Radiations Newsletter

Volume 26, Issue 14 (Jan 27, 2020)

Please come help wrap up our candidate search instead. Meet in AND 036 at noon to give your feedback on any or all of the candidates. We’ll be serving lunch!

Join us in Anderson 036 at noon on Tuesday to give your thoughts on any or all of the four tenure track candidates who were on campus recently. We’d like student feedback! We will provide lunch for the meeting.

Eric Biddulph-West
Wednesday, Jan 29^th 2020
3:10 pm in Anderson 036

A Hypothetical Concentrating Solar Dish Engine for Energy Autonomous Communities

We, as a human race, already wield the technology and resources to not just provide for every living person on Earth, but to do so in a sustainable and peaceful way. The obstructions that persist are therefore largely social; out of habit and fear, we maintain systems of economic disparity, dependence, and exploitation of resources human and otherwise. However, as empowered and interconnected individuals, we can choose to now let go of the systems that serve only the few. One proposed approach, producing a decentralized network of energy nodes, can be realized by transforming the abundant power of the sun via thermal strategies. We will explore the physical principles of one such design concept: the parabolic solar-concentrating dish-engine system. A machine like this could power autonomous small-scale communities and true healing of the human-Earth relationship can begin.

Spencer Weeden
Friday Jan 31^st 2020
3:30 pm Anderson 036

 Spintronics

Spintronics is the sub-field of physics revolving around the manipulation of spin degrees of freedom. Used to augment or replace the role of charge in electronic systems, the quantized nature of spin makes it a strong candidate for information storage and processing encoded in binary digits. Spintronics has its roots in magnetoelectronics, which takes advantage of spin-dependent magnetoresistive effects to produce devices such as magnetic read-heads for sensing dense storage media. In this talk I will explore fundamental principles of spin, spin-related effects, and ferromagnetism. I will also discuss how spin-based devices may solve limitations of their charge-based counterparts, such as annoying heat dissipation, and show some exciting potential applications in transistor physics and logic.

Sharan Ganjam Seshachallam                                                                                                   Monday, Feb 3^rd 2020
8:30 am Anderson 036

Quantum Dots

Quantum dots are tiny microchip structures that are created on the atomic size scale. Their unique properties make them highly prized for potential applications in modern computing, optics and electronics. Besides providing a general overview of fabrication techniques and technological applications, we will give special attention to theoretically modelling how electrons move through quantum dots. Thinking of certain shapes of quantum dots in terms of billiard ball tables, we are able to explore an interesting appearance of classical chaos in the quantum realm. In this project, we will outline the process of making semiclassical (high-energy) approximations when modeling electron motion through certain quantum dot shapes, and connect the classical notions of chaos to the behavior of quantum systems, bridging the intuitive picture of billiard ball dynamics with the less accessible idea of electron transport.

Kolenkow-Reitz Fellowship:  The Kolenkow-Reitz Fellowship provides research support for Carleton students working with non-Carleton science and math faculty at another institution during the summer or over winter break.  These research opportunities are intended to encourage Carleton students’ development as scientists and their exploration of mathematics, statistics, and the sciences as a possible career.  Applications are now being accepted for Summer Break fellowships.  Application deadline is 5 PM on Friday, February 21, 2020.

Now accepting applications for EERE Energy Storage Internship Program

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Energy Storage Internship Program offers 10-week, hands-on, practical internships at U.S. national laboratories. Participants will conduct research related to the development of newer chemistries, battery designs, and manufacturing processes needed to usher in changes in energy storage.

Why should I apply?

As a participant in the EERE Energy Storage Internship Program, you will gain a competitive edge as you apply your education, talent, and skills to research and development projects focused on energy storage. You will be under the guidance of a mentor who is a technical staff scientist or an engineer at a national laboratory. You will be able to establish connections with DOE scientists and subject matter experts that will promote long-term relationships between yourself, researchers, and DOE.

 Benefits

• Stipends:  Undergraduate students receive a $600 per week stipend. Graduate students and postgraduate students receive a $750 per week stipend.
• Housing Allowance: $150 per week for interns whose home location is more than 50 miles from the hosting facility
• Inbound/Outbound Travel Reimbursement: Up to $1,000 to/from assigned location for interns whose home location is more than 50 miles from the hosting facility

 Eligibility

• U.S. citizenship
• Be at least 18 years old by May 1, 2020.
• Meet one of the following conditions:
  • Recent graduate: Have earned an undergraduate or graduate degree in the past two years in a discipline related to energy storage.
  • Undergraduate student: Be enrolled as a full-time student as a junior or senior at a U.S. accredited college or university during winter/spring 2020 and be pursuing a degree in a discipline related to energy storage.
  • Graduate student: Be enrolled as a full-time graduate student at a U.S. accredited college or university during winter/spring 2020 and be pursuing a degree in a discipline related to energy storage.

How to Apply

Submit applications and supporting materials online.

Deadline

The application and letter of recommendation are due March 3, 2020, 5:00 PM EST.

For more information

Contact us at DOE-RPP@orise.orau.gov.

 Please share this information with friends and colleagues who may be interested in opportunities with DOE.

There are just a few days left to apply for Perimeter Scholars International (PSI). The deadline to apply is February 1. There is no application fee.

PSI is a master’s-level course in theoretical physics designed to bring highly qualified and exceptionally motivated graduate students to the cutting edge of the field in an inclusive training environment.

This unique Master’s program, in partnership with the University of Waterloo, seeks not only students with stellar undergraduate physics and/or mathematics track records, but also those with diverse backgrounds, collaborative spirit, creativity, and other attributes that will set them apart as future innovators.

Check out the Perimeter Scholars International website for more information.

Students can apply online at perimeterinstitute.ca/apply

Now accepting applications for 2020 EERE Robotics Summer Internships

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) Robotics Internship Program is a 10-week summer internship program for students majoring in a field related to robotics. The program provides opportunities for high school seniors, undergraduate and graduate students and postgraduates to intern at federal national laboratories throughout the United States.  The EERE Robotics Internship Program is sponsored by the EERE Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO).

 Why should I apply?

You will receive:

• Hands-on experience in development of future robotics technical, engineering, and advanced manufacturing technologies
• Development of professional networks with leading scientists and subject matter experts
• Identification of career goals and opportunities
• Stipends:  High school seniors and undergraduate students receive a $600 per week stipend; graduate students and postgraduates receive a $750 per week stipend
• Housing Allowance: $150 per week for interns whose home location is more than 50 miles from the hosting facility
• Inbound/Outbound Travel Reimbursement: Up to $1,000 to/from assigned location for interns whose home location is more than 50 miles from the hosting facility

 Eligibility

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be at least 18 years old by May 1, 2020.
• Be a high school senior, undergraduate or graduate student, or recent graduate of an accredited institution of higher education majoring in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics discipline related to robotics and/or manufacturing.

How to Apply

Applications and supporting materials must be submitted at

https://www.zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/EERE-Robotics-2020

Deadline

Application and letters of recommendation are due February 3, 2020, 8:00 AM EST.

For more information

Contact us at robotics.internships@orise.orau.gov.

 Please share this information with friends and colleagues who may be interested in opportunities with DOE.