(a)

1. RUI: Evolution of Unconventional Superconductivity and Non-Fermi-Liquid Like Behavior in Pr1-xNdxOs4Sb12Pei-Chun Ho, California State University-Fresno Foundation, DMR 1104544 Whether the origin of superconductivity (SC) in PrOs4Sb12 is through the traditional electron-phonon mechanism is still unknown. Nd-substitution study has been carried out in this system to investigate the effect of ferromagnetism (FM) on SC. Results of longitudinal-field-muon-relaxation measurements indicate that weak FM coexists with SC and there is an abnormal suppression of the Nd3+ crystalline-electric-field ground state moment. The cause of this suppression is not clear since Kondo screening typically occurs in Ce ‑, Yb – and occasionally Pr – based intermetallic compounds. In order to inspect the critical behavior within the Pr1-xNdxOs4Sb12 system further, we perform the power-law analysis on the normal state electrical resistivity data as a function of temperature T and magnetic field H, for various x. The non-Fermi-liquid-like behavior has been found for 0.4 < x < 0.7. Figure Power-law exponent n as a function of temperature T and the Nd concentration x for Pr1‑xNdxOs4Sb12 at the minimum magnetic field Hmin to drive the superconducting state normal (for x 0.6, H = 0 tesla). The dashed line marks the SC transition temperature Tc, the solid line FM transition temperature TFM. The values of H are list in the table. n in the grey area is greater than 2.00 and can reach as high as 3.10.

2. RUI: Physics Outreach in a Service-Learning Course and Hands-On Demonstration ProgramPei-Chun Ho, California State University-Fresno Foundation, DMR 1104544 Four undergraduate and one master’s program students have been participating in research in the PI’s group. The PI developed the first STEM service learning (SL) course at Fresno State University: PHYS 168S Physics Outreach. This course engages SL students from Fresno State in presenting fun demonstration and easily understandable physics concepts to the general public and the K-12 students as well as providing preprofessional training in preparing our students for careers in science education. She also developed the “Hands-On Fun with the Physics” program that allows children and their parents try physics demos for themselves to “feel” the phenomena. The demonstration kits were created by the common household materials so that after the activities, the kids and parents can create these simple and fun physics demonstrations at home. (a) (b) Figures (a) and (b) The undergraduate students from the PI’s research group assisted kids and parents performing demonstration kits in the “Hands-On Fun with Physics” program.