CIAN Integrated Optics for Undergraduate Native Americans (IOU-NA)PI: Allison Huff, PhDCo-PI: Robert Norwood, PhD Coordinators: Trin Riojas and Emily LynchSponsors: The University of Arizona; National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center for Integrated Access Networks (ERC CIAN), Grant #EEC-1359163 and #EEC-1659510 per NSF Engineering Research Center #EEC-0812072

CIAN Integrated Optics for Undergraduate Native Americans (IOU-NA)JACALI BAEZASpectrophotometry: Optical Characterization of Willow glass for Solar Power System ApplicationsEastern New Mexico University, Undecided-STEMMentor: Dr. Robert Norwood, Optical Sciences

AbstractThe main purpose of this work is to measure the transmittance (the amount of light that passes through) and reflectance (the amount of light that is reflected) of Willow glass dichroic mirrors as a function of wavelength, and to use the data collected to identify overall uniformity. We are very interested in checking how uniform the Willow glass is, because the material may be used in design of a new hybrid solar collector in the near future. The material needs to be as uniform as possible, and by measuring the transmittance and reflectance of light at different points on the glass, we were able to understand exactly how uniform the Willow glass dichroic mirror is, (on a molecular level), and then decide how it can be used with the solar project.

JEREMY BEGAYUsing Data to find Where Aquaponics will be Suitable between Two StatesEastern New Mexico University, EngineeringMentor: Dr. Pieter Hazenberg, Hydrology and Atmospheric Science

AbstractThe topic I have been researching is to study the rainfall in two towns in Tombstone, Arizona and Mescalero, New Mexico. We want to explain the difference between the two towns of precipitation. I have been looking at data from the NOAA. The data that have been collected dates back to 1911 to 1978. Why collect data for precipitation? The precipitation is a sustainable want to harvest water. Water harvest is an efficient way to pump water into the aquaponics tank. The way to get rainwater is to collect water that comes off of housing roofs. The rainwater will be saved in a tank and the tank will be connected to an aquaponics system. Aquaponics is growing crops without using soil, which help save our natural resource. Aquaponics is used to save the fossil fuel that we use to plant crops. The crops that we grow need soil to grow. And to grow these crops we need chemicals which are made from oil by-product, which in turn uses fossil fuel. In this project, we won't have to use any pesticides. Also, the soil we use today contains make dead crops that is fossil fuel this project is not relying on the fossil fuels that are in the soil. The aquaponics a system of aquaculture in which the waste produced by fish or other aquatic animals supplies nutrients for plants to grow. The Aquaponics is a cycle that uses the fish waste that is pumped through pipes and make a stream that allows

the plants to get the nutrients that the fish leave behind. The plants also clean the water that will lead back to the fish tank. There is a problem with the tank is the evaporation rate is too fast, so the tank will be needing water. We selected Tombstone and Mescalero because the data tells me that the most precipitation occurs regularly in these locations. The state that gets the most water will be suitable for aquaponics but how do we know that aquaponics will benefit the two towns? Aquaponics uses less water than the traditional farming. How the history and evolution of aquaponics can positively affect a community? The southwest US is sensitive to periodic changes in climate. The major source of moisture for Arizona and New Mexico originates from the North American Monsoon. Recent research has shown that precipitation dynamics during the NAM has been changing.

LEO BIABuilding and Characterizing a Passive Mode-Locked Erbium Doped Fiber LaserUniversity of Arizona, Major: Civil Engineering and Applied Math Minor: Math/AstronomyMentor: Dr. Khanh Kieu, Optical Sciences

AbstractThe objective was to build a functioning passive mode-locked erbium doped fiber laser. A mode-locked laser(MLL)is a pulsed laser that emits a pulse train with the duration of a pico-second or even a femto-second range. I started by familiarizing myself to the terminology, instruments, and tools that I would be using to assemble and understand the MLL. First, I learned about how optical fibers function and the characteristics that give them their various functionalities. I then start reviewing the various instruments that I would have to incorporate into the fiber laser. After I learned about the components used to get a fiber laser in to the ML function. To start the process, I characterized a cavity for a continuous-wave fiber laser (CWL) which I would then modify to allow for the ML state. After the MLL was functioning, I collected data on the power output, number of modes, and frequency of pulses.

CRAIG DRAPERHolographic Waveguide Head-Up Display for 2-D Pupil Expansion and Longitudinal Image MagnificationUniversity of Arizona, Major: Optical Engineering, Minor: Math/Mechanical EngineeringMentor: Dr. Pierre Blanche, Optical Sciences

AbstractTraditional aircraft use head-up displays (HUD) to overlay an image for pilots to view information with continued focus on the far field. The field of view (FOV) is limited by the size of the projection optics. Though the systems are big and bulky, they have become a necessity in

avionic transportation. Our research aims to reduce the size of the footprint while offering a wide FOV projected in the far field with an increased eye box in which the pilot wishes to view the image. This has been accomplished by coupling image bearing light into a waveguide under total internal reflection (TIR) conditions, redirecting that light, and then out-coupling using holographic optical elements (HOEs). The insertion hologram has optical power to obtain longitudinal magnification whereas the redirection and extraction holograms expand the pupil in 2 dimensions. Varying diffraction efficiency insured even image intensity throughout the eye box. The optical simulation software Optic Studio Zemax has been used to determine the viability of such a design and a demonstrator was created. The demonstrator can produce an image with a FOV of 2 x 12.6 at a viewing distance 4 4̊ ̊of 4.5 in (114 mm), with infinite longitudinal magnification and 1.88x by 1.61x horizontal and vertical pupil expansion respectively.

DIVINE KICKINGBIRDInvestigating Impacts of Media and Extract Solvent on Antifungal Production by Plant Associated Bacteria in Tucson, AZGonzaga University, Biological SciencesMentor: Dr. Betsy Arnold, Plant Sciences

AbstractFungal infections are increasingly more common in a clinical setting, especially in patients who are on immunosuppressive medication or who have undergone aggressive surgeries such as organ transplant, grafts, or prosthesis. Treatment options for fungal infections often contain biologically active ingredients called antifungals, which are sometimes derived from microbial sources. Unfortunately, many pathogenic fungi are developing resistance to some of the most potent antifungals in the physician’s armamentarium. Because microbes are abundant in the environment and many produce bioactive molecules that can be harnessed for medical applications, I will be optimizing antifungal production by plant associated bacteria, known as endophytes that were collected from various locations in Tucson, Arizona. Since different nutrient sources can alter metabolic output of bacteria and these compounds can have very different chemical properties, I will be evaluating 1) which media promotes the greatest antifungal production and 2) what extraction solvents are the best for each antifungal metabolite. To assess antifungal activity of bacterial extracts I will be using the fungus Candida albicans, a known fungal pathogen of immunocompromised patients. C. albicans is an ideal screening organism because of the ease of creation of screening plates and its medical relevance. This research will inform future work by providing the ideal media conditions and extraction methods to produce antifungals for isolation and chemical characterization. The data generated from this experiment may be applicable to the medical field and may reveal methods to

pursue pharmacologically useful chemistry.

JOSHUA LEYBArduino Automation: Developing a Cost-Effective Automated Optical Alignment SystemColorado School of Mines, Major: Engineering PhysicsMinor: Computer ScienceMentor: Dr. Sasaan Showghi, Optical Scienes

AbstractI have developed a proof-of-concept automated optical alignment system with guidance from Professor Sasaan Showgi using inexpensive materials like an Arduino and Nema stepper motor. Comparatively the system is a significant drop in cost as most automated optical alignment systems are prohibitively expensive. The proof-of-concept is the first of many such systems that could be made for a much lower cost. The substantial decrease in cost would make this sort of system far more widely available, and by extension increase the amount of innovation in optical sciences. I was able to test and develop this proof-of-concept prototype using versatile and inexpensive components.

MICAH MANNHolographic Waveguide Head-Up Display for Pupil Expansion and Image MagnificationUniversity of Arizona, Major: Optical EngineeringMinor: Math/AstronomyMentor: Dr. Pierre Blanche, Optical Sciences

AbstractTraditional Head-Up Display (HUD) in aircraft requires a large footprint to project an image with a large field of view (FOV) and large eye box. HUDs are different from other display systems in the sense that, in the case of a traditional HUD, the image is projected onto a combiner and focused at infinity. The combiner allows the pilot to view outside of the aircraft together with the projected information. And because of the infinite focusing, the pilot does not need to change his focus when looking at the display. By using Holographic Optical Elements (HOEs) and waveguide optics, it is possible to significantly decrease the amount of occupied space compared to a classical HUD architecture, while keeping a large FOV and eye box. This new type of HUD uses three edge-lit holograms to inject the image inside the waveguide, extend the pupil in two dimensions, and finally extract the image from the waveguide toward the pilot eyes. The specifications we are looking to achieve are to increase the field of view up to 30°x 30° and extend the eye box by a factor of 2 in both dimensions. As a result, the image is projected onto a much larger eye box, while the form factor of the entire HUD is kept compact.

LEON TOLEDOChalcogenide Hybrid Inorganic/Organic Polymers (CHIPs): Next Generation Plastics for the Optical DevicesSouthwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Major: Engineering Minor: DraftingMentor: Jeff Pyun

AbstractChalcogenide Hybrid Inorganic/Organic Polymers (CHIPs) are a developing class of polymers that can be used as materials for optical devices for use in the mid-Infrared region. A high refractive index polymer poly (sulfur-random -1,3 -diisopropenylbenzene) (poly(S-r-DIB)) was synthesized through the inverse vulcanization process. Poly(S-r-DIB) possesses an ultrahigh refractive index due to the significant amount of incorporated sulfur. Due to its high refractive index, poly(S-r-DIB) was used to fabricate a Distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) which, by alternating layers of high and low refractive index polymers, reflection can be achieved at a specific wavelength. The very high index of poly(S-r-DIB) results in the DBR achieving a reflectance of 55% with only 8 bilayers at ~2 μm. The ability to solution process these materials, in conjunction with their high refractive index and IR transparency, will enable improvements to various other optical devices just as they have for DBRs.

KEVIN WADMANNoise Characterization of Homodyne Detection in Continuous Variable Quantum Key DistributionPrinceton, Electrical EngineeringMentor: Dr. Saikat Guha, Optical Sciences

AbstractThis paper addresses several theoretical and experimental methodologies for characterizing the excess noise resulting from homodyne detection for a continuous variable quantum key distribution. It covers individual noise terms that are part of the refined realistic model (RRM). This includes an in-depth analysis of noise resulting from Local Oscillator imbalance, electronic noise, and noise resulting from overlapping pulse signals, as well as a brief discussion of additional terms. It moves on to further characterize total noise as a single term using the signal gains in the detector and theoretical output distributions to delineate between shot noise and excess noise contributions in the system, with the aim of comparing this total excess noise term to the sum of the individual terms from the RRM. Data analysis on these noise terms is still incomplete, but experimental results and measurements are presented.