Research Cafe: Tsung-Chi Wu & Mary Pat Reiter
Join the School of Graduate Studies as we engage in this interdisciplinary community of practice and dialogue about graduate students' innovative research in a friendly and low-stakes setting.
Event Description
Research Cafe: October 18, 2023
3:00 - 4:00pm
The Hatchery Innovation Studio, Alexander Library
169 College Ave., New Brunswick
Zoom option available.
~Snacks & coffee provided!~
Register to attend in person or on Zoom.
1.) "Lego-Building of Quantum Materials" by Tsung-Chi Wu
Abstract: Physicists and materials scientists are eagerly exploring an emerging field of quantum materials, which has the immense potential to transform technology and revolutionize our understanding of the world. Unlike ordinary materials, quantum materials possess extraordinary properties that defy explanations using conventional scientific theories. Instead, their behavior is governed by the principles of quantum physics, which delve into the fundamental workings of matter. Researchers have made groundbreaking advancements in electronics, energy generation, and quantum computing by gaining a profound understanding of their unique properties. In this talk, I will introduce two captivating types of quantum materials: superconductors and topological insulators. We will explore the fascinating phenomena in these materials and discuss how they contribute to expanding our knowledge of the world and potentially leading to new technologies that can benefit our everyday lives. Additionally, I will take you through creating quantum materials in our lab. Imagine building a Lego house where each brick fits perfectly; similarly, we can connect individual atoms with absolute precision. It is like assembling tiny building blocks on an atomic scale to form these extraordinary materials.
Speaker Bio: Tsung-Chi Wu is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. As an experimental physicist, Tsung-Chi is passionate about creating materials with new properties and functionalities. His research goal is to advance the frontiers of human knowledge and real-world applications with these novel materials. Apart from research, he is dedicated to promoting educational equity through teaching, mentoring, and service.
2.) "Triboelectricity and adhesive tape: studying static electricity using office supplies" by Mary Pat Reiter
Abstract: Triboelectrification, or contact charging, is a form of static electricity resulting from contacting and separating surfaces. The effects of triboelectricity are prevalent in everyday life, nature, and industry, from the occasional shock from removing a wool sweater to volcanic ash lightning to the demixing of pharmaceutical powders. To better understand the mechanisms that cause this notoriously unpredictable phenomenon, we look to a simpler example: peeling tape. Peeling adhesive tape can generate x-ray radiation making it a pivotal development in the study of triboelectrification. We report a new method for observing this phenomenon by using another commonplace item: copier toner. Photocopier toner particles charge positively or negatively when contacting metal, which is yet another everyday example of contact charging. We expose peeled adhesive tape and the substrate from which it was peeled to these charged powders to give us a printed history of the charge patterns present. We demonstrate that the choice of substrate material (e.g., Teflon, acrylic) will produce distinct, but complementary, patterns on the substrate and tape. We present other unique charging patterns found experimentally and support our conclusions with a computational model.
Speaker Bio: Mary Pat Reiter is a 5th year PhD candidate in the Biomedical Engineering department and a Rutgers undergraduate alumna. Her dissertation project focuses on peeling adhesive as a method of investigating static electricity. For her work on this project, she was most notably awarded the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers’ Elmer E. Klaus fellowship (2020) and first place presentation at the Electrostatics Society of America’s Annual Meeting (2023). She enjoys teaching, mentoring undergraduate researchers, and participating in STEM outreach programs and is a former treasurer of the Graduate Student Association and an active member of Rutgers GRADient, the LGBTQIAA+ Graduate Student Organization. She was recently recognized with the Rutgers Dr. Judy B. Plummer S.T.E.A.M. Women’s Empowerment award for her involvement in these areas. Her hobbies outside of academia include learning Galician (a language from Galicia in Northwest Spain), singing, drawing, playing video games, and making useful (and useless) spreadsheets.
About Research Cafe
Research Café brings together the entire graduate student community of Rutgers University-New Brunswick/Piscataway campus to strengthen scholarly literacy and interdisciplinary research communication by providing a platform for budding researchers to connect, share their in-progress research or scholarship, and benefit from peer feedback in a friendly and low-stakes setting.
Research Café is a monthly, one-hour event to occur at rotating locations across the Rutgers New Brunswick/Piscataway campus (a Zoom option will be available, too). Each event will feature:
- Presentations (10-12 min. each) from two graduate students from across disciplinary areas ranging from engineering and biology to history and anthropology.
- A Q&A dialogue with peers and attendees.
- Conversational time over refreshments and snacks.
Sign up to attend in person or on Zoom at https://grad.rutgers.edu/research-cafe.
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Questions? Contact the program coordinators:
Sonal Gahlawat at sg1389@scarletmail.rutgers.edu, Briana Bivens at bb770@grad.rutgers.edu, and Ramazan Güngör at rg835@grad.rutgers.edu.