Penn Smith physics research presentation

Physics Student-Faculty Research

Student-Faculty Research

At LVC, students have the opportunity to engage in research with our faculty. Professors in Physics and Mathematical Sciences are experts in quantum information science (Dr. David Lyons, Dr. Cristina Mullican, and Dr. Scott Walck), theoretical/computational nuclear physics (Dr. Dan Pitonyak), and laser modifications of glass (Dr. Keith Veenhuizen). Students can work alongside faculty as paid research assistants during the summer and/or during the academic year for credit as an independent study or senior capstone project. This work has culminated in presentations at national conferences and co-authored papers in peer-reviewed journals. These high-level research experiences are unique for students at a small college and help distinguish LVC physics majors when they embark on their career paths after graduation.

Student Year of Activity Publication or Conference Presentation
Penn Smith 2024 S. Fitzgibbons, M. Malda, J. Marsh, D. Pitonyak and P. Smith, “Updated numerical study of TSSAs in single-inclusive pion production from lepton-nucleon collisions,” Phys. Lett. B 852, 138606 (2024) [arXiv:2401.02391 [hep-ph]].
Michel Malda 2024 S. Fitzgibbons, M. Malda, J. Marsh, D. Pitonyak and P. Smith, “Updated numerical study of TSSAs in single-inclusive pion production from lepton-nucleon collisions,” Phys. Lett. B 852, 138606 (2024) [arXiv:2401.02391 [hep-ph]].
Jacob Marsh 2024 S. Fitzgibbons, M. Malda, J. Marsh, D. Pitonyak and P. Smith, “Updated numerical study of TSSAs in single-inclusive pion production from lepton-nucleon collisions,” Phys. Lett. B 852, 138606 (2024) [arXiv:2401.02391 [hep-ph]].
Sophia Fitzgibbons 2024 S. Fitzgibbons, M. Malda, J. Marsh, D. Pitonyak and P. Smith, “Updated numerical study of TSSAs in single-inclusive pion production from lepton-nucleon collisions,” Phys. Lett. B 852, 138606 (2024) [arXiv:2401.02391 [hep-ph]].
Penn Smith 2024 “Numerical Computation of Left-Right Asymmetries in Single-Inclusive Pion Production from Lepton-Nucleon Collisions,” Contributed talk at the APS April Meeting, Apr. 3, 2024, Sacramento, CA.
Jacob Marsh 2024 “Transverse Single-Spin Asymmetries in Single-Inclusive Pion Production from Lepton-Nucleon Collisions with Unpolarized Next-to-Leading Order Corrections,” Contributed poster at the APS April Meeting, Apr. 6, 2024, Sacramento, CA.
Sophia Fitzgibbons 2024 “Transverse Single-Spin Asymmetries in Single-Inclusive Pion Production from Lepton-Nucleon Collisions with Unpolarized Next-to-Leading Order Corrections,” Contributed poster at the APS April Meeting, Apr. 6, 2024, Sacramento, CA.
Brandon Bauer 2023 B. Bauer, D. Pitonyak and C. Shay, “Numerical study of the twist-3 asymmetry ALT in single- inclusive electron-nucleon and proton-proton collisions,” Phys. Rev. D 107, 014013 (2023) [arXiv:2210.14334 [hep-ph]].
Cody Shay 2023 B. Bauer, D. Pitonyak and C. Shay, “Numerical study of the twist-3 asymmetry ALT in single- inclusive electron-nucleon and proton-proton collisions,” Phys. Rev. D 107, 014013 (2023) [arXiv:2210.14334 [hep-ph]].
Jack Putnam 2023 David W. Lyons, Cristina Mullican, Adam Rilatt, and Jack D. Putnam, “Werner states from diagrams,” Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical, 56(22):225301, May 2023 [arXiv:2302.05572].
Brandon Bauer 2023 “Numerical Study of Twist-3 Longitudinal-Transverse Double-Spin Asymmetries: a Probe of Quark- Gluon-Quark Correlations in Hadrons,” Contributed talk at the APS Group on Hadronic Physics Meeting, Apr. 14, 2023, Minneapolis, MN.
Cody Shay 2023 “Numerical Study of Single-Inclusive Longitudinal-Transverse Double-Spin Asymmetries in Electron- Nucleon and Proton-Proton Collisions,” Contributed poster at the APS April Meeting, Apr. 15, 2023, Minneapolis, MN.
Alex Heilman 2022 Paul Appel, Alexander J. Heilman, Ezekiel W. Wertz, David W. Lyons, Marcus Huber, Matej Pivoluska, and Giuseppe Vitagliano, “Finite-Function-Encoding Quantum States,” Quantum, 6:708, May 2022 [arXiv:2012.00490].
Ezekiel Wertz 2022 Paul Appel, Alexander J. Heilman, Ezekiel W. Wertz, David W. Lyons, Marcus Huber, Matej Pivoluska, and Giuseppe Vitagliano, “Finite-Function-Encoding Quantum States,” Quantum, 6:708, May 2022 [arXiv:2012.00490].
Jacob Marsh 2022 Wei Sun, Keith Veenhuizen, Jacob Marsh, Volkmar Dierolf, Himanshu Jain, “Determination of the structure of lithium niobosilicate glasses by molecular dynamics simulation with a new Nb-O potential,” Computational Materials Science, Volume 207, May 2022, 111307.
Jacob Franklin 2022 Keith Veenhuizen, Collin Barker, Jacob Franklin, Sean McAnany, Bruce Aitken, Daniel Nolan, Volkmar Dierolf, Himanshu Jain, “The role of glass composition in the 3D laser fabrication of lithium niobate single crystal in lithium niobosilicate glass,” Optical Materials, Volume 128, June 2022, 112380.
Joshua Miller 2022 L. Gamberg, M. Malda, J. A. Miller, D. Pitonyak, A. Prokudin and N. Sato, “Updated QCD global analysis of single transverse-spin asymmetries: Extracting H ̃, and the role of the Soffer bound and lattice QCD,” Phys. Rev. D 106, 034014 (2022) [arXiv:2205.00999 [hep-ph]].
Michel Malda 2022 L. Gamberg, M. Malda, J. A. Miller, D. Pitonyak, A. Prokudin and N. Sato, “Updated QCD global analysis of single transverse-spin asymmetries: Extracting H ̃, and the role of the Soffer bound and lattice QCD,” Phys. Rev. D 106, 034014 (2022) [arXiv:2205.00999 [hep-ph]].
Brandon Bauer 2022 “Numerical Study of Single-Inclusive Longitudinal-Transverse Double-Spin Asymmetries in Electron- Proton and Proton-Proton Collisions,” Contributed poster at the Conference Experience for Undergraduates at the APS Division of Nuclear Physics Fall Meeting, Oct. 28, 2022, New Orleans, LA.
Ben Gordon 2022 “Analysis of the cos2φ and cosφ Modulations in Semi-Inclusive Deep-Inelastic Scattering,” Contributed talk at the APS April Meeting, Apr. 9, 2022, New York, NY.
Michel Malda 2022 “Updated QCD Global Analysis of Single Transverse-Spin Asymmetries with Additional Constraints from Experimental Data and Lattice QCD,” Contributed talk at the APS April Meeting, Apr. 9, 2022, New York, NY.
Ben Gordon 2021  “Analysis of the cos 2φ Modulation in Semi-Inclusive Deep-Inelastic Scattering,” Contributed talk at the Conference Experience for Undergraduates at the APS Division of Nuclear Physics Fall Meeting, Oct. 13, 2021, remote.
Michel Malda 2021 “Updated QCD Global Analysis of Single Transverse-Spin Asymmetries,” Contributed talk at the Conference Experience for Undergraduates at the APS Division of Nuclear Physics Fall Meeting, Oct. 13, 2021, remote.
Olivia Magneson 2021  “Phase-selective laser-induced crystallization of lead bismuth gallate glass,” Contributed poster at the  Glass and Optical Materials Division (GOMD) 2021 Annual Meeting, Dec. 13, 2021, remote.
Jacob Franklin 2021  “Formation of continuous lithium niobate single crystals in lithium niobosilicate glass via femtosecond laser irradiation,” Contributed poster at the  Glass and Optical Materials Division (GOMD) 2021 Annual Meeting, Dec. 13, 2021, remote.
Justin Cammarota 2020 J. Cammarota, L. Gamberg, Z. B. Kang, J. A. Miller, D. Pitonyak, A. Prokudin, T. C. Rogers and N. Sato, “Origin of single transverse-spin asymmetries in high-energy collisions,” Phys. Rev. D 102, 054002 (2020) [arXiv:2002.08384 [hep-ph]].
Joshua Miller 2020 J. Cammarota, L. Gamberg, Z. B. Kang, J. A. Miller, D. Pitonyak, A. Prokudin, T. C. Rogers and N. Sato, “Origin of single transverse-spin asymmetries in high-energy collisions,” Phys. Rev. D 102, 054002 (2020) [arXiv:2002.08384 [hep-ph]].
Ben Gordon 2020 “Extraction of the Boer-Mulders Function from Unpolarized SIDIS Data,” Contributed poster at the Conference Experience for Undergraduates at the APS Division of Nuclear Physics Fall Meeting, Oct. 30, 2020, remote.
Adam Rilatt 2020 “Extraction of the Boer-Mulders Function from Unpolarized SIDIS Data,” Contributed poster at the Conference Experience for Undergraduates at the APS Division of Nuclear Physics Fall Meeting, Oct. 30, 2020, remote.
Michel Malda 2020 “Mapping the 3D Structure of Hadrons through Asymmetries in Single-Inclusive Pion Production from Electron-Proton Collisions,” Contributed talk at the Conference Experience for Undergraduates at the APS Division of Nuclear Physics Fall Meeting, Oct. 30, 2020, remote.
Collin Barker 2019 “Laser-induced crystallization and reduction of copper-doped lithium niobosilicate glass,” Contributed poster at the 25th International Congress on Glass, Jun. 9, 2019, Boston, MA
Joshua Miller 2019 “Laser-induced crystallization and reduction of copper-doped lithium niobosilicate glass,” Contributed poster at the 25th International Congress on Glass, Jun. 9, 2019, Boston, MA
Ezekiel Wertz 2017 David W. Lyons, Nathaniel P. Gibbons, Mark A. Peters, Daniel J. Upchurch, Scott N. Walck, and Ezekiel W. Wertz, “Local Pauli stabilizers of symmetric hypergraph states,” Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical, 50(24):245303, 2017 [arXiv:1609.01306].
Nate Gibbons 2017 David W. Lyons, Nathaniel P. Gibbons, Mark A. Peters, Daniel J. Upchurch, Scott N. Walck, and Ezekiel W. Wertz, “Local Pauli stabilizers of symmetric hypergraph states,” Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical, 50(24):245303, 2017 [arXiv:1609.01306].
Student Year(s) Position/Company or Institution
Penn Smith 2024 Research Assistant / Triangle Universities Nuclear Lab REU Program at Duke
Tristan Rosenberry 2024 Engineer / PPL Corporation
Michael Harris 2024 Research Assistant / LVC – Dr. Pitonyak
Jacob Marsh 2023, 2024 Research Assistant / LVC – Dr. Pitonyak
Jack Putnam 2024 Research Assistant / LVC – Dr. Pitonyak
Justin DeShong 2024 Research Assistant / LVC – Dr. Lyons & Dr. Mullican
Daniel Hagan 2024 Research Assistant / LVC Research First Program – Dr. Pitonyak
Ben Kegerreis 2024 Research Assistant / LVC Research First Program – Dr. Pitonyak
Brandon Bauer 2023 Research Assistant / University of Delaware REU Program
Justin DeShong 2023 Research Assistant / Virginia Tech REU Program
Tristan Rosenberry 2023 Research Assistant / Penn State University REU Program
Sophie Piepmeier 2023 STEM Center for Education and Outreach Intern / U.S. Naval Academy
Jackie Martin 2023 Vanderbilt University REU Program
Michael Harris 2023 Research Assistant / LVC Research First Program – Dr. Pitonyak
Faye Gibson 2023 Research Assistant / LVC Research First Program – Dr. Pitonyak
Sophia Fitzgibbons 2023 Research Assistant / LVC – Dr. Pitonyak
Penn Smith 2023 Research Assistant / LVC – Dr. Pitonyak
Olivia Magneson 2022 AAPM Summer Undergraduate Fellowship / Harvard Medical School
Justin Deshong 2022 Research Assistant / LVC – Dr. Veenhuizen
Jacob Marsh 2022 Research Assistant / LVC – Dr. Veenhuizen
Jackie Martin 2022 Research Assistant / LVC – Dr. Veenhuizen
Tristan Rosenberry 2022 Research Assistant / LVC – Dr. Veenhuizen
Brandon Bauer 2022 Research Assistant / LVC – Dr. Pitonyak
Cody Shay 2022 Research Assistant / LVC – Dr. Pitonyak
Jacob Franklin 2021 Research Assistant/Lehigh University REU Program
Andrew Hearsey 2021 Research Assistant / LVC – Dr. Veenhuizen
Olivia Magneson 2021 Research Assistant / LVC – Dr. Veenhuizen
Jacob Marsh 2021 Research Assistant / LVC Research First Program – Dr. Veenhuizen
Michel Malda 2020, 2021 Research Assistant / LVC – Dr. Pitonyak
Ben Gordon 2020, 2021 Research Assistant/LVC – Dr. Pitonyak
Tristan Rosenberry 2021 Research Assistant / LVC Research First Program – Dr. Pitonyak
Jacob Layton 2020 Research Assistant/LVC Research First Program – Dr. Veenhuizen
Joshua Miller 2020 Research Assistant/Thomas Jefferson National Lab SULI Program
Adam Rilatt 2020 Research Assistant/LVC Research First Program – Dr. Pitonyak
Mark Wittemann 2020 Research Assistant/LVC – Dr. Veenhuizen
Eric Alleman 2019 Research Assistant/Underseas Systems Office
(PSU Applied Research Lab)
Leah Boyer 2017,
2019
Research Assistant/University of South Florida REU Program Research Assistant/Underseas Systems Office
(PSU Applied Research Lab)
Marcus Brown-Dulan 2018
Research Assistant/Underseas Systems Office
(PSU Applied Research Lab)
Joshua Miller 2018,
2019, 2021
Research Assistant/LVC-Dr. Veenhuizen
Research Assistant/LVC-Dr. Pitonyak
Jacob Franklin 2019
Research Assistant/LVC Research First Program-Dr. Veenhuizen
Lauren Hagy 2019
Research Assistant/LVC-Dr. Veenhuizen
Samantha Smith 2019
Research Assistant/LVC-Dr. Veenhuizen
Collin Barker 2018
Research Assistant/LVC-Dr. Veenhuizen
Justin
Cammarota
2015-
2018
Research Assistant/LVC Research First Program-Dr. Marsh
Research Assistant/LVC-Dr. Lyons & Dr. Walck
Research Assistant/Fermilab SULI Program
Research Assistant/University of Michigan REU Program
at CERN
Alex Heilman 2017-
2018
Research Assistant/LVC-Dr. Lyons & Dr. Walck
Nate Gibbons 2015,
2017
Research Assistant/LVC-Dr. Lyons & Dr. Walck
Research Assistant/NIST SURF
Gerald Boddie 2017
Research Assistant/Penn State University
Ezekiel Wertz 2016-2017
Research Assistant/LVC-Dr. Lyons & Dr. Walck
Kathryn White 2016
Mechanical Engineering Intern/Ames Laboratory, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
Daniel Upchurch 2014-
2015
Research Assistant/LVC-Dr. Lyons & Dr. Walck
Adam Rosier 2013
Research Assistant/LVC-Dr. Lyons & Dr. Walck
Anthony Hoover 2012-
2013
Research Assistant/LVC-Dr. Lyons & Dr. Walck
Ian Bond 2012
Research Assistant/LVC-Dr. Lyons & Dr. Walck
Oliver Lyons 2012
Research Assistant/LVC-Dr. Lyons & Dr. Walck
Hana Krechel 2011-
2012
Mechanical Engineering Intern/Exelon NuclearGovernment Civilian Intern/Army Material System Analysis Activity
Ian Younker 2010
Research Assistant/LVC-Dr. Lyons & Dr. Walck
Adam Hansell 2009-
2010
Research Assistant/LVC-Dr. Lyons & Dr. Walck
Laura Snyder 2009-
2010
Research Assistant/LVC-Dr. Lyons & Dr. Walck

 

Quantum Information Science

Students and faculty study the “quantum advantage” of entangled particles that can outperform the most powerful existing supercomputers.

Participating Faculty Members: Dr. David Lyons, Dr. Cristina Mullican, and Dr. Scott Walck

LVC students and faculty study the "quantum advantage" of entangled particles.

 

Computational Nuclear Physics

The goal of this research is to map out a 3D image of the internal structure of visible matter. Students write code in Python to compute high-energy particle collisions and analyze how models fit experimental data. This allows us to extract information on the elementary particles that make up objects like the proton.

Participating Faculty Member: Dr. Dan Pitonyak

Graphic showing laser modifications of glass research

 

Laser Modifications of Glass

The goal of this research is to fabricate crystals in glass using a laser as a heat source. Light can be guided through the crystals, making them potentially useful as optical interconnects in photonic integrated circuits. In addition, the crystals are characterized by various means (Raman spectroscopy, piezoresponse for microscopy, etc.) to gather information for practical applications and more fundamental studies.

Participating Faculty Member: Dr. Keith Veenhuizen

LVC students write code in Python to computer high-energy particle collisions and analyze how models fit experimental data.