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Anthony Adorjan |
| Kent State University, Ohio | |
| Graduate student in Dr. Sprunt's group. | |
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| The twist grain boundary (TGB) phases are fascinating defect states
of chiral smectic liquid crystals whose basic structure comprises a
helically twisted stack of ordinary smectic-A or -C slabs connected
by two-dimensional walls of screw dislocations ("grain boundaries").
Several interesting variants of the basic TGB structure have been discovered,
including a "chiral line liquid" phase (designated NL*) that
lies between the higher temperature cholesteric (N*) and the conventional
TGB phases and an undulating grain boundary (UTGB) phase that was first
found between the conventional TGB and lower temperature smectic-C (or
smectic-C*) phases in certain mixtures.
We study these TGB phases using dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments. In a DLS experiment, a focused laser beam scatters from a liquid crystal sample. A detector arm collects the scattered light, and the optical signal is converted to an electrical signal. Data containing information about the optic axis fluctuations is extracted from this signal. Along with DLS, other experimental techniques are utilized, including electro-optic, optical diffraction, and reflectivity measurements. In addition to TGB phases, we are also investigating layer fluctuations in freely-suspended smectic membranes. One material, a siloxane substituted chiral liquid crystal, is particularly interesting because it shows an unusually large analog electro-optic response, and it may provide an example of an unusual smectic-A phase first proposed by deVries. |
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Barbara Brezina |
| Kent State University, Ohio | |
| Graduate student in Dr. Woolverton's group. | |
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| I am currently working towards my masters degree in cellular and molecular biology. My current project involves liquid crystals and drug delivery. My message to prospective grad students is that you should come in to this program with a goal and the knowledge that things will probably change so be flexible as to how you approach your goals! |
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David Wiant |
| Kent State University, Ohio | |
| Graduate Student in Dr. Gleeson's group. |
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Ye Yin |
| Kent State University, Ohio | |
| Graduate Student in Lavrentovich Group |
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Dan Carney |
| University of Cincinnati, Ohio | |
| Summer Research Assistant, 2004, in Dr. Sprunt's group | |
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| I am looking at the possibility of direct biaxiality in nematic-phase liquid crystals. Also, I am investigating surface fluctuations of nonlinear nanofilms. Finally, I am also trying to develop a theoretical background for free-energy landscaping in regards to material density. |
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Stephen Daigle |
| Kent State University, Ohio | |
| Summer Research Assistant, 2004, in Dr. Palffy's group | |
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Andrew Geisler |
| Grove City College, Pennsylvania | |
| Summer Research Assistant, 2004. | |
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| Andrew's research was supervised by professors Lavrentovich and Li.
Andrew is conducting research on near-infrared absorbing liquid crystal materials using synthetic organic techniques. The goal of the project is to construct molecules that possess both infrared light absorbing and liquid crystal properties. These molecules will have numerous applications such as infrared displays and beam steering. |
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Jessica Gregson |
| Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania | |
| Summer Research Assistant, 2004, in Dr. Gleeson's group | |
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| I am working on a study of granular matter. We are interested in this I am presuming because, like liquid crystals, granular matter behaves different from liquids and solids, but also like them, aka granular matter (say a stack of salt) will pour like a liquid, but is comprised of small solids. However, unlike both solids and liquids, granular matter is capable of stacking in a arches (imagine a pyramid, where the top most block is not directly stacked on the block below it, but on the two below it that each support half of its weight). So, thus far I have been familiarizing myself with the software for our pressure pad. As well as trying to develop a "perfect" stack of ball bearing (2D) in order to get an idea of how the weight of the ball bearing is distributed in a "perfectly" hexagonal stack. This week I will begin working on adding impurities into a perfect stack and examining that weight distribution. |
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Erin Gustely |
| College of Wooster, Ohio | |
| Summer Research Assistant, 2004. | |
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| Erin's research was supervised by professors Jakli, Lavrentovich,
and Woolverton.
Current research in KSU's Microbiology lab includes the use of liquid crystals in possible drug delivery systems and as detectors of potentially harmful microorganisms. This project focuses on determining the toxicity of seven different liquid crystals to bacteria. The toxicity of lyotropic and thermotropic liquid crystals towards E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and the endospore form of Bacillus atrophaeus will be quantitatively measured. |
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John Junkin |
| Marietta College, Ohio | |
| Summer Research Assistant, 2004. | |
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| John's research was supervised by professors Jakli, Lavrentovich,
and Li.
The research I am doing this summer is based on banana shaped liquid crystals. What are banana shaped liquid crystals? “Bananas” are a break from the norm of liquid crystals that are usually long straight chains, or the large and symmetrical in shape. I am working directly under Dr. Quan Li and my job is to synthesis these bananas. This however is a difficult and long task. The process consists of 8 steps, and each step also includes purification. Each single step has taken at least a week if not longer to achieve the desired results. I have currently completed step 4 and I will soon move on to step 5 of this process. |
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Stephen Nixon |
| California State University, Sacramento | |
| Summer Research Assistant, 2004, in Dr. West's group. | |
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| Steve is working on new methods of building photonic crystals. Photonic crystals are periodically structured electromagnetic material that posses a photonic band gap, or ranges of frequencies in which light cannot propagate through the structure. In other words, photonic crystals act like an optical insulator, giving rise to their use in applications from telecommunications to beam steering. |
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Aaron Rape |
| Allegheny College, Pennsylvania | |
| Summer Research Assistant, 2004. | |
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| Aaron's research was supervised by professors Gleeson and Jakli.
Aaron is working on two projects. One is to examine several different LCDs with a high speed camera. With the videos taken from the camera, we should be able to learn more information about the nature of LCDs. A second project that Aaron is working on involves using high speed camera to study a candle's properties in free fall. (zero gravity) This idea came from the space center in Cleveland. |