RUI: Research on Glass at Coe College

该项目是为响应本科院校研究（RUI）公告而提交的，由材料研究部凝聚态物理和陶瓷项目共同资助。非技术描述：这个项目有很多目标。第一个目标是在项目期间让多达40名本科生参与可发表的玻璃科学研究。新型氧化玻璃的制备采用了快速冷却、激光加热和新的化学途径等新技术。此外，他们还在几个原子的水平上研究玻璃的中程数量级。最后，他们正在生产具有新技术应用的眼镜。例如，一种用于医疗和国家安全目的的检测中子的眼镜正在开发中。该项目具有广泛的影响，通过培养本科生在许多方面的玻璃研究，~75%将继续读研；举办研讨会，告知同事如何在小型学院进行高水平的研究，并邀请高中生加入这项工作，并与爱荷华州东部所有年级的大学预科学生一起在科学院和当地学校开展科学项目。技术细节：这项工作中最具变革性的部分可能涉及到高达10个原子左右的氧化玻璃的中间范围顺序的确定。这个突出的科学问题涉及离子传导、混合碱效应、粘度和弛豫效应等现象。本研究的实验手段包括核磁共振（NMR），重点是硼的两种同位素，以及同位素稀释和硼的双角旋转核磁共振、中子散射、双原子力显微镜/拉曼光谱和飞行时间质谱。物理性质的测定补充了这些测量。与这项工作同时进行的是使用快速冷却、激光悬浮和替代化学手段的新型玻璃的开发。其中一个应用是开发用于中子探测的半导体硼钒酸锂玻璃。更广泛的影响包括对多达40名本科生进行全面的研究培训，包括他们日常使用许多最先进的仪器，高中学生和他们的老师参与研究，向年轻学生推广，以及在玻璃科学领域的领导服务。这个项目的一个新的和重要的组成部分是为其他大学的同事提供指导和主持研讨会，这些同事有兴趣和他们的学生一起进行高水平的研究。

This project, submitted in response to the Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) announcement, is jointly funded by the Condensed Matter Physics and Ceramic Programs in the Division of Materials Research.NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: This project has a number of objectives. The first objective is to involve up to 40 undergraduate students in publishable research in glass science over the duration of the project. New oxide glasses are being prepared using novel techniques such as fast cooling, laser heating and new chemical pathways. As well, they are examining the intermediate range order of glass on the level of a handful of atoms. Finally they are producing glasses that have new technical applications. For example, one family of glasses is being developed to detect neutrons for medical and national security purposes. The project has broad impact by training undergraduate students in many aspects of glass research, ~75% will continue to graduate school; running workshops to inform colleagues how to conduct high level research at small colleges, and inviting high school students to join this work and working with pre-college students of all grades in eastern Iowa on science programs at Coe College and in local schools.TECHNICAL DETAILS: It is likely that the most transformational part of this work concerns the determination of the intermediate range order of oxide glasses of up to ten atoms or so. This outstanding scientific problem concerns such phenomena as ionic conduction, the mixed-alkali effect, and viscosity and relaxation effects. The experimental means for this study include nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) with a focus on boron using both of its isotopes separately as well as isotopic dilutions and boron Double Angle Rotation NMR, neutron scattering, dual atomic force microscopy/Raman spectroscopy, and time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. Physical property determinations complement these measurements. Simultaneous to this work is the development of novel glasses using rapid cooling, laser levitation, and alternative chemical means. One application for this is the development of semiconducting lithium borovanadate glasses for neutron detection. Broader impacts include the thorough training of up to 40 undergraduate students in research, including their daily use of many state-of-the art instruments, the involvement of high school students and their teachers in research, outreach to younger students, and leadership service within the glass science field. A new and important component of this project is the mentoring and hosting of workshops for colleagues at other colleges interested in doing high-level research with their students.