Dr. ERNEST BEHRINGER
PROJECTS
Welcome to the Projects page! You'll find brief descriptions of the topics that I'm studying at the present time, and links to more detailed descriptions. If you are interested in any of these projects, or if you are interested in performing an Independent Study on a topic of mutual interest, please contact me via e-mail or talking with me during posted office hours. Thanks!
Photoluminescence Spectroscopy
When light impinges on material objects, scattering or absorption of the incident light may occur. Sometimes the absorption of light can be followed by the emission of light, possibly of a different wavelength (color). By measuring the emitted light, it is possible to gain information about the characteristics of the material -- and this is the basic idea behind photoluminescence spectroscopy. In other words: send light in, measure the light that comes out, and the measurements tell you about the material. The information gained can provide insight on how to improve the material. The materials that I study are semiconductors, which are very important in optoelectronics (e.g., in displays, lighting applications, lasers, etc.).
If you would like to learn more, click here.
Fluorescence Spectroscopy
Ever wonder why highlighting pens are advertised as "fluorescent"? It's because they can absorb ultraviolet light and emit visible light. This effect has been exploited to make dorm room decorations using the cores of worn out highlighters, clear glass bottles, and a black light. Fluorescent materials have many uses beyond dorm room decorations and the highlighter, and in particular have become extremely important in the study of biochemistry and developmental biology. For example, one may observe cellular processes by incorporating a fluorescent molecule (for example, green fluorescent protein, or GFP for short) into DNA molecules in the cell to determine how the DNA is used in the cell. Consequently, characterizing and understanding fluorescent materials can be very useful.
If you would like to learn more, click here.
Energy and Society
Our modern
society depends critically on energy to provide water, food,
comfortable shelter, and a very high quality of life. Energy
is extracted from material fuels by nuclear and chemical reactions
as well as mechanical action, and from sunlight by absorption.
The efficiencies with which material fuels and sunlight can
be utilized are determined by the principles of science. The
amount of available material fuels that remain on the Earth
is of central importance because of an increasing global population
that strives for an increasing quality of life. The amount
of available fuels, together with the efficiency with which
we use them, will in large part determine the future of all
societies on this planet, including ours. It is therefore
the responsibility of every citizen to understand the concept
of energy and the physical principles that govern its utilization.
If you would like to learn more about this, click here.
Theoretical Morphology
Why do living things have the shapes that they do? This is the central question addressed by theoretical morphology. The research work that I'm doing in collaboration with Dr. Steve LoDuca is aimed at addressing the question of how dasychlads got their shape (morphology) by applying principles from physics, chemistry, and biology. Dasychlads are giant (up to centimeters in length) single cells, photosynthetic organisms that have been around for a long time. Dr. LoDuca is an expert in the fossil record of dasychlads, and we are using the fossil record to test hypotheses of how dasychlads evolved from their previous morphology to their present morphology.
If you would like to learn more about this, click here.
This page was last modified on June 22, 2004.
