REU Site Program: Condensed Matter and LASER Physics

1. REU Site Program: Condensed Matter and LASER Physics REU Program at Montana State University Condensed Matter and LASER Physics REU Program at Montana State UniversityJohn Neumeier and Yves Idzerda, Montana State University - Bozeman DMR 0552458 • For ten weeks in the summer of 2007, we hosted 8 REU participants (chosen from 56 applicants) and 2 RET participants (chosen from 6 applicants). • Demographics: REU participants - 8 total - 2 Male, 6 Female. • RET participants - 2 total - Both Female. • Activities: Laboratory Research - begins on the first day of the program. • Weekly Meeting - discussions of Careers in Physics, Scientific Misconduct, and Nobel prize winning Discoveries in Condensed Matter and Laser Physics. • End of Program Presentations - participants give a 20 minute seminar presenting their results. • Social Activities - picnics, hikes, stargazing trip to Yellowstone National Park, and a whitewater rafting trip. Condensed Matter and Solar Physics REU Participants on a hike in Bozeman. REU participants rafting on the Yellowstone River. Single crystal of SrNbO3.41 grown by Ann Deml (U. Wisconsin - River Falls).

2. REU Site Program: Condensed Matter and LASER Physics REU Program at Montana State UniversityJohn Neumeier and Yves Idzerda, Montana State University - Bozeman DMR 0552458 • Student Participants, Their Projects and Advisors • Joe Bari, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN (Advisor - Dr. Richard Smith) • Feasibility of Vanadium as a Stabilizer for the Aluminum-Iron Interface • Ann Deml, University of Wisconsin-River Falls (Advisors – Drs. Carlos dos Santos and John Neumeier) • Examining Quasi-One Dimensionality in SrNbO3.41 and LaTiO3.41 Compounds • Mary Keany, Maui Community College, Kahului, HI (Advisor - Dr. Recep Avci) • The Use of a Characterized AFM Tip to Break Through a Bacteria Cell Wall • Alanna Keith, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND (Advisor - Dr. Hugo Schmidt) • Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Research - Optimizing the Synthesis of Ba(Zr0.5Ce0.3Y0.2)03- for use in Anodes • Stephanie Keith, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND (Advisors – Drs. Aleks Rebane, Mikhail Drobijev, and Tom Hughes) • Two-Photon Absorption of tdTomato, a Fluorescent Protein • Brandon May, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY (Advisor – Dr. Alan Craig) • Mode-Locked Fiber Laser Design & Fabrication • Anna Tapio, College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, MN (Advisors - Drs. Pete Roos and Randy Babbitt) • Preparing a Nd:YAG Laser for inclusion into Remote Sensor for Methamphetamine Detection • Cherie Turner, University of Missouri, Rolla, MO (Advisor – Dr. Stephen Sofie) • Synthesis of Materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Bulk Anodes • Teacher Participants, Their Projects and Advisors • Suzie Flentie, Lewistown Junior High School, Lewistown, MT (Advisor – Dr. Yves Idzerda) • Optimizing the Ratio of Nitrogen to Hydrogen in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells and Educational Fuel-Cell Projects for the Classroom • Sarah Hall, Baker Prairie Middle School, Canby, OR (Advisor - Dr. Hugo Schmidt) • Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Research - Study of Synthesis Routes for Yttria-Based Anode Materials