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DTSTAMP:20250227T223000Z
UID:1740494786453@thor.lawrence.edu
CATEGORIES:Other
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SUMMARY:Senior Experience Seminar Series in Physics - 
 2025
CONTACT;ALTREP="mailto:matthew.r.stoneking@lawrence.edu":
 Matthew Stoneking\, matthew.r.stoneking@lawrence.edu
DESCRIPTION:
 Jordan Simons \n
 Clarinet Resonance Fingerings aEUR" A Foray into 
 Fourier Analysis\n
 For my math capstone, I introduce the discrete 
 Fourier transform (DFT) as a consequence of least 
 squares interpolation using periodic exponential 
 sample functions. For my physics capstone, I apply 
 the DFT to measure the relative strength of the 
 overtones of clarinet resonance fingerings to 
 determine which performs best. A strong third 
 harmonic is found to correspond to improvements 
 in tone quality, and resonance fingerings with 
 many fingers down tend to produce the strongest 
 third harmonics. I theorize that this could be 
 because they produce a length of open pipe between 
 closed keys with a fundamental lower than the 
 third harmonic of the note in question.\n
  \n
 Connor Phelps \n
 Numerical Methods for Calculating the Emission 
 of Down-converted Light from a Nonlinear Optical 
 Crystal \n
 In Physics 260, students are introduced to a photon 
 experiment utilizing a Beta Barium Borate (BBO) 
 crystal. Under the right conditions, an incoming 
 high-energy laser appears to spontaneously split 
 into two photons, each carrying half the original 
 energy. Interestingly, these photon pairs are 
 not emitted randomly but are confined to a well-defined 
 cone. Further, the shape of the cone is highly 
 sensitive to rotations of the crystal. This presentation 
 provides a theoretical explanation for this phenomenon, 
 explores its experimental verification, and demonstrates 
 how to numerically simulate the observed behavior. 
 By the end of the talk, the audience will gain 
 a deeper understanding of the underlying physics 
 and surprising computational methods used to model 
 this intriguing effect.\n
  \n
 Ray Wetzel Meehan \n
 Analysis of the Gravitational Waves Produced by 
 the Merger of Compact Objects like Neutron Stars 
 and Black Holes\n
 Some systems, like those containing black holes (emit 
 no light) or neutron stars (only a few kilometers 
 wide), are challenging to view and so, hard to 
 study. Gravitational waves, though minuscule, 
 carry information about these systems across huge 
 cosmic distances and aren't hindered by matter 
 in their path like electromagnetic radiation would 
 be. In my presentation, I discuss the phenomena 
 of gravitational waves and their generation, then 
 demonstrate how we can use them to learn about 
 their source.\n\n

LOCATION:Youngchild 121
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