Achievements

C.D. Hoyle, Holly Leopardi

Physics & Astronomy

Together with NASA collaborator Dr. Holly Leopardi, Dr. C.D. Hoyle (Physics and Astronomy) received a grant from NASA’s MOSAICS program, whose purpose is to increase research opportunities for undergraduates. Students, trained in Dr. Hoyle’s lab, will spend summer internships in Dr. Leopardi’s QuEST laboratory at Goddard Space Flight Center. This work will focus on developing space-based systems using cold-atom interferometry and atomic clocks to improve the mapping of Earth’s water and ice movement, perform fundamental physics measurements, and improve navigation systems of future spacecraft. Dr. Leopardi is a CPH graduate, recognized as an Outstanding Student of the Year in 2014.

C.D. Hoyle

Physics & Astronomy

Dr. C.D. Hoyle, in conjunction with the APS Executive Committee, organized and hosted the 2024 American Physical Society Far West Section Meeting that was held at Cal Poly Humboldt on October 25-26th. Attendees from all over the western USA presented over 100 research works in physics, astronomy, and physical/mathematical sciences through oral and poster sessions, including many CPH students and researchers. Invited speakers included scientists from national laboratories, private industry, and large research universities. Corey Gray of LIGO, who graduated with CPH Physics and Applied Mathematics degrees in 1997, gave an engaging after-dinner lecture to over 120 meeting attendees.  

C.D. Hoyle

Physics & Astronomy

Together with NASA collaborator Dr. Holly Leopardi, Dr. C.D. Hoyle (Physics and Astronomy) received a grant from NASA’s MOSAICS program, whose purpose is to increase research opportunities for MSI undergraduates. Students, trained in Dr. Hoyle’s lab, will spend summer internships in Dr. Leopardi’s QuEST laboratory at Goddard Space Flight Center. This work will focus on developing space-based systems using cold-atom interferometry and atomic clocks to improve the mapping of Earth’s water and ice movement, perform fundamental physics measurements, and improve navigation systems of future spacecraft. Dr. Leopardi is a Cal Poly Humboldt graduate, recognized as an Outstanding Student in 2014.

Alexandra Papesh, Taylor Juchau, Kelsey Sako

Physics & Astronomy

Physics & Astronomy majors Alexandra Papesh, Taylor Juchau, and Kelsey Sako presented Cal Poly Humboldt gravitational physics research at the national 2024 April Meeting of the American Physical Society in Sacramento. In addition, Papesh was recognized with a prize for an outstanding poster presentation!

Congratulations to all!

Alyssa Johnson, Claire Rogers, Noah Dunkley, Michael Gengo, C.D. Hoyle

Physics & Astronomy

Physics & Astronomy alumni (Alyssa Johnson ('21), Claire Rogers ('23), Noah Dunkley ('18), and Michael Gengo ('22)) and faculty member C.D. Hoyle recently published a peer-reviewed paper describing a technical advancement for the stabilization of the apparatus used for precision gravitational physics measurements at Cal Poly Humboldt. The article, titled "Optimization of an Active Leveling Scheme for a Short-Range Gravity Experiment," was published in the Journal of Undergraduate Reports in Physics and may be found here: 

https://pubs.aip.org/aip/jurp/article/33/1/100002/2929427/Optimization-…

Kevin Geumhan

Physics & Astronomy

Kevin Geumhan (‘24) coauthored a paper that was recently accepted for publication in Physical Review E. Kevin’s work was carried out in collaboration with researchers from UC Merced and is titled “Maximally Mixing Active Nematics.” Kevin also recently presented this work at the 76th Annual American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics Meeting in Washington, D.C.

C.D. Hoyle

Physics & Astronomy

The LAG (Liquid-Actuated Gravity) Collaboration that includes Dr. C.D. Hoyle recently published work in the journal Review of Scientific Instruments titled "Measurement of gravitational and thermal effects in a liquid-actuated torsion pendulum." The work discusses measurements taken to test and characterize a novel system for making precision tests of gravity at short distance scales. In addition to Cal Poly Humboldt contributions, the collaboration includes researchers from the University of Naples and University of Rome Tor Vergata, as well as the Italian INFN (Instituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare). 

The article can be found here:  https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0162604

Prof. C.D. Hoyle

Physics & Astronomy

Dr. C.D. Hoyle is a co-author of a new publication that discusses the results of a 15-year campaign to map the moon’s orbit at the millimeter level. Such measurements can be used to test the validity of General Relativity and test theories that predict new physics. https://doi.org/10.1088/1538-3873/aceb2f

Abby Keltz, Alexandra Papesh

Physics & Astronomy

Physics & Astronomy majors Abby Keltz and Alexandra Papesh presented research at the 2023 April Meeting of the American Physical Society (APS), held in Minneapolis, MN from April 15th - 18th. Keltz presented the talk "Testing Gravitational Interactions Below 50 Microns," while Papesh presented a poster describing a collaborative project with Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis (IUPUI) entitled "Improved Measurement of the Newtonian Gravitational Constant G." Keltz was recognized as one of the "Outstanding Undergraduate Presenters" by the conference organizers. Both projects are supported by the National Science Foundation.

Alexandra Papesh and Tanner Hooven

Physics & Astronomy

Congratulations to Physics & Astronomy majors Alexandra Papesh and Tanner Hooven who presented Cal Poly Humboldt gravitational physics research at the 2022 Far West Section Meeting of the American Physical Society. This year around 100 researchers were welcomed by the University of Hawai'i, Manoa in Honolulu to share knowledge, network, and learn about recent groundbreaking results. Great work!!