Algorithm Development

Development of a data acquisition for cosmic ray flux measurements

Names: Eilish Gibson, Bishop Seabury Academy, Lawrence KS

Connor Sabbert, Olathe Northwest High School, Olathe KS

Killashandra Scheuring, Insight School of Kansas, Olathe KS

Research Teacher Mentor: James Deane, Ottawa High School, Ottawa KS

Research Mentor: Prof. Phil Baringer, University of Kansas, Lawrence KS

Purpose: Our project was to look at different top quark decays to evaluate new triggers for the LHC following its upgrade to ~13 TeV.

Methods: We used simulated 8TeV and 13TeV data that we received in ROOT trees to make histograms and graphs to compare the two energies. We each looked at a different top quark decay type, including the electron, muon, and jet decays.

Results: Our results indicate that the there is not much difference in the energy levels for the same cuts.

Future Work: In the future we hope to look more closely at the affects of the cuts on the data and refine our histograms and graphs.

Student Researchers: Tara Sacerdote, Lawrence Free State High School, Lawrence KS

Laura Neilsen, Lawrence Free State High School, Lawrence KS

Kaustubh Nimkar, Lawrence High School, Lawrence KS

Christoph Kinzel, Olathe North High School, Olathe KS

Research Teacher Mentor: James Deane, Ottawa High School, Ottawa KS

Research Mentor: Prof. Dave Besson, University of Kansas, Lawrence KS

Steven Prochyra, University of Kansas

Purpose:

The purpose of our work this summer was to design and build an antenna that would allow us to receive a signal from Greg Cerny, WQ0P, an amateur radio operator in Belvue, Kansas, approximately 84 km from our location, transmitting at a frequency of 222 megahertz.

Methods:

In order to do this, we learned how to use the computer program Numerical Electromagnetics Code (4NEC2), which enabled us to design and optimize a ten-element Yagi-Uda antenna with high gain at 222 MHz. NEC provided the dimensions for maximum gain and we obtained the materials required to physically construct a spectacular antenna, which were limited to aluminum foil, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe, wooden dowel rods and planks, and a coaxial cable. The cost of materials (minus the cable) totaled less than twenty dollars.

Results:

The experimentally observed gain pattern of our completed antenna did not exactly mirror the projected gain pattern from the NEC file, but showed front, back, and side lobes consistent with real world Yagi-Uda antenna gain patterns. After coordinating with our transmitter, we set up the antenna on the roof of Malott Hall, and received a strong signal from Belvue. Based on the Friis transmission equation, the calculated received power was 8.675x10^-10 watts. Unfortunately, since our radio has automatic gain control (AGC), determining the actual signal level from the Belvue transmitter is impossible. However, the minimum power that our radio can detect is 3.199x10^-13 watts, an appreciably lower value than the projected received power and that supports the 8.675x10^-10 watt figure.

Meaning and Further Study:

Since we did successfully build a cheap, durable, powerful antenna, future communication with amateur radio operators, as well as earth-moon-earth communication, or moonbounces, are possible. Additionally, the inexpensiveness and simplicity of this project would lend itself easily to advanced high school physics classes looking to explore radio and antenna design.

Names: Rachael Green, Olathe North High School, Olathe KS

Taber Fisher, Olathe East High School, Olathe KS

Research Teacher Mentor: James Deane, Ottawa High School, Ottawa KS

Research Mentors: Dr. Jordan Hanson, University of Kansas, Lawrence KS

Prof. Dave Besson, University of Kansas, Lawrence KS

Results: We have successfully made the Arduino Esplora into a working instrument and a 3D touchless mouse sensor. In order to create these things we had to learn the syntax of programming Arduino boards. We have also made a custom GUI (Graphical User Interface) for the 3D sensor that is more child-friendly and has a pseudo game-like environment.

Meaning to Larger Project: One of the major goals of the QuarkNet project is to bring advanced science and technology into pre-college classrooms. Many aspects of particle physics research require the development of specialized hardware, including programming microcontrollers to assist in controlling experiment parameters and providing feedback regarding hardware operation. Developing Arduino projects to be used by pre-college students in a physics environment will generate interest and expose students to a frequently ignored connection between physics and technology.

Future Research: People continuing our research in the future could do multiple things that would help to advance the Arduino project’s purpose. One of those is ironing out the bugs in some of the code of the 3D interface’s GUI. The next step for the 3D sensor would be to shrink it down, remove some of the crude and uglier parts and make senor more accurate, a version 2.0, to show kids the process of creating something new and cool. There are also various projects that did not make it into development this year that others could develop such as a head mouse, muscle sensors and a piezo-electric drum pad game.