With the help of a five-year $616,289 CAREER Grant from the National Science Foundation, Leung aims to create a聽聽that will work toward finding answers to those questions.

鈥淣eutrons participate in all four fundamental forces of nature 鈥� and perhaps in undiscovered forces too 鈥� making them an ideal system for expanding our knowledge in fields spanning nuclear physics, particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology,鈥� Leung says. 鈥淒espite being the most abundant subatomic particle on Earth, neutrons have remained elusive experimentally because of their lack of electric charge and limited lifetime outside the atom before decaying. However, these same properties make them an ideal testbed and probe for new science.鈥�

The focus of the funded research is a measurement of the electric dipole moment of the neutron. While neutrons are (as their name implies) electrically neutral, they are composed of component particles called quarks, which are themselves charged. An electric dipole moment is a measure of how those charges are separated within the neutron. The neutron鈥檚 electric dipole moment is extremely small and has never been measured. Determining its value could shed light on fundamental problems in physics, such as how matter formed during the Big Bang or the existence of new particles that might explain dark matter.

鈥淲e are thrilled that Prof. Leung brings a new and exciting research field to our department鈥攖hat of low-energy neutron physics鈥�, says Marc Favata, chairperson of the Physics & Astronomy Department. 鈥淚n addition to contributing to world-class research, this award will provide great hands-on experiences for our students鈥攊ntroducing them to state-of-the-art hardware and technology.鈥�

Professor Leung is leading the development and construction of measurement cells鈥攖oaster-sized containers that will hold ultracold neutrons. These cells are cooled to 0.4 Kelvin (-459 F or less than half a degree above absolute zero); the neutrons they contain will have temperatures around 2 milli-Kelvins. The measurement cells will be installed in a building-size experiment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. The goal of the experiment鈥攚hich involves 22 universities and research laboratories鈥攊s a factor 100 improvement upon prior attempts to constrain the neutron鈥檚 electric dipole. To put the expected precision in scale, if the neutron were as large as the Earth, the experiment would be sensitive to charges separated by less than the width of a single virus particle.

鈥淲e are like watch-makers,鈥� explains Leung, 鈥減oring over all the intricate parts of a complex experiment that we built鈥攍ooking for tiny deviations in how our watch ticks.鈥�

For more information on this experiment, visit or see about the project.

For more information on the Department of Physics and Astronomy at 精品成人福利在线 University, visit montclair.edu/physics-astronomy/.

His grant, titled 鈥淩UI: WoU-MMA: Multi-Messenger Astronomy and Astrophysics with Gravitational-Wave Data,鈥� provides $150,000 over three years of support. Ghosh is a member of the , an international team that observes collisions of neutron stars and black holes throughout the universe using the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO).

As part of the grant, Ghosh will improve the computer analysis that identifies those gravitational-wave signals that may also produce light (or EM) emission. These are most likely collisions involving neutron stars鈥攊ncredibly dense stellar remnants formed after heavy stars end their life cycle. While composed mostly of neutrons, there are aspects of their composition that are not understood. In another aspect of Ghosh鈥檚 grant-funded work, he will attempt to better constrain the composition of these neutron stars, based on the results of LIGO observations.聽

鈥淲e are at the threshold of an exciting time, ” says Ghosh. 鈥淭he next observing period of the LIGO-Virgo-Kagra collaboration is expected to triple the rate of gravitational-wave observations. Gravitational wave detectors will march towards their design sensitivity in the next few years. This grant will support work that will address the development of computational infrastructure that can handle the high rate of detections that the current infrastructure is incapable of handling.鈥澛�

In addition to these research goals, the grant will also help to fund student research opportunities and outreach efforts. In particular, Ghosh will focus on training students in techniques that involve machine learning and handling large data sets.聽

Ghosh is a leader in the LIGO team鈥檚 effort to rapidly analyze gravitational-wave “triggers鈥欌�� seen by the detectors, and then relay those potential events (representing cosmic collisions) to other astronomers. Those astronomers will then follow-up the triggers by pointing electromagnetic (EM) telescopes at the possible sky positions indicated by LIGO and its partner detectors (Virgo in Italy and KAGRA in Japan). Because optical, radio, x-ray, and other EM telescopes are observing a completely different kind of emission than gravitational-waves, there is the potential to learn an incredible amount of information from objects observed with both kinds of signals. So far, only one event was observed with both gravitational-waves and light鈥攖he binary neutron star collision . It remains among the most studied transient objects in the history of astronomy.聽聽

鈥淧rofessor Ghosh has taken on a leadership role in the LIGO Collaboration, and we were very happy to have him join us last year,鈥� says Marc Favata, chairperson of the Physics & Astronomy Department. 鈥淭his grant will support his important work鈥攚hich is key to helping LIGO achieve some of its science goals. It will also help provide our students with valuable research opportunities, training them in some of the most in-demand computing and data science skills.鈥�

For more information on the Department of Physics and Astronomy at 精品成人福利在线 University, visit montclair.edu/physics-astronomy/.

Ghosh, an Assistant Professor in the since January 2020, will use the computing time to train students in his introductory physics course in numerical problem-solving techniques. The grant provides access to 100,000 CPU hours of computational time on the JetStream architecture, with an estimated value of $2000.

鈥淟earning to code a computer to solve scientific problems is an indispensable part of physics education,鈥� says Ghosh. 鈥淏ut often students do not get an opportunity to learn this skill until their higher-level undergraduate classes. There is a very steep learning curve by that time that can be discouraging to some students. This course will give the students an opportunity to get acquainted with scientific programming at the earliest possible stage of their physics curriculum.鈥�
Students in Ghosh鈥檚 course will remotely run codes in the Python programming language, using a JupyterHub computational environment. They will learn techniques such as root finding, numerical integration, and solving differential equations.

鈥淧rofessor Ghosh鈥檚 expertise is in gravitational-wave data analysis, and he brings a depth of knowledge about high-performance computing to our department,鈥� says Marc Favata, chairperson of the Physics and Astronomy Department. 鈥淕etting introductory physics students deeply involved with computational thinking is an ambitious but important goal. I鈥檓 very glad to see that he is already finding ways to use his expertise to improve the training of our students.鈥�

Rodica Martin, a professor in the newly launched Department of Physics and Astronomy, is a member of the LIGO team. She has recently received a $90,000 National Science Foundation grant to study the optical properties of materials that can be used to develop the next generation of gravitational-wave detectors.

This grant will allow me to deepen my studies in new areas that contribute to increasing the sensitivity of future detectors. With more sensitive instruments, LIGO can detect gravitational waves from sources that are much further away, or that are too weak to observe with current detectors, giving us new insights on the dynamics of the cosmos.

Martin鈥檚 research will focus on exploring new magneto-optical materials for the detectors鈥� Faraday isolators. 鈥淔araday isolators are key devices in providing optical isolation for the LIGO interferometers by redirecting unwanted back reflections and preventing them from altering the sensitivity of the detectors,鈥� she explains.

By conducting tabletop optics experiments, she plans to measure the effectiveness of a range of materials at wavelengths above the current operation of LIGO and at cryogenic temperatures. This early identification of suitable materials for future Faraday isolators will support the development of gravitational-wave detectors that would be able to observe nearly all the stellar-mass black hole mergers in the universe 鈥� and facilitate even more precise tests of Einstein鈥檚 theory of relativity.

While the grant provides summer research and travel support for two students during the course of the three-year project, it will also give 精品成人福利在线 undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to develop hands-on skills in areas such as optics and lasers, spectroscopy, vacuum systems and cryogenics.

I鈥檓 thrilled about the opportunity to involve students in cutting-edge research that is relevant for the development of third-generation gravitational-wave detectors.

Gravitational-wave detectors can measure miniscule ripples in the fabric of spacetime; they are produced by colliding black holes, merging neutron stars, and other exotic cosmic phenomena. In 2015 the first gravitational-wave detection from colliding black holes was made by LIGO鈥攖he Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory. Since then four more black hole collisions have been announced, along with one binary neutron star merger. These discoveries were recognized by the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics. Prof. Martin was involved in the design and installation of the upgrade to LIGO that helped make these detections possible. LIGO is expected to reach its most sensitive configuration in the early 2020s, resulting in a much higher rate of detections.

However, scientists are already thinking about the next generation of detectors, which will be a factor of 10 more sensitive than LIGO. Such detectors (expected in the 2030s) will be able to observe nearly all the stellar-mass black hole mergers in the universe and will allow more precise tests of Einstein鈥檚 general relativity. Prof. Martin鈥檚 research will focus on a key component of the optical system of these detectors called Faraday Isolators.

According to Martin, 鈥淔araday isolators are critical devices in large-scale gravitational-wave detectors; they protect the interferometer by diverting undesirable back reflections and preventing these reflections from altering its sensitivity.鈥�

Martin鈥檚 research involves table-top optics experiments, designed to measure the properties of materials used in these Faraday isolators. A range of materials will be tested, including their behavior at cryogenic temperatures.

鈥淚 am so excited about this opportunity鈥�, says Martin. 聽鈥淭his award will allow students at 精品成人福利在线 to be involved with cutting-edge research that has direct impact to the development of future gravitational-wave detectors.

The research in Martin鈥檚 lab will involving training students to develop hands-on skills in areas like optics, lasers, spectroscopy, vacuum systems, and cryogenics. Her work also involves education and outreach activities on behalf of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration. This includes public lectures and exhibits at science festivals, and the development of interferometry experiments that can be incorporated into college or high school science courses.

The Simons Fellows programs in both mathematics and theoretical physics provide funds to faculty for up to a yearlong research leave from classroom teaching and administrative obligations, enabling recipients to focus solely on research for the long periods often necessary for significant advances.

The $108,000 grant will allow Favata to further his research in gravitational-wave astronomy, with the goal to discover new areas that could be examined with the next generation of gravitational-wave experiments. The funding will allow him to visit colleagues in South Korea at the Ewha Womans University and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, as well as at the Albert Einstein Institute in Germany and at the California Institute of Technology.

鈥淚鈥檓 very grateful to the Simons Foundation for this award,鈥� says Favata. 鈥淭his is an incredibly exciting time to be working in gravitational-wave science, and I鈥檓 looking forward to learning more about my field by collaborating with colleagues in other states and countries.鈥�

Favata has been part of some of the field鈥檚 biggest research breakthroughs over the past two years as a member of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) Scientific Collaboration, including the聽.

鈥淲e thank the Simons Foundation for its commitment to advance the frontiers of science,鈥� says 精品成人福利在线 University College of Science and Mathematics Acting Dean Lora Billings. 鈥淲e are proud of Dr. Favata鈥檚 research program, as he continues to unravel the information provided by gravitational waves. This project is a great example of the cutting edge, collaborative research that provides unique opportunities for our talented students.鈥�

To learn more about the Simons Fellows program, visit聽.

Favata is a member of the NSF-funded , or LIGO. The international LIGO team made history in 2015 when it detected, for the first time, gravitational waves from two black holes colliding to form one. The detection, which is one of the most significant physics discoveries of the past 50 years, confirmed a key prediction of Albert Einstein鈥檚 1915 theory of relativity.

According to Favata, the detection of these waves 鈥� which are ripples in the curvature of spacetime produced by the collisions of black holes 鈥� opened up a new era in observational astronomy and fundamental physics. “As LIGO continues to operate, we expect to find many more black hole systems.”

“I feel very humbled 鈥� and lucky 鈥� to have received this award,” says Favata. “I鈥檓 gratified that my peers and the NSF thought that the proposed work is worth pursuing.”

According to Favata, the LIGO discovery of merging black holes helps to answer fundamental science questions about the nature of the environment in which these black holes formed and how they interacted and evolved before becoming black holes. “Another question we鈥檙e trying to answer is ‘Was Einstein right?’ General relativity has passed every observational test so far. But it鈥檚 possible that as our measurements become more precise, we could find a disagreement with Einstein鈥檚 theory.”

Favata鈥檚 CAREER research projects focus on two topics broadly related to these questions. “One will involve extending the theoretical models for the gravitational wave signal to include elliptical orbits. This will help us look for evidence of ellipticity in future LIGO signals 鈥� and will let us determine if elliptical orbits could be a potential source of confusion when looking for violations of Einstein鈥檚 theory,” he explains. The second project involves a phenomenon known as the “memory effect.” Favata says, “If we can detect a particular, non-oscillating aspect of the gravitational waves, it would let us test Einstein’s theory in a new way or give us insight into the objects that produce these signals.”

Getting the Word Out

精品成人福利在线 students will be involved in both the project鈥檚 research and educational components. 鈥淚n particular, they will help me to improve the existing ‘‘ website, which I developed with previous students and which lets people ‘listen’ to the universe by exploring the analogy between gravitational waves and sound.”

In addition to engaging 鈥� and educating 鈥� a broader public about LIGO鈥檚 discoveries through lectures and outreach exhibits, Favata will be organizing a collaborative effort to develop instructional kits that demonstrate the concepts behind LIGO鈥檚 work.

“NSF CAREER grants are awarded to the best scholars who have created proposals that offer highly promising research while integrating that research with education,” says Robert Prezant, dean of the College of Science and Mathematics. “Dr. Favata created such a proposal, defining his own disciplinary expertise and his dedication to our students, while reflecting the outstanding drive and innovation of our College鈥檚 faculty.”

Favata joins past 精品成人福利在线 faculty recipients of the CAREER award: Pankaj Lal, associate professor of Earth and Environmental Studies and associate director of the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies at 精品成人福利在线 University; Stefanie Brachfeld, Earth and Environmental Studies chair and director of the doctoral program in Environmental Management; Biology chair Quinn Vega; and Jamaal Matthews, associate professor of Educational Foundations.

“I鈥檓 looking forward to LIGO finding many more signals,” says Favata, who is eager to continue expanding the frontiers of gravitational-wave science.