Regan O’Neill has always dreamed of helping humanity reach Mars, and now she’s one step closer. The Clemson University junior and mechanical engineering major was awarded the prestigious Brooke Owens Fellowship, a highly competitive program that connects top students with aerospace industry leaders. As the first Clemson student to receive the honor, O’Neill will spend the summer as an engineering intern on the special projects team at Analytical Mechanics Associates, where she plans to focus mainly on nuclear propulsion research.
O’Neill has been fascinated by space since she was in middle school in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, when she had the chance to speak with astronaut and biochemist Peggy Whitson. That early spark led her to take on leadership roles in NASA-recognized high school projects, including designing a radiation-blocking helmet and a blood-capture system for Blue Origin.
At Clemson, she’s continued chasing her spaceflight ambitions. She worked with a research team led by professor Steve Kaeppler to develop mechanical systems for a probe gathering data in the ionosphere that launched aboard a sounding rocket in August 2024. In November, she’ll head to Norway for another rocket launch, this time to study the northern lights, which if she’s lucky, will take lift-off right on her 21st birthday.
Several teams of Clemson University students competed in the first-ever SC Quantathon, a 24-hour quantum computing hackathon held in Columbia in October, winning in all categories, including the grand prize: a trip to Abu Dhabi in April for an international hackathon. Clemson sent four teams with 18 students from diverse disciplines, including computer science, physics, and engineering, under the mentorship of Professor Rong Ge.
Quantum computing leverages quantum mechanics, the behavior of subatomic particles, to solve complex problems exponentially faster than classical computers. Tasks that could take traditional computers thousands of years can be completed in minutes using quantum technology.
The competition tested students in three areas: quantum random number generation, quantum machine learning, and quantum chemistry. Teams worked around the clock, applying their problem-solving skills and quantum computing expertise. Participants valued the interdisciplinary nature of the event, with physics students gaining coding experience and engineers tackling physics-related challenges.
Winners also earned potential internships with sponsoring companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, Accelerise, and DoraHacks. Some undergraduates were part of Clemson’s Hands-on Quantum Computing Creative Inquiry project, which provides hands-on experience with quantum computing platforms and software. Creative Inquiry, Clemson’s award-winning undergraduate research program, has engaged over 72,000 students in project-based research since 2005.
The event was supported by Clemson’s Watt Family Innovation Center, which fosters collaboration between students, faculty, and industry leaders. Clemson’s success at the Quantathon highlights its growing role in quantum computing research and offers students valuable career opportunities and international exposure.
Every galaxy has a supermassive black hole at its center. But according to astrophysicists, they sometimes they feature a binary system, or two supermassive back holes orbiting each other. Black holes act as cosmic vacuum cleaners, with a mass a million times that of our Sun, formed when the core of a massive star collapses on itself. They are regions in space where gravity is so strong that not even light can escape, and scientists use them to help study how gravity works and how galaxies form. By studying the frequency of binary supermassive black holes, researchers can better understand what happens to galaxies when they merge.
Binary black holes emit gravitational waves, ripples in space-time that travel at light speed, stretching and squeezing space as they pass. Pulsar timing arrays, which analyze the radio signals from rapidly spinning pulsars, detect anomalies caused by these waves. While these arrays can pick up the combined signal from binary black holes over the past 9 billion years, they are not yet sensitive enough to detect individual systems within a single galaxy. Since even the most powerful telescopes cannot directly image these binaries, astronomers rely on indirect methods to determine their presence in galactic centers.
Astronomers use indirect methods to identify binary black holes, including searching for periodic signals from active galactic nuclei: high-energy galaxy centers. These nuclei emit intense radiation due to accretion, where the black hole pulls in surrounding gas, causing it to heat up and glow in optical, ultraviolet, and X-ray light. Some active galactic nuclei also launch jets of particles moving near light speed, appearing exceptionally bright when aligned with Earth. A periodic brightening and fading of light from these nuclei could indicate the presence of two supermassive black holes orbiting each other, signaling a potential binary system.
A new study by Marco Ajello, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Clemson University, and Jonathan Zrake, Assistant Professor of Physics at Clemson University, analyzed over a century of astronomical data to investigate whether the active galactic nucleus PG 1553+153 harbors a binary supermassive black hole. The galaxy’s light brightens and dims every 2.2 years, suggesting a binary system, but other explanations like wobbly jets had to be ruled out. Simulations showed that if a binary existed, dense gas clumps should orbit the black holes every 10 to 20 years. Using the DASCH database, which digitized photographic plates dating back to 1900, the team identified a 20-year pattern, supporting the binary black hole theory. Their findings also indicated that the two black holes have a 2.5:1 mass ratio and a nearly circular orbit. However, final confirmation may require future gravitational wave detections from pulsar timing arrays.
Aviation runs in Abigail Poropatich’s family. Her parents worked as commercial airline pilots and she began taking flying lessons when she was 17 and is now pursuing her private pilot license. Poropatich will follow them into the aviation field. However, Poropatich looks to set a different course for her journey.
The Clemson University senior who is double majoring in physics and computer science hopes to use her diverse skill set in aviation, physics, and computer science, to pursue a career at the intersection of flight and science and serve in an administrative government role, where she would be able to influence scientific policies. Inspired by the Schrodinger’s cat thought experiment in high school AP physics, Poropatich developed a passion for physics and fell in love with the idea that physics is everywhere and the basis of all sciences and life.
As encouraged by faculty at Clemson, Poropatich decided to join a biophysics lab with Associate Professor Hugo Sanabria and Adjunct Professor Joshua Alper, assuming she would later attend medical school. Poropatich studied neural cell behavior and spectroscopy, presenting research at the Smithsonian Museum of American History as a part of the ACCelerate Smithsonian Festival. Poropatich decided to double major in computer science after noticing the deep connection between physics and computing. She began working on laser acquisition for data transmission using Python and slowly combining both her passions as she worked through both degrees.
Looking for internships that combined her passion for flying and airplanes with her computer science and physics skills, Poropatich began a software engineering internship for Textron Aviation last summer. The company builds everything from private jets and military/corporate helicopters, to the type of small single engine aircrafts Poropatich flies. She worked on aircraft systems engineering testing to create a control panel under a U.S. Navy contract for aircraft simulators, which is used by instructors to launch an airplane during simulation training. Poropatich has accepted an offer to work as a technology analyst for Deloitte Government and Public Services after her graduation in December. She also plans to fly on the side while working towards her commercial aircraft license.
“Two athletes square off for an intense dance battle. The DJ starts spinning tunes, and the athletes begin twisting, spinning and seemingly defying gravity, respectfully watching each other and taking turns showing off their skill.
The athletes converse through their movements, speaking through a dance that celebrates both athleticism and creativity. While the athletes probably aren’t consciously thinking about the physics behind their movements, these complex and mesmerizing dances demonstrate a variety of different scientific principles.
Breaking, also known as breakdancing, originated in the late 1970s in the New York City borough of the Bronx. Debuting as an Olympic sport in the 2024 Summer Olympics, breaking will showcase its dynamic moves on a global stage. This urban dance style combines hip-hop culture, acrobatic moves and expressive footwork.
Since its inception, breaking has evolved into a competitive art form. An MC narrates the movements, while a DJ mixes songs to create a dynamic atmosphere. The Olympics will feature two events: one for men, called B-boys, and one for women, called B-girls. In these events, athletes will face off in dance battles.”
On March 8th, 2024, we had volunteers from the Clemson University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy prepare the Clemson Elementary school science fair winners for their presentations at regionals. This proved to be a great success because these students won 4 out of 10 of the awards that were given out that day! We are all so proud of these students and thankful to our volunteers that make time to help with events like these. Encouraging children to pursue their interests in STEM related fields is extremely important! Our department has supported Clemson Elementary School with their science fair for the past 10 years and we will gladly continue supporting events like these.
Donald D. Clayton, Professor Emeritus of Physics and Astronomy (March 18, 1935—January 3, 2024).
Donald Clayton was born in Shenandoah, Iowa and grew up Dallas, TX. He earned a B.S. in Physics in 1956 from Southern Methodist University, where he also played on the golf team. He then attended the California Institute of Technology, where he earned his Ph.D. under the mentorship of Nobel Laureate William Alfred Fowler in 1961. After two years as a postdoctoral fellow there, he became one of the founding faculty members of Rice University’s Department of Space Science (later Space Physics and Astronomy) in 1963. He established nuclear astrophysics there, publishing many seminal ideas in gamma-ray astronomy and cosmochemistry, and developed and published his famous textbook Principles of Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis. During his Rice tenure, as Andrew Hays Buchanan Professor of Astrophysics, he also held visiting positions in Cardiff, UK, and enjoyed sabbatical leaves at Cambridge, Heidelberg, and Durham University, UK.
In 1989, Clayton moved to Clemson University, tasked with developing an astronomy program. He established a group in nuclear astrophysics and gamma-ray astronomy, which thrives today. He hosted many renowned physicists and astronomers as visitors to Clemson, and he developed the unique Photo Archive in Nuclear Astrophysics. His advice helped guide department chairs and deans in Clemson’s development of its research culture. Clayton retired in 2007, but remained active in research until very recently. He wrote several books, including a science fiction novel, a scientific memoir, and a handbook of the isotopes.
Among Clayton’s many scientific accomplishments, he developed the first quantitative analysis of the slow neutron capture process for forming heavy elements in stars, he predicted many of the effects of radioactivity in supernovae, including that gamma rays from it would be detectable, and he explained how radioactivity abundances evolved in the interstellar medium. Clayton advanced new ideas of nuclear astrophysics manifested in meteorites, including of radioactive chronometers, of stardust particles – dust grains that survived from formation in stars to their incorporation in solar system bodies, and of cosmic chemical memory – that isotopic signatures of stellar nucleosynthesis could be recovered even when the dust carriers had not survived. These ideas received much pushback from the meteoritic community over more than a decade, but Clayton was later awarded the Leonard Medal, the highest honor of the Meteoritical Society, in 1991.
In his Nobel address, Fowler said, “Of my 50 graduate students who have contributed to the field I must single out Donald D. Clayton.”
A Memorial Service will be on March 16, 2024 at 11:00 am at Seneca Presbyterian Church in Seneca, SC. The Donald D. Clayton Memorial Fund for support of graduate student research in astrophysics and meteoritics has been established in his memory.
Physics and Astronomy junior, VJ Mattison, joined his brothers in the Kappa Lambda Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity to compete in last fall’s NPHC Fall Fest Step Show. The group performed a Michael Jackson-themed routine, which featured different members portraying Jackson throughout different stages of his career. Mattison portrayed a mid-career Jackson, performing iconic dance moves like the moonwalk. The Fall Fest Step Show, which is a part of Clemson’s homecoming festivities each year, is a competition fundraiser where NPHC sororities and fraternities face off in a heated step and stroll battle to determine who will be crowned the winner of Fall Fest. Judges score groups based on a variety of factors, including the quality of their stepping, strolling, and overall choreography. Along with bragging rights, Fall Fest winners are awarded a cash prize, which can be used to help cover the cost of dues and the organization’s philanthropic endeavors. Competing in Fall Fest requires months of practice and preparation, which helps bolster the sense of brother- and sisterhood of the participating organizations. Mattison said “Having to be with [my fraternity brothers] every day for the last two months definitely makes our bond stronger.” The NPHC serves as the governing council for nine historically African American fraternities and sororities, eight of which are represented at Clemson. Members note that their participation with these organizations helps them build a community with other African American students and gives them a reason to come back to Clemson after graduation. Though Mattison’s fraternity didn’t take away first place in last fall’s event, they gave an impressive, energy-filled performance! You can learn more about Clemson’s NPHC Fall Fest and view portions of the performances here!
Atmospheric and Space Physics graduate student Deepali Aggarwal is scheduled to give an invited talk at the International Conference on GPS Radio Occultation in Taipei, Taiwan. The conference, which takes place in November, 2023, aims to integrate science, technology, and industry in the space domain. Deepali, a second year graduate student, will present her research on the response of Earth’s ionosphere to instabilities in the jet stream and the polar vortex. This collaborative work with her advisor Dr. Jens Oberheide and colleagues at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, has a number of important consequences for the predictability of space weather and space situation awareness in the very low Earth orbit that is considered the new frontier of space technology. Deepali’s travel is fully covered by the Taiwan Space Agency.
The Clemson Physics & Astronomy Graduate Student Organization (GSO), led by outgoing GSO president, Benjamin Amend, hosted the annual Symposium for the Introduction of Research in Physics and Astronomy (SIRPA) on Monday, August 21 at the Madren Conference Center. SIRPA is an event highlighting current student research across the various subfields of physics and astronomy within the department. This student-led event features research talks and poster presentations by current CU P&A graduate and undergraduate students. Keynote speaker, Prof. Sarah Morrison, an astronomer and faculty member at Missouri State University, kicked off this year’s event. SIRPA 2023 included thirteen student talks and twelve student posters. Mr. Amend concluded this year’s event by introducing incoming GSO president, Madeline Clyburn, and presenting the awards for “Best Talk” and “Best Poster,” which were selected through participant voting. First place for “Best Talk” was awarded to Andrealuna Pizzetti for her talk entitled, “To the Torus and Beyond.” Second place was awarded to Zhenzhen Zhang for her talk entitled, “Bri2 BRICHOS Domain Inhibiting JAPP Aggregation.” Winning first and second prize for “Best Poster” were Nikita Khatiya and Prawin Rimal/Pitambar Poudel, respectively. Winners received a certificate and gift card. Congratulations to the award winners, participants, and GSO on another successful event!
