Introduced to study components of ionized gas, the mass spectrometer has evolved into a highly accurate device now used in many undergraduate and research laboratories. Unfortunately, despite their importance in the formation of future scientists, mass spectrometers remain beyond the financial reach of many high schools and colleges. As a result,…

This thesis outlines how meV-resolution inelastic x-ray scattering and causality-enforcing mathematics can be used to measure the dynamical density-density linear response function for liquid water with Angstrom spatial resolution and 50fs temporal resolution. The results are compared to high-resolution spectroscopic and scattering experiments and…

A computer program which simulates an interstellar gas and dust cloud has been used to study Kirchhoff's laws of spectral analysis in introductory astronomy courses. The model parameters can be varied to stimulate various effects observed in actual clouds. Students are given exercises to use the program in a manner similar to a lab experiment.…