Physics Department
Department News
Students Inducted Into Sigma Pi Sigma, Physics Honor Society
Students Nathan Crossette '13 and Benjamin Schweid '13, were inducted into Sigma Pi Sigma, the Physics Honor Society, on May 3rd, 2013.
Physics Department faculty Adam Clark and Jane Flood performed the induction ceremony at the Hoffman House on Muhlenberg College’s Campus.
Proud students Nate Crossette & Ben Schweid (center) are inducted into Sigma Pi Sigma
by Dr. Adam Clark (left) and Dr. Jane Flood (right).
Founded in 1921, Sigma Pi Sigma is a member honor society of the Association of College Honor Societies. The society has some 75,000 historical members. Election to Sigma Pi Sigma is a lifetime membership.
Sigma Pi Sigma exists to honor outstanding scholarship in physics; to encourage interest in physics among students at all levels; to promote an attitude of service of its members towards their fellow students, colleagues, and the public; to provide a fellowship of persons who have excelled in physics. Sigma Pi Sigma’s mission is not completed in the induction ceremony with the recognition of academic accomplishment. In the four dimensions of Honor, Encouragement, Service, and Fellowship, the mission of Sigma Pi Sigma takes a longer view.
For more information concerning Sigma Pi Sigma please see this link.
Physics Majors Recognized at Honors Convocation
Physics students Nicole Cronin '14 and Nathan Crossette '13 were each recognized with awards during Muhlenberg's 2013 Honors Convocation.
Nicki Cronin & Nate Crossette
Nicole "Nicki" Cronin receieved the Dr. Robert A. Boyer Prize. This prize is awarded to a student who exemplifies the many outstanding qualities of Dr. Robert Boyer, Emeritus Professor of Physics, including sound scholarship, a genuine concern for others, adherence to high standards of ethical and moral principles and a deep commitment to the religious dimension of a liberal arts education.
The Clifford R. Moyer Memorial Prize in Physics was awarded to Nathan "Nate" Crossette. The prize is awarded to a student majoring in physics who displays exceptional qualities of scholarship, perseverance and commitment typified by Clifford Moyer. Nate also recevied the Wesley S. Mitman Mathematical Prize. This prize is awarded to a senior most outstanding in mathematics.
Each prize carries a monetary award.
Astronomy Students Put the Sun in Clear View
Muhlenberg Physics students in this semester’s astronomy course had the opportunity to view solar prominences and sun spots thanks to members of the Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomical Society. Each semester LVAAS members bring telescopes to campus at the invitation of Dr. Judith Parker, Lecturer of Physics, but the solarscopes were a first this semester.
Members of LVAAS and the Muhlenberg community view the sun.
Three tripods were set up in front of the Trumbower Science Building on Muhlenberg’s campus. Each tripod supported two telescopes. The larger telescope had a “white light filter” mounted onto the front of the tube. While the filter appeared to be a sheet of ordinary tin foil, it is actually a metal coated polymer material made specifically for solar filters blocking out over 99.999% of the light making it safe for student viewing. Students were able to see sun spots on the sun’s surface through this scope. The smaller scope is a dedicated solar telescope that provides a “hydrogen-alpha light” view of the sun. Students were able to observe solar prominences emitted from the sun.
Muhlenberg Faculty and Students Present at National Conference
Muhlenberg College was well represented at this year's American Physical Society Division of Nuclear Physics Fall meeting held from October 24 to October 27, 2012 in Newport Beach, California.
Last summer, Dr. Fadem and eight students focused on analysis of data taken from the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) on Long Island, NY in 2010.
Dr. Fadem and three of the students, Benjamin Schweid '13, MariAnne Skolnik '14, and Christopher Zumberge '14 attended the conference. At the conference Dr. Fadem gave a talk entitled "Transverse Energy at RHIC in the forward/backward direction with the PHENIX MuonPiston Calorimeter" while Ben, MariAnne, and Chris presented posters at the Conference Experience for Undergraduates poster session (for which all three earned conference scholarships).
MariAnne Skolnik proudly presents her poster entitled Calibrating the Muon Piston Calorimeter (MPC).
Benjamin Schweid stands at the ready to present his poster on Transverse Energy at RHIC in the forward/backward direction with the PHENIX MuonPiston Calorimeter.
A poster describing Simulations for the PHENIX Muon Piston Calorimeter Measurement of Transverse Energy was delivered by
Christopher Zumberge.
Work on the project continues, the analysis is progressing nicely, and the nuclear physics group looks forward to some preliminary results in the spring of 2013.
Physics Students "Represent" at Summer Research Poster Session!
Muhlenberg's annual poster session showcasing student summer research in the sciences was held on September 28th, 2012 in the Seegers Union Event Space. Over 40 posters covering a wide range of scientific topics were presented. Students presenting summer physics research were: Alexa Carollo '14, Niki Cronin '14, Nate Crosssette '13, Benjamin Schweid '13, MariAnne Skolnik '14, Andrew Tullo '14, Cora Wallace '14, Michael Young '14 and Christopher Zumberge '14.
The full 2012 poster session brochure is available here. Photos of the some of the physics presenters are shown below.
Chris Zumberge presents his poster on PHENIX detector simulations to interested on-lookers.
Ben Schweid talks Transverse Energy with another student.
Andrew Tullo (left) looks on as Mike Young comments to the crowd surrounding their poster on
identifying high qualtity events in very large PHENIX detector data sets.
MariAnne Skolnik and Niki Cronin pose next to their poster entitled: Calibrating the Muon Piston Calorimeter (MCP). Behind them (left) is Alexa Carollo answering questions about her poster on heavy ion collision data simulation and analysis.
Corra Wallace presents her poster on the topic of transverse energy in the PHENIX detector at the event.
Nate Crossette presents his poster on quark mass supersymmetry-breaking.
NSF Awards Muhlenberg College a three-year Research at Undergraduate Institutions (NSF-RUI) award of $162,000
Dr. Fadem of the Muhlenberg College Physics Department has earned his second NSF-RUI grant for research in experimental nuclear physics with Muhlenberg undergraduates. The grant, entitled “RUI: Antiquarks and Ultra-Relativistic Heavy Ions at Muhlenberg College,” allows the Department to continue a research program that includes the College in cutting edge research at Brookhaven National Laboratory with the PHENIX collaboration. PHENIX has designed, built, operated, and analyzed data from a large detector located on the 2.4 mile circumference ring of the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Every summer, Muhlenberg students have the opportunity to work shoulder to shoulder with some of the finest scientists in the world. Thanks to this new grant, this work will continue.
Another Successful Summer at Brookhaven National Lab!
Muhlenberg students just completed another summer of research at BNL. While past summers have been used to help with the construction of a new detector for the collaboration, this summer was used to focus on analysis of data taken by PHENIX at RHIC in 2010. Many of the scientists at BNL helped to make this among the most productive summers yet. Nine students worked at BNL this summer: Alexa Carollo, Nicole Cronin, Benjamin Schweid, MariAnne Skolnik, Matthew Slater. Andrew Tullo, Cora Wallace, Michael Young, and Christopher Zumberge.
One exciting highlight of the summer was the after midnight trip to Columbia University in New York City to take part in the 3:00 a.m. simulcast announcing the discovery of the Higgs boson-like particle at the CERN LHC.
At the end of the summer, the students returned to campus here at Muhlenberg to report on their progress as participants in Muhlenberg’s summer science Friday series of talks by Muhlenberg undergraduates performing summer research.
Beyond the First Year of Laboratory Instruction
Brett Fadem attended a conference in Philadelphia that focuses on physics laboratories beyond the first year of undergraduate instruction, Alpha’s BFY conference from July 25 to July 28. There, he and his student, Benjamin Schweid, demonstrated the Muhlenberg muon telescope that is to be integrated into the Advanced Projects course – a capstone course in the Physics Department.
Alumni in the News
Raub Fund Supports Summer Research
Physics student Nathan Crossette '13 under the tutalage of Dr. Adam Clark will conduct research in string theroy over the summer months.
Nate will begin his study of string theory in the summer of 2012, supported by the Raub Fund. Under the guidance of physics professor Adam Clark, Nate will explore the correspondence between quantum field theories in our universe and string theories in non-physical universes with 6 extra dimensions and special curvature properties known as “anti-de Sitter.”
The Raub Fund, established in 1996 to honor the life, career and memory of Dr. Harry L. Raub III, the Harry Raub Physics Department Endowment Fund provides annual income to support summer internship and research experiences for current physics students. Click the Raub Fund link for more details on Nate's proposed reserach and the Raub Fund.
Outstanding Students Recognized at Honors Convocation
Physics students Lauren Ryan '12, Nathan Crossette '13 and Benjamin Schweid '13 were each recognized with an award during Muhlenberg's 2012 Honors Convocation.
Ben Schweid & Nate Crossette (Lauren Ryan unavailabe for picture)
Lauren Rayan receieved the Dr. Robert A. Boyer Prize. This prize is awarded to a student who exemplifies the many outstanding qualities of Dr. Robert Boyer, Emeritus Professor of Physics, including sound scholarship, a genuine concern for others, adherence to high standards of ethical and moral principles and a deep commitment to the religious dimension of a liberal arts education.
Nathan Crossetee was recognized with the Novartis Award. Recipients of the award are junior or senior science majors who have achieved a 3.50 or higher grade point average in their major field of study and who have clearly indicated their intention to pursue post-baccalaureate work in the sciences leading to an advanced degree. Nate, as a junior, was also recently induced into The Phi Beta Kappa Society, the nation's oldest academic honnor society. Nate’s career goals include getting a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics and then conducting research in theoretical physics and lecturing at the university level.
Each prize carries a monetary award.
Crossette Receives Goldwater Honorable Mention
Nathan Crossette ‘13, who was a candidate for a 2012 Goldwater Scholarship, has received an honorable mention. Nate is Dana Scholar, and is majoring in Physics and Mathematics. Nate’s career goals include getting a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics and then conducting research in theoretical physics and lecturing at the university level.
The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program was established by Congress in 1986 to honor Senator Barry M. Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years of service in the U.S. Senate.
The purpose of the Foundation is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who intend to pursue careers in these fields.
Student Presents Poster at the Northeast Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics
Physics major MariAnne Skolnik attended the Northeast Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics at Yale University in New Haven, CT. (January 13th -15th, 2012). There she presented her poster entitled: Dark Current in PHENIX Resistive Plate Chambers. The poster describes research work she performed in the summer of 2011 concerning the PHEINX detector at Brookhaven National Laboratory with the guidance of Dr. Brett Fadem.
MariAnne (second from the left) and friends in front of her poster during the student poster session.
While there were many interesting talks at the conference, MariAnne says she most enjoyed the interactive talk given by the Graduate Student Panel. The panel and audience discussed the particular challenges women undergraduates face in transitioning from undergraduate to graduate education.
Students Inducted Into Sigma Pi Sigma, The Physics Honor Society
Three students were inducted into Sigma Pi Sigma, the Physics Honor Society, on May 6th , 2011. Inducted were Jonathan Ben-Benjamin, Nicole Hammer and Lauren Ryan. The event took place at the Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown, PA. Members of the Physics Department faculty and staff performed the induction ceremony. Founded in 1921, Sigma Pi Sigma is a member honor society of the Association of College Honor Societies. The society has some 75,000 historical members. Election to Sigma Pi Sigma is a lifetime membership.
Sigma Pi Sigma Inductees Lauren Ryan, Jonathan Ben-Benjamin and Nicole Hammer.
Sigma Pi Sigma exists to honor outstanding scholarship in physics; to encourage interest in physics among students at all levels; to promote an attitude of service of its members towards their fellow students, colleagues, and the public; to provide a fellowship of persons who have excelled in physics. Sigma Pi Sigma’s mission is not completed in the induction ceremony with the recognition of academic accomplishment. In the four dimensions of Honor, Encouragement, Service, and Fellowship, the mission of Sigma Pi Sigma takes a longer view.
For more information concerning Sigma Pi Sigma please see this link.
Physics Students Honored
Physics students Jonathan Ben-Benjamin, Class of 2011, and Nicole Harmmer , Class of 2011, each were honored with prizes at Muhlenberg's 2011 Honors Convocation.
Jonathan Ben-Benjamin was honored with the Dr. Robert A. Boyer Prize.
The Boyer Prize is awarded to a student who exemplifies the many outstanding qualities of Dr. Robert Boyer, Emeritus Professor of Physics, including sound scholarship, a genuine concern for others, adherence to high standards of ethical and moral principles and a deep commitment to the religious dimension of a liberal arts education.
Nicole Hammer was honored with the Clifford R. Moyer Memorial Prize In Physics.
The Clifford R. Moyer Memorial Prize In Physics is awarded to a student majoring in physics who displays exceptional qualities of scholarship, perseverance and
commitment typified by Clifford Moyer.
Each prize carries a monetary award.
Students Participate in Annual Cantalobber Contest
Muhlenberg Physics students Andrew Nederlof, Ben Schweid, Steve Motchswiller, Nate Crossette, and Kyle Sullivan participated in Kutztown University’s 5th Annual Catalobber Contest. Students Alex Isinhue and Matt Moscowitz helped build the ‘Berg’s trebuchet but didn't attend the contest.
Ben Schweid, Andrew Nederlof, Nate Crossette and Steve Motschwiller
(Clockwise from noon)
The contest was held at Kutztown University on Sunday, April 10th. Seven different teams from five different colleges and universities participated in the event. There were two classes of Cantalobbers, trebuchets and air cannons. Muhlenberg’s entry was a floating arm trebuchet. They placed fourth in field of four with total summed yardage of 116 yards. The winning trebuchet had a total summed yardage of 660 yards.
After getting a good look at the substantial competition, an example seen looming in the background of the photo below, the ‘Berg team readily admits they have more work to do and plan on entering next year competition with a new and improved trebuchet.
A fun video compilation of the event can be viewed via this YouTube link. The video compilation and photos are by Kyle Sullivan.