Index Catalog // ScholarsArchive@OSU

Creator:: Solorio, Christian D.
Abstract:: Quantum mechanics is increasingly being taught with a spins-first approach where instructors use simple spin systems to introduce the principles of quantum mechanics rather than systems with wavefunctions. One of the defining characteristics of a spins-first approach is that systems studied have discrete bases, whereas systems with wavefunctions have continuous...
Resource Type:: Dissertation

Creator:: Alfson, Jonathan W.
Abstract:: Physicists solve problems and communicate their work using many external representations, such as equations, words, diagrams, graphs, sketches, pictures, and more. To learn physics, then, students must learn to use external representations. In this dissertation, I present three manuscripts. Each manuscript discusses how upper-division Paradigms in Physics students use multiple...
Resource Type:: Dissertation

Creator:: Vignal, Michael
Abstract:: Thermodynamic potentials are energies that can describe a thermodynamic system in terms of different mathematically independent variables. Some of these potentials describe particular thermodynamic systems or processes in particularly convenient ways. In this dissertation, I discuss the different ways that students and experts reason about quantities in thermodynamics within the...
Resource Type:: Dissertation

Creator:: Hahn, Kelby T.
Abstract:: Physicists seek to understand the world and often use mathematics to aid in attaining that goal. Thus when doing mathematics they often interrogate their results in order to ensure that they align with their expectations and to gain new insight into how the world works. This seeking of coherence between...
Resource Type:: Masters Thesis

Creator:: Karakok, Gulden
Abstract:: The purpose of this study was to investigate third year college students' transfer of learning of the concepts of eigenvalues and eigenvectors from the winter term physics courses to the interviews in which they participated before, during, and after these courses. Transfer of learning of each student was explored by...
Resource Type:: Dissertation

Creator:: Wangberg, Robyn
Abstract:: In this dissertation we study the electromagnetic properties of planar waveguides with non-magnetic strongly anisotropic dielectric cores. We develop an analytical description of the mode propagation in these systems and show that the index of refraction can be either positive or negative depending on the specific material parameters. Propagating modes...
Resource Type:: Dissertation

Creator:: Danielson, Jeremy R.
Abstract:: This work comprises two main parts: creating and shaping narrowband, pulsed THz radiation in a table-top optical setup; and applying THz pulses to semiconductor nanostructures to study electron dynamics. I developed a scheme to shape the THz output of a fanned-out periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal. The pulses are...
Resource Type:: Dissertation

Creator:: Ha, Jung-Mi
Abstract:: The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has measured the condition and progress of education since 1969 to provide information on performance of American students in core subjects to policymakers, educators, and the public. Yet, there has been a perception that theses federal resources are under utilized. An analysis of...
Resource Type:: Dissertation

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