Johnson, Andrew

Utilizing data from the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO (MaNGA) Survey
MPL-4, of the latest generation of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey we identified fourteen
post-starburst (E+A) systems that lie within the Green Valley zone. We identify the E+As
by their SDSS single fiber spectrum and u-r color, then confirmed their classification as
post-starburst by coding/plotting methods and spectral synthesis programs, as well as
with their Spectral Energy Distributions from 0.15μm to 22μm, using GALEX, SDSS,
2MASS, and WISE data. We produced maps of Gaussian-fitted fluxes, equivalent widths,
stellar velocities, metallicities and age. We also produced spectral line ratio diagrams to
classify regions of stellar populations of the galaxies. We found that our sample of E+As
retain their post-starburst properties across the entire galaxy, not just at their center. We detected matching a trend line in the ultraviolet and optical bands, and also through the J, H and Ks bands, except for one object. We classified one of the 14 galaxies as a luminous infrared, unusual for a post-starburst object.

Quantum optics is a subsect of quantum mechanics focused on exploring the
properties of light due to its dual nature as both a particle and a wave. One such
property that has been of particular interest recently is that of light's momentum,
speci cally its linear and orbital-angular momentum (OAM). Light carrying both
types of momentum are of particular interest to the life sciences due to the linear
momentum of light's ability to directly manipulate particles and orbital-angular
momentum's potential to unravel DNA spirals. Light carrying orbital-angular
momentum has also shown promise in information technology as a new means
of sending large amounts of data over long distances. This thesis will provide
background on the quantum optics of particle manipulation and the results from
experimental studies performed on this topic. The results show evidence of light
with both types of momentum being created and used to manipulate particles to
di erent degrees.

Dust particles in plasma can arrange themselves into a vertical con guration
when placed inside a glass box. What really occurs in the glass box is still unknown
and is di cult to nd out by direct methods of measurement. In this thesis, the
dust chains are investigated through probe oscillations and a Matlab simulation
that uses a parallel plate capacitor to model an electric eld. Parameters of the
plasma and dispersion relations for the transverse oscillation are extracted from
the chain's motion. For both longitudinal and transverse oscillatory motion, the
simulation is used to nd the charge on all the dust in the chains and to simulate
the chain's motion. The plasma parameter values are expected within experimental
error. The dispersion relations show that more than one wave motion
propagates through the chain. The charge found is much higher than expected,
and so the simulated motion may not be very accurate.

One very powerful tool in curing cancer is mathematical modeling. Using accumulated data we take a look at possible models for the growth of cancer cells, incorporating the positive effect of the immune system. We latter include the effects of chemotherapy. The presence of chemotherapy and the immune system is represented by parameters in our model. We use bifurcation analysis to find the values these parameters required in order for any tumor to go into remission. We will finally show that is the concentration of chemotherapy drug is incorrect or if the drug has the incorrect toxicity, we can actually have a large growth in the number of tumor cells or a dangerous decrease in the number of effector cells.