Senior Research Projects 2024 - 2025

Seniors present to the physics department the results of their Phys 489/490: SYE Advanced Laboratory and Phys 499: Honors SYE research projects at the end of each semester. The abstracts for their research are below and photos of the student presenters follow afterwards:

Spring 2025

The Adaptation of Computational Tools for the Arecibo Pisces-Perseus Supercluster Survey - Daniel George '25

Through our ongoing Arecibo Pisces-Perseus Supercluster Survey (APPSS), we seek to enhance our understanding of the Pisces-Perseus Supercluster (PPS) through analysis of distances and motions of galaxies in and around the supercluster. By further analysis of galaxy mass, rotational velocity, and distance through the application of the Baryonic Tully-Fisher Relation (BTFR), we aim to classify galaxy infall towards the PPS to characterize the linear mass density of the dark matter filament responsible for its formation.

The APPSS approach is two-fold: we include an analysis of the Millennium Simulation Project tracing the evolution of dark matter based on the initial distribution revealed by the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Crone et al. 2022 Infall Profiles for Supercluster-Scale Filaments offers theoretical expectations for infall. Through our observing project GBT 22A – 430: The Baryonic Tully-Fisher Relation for Galaxies with Supernova Distances, we intend to provide a minimal scatter BTFR constructed from neutral hydrogen (HI) 21-cm line observations of 220 galaxies with measured supernova distances and galaxy rotation rates. This template will then estimate galaxy distances for other ALFALFA galaxies. Galaxy distances are needed to determine the “peculiar velocities” with which galaxies fall into the dark matter filament.

Cosmic background noise and other radio frequency interference impact all radio observations. To remove these effects and analyze the HI 21-cm line observations, the Undergraduate ALFALFA team (UAT) is developing pyAPPSS, a Python data reduction script designed to preprocess data for further analysis. This project focuses on improving the ability of pyAPPSS to remove the cosmic background and RFI from observations by implementing a robust baselining technique. By improving the data reduction process, this work will contribute to more reliable observational data and a friendly user interface.

For more information, contact Dr. Aileen O'Donoghue 

Fall 2024

Effect of Orientation of Moderate Magnetic Field on HT22 Cells - Cody Belden '25

During the past few decades, static magnetic field (SMFs) have become a growing focus of therapeutic research due to their noninvasive qualities. With applications ranging from imaging to neuromodulation, research into how SMFs might influence biological systems is key to effectively applying them for future use.

Cells are of particular interest with SMFs, as cellular responses may contribute to changes at the organismal level. Some studies suggest that SMFs can influence cellular properties such as proliferation, differentiation, and structure [Saletnik et al 2023]. In this study, we will utilize HT22 cells, a murine hippocampal cell line, to investigate the potential effects of moderate SMFs on neural cells.

For more information, contact Dr. Massooma Pirbhai or Dr. Anna Estevez