Experimental Physics, Instrument and Software Design, Data Analysis

• Core-level spectroscopy data analysis. MENTOR: Mark Riffe
• Optical component design. MENTOR: Mark Riffe
• Green beam Rayleigh-scatter lidar (Nd:YAG laser). MENTOR: Vince Wickwar
• New lidar telescope. MENTOR: Vince Wickwar
• New resonance lidar (alexandrite-ring laser). MENTOR: Vince Wickwar
• Fabry-Perot interferometer (located at Bear Lake). MENTOR: Vince Wickwar
• Middle and upper atmospheric data analysis. MENTOR: Vince Wickwar
• Laser atmospheric remote sensing. MENTOR: Tom Wilkerson
• Semiconductor surface measurements. MENTOR: T.-C. Shen
• Design of electronics. MENTOR: T.-C. Shen
• Control software development. MENTOR: T.-C. Shen
• Measurement of stress fluctuations in externally driven granular systems. MENTOR: David Peak (more)

• Field theory. MENTOR: Charlie Torre (more)
• Detection of determinism in irregular signals using data analysis techniques based on dynamical systems. MENTOR: David Peak (more)
• Stochastic interrogation of state space: detecting and controling unstable periodic behaviors using random search techniques. MENTOR: David Peak (more)
• Stochastic resonance in granular materials and implications for landslide and avalanche risk assessment. MENTOR: David Peak (more)
• Stochastic resonance as catalyst for grain formation in stellar outflows. MENTOR: David Peak (more)

• The development of Java applet simulations to support introductory laboratories. MENTOR: David Peak (more)
• Design of new introductory laboratory exercises. MENTOR: David Peak (more)
• Development and evaluation of activities, demonstrations and other teaching methods to enhance student learning in physics. MENTOR: Jill Marshall (more)
• Investigation of student learning difficulties and how students learn.  MENTOR: Jill Marshall
• Development of advanced laboratory exercises. MENTOR: Mark Riffe

• The GAS Program welcomes participants from all disciplines and backgrounds.  The purpose of the Program is to design, construct, and fly undergraduate student experiments aboard the Space Shuttle.  USU has flown more GAS payloads than any other university and at any moment USU students are analyzing results of previous flights and preparing for future missions.  The GAS Program strongly encourages teamwork and learning by doing, so no prior expertise is necessary--only enthusiasm. MENTORS: Jan Sojka, David Peak (more)