PHYSICS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER Spring 2016

Department of Chemistry & Physics g 100 Campus Drive g Weatherford, OK 73096-3089 PHYSICS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER Spring 2016

http://swosu.edu/academics/physics g [email protected] g Terry Goforth, Editor

Come Fly With Us many will be in your party by worked for the Federal Aviation Come one! then. You can contact us by Administration in Oklahoma City Come all! The email ([email protected]), and Washington, DC. He has 2016 edition of phone (580/774-3109), FAX worked on, led, and managed the SWOSU (580/774-3115), snail main (c/o teams deploying the following Physics Alumni Banquet will be Terry Goforth, 100 Campus Dr, surveillance systems: ASRS-4: A held on Saturday, April 2, 2016, Weatherford, OK 73096), or just 3D, 250 NM Air route Surveil- at the Stafford Air & Space Mu- come by in person! lance radar; ATCBI-6: A modern seum in Weatherford. Preston Air Traffic Control Beacon Inter- Barber (‘82), Airport Radars Preston Barber rogator with Mode-S capability; Systems Manager for the FAA Preston Barber (‘82) is ASR-11: The FAA’s newest Air- in OKC, will be our speaker this the Airport Radars port Surveillance radar; and year. We will be inducting the Systems Manager for ADS-B: Automatic Dependent newest class of students into the Federal Aviation Administra- Surveillance Broadcast, a GPS Sigma Pi Sigma and honoring tion (FAA). Preston manages and based surveillance technology. several students for their hard leads a team that provides work and service. worldwide engineering support Preston’s FAA career has taken for 200 radar-based surveillance him to destinations in Italy, En- Dinner will be served at 7 pm, systems operated by the FAA gland, Scotland, Brussels, and but the museum will be open and Department of Defense. Amarillo, Texas. He now lives in early, so come on out ahead of Oklahoma City with Letricia, his time. Your banquet ticket in- Preston was born in Weather- wife of thirty-seven years. They cludes a chance to walk through ford, OK, and grew up in Oklaho- have two daughters Kelly and the museum and see what AAA ma City. He graduated from Tracy. has designated as a “Gem” in Putnam City High school in 1973 western Oklahoma. You’ll defi- and spent four years in the US What is a scientist after all? It is nitely want to see the Mission a curious man looking through a Control exhibit honoring several Air Force where he repaired keyhole, the keyhole of nature, of our own alumni. automatic pilots and compasses. After leaving the Air Force he trying to know what's going on. attended SWOSU, graduating ~Jacques Yves Cousteau The museum is located at 3700 . E Logan Rd in Weatherford. If with a BS in Physics in 1982. you need directions, just ask. A Chance to Tickets are $20 each, and may Following college he managed Relax the Electronics Technology Lab- be paid for in advance or at the If you close your door. We will need an accurate oratory at OSU and worked at eyes and concen- head count by Wednesday, Boeing Military Airplane Compa- trate, you can almost smell the March 30, so if you plan to at- ny and Frontier Engineering. charcoal and the aroma of tend, please let us know how Since December of 1989 he has SWOSU PHYSICS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER , page 2 SPRING 2016

meat and vegetables being Graduates funded by the National Science grilled. Hungry? This year’s The 2015 Foundation. I worked with a post- Physics Shish-kebab will take SWOSU Convo- doc researcher for the SPACT place on April 30 at Crowder cation took place center in characterizing the properties of Polyaniline (PANI), an organ- Lake. As usual, we’ll have an on May 9, 2015, in ic compound that is conductive if abundance of good food and the Pioneer Event synthesized as nanofibers (NF). plenty of good company. The Center. Two PANI-NF’s, however, become non- Engineering Physics students food should be ready to eat conductive if exposed to high in- walked across the stage and around 6 pm, but be sure to tensity infrared light. I was able to received their bona fides. come early to take in all Crow- characterize all of these properties der Lake has to offer. Whether Congratulations to Amy of PANI while also creating printa- you prefer fishing, canoeing, Fields (Seiling) and Blake ble patterns. During this project I Scott (Greenfield)! hiking, or just sitting and also worked with a professor from watching, it will be a great SDSM&T on technical presenta- Research is what I'm doing when I opportunity to relax and enjoy. tions. At the end of the program I don't know what I'm doing. - We’ll headquarter at the Crow- was able to present my research at ~Wernher von Braun a poster conference with other par- der Lake classroom building. If ticipants who worked on similar you need directions, just give Summer projects from the surrounding area. us a call or drop us an email. The overall experience was defi- Research and nitely eye opening as well as incre- We can lick gravity, but Internships dibly fun! sometimes the paperwork is Last summer, four overwhelming. -Wernher von intrepid engineering J Paul Woods (So/Jr, Weatherford) Braun physics majors from SWOSU set Last summer, I was one of ten students accepted into the University out for a variety of locations to of Oklahoma School of Community take part in summer research. Physics and Medicine (OUSCM) Undergraduate These students choose to forgo Summer Internship. The internship Engineering much larger summer wages in was six weeks long, and consisted Club Officers order to gain valuable lessons. of the following five activities: com- (This is made possible because munity service, didactics, physician of scholarships which reduce the shadowing, medical research, and President: Connor Holland need to earn as much as possible office help. I’ll give a couple exam- Vice-Pres: J.P. Woods over the summer before return- ples, but there was too much going Secretary: Garet Crispin ing to school.) Here is a sum- on to mention it all. Treasurer: Brennon Cupp mary of what our students did. Sponsor: Dr. Wayne Trail For community service, we helped Connor Holland (Jr/Sr, Duncan) with a summer camp that intro- duced underprivileged teens to I was involved in a research project different careers in the medical The saddest aspect of life right at the South Dakota School of field. Furthermore, I helped raise now is that science gathers Mines and Technology (SDSM&T) funds for a community-wide baby over the past summer. This ten- knowledge faster than society shower that was to be put on by a week program at the Security gathers wisdom. ~Isaac Asimov Tulsa based charity. Our didactics Printing and Anti-Counterfeiting consisted of weekly lectures given Technology (SPACT) center was SWOSU PHYSICS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER , page 3 SPRING 2016

by different physicians at OUSCM, parency and conductivity. The final No amount of experimentation can and covered topics such as elec- goal of the group was to make ever prove me right; a single tronic medical records, medical high-efficiency, smart windows experiment can prove me wrong.~ disparities, the role of fMRI in using this TCO and others, that Albert Einstein studying depression, and much were developed in the group. more. As another part of didactics, Physics Club we were able to spend time Brennon Cupp (So/Jr, Woodward) working with standardized Over the Summer I worked at OSU Activities patients (actors who portray in the Helmerich Research Center The Physics Club different medical needs). In in Tulsa, Ok. There I worked with a has been busy (as usual) with a regards to shadowing, I was able number of people including Dr. variety of projects and activi- to spend a considerable amount of Ranji Vaidyanathan in the Engi- ties. Following the well- time with doctors in pediatrics, neering department. I worked family medicine, surgery, pulmo- there on a project funded by NASA attended Welcome-Back Ham- nology, and psychiatry. to research the ability of thermo burger Fry, the physics students plastics mixed with other com- got to work evaluating and In closing, the summer was very pounds to protect against radiation learning to explain a variety of productive, and it helped solidify and to test their mechanical demonstrations that were plan- my goal of seeking a career in strengths. My work was centered ned for Physics Day. The club medicine. Also, I was able to see on making the thermo plastic mix- members run a hands-on room how beneficial a diverse or tures and helping design and build where the visiting high school nontraditional background can be. a mold to mold the plastics for students can “get their hands My engineering physics major testing. (Ed. note: This work was helped to set me apart from the part of a NASA grant awarded dirty” with angular momentum, crowd, the normal pre-med, in jointly to OSU and SWOSU to standing waves, non-Newtonian that I was able to bring a unique involve SWOSU students in fluids, and many other activi- set of problem solving skills to the research.) ties. Later in the semester, they group, and an overall different way took time to relax before finals of looking at things. The fewer the facts, the stronger at the annual Physics Christ- the opinion. ~Arnold H. Glasow mas Party. The spring semester Garet Crispin (So/Jr, Thomas) has provided an opportunity to This summer I interned at the look at projects they might build University of Texas in Austin as a On and Off the student researcher. The graduate just for fun. On movie night they Field watched The Martian and dis- research group I participated in Engineering Physics was in the chemical engineering Major Kaleb Prough (Jr, cussed the science (good and department that had recently Edmond) was one of two bad) that was presented in the transitioned from UC-Berkeley. SWOSU Football players honor- film. Of course, later this spring They made for an incredible learned as CoSIDA (College Sports they will be planning the Spring ing atmosphere. My research Information Directors of America) Banquet and the annual Shish- involved synthesizing a nanocrys- Academic All-District this year. kebab. tal and sol-gel composite, to be Kaleb has maintained a 3.95 used as a transparent conducting GPA while starting every game for the Bulldogs at right tackle. oxide (TCO). After synthesizing The distance between insanity and We all know this is no small feat. genius is measured only by this compound, my task was to Way to go, Kaleb! create a spray coating deposition success. ~Bruce Feirstein method that provided high trans- SWOSU PHYSICS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER , page 4 SPRING 2016

ABET ideas about how to develop ped up by simple concepts: a useful program of assess- “What is the acceleration of the Assessment ment that can be implement- ball at the top of the trajec- Workshop ed with a small number of tory?” “A metal plate with a hole in it is heated. Does the by Tony Stein faculty. It will still take hole increase or decrease in In the fall of 2015 I at- a lot of work to develop, diameter?” “A rowboat contain- tended a fundamentals of implement, automate, and ing several bricks is floating in program assessment work- improve. We will likely a pool. If the bricks are thrown shop for ABET (Accredita- need help from alumni in overboard into the pool, does tion Board for Engineering various roles as well. the water level of the pool rise, and Technology). This or fall?” workshop was designed to Science is a way of thinking much Dr. Mazur decided that even help engineering programs more than it is a body of though his lectures were scintil- do self-assessment both knowledge. ~Carl Sagan lating (just like mine!), the stu- for themselves and for dents were not learning in ABET accreditation and re- them, or at least not learning newal. A three-year self- as well as he wanted. His solu- assessment of an engineer- Flipping tion was to flip his classroom. Students were assigned reading ing program is a necessary the or videos to view outside of first step for ABET accre- Classroom class, then class time was spent ditation and continuous by Wayne Trail answering and discussing improvement is a corner- In March of 2015, I attended a questions. stone of maintaining ABET Transformative Learning confer- accreditation. ence at University of Central It works like this: a (usually) Oklahoma. I had been trying to multiple choice question is posted on the screen in the Recent policy changes by incorporate new teaching techniques into my classes, espe- classroom. Students have a the state licensing board minute, working by themselves have made the path toward cially Basic Physics (the alge- bra/trigonometry based Health to select an answer; they do a professional engineer Sciences sequence). For exam- this by connecting to a web-site (PE) licensure more diffi- ple, I had been creating short with their cell phone or other cult for graduates of non- videos of me working typical wifi device. Once the answers accredited programs. Being problems and posting them on are in, the instructor sees a dis- tribution of answers (depending a PE is not necessary for Canvas (an online learning plat- form), so the students could on the sophistication of the a being successful engi- software, the instructor can neer and many engineering see how I solve problems in real-time (as opposed to the view an “answer-map” of the graduates do not even take finished product in their notes). classroom). If 80% or more of the first step by taking the students get the right an- the fundamentals of engi- The Keynote speaker at the swer, the instructor states the neering exam. Nonetheless, conference was Dr. Eric Mazur answer or gives a brief explanation (or, better, has a student having our program ABET who was discussing the “flipped” classroom. Dr. Mazur do that), then goes to the next accredited would still be question. If fewer than 30% get useful for some students. has been teaching the Health Sciences Physics sequence at the right answer some explana- Harvard for a few decades. tion from the instructor is re- The workshop was useful Early on he became frustrated quired. If the percent correct is both in giving a better that even his best students, between 30% and 80%, the idea about what ABET is who could grind out tough students are told to find a per- looking for and for giving problems, were regularly trip- son with a different answer SWOSU PHYSICS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER , page 5 SPRING 2016

than theirs and try to convince significant way (maybe I’ll water.) The projects that were the person that they are right. never know), but it has them chosen covered a wide variety of This is what we want. smiling a little more while dis- fields from classical mechanics to cussing physics. And that is optics to particle detectors using After a few minutes of discus- good. modern electronics and computers. sion the students are allowed to resubmit their answers. The One of the most ambitious projects percent of correct answers almost always increases Retooling was to recreate Cavendish’s experi- dramatically, even when ano- Experimental ment that measured the density of ther answer was initially more the earth. (In modern parlance it popular than the correct Techniques measured Newton’s gravitational answer. The students, rather by Tony Stein constant G.) The torsion balance than learning passively in a One of the most difficult steps for that Cavendish used and modified lecture, are forced to defend an undergraduate to make is the was extremely well designed and re- their conceptions (or, more move from being a student to be- mained the state of the art for over a likely, misconceptions). The coming a scholar–someone who not century. Cavendish’s original paper person with the correct answer only consumes knowledge but also had plenty of detail to help with the usually has the better creates it. This fall 14 of SWOSU’s design, but finding a way to build argument and will succeed one in the limited time and budget even from the minority. junior and senior engineering physics majors took a large step in proved too difficult. One challenge Another interesting aspect of it that direction by designing, which turned out to be insurmoun- is that, at the end of the se- building, and implementing their table was the enormous mass need- cond round, the students still own research projects. Their re- ed. (Lead was the preferred materi- don’t know for sure what the sources were limited both in money al.) This limitation lead to a series right answer is. They have now and in time as they only had about 8 of discussions about possible geom- invested some time thinking a- weeks to complete the project. Not etries which would work with the bout this question and discus- all of them were able to complete lead that was available. Though no sing it. They want to know the their experiments because of those solution was found, the students got answer. So you, as the instruc- limitations but all of them learned a chance to do some basic building tor, have a few minutes of from this experience and had the and design and became familiar really focused attention from with the trade-offs that are often the class. pride of succeeding in a project that was entirely their own. necessary when making your own I am still a beginner at this, original experiment. but the students really seem to Before the building and research enjoy it. (I do it about one lec- phase, each student created his own Another ambitious project was to ture in four, and I grade them idea for a research project and then build a cheap muon detector using only on participation.) What I fleshed out the project enough to basic electronics such as op-amp like most about it is that it promote and defend it before his chips that interfaced to a Raspberry really gets them to discuss peers and to write a simple ‘grant Pi through an Arduino processor. physics. It certainly has im- proposal’ detailing the experiment Both the interfacing of the circuit proved class participation on and probable cost. From these pro- with the Arduino (and the Arduino the other days (they get used jects the students selected only a with the Raspberry Pi) and the to talking in class and are less handful and broke into small groups building of the electronics was shy). Finally, I believe they are challenging but the students were up better at working together on to finish them. Many of the ideas to the task and completed it (real) homework problems—I that were discussed but not chosen see them debating with one would still make very good research successfully. another while they work. It’ll projects later. (One example is that be a while before I can tell if it in certain circumstances hotter One of the more immediately suc- really affects their learning in a water can freeze faster than colder cessful experiments was to build a SWOSU PHYSICS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER , page 6 SPRING 2016

ping pong ball launcher that uses Physics at program and shared a few me- only a vacuum. A ball is placed at mories along the way. And it one end in a long tube that is sealed the Lake was a night to remember Dr. at both ends with aluminum foil Take a dozen or so Benny Hill and to share our and then evacuated. The ball is physics students. Add several memories of his guidance and leadership. then launched by puncturing the faculty members, a few alumni, foil on the end with the ball. The and lots of friends and family, The fun started early when Bob resulting rush of air accelerates the then mix it all up at Crowder ball in the vacuum so that it easily Culpepper (‘63) and his wife Lake and you have the ingredi- punches through the foil at the Norma and Jim Bates (‘62) and ents for a great shish-kebab. other end. The students quickly his wife Rosalee showed up figured out how to find and fix the May 2, 2015, was a beautiful early to have lunch with Ron inevitable leaks and were well on day. Some attendees chose to Toelle and his wife Gale and their way to being able to measure go canoeing, while other played the physics faculty. We all had a wonderful visit. the speed of the ejected ball when lawn games or took hikes. The they ran out of time. food was, as always, worth the The evening began with tours wait and in abundance. After of the museum and a chance to There were many other projects as dinner, the new Physics Club socialize with old friends and well. One student attempted to officers were sworn in with the make new ones. After a delici- measure heat conduction using an usual creative, impromptu ous dinner was served by inexpensive infrared camera. Ano- oaths, then several students SWOSU’s Food Services, and ther measured the fluorescence of were awarded with Iggies (Ig- we then settled down to the colored paper using colored lasers. noble Awards). A favorite award evening’s business, inducting And another group was able to was the boomerang, presented three new members into the measure the acoustical properties SWOSU Sigma Pi Sigma Chap- of musical instruments by compar- to all the students attending (to ter, bringing our total member- ing the harmonic tones of high give them a head start in their ship to 198. This year’s induc- sound-quality and low sound- preparations for Fluid Mechanics tees were Garet Crispin (So, quality musical instruments. in the fall semester). Thomas), Brennon Cupp (So, Woodward), and John Paul Too often in educational laborator- Touch a scientist and you touch a Woods (So, Weatherford). Joe ies students are given a project that child. ~Ray Bradbury Young (Fr, Duncan) was named is already mostly fleshed out, and the Outstanding New Physics they know that if they just follow 2015 Club Member, and John Paul the directions they will succeed. Woods was honored as the The real world is frequently the ex- Banquet Outstanding Midclassman in act opposite of that. Life gives us April 25, 2015. The Physics. Luke Kraft (Sr, limited instructions, and success is 2015 Physics Hooker) was recognized for not guaranteed, even if we do Spring Banquet being chosen as a Who’s Who everything right. Although small, was one to remember. The scholar, and Amy Fields (Sr, these types of experiments, I be- setting was the Stafford Air & Seiling) was presented with a lieve, are very important for stu- Space Museum, where a dis- medallion to wear at gradua- dents because it challenges them to play honors the SWOSU gradu- tion denoting her status as an go beyond what they have learned ates who worked at NASA Honor Graduate (GPA 3.5 or and to take a risk. through the Mercury, Gemini, better). Several scholarships and Apollo missions. Several of were awarded. These will be those honorees returned to detailed later. The presentation The science of today is the listen to one of their own, Ron of our ultimate award, the J.R. technology of tomorrow. Toelle (‘63), who spoke about Pratt Award for the Outstanding ~Edward Teller his experiences in the space Student in Physics was actually SWOSU PHYSICS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER , page 7 SPRING 2016

a dual award to Amy Fields Following the formalities, there Pratt Scholarship. These students and Connor Holland (Jr, was time for one more quick work very hard (hey, they are Duncan). look at the museum, hugs and Engineering Physics majors) both handshakes, and a moment to in and out of the classroom. A few attendees took advan- reflect on the joy of coming tage of the opportunity to together to celebrate the past Most hold jobs, some on campus reminisce about they and the future. and others off campus, to help experiences with Dr. Benny pay for their education. The Hill, who served as Chairman It is a good morning exercise for a money you generously donate to of the Department of Physics research scientist to discard a pet keep these scholarships coming for 25 years. All agreed: he hypothesis every day before means our students have more was demanding, but he cared breakfast. It keeps him young. about his students, and he time for study. The assistance is ~Konrad Lorenz shaped the department, the greatly appreciated by these physics program, and the young scholars. future of many of us who 2015 studied under him. Scholarships You Can The highlight of the evening Through the Make a was a presentation by Ron generous support of Difference Toelle (‘63) titled “From Okie Free tuition for Dirt Farmer to Rocket Scien- our alumni, family, and friends, all! Lower interest rates on tist.” We followed his rise from we were able to present $9,074 an Oklahoma farm boy who in scholarship support to several student loans! Forgiveness of wanted to fly for the US Air student loans! We’re hearing grateful and deserving students. all kinds of things on and off Force, through his years at The awards included the Arts & Southwestern under the tute- the campaign trail this year. lage of Benny Hill and J.R. Pratt Sciences Dean’s Undergraduate One thing that everyone can to his years working first as Scholarship for $324 to John agree on is that a college part of a five-man team lead by Paul Woods (So, Weatherford), education is expensive, and Dr. Werner Von Braun and and three Physics Alumni Schol- it’s getting more expensive eventually as chief engineer in arships in the amount of $1,000 every year. The cost of tuition charge of his own team. He re- and fees has been rising rap- called many of his classmates each to Sushant Bhatta (Fr, idly for many years at a rate and the influence they had on Nepal), Dakota Davis (So, Wood- that far outpaces inflation. him, and noted the importance ward), and Joe Young (Fr, Public education today rivals of these connections in secur- Duncan). Garet Crispin (So, the cost of private education ing first an internship and then Thomas) received the Arthur 30 years ago. State support a job with NASA. Ron made of public education continues his career by emulating Dr. McClelland Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1,000, and the to lose ground relative to the Von Braun’s management full cost, leaving students style: hire the best people, and Ray C. Jones Scholarship for (and their families) to pay the then let them do what they are $1,000 was presented to Brennon majority of the bill. For the good at without getting in the Cupp (So, Woodward). This way. He also noted that 2015-2016 academic year, progress requires a broad year’s Benny J. Hill Scholarship the cost of tuition and man- range of talented went to John Paul Woods in the datory fees at SWOSU is $195 individuals–from those who amount of $1,250. Finally, per credit hour. For 30 credit dream and take chances to Connor Holland (Jr, Duncan) hours (two semesters), the those who meticulously check mandatory cost is $5,850, details. was awarded $1,500 for the J.R. and that’s before lab fees, SWOSU PHYSICS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER , page 8 SPRING 2016

text books, and supplies are Einstein through spacetime as waves of added on, (never mind room some sort. A distant mass might and board). Revealed respond to the disturbance by Relativity Revealed: being set into some sort of vibra- Most of our students hold A Concrete tional motion. It has recently been down part-time jobs to help Approach You Can claimed that such motions have pay for their schooling. Understand by Ray C. Jones, Some are even trying to work been detected and that they were former professor of physics at full-time while going to caused by the merger of two mas- SWOSU, is still available for school. Needless to say, time sive black holes located far away in purchase from Amazon at spent at work is time that is the universe. To understand the http://www.amazon.com/dp/149 not available for study, and basis for such a claim, it is neces- 7522110. In the same clear, you know from experience sary to understand the gravity wave how much study time is easy-to-follow style he showed detectors. They are conceptually required for the physics, in the classroom, Dr. Jones will simple but very, very complex in math, and chemistry classes walk you through Einstein’s fa- detail. The basic detector is a that our students are taking. mous theory. All proceeds from Michelson interferometer. It has Any assistance we can sales of the book will be contri- been designed to respond to a buted to the Ray Jones Scholar- provide these students is an change of length of an interferome- ship Fund to benefit SWOSU investment in the future. By ter arm of about one part in 10 to physics students. reducing the financial load the 22nd power! on them, we can help them Only two things are infinite, the succeed in school, and by The interferometer laser beam extension, help them universe and human stupidity, and passes through a beam splitter and succeed in the careers ahead I'm not sure about the former. into two perpendicular arms of 4 of them. And I can assure ~Albert Einstein km length. After traversing optical you that they are grateful. cavities in the arms hundreds of Every year, after the scholarships have been times, the beams are recombined awarded, I have students Gravity at the photodetector. There are coming by my office the next Waves! test masses located in the arms of the instrument. Their motions in week to express their by Stan Robertson, response to gravitational wave dis- genuine gratitude. They Emerti Prof. of turbances change the length of the know you don’t have to give. Physics They appreciate your genero- interferometer arms and thus mod- Einstein’s general theory of relativi- sity and support. And so do ulate the interference pattern ty has shown that gravitational ef- we, because we know how observed at the photodetector. fects can be considered as distor- much of a difference it can The instruments themselves explain tions of spacetime. In simple make. So THANK YOU for why the project is known as LIGO – words, masses tell spacetime how your kindness and your Laser Interferometer Gravitational- to curve and curvature tells masses support!!! Wave Observatory. There are two how to move. They follow the warp such instruments, one located near and ruts of spacetime. One of the Livingston, LA, and the other at consequences of the Einsteinian Hanford, WA. In addition to each Men love to wonder, and that is view of spacetime is that confirming the other’s signal the seed of science. ~Ralph gravitational waves should exist. If detections, the time interval Waldo Emerson the fabric of spacetime were to be between arrivals at the two disturbed by some very compact detectors provides a means to de- masses being accelerated, then that termine the direction from which disturbance should be propagated SWOSU PHYSICS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER , page 9 SPRING 2016

the signal came. The original that confirm them as black holes. waves tells us that scientists article can be found here: Two types of black hole candidate sometimes go overboard in report- http://journals.aps.org/prl/abstrac objects seem to exist; some of ing their discoveries. The gravity t/10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.06110 about ten times the mass of our wave detection is similar to the 2 sun and galactic nuclei of millions BICEP2 result in that both experi- to billions of our solar mass. The ments were looking for needles in a So finally, after many years of objects that produced the apparent haystack, but the first thing found effort it seems that we now have detection of gravity waves are very by both was a crowbar! In this the ability to detect gravitational uncomfortably large. Black hole regard, when you are digging out a waves. If so, this opens a new candidate objects of thirty solar signal which is deeply buried in the window on the universe and mass have not yet been found in noise, you will eventually find ushers in an age of gravitational our galaxy or other nearby galaxies, random noise that matches your wave astronomy. The potential for but that is what would be required filters. Once in a while both new discoveries is probably as rich to produce the observed acoustic detectors will find a match with as that provided by the first optical frequencies. Binary neutron star plausible timing. The only cure for telescope. This is brought home by mergers should be observed this problem is to wait until enough the first gravitational wave every few days, but at higher events have been detected to allow detection being attributed to the acoustic frequencies and much for statistical tests to be applied. It merger of two black holes of thirty weaker signals unless very needs to be remembered that this some solar mass each! It is not is still a single event. Lastly, I am nearby. It is difficult to construct a difficult to imagine that an dubious about a signal discovered scenario for a progenitor binary immensely rich era of discovery immediately upon completion of system of thirty solar mass stars. lies before us. For example, it the last upgrades to LIGO. After One would expect such a close might be possible to examine mer- more than twenty years, a billion binary system to simply merge into gers of some of the earliest stars dollars spent and a lot of that very a single 60 solar mass star and then formed in the universe. Or we recently, there might have been go supernova. might be able to correlate gravita- some pressure to rush to tional disturbances with other publication. Third, there are some additional events such as gamma ray bursts mundane reasons for being cau- or fast radio bursts. I think that the correct way to re- tious about accepting the gravity gard this result is with a mixture of wave claims. Acoustic frequency It is easy to get swept up into the hope and skepticism. It will likely disturbances in about the right excitement over both new pros- take a couple of years to let us frequency range might be created pects and apparent confirmations know if we have opened a new era by a geological event within the of foundational theories, such as of discovery or have had another earth. The collapse of a magma general relativity. But it might be expensive disappointment. A new chamber somewhere might be de- worthwhile to examine some of era might even bring some new tected by both interferometers. our assumptions. First, general ways to confirm some of my own The signals detected were, if any- relativity is conceptually elegant, theories on black hole candidates – thing, too perfectly like those pro- but not at all necessary for or it might do some destructive duced by simulations of a merger of understanding this new era. testing of them. Either outcome binary black hole candidates. The would be good. recent retraction of the BICEP2 Second, although many objects claim to have detected both B- that are massive and compact In all science, error precedes the mode polarization of the cosmic enough to be black holes have truth, and it is better it should go microwave radiation background been observed by astronomers, first than last. ~Hugh Walpole and the simultaneous confirmation there have been no observations of both cosmic inflation and gravity SWOSU PHYSICS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER , page 10 SPRING 2016

Who’s the cyclist, and encouraged others to Terry Cox (‘86) Completed a join him. After retiring, he took graduate Certificate in Systems Boss? up painting and enjoyed Engineering at Florida Institute After serving as chair traveling the world with his wife. of Technology in 2015. He is survived by his wife of the Department of Justin Silkwood (‘10) is working Aghavni of the home, daughter Chemistry and Physics for nine at the Tulsa Cancer Institute as a years, Dr. Bill Kelly returned to a Maria of Aukland, New Zealand, Therapeutic Medical Physicist. son Antranik and his wife Marion full-time teaching position and He’ll be taking his final board and their children Nicholas and examination in May for certifica- turned over the reins of leadership Sophia of Edmond, OK, and one tion by the American Board of to Dr. Jason Johnson last August. brother, Ohan and his wife Radiology. Justin works on a The transition has gone off without Roemary of Weatherford. team with four physicists a hitch, and we have enjoyed helping to treat cancer patients. He really loves his job, and working with Dr. Johnson this year. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials be donated that joy is a positive boost for And to Dr. Kelly we say, “Thank to the newly-established Dr. the patients. you for you many years of support Garo Armoudian Physics in maintaining a healthy physics Scholarship Fund at SWOSU or Gordon Gregg (‘63) has program.” to the National Parks Founda- retired after a long career as tion. Either of these will help sus- an educator and researcher. Science is the great antidote to tain some of his deepest com- Gordon earned a M.S. in the poison of enthusiasm and mitments: higher education, mathematics from OSU after superstition. ~Adam Smith science, and preservation of which he taught for one year nature for all of us to enjoy. at Oklahoma Baptist Univers- Dr. Garabed ity. He then attended Purdue In science, "fact" can only mean University, completing all but Armoudian– "confirmed to such a degree that a dissertation for a Ph.D. in In Memory it would be perverse to withhold mathematics. He worked at On February 28 we received the provisional assent." I suppose that Los Alamos Scientific sad news that Dr. Garo apples might start to rise Laboratory for two years and tomorrow, but the possibility does Armoudian had lost his battle then 33 years as Professor of not merit equal time in physics with cancer. Dr. Armoudian was Mathematics at Montgomery classrooms. ~Stephen Jay Gould on the physics faculty at SWOSU College in Rockville, MD. from 1968 until 2000, serving as the Chairman of Physics from Alumni Amy Fields (‘15) is currently 1990 to 2000. He was enthusias- News working for Crop Guard Re- tic about everything he did. He This is the part of search, Inc. in Hinton. The loved physics. He loved SWOSU. the newsletter that company does agricultural He loved teaching. He loved his is written by YOU. We love research, working with students and colleagues. In hearing about your work and chemical companies to test activities, and we hope you addition to teaching physics, he their products on crops enjoy hearing about your friends was a landlord and businessman following the specified and classmates as well. in Weatherford. He was an avid protocols. The job involves SWOSU PHYSICS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER , page 11 SPRING 2016

making sure those protocols Certification Project Specialist Blake Scott (‘15) works for are followed, including pro- for legacy Model 412EP Ckenergy out of Binger as a per mixing of the chemicals helicopter upgrades from Technical Services Engineering (which is where the math 2014-2016. In February 2016 Specialist. He works with engi- comes in). The goal is to Royce was delegated by the neers constructing new power lines and taking care of the engi- make sure the chemicals are FAA as an ODA Unit Member neering server model. He also safe, do what they are inten- authorized to perform func- runs data analysis on the power ded to do, and determine tions necessary for Acoustical lines looking at load allocation, some of the information that approvals at Bell Helicopter. voltage drop, load balance, and goes on the labels. More recently, he has been so forth. assigned Manager, Engineer- Royce Snider (‘91) ing Certification in the ODA. A scientific truth does not transferred from Flight Tech- triumph by convincing its nology to the ODA (Organi- Mike Moore (‘13) is teaching opponents and making them see zation Designation Authori- physics, chemistry, and biology the light, but rather because its zation) / Civil Certification at the InterAmerican Academy opponents eventually die and a new group at Bell Helicopter of Guayaquil in Ecuador. The generation grows up that is lessons are in English, and the inearly 2014. He served as familiar with it. ~Max Planck school is a private, American- curriculum school.

A new and startling revision of the old theories about electricity. John Kuivinen, chairman of an amateur radio group, had discovered what makes integrated circuits (IC) work. Every time smoke was let out of an IC it was found that the system ceased to function. He established in further testing that smoke is what makes all electrical circuits work. Many amateur car restorers have verified his findings. Remember the last time smoke escaped from your voltage regulator? It quit working, didn't it? The simple fact is that the wiring harness carries smoke from one electrical device to another in your car. When it springs a leak, it lets the smoke out of everything at once and nothing works. The starter motor requires large amounts of smoke to work properly, and that is why the wiring to it is so big. Electricity is smoke. In spite of decades of talk and speculation about electrons and such, the fact is that we can find no one who has ever seen an electron. That alone should be sufficient to throw doubt on what was the prevailing theory up to that time. SWOSU PHYSICS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER , page 12 SPRING 2016

LET’S STAY IN TOUCH

In this age of connectedness, there’s just no reason to lose touch. We send this newsletter out to let you know what we’ve been doing. Now it’s your turn! We always enjoy hearing from you and learning about your activities and achievements. But we’re not clairvoyant. You have to tell us yourself. And it’s so easy! By email, by snail mail, by phone, by FAX, or in person, we want to hear from you! And you can also connect with us on Facebook at the SWOSU Physics and Engineering group, or on LinkedIn. We even have a place on the SWOSU website for you to update your address or other contact information (http://swosu.edu/academics/physics/alumni/alumni-update.asp). So no excuses! Let us know what you’ve been up to. Let’s stay in touch! Dr. Brian Campbell (580) 774-3118 [email protected] Dr. Terry Goforth (580) 774-3109 [email protected] Dr. Tony Stein (580) 774-3107 [email protected] Dr. Wayne Trail (580) 774-3124 [email protected] You can also send your e-mail to [email protected] or drop us a card or letter to 100 Campus Dr., Weatherford, OK 73096. We’ll see that it gets to the right person.

AND WE’RE ONLINE!

You can find us at www.swosu.edu/academics/physics. Click on the Alumni link for newsletters past and present, announcements, or to update your information.

SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS

If you’d like to donate to one of the physics scholarship funds, just go online to http://www.swosu.edu/alum-foun/foundation/scholarship/physics.aspx and click on Donate Online, or send your check (payable to SWOSU Foundation) to us (c/o Terry Goforth, SWOSU, 100 Campus Dr, Weatherford, OK 73096) or directly to the SWOSU Foundation (SWOSU, 100 Campus Dr, Weatherford, OK 73096). If you send a check, be sure to designate which fund you are giving to (JR Pratt, Benny J. Hill, Ray Jones, Dr. Garo Armoudian, McClelland, or Physics Unrestricted) to be sure the money is used for physics. All donations are 100% tax deductible. Check with your employer or organization about matching your donation. And THANK YOU! SWOSU PHYSICS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER , page 13 SPRING 2016

ALUMNI EMAIL ADDRESSES

If you are a SWOSU Physics Alumnus, drop us an e-mail at [email protected] and we’ll send you the complete list of physics alumni e-mail addresses that we have on file.

If your address is incorrect or if you prefer to use a different address, please let us know and we’ll correct it.

If your address isn’t on our list (you haven’t received any e-mail from us in the last year) and you’d like for us to add it, let us know! We’ll gladly include you.

Alumni attending the 2015 Physics Banquet

Back row: Dylan Frizzell, Tyler Overton, Ron Back row: Bob Culpepper, Ron Toelle, Jim Bates Toelle, Jim Bates Front row: Norma Culpepper, Gale Toelle, Front row: Bob Culpepper, Terry Goforth, Scott Rosalee Bates Taylor

DID YOU KNOW? The National Academy of Sciences provides concise definitions of these critical words: A fact is a scientific explanation that has been tested and confirmed so many times that there is no longer a compelling reason to keep testing it; a theory is a comprehensive explanation of some aspect of nature that is supported by a vast body of evidence generating testable and falsifiable predictions. SWOSU PHYSICS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER , page 14 SPRING 2016

PHYSICS ALUMNI BANQUET 2016

Saturday, April 2, 2016 7:00 p.m. Stafford Air & Space Museum $20/person

Name No. Persons Attending

Address Phone

Please return to: Dr. Terry Goforthh 100 Campus Drive h Weatherford, OK 73096

We need to provide a head-count to the caterers by March 30, 2016

SHISH KEBAB 2016 Saturday, April 30, 2016 6:00 p.m. Crowder Lake University Park

Name No. Persons Attending

Address Phone

Please return to: Dr. Terry Goforth h 100 Campus Drive h Weatherford, OK 73096

If you plan to attend, letting us know will help us in planning the food, but feel free to drop in!

Or... just give us a call or e-mail us to confirm for either/both event(s).