Research Experience

SEPTEMBER 2018 - PRESENT

Conduct experimental plasma physics research focusing on space and astrophysical phenomena as part of the UCLA High Energy Density Physics Group (https://hedp.physics.ucla.edu/). Current research project is working to understand spontaneous magnetic field generation and transport via the Biermann Battery Effect. To do this, I am utilizing the high repetition rate Peening Laser to ablate laser produced plasmas and measuring the generated fields with a magnetic flux probe which is mounted to three dimensional motor drives. Our unique experimental set up allows us to study Biermann fields over large volumetric spaces, which have never been probed before, in relatively short time periods.

RESEARCH ASSISTANT
CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY - SAN LUIS OBISPO
PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

JANUARY 2016 - DECEMBER 2017

Conduct research in Hydrodynamic Quantum Analogs with Dr. Nilgun Sungar. Consider a millimetric silicone oil droplet deposited onto a vertically oscillating fluid bath. When the forcing acceleration is sufficient, the drop can be made to bounce indefinitely on the surface of the bath. Further increase in acceleration may destabilize the bouncing state, causing the drop to move horizontally across the bath due to interactions with waves generated from previous bounces. This combined system of droplet and associated wave is the first macroscopic realization of a pilot-wave system, exhibiting features once thought to be peculiar to quantum mechanics. We study these systems with the goal of understanding of the droplet dynamics and trapping mechanisms to provide insight to quantum mechanics and particle trapping. We also study Faraday-Talbot wave formation, which are stable standing wave patterns on the oil bath, which can be applied to droplet and particle trapping

RESEARCH INTERN
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
APPLIED MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

JUNE 2017 - AUGUST 2017

This research is conducted under Dr. John Bush in the MIT applied mathematics laboratory. Conduct research in hydrodynamic quantum analogs above the Faraday threshold. Consider a millimetric silicone oil droplet deposited onto a vertically oscillating fluid bath. When the forcing acceleration is sufficient, the drop can be made to bounce indefinitely on the surface of the bath. A further increase in acceleration may destabilize the bouncing state, causing the drop to move horizontally across the bath due to interactions with waves generated from previous bounces. This combined system of droplet and associated wave is the first macroscopic realization of a pilot-wave system, exhibiting features once thought to be peculiar to quantum mechanics. When the bath is oscillating with an acceleration above a critical value, the bath surface becomes unstable and non-linear standing wave patterns can form. The acceleration at which this surface instability occurs is known as the Faraday threshold. The study of these drop systems above the Faraday threshold can give in sights to particle trapping mechanisms and the dynamics of drop diffusion and its relation to classical and quantum diffusion.

RESEARCH INTERN
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
HIGH ENERGY DENSITY PHYSICS GROUP

JUNE 2016 -  AUGUST 2016

Participant in the physics Research Experience for Undergraduates program. Conducted plasma physics research under Dr. Christoph Niemann related to collision-less shock waves. Created a laser induced plasma which passed through electric and magnetic fields and was detected in a plane by a Faraday cup. The resulting Thompson parabola data can be used to determine the composition of the ions present in the plasma, providing key information for simulations of larger plasma experiments.

RESEARCH ASSISTANT
CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY - SAN LUIS OBISPO
PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

JUNE 2015 - SEPTEMBER 2015

Investigated properties of lung surfactant constituents used to treat ARDS under Dr. Johnathan Fernsler. Interfaced with LabView to control a homemade LEGO Brewster Angle Microscope. Verified that the microscope images resolved collapsed lipid structures. Research resulted in paper: "A LEGO Mindstorms Brewster Angle Microscope" published in American Journal of Physics.