By Taylor Grueser
B.S. HTC Astrophysics, Class of 2015
My research in Dr. Martin Kordesch’s lab was on metal induced crystallization of amorphous silicon, specifically using Digital Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) to look at the crystallization temperature of aluminum-silicon samples.
When I started, I didn’t know anything about this subject and lacked a lot of background knowledge. I had to read a lot in the beginning before I could start really working on the project. Reading a couple textbooks and dozens of papers was a necessary challenge.
As I learned from Dr. Kordesch, there is only one measurement of the pure silicon transition in the published literature, because it is so difficult to get samples of sufficient size. The calorimetry is being done with Dr. Gang Chen’s group. We are also collaborating with Dr. David Drabold, an expert in amorphous silicon physics, and his graduate student, Anup Pandey, to understand the transition on the basis of a computer simulation. Some of the ideas for this work were developed with Dr. Ricardo Zanatta, of the University of Sao Paulo at San Carlos, in Brazil, who is an expert in MIC in silicon and germanium.
I learned a lot this summer, but I especially enjoyed learning how to use the sputtering system. I also benefitted from learning several experimental techniques, by having the opportunity to participate in a theoretical calculation, and interact with an international expert in this field.
My summer wasn’t all research focused, though. In my spare time, I read and played piano…. I don’t really have time during the school year to do those things, so that was nice. I also became mildly addicted to the game Monster Island.
Taylor Grueser – Intern with Dr. Martin Kordesch – senior at Ohio University – Honors Tutorial College – astrophysics major
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