method of predicting droplet size without the need for rigorous theory. Moreover, the model can be altered to predict other microfluidic parameters or properties and could be extended to other fluids as well.listelement.badge.dso-type Item , Analysis of the Potential Hoag-type Galaxy WISEA J234255.19-354810.2(2022-07) Swanson, Alaina MRing galaxies are among the most perplexing phenomena we observe in space. Their formation has remained a topic of debate, especially since 1950 when Arthur Hoag discovered Hoag’s Object. Hoag-like objects are exceedingly rare and the ring galaxy WISEA J234255.19-354810.2 has the potential to be the 16th Hoag-type galaxy discovered. I performed two types of data analysis to obtain information about the galactic light profiles. From this analysis, I discovered a very faint bar structure within the core of the ring galaxy, which indicates that WISEA J234255.19-354810.2 is not a Hoag-type galaxy.listelement.badge.dso-type Item , Selective absorption of visible light by a plasmonic gold lattice(2021) Nixon, Matthew MSimulation, creation, and testing of metamaterial absorber utilizing plasmonic and metal-insulator-metal interactions to create selective absorption of light within the visible spectrum.