Indiana State University Newsroom

Two Indiana State University students were among the more than 8,000 participants in a recent international physics conference held in San Antonio, Texas.

Tanner Latta of Terre Haute presented his research titled, "Super Atomic Molecular Orbitals of Variably Protonated Symmetric Molecules" at the annual meeting of the American Physical Society March 2-6.

"I studied the molecule cubane with different amounts of hydrogen attached to the molecule," said Latta, a senior and member of the Air National Guard. "While studying the energy levels of the molecule, we found that there is a charge delocalization within the molecules. We conjecture that this charge delocalization could have possible applications to the photovoltaic effect."

Christopher Rodgers, a senior physics major from Terre Haute, also presented his research titled "A Look at the Dynamics of Ultrafast Magnetization Reversal" at the conference. Rodgers' proposes a theoretical model that potentially helps understand the phenomenon of all-optical magnetization reversal, which could help address the "ever-pressing need" to store more data at faster rates.

"Through a computer simulation, we show that magnetization reversal could potentially occur through the interaction of the circular polarization of an ultrafast laser pulse and the orbital angular momentum of a bound spin particle," Rodgers said.

An engineering physics major, Latta looks forward to continuing his research this summer, but he hasn't determined a topic yet. The conference - his first-ever to attend - was a good experience to get the creative juices flowing.

"It was interesting seeing other undergrad, graduate students and doctors speak about so many diverse topics in physics. It helped me realize all of the great possibilities studying physics can offer," he said. "It motivated me to look within other areas of physics as well. It also helped me appreciate how focused the physics department is upon its undergraduate physics students."

Latta wasn't the only one impressed at the conference.

"This is one of the best meetings that I ever attended. There were lots of excitements and great experience for our students," said Guo-Ping Zhang, professor of physics at Indiana State, who led the trip.

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Photo: http://www.smugmug.com/photos/i-Kr3bGn9/0/O/i-Kr3bGn9.jpg -- Indiana State University student Tanner Latta presents his research titled, "Super Atomic Molecular Orbitals of Variably Protonated Symmetric Molecules" at the annual meeting of the American Physical Society March 2-6.

Contact: Guo-Ping Zhang, professor, department of chemistry and physics, Indiana State University, 812-237-2044 or GuoPing.Zhang@indstate.edu

Writer: Libby Roerig, media relations assistant director, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3790 or libby.roerig@indstate.edu