RUI: Research on Glass at Coe College

本项目是应本科院校研究（RUI）公告而提交的，由材料研究部的凝聚态物理和陶瓷项目共同资助。非技术说明：本项目有多个目标。 第一个目标是在项目期间让多达40名本科生参与玻璃科学的可持续研究。新的氧化物玻璃正在使用新的技术，如快速冷却，激光加热和新的化学途径制备。 同时，他们正在研究玻璃在少数原子水平上的中程有序。 最后，他们正在生产具有新技术应用的玻璃。 例如，正在开发一种用于医疗和国家安全目的的中子探测眼镜。 该项目具有广泛的影响，通过培训本科生在玻璃研究的许多方面，约75%将继续研究生院;运行讲习班，告知同事如何在小型大学进行高水平的研究，并邀请高中生加入这项工作，并与大学预科学生的所有年级在东部爱荷华州在科学院和当地学校的科学计划。技术支持：这可能是这项工作的最具变革性的部分涉及到高达10个原子左右的氧化物玻璃的中程秩序的测定。 这一突出的科学问题涉及诸如离子传导、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），重点是硼分别使用其同位素以及同位素稀释和硼双角旋转NMR，中子散射，双原子力显微镜/拉曼光谱，和飞行时间质谱。物理性质测定补充了这些测量。 同时，这项工作是开发新的玻璃使用快速冷却，激光悬浮，和替代化学手段。 这方面的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名本科生进行研究方面的全面培训，包括他们日常使用许多最先进的仪器，高中生及其教师参与研究，与年轻学生的联系以及玻璃科学领域的领导服务。该项目的一个新的重要组成部分是指导和主办研讨会的同事在其他大学有兴趣做高层次的研究与他们的学生。

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.