Research Experience for Teachers (RET)
Proposed Research Topics 2008
Design and Synthesis of Liquid Crystals (Walba - Chemistry)
This project involves organic synthesis of homologues of W370, a liquid crystal material originally
designed for Nonlinear Optics applications, and basic experience in polarized light microscopy and
making video and photo micrographs.
The teacher will carry out one-step synthesis of new liquid
crystalline materials designed to exhibit the chiral de Vries smectic A and C phases, using pieces
available in the group. Once a new mesogen is obtained, the teacher will observe the phase transitions
by polarized light microscopy, and take photos and videos of the transitions, and any electrooptic behavior.
The teacher will then observe further characterization of the new material by X-ray scattering and
electrooptics, in collaboration with the physics group. This research is aimed at developing materials for
beam-steering devices and modulators with potential commercial applicability.
For more details, download this document.
Self-Organization of Bouncing Oil Drops (Maclennan - Physics) Small oil drops can be made to bounce indefinitely on the surface of a vertically
vibrating bath of the same oil. This system is rich in unexplored physics. For example, multiple
bouncing drops exhibit self-organization behavior in two dimensions, forming beautiful triangular
and square lattices with a lattice spacing dependent on the driving frequency of the bath. We plan
to use video microscopy and image analysis to study the "melting" dynamics of large ordered clusters
of drops, and to explore in detail the role of standing waves generated by the drops in stabilizing
the lattices.
Theoretical Studies in Materials Physics (Radzihovsky - Physics)
In my group we are interested in a broad variety of (often exotic)
physical phenomena arising in interesting materials. These range
from liquid crystals and rubber to superfluids and
superconductors (see publications and other information
on my website.)
We mostly use analytical (theoretical) methods to study these
systems, often focussing on simplified models that nevertheless
capture the essence of real systems.
Although there is a considerable flexibility (depending on the
specific scientific preferences and strength of the participant),
one likely RET project will involve a study of liquid crystal
order in the presence of surface disorder, imposed for example by
the liquid crystal cell substrate. It would be quite helpful for
the participant to have some level of either college level
mathematics experience (trigonometry, calculus,...) and/or some
scientific programming experience. The RET participant will work
closely with a Ph.D. student in the group, under my general supervision.
The teacher will carry out one-step synthesis of new liquid
crystalline materials designed to exhibit the chiral de Vries smectic A and C phases, using pieces
available in the group. Once a new mesogen is obtained, the teacher will observe the phase transitions
by polarized light microscopy, and take photos and videos of the transitions, and any electrooptic behavior.
The teacher will then observe further characterization of the new material by X-ray scattering and
electrooptics, in collaboration with the physics group. This research is aimed at developing materials for
beam-steering devices and modulators with potential commercial applicability.
For more details, 
vibrating bath of the same oil. This system is rich in unexplored physics. For example, multiple
bouncing drops exhibit self-organization behavior in two dimensions, forming beautiful triangular
and square lattices with a lattice spacing dependent on the driving frequency of the bath. We plan
to use video microscopy and image analysis to study the "melting" dynamics of large ordered clusters
of drops, and to explore in detail the role of standing waves generated by the drops in stabilizing
the lattices. 
flexibility (depending on the
specific scientific preferences and strength of the participant),
one likely RET project will involve a study of liquid crystal
order in the presence of surface disorder, imposed for example by
the liquid crystal cell substrate. It would be quite helpful for
the participant to have some level of either college level
mathematics experience (trigonometry, calculus,...) and/or some
scientific programming experience. The RET participant will work
closely with a Ph.D. student in the group, under my general supervision.