Physics Department Initiatives

1. Physics Department Initiatives • Satellite remote sensing • Quantum imaging and computing • Applied nano-science • Astrophysics • State-of-the art undergraduate research** Physics Dept (http://physics.umbc.edu) 18 tenure-track faculty, 12 research faculty, 11 adjunct faculty 60 Undergraduate majors 45 Graduate students External funding - $8 million/yr 2 PhD programs (Applied Physics and Atmospheric Physics) Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology (JCET) (50 research faculty) Joint Center for Astrophysics (JCA) (17 research faculty) Center for Advanced Studies in Photonics Research (CASPR) (15 research faculty)

2. Satellite Remote Sensing Initiative Issue: UMBC is on the verge of proposing on three major satellite missions. Faculty doing so are affiliate faculty at UMBC. UMBC faculty are investigating hosting major satellite analysis facilities. Relevance: Strong links to two of the cluster areas Molecular Aspects of Life Science and Health Environment and Remote Sensing Computational, Visualization and Imaging

3. The missions Polar Winds PI: Lars Peter Riishojgaard GEST CLAIM-3D PI: Vanderlei Martins JCET/Physics NPOESS Preparatory Mission PEATE? PI: Larrabee Strow COLDLANDS Science Team lead Richard Kelly GEST Each is > $250M

4. UMBC Response Desired • Philosophical support for leading such efforts • Salary support for PI’s and some proposal development support. $60k in matching funds from DRIF or Foundation. • Permanency (i.e. > 10 years): support as a faculty member – “Distinguished Research Professor” • Science team ownership, graduate student involvement, UMBC faculty participation, UMBC-based data center • Longer term: faculty endowed chairs to work on satellite remote sensing. Goal: 1 chair in next five years

5. Quantum Imaging/Computing Initiative The primary objective Establish a campus-wide multidisciplinary research program in Quantum Imaging and Computing Physics, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, and Medical Science. The current Quantum Imaging program in physics started 10 years ago, right after the experimental demonstration of the “ghost” image at UMBC. Faculty members work on the subject are: M.H. Rubin (theory); Y.H. Shih (experiment). Their quantum optics laboratory has been recognized nationally and internationally as one of the leading groups in quantum optics. Faculty members from CASPR and from Electrical Engineering have recently been involved in the program. Quantum Imaging is a nontraditional imaging technology using non-classical properties of light. Quantum Imaging is a hot research topic. Potential applications: Non-local imaging High resolution microelectronic fabrication Lens-less medical imaging Probing the foundations of quantum theory. ARO-ONR is currently supporting quantum imaging research. The program started in 2005 at 1.2 million/year. Quantum imaging was first demonstrated at UMBC in 1995. • Recommendations • Organizing campus-wideseminar on Quantum Imaging and related topics for faculty members in multidisciplinary fields to exchange ideas on the subject and to define a team; • Establish or enhance two or more multidisciplinary laboratories in Quantum Imaging, emphasizing applications in space, in microelectronic fabrication and in biomedical imaging, directed by an endowed chair; • Develop a graduate program on Quantum Imaging, including graduate courses in multidisciplinary fields.

6. Originated at UMBC ! A “Ghost” camera in space (non-local) Multi-photon quantum lithography(spatial resolution beyond classical limit) Yanhua Shih, experiment Mort Rubin, theory Ghost imaging

7. The characteristic features of materials and devices shrink toward the nanometer range in many enabling technologies. The Physics Department responds to this trend with an initiative to develop a research and education program in applied nano-physics. The initiative builds on more than a decade of research at UMBC: Theodosia Gougousi, coatings Michael Hayden, molecular devices Anthony Johnson, nonlinear optical properties Robert Reno, electron microscopy and texture Philip Rous, modeling of nanostructures Laszlo Takacs, nanocomposites by ball milling Terrance Worchesky, electro-optic devices nm 7.5s 15s 22.5s 30s 45s Applied Nano-science Simulation of the failure of an Al nanowire From Tim Bole's ongoing Ph.D. research

8. Instrumentation Existing characterization methods Scanning electron microscopy X-ray diffraction Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy Atomic force microscopy Ultra-fast optical characterization Computer facilities for modeling Necessary additions Transmission electron microscopy Scanning probe microscopy Preparation facilities Clean room Vacuum deposition Chemical deposition Mechanical alloying A. M. Johnson, Optical Response of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes

9. R&D in high technology calls for professionals trained to apply nano-scale physics to practical problems. We propose a unique new M.S. program that prepares students for immediate employment in industry and also serves employees already in the high-tech industry. Existing courses: PHYS 418 Semiconductor Optical Devices PHYS 428 Integrated Optics & Holography PHYS 603 Introduction to Materials PHYS 604 Solid-State Physics PHYS 614 Introduction to Surface Physics PHYS 640 Computational Physics PHYS 672 Techniques in Materials Research PHYS 704 Solid-State Physics New courses: PHYS 6XX New Frontiers in Nanotechnology PHYS 6XX Advanced Nanophysics Lab Proposed M.S. Program in Applied Nanophysics SEM image of a Fe-MgO nanocomposite From the M.S. Thesis of Chris Brumage, 2004

10. Establish an analytic transmission electron microscopy (TEM) facility, directed by an endowed chair in applied nanophysics. Recruit a research professor in materials characterization or modeling. Hire a dedicated technician (with at least a B.S. degree) for proper maintenance of the equipment. Develop two new courses, one of them a dedicated laboratory course, to support the new Applied Nanophysics M.S. program. Provide matching funds and waive or reduce indirect costs when necessary to compete for research support from external sources. Recommendations

11. Current Status of Astrophysics at UMBC Joint Center for Astrophysics (6yrs old) Co-operative agreement with Exploration of the Universe Division at NASA/GSFC Teaching (2 FTE Faculty) Ian George Mark Henriksen Jane Turner 4 Undergraduate courses 4 Graduate students; 1 APPH Graduate (& 2 Graduate courses proposed) [+2 under design] ~20 Summer Interns in 6 yrs Telescope: student training & public Open Houses Research (~10 PhD Astrophysicists) World-class researchers (150+ papers published, 7 satellites used, 5 Ground-based facilities) Research Income: $1.5M/yr (~1 FTE contribution to teaching at UMBC) Focus on High-energy Astrophysics Most working at NASA/GSFC in Astroparticle Physics Lab Programmatic work for GLAST satellite (2007 lauunch) [Image credit: HST: NASA /STScI]

12. Interdisciplinary Opportunity for UMBC Physics Biology Chemistry Expanded Undergraduate Programs Graduate Programs AstroBiology AstroChemistry AstroPhysics Joint Center for Space Sciences Teaching Internships PhD Research High-Quality Graduates World-class Researchers (in topical subjects)

13. Molecular Aspects of Life Science and Health Environment and Remote Sensing Computational, Visualization and Imaging Joint Center for Space Sciences Examples of synergy with Research Thrusts AstroBiology, AstroChemistry & AstroPhysics of precursors of life Planetary Sciences Renewed NASA thrust for Solar system exploration Search for life elsewhere Search for Earth-like planets AstroComputing Astro-Data-mining/warehousing Theoretical Simulations International Virtual Observatory Alliance [Image credits: NASA]

14. Seizing the Opportunity Joint Center for Space Sciences Develop Interdisciplinary Center Deepen collaboration with NASA/GSFC Primary Target areas: Investment: Aggressive approach to cornering local market New lines in AstroPhysics New Lines in AstroBiology & AstroChemistry Education: Develop related Undergraduate & Graduate courses Exploration of the Universe Division: Astroparticle Physics Astrobiology/Astrochemistry X-ray Astrophysics ExoPlanets & Stellar Atmospheres Solar System Exploration Division Astrochemistry Planetary Systems Laser Remote Sensing Computational and Info Sciences & Tech High-performance Computing Info Sci & Tech Research External Funding Sources:

15. Unique Undergraduate Research Opportunities • Summer internship program (http://physics.umbc.edu/Undergraduate/interns.htm) • Undergraduate research: • Terahertz science (NSF REU) • Nonlinear optics • Remote sensing • Lidar • Atmospheric modeling • Astrophysics • Nanoscience • Quantum optics (NSF REU) Student Presentation Abler, Andrea Condensed Matter & Materials Dorrill, Ryan Testing the Behavior of Nonlinear Optical Polymers Francis, Shawnta Atmospheric Physics Handling the AERONET Data Hand, Lauren Atmospheric Physics Assessment of Precipitation Variability and Possible Linkages to Urban Land-Use Change Hughes, Eric Atmospheric Physics Construction and use of LED-based Sun Photometers Koempel, John Astrophysics Studies of Gamma-ray Bursts and Active Galactic Nuclei Lanyi, Clifford Atmospheric Physics Determining Size Distributions of Cloud Particles from Polarized Rainbows Mehta, Kushal Astrophysics The X-ray Emission from the HH212 Region Raley, Caroline Astrophysics Active Galactis Nuclei: OIII Emission vs X-ray Emission Salemi, Anthony Atmospheric Physics Atmospheric Remote Sensing Laboratory (ARSL) Schou, Paul Atmospheric Physics TRMM Observations of Rainfall in Kwajalen Atoll Svoysky, Roman Atmospheric Physics A Better ELF

16. Visualization Thermal failure of Al interconnect nano-wire Molecular dynamics of electric field poling of nonlinear optical dopants in a polymer matrix Iron line Doppler shifts in an accretion disk