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Timothy Bragdon ’04 (Rahway, N.J.) is probing the secrets of atomic and molecular physics in a yearlong independent research project.
Bragdon, a physics major, is using laser spectroscopy to study the atomic structure of the metallic elements rubidium and cesium. He has constructed a piece of equipment called a “saturation absorption spectroscopy laser,” and has done preliminary tests on it. The project is being conducted under the direction of Andrew Kortyna, assistant professor of physics.
“Each atom has its own kind of fingerprint,” and spectroscopy allows an individual to observe its structure, Kortyna explains. He is conducting research on atomic and molecular physics under a $141,920 grant from The National Science Foundation.
Bragdon and Kortyna previously worked together through Lafayette’s distinctive EXCEL Scholars program, in which students assist faculty with research while earning a stipend. Lafayette is a national leader in undergraduate research. Many of the 180 students who participate in EXCEL each year go on to publish papers in scholarly journals and/or present their research at conferences.
During the project, Bragdon and Kortyna assembled an integrated feedback circuit, which locks the wavelength of laser light to a specific location. The techniques Bragdon helped develop provided an important ingredient for studying cold collisions of atoms.
“I think we’re getting to do some science that has never been done before,” Kortyna says.
“He’s helped a lot,” Kortyna says of Bragdon. “He’s fairly independent and can figure things out on his own.
Kortyna has been working in the field of cold molecular collisions for nearly a decade. Prior to coming to Lafayette, he taught and conducted research while holding a National Science Foundation fellowship at Colby College. Prior to that, he was a postdoctoral scholar at Cal Tech and did research at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he still collaborates with NASA scientists. He has also conducted research at Universität Kaiserslautern in Germany.
“The maturing of laser technology over the past several decades has spurred renewed interest in atomic and molecular collisions,” says Kortyna. “It is now possible to study collisions at one-millionth of a degree above absolute zero. Motivations for pursuing this line of work include testing fundamental physical theories and providing detailed understanding of chemical processes important for future progress in fields such as nanomanufacturing.”
Bragdon says he enjoys working on the project and knows that his research is important.
“The information will be useful to other scientists,” he explains.
His work, if successfully completed and defended, will qualify for departmental honors in physics.
One special experience for Bragdon was being able to research the various software programs available and select the program that would best work for his research project. He selected PeakFit, a data analysis program, which allowed him to fit his data with various functions.
Bragdon says that working with Kortyna has been a pleasure. Although the research is difficult, he says that Kortyna has guided him every step of the way.
“Professor Kortyna is very easy to get along with,” he says. “He’s never too busy to help me out. He’s excited about the work as well.”
Kortyna says the two often discuss outside interests, such as philosophy, and go out to lunch together. He also says that he has been invited to Bragdon’s hometown for social events.
The physics department encourages its students to pursue opportunities outside of the classroom, Bragdon says.
“There is a lot of interaction between students and faculty,” he says. “I find it to be a great environment for working outside the classroom.”
“Lafayette’s resources are good,” Kortyna adds. “There are many opportunities for students. I think it’s an advantage for students who take advantage of that.”
Bragdon seeks to attend graduate school where he would like to pursue physics or philosophy of physics. He would eventually enjoy doing laboratory research, he says, adding that he’d prefer the same laboratory resources that he has had access to at Lafayette.
He has been involved in many campus activities including open mic nights, poetry workshops, intramural sports and discussion panels on Lafayette coursework. He is the vice president of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and a former resident adviser.
“I’ve always been willing to do whatever I had time for,” he says.
Bragdon is a graduate of Rahway High School.
Honors thesis projects are among several major opportunities at Lafayette that make the College a national leader in undergraduate research. Lafayette sends one of the largest contingents to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research each year. Over the past five years, more than 130 Lafayette students have presented results from research with faculty mentors, or under their guidance, at the conference.