PhysicsFocus
Bethel University Physics & Engineering Newsletter
Spring 2013 Volume 7, Issue 1 (GLWRU /DXUHQ2WWR¶ Dr. Chad Hoyt Awarded Prestigious NSF Grant Chad Hoyt, associate pro- fessor of physics, has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant totaling $230,349 for KLVSURMHFW´)LEHU/DVHU)UH Inside this issue: quency Combs for the Ad- International Activi- 2 YDQFHG/DERUDWRU\µ The project will develop ties of BU Physics fiber laser frequency combs Alumni (FLCs) to use in Bethel's Dr. Hoyt Spends 8 upper-level undergraduate Sabbatical in China physics courses and in grad- uate level teaching lab Update from Dr. 10 courses at the University of Peterson Arizona, Hoyt explains. ´)LEHU ODVHU IUHTXHQF\ Chad Hoyt, associate professor of physics, received a National Students and Profes- 12 combs are like rulers, but Science Foundation research grant. sors Attend Confer- instead of measuring the their expertise back to Beth- blazer in applying for federal ences in 2012 length dimension like a nor- el to build one in an upper- grants, so we are delighted mal ruler would, frequency level physics class. While that he has been awarded Research Update 15 combs can precisely meas- the process may seem com- this federal research grantµ from Dr. Lindquist XUHOLJKWZDYHOHQJWKVµVD\V plicated, Hoyt anticipates says Deborah Sullivan- +R\W ´3LFWXUH D FRPE IRU the students will enjoy it. Trainor, associate dean for Class of 2012 16 one's hair. The teeth are ´([SHULPHQWDO ZRUN LQ WKH general education and fac- regularly spaced at a milli- lab with students, to me, is ulty development. meter or so. A frequency the best kind of classroom. ´7KH VXFFHVV RI WKLV SUR comb is like that, except the Students can learn to be posal is built on some ¶WHHWK· DUH SRUWLRQV RI WKH inquisitive and resourceful, VWURQJVKRXOGHUVDW%HWKHOµ light spectrum that are and they can catch the ex- DGGV +R\W ´'U 5LFKDUG 3H spaced regularly apart at a FLWHPHQW RI SK\VLFVµ VD\V terson has built the optics FHUWDLQZDYHOHQJWKLQWHUYDOµ Hoyt. part of the Bethel physics The grant provides fund- If the project is success- department into a nationally ing for student researchers ful at Bethel and the Univer- recognized success over the WRZRUNZLWK+R\W· LQKLV sity of Arizona, the goal will past few decades. Bethel lab during the academic be to explain how to repli- has been supportive of my year, interim, and summers cate it in other schools and research with students that until fall 2015. Hoyt will col- WHDFKLQJODEV´:HZLOOFDUH KDVOHGWRWKLVJUDQWµ laborate with R. Jason Jones fully look for new, simpler, Hoyt has received addi- at the University of Arizona, cheaper ways to make high tional private funding for his who is also a 1994 Bethel performance FLCs such that research, including from JUDGXDWH7ZRRI+R\W·VVWX other undergraduate institu- Creative Integration & De- dents will spend a summer tions can adopt this wonder- sign, Inc., in Saint Paul, ZLWK -RQHV· UHVHDUFK IXO DGYDQFHG ODERUDWRU\µ Minn. group building a fiber laser Hoyt explains. frequency comb, and bring ´Chad has been a trail-
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International Activities of Bethel Physics Alumni As part of its mission as a changer does not require the following stories, Jared University, Bethel has com- long-term overseas adven- 6WXUG\·KDVEHHQZRUNLQJ mitted to instilling seven tures, this value can certain- on his PhD at the European values into its students: ly be lived out through over- Organization for Nuclear ´6NLOOVWKDW, Christ-followers, learners, seas experiences. In recent Research (CERN) and Katie truth-seekers, character- months, many Bethel phys- 7RRS · KDV EHHQ ZRUNLQJ never builders, reconcilers, salt ics alumni have spent an to promote clean water and imagined and light, and world- extended period of time hygiene in Sri Lanka and could also be changers. overseas for research or Afghanistan after completing While being a world- mission work. In addition to graduate school in England. applied beyond the context of physics to 'DYLG6ZHQVRQ¶0LQLVWHUVLQ$VLDZLWK<:$0 theology, After graduating from awakened to a deeper reali- dia for three months and language and Bethel in spring of 2011 I ty that the God of the Bible spent my days teaching Eng- OLIHµ²David took a year of deferment is still the God of today. God lish and physics to kids at a from the University of Min- became real to me, undeni- school. Then evenings and Swenson nesota Biomedical Engineer- ably real. It was as if I had weekends were spent doing ing program. I traveled to been scanning frequencies discipleship and church Hawaii to go through a disci- all these years never hitting planting. The experience pleship training school of- a resonance, but now for the changed my life as new per- fered by missions training first time I began to see spective sank in and a deep- organization called Youth flashes of light. My own little er understanding of Jesus With A Mission (YWAM). heart experiment was un- began to grow in my heart. During my time there God derway, complete with real Coming home I realized began to lay a new founda- tangible data flooding my the program I was accepted tion, a new value system, in senses, God was real. I trav- LQWRZDVQ·WULJKWIRUPHVR, my heart and mind. I was eled to Battambang, Cambo- withdrew my acceptance. God had opened my eyes to a broader spectrum of possi- bilities. I realized industry ZDVQ·W IRU PH DQG WKDW , wanted to give my life to teaching. My education at Bethel developed my mind to solve problems and un- derstand the world. It had planted a hunger in me for truth and equipped me with the tools of diligence and the ability to explain and simplify the complex. Skills that I never imagined could also be applied beyond the context of physics to theolo- gy, language and life. I wanted to share the same awakening I had gone through with others, so I signed up for a two-year commitment to staff disci- Learning about gravity and air resistance with the parachute egg drop in Battambang, pleship training schools. I Cambodia. David is pictured on the right. &RQWLQXHGRQSDJH Volume 7, Issue 1 Page 3
&RQWLQXHGIURPSDJH am currently half way through this time frame and I just returned home from leading a team to Turkey. We immersed ourselves into this Muslim culture with the goal of being Jesus and sharing Jesus with a people group that simply does not know what he taught or who He was. As it stands Turkey exceeds ninety-nine percent Muslim and is per capita the most unreached nation on earth. To live amongst a people group who are blanketed with false stereotypes was a sobering experience. I could not believe the warmth, gen- tleness and hospitality we were shown by so many. I got to sit and share life with 'DYLG·VWHDPLQ7XUNH\ZLWKRQHRIWKHLUFORVHVWIULHQGV 1DWKDQ/HPNH¶)XOILOOV3RVWGRFWRUDO3RVLWLRQLQ*HUPDQ\ As our graduate school laboratory; to aid in this re- and helpful, and they spoke days at University of Colora- gard, I worked on a project exquisite English. At PTB, do Boulder were coming to that closely mirrored my there are two optical clocks an end, my wife and I pon- thesis experiment in gradu- in operation, one a lattice dered our next move. We ate school. clock using ultracold stronti- decided to postpone our We moved to Braun- um atoms (my project) and plan to look for employment schweig in July 2012 and the other a single ion clock near our Midwestern fami- stayed through Christmas. based on ytterbium. We de- ´ZHDUH lies in favor of an adventure Somewhat unfathomably, cided that my time should grateful for the overseas. Ultimately, we our apartment building pre- be spent refining the stronti- decided on a six-month trip GDWHG &ROXPEXV·V GLVFRYHU\ um lattice clock for highest genuine to Germany, where I would of North America, though possible accuracy in prepa- kindness of work as a postdoc at the the interior has since been ration for measuring the the fellow Physikalisch-Technische renovated. We lived near UDWLR RI WKH WZR FORFNV· IUH Bundesanstalt (PTB) in the city center so that Kris- quencies. As it turned out, scientists who Braunschweig. Our concerns ten and Adeline would be six months was just enough hosted us«µ about traveling abroad with close to its lively cultural time to accomplish this goal, -Nathan Lemke our infant daughter were activities and shopping op- and the final measurements DVVXDJHG E\ WUXVW LQ *RG·V portunities. Our inability to produced a number accu- provision, together with our speak German made even rate out to the seventeenth QHZPDQWUD´LW·VRQO\IRUVL[ the simplest errand quite decimal place. The meas- PRQWKVµ 2Q WKH IOLS VLGH challenging (and sometimes urement will be repeated we hoped that this relatively extremely frustrating), over the coming years to see short amount of time (in though eventually we if the result changes, which scientific terms) could still learned the ropes. could indicate that the fine be sufficient for me to ac- The scientists I worked structure constant is not complish something in the with at PTB were friendly constant. In keeping with European standards, I was given a generous number of vaca- tion days, so we traveled via rail throughout Deutschland (Hamburg, Munich, Berlin, Cologne, Hannover, etc.) with brief trips also to Aus- tria and Belgium. As it turns out, 1-year-old girls are not very impressed by daunting cathedrals or beautiful art- istry, so our travels tended WR IRFXV RQ *HUPDQ\·V EXV tling pedestrian malls, ice cream parlors, coffee shops, and bodies of water with hungry ducks. Self-guided city walking tours were also a big hit with our family ² a great way to take in the sights while keeping the stroller rolling. Since returning to the U.S., many people have asked if we are glad we Nathan, Kristen, and daughter Adeline from atop the mysterious and legendary Brocken, &RQWLQXHGRQSDJH the highest peak in northern Germany. Volume 7, Issue 1 Page 5 &RQWLQXHGIURPSDJH riching, we found ourselves kindness of the fellow scien- went, and whether we would missing home. It was diffi- tists who hosted us, and we do it again. My answer is yes cult to meet new people and will carry some fun German ² EXW,ZRXOGQ·WZDQWWRVWD\ form friendships, and we traditions with us as we em- any longer than we did. missed our families and our bark on our next adventure ´7KHUHDUHQR While the cultural and scien- church community. Still, we to the less distant (but still ¶VHFXODU·DQG tific experiences were en- are grateful for the genuine foreign) land of Chicago. ¶VSLULWXDO·MREV majors, or <:$00LQLVWU\LQ1LFDUDJXDDQG%UD]LOZLWK-HVVLFD'RHKUPDQQ¶ careers Soon after graduation and growing in our relation- ing God known to the na- because God from Bethel in December of ship with Him. tions. For our outreach, we 2011, I crammed all I could One aspect of my Chris- went to Boaco in the moun- wants His into one suitcase, flew to tian walk that I really grew in tains of Nicaragua, Blue- kingdom to be Nicaragua, and settled into during these first three fields on the Atlantic coast, expanded to the place that became my months was being able to and Sao Paul and Brasilia, home for the next five give up total control of my Brazil. In Boaco, we part- every area of months. I went to Nicaragua life to God. This is some- nered with a Medical Mis- VRFLHW\µ to attend a Discipleship thing that I have always sions group from the United -Jessica Training School through struggled with, wanting my States. They ran free clinics Youth With A Mission own plan and having a hard and I translated for the doc- Doehrmann (YWAM). The first three time giving it up to God and tors that only spoke English. months were much like a trusting Him. However, God We prayed with the patients Bible school; we had clas- showed me that He is the after treating them and ses every day and studied only one in His wisdom and ZHUH DEOH WR VKRZ *RG·V topics like the Character love capable to lead my life. love in a practical way and Nature of God, Father The more time I spent with through free medical care. Heart of God, Missions, Him to really experience and We also did house to house Evangelism, the Kingdom of know his character, I was evangelism, performed dra- God, etc. YWAM is a nonde- able to trust and give up the &RQWLQXHGRQSDJH nominational organization, control I had fought so long and there were people in my to keep in my life. school from Guatemala, God taught me so Nicaragua, Belize, Mexico, many other les- Switzerland, and the United sons during this States. The base there is time as well, but bilingual so all the classes over all I grew to were translated, but I like to have a much more say that the official lan- personal relation- guage of our school was ship with my sav- Spanglish. My Spanish skills ior. were quickly tested as I be- The motto of came a translator on the YWAM is knowing base and the base worship God and making leader singing in Spanish Him known, so the and English. Outside of clas- first three months ses, we also had times of focused more on worship, prayer, work du- the knowing God WLHV NLG·V PLQLVWU\ GUDPD part. The last two practice, and an hour of months are called quiet time every morning the outreach where we focused on spend- phase and are ing personal time with God focused on mak- Jessica with two girls that she met while doing house visits in Bluefields, Nicaragua. PhysicsFocus Page 6 a piece of my the outreach phase when I heart even thought that I could just stay though I am gone. in Nicaragua forever and While in Nicarau- become a missionary ga, I also had the (maybe that will still happen opportunity to someday). However, during travel and do dif- our week on the Kingdom of ferent touristy God, God really spoke to me things on the about His calling for my life. weekends. I The teacher talked about climbed a volca- how God gives us all individ- no, went to the ual gifts and talents to ex- ocean, traveled to pand His kingdom in a the Colonial city unique way. There are no of Granada, went ´VHFXODUµ DQG ´VSLULWXDOµ to the local mar- jobs, majors, or careers be- ket, bought lots of cause God wants His king- souvenirs, ate so dom to be expanded to eve- 'RLQJNLG·VPLQLVWU\ZLWKNLGVWKDWOLYHLQDJDUEDJHGXPSRQWKHRXW many mangos ry area of society. At that skirts of Brasilia, Brazil. Jessica is pictured in the center, top. and coconuts, moment, I knew that God &RQWLQXHGIURPSDJH and played soccer all the was calling me to go back to mas that showed the gos- time. We also had many school to get my PhD and pel, helped build an orphan- dance parties. And if you expand His kingdom in grad- age, taught in schools, KDYHQ·W H[SHULHQFHG D uate school. Now, I am in my prayed for people, and dance party in Latin Ameri- second semester at the Uni- helped out in churches with ca, they are the best! Over- versity of Arizona in the Opti- whatever they needed. Dur- all, it was an amazing expe- cal Science Department. I ing these two months of the rience not only in how I grew absolutely love it and am outreach phase, we put into in my relationship with God learning so much! I am here practice what God had been but also in just doing life for school, but really I am teaching us during the with people from all around here to be a light and give a school. I experienced the the world united in belief reason for the hope that I ´,NQHZWKDW power of the Holy Spirit to and purpose. have in Christ. God changed FKDQJHOLYHVIHOW*RG·VEUR During my five months me and molded me in many God was ken heart for those far from with YWAM, I was trying to ways while I was in YWAM. calling me to Him and those suffering in figure out what God wanted He took my plans and mo- go back to poverty and injustice, saw me to do next: go to gradu- tives and gave me His own, the beauty in diversity of ate school, move across the and there is so much peace school to get *RG·VFUHDWLRQDQG+LVSHR world, stay in Nicaragua, or and fulfillment when we are my PhD and ple, and became part of a become a full-time mission- doing what God has called family of believers that have expand His ary. There were times during us to do. kingdom in 7RKHDUPRUHVWRULHVIURP-HVVLFDYLVLWKHUEORJ ZZZMHVVLFDLQQLFDUDJXDEORJVSRWFRP graduate VFKRROµ 6XPPHU5HVHDUFKLQ-DSDQ .RQQLFKLZDIURP/DXUHQ2WWR¶ -Jessica Less than forty-eight Nanotechnology Infrastruc- band gaps under a Japa- Doehrmann hours after walking in com- ture Network (NNIN) Re- nese mentor and adviser. I mencement, I found myself search Experience for Un- was very grateful that I had on a Japan-bound aircraft dergraduates (REU) pro- just taken the Quantum Me- for a summer of research at gram, I applied for the se- chanics (QM) and Computer the National Institute for cond year international REU Methods (CM) courses at Materials Science (NIMS) in program and was chosen to Bethel before heading to Tsukuba, Japan. After com- do research on quantum Japan. I had not learned any pleting the 2011 National well solar cells with indirect &RQWLQXHGRQSDJH Volume 7, Issue 1 Page 7 &RQWLQXHGIURPSDJH nitely a highlight, solid state physics, so the but climbing it was QM was an essential foun- also one of the dation to build off of. Also, most physically my lab group often used difficult things I LabVIEW to control data col- have ever done. In lection experiments, but the addition to our lei- interfaces were all in Japa- sure travel, NNIN nese! Having recently sent us to the em- worked with LabVIEW in CM bassy in Tokyo to was extremely helpful. My meet with National previous experience with Science Founda- RSWLFV LQ 'U +R\W·V ODE ZDV tion (NSF, which also handy. funded our pro- Although, nothing in my gram) officials and education prepared me for on a business trip the feeling of illiteracy at the to Nagoya to meet grocery store (and every- with a professor where else). Fortunately my and his research coworkers mostly functioned group at Toyota Lauren (front left) with the seven people in her program and a friend from in English, and travel was Technological Insti- high school. relatively easy due to the tute. We even par- fantastic public transporta- ticipated in the NIMS confer- several conversations that I tion systems throughout ence where we met Dr. had with fellow Americans in Japan and the general pub- Subra Suresh, the director of my program as well as with lic safety within its culture. NSF. some people that I worked While I was in Japan, I In addition to travel expe- with who were from Japan lived in Ninomiya House, an riences, I also enjoyed im- and other nations. By the apartment building that is PHUVLQJ P\VHOI LQ -DSDQ·V end of the summer, I abso- Japanese government hous- culture through classes of- lutely adored my labmates, ing for foreign researchers, fered by NIMS and Ninomiya the wonderful lady who along with seven other House. I took an origami worked at the NIMS coffee American students in my class, learned how to pre- shop, and Japan in program and other research- pare a couple varieties of general. I wished I ers from around the world. green tea, and I learned how could have stayed for a On the weekends, we had to wear a yukata, which is couple more months, plenty of time to travel Ja- traditional Japanese dress but it was time to go. pan. Every weekend we took similar to a kimono but Saying goodbye was a forty-five minute train ride meant for more casual pur- very difficult, and I miss to Tokyo either to explore poses and hot summer them a lot. the city or catch a train or weather. I was even brought The NNIN program bus to somewhere else in to a kimono class by a lady concluded with a con- Japan, including Kyoto, Na- that I worked with! ference in Washington, goya, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshi- Through my Bethel educa- D. C., which allowed ma, and Mt. Fuji. Hiroshima tion, I also gained a broader me to meet up with a was a must-see since after and more coherent under- few friends from the WDNLQJ WKH ´ERPEV FODVVµ standing of my faith in physics department from Dr. Peterson I have Christ, as well as a sense of and Dr. Peterson and become very interested in urgency in sharing my faith his wife, Donna. Shortly learning more perspectives and developing relation- after arriving back in on WWII and nuclear energy ships. This and cultural les- Minnesota, I began a and weapons from other sons I gained throughout the PhD program in Electri- nations and peoples around summer helped me navigate cal Engineering at the The kimono class instructor teaching the world. Mt. Fuji was defi- my new relationships and University of Minnesota. Lauren how to pose for some photo- 7RKHDUPRUHVWRULHVIURP/DXUHQYLVLWKHUEORJ ZZZOPRWWRZRUGSUHVVFRP graphs. PhysicsFocus Page 8 Dr. Chad Hoyt Spends Sabbatical in China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¶VIDPLO\DOVRWUDYHOHGZLWKKLPWR&KLQD:LIH-HQQ\DQGNLGV6DPXHO/XNDV.DULQDQG =DFKDU\DUHDOVRVHHQLQWKHSKRWRFROODJH$OOSKRWRJUDSKVDUHDOVRRQ'U+R\W¶VEORJ ZZZFKLQHVHFORFNVWXPEOUFRP Volume 7, Issue 1 Page 9 PhysicsFocus Page 10 Dr. Peterson Returns from Two Years at NSF with Possible Future Physics Teaching in Pyongyang, North Korea It was a big change to the best uses of all too mea- ´URWDWRUVµ VXFK DV P\VHOI transition from typically rid- ger funds for helping stu- who are still close to being ´,QGHHGWKH ing a bike from Roseville to dents across the country ´LQWKHWUHQFKHVµRIWHDFKLQJ two years Bethel (past the ducks and thrive within undergraduate and research. These rotator made me sometimes frozen ponds) STEM areas. For example in positions are for two years toward our two-year habita- the case of physics this pro- of time (usually funded by increasingly tion of an apartment in Ar- cess starts with the for- NSF by awards to your home aware of the lington, VA. The eighth floor mation of physicist peer institution), and I continued richness and apartment was a very short review panels for the hun- with a Bethel physics posi- walk from the National Sci- dreds of annual proposals. tion during the time in Ar- quality of ence Foundation (NSF) Ultimately the program di- lington. My mentor for much Bethel physics headquarters of Arlington - rectors decide which of the of the physics education and and also only two blocks most highly regarded pro- review work was the perma- from the Ballston stop of the posals can be funded (about nent DUE program officer for engineering metro's Orange Line that ten or fifteen percent of physics and astronomy, Dr. and the runs under the Potomac those submitted) and then Duncan McBride, and we students we past the Washington, D. C. work on all the subsequent had fun leading several NSF (DC) mall and beyond. details of past and present presentations together dur- recruit and I served as a program awards, plus more sadly to ing the two years. Because PHQWRUµ-Dr. director within the Division also deal with the many de- of Bethel's former policy of of Undergraduate Education clines. It is a challenging declining to apply for federal Peterson (DUE) of NSF. The broad team job that builds on al- funds, I may have been goal of such a position is to most hourly interactions unique as a NSF program work with about twenty with DUE colleagues with director with almost no past colleagues in DUE emails steadily flowing to experience as an awarded (representing all areas of and fro each day. principal investigator (PI). Science, Technology, Engi- The NSF foundation-wide Program directors are usual- neering and Mathematics policy is to continually bring ly chosen on the basis of a (STEM) education) in finding LQ´IUHVKEORRGµE\HQJDJLQJ multitude of past NSF awards, and I surely had more to learn than most. High points of the two years included a chance to read and evaluate many dozens of proposal ideas for physics education in DUE. While I knew many people in physics through my Ameri- can Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) and Ameri- can Physical Society (APS) work in the past, I was able to expand upon that list of contacts and get to know many very sharp and dedi- cated workers in physics education at all undergradu- ate levels. Some of this work was within the Transforming Undergraduate Education in STEM (TUES) program, and &RQWLQXHGRQSDJH Dr. Peterson and his mentor, Dr. Duncan McBride taken at a NSF TUES program PI conference in Washington in 2011. Volume 7, Issue 1 Page 11 &RQWLQXHGIURPSDJH also within the Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM) and the Math/Science Partnership (MSP) programs. We were able to invite seven different Bethel faculty members to DC as review panelists with- in these programs, and this has assisted in Bethel's in- creasing awareness of priori- ties and procedures for each of the programs. Because of the especially strong profes- sional excellence within Bethel physics and engineer- ing, I have strong expecta- tions that we will have more NSF awards within the next year (in addition to the re- cent grant awarded to Dr. Donna and Dr. Peterson on one of their several trips to Mount Vernon (George Washington's Hoyt and Dr. R. Jason Jones farm and estate south of Alexandria, VA). at the University of Arizona). Indeed the two years made shaking twelve floors of the United States and South me increasingly aware of the NSF complex and damaged Korea. Donna also intro- richness and quality of Beth- several DC area buildings duced me to Norman P. ´>'RQQD@ el physics and engineering and monuments. We also Neureiter (the recent Ameri- wonderfully and the students we recruit endured one really big storm can Association for the Ad- and mentor. with straight-line winds that vancement of Science seeks and The years in the DC area shut down parts of the area (AAAS) director of science, achieves some also provided opportunities for almost a week and a technology, and security broadening of for my wife Donna and me to hurricane that zoomed past policy) through her contacts enjoy so much of that area us on its path up the east at our Arlington church, as my world in more depth than mere coast. Norm had also visited PUST beyond optical tourists. Those of you who This rich experience also and leads AAAS with scien- measurements know Donna will be aware afforded an opportunity to tific diplomacy and security that she wonderfully seeks hear many guest speakers issues around the globe. and physics and achieves some broad- at NSF. One of those that Consequently I may be trav- teaching. She ening of my world beyond both Donna and I heard was eling to North Korea in May optical measurements and the recent Pyongyang Uni- and June of 2013 to teach helped get me physics teaching. She versity for Science and Tech- some physics if visa, securi- out of the NSF helped get me out of the nology (PUST) Chancellor, ty, and other assorted com- office and into NSF office and into the Dr. Chan-Mo Park, who in- plications can be con- broader real world of DC. We formed the NSF audience of quered. Please stay tuned the broader tried to share our two- a rather unique effort to and pray that ultimate good real world of bedroom apartment with build an undergraduate and can come from this small '&µ-Dr. friends and family visitors as graduate level private uni- part of an effort to overcome much as possible. And our versity PUST in North Korea tragic walls that separate Peterson time in DC also included one (DPRK) with the support of the Korean people. significant earthquake that the DPRK and many individ- served to quickly empty the uals and churches in the $UWLFOHFRXUWHV\RI'U5LFKDUG3HWHUVRQ)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQRQ3867SOHDVHYLVLW KWWS HQZLNLSHGLDRUJZLNL3\RQJ\DQJB8QLYHUVLW\BRIB6FLHQFHBDQGB7HFKQRORJ\ DQG KWWS PRQH\FQQFRP PDJD]LQHVIRUWXQHS\RQJ\DQJBXQLYHUVLW\BQRUWKBNRUHDIRUWXQHLQGH[KWP PhysicsFocus Page 12 Bethel Physics Invades East Coast at the 2012 APS and BFY Conferences pation up to ten people. Over the years, Bethel has established a national reputation for advanced laboratory work and under- graduate research in phys- ics and engineering. At the APS conference, physics faculty and student re- searchers gave paired talks, with the faculty member giving a broader presenta- tion of their research pro- gram and the student giving a more focused presenta- tion on their research pro- ject. In this conference, Dr. Chad Hoyt gave a presenta- WLRQRQ%HWKHO·V$WRPLF0R lecular and Optical (AMO) lab, providing an overview of the ongoing research effort on laser-cooling and trap- Bethel physics gathering at the No Name restaurant in Boston (left to right): Carl ping of lithium atoms in a Schreck, Gus Olson, Nathan Lindquist, Carolyn Kan, Keith Stein, Jennifer Schommer, magneto-optical trap (MOT). Lauren Otto, Dan Klemme, Richard Peterson, Donna Peterson, Chad Hoyt. Dan Klemme presented stu- GHQWUHVHDUFKRQ´/LWKLXPLQ 2012 was a year in which wide and is a chance for a Magneto-2SWLFDO7UDSµ the Bethel physics depart- schools, industry profession- Dr. Keith Stein gave a ment had a strong presence als and teaching institutions presentation entitled in two national conferences to share their research. ´8QGHUJUDGXDWH 6WXGLHV RQ on the east coast; the Ameri- Three faculty and three Compressible Flows and can Physical Society (APS) physics majors presented 6KRFN :DYHVµ ZKLFK IR March Meeting in Boston, joint papers in a session cused on advanced lab pro- and the Advanced Laborato- HQWLWOHG ´5HVHDUFK &ROODER MHFW ZRUN LQ %HWKHO·V )OXLG ry Physics Association ration between Mentors and Mechanics course and relat- (ALPhA) conference on lab 8QGHUJUDGXDWH 6WXGHQWVµ ed undergraduate student instruction Beyond the First The session was organized research. Jennifer Schom- Year (BFY) of College at the by our own Dr. Richard Pe- mer gave a presentation of University of Pennsylvania terson. In addition to the her fall senior research enti- and Drexel University in Phil- current faculty and stu- WOHG ´*UDSKLFDO 8VHU ,QWHU adelphia. dents, Bethel alumni Carl face for Supersonic Flow American Physical Society 6FKUHFN· 3K' Bethel faculty and physics majors were colorful participants at the APS conference: Lauren Otto3, Keith Stein4, Nathan Lindquist5, Jennifer Schommer6, Dan Klemme7, Chad Hoyt8, and Richard Peterson11 (Superscript identifies position from the left). &RQWLQXHGIURPSDJH field of plasmonics. Lauren Otto spoke about student research on the develop- ment of a microscopy setup for surface plasmon bio- sensing and the use of relia- ble, repeatable, low-cost nanofabrication techniques based on template stripping. Advanced Laboratory Physics Association (ALPhA) Conference on Lab Instruction Beyond the First Year (BFY) of Col- lege, Philadelphia: Bethel physics made a second 2012 appearance on the east coast at the AL- PhA conference on lab in- struction BFY of College at the University of Pennsylva- nia and Drexel University. The conference took place in July 2012, immediately From left: Dan Klemme, Jennifer Schommer, Chad Hoyt, Keith Stein, and Nathan Lindquist FHOHEUDWHWKH´IDOORI4XLQF\0DUNHWµGXULQJWKHLU´VLHJHRI%RVWRQµZLWKWKHREOLJDWRU\ &RQWLQXHGRQSDJH ´MXPSµSKRWR PhysicsFocus Page 14 ´6XUIDFH SODVPRQV DWRPL cally-smooth patterned gold, and bio-VHQVLQJµ /LQGTXLVW DQG ´)OXLG 'LDJQRVWLFV Compressible Flow and Shock Waves in a Benchtop %ORZGRZQ 7XQQHOµ 6WHLQ Professor Richard Peterson led a workshop on the re- view of NSF advanced labor- atory Transforming Under- graduate Education in STEM (TUES) program proposals. Physics students Ben Heppner and Sara Venditto both presented student re- search at the BFY poster session. The poster presen- WDWLRQV ZHUH HQWLWOHG ´7KH supersonic blowdown tun- nel: a flexible apparatus for open-ended undergraduate Bethel participants at the 2012 ALPhA BFY Conference: Chad Hoyt, Richard Pe- terson, Sarah Venditto, Keith Stein, Ben Heppner (not shown ² Nathan Lindquist) UHVHDUFKµ +HSSQHU 6WHLQ Pengxue Her, and Mark 7XUQHU DQG ´/DVHUV DQG &RQWLQXHGIURPSDJH Nathan Lindquist, and Keith Optics open-ended projects preceding the 2012 Ameri- Stein each led workshops to at Bethel Universi- can Association of Physics audiences of physics in- W\µ 9HQGLWWR +R\W 'DQ Teachers (AAPT) Summer structors on active ad- Mohr, and Andrew Stephan). Meeting. Four Bethel phys- vanced laboratory project ics faculty and two physics areas in the Bethel physics majors participated at the department. The workshop $UWLFOHFRXUWHV\RI'U.HLWK BFY conference in the fol- WLWOHV ZHUH ´([WHUQDO FDYLW\ 6WHLQ lowing capacities: diode lasers and iodine Professors Chad Hoyt, VSHFWURVFRS\µ +R\W Sarah and Ben in action during the BFY poster session. Volume 7, Issue 1 Page 15 Research Update: Dr. Nathan Lindquist There was a lot happen- Mark Turner, and Andrew LQJ LQ 'U /LQGTXLVW·V ODEV Zabel), is currently all about this last year. Projects ´VHQVRUVµ+RZGRZHGHWHFW ranged from microfluidics small (and potentially dan- and biosensing, to nanofab- gerous) molecules? How do rication and atomic force we tell what molecules they microscopy, to surface plas- are? How do we deliver mon optics and computer small amounts of those mol- generated holography. Dr. ecules to our sensors? How /LQGTXLVW·V UHVHDUFK WHQGV do we make such small opti- to focus on the very small: cal sensors? Can we detect micro- and nano-structures, just one molecule at a time? and how light and matter How cheaply can we make interact on those scales. these small sensors? This particular field of nano- Dr. Lindquist has been technology and physics is spending some time consult- FDOOHG ´SODVPRQLFVµ EH ing for two companies. The- FDXVH RI WKH ´SODVPRQVµ se projects had the help of A micro-sized computer generated hologram. Dr. Lindquist that are created by light in- students (Pengxue Her, Mi- likes studying very small-scale optics, especially the interac- teracting with electrons. randa Olson, and Mark WLRQRI´VKDSHGOLJKWµZLWKQDQRVWUXFWXUHV7KHOHWWHUVKHUHDUH 7KHVH ´SODVPRQVµ FDQ KDYH Turner) over the summer of only a few micrometers wide. By controlling light on these a wide variety of interesting 2012. One of the projects small scales, Dr. Lindquist hopes to find applications in bio- applications, from solar ZDV EXLOGLQJ DQ ´HOHFWURQLF VHQVLQJ´FKHPLFDOLPDJLQJµDQGGLDJQRVWLFV,PDJHFRXUWHV\ technology to biosensing, or QRVHµ %\ WKH HQG RI WKH of Lauren Otto, 2012. from optical computing to summer, we were able to GDWDVWRUDJH'U/LQGTXLVW·V ´VPHOOµ VPDOO DPRXQWV RI Both of these projects are research, with the help of ethanol in the air. The other funded and ongoing. some very capable students project dealt with making $UWLFOHFRXUWHV\RI'U1DWKDQ (Carter Eiden, Pengxue Her, plasmonic sensors as cheap /LQGTXLVW Miranda Olson, Lauren Otto, as possible for the detection Matt Robbins, Ben Stein, of diseases and pathogens. OHIW $QH[WUHPHO\VKDUSWXQJVWHQZLUHSURGXFHGLQ/LQGTXLVW·VODEV7KHWLSLVRQO\DIHZ·VWR·VRIQDQRPHWHUVZLGH ULJKW $VPDOO´%8µHWFKHGLQDVRIWJROGVXUIDFHZLWKWKHWLSDQGWKHQLPDJHGOLNHDUHFRUGSOD\HUZLWKWKHVDPHWLS7KH letters are a few micrometers tall, and the lines are less than 500 nm wide. Images courtesy of Matt Robbins, 2012. About Us We normally graduate more than twenty students each Bethel University Physics year, including engineering students. Most of the engineering & Engineering Newsletter majors get a double major in physics. The American Institute of Physics lists us as one of the top ten undergraduate phys- Newsletter article and photo ics departments in the nation in terms of number of physics submissions to Dr. Beecken majors. We rank second in the state of Minnesota. ([email protected]) Both physics and engineering courses strengthen stu- or Dr. Stein GHQWV·SUREOHP-solving skills and analysis abilities. Our engi- ([email protected]) neering program has a stronger emphasis on practical appli- are welcome and cation of course material for solving real-life problems, appreciated. whereas our physics program has a stronger emphasis on how the fundamental laws of physics undergird these prob- lems. http://cas.bethel.edu/academics/departments/physics/ CLASS OF 2012 (Above) Spring 2012 Back row from left: Dr. Beecken, Dr. Lindquist, Steve Olson, Andrew Zabel, Tim Peterson, DJ Arend, Luke Eberly, Tim Gustafson. Middle row from left: Kayse (Lee) Maass, Jennifer Schommer, Lauren Otto, Dr. Hoyt. Front row from left: Dr. Greenlee, Dr. Stein. Not pic- tured: Carter Eiden, Nathan Holm. (Right) Fall 2012 From left: Dr. Greenlee, Jay Ripley, Luke Thompson, Dr. Beecken.