Publications > High School Reports > 2005
During the summer of 2005, 15 students from Rochester-area high schools participated in the Laboratory for Laser Energetics’ Summer High School Research Program. The goal of this program is to excite a group of high school students about careers in the areas of science and technology by exposing them to research in a state-ofthe- art environment. Too often, students are exposed to “research” only through classroom laboratories, which have prescribed procedures and predictable results. In LLE’s summer program, the students experience many of the trials, tribulations, and rewards of scientific research. By participating in research in a real environment, the students often become more excited about careers in science and technology. In addition, LLE gains from the contributions of the many highly talented students who are attracted to the program.
The students spent most of their time working on their individual research projects with members of LLE’s scientific staff. The projects were related to current research activities at LLE and covered a broad range of areas of interest including computational hydrodynamics modeling, cryogenic target fabrication and characterization, liquid crystal chemistry, materials science, the development and control of laser fusion diagnostics, and OMEGA EP Laser System design and engineering. The students, their high schools, their LLE supervisors, and their project titles are listed in the table. Their written reports are collected in this volume.
The students attended weekly seminars on technical topics associated with LLE’s research. Topics this year included laser physics, fusion, holographic optics, fiber optics, and femtosecond lasers and their applications. The students also received safety training, learned how to give scientific presentations, and were introduced to LLE’s resources, especially the computational facilities.
The program culminated on 24 August with the “High School Student Summer Research Symposium,” at which the students presented the results of their research to an audience including parents, teachers, and LLE staff. Each student spoke for approximately ten minutes and answered questions. At the symposium the William D. Ryan Inspirational Teacher award was presented to Mr. Stephen Locke, a chemistry teacher at Byron-Bergen High School. This annual award honors a teacher, nominated by alumni of the LLE program, who has inspired outstanding students in the areas of science, mathematics, and technology. Mr. Locke had the rare distinction of receiving his nomination from a whole family—Christine Balonek (2002) and her brothers Gregory, Robert, and Daniel (2004).
A total of 191 high school students have participated in the program since it began in 1989. The students this year were selected from approximately 50 applicants. Each applicant submitted an essay describing their interests in science and technology, a copy of their transcript, and a letter of recommendation from a science or math teacher. In the past, several participants of this program have gone on to become semifinalists and finalists in the prestigious, nationwide Intel Science Talent Search. This tradition of success continued this year with the selection of two students (Frank Fan and Lauren Weiss) as among the 300 semifinalists nationwide in this competition. LLE plans to continue this program in future years. The program is strictly for students from Rochester-area high schools who have just completed their junior year. Applications are generally mailed out in early February with an application deadline near the end of March. Applications can also be obtained from the LLE website. For more information about the program, please contact Dr. R. Stephen Craxton at LLE.
This program was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Inertial Confinement Fusion under Cooperative Agreement No. DE-FC52-92SF19460.
Comprehensive Report (includes all student papers ) 9.1 MB PDF
High School Students and Projects (Summer 2005) |
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Name |
High School |
Supervisor |
Project Title |
File Size (pdf) |
Mary Brummond |
Honeoye Falls-Lima |
M. Guardalben |
Correcting Pulse-Front Errors in the OMEGA EP Pulse Compressor |
224 KB |
Philip Chang |
Pittsford Sutherland |
K. L. Marshall |
96 KB |
|
Brandon Corbett |
Allendale Columbia |
T.J.B. Collins/ P. B. Radha |
Maximization of Inertial Confinement Fusion Yields Through Laser Pulse Optimization |
1 MB |
Adam DeJager |
Greece Odyssey |
S. F. B. Morse/ R. Kidder |
320 KB |
|
Frank Fan |
Webster Schroeder |
R. S. Craxton |
352 KB |
|
Alex Grammar |
Brighton |
R. Boni/ P. A. Jannimagi |
Relative Quantum Efficiency Measurements of the ROSS Streak Camera Photocathode |
720 KB |
Stewart Laird |
Harley School |
J. P. Knauer |
Characterization of a High–Energy X–Ray Compound Refractive Lens |
1.1 MB |
Brian MacPherson |
Penfield |
R. Epstein |
Dynamic Energy Grouping in Multigroup Radiation Transport Calculations |
208 KB |
Karyn Muir |
Honeoye Falls-Lima |
J. C. Lambropoulos |
512 KB |
|
Brian Pan |
Penfield |
W. Seka |
Improving the Illumination Uniformity of a Cryogenic Target with a Layering Sphere |
368 KB |
Nicholas Ramos |
Palmyra-Macedon |
S. Mott/D. J. Lonobile |
96 KB |
|
Valerie Rapson |
Greece Olympia |
K. L. Marshall |
160 KB |
|
Martin Wegman |
McQuaid |
W. R. Donaldson |
320 KB |
|
Lauren Weiss |
Brighton |
L. M. Elasky |
Categorization and Analysis of Defects in Cryogenic Laser Fusion Targets |
800 KB |
Rosie Wu |
Brighton |
D. H. Edgell |
Analysis of Inner Ice Surface Perturbations Using Bright Ring Characterization |
2 MB |
