Past Thesis in Physics

The senior thesis provides a capstone experience for the physics major who loves research. A thesis involves eight credits of independent study that results in substantial progress towards a new scientific result.

2008 Thesis

• Kendall Milar
  "Fast Fourier Transform Analysis of Oboes, Oboe Reeds and Oboists: Which Matters Most to Timbre?"

2007 Thesis

• Elizabeth C. Merritt
  "The Effects of Extremely-Short External Cavity Optical Feedback into a Modulated Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser"
• Karene J. Mody
  "Computer Simulation of a Two-Dimensional Foam"
• Bidita J. Tithi (Economics)
  "The Alternative Approaches to Development: The Case of the Chittagong Tracts (CHT), Bangladesh"

2006 Thesis

• Saryu Jindal (Chemistry)
  "The Role of Distortions in Proton Conduction Through KTaO3 and SrZrO3"
• Preema R. Pais
  "Reducing Background in the T Neutrino Mass Limiting Decay"
• Tiffany M. Picard (Astronomy)
  "Rotational Properties and Radii of the Stars in NGC 2264: Extending the Timeline of Angular Momentum Evolution"
• Yarrow Rothstein (Astronomy)
  "Spectroscopy of Jarosite Minerals, and Implications for the Mineralogy of Mars"

2005 Thesis

• Reja Amatya (Smith)
  "Thermal Measurements of Semiconductor Devices"
• Rhea Ghosh
  "On Intersection 2-Brane Solutions in Type IIA Supergravity Theory"
• Emily S. Jones (Geology)
  "Strain Analysis of Lineated Gneiss in the Hope Valley Shear Zone of Southeast New England"
• Evelyn W. Kapusta
  "Using Thermal Profiling to Monitor Optical Feedback in Semiconductor Lasers"

2004 Thesis

• Michelle M. Boudreau (Chemistry)
  "Fluorescence and Luminescence Studies to Characterize the Binding of Tuberactinomycin A to Pre-Trna LEU"
• Abigail R. Daane (Astronomy)
  "Brightness and Color Variations in the Hot Pulsating Horizontal branch Star PG1627+017"
• Elizabeth A. Fenstermacher
  "Characterization of Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers Using Thermal Profiling Techniques"
• Maria O. Hunter
  "Pacific Equatorial Current Systems During the Waning of the 2002-2003 El Niño"
• Dion C. McIntosh
  "Background Suppression in the Study of the Rare Decay B÷ Xs1+1- Using Multi-Variable Data Analysis"
• Suchi Saria (CS)
  "Hierarchical Plan Recognition for Multiagent Systems"

2003 Thesis

• Piwai H.R. Dakwa (Chemistry)
  "Chemical Immobilization of Poly(ethylene) on Poly(ethylene terepthalate) for Improved Biocompatibility
• Sawsan Eskander (Mathematics)
  "The NTRU Cryptosystem"
• Wakako Fukui (Astrophysics)
  "Spectroscopic Study of Luminous X-ray Sources in Nearby Galaxies"
• Muluwork Geremew (Physics Indep Work)
  "Modeling of a Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser with an Intra-Cavity Quantum Well Absorber"
• Phoebe A. Judge (Physics 2002)
  "A Comparative Study of the Effects of OpticalFeedback on the Coherence Length and Polarization Stability of Proton-Implanted and Oxide-Confined Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers"
  (Geology 2003)
  "The Origin and Significance of the Magnetic Fabrics in the Granites of the Cadillac Mountain Intrusive Complex, Maine"
• Hannah K.Kolak (Music)
  "An Examination of 20th Century Tonality Through a Case Study and a Concert of Original Compositions (An Evening of New Music, 3-29-03)"
• Jennifer K. Quanseh (Chemistry)
  "Functionalization of Glass Surfaces for the Assembling of Polystyrene Spheres"

2002 Thesis

• Katherine M. Boates
  "Reduction of Modal Noise in Multimode Fiber Systems Employing Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers versus Edge-Emitting Lasers"
• Tania A. Henry
  "An Experimental Investigation of Modal Noise in Optical Fiber"
• Kathryn M. Peek (Astronomy/Physics)
  "The Disruption of a Small Icy Satellite and the Evolution of the Resulting Debris Ring: a Formation Scenario for Saturn’s Rings"

2001 Thesis

• Tara E. Cubel
  "How Do Foams Age?: Modeling Coarsening Effects on Foam"
• Nitya J. Kallivayalil
  "On the Effect of Electron Collisions in the Excitation of Cometary HCN"
• Joanna L. Minott (Geophysics)
  "The Effects of Precipitation on the Magnet Properties of Bignell Loess (8.5ka), Nebraska"
• Charis Quay Huey Li
  "The Effect of Optical Feedback on the Coherence Length of Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers"
• Kirstin A. Walther
  "Modeling of a Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers with an Intra-Cavity Quantum Well Absorber"
• Iva P. Zaharieva
  "Effects of Optical Feedback on the Lasing Behaviour and Polarization Stability of Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers"

2000 Thesis

• Marion M. Blackwell
  "Temperature Dependence of the Mössbauer Effect in Grunerite"

1999 Thesis

• Rebecca L. Beauchamp
  "Building a Muon Telescope to Track Cosmic Ray Muons"
• Jillian S. Testa
  "Construction of a Cyclotron Mass Spectrometer"

1998 Thesis

• Shanthi Divakaran
  "Airport Security and Explosive Detection"
• Hannah Broom (Chemistry)
  "Polyanhydrides in Drug Delivery Systems"

1997 Thesis

• Shireen N. Alam
  "A Multi-Open Geiger Cell Detector"
• Valorie E. Burkholder
  "Roll With It: Studies of Turbulence and Vorticity Within Rain Waves"
• Sharon V. King
  "The Transient Electromagnetic Method:a Tool for Geophysical Exploration"
• Anand K. Landrum
  "Ozone Production and Disintegration"
• Sally A. McFarlane
  "An Investigation of Variability in Marine Boundary Clouds"
• Beth A. Perriello (Astrophysics)
  "Photometric Observations and Analysis of the Cataclysmic Variable, V1159 Orionis"

1996 Thesis

• Jennifer F. Kaira
  "Mathematical Modeling for Micromachines"
• Dorothy A. Najolia
  "FFT Analysis of Operatic Voices"
• Beth G. Scherer
  "Measuring the Cross-section of Positrons Incident on Molecular Hydrogen Gas Using a Magnetic Gradient Spectrometer"
• Ashna R. Sen
  "Wrinkle Formation on Thin Rubber Sheets"
• Heather M. Waterman (Geology)
  "P-T History of Part of the Elzevir Terraine, Grenville Province, Southern Ontario"
• Karen Bourque Werner (Astrophysics)
  "A Study of the Time Delay of the Twin Quasar Q0957+561"
• Wen-Hei Yang
  "A Geiger Cell for Particle Tracking"

1995 Thesis

• Ming H.W. Cheng
  "The Design and Implementation of an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC): Particle Detector Track Finder"
• Hannah Wilson Phelps
  "Investigation of Synthetic Diamond As a Moderator in Mount Holyoke’s Positron Beam"

1994 Thesis

• Rebecca M.Hammer
  "Experimental Test of Quantum Mechanical Tunneling"
• Amy R. Lesser
  "The Effect of Environment on the Star Formation Efficiency of Spiral Galaxies"
• Jessica D. Pollchik (Chemistry)
  "An In Vivo NMR Study of the Formation And Degradation of Poly ( Beta-Hydroxyalkanoates) Produced by Pseudomonas Oleovorans"
• Jennifer L. Rochlis
  "Evolution and the Williston Observatory"
• Amy F. Tsang
  "The Design and Construction of the Cyclotron Mass Spectrometer"
• Trisha C.
  "White The Einstein-Podolosky-Rosen Paradox:An Experimental Demonstration"

1993 Thesis

• Tian Ge Chang
  "Design and Fabrication of an Integrated Circuit"
• Vibhavaree Gargeya
  "Dynamics of a Many Body Oscillator"
• Michelle D. Johannes
  "Mathematical Modeling and Interpretation Of Cell Wrinkle Patterns in Silicone Rubber Substrata"
• Dianne J. Keller (Mathematics)
  "Characteristics of Peaks of the Divisor Function"
• Sarah K. Makoski
  "Design and Construction of a Slow Positron Beam"
• Sujata Vemuri
  "Development of a Low Energy Positron Beam"
• Rebecca J. Younkin
  "Measuring Relativistic Velocities of Electrons"

1992 Thesis

• Honor Davidson Glenn (Biophysics)
  "Plant Nuclear Lamins: Biochemical and Structural Features"
• Eden E. Meyer
  "Examination of Ion Implantation in Single Crystal Silicon with High Resolution Electron Microscopy"
• Nazli M. Nomanbhoy
  "Simulation of an Ocean Thermal Energy Power Plant in the Laboratory"
• Hye-Yong Pak (German)
  "Adam and Eve Once Again?: Guilt of Gotthelf’s Black Spider, Raabe’s Else Of the Firtree, and Fontane’s Effi Briest"
• Tracy Z. Webster
  "Determining the Mass Loss Rates of Red Giants from CO Observation"
• Gwynne M. Wesley (Chemistry)
  "The Pressure and Temperature Dependence of Multiphoton Ionization Spectroscopy Of Molecular Iodine"

1991 Thesis

• Catrina M. Hamilton (Astrophysics)
  "A Report on the Whately Telescope System: The autanatian of the Dome and the Capability of the In Sb Infrared Photometer"