UCF High-School Science

Cassini durante asemblaje

 Josh Colwell es un profesor de astronomía el cual trabaja en el departamento de física y pertenece al grupo ciencias planetarias de la UCF (Universidad de la Florida Central). Unos de los temas que el particularmente se encuentra trabajando al momento son el origen y evolución de los anillos de saturno, las dinámicas de polvo interplanetario, y el origen de los planetas.

En el área de investigaciones acerca de los orígenes y evolución de los anillos de saturno, Dr. Colwell es uno de los co-investigadores de uno de los instrumentos aborde del modulo espacial Cassini. Cassini es una misión internacional en la cual NASA y la ESA (La Asociación Espacial Europea) mandaron un modulo el cual asta hoy en día ha estado en una orbita alrededor de saturno ahora pro case 5 años después de su lanzamiento en 1997, y de echo es considerado como el modulo interplanetario mas grande e ambicioso conteniendo 12 instrumentos aborde de la nave. Uno de estos instrumentos es una cámara ultravioleta llamada Ultraviolet Imaging Spectograph o UVIS. Dr. Colwell pertenece a un grupo el cual trabaja directamente con este instrumento el cual tiene la responsabilidad de observar a los anillos, y estudiar la estructura y composición de estos. Dr. Colwell analiza los datos obtenidos del modulo espacial de manera para poder aprender acerca del comportamiento de saturno para poder entender como estos anillos fueron formados y que tan viejos son. 

Consepto artistico de los anillos

El punto de vista tradicional de la formación de los anillos de Saturno mucho antes de que los científicos tuvieran observaciones desde módulos espáciales era que estos anillos eran nada mas que restos de la formación del planeta. Pero no hasta los altos 70s y a los principios de los 80 que muchas de las medidas y análisis fueron hechas las cuales demostraron que los anillos no eran tan viejos cuando comparados con el planeta; estas conclusiones fueron echas después que observaciones de los anillos fueran realizadas.

La Division Roche ( pasando atraves el cento de la imagen) entre el anillo A y el flaco anillo F. Atlas pudede ser visto dentro de este. Los vasios Enke y keeler tambien son visbles.

Algunas de las partículas en los anillos pueden ser 13-15 metros de largo y pueden llegar a ser del tamaño de un campo de football, y asta ahora hay dos lunas conocidas las cuales abierto vacíos entre los anillos, los cuales pueden llegar a ser de 5km a 10km de largo.

La razón por el estudio e investigación constante de los anillos de Saturno es para entender la historia de nuestro Sistema Sola, su evolución, y su origen. En muchas ocasiones astrónomos han recurrido a estos anillos en busca de respuestas a varias preguntas por el echo de que estos anillos son unos de los objetos mas notorios del sistema solar. Además,  muchas de las leyes de física que son jugadas dentro de estos anillos son en la mayor parte similar a las leyes de física que son llevadas al cavo en las galaxias espirales las cuales le dan estas formas particulares.  Otro escenario donde las leyes de física son bien similares las cuales podrán  ser encantadas en la formación del sistema solar el cual se cree que durante este periodo este semejaba un disco de polvo. En otras palabras al estudiar estos anillos podemos tener un laboratorio en nuestro propio vecindario el cual regularmente podemos echarle un vistazo cuando estemos buscando por respuestas que nos muestra como sistemas planetarios se formaron y evolucionaron en general. 

Dinamismo en el anillo F causado por los efectos perturbantes de pequeñas lunas orbitando cerca o a través de coro del anillo.

Cassini during asembly

Josh Colwell is a professor who works at UCF in the physics department in the planetary science group. His research is in the area of solar system dynamics. Some of the particular problems that hes working with are the origins and evolution of Saturn’s rings, the dynamics of interplanetary dust and it behavior of dust near objects such as the moon, and asteroids, and the origins of the planets.

In the area of research of the origins and evolution of Saturn rings, Dr, Josh Colwell is one of the co-investigators on one of the instruments onboard the Cassini spacecraft. Cassini is an international mission in which NASA and the ESA (European Space Association) sent a spacecraft that’s has orbiting around Saturn for almost five years after its launch in 1997, and in fact is the largest most ambitious interplanetary spacecraft, containing 12 instruments on board. One of these instruments on board is an ultraviolet camera called the ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph or UVIS. Dr. Colwell belongs to a team who works directly with this instrument, which has the responsibility of ring observations, and the study of the structure and composition of Saturn’s rings. He analyzes data obtained from the spacecraft in order to learn about the behavior of dust particles in the rings of Saturn, and what can he learn about that from how these rings are formed and how old they are.

Artist's impression of Saturn's rings

A traditional view of the formation of Saturn’s rings before scientists has spacecraft observation was that these rings were pretty much left over from the formation of the planet. But not until the late 70s and early 80s a lot of measurements and analysis were made that showed that the rings weren’t as old as the planet, this conclusion was drawn after observations of the rings were maid. One of the most compelling observations is that since most of these rings are made up of mostly ice it allow us to study non icy materials that are mixed in with the ice. Since the Saturn’s rings surface is larger than the surface of Saturn itself, means that these rings remain under constant bombardment planetary dust particles which are not water ice, should have darken the rings over time By looking at this darkening Dr. Colwell and his colleagues can estimate that in order for Saturn’s have to be about 2% and 5% at most of the age of the solar system. Besides this, there are other suggestions of why it is believed that these rings are younger that it was previously believed.                

The Roche Division (passing through image center) between the A Ring and the narrow F Ring. Atlas can be seen within it. The Enke and Keeler gaps are also visible

This again brings up the question of how the rings were formed. The general idea of the formation of the rings is either by breaking a part of a moon, after the moon moved in too close enough so that the planets tidal forces fro the planet in order to prevent it form re-creating. Another possible scenario that could explain the formation of these rings is, Saturn’s gravity is able to capture an object like a gigantic comet, which ends up breaking apart due to strong gravitational forces and finally entering into an orbit around the planet.

Some of the particles in the particles in the rings can range from 13-15 meters across to the size of a football field, and the two known moonlets in the rings that have opened up gaps, which range from 5 to 10 km across.

The reason for the constant study of the Saturn’s rings is to understand the history of our solar system, how the solar system has evolved, and its origin. In many cases Astronomers look at these rings to answer to several questions due to the fact that these rings are one of the most obvious features of the solar system. Also, some of the physics that goes on in Saturn’s is very similar to the physics that goes on the spiral galaxies, which give them this particular shape. And another scenario where these physics similar to the ones that goes on in the rings is in the early days of the solar systems which consisted in a disk of dust before the planets were formed. So I other words by studying the rings we are able to work have a laboratory in our own “backyard” that we can often look at for answers that can show us how general planets systems form and evolve.

F ring dynamism probably due to perturbing effects of small moonlets orbiting close to or through the ring's core.

¿Que  es el Graphene?

Graphene es una lamina singular de grafito. Este es un material el cual solamente posee una anchura parecida a la de un átomo. Pero al mismo tiempo este es un material muy fuerte.

¿Cuándo fue descubierto? ¿Quién lo descubrió?

Muchas personas las cuales trababan mayormente con metales han siempre creado pequeñas laminas de Graphene como un producto de la limpieza de superficies. Este es  regularmente formado cuando impuridades de carbón  en materiales como metales como el níquel son empujados hacia una superficie. No hace mucho un profesor llamado Andrew Geim en la Universidad de Manchester en Inglaterra descubrió que estas laminas pueden ser producidas mecánicamente cuando el grafito es dividido varias veces y aplicado a una superficie de oxido de silicón

¿Cómo podrías describir la estructura del Graphene? Graphene es una red bidimensional de carbón conectado hexagonalmente. La forma mas fácil de describir Graphene es como un panel de abejas con todos los vértices remplazados por un átomo de carbón.

¿Cuales son sus propiedades electrónicas?

 Las laminas de Graphene se en cuentran a la mitad entre metales y semiconductores cuando es referido a sus propiedades. Por esta razón Graphene muchas beses es conocido como un semi-metal. Lo que es increíble de este material es que los electrones se comportan como un tipo de luz lenta, y sus laminas conducen mejor que el cobre cuando este comparado por peso. Los electrones únicos en el Graphene se comportan mas como es una autopista dividida.

¿ Cuales son algunos de los exámenes los cuales son preformados al Graphene?

 Mi grupo trata de entender las propiedades electrónicas fundamentales en este material. El material es único, este es muy pequeño y solamente compuesto de una superficie de átomos. ( Todos los átomos están a la superficie) Esto significa que el ambiente alrededor del material impacta tremendamente las propiedades de este material.

¿ Es este material bidimensional más estable que otros materiales parecidos a este?  ¿Por qué? ¿Por qué no?

¿ Cuales son unas de los usos potenciales o aplicaciones de este nuevo material? ¿Cuáles son unos de los problemas de este material.

Graphene es completamente transparente y flexible. Yo creo que este es el material que pueda ejercer e inspirar la producción de computadoras rápidas en plataformas flexibles ( computadoras que computan información tan rápidamente como cualquier computadora Dell.) Una de las desventajas de este material es que su producción  es difícil de controlar. Este problema  seguramente será resuelto en los próximos cinco años ya que hay bastantes fondos parara la síntesis de este material.

Dr. Wiston Schoenfeld

Dr. Winston Schoenfeld is a chemistry professor here at UCF who works in the chemistry department at the CREOL laboratory of optic and photonics. One of Dr. Schoenfeld areas of research deals with the growth of materials specially semiconductors, that would be used for applications such as the detection or generation of light ort in other words emitters or detectors.

A new type of semiconductors or especially known as the oxide semiconductors that have really never been studied before; until now. This new type of semiconductor could offer a platform to create detectors or light emitters in an light spectrum of interest in this case the solar blind region.

Dr. Schoenfeld ‘s research group has been able to pioneer the re-systemization of films that in fact are oxide semiconductors. By doing this his research group is able to study the properties of these oxide semiconductors. Some of the semiconductors that his team is currently working with are nickel magnesium oxide among others similar materials. When Studying and classifying the properties of these materials the researchers group is able to choose either to synthesize materials with high qualities characteristics in the solar blind optical region. By doing this the transmitters can emit or detect. I addition, for making the highest quality materials possible, the device quality performance is directly related to the materials the device is made of. Also, Dr. Schoenfeld research group must design the devices themselves in order to study the qualities of layers in a structure. For example a layer of a structure might be synthesized in order so that when it becomes exposed to a current it would to produce light or when it becomes exposed to a light pattern this would produce a current in order to identify the presence of a certain light pattern.  Up to date, Dr. Schoenfeld research group has been able to show that both nickel and by using the Molecular Bean Epitaxy  (MBE System). An MBE is a high vacuum chamber and controlled environment in which a substrate in this case magnesium oxide is inserted into. Inside the MBE the substrate will be beamed with source materials. For example nickel magnesium oxide were to be created in the MBE it would have to be made from a sort of sources that would heat up like an oven, therefore emitting atoms towards the surface of the sample that is being synthesized, also a magnesium source fed into the sample, In addition to this there will an oxygen source which will also release atoms in order to make a nickel magnesium oxide film. The size of one of these films could anywhere from one centimeter square up to three to four inches in diameter this films are significantly thin they cold be one micron thin; however this is thick enough in order to create a light detector.

Molecular Bean Epitaxy (MBE System)

Some of these semiconductors thin films is their ability to store memory, meaning theses could be used in future computer components. In addition, these semiconductors are able to detect low magnetic fields giving us more accurate readings in the presence of magnetic fields. Also, in the future these semiconductors in the form of light emitters that will produce light that will have a have a wave length of less than 280 nm in order to literally destroy any form of bacteria including RNA and DNA. These semiconductors could be also be used in the form of detectors in the military area in order to detect bio hazard agents and other things such as missile plume since these semiconductors are not disrupted from the background sound produce by the sun.

Dr. Florencio Eloy Hernández es un profesor de química y óptica el cual a estado trabajando en una nueva forma para analizar los niveles de glucosa en nuestra sangre. La glucosa es un azúcar monosacárido, o en otras palabras azúcar común la cual es encontrada en la mayoría de las plantas y animales incluyéndonos nosotros los humanos. Aunque, hoy en día existe una forma de verificar los niveles de glucosa en nuestros cuerpos a través de exámenes de sangre los cuales requieren un método diario e invasivo lo cual no es él más efectivo. La nueva forma que Hernández a formulado para analizar nos permitirá liberarnos de estas invasivas y dolorosas puyadas, las cuales hoy en día son requeridas para obtener una gota de sangre será prontamente remplazada con una simple lagrima lagrima.

Esto es proceso sensitivo y selectivo para calcular pequeñas cantidades de azúcar en nuestra sangre. Este proceso empieza cuando sales de oro ( Compuestos de oro iónico) son mezclados con una lagrima lo cual transforma las partículas del oro iónico en partículas de oro regular ( recuerda todo esto ocurre al nivel molecular). Dura  este proceso ocurre esferas microscópicas de cristal son formadas, las cuales son detectadas por el equipo. El aparato coleccionara datos, los cuales serán mostrados en una pantalla la cual le permitirá a los usuarios verificar sus niveles de glucosa en la sangre. 

Este método no es solamente libre de dolor pero también significa, que no necesita perforar nuestra piel para lograr los mismos o mejores resultados que los medidores de azúcar actuales. En otras palabras este aparato nos permitirá identificar pequeñas cantidades de azúcar en nuestra sangre, por lo tanto les permitirá ser mas preciso que otros métodos. Esto significa que los usuarios podrán detectar cualquier rasgo de diabetes mucho antes que los síntomas se presenten. Esto pudiera proveernos con un sistema de detección temprana para las personas que potencialmente tengan diabetes puedan tomar acción tempranamente.

 Una de las ventajas de este nuevo aparato es que este no es mas grade que un CD player compacto regular, lo cual significa que este es portátil. Además de su portabilidad este aparato es económicamente accesible para todos los usuarios potenciales, y podrá ser vendido o proporcionado en diferentes tipos de tiendas, como supermercados o farmacias, permitiéndole a las personas que no puedan comprar el equipo verificar sus niveles de azúcar sin tener que preocuparse por el dolor.

Austin Coye

The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair was Fantastic! Our group took a plane flight from Orlando all the way to Reno, Nevada. Once we got there we went straight to the hotel, which was as glamorous as something you would find in Los Angeles! (Thanks to Dr. Nelson Ying, and the State Science Fair for sponsoring this.) There were pools, hot tubs, slot machines (that I “wasn’t allowed to use”), and best of all, tons of people from around the world staying in the same hotel!

ISEF Winners Austin Coye first on the left side.

Throughout the week, I hooked up with some people that I had already known from Florida who I had seen at previous Science Fairs and met loads of people from across the United States and around the world. I met many of these people during an ISEF tradition called the pin exchange. Every city/state/region/ province has a bunch of pins that they exchange for pins from other places. I think the best one I got was from Russia.

After everyone had set up his or her project and got safety approved (not the most fun, I’ve ever had…), we left to go back to the hotel. We changed into out suits and headed out to the pool to some tanning and just to meet some more people (preferably some hot guys). This came to be our tradition every night as we meet more people and found more things to do around the Casino that was our hotel.

On our day off, there were Nobel Prize winners giving lectures about projects that they had completed and even things that they were working on. They gave us tips for future projects and were all-around inspiring. We also had time that day to explore a little of Nevada. Our group took a bus over into the mountains and we went Kayaking in Lake Tahoe. It was a little cold, but still beautiful.

Judging was insane! I was so nervous (along with my roommates) that we were shaking on the bus and as we got into the Convention Center where our projects were set up, it got even worse! These judges were people that knew their field the best in the world, especially the physics judges. One judge I had asked me about physics concepts that I didn’t even know had to do with my project. (I am still not completely sure that it does.) There were also special judges that I got to have a little fun with. I had to somehow convince then somehow that my project was the answer to whatever their issue was. For example, for the military judges, I explained how the new technology could have potential battle application. I didn’t really get the hang of it until the end though so next year, I’m going to work on that.

ISEF also had a student mixer where everyone came together and had a little dinner and party after judging. It was hilarious because no one knew how to dance except a few people so everyone was just kind of doing their own thing and loving it. It was a great opportunity for everyone to show that they were more than just their Science projects and simply have a great time.

The ceremonies were really exciting. They had three jumbo-trons (really big television screens), upbeat music, and famous announcers including the replacement for J. Lenno, Conon Obrien! (He was even interviewing people next to their projects.) They had acrobats and magicians as well. They also had a whole gift shop with T-shirts and buttons that said “Kiss me, I’m a genius” and other things like that.

The award ceremonies were really intense, but I was so tired that I was not at all affected by the excitement. When they called people’s names from my group however, I felt a whole burst of life jump into me as I realized their achievement.

Overall, this was a huge deal put on my Intel that brought together high-school scientists from around the world to come together, compete, and just get to know each other.

Descubierto por primera ves en el 2004 por Andre Geim un físico en la Universidad de Manchester localizada en Manchester, Inglaterra; Graphene es una capa singular de grafito. Este material se produce cuando todas las capas del grafito son removidas, asta obtener una sola capa de este material lo cual no es más grueso que un átomo. A causa de sus propiedades y características anormales este material se ha convertido en uno de los materiales  más interesantes conocidos asta la fecha. Una de tales propiedades es su habilidad de mantenerse estable en un estado libre, en contraste a otros materiales bidimensionales  los cuales son conocidos a ser alterados en contacto con nuestro ambiente. Otra de las propiedades más interesante del Graphene es su alta conductividad la cual le permite a los electrones viajar 100 veces más rápido que cualquier otro material a temperatura ambiental conocido asta la fecha.

Además  de estas y otras características y propiedades, Graphene posee varias aplicaciones potenciales. Uno de estos usos potenciales es como un censor de gases moleculares, gracias a su estructura bidimensional la cual le permite que la mayoría de su estructura se encuentre en contacto con las moléculas del gas. Esto le permite se mas eficiente cuando este es usado para detectar estas moléculas. A pesar de que otros materiales tienen habilidades similares a la hora de detectar gases Graphene es superior gracias a sus propiedades electrónicas y conductivas.

Otro de los usos potenciales del Graphene es en el área de circuitos integrados. Gracias a sus propiedades ideales este puede ser convertido en un transmisor de efecto de campo permitiéndole a este tipo de transmisores ser más afectivos y no tan ruidosos como otros materiales a causa de su alta movilidad el electrones. Sin embargo, este fascinante material posee una gran desventaja es el echo que este material no se a podido producir en grande cantidades. Sin este obstáculo Graphene podría fácilmente reemplazar al silicón como el componente principal en los circuitos de computadoras y otros aparatos electrónicos.

Two University professors here at UCF have developed a way to detect trace amounts of mercury in our waters. Dr. Florencio E. Hernandez and Andres Campigliaare now able to detect trace amounts of mercury in our water more accurately than resent water filters. This new procedure of detection could be used to make more accurate and nor less efficient water filters.

Although, mercury is a vital element in our society which is used to make items such as thermometers, medicaments, and some cosmetics, mercury may also represent a threat for our bodies. Large and continuous amounts of mercury could lead to Mercury Poisoning which is also known as hydrargaria or mercurialism. Mercury Poisoning may lead to severe toxic effects such as damage to the brain tissue, kidney, and lungs. Also, mercury poisoning may lead to Minamata disease which harms the neurological system. In minor cases symptoms include ataxia (Loss of coordination of muscle movements) numbness and general muscle weakness. However, in extreme cases symptoms might worsen creating insanity, paralysis, coma, and finally death is followed after these symptoms are shown. 

Due to these extreme and hazardous effects of the consumption of mercury polluted waters Hernandez and Campiglia have developed a way to localize and detect even the smallest amounts of mercury in our waters. Although, it might seem like an impossible task to find trace amounts of mercury in our waters even when these are so small and remain unseen to the naked eye, these two physics professors have developed a method which takes advantage of the properties of gold and mercury. Due to the fact that mercury has a tendency to mix with gold particles is an advantage that these tow professors have exploited. It all begins when a sample of mercury polluted water is mixed with solution containing gold nano rods which will float in sodium borohydrate. Then, the mercury is absorbed by these gold nano rods creating an alloy which will be later be identified by an optical spectrometer allowing to be used to monitor shifts in the light absorbed by three gold nano rods, in order so that the user can determine mercury content of the water that is being tested.

The method alongside the device could be used here in Florida due to the fact that this state contains one of the highest levels of mercury around the world not only in our waters but in our soil as well. This mercury makes its way to our waters in the form of rain when coal-burning power plants and other incinerators as well as other manufacturing process expel mercury in the form of gas, alongside other harmful gases into our atmosphere. However, this new process will be able to get rid of mercury from waters around the world, preventing people from contracting diseases such as the Minamata disease among others who are related to mercury poisoning.   

Dr. Florencio Eloy Hernandez is a chemistry and optics professors who has been working on a way to test glucose levels in our blood. Glucose is a monosaccharide sugar, or in other words sugar which is found in most plants and animals including us humans. So it other words Dr. Hernandez is working in a new way to test sugar levels in our bodies. Although, we already have a way to test glucose levels in our bodies through blood tests which requires invasive daily finger pricks is not the most effective. Hernandez’s new way to test sugar levels in our blood will us to break free from these invasive and painful finger pricks in order to get a blood drop instead this new process will replace the blood with a simple tear drop.

This is a sensitive and selective process to calculate trace amounts of sugar in our blood. It all begins when gold salts (Ionic gold compounds) are mixed with a teardrop transforming the ionic gold particles into regular gold particles (remember that all occurs down to the molecular level).In the process microscopic sphere-shaped crystals are formed    which are later sensed by an equipment. The devise collects the data, which is shown on a screen in order for the users to see their sugar levels.

This ground breaking method is not only painless but also not, meaning that it does not have to pierce our skin to achieve the same or in this case better results than current blood sugar monitors. In other words this device will allow us to identify trace amount of sugar in our blood therefore making it more accurate. This means that users will be able detect any sings of diabetes long before the symptoms are shown. This could provide an early warning for people that do not have the disease in order for them to take action at an early stage.

Another advantage of this new device is that it’s no bigger than a regular compact CD player meaning it’s portable. Beside its portability the device will be economically accessible for all potential users, and it could be sold at stores and be placed in them as well, so that anyone that cannot afford it or does not need to buy the equipment can go and test their blood sugar levels at anytime without worrying about the pain  

(Brace yourselves, quantum computers are coming)

Eduardo Mucciolo’s group at UCF is studying fundamental issues related to the electronic devices based on molecules, carbon nanotubes, and graphene (which is a material
made out of a single sheet of carbon atoms).

1. What is quantum mechanics? What are quantum computers?
 
Quantum Mechanics is the theory that describes molecules, atoms, nuclei,and elementary particles. These microscopic bodies do not follow the same laws of mechanics that we see to work so well in the macroscopic world.
 
Quantum computers are machines that take advantage of some exoticproperties of these microscopic (actually, sometimes not so microscopic)
objects. One of them is that systems can at the same time be in a state
which is a combination of two, sometimes contrary, configurations (the
famous Schroedinger cat paradox). Second, they use another property of
quantum mechanics - entanglement - to do a super-efficient parallel
processing. Exploring these two properties allowed researchers to come
up with algorithms (codes) which would solve certain problems in a
quantum computer much faster than what we can currently do in a normal
(”classical”) computer.
 
 2. What issues are you and your team currently working on that is
 related to electronic devices that are based on molecules to perform
 their tasks?
 
We are trying to understand what happens when you put, for instance,
a magnetic molecule between to metallic contacts and run current
through it (by applying a voltage difference to the contacts).
We believe that the magnetization of the molecule will perform a
very exotic dance that we can control with a magnetic field.
Controlling this dance acts back on the current, so we can modulate
how much current runs through the molecule by playing with this
dance. The basis of this control is a quantum mechanical effect
called topological interference.
 
3. What is your current involvement with graphene? Why and how do you
and your group study it?
 
I’m trying to simulate in my computers how a graphene-based transistor
would behave. We are particularly interested in understanding how much
disorder in those materials and the surroundings affects their electric
properties. We do that by building mathematical models and solving them
on a computer (unfortunately we have to do that in our classical ones,
as quantum computers are not available yet…)
 
 4. What are large quantum computers, and how are they different to
 regular computers?
 
Large computers would have, say, 10,000 qbits (quantum bits). That’s
when the quantum algorithms start to beat the classical ones we
currently use by a big margin of efficiency. These large quantum
computers would be completely different from anything we have now.
Small or big (in physical size), they will extremely difficult to
operate and very delicate. They will likely require technology that
we still don’t know. So, perhaps only a few laboratories in the
world we have them, and most likely military ones, at least in the
beginning. But whoever has such a machine will be able to break
into any network, figure out most passwords, and essentially
control all encrypted communications that use the best standards
we know nowadays. If the quantum computer is attached to a
quantum network (which is actually much easier to develop), then
it will be able to communicate information in a completely
secure way.
 

 
 5. What are qubits? What are their functions? Why are they so important for quantum computers?
 
Qubits are the units of quantum information, much in the same way thatbits are in regular computer. The difference is that they don’t just
take the states 0 and 1, but any superposition of these two. They areused to store and manipulate information in a quantum computer. Now,there are several ideas on how to create qubits in practice and peopleare currently exploring them. Some are based on the magnetization ofan atomic nucleus, others in the magnetization of a single electron.There are also some based on the different states an atom can have or the two different directions an electric current can take in a
tiny loop made of a superconductor material. They all have advantages
and disadvantages and there is nobody ones which one will be the
ultimate choice.

Estos dos meses pasados he estado trabajando aquí en la UCF para Dr. Enrique del Barco y he adquirido conocimientos y experiencia acerca de la fabricación de graphene. Graphene es un material bidimensional que forma el grafito cuando se superpone capa a capa en tres dimensiones. Para obtener graphene (una sola lámina de grafito de espesor atómico), los estudiantes en UCF exfolian piezas de grafito puro usando simplemente cinta adhesiva. Una pieza pequaña de grafito se pega a la cinta adhesica (Scotch tape) y se presiona sucesivamente sobre un substrato de silicio (silicon). Esto se repite muchas veces por espacio de unos diez minutos. Al final, el substrato de silicio parece que estuviera cubierto de polve, pero no es más que pequeños trozos de grafito pegados en la superficie. Entonces usamos un microscopio óptico para buscar entre los trozos de grafito, a ver si hay suerte y se encuentra un trozo de graphene (solo una capa atómica de grafito). Al microscopio, graphene aparece muy claro (casi transparente) y de un color púrpura claro. Encontrar graphene no es fácil, ya que es casi invisible, pero con paciencia se puede conseguir en unas horas.

La razón por la cual los estudiantes aquí estan interesados en graphene es para estudiar sus propiedades especiales de conducción eléctrica, que son mucho más excitantes que las propiedades del silicio (material del que se componen los circuitos electrónicos en la actualidad). Este material es único por su estructura electrónica, su formato puramente bidimensional (un átomo de grosor) y la particularidad de mantenerse estable a temperature ambiente por tiempo indefinido. Muchos físicos piensan que puede convertirse en el material básico de los computadores de un futuro no muy lejano, suplantando al silicio, e incrementando sus prestaciones de una manera remarcable.

What are carbon nanotubes?  How small are they?
Carbon nanotubes are small tube-shape structures that are made of graphene sheets.  They can be single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) or multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNT).  The diameter of SWNT is about 1 nm, while MWNT can have a diameter from a few nm to 100 nm.   The figure below showed a part of SWNT.

There are two major methods that are used to produce carbon nanotubes.  (A) Carbon arc method, where graphite rods are evaporated through arc and with transition metal catalysts, carbon vapor condensed and form nanotubes.  (B) Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, here catalytic nano-particles are deposited first on a substrate.  Then the substrate is placed inside a CVD chamber and the temperature is raised to about 800-900 °C.  The catalysts will breakdown hydrocarbon gas such as methane (CH₄), and carbon dissolved into the catalytic particles and re-grow out as carbon nanotubes.

Why are you studying these carbon nanotubes?

Carbon nanotubes have some very interesting physical properties such as extreme hardness and excellent thermal conductivity.   There are many applications proposed for carbon nanotubes, if we can find ways to manipulate them.

It is difficult to study these nanotubes? Why?

Yes, it is very difficult to study carbon nanotube due to its extremely small size.  Electron microscope can be used to observed carbon nanotubes.  But methods to manipulate or assemble nanometer size object are still very primitive at this moment.

What are some of the procedures you perform in order to study these carbon nanotubes?

I prepared my own carbon nanotubes and we used chemical vapor deposition method to produce our carbon nanotubes.  We use electron microscopic method to observe them and focused ion beam technique to fabricate nano-devices based on carbon nanotubes.  WE then used atomic force microscope to test the physical properties of these carbon nanotube devices.

What would these carbon nanotubes be used for in the near future?

There are many, many applications that have been proposed for carbon nanotubes.  For examples, it has potential to be used as electron emitters in a field emission electron microscope.  It can be used as a tip for atomic force microscope.  It can be used as additives in composite materials to make them stronger and better conducting.  It can be used as single electron transistor.  Large quantity of carbon nanotubes can be used to fabricate bullet-proof vest.

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What is graphene?   Graphene is a single layer of graphite. It is a material which is only one atom thick, yet very strong.

When was it discovered? Who discovered it?   People have been making graphene sheets as a bi-product of surface cleaning procedure for years. It is often formed when carbon impurity in metals such as nickel gets pushed out onto surface.  Just recently, Andre Geim at University of Manchester in England discovered that these sheets can be produced by mechanically exfoliating graphite on silicon oxide surface.

How would u describe graphene structure?   Graphene is 2-D network of hexagonally bonded carbon. Easiest way to describe it is as chicken-mesh with all the vertices replaced by a carbon atom.

What are its electronics properties?   Graphene sheets are half way between metal and semiconductor. For this, it is called a semimetal. What is incredible is that electrons behave more like slow light in graphene sheets and also it conducts better than copper by weight.  The unique electrons in graphene behave much like divided highway. It’s hard to scatter electron from forward going to backward going.

What are some of the tests you perform on graphene?   My group strives to understand fundamental electronic properties in this material.  Material is unique; it is small and solely composed of surface atoms. (All the atoms are at surfaces) So surrounding environment can tremendously impact its material properties.  My group adapts unique ultra clean (in fact, atomically clean) approach to study the material properties of graphene.

Is this single layer material more stable than other two dimensional  materials? Why or why not?  There are no other free-standing two dimensional materials so the comparison isn’t there. But I would say that graphene is very strong: the best strength/weight in nature due to its robust carbon-carbonbonds.

What are some of the potential uses or applications of this new material?What are some of its drawbacks?   Graphene is ultimately transparent and flexible. I think this material can give rise to and inspire fast computers on flexible platforms (i.e. wearable computer that computes as fast as your Dell computers). Drawback is that it’s currently hard to control its synthesis. This problem will probably be solved in next 5 years as there are a lot of funding going into synthesis of graphene.

As a high school student at Lake Highland Preparatory School, I have had the privilege of working at the University of Central Florida with Enrique del Barco and several of his graduate students on their projects. The project I am currently involved deals with nanotechnology. When objects are that small, they have different properties then larger objects do, meaning that there is still much to discover about them. I work with protein molecules, which are placed on gold, and observing how, they cover the surface under an Atomic Force Microscope that I am learning how to use. This opportunity has exposed me to many different aspects of Physics, while integrating myself into the project I am involved in. I am learning aspects of advanced physics by applying key principles to the project. Participating in this has opened me up to the world of Science and I will able to use the knowledge and experience I am gaining here further in high school and into college.

            I work with a graduate student on his project, which involves electric current through gold nano-particles. We first needed to place a homogeneous layer of particles on a flat gold surface. To do this, we tested different delusions of the solution containing the particles by placing the gold chip into it for different amounts of time. After we take out the chip, it needs to be quickly dried off with Nitrogen. To oberve the particles, the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) is used. The nano-particles are too small to be seen in an optical microscope so the AFM uses a tip to create a sort of topographical map of the surface and we are then able to see how homogeneous that delusion made the surface. When the cryostat is fixed, we will cool down the particles to a temperature close to absolute zero and test the current through the particles. In the image above I show an AFM image taken on a sample of gold nanoparticles deposited on a flat surface. The figure below shows the diagram of the particle size distribution I measured out of many AFM images taken on these samples.

I recently experience in my own group how well a k12 student can do in a professional research group if he/she is given the proper oportunity. I heard first from my collegue Beatriz Roldan (Associate Professor at UCF-Physics) about the real possibilities of having k12 students involved in the research we do everyday. And she was right!

Two high school students have recently joined my group during the last year.

Austin Coye (second from the left), a high school student from Lake Highland Preparatory School (actually, she was in middle school when she joined our group) is involved in a very exciting research that we carry out in collaboration with Eloy Hernandez (Associate Professor at UCF-Chemistry). She has gained experience on atomic force microscopy… Ok, ok, I know what you are thinking: What an atomic force microscope is? In a few words (I’ll let Austin to explain it to you in a post she is preparing), it is an instrument that allows to see (image) objects of a nanometric size (thousands of times smaller that the smallest object visible with the best optical microscope available in the world). And she has made a lot of interesting research with this microscope and some novel gold nanoparticles that behave as magnets. She will let you know soon about this.

Jesus Paredes (third from the right), who you may already know about, joined our group this Summer and started to do some things with graphene, a 2-dimensional layer (the thickness of a single atom) of carbon atoms presenting fantastic properties, which may change the way we think about future electronic devices. Look into his recent post about graphene. You will see that it is very simple to obtain such a thin layer of atoms. Jesus’s first responsibility is the maintenance and organization of this blog, but he will continue to do some research as well.

So, yes. It is possible to do research now. You do not need to wait until you access to college. Look for the oportunity and take it right away!

Cheers.
Enrique del Barco

First discovered by physicists Andre Geim at the University of Manchester located in Manchester England in 2004, Graphene is a single layer of graphite created or produced when all its other layers of graphite are removed until one layer no thicker than an atom is found. This new material it’s very interesting due to its abnormal properties and characteristics. One of such Characteristics is its ability to remain stable in free state unlike other 2D materials known to be altered when being exposed to our environment. Another of graphene’s interesting properties is its conductivity, which allows electrons to travel 100 times faster than in silicon which is higher than any other known material at room temperature.

 Besides these and other special and interesting characteristics Graphene has several potential applications. One of this potential uses for this material is as a sensor of gas molecules due to its two dimensional structure most of its matter would be in direct contact with the gas’ molecules making it more efficient in detecting these molecules.

Even though other materials have similar abilities when used in gas sensor, graphene is far more superior due to its electronic and conductive properties.

 Another of graphene’s potential uses is in the field of integrated circuits due to graphene’s ideal properties it could be fitted in to a field effect transistor making it more effective than and not as noisy as other material during use due to its high electron mobility. However this fascinating and groundbreaking material comes with a major draw back which is its inability to be mass produced. With out this major obstacle graphene could easily replace silicon as the main component for computer systems and other electronic.      

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These past two months or so that I had been working here at UCF for Dr. Enrique del Barco I have gained knowledge and experience on how to produce or in other words finding graphene. Graphene is a two dimensional material found in graphite making it only one atom thick. To find grapheme students here at UCF take graphite and peel off its layers with simple adhesive tape. A piece of graphite is placed on the center of the adhesive part of the strip of tape so that later the piece can be glue together and taken apart again. This process will normally take ten minutes or so. After the graphite has gone the peeling process with the adhesive tape it would resemble dust. This dust its later taken to a light microscope to start looking for the graphene. In the light microscope graphene looks like a very light pink or purple .Finding graphene its very difficult since its almost invisible to the naked eye so time and patience its needed to find graphene.

The reason why students here at UCF work with graphene its to study its especial conductive properties which are far more grater than that of the silicon used its computer systems in these days. Also this new material its very exiting and almost unique due to its two dimensional structure and its ability to remain stable even at room temperature. Many physicist now days think that graphene might become the main component in most of our computer systems increasing their information storage capabilities. and making the far more faster and more portable.