RESEARCH
Contact Dr. Juan Cabanela (477-2439; cabanela@mnstate.edu )
Project: Astronomical Research. Explore the stars of our Galaxy or other galaxies as a whole using data obtained at telescopes around the world or mine existing astronomical databases. Astronomical database mining requires no shovels but does require computer savvy.
Contact Dr. Matthew Craig (477-2439; mcraig@mnstate.edu)
Project: Galaxy formation. Build a model universe on a computer. Learn to perform and analyze computer simulations of galaxy formation. The simulations will be used to test current models of the universe. Desired skills: programming, attention to detail, patience in working on a long-term project.
Contact Richard Lahti (477-2149; lahtiri@mnstate.edu)
Project: Science Simulations Respository. Work on a project to bring together existing science simulations and websites with lesson plans tied to the Minnesota Academic Standards in science.
Contact Dr. Steve Lindaas (477-4268; lindaas@mnstate.edu)
Project: Microscopy. Learn how to image objects using diffractive optical techniques. You can describe what we do as either building a lens free microscope or doing crystallography on non-periodic objects. What you will do is work on developing methods to collect the diffraction pattern from an object. Once you have a diffraction pattern you will work on developing reconstruction methods to extract information about the object recorded in your image.
Contact Dr. Steve Lindaas (477-4268; lindaas@mnstate.edu)
Project: Robotics. Any device you can create that will explore its surroundings is just fascinating. I am interested in very simple B.E.A.M devices that use basic electronic elements (often in non traditional configurations) to model simple behaviors. These devices resemble simple neurological "animals" that I liken to different insects. I also have a few more traditional robots and newly acquired wireless technology interfaces. I would like to use this equipment to create self organizing systems.
Contact Dr. Steve Lindaas (477-4268; lindaas@mnstate.edu)
Project: Physics Education. Share your enthusiasm for physics with others. We create educational activities that are useful to area educators. Some of these activities have equipment that needs care and feeding. We work on materials, demos and explanations. In particular we are trying to create a suite of on-line videos that can be accessed by anyone to aid in using teaching apparatus - and understanding the physics.
Contact Dr. Ananda Shastri (477-2448; shastri@mnstate.edu)
Project: Acoustic Resonance. Study the vibrations of wine glasses. Take video of shattering wine glasses, and strobed motion of the rim. Perform studies of how the resonance frequencies depend on glass geometry. Help build a desktop experiment to shatter wine glasses with sound waves. Desired skills (but not necessary): soldering, programming, construction skills.
Contact Dr. Ananda Shastri (477-2448; shastri@mnstate.edu)
Project: Nuclear magnetic resonance. Learn how to fllip the nuclei of atoms with radio waves. Help interface a student-built nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer to a computer. Study the nuclear interactions of different materials. Help build a desktop demonstration of nuclear magnetic resonance. Desired skills (but not necessary): soldering, programming, construction skills.
Contact Dr. Linda Winkler (477-2460; winklerl@mnstate.edu)
Project: Stellar Spectroscopy. I am presently building two spectrometers for use out at the Feder Observatory near Buffalo River State Park. The first spectrometer will take high-resolution spectra of stars in the red region of the spectrum, where our camera is most sensitive. The second spectrometer is a field spectrometer. It will be able to produce more color-band information on astronomical objects than our filter set that we currently use.
Contact Dr. Linda Winkler (477-2460; winklerl@mnstate.edu)
Project: Ionosphere Studies. In partnership with faculty and students at NDSU, I am using GPS to monitor fluctuations in the Earth's ionosphere. These disturbances can bother satellite communication, as well as sensitive magnetic detection schemes. Students can help take and process the large amount of data that comes in daily.
Contact Dr. Walt Worman (477-2452; worman@mnstate.edu)
Project: Asteroid Light Curves. Discover the rotation periods for asteroids in the main belt. To do this you will observe asteroids from the Paul Feder Observatory at the MSUM Regional Science Center and record how they get brighter and dimmer over time. From this information you will plot a light curve, and by determining where the curve repeats measure how long in takes for the asteroid to rotate.