New Student Projects using Digital Image Analysis and Low Temperatures

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A new series of exciting, semi-research-level possibilities in the Advanced Physics Laboratory is being developed. Equipment for work in two new areas -- digital image acquisition and processing, and temperature-dependent properties of matter using closed cycle refrigerators is provided by this grant. The digital imaging equipment will make possible projects on fractal aggregates, dynamics of swimming organisms, chaotic behavior in oscillating chemical reactions, and rapid optical spectroscopy. Some properties of matter that will be explored using the close cycle refrigerators are temperature-dependent conductivity in high Tc Superconductors, quantum oscillations in magnetic susceptibility, temperature-dependent optical properties of solids, and specific heats of solids through magnetic phase transitions.