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Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Department of Physics

Annual Report 2017

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Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Department of Physics

Annual Report 2017 – Table of Contents

Chair Summary..................3

Department Faculty

Naz Afarin Fallahian...........4

Nathaniel R. Greene..........5

John H. Huckans................6

Ghassan Ibrahim...............7

Nada Jevtić........................8

Fan Jiang...........................10

Francis Kisner...................11

Biswajit Ray......................13

Peter Stine.......................16

David R. Simpson.............14

Ju Xin...............................17

Sabbaticals.................................18

Senior Design Projects...............18

Research Presentations.............20

EET Co-ops.................................20

COST Career Day........................21

Laboratories...............................22

Graduating Seniors....................22

Publications/Presentations.......23

Courses Offered........................25

Awards......................................26

Organizations............................27


Support Physics:https://giving.bloomu.edu/physics

https://giving.bloomu.edu/physics

Department of Physics and Engineering Chair’s Summary 2016 Peter Stine

Department Update

Over the past year, the students and faculty in The Department of Physics & Engineering at Bloomsburg University have undertaken or continued research projects ranging from exploring potential methods for discovering moons around exoplanets to studying the acoustics of the croaking of Fowler’s toads. We designed hybrid energy storage systems and explored micro-hydroelectric power. Through our laboratory courses, co-ops, internships, and independent research projects, we pride ourselves on providing students with hands-on, real world experiences as we offer undergraduate students comprehensive education in physics, health physics, and electronics engineering technology.

Enrollment As of fall, 2017, 84 students majored in disciplines within the department, with Electronics Engineering Technology comprising the largest group.

Graduating Seniors The department graduated 28 seniors during 2017 including (up from 22 the previous year):

12 in Physics* 11 in Electronics Engineering Technology 5 in Health Physics*

* Includes one student double majoring in Physics and Health Physics


Naz Afarin Fallahian Associate Professor Faculty Member

Scholarly Interests Study of the effects of low-dose ionizing radiation on biological samples and human health, radiation dosimetry, radon monitoring, and subjects related to Medical Health Physics.

Education Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho, Ph.D, Applied Physics with emphasis on Health Physics (2005-2008) Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran, M.S. Physics (1995-1997) University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran, B.S. Applied Physics (1988-1992)

Publications Dubil, C.*, Cuff, S.*, Stacy A.*, Dendler, J.*, Simpson, D., Fallahian, N. Investigation of indoor radon levels in Bloomsburg University Campus Buildings. Health Physics Journal, July 2016, Vol.111, No.1, p.S98. * BU student

2017 Professional Activities • Became a Board-Certified Health Physicist after successfully completing Parts I and II of the American Board

of Health Physics exam.• Mentored Joshua Dendler, a Dr. Kozloff scholarship awardee, who is pursuing his B.S. degree in Health

Physics. Using funds made available by Dr. Kozloff, Joshua participated at the national meeting of the HealthPhysics Society in 2017.

• Worked on a research project during my Summer 2017 sabbatical leave. Joshua Dendler was involved in thisproject as well.

• Co-advised two undergraduate students from the Health Physics program, Harrison Ludewig and Derek Stahl,who performed a research study in collaboration with the Health Physics Department at Geisinger Medical Centerin Danville, PA.

• As a participant in the Student Success Collaborative (SSC) Pilot Program, advised about 40 undeclaredstudents each semester and closely monitored their academic performances.

2017 Awards/Funding • Dr. Kozloff Fellowship Award to enhance faculty professional development, $2,500.• COST Professional Experience Grant (PEG) to supervise an undergraduate student research project.

2017 Teaching Spring 2017: General Physics 1- lecture (Physics 211-01)

General Physics 1- lab (Physics 211-01A) Nuclear Radiations 2 (Physics 420) HP Research - Physics 482 -01

Fall 2017: Radiation Physics (Physics 330-01) General Physics 1- lecture (Physics 211-01) General Physics 1 – lab (Physics 211-01A) General Physics 1 – lab (Physics 211-01B) HP Research - Physics 482 -01

2017 Service Activities


Nathaniel R. Greene Professor, Department of Physics and Engineering

Scholarly Interests General physics and physics education Alternative energy

Education Boston University, Ph.D. in Physics, 1997 Boston University, M.A. in Physics, 1992 Antioch College, Yellow Spring, Ohio, B.S. in Physics, 1986

Recent Publications N. R. Greene, T. Gill, & S. Eyerly, “Finding the Effective Mass and Spring Constant of a Force Probe from Simple Harmonic Motion,” The Physics Teacher, v. 54, 138-141. Cover story for March 2016.

N. R. Greene & J. C. Brunskill, “Design of a Solar Tracking Interactive Kiosk,” Physics Education v. 52 (1), January 2017.

2017 Teaching and Sabbatical Spring: Mechanics: Dynamics (PHYSICS 302)

CAD Engineering Graphics (ENGTECH 180) Electrical Machines and Power Systems (ENGTECH 231)

Fall: Visiting Researcher (micro hydroelectric systems) Department of Renewable Energy Technology Morrisville State College, Morrisville, NY

2017 Service Activities - Ongoing service of BU-designed dual-fuel heating system at Bloomsburg Recycling Center- Chair, Department Evaluation Committee- Chair, Department Search & Screen Committee


John H. Huckans. Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Physics and Engineering, Bloomsburg University Ultra-cold Atomic Physics Laboratory, Bloomsburg University

Invited Research Professor, Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers, Paris 13, Sorbonne

Research Interests Laser cooling and trapping of neutral atoms (rubidium, chromium, strontium), ultra-cold atoms in optical lattices, quantum degeneracy in reduced dimensions, condensed matter analogs, biological acoustics.

Research Groups Bloomsburg: Ju Xin; Undergraduate Researchers: Caleb Frantz, Brett Logan Paris: M. Robert-de-Saint-Vincent, B. Laburthe-Tolra, E. Maréchal, P. Pedri, L. Vernac, O. Gorceix

2015-2017 Publications A. P. Belles, J. Huckans, T. S. Klinger, and J. M. Hranitz, "Call characteristics of island and mainland Fowler's toad," Integrative and Comparative Biology vol. 57, pp. E12-E12 (2017).

I. B. Spielman, J. H. Huckans, B. Laburthe-Tolra, J. V. Porto, and W. D. Phillips, “Quantum and classicaldynamics of BEC in a large-period optical lattice,” NIST Publication (2016).

B. Naylor, E. Maréchal, J. Huckans, O. Gorceix, P. Pedri, L. Vernac, B. Laburthe-Tolra, “Cooling of aBose-Einstein condensate by spin distillation,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 243002 (2015).

B.J.Clark, J. H. Huckans, G. T. Ibrahim, and J. M. Hranitz, "Intensity modulation in toad calls scales inversely with body size: are large males ending on a good note?" Integrative and Comparative Biology 55, pp. E31-E31 (2015).

2017 Teaching Spring 2017: Science of Sound lecture (PHYS 206), Introductory Physics 2 lecture (PHYS 202),

General Physics 2 lecture (PHYS 212).

Fall 2017: Science of Sound lecture (PHYS 206), General Physics 2 lecture (PHYS 212), Introductory Physics 1 lab (PHYS 201).

2017 Activities • Performed research as invited professor at Paris 13 of the Sorbonne in Paris, France from June-

July, 2017. Assisted in the design and construction of an apparatus to cool strontium to quantumdegenerate temperatures. Mentored two student interns (French and American).

• Chaired Departmental committees including Awards, Faculty Evaluation.• Served on Departmental committees including Search and Screen.• Served on College of Science and Technology Undergraduate Research Day committee.• Served on Bloomsburg University URSCA committee.• Performed research for BU’s Research and Scholarship Grant award “Creation of one-

dimensional matter-wave solitons.” (awarded May 2017).• Submitted $312,000 NSF proposal “RUI: Stabilization of three-dimensional matter-wave solitons.”• Serve on BU’s Protestant Campus Ministries


Ghassan Ibrahim, PhD

Professor, Physics and Engineering technology

Scholarly Interests Internet of Things (IoT)/linking the physical and virtual world using RFID RF Systems with emphasis on RFID systems and their applications Digital signal processing and their applications

Education North Carolina State University at Raleigh, PhD Engineering, 1981

2017 Teaching Spring: Communication Systems (ENGTECH.441)

Manufacturing Processes (ENGTECH.321) Fall: RF Effects & Measurements (ENGTECH.461)

Circuit Analysis (ENGTECH.141) Senior Design Project (ENGTECH.491). Three projects were implemented in the Fall semester of 2017:

• String-less Bass Guitar• Quadcopter• Automated Bartender Machine

2017 Service Activities Department of Physics & EE promotion committee Department of Physics & EE tenure committee Department of Physics & EE search and Screen Committee Department of Physics & EE open house Oct 2017 Department of Physics & EE Faculty Evaluation Committee Advisor of IEEE student organization Reviewer for IEEE Transactions on Antenna and Propagation


Nada Jevtić, Ph. D. Assistant Professor Physics and Engineering Department

Scholarly Interests Astrophysics of variable stars, analysis of variable-star light curves, nonlinear time series analysis

Member: Kepler Space Telescope Asteroseismic Science Consortium (KASC), Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite Asteroseismic Science Consortium Data analysis workgroup (TASC)

Education University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, Physics, 2003 Yale University, New Haven, CT, Engineering and Applied Science, 1982

2015-2017 Presentations Kepler Space Telescope Data – A Vehicle for Nonlinear Time Series Analysis Development N. Jevtić, et al., 8th Chaotic Modeling and Simulation Conference, CHAOS2015, June 2015, Paris, France (oral)

BKV: Towards a Bloomsburg University K2 Pipeline – Colin Shoop (student poster)N. Jevtic, P. Stine 8th Kepler Asteroseismic Science Consortium Workshop/1st TESS Asteroseismic ScienceConsortium Workshop – Space Asteroseisomology: The Next Generation, June 2015, Aarhus, Denmark

Nonlinear time series analysis and Kepler Space Telescope Asterosiesmic Data: A Timely and Mutually Productive Merger, Particles: Astrophysics, and Nuclear Physics Seminar, Physics Department, University of Connecticut, Feb 2016 (invited presentation)

Asteroseismology of red giants from KEPLER data – T. Keiper, M. Yurkovich, S. Kopinetz, R. Vincent, N. Jevtic, P. Stine COST Research and Scholarship Day, April 29, 2016 (poster)

Looking Toward TESS: Who needs long light curves? A nonlinear look at one-month long light curves of Kepler A and F stars N. Jevtić, P. Stine, TASC3/KASC10 Workshop:, Birmingham, UK, July 2017 (poster)

Combining Nonlinear Noise Reduction with in-Painting in the Analysis of Variable Star Light Curves N. Jevtić et al. 10th Chaotic Modeling and Simulation Conference, CHAOS2017, June, 2017, Barcelona, Spain (oral)

2017 Teaching Spring: Principles of Physical Science 1 (PHYS-103-06)

Introduction to Astronomy (PHYS-110-02) Electricity and Magnetism (PHYS-314-01)

Summer: Introduction to Astronomy (on-line) PHYS-3-110-99 Fall: Principles of Physical Science 1 (PHYS-103-01 and - 03) (two sections)

Astrophysics: Stars (PHYS-340-01) Honors Independent Study (PHYS-494-01)

2017 Service Activities Chaotic Modeling and Simulation (CMSIM) International on-line Journal of Nonlinear Science, Associate Editor 10th Chaotic Modeling and Simulation International Conference, CHAOS2017, June 2017, Barcelona, Spain (co-chair) “Optical Systems”


8th Chaotic Modeling and Simulation International Conference, CHAOS2015, June 2015, Paris, France Chair “Chaotic Systems and Time Series”

COST Curriculum Committee, University-wide Grievance Committee

Departmental committees: Evaluation, Search and Screen (head), Curriculum (head), open-house hosting


Fan Jiang, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Physics and Engineering Technology

Education Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering (2006) University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (2001) University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (1989) Central-South University of Technology, Changsha, China

Research Interests Software defined radio, wireless communications and networking, ad-hoc wireless network, error-control coding,

Publications & Presentations Vajdic, S. and Jiang, F., A Hands-on Approach to the Teaching of Electronic Communications Using GNU Radio

Companion and the Universal Software Radio Peripheral, Proceedings of the 6th IEEE Integrated STEM Education Conference (ISEC 2016), Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, March 5, 2016.

Jevtic, N., Jiang F., Ashton M., Stine, P., Kepler Space Telescope Data – A Vehicle for Nonlinear Time Series Analysis Development, Chaotic Modeling and Simulation International Conference, Henri Poincaré Institute, Paris, France, 26-29 May 2015

2017 Teaching SP17: Electronics (54-315)

Electronics Laboratory (54-315-01A) Computer Electronics (54-317)

FA17: Introductory Physics I (54-201-01, 54-201-02) Introductory Physics I Laboratory (54-201-01B, 54-201-02A)

2017 Activities o TPC member, 2018 IEEE International Conference on Cloudification of the Internet of Things (CIoT’18), Paris,

France, July 2-4, 2018.o TPC member, 2017 Recent Development in Sciences, Engineering and Computer Sciences International

Conference (RESEECS'2017), Bandung, Indonesia, November 12 – 30, 2017.o TPC member, 2018 4th International Conference on Computer, Communication and Control Technology

(I4CT'2018), Krabi, Thailand, March 20 -22, 2018.o Department Representative to the forumo Served in the sabbatical committeeo Served in the curriculum committeeo Served in the search & screen committee


Francis Kisner Adjunct Professor, Department of Physics and Engineering

Scholarly Interests General physics and physics education Mathematics and mathematics education

Education Mansfield University, M.S. in Secondary Mathematics Education, 2011 Drexel University, B.S. in Mathematics, 1973

2017 Teaching Fall: General Physics I (PHYSICS 201)


• The Department of Physics and Engineering liaison for the COST career day event.• Served as a chapter advisor of the Sigma pi Sigma Physics Honor Society.• Main contact for the US EPA Radiation Monitoring System, located on the roof of Andruss Library.• Participated in the Husky decision day on April 8, 2017 to introduce the COST programs to undeclared students.• Member of the Department committees: Curriculum, Faculty Evaluation, Search and Screen, Promotion, Tenure.• Member of the University Wide Committee: International Faculty Association-chair of the scholarship

committee.


Biswajit Ray, Ph.D. Professor Coordinator, Electronics Engineering Technology Department of Physics and Engineering

Scholarly Interests Energy harvesting technologies High reliability power electronics for commercial and military avionics Modeling and simulation of hybrid energy-storage systems Application of wide-bandgap power semiconductor devices

Education University of Toledo, Ohio, Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, 1987 Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur, India, M. Tech., Electrical Engineering, 1983 University of Calcutta, India, B.E., Electrical Engineering, 1981

Recent Publications (2016-2017) • B. Ray, “Designing hybrid energy storage systems: A tool for teaching system-level modeling and

simulation,” Journal of Engineering Technology, pp. 18-27, Spring-2017• B. Ray, “An Inexpensive Control System Experiment: Modeling, Simulation, and Laboratory

Implementation of a PID Controller-Based System,” Proc. American Society for Engineering EducationAnnual Conference, June 2016

2017 Teaching Spring: Linear Signals and Systems (ENGTECH-331)

Engineering Applications in Industry I (ENGTECH-381) Industrial Process Control (ENGTECH-431)

Fall: Introduction to Engineering and Technology (ENGTECH-101) Electronic Instrumentation and Data-Acquisition (ENGTECH-241)

Received TALE Outstanding Teaching Award, May 2017

2017 Professional Activities • “Development of an indoor photovoltaic energy harvesting power module,” B.U. Research and Scholarship

Mini-Grant ($3,965)• Recruited three new members for the Electronics Engineering Technology program’s Industrial Advisory

Board from ISS Solutions, Girton Manufacturing, and Thermal Product Solutions• Helped place seven Electronics Engineering Technology students in five Pennsylvania companies for the

required six-month industry co-op experience, and monitored employer feedback on student performanceduring the co-op period

2017 Service Activities Department Committees: Tenure, Promotion, Faculty Evaluation, and Curriculum College of Science and Technology Committees: Faculty Recognition, Curriculum University Committee: TALE Teaching Award Technical Program Reviewer: American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference Technical Reviewer: IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems Reviewer: DOE-SBIR and NASA-CAN grant proposals


http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjxrPrkt-rRAhVBKiYKHfjyB9EQjRwIBw&url=http://www.bloomu.edu/physics-faculty&psig=AFQjCNHCxgwDkk5_Qc3iSJuXajer6BtegA&ust=1485885180958753

David R. Simpson

Associate Professor and Coordinator of the BU Health Physics Program

Certified by the American Board of Health Physics

Scholarly Interests

Medical Health Physics, Radiation Safety, Response to Radiation Accidents, Criticality Safety

Education

University of Illinois, Urbana Il., PhD, Nuclear Engineering 1981

University of Illinois, Urbana Il., MS, Nuclear Engineering 1975

Northwestern University, Evanston Il., BS Science Engineering, 1973

2015-2017 Publications

Olsen, A, Simpson, D, King, S. Bloomsburg University and Penn State Hershey Medical Center; Survey of Policies and Practices for the Inspection of Lead Aprons at Medical Facilities; HEALTH PHYSICS, July 2016 Vol. 111, No. 1 page S94; abstract of presentation given at the 61st annual meeting of the Health Physics Society July 17-21, 2016, Spokane, Washington.

Dubil, C., Stacy, S., Dendler, J., Simpson, D., Fallahian, N., Bloomsburg University; Investigation of Indoor Radon Levels in Bloomsburg University Campus Building; HEALTH PHYSICS, July 2016 Vol. 111, No. 1 page S98; abstract of presentation given at the 61st annual meeting of the Health Physics Society July 17-21, 2016, Spokane, Washington.

Riley, R., Simpson, D., Young, L., Prutzman, T., (Bloomsburg University, GEisinger Medical Center) “An Investigation of Radiation Levels from the Misuse of Handheld X-ray Fluorescene Devices”, Vol. 109, No. 1, July 2015, Health Physics, The Radiation Safety Journal.

2017 Presentations

D. Simpson, Overview of the Radiological Emergency Assistance Center Training Site (REAC/TSRadiological Training for Hospitals and Responders, invited lecture presented to the Governor’sEmergency Preparedness Summit, Radiological Officers Specialty Session, in Hershey, PA onOctober 1, 2017.


D. Simpson, Criticality and Nuclear Radiation, lecture and associated lab given as part of courses for professional Health Physicists sponsored by the DOE Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site in Oak Ridge, TN, June 20, 2017.

On August 21 and 22, 2017, D. Simpson presented four lectures for twenty-two professional health physicists in a course conducted by the Oak Ridge Associated Universities entitled Radiation Safety Officer Training in Oak Ridge TN.

2017 Teaching

Spring: Applied Physics for Health Sciences (lecture and 2 associated labs) (Phys107)

Energy: Sources and Environmental Effects (Phys105)

Summer: Principles of Physical Science (Phys103)

Lab section of Introductory Physics (Phys111)

Fall: Energy: Sources and Environmental Effects (2 sections) (Phys105)

Contemporary Physics (Phys123)

Health Physics (Phys360)

2017 Service Activities

Continued to serve as a volunteer for the radiological emergency response team (PaRAP) for the State of Pennsylvania

Extramural Faculty and Consultant for the Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/ Training Site (REAC/TS), Oak Ridge, TN


Peter Stine, Ph.D. Professor Chair of the Department of Physics and Engineering

Scholarly Interests Astrophysics, Kepler Space Telescope data analysis, red giant stars, planetary nebulae, time series analysis

Education Penn State University, University Park, PA PhD, Astronomy, 1990

Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT BA, Astronomy, 1984

Presentations Keiper, T., Semon, B., Vincent, R., Jevtic, N., Stine, P. “Harmonic Oscillations in Kepler Red Giant Stars” Central Pennsylvania Research Consortium Astronomer’s Meeting, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg PA. April 9, 2016.

Semon, B., Keiper, T., Jevtic, N. Stine, P. “Nonlinear Analysis of a Classical Pulsator” 2015 CPC Astronomer’s Meeting, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA April 25, 2015.

Long, N. Jevtic, N. Stine, P. “Analysis of Kepler 2 M Dwarf Light Curve Using Non-Linear Analysis” 2015 CPC Astronomer’s Meeting, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA April 25, 2015.

2017 Teaching Spring: Introduction to Astronomy (PHYSICS 110)

Electronics and Instrumentation for Audiologists (AUDSLP 606) Physics Research 1 (PHYSICS 492)

Summer: Introduction to Astronomy (PHYSICS 110) Fall: Introduction to Astronomy (PHYSICS 103)

Digital Electronics (PHYSICS 316) Physics Research 1 (PHYSICS 492)

Winter: Introduction to Astronomy (PHYSICS 110)

2017 Service Activities Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Committee on Collaborative Programs Member, Engineering Committee Host, Departmental Session for Husky Decision Days Member, Faculty Professional Development Travel Committee Department of Physics & Engineering Technology Curriculum Committee


Ju Xin Professor

Scholarly Interests Molecular Physics, Laser Spectroscopy, and Optics.

Education Marquette University—Milwaukee, WI, USA, MS in Computer Science, 2001. Stockholm University - Stockholm Sweden, Ph.D. of Physics, 1995. Shanxi University - Taiyuan, Shanxi, China, BS of Physics, 1982.

2017 Teaching Spring: Principles of Physical Science (PHYS.103, 2 sections)

General Physics II Lab (PHYS.212L) Modern & Atomic Physics (PHYS.310) Fall: Principles of Physical Science (PHYS.103, 1 sections) Introductory Physics I Lab (PHYS.201L, 2 sections)

Physics research 2 (PHYS.493)

2017 Activities Research Activities: Collaborating with John Huckans in ultra-cold atoms project, mentored and mentoring more than dozen students. Contributed two papers titled: “Energy and Sustainability: Beijing—Water Shortage, Mitigations and the Future,” and “Energy and Sustainability: Frankfurt, Germany, A Model City for A Green Future” for the book titled “Cities around the World – Struggles for Solutions to Urban Life” ISBN: 1-4408-5385-1 edited by Jing Luo (Department of Language & Cultures) for publisher ABC-CLIO, LLC. The book is set for publication in 2019.

Manuscript currently under written: “Low-Power Laser Beam Profiling Using A Smart Phone” Bryan Semon, Stephan Vajdic, John. Huckans, and Ju. Xin, targeted journal for publication: Physics Teachers;

Service activities: University-wide Promotion Committee; Department Search & Screen Committee, Faculty Evaluation Committee, Curriculum Committee, Sabbatical and Tenure Committee.


Sabbaticals

Ned Greene was awarded a sabbatical for the 2017/2018 academic year for developing and advancing micro-hydroelectric projects in Pennsylvania. He is a visiting researcher at the Department of Renewable Energy Technology at Morrisville State College.

Naz Fallahian was awarded a sabbatical for summers 2017 and 2018 to gather and organize the RadNet data collection to examine variations in radiation levels in Bloomsburg, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia.

Senior Design Projects Electronics Engineering Technology seniors presented senior design projects in December 2017. They included:

• An automated Drink Dispensary (Ian Lamey, Matthew Mantz, and Grant Morrow).• A Quadcopter (Paul Karcher, Nate Henry, Nenyi Micah, and Steven Thompson).• A Stringless Bass Guitar (Michael Unitis, Michael Dreyer, and Robert Chambers).


Research Presentations Students presented results of research from independent study projects at The College of Science & Technology Research day on April 7, 2017.

• Daniel McGann & Luke Long “Photometric Noise and the Search for Exomoons” (Peter Stine and Nada Jevtic, mentors).

Electronics Engineering Technology co-ops As part of the Electronics engineering Technology program, students gain practical experiences by working in a six month co-operative program with industry. In 2017, students were placed in co-ops with the following:

• TAIT towers, Lititz • East Penn Manufacturing, Lyon Station • GES Automation Technology, Harrisburg • Structural Integrity Associates, State College • L3 Communications, Williamsport • Amphenol FCI, Etters

Career Day On October 6, 2017, the Department participated in a Physics & Engineering panel at the College of Science & Technology Career Day. We welcomed the following alumni:

• Tom Malkemes a physics teacher at Mahoney Area High School • Daniel Snyder, a radiation safety officer, laser safety officer and senior health physicist at

Geisinger Medical Center • Jonathan Wolfe, a field supervisor for PPL.


COST Career Day (Physics and Engineering Panel) - October 16, 2017 2017 Meeting participation by students Students attended the following professional meetings:

• Annual meeting of the Health Physics Society; Raleigh, North Carolina. July 2017 (Joshua Dendler) • Penn State Radiation Roundtable, State College PA (Chris Sanchez) • Women in Nuclear Power Conference, State College PA (Anna Guernsey, Candace Kraut)

Joshua Dendler at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the Health Physics Society, Raleigh, NC, July 2017.

Guest Speakers & topics The following speakers presented to the Department of Physics and Engineering during 2017:

• Pat Yorks (medical imaging) • Eric Aelquist, President Health Physic Society (Status of Health Physics, Career Outlook)


Laboratories The Department of Physics & Engineering has nine laboratories dedicated to teaching.

• Physical Science laboratory • Two laboratories for General Physics • Industrial Technology Laboratory • Electronics Laboratory • Radio Communications Laboratory • Advance Physics Laboratory • Nuclear Physics Laboratory • Health Physics Laboratory

In 2017, we upgraded the function generators and vector network analyzer for engineering technology labs and replaced the projectile launchers for the general physics labs. The nuclear physics laboratory received new amplifier/pulsers and power supplies Research labs include:

• The Astrophysics Laboratory, in which ongoing investigations focused on analyzing delta Scuti and gamma Doradus variable stars as observed by the Kepler Space Telescope. In another project, we are seeking out new methods for discovering moons around exoplanets. The laboratory is currently gearing up for the launch of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).

• Ultracold Bloom is designed to produce temperatures close to absolute zero to produce Bose Einstein

condensates. The laboratory is adding a Fabry-Perot interferometer and acousto-optical modulators.

• The Power Electronics Laboratory, where activities include modeling and simulation of hybrid energy-storage systems consisting of aircraft generators, ultracapacitors, Li-Ion batteries, and flywheel subsystems and PSpice simulation of 3 GHz RF power limiters, including SiC PIN diodes.

Graduating Seniors Spring 2017

Mike Algeo (Health Physics) Lauren Kerstetter (Physics) Racquel Kreisher (Physics) Luke Long (Physics) Harrison Ludwig (Physics, Health Physics) Patrick Matera (Health Physics) Zachary Romano (Health Physics) Daniel Sampson (Physics) Bryan Semon (Physics) Hannah Shriver (Physics) Derek Stahl (Health Physics) Stephan Vajdic (Physics) Lucas Whitten (Physics, Electronics Engineering Technology) Mark Yurkovich (Physics)


Fall 2017 Darnell Baldwin (Physics) Robert Chambers (Electronics Engineering Technology) Michael Dreyer (Electronics Engineering Technology) Nathan Henry (Electronics Engineering Technology) Paul Karcher (Electronics Engineering Technology) Ian Lamey (Electronics Engineering Technology) Matthew Mantz (Electronics Engineering Technology) Micah Nenyi (Electronics Engineering Technology) Grant Murrow (Electronics Engineering Technology) Steven Thompson (Electronics Engineering Technology) Michael Unitis (Electronics Engineering Technology) Rachel Yenney (Physics)

Publications by faculty and students (2015 to 2017) N. R. Greene & J. C. Brunskill, “Design of a Solar Tracking Interactive Kiosk,” Physics Education v. 52 (1), January 2017. A. P. Belles, J. Huckans, T. S. Klinger, and J. M. Hranitz, "Call characteristics of island and mainland Fowler's toad," Integrative and Comparative Biology vol. 57, pp. E12-E12 (2017). B. Ray, “Designing hybrid energy storage systems: A tool for teaching system-level modeling and simulation,” Journal of Engineering Technology, pp. 18-27, Spring-2017 B. Ray, “An Inexpensive Control System Experiment: Modeling, Simulation, and Laboratory Implementation of a PID Controller-Based System,” Proc. American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA, June 26-29, 2016. Vajdic, S. and Jiang, F., A Hands-on Approach to the Teaching of Electronic Communications Using GNU Radio Companion and the Universal Software Radio Peripheral, Proceedings of the 6th IEEE Integrated STEM Education Conference (ISEC 2016), Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, March 5, 2016. N. R. Greene, T. Gill, & S. Eyerly, “Finding the Effective Mass and Spring Constant of a Force Probe from Simple Harmonic Motion,” The Physics Teacher, v. 54, 138-141. Cover story for March 2016.

Olsen, A, Simpson, D, King, S. Survey of Policies and Practices for the Inspection of Lead Aprons at Medical Facilities; Health Physics, July 2016 Vol. 111, No. 1 page S94; (abstract) I. B. Spielman, J. H. Huckans, B. Laburthe-Tolra, J. V. Porto, and W. D. Phillips, “Quantum and classical dynamics of BEC in a large-period optical lattice,” NIST Publication (2016). Dubil, C., Stacy, S., Dendler, J., Simpson, D., Fallahian, N., Bloomsburg University; Investigation of Indoor Radon Levels in Bloomsburg University Campus Building; Health Physics, July 2016 Vol. 111, No. 1 page S98; (abstract) Riley, R., Simpson, D., Young, L., Prutzman, T., (Bloomsburg University, GEisinger Medical Center) “An Investigation of Radiation Levels from the Misuse of Handheld X-ray Fluorescene Devices”, Vol. 109, No. 1, July 2015, Health Physics, The Radiation Safety Journal. B. Naylor, E. Maréchal, J. Huckans, O. Gorceix, P. Pedri, L. Vernac, B. Laburthe-Tolra, “Cooling of a Bose-Einstein condensate by spin distillation,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 243002 (2015).


B.J.Clark, J. H. Huckans, G. T. Ibrahim, and J. M. Hranitz, "Intensity modulation in toad calls scales inversely with body size: are large males ending on a good note?" Integrative and Comparative Biology 55, pp. E31-E31 (2015). Presentations by faculty and students (2015 to 2017) N. Jevtić, P. Stine, “ Looking Toward TESS: Who needs long light curves? A nonlinear look at one-month long light curves of Kepler A and F stars” TASC3/KASC10 Workshop:, Birmingham, UK, July 2017

Jevtić et al. “Combining Nonlinear Noise Reduction with in-Painting in the Analysis of Variable Star Light Curves” N. 10th Chaotic Modeling and Simulation Conference, CHAOS2017, June, 2017, Barcelona, Spain D. Simpson, “Overview of the Radiological Emergency Assistance Center Training Site (REAC/TS Radiological Training for Hospitals and Responders”, Governor’s Emergency Preparedness Summit, Radiological Officers Specialty Session, Hershey, PA on October 1, 2017. D. Simpson, “Criticality and Nuclear Radiation,” lecture and associated lab given as part of courses for professional Health Physicists sponsored by the DOE Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site in Oak Ridge, TN, June 20, 2017. D. Simpson, four lectures in a course conducted by the Oak Ridge Associated Universities entitled Radiation Safety Officer Training in Oak Ridge TN. On August 21 and 22, 2017 Dubil, C., Cuff, S., Stacy A., Dendler, J., Simpson, D., Fallahian, N. “Investigation of indoor radon levels in Bloomsburg University Campus Buildings”; 61th annual meeting of the Health Physics Society; Spokane, Washington. 17-21 July 2016. B. Semon, T. Keiper, P. Stine, N. Jevtic, “Analysis of Harmonic Variations in Red Giant Stars” 36th Annual Central Pennsylvania Consortium Astronomers' Meeting, Gettysburg College April 9, 2016. D. Simpson, Criticality and Nuclear Radiation, lecture and associated lab given as part of courses for professional Health Physicists sponsored by the DOE Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site in Oak Ridge, TN, March 15 and June 21, 2016. D. Simpson, series of lectures for the course, Radiation Safety Officer, 2016 Oak Ridge Associated Universities; Oak Ridge TN. August 22-26, 2016

• Inventory Control and Records for HP programs • Security of Radioactive Materials • Radiation Sources and Equipment • Organizational Structure of HP Programs

Jevtic, N., Jiang, F., Ashton, M., Stine, P., Kepler Space Telescope Data – A Vehicle for Nonlinear Time Series Analysis Development, Chaotic Modeling and Simulation International Conference, Henri Poincaré Institute, Paris, France, 26-29 May 2015


Courses offered Spring 2017

ENGTECH 180 Computer Aided Design ENGTECH 231 Electrical Machines and Power Systems ENGTECH 241 Electrical Instrumentation and Data Acquisition ENGTECH 331 Linear Systems & Signals ENGTECH 381 Engineering Applications in Industry ENGTECH 431 Industrial Process Control ENGTECH 441 Communications Systems PHYSICS 103 Principles of Physical Science PHYSICS 105 Energy: Sources & Environmental Effects PHYSICS 110 Introduction to Astronomy PHYSICS 202 Introduction to Physics 2 PHYSICS 206 Science of Sound PHYSICS 211 General Physics I PHYSICS 212 General Physics 2 PHYSICS 310 Modern Atomic Physics PHYSICS 315 Electronics PHYSICS 317 Digital Electronics PHYSICS 420 Nuclear Radiations II PHYSICS 492 Physics Research 1 PHYSICS 493 Physics research 2

Summer 2017 PHYSICS 103 Principles of Physical Science PHYSICS 110 Introduction to Astronomy PHYSICS 201 Introduction to Physics 1 PHYSICS 202 Introduction to Physics 2

Fall 2017 ENGTECH 101 Introduction to Engineering Technology ENGTECH 141 Circuit Analysis ENGTECH 380 Coop in Industry ENGTECH 461 RF Effects & Measurements ENGTECH 491 Senior Design Project PHYSICS 103 Principles of Physical Science PHYSICS 105 Energy: Sources & Environmental Effects PHYSICS 110 Introduction to Astronomy PHYSICS 123 Contemporary Physics PHYSICS 201 Introduction to Physics I PHYSICS 206 Science of Sound PHYSICS 211 General Physics I PHYSICS 212 General Physics 2 PHYSICS 316 Digital Electronics PHYSICS 340 Astrophysics: Stars PHYSICS 360 Health Physics PHSYCIS 422 Thermodynamics PHYSICS 450 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics PHYSICS 492 Physics Research 1 PHYSICS 493 Physics research 2


Winter 2017 PHYSICS 110 Introduction to Astronomy Faculty awards Nathaniel Greene won the Distinguished Teaching Award in the College of Science & Technology; presented Feb 3, 2017.

Student awards On Spring, 2017, the college of Science and Technology held its annual honors banquet. The following students from the Department of Physics & Engineering received awards: P. James Moser Scholarship Robert Sherman and Charles Brochyus Outstanding Student of Physics Derek Stahl and Stephan Vajdic Levi Gray Scholarship Mitchell Kile Outstanding Achievement in Electronics Engineering Technology Robert Chambers and Nathan Henry Summa cum laude graduate Derek Stahl Cum laude graduates Lauren Kerstetter Harrison Ludewig Stephan Vajdic Sigma Pi Sigma inductees The following students were inducted into the physics honor society, Sigma Pi Sigma on March 31, 2017: Mike Algeo Adam Beck Richard Gusick Ian Lamey Harrison Ludewig Timothy Mackiw Robert Sherman Hannah Shriver Anastasia Timofeeva


Sigma Pi Sigma induction ceremony, spring 2017

Student organizations There are two independent student organizations with interests closely related to the Department: The Society of Physics Students and the student chapter of the IEEE.

Society of Physics Students The Bloomsburg University chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) serves to increase camaraderie among physics students. Weekly meetings provide a forum for upperclassmen to share their physics insights and enthusiasm with newer students. Meeting topics include physics content, career planning, and current events within STEM fields. SPS members also volunteer as tutors for introductory-level physics courses.

IEEE, student chapter, Bloomsburg University IEEE is a professional organization for the advancement of technology.

Officers: President: Roberto Reyes Vice President: Jimmy Cotarroja


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