Actual Workers

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Research Associate

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Dr. Robert E. Wagner






Dr. Qingzheng Lv

I started researching in the summer of 2019. I've done some work on symbiotic and nonsymbiotic optimization of systems. I transferred in from another major and find physics fascinating.

Publications
"Symbiotic vs. non-symbiotic optimization for spatial and temporal degrees of freedom"
J. Unger, S. Dong, J. Bryan, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. E 101, 013310 (2020).

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2020), ISAAPT (2020).



Austin Penwell

I started my junior year Fall 2019. What I have enjoyed most about conducting research is seeing what it's like to do research. It's a lot different than a physics class so it was brand new for me and I enjoy it a lot. In addition to physics, I like to play sports and learn all kinds of things.

Publications
"Transition between coherent and incoherent chirping mechanisms in electron-positron pair creation"
C. Gong, A. Penwell, Z.L. Li, Y.J. Li, Q. Su and R. Grobe, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 37, 1098 (2020).

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2020).



Luis Rizo

I started during my spring semester freshman year. Working with Dr. Su and Dr. Grobe has been a privilege since I have learned so much about physics research. Learning about simple neural networks and the applications they have in physics was a very interesting topic and I am hopeful to continue learning more.

Publications
"Exactly predictable functions for simple neural networks"
J. Yost, L. Rizo, X. Fang, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. Research (submitted).

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2020).



Samantha Norris

I started directly after I graduated from high school in Peoria. I was luck to be chosen as a 2013 Barry Goldwater Scholar. After ISU, I am with Cornell physics graduate program.

Publications
"Computation of diverging sums based on a finite number of terms"
Q.Z. Lv, S. Norris, R. Pelphrey, Q. Su, R. Grobe, Comp. Phys. Comm. (in press).

"Computational approach for bound states in quantum field theory"
Q.Z. Lv, S. Norris, R. Brennan, E. Stefanovich, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 94, 032110 (2016).

"Ground state energies from converging and diverging power series expansions"
C. Lisowski, S. Norris, R. Pelphrey, E. Stefanovich, Q. Su, R. Grobe, Ann. Phys. 373, 456 (2016).

"Numerical split-shift potential method for relativistic quantum systems with radial symmetry"
Q.Z. Lv, S. Norris, Q. Su and R. Grobe, J. Phys. B 49, 065003 (2016).

"Removal of self-interactions in the Dirac-Maxwell equations"
S. Norris, J. Unger, Q.Z. Lv, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 93, 032131 (2016).

"Self-interactions as predicted by the Dirac-Maxwell equations"
Q.Z. Lv, S. Norris, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 90, 034101 (2014).

"Instantaneous rest frame transformation method for temporally induced pair creation"
Q.Z. Lv, A. Vikartofsky, S. Norris, Y.J. Li, R. Wagner, R. Grobe and Q. Su, Phys. Rev. A 89, 042105 (2014).

"Absorbing-like boundaries for quantum field theoretical grid simulations"
S. Norris, A. Vikartofsky, R.E. Wagner, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Comp. Phys. Comm. 184, 2412 (2013).

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2013,2014,2015,2016), ISAAPT (2013,2014,2015,2016), Argonne Undergrad. Symp (2012,2013).



Reid Gramm

I started my freshman year and I worked on the Benford's law and how it applies to physics. I have been collaborating with Jack Yost on the project and it has been fun.

Publications
"Applications of the first digit law to measure correlations"
R. Gramm, J. Yost, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phy. Rev. E 95 042136 (2017).

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2017), ISAAPT (2017)



Creighton Lisowski

I started in the spring of my freshman year, 2016. Working along side with Richard and our professor advisors on research have been SUPER! I especially enjoy presenting my work to others and I have been a TA in the department.

Publications
"Quantum mechanical approach to the laser-assisted vacuum decay"
Q.Z. Lv, S. Dong, C. Lisowski, R. Pelphrey, Y.T. Li, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 97, 053416 (2018).

"Ground state energies from converging and diverging power series expansions"
C. Lisowski, S. Norris, R. Pelphrey, E. Stefanovich, Q. Su, R. Grobe, Ann. Phys. 373, 456 (2016).

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2016,2017,2018,2019), ISAAPT (2016,2017,2018,2019), APS (Ohio, 2017), APS (Chicago, 2017).



Richard Pelphrey

I started in the spring of my freshman year, 2016. I have enjoyed getting a first hand look at the research process while working with the professors here as well as being directly involved in the research. In addition to physics I enjoy reading and archery.

Publications
"Quantum mechanical approach to the laser-assisted vacuum decay"
Q.Z. Lv, S. Dong, C. Lisowski, R. Pelphrey, Y.T. Li, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 97, 053416 (2018).

"Computation of diverging sums based on a finite number of terms"
Q.Z. Lv, S. Norris, R. Pelphrey, Q. Su, R. Grobe, Comp. Phys. Comm. 219, 1 (2017).

"Ground state energies from converging and diverging power series expansions"
C. Lisowski, S. Norris, R. Pelphrey, E. Stefanovich, Q. Su, R. Grobe, Ann. Phys. 373, 456 (2016).

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2016,2017,2018,2019), ISAAPT (2016,2017,2018,2019), APS (Chicago, 2017).



Jonathan Unger

I started the summer after my high school and it has been really great to learn physics and computer programming while doing research. I planning on persuing my PhD degree after graduation.

Publications
"Symbiotic vs. non-symbiotic optimization for spatial and temporal degrees of freedom"
J. Unger, S. Dong, J. Bryan, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. E 101, 013310 (2020).

"Optimal supercritical potentials for the electron-positron pair-creation rate"
J. Unger, S. Dong, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 100, 012518 (2019).

"Infinite dimensional optimization applied to pair creation from the vacuum"
J. Unger, S. Dong, R. Flores*, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 99, 022128 (2019).

"Relationship of the pair creation yield during and after the interaction"
J. Unger, S. Dong, R. Flores, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Laser Phys. 29, 065302 (2019).

"Superposition principle for the simultaneous optimization of collective responses"
S. Dong, R. Flores*, J. Unger, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. E 98, 012221 (2018).

"Spatial evolution of quantum mechanical states"
N.D. Christensen, J. Unger*, S. Pinto*, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Ann. Phys. 389, 239 (2018).

"Suppressed pair creation due to electron-positron attraction"
Q.Z. Lv, J. Unger, Y.T. Li, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 95, 023416 (2017).

"Spatially dependent electron-positron pair creation rate"
Q.Z. Lv, J. Unger, Y.T. Li, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Euro. Phy. Lett. 116, 40003 (2016).

"Removal of self-interactions in the Dirac-Maxwell equations"
S. Norris, J. Unger, Q.Z. Lv, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 93, 032131 (2016).

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2016,2017,2018,2019), ISAAPT (2016,2017,2018,2019).



Jack Yost

I started my freshman year as a Physics Education major. Doing research is really cool. I would love to get my future high school students do some form of research if they can when I became a teacher. My family is a Cubs fan all the way. Go Cubs!

Publications
"Exactly predictable functions for simple neural networks"
J. Yost, L. Rizo, X. Fang, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. Research (submitted).

"Applications of the first digit law to measure correlations"
R. Gramm, J. Yost, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phy. Rev. E 95 042136 (2017).

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2017,2018,2019), ISAAPT (2017,2018,2019), APS Prairie Meeting (2017).



Jarrett Betke

I started my sophomore year and learned cool stuff like quantum field theory and graphic visualization. I started directly after I graduated from high school in Peoria. Research is fun and you get to collaborate with many great people.

Publications
"Optimized spatial matrix representations of quantum Hamiltonians"
Q.Z. Lv, D.J. Jennings, J. Betke, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Comp. Phys. Comm. 198, 31 (2016).

"A time-dependent charge renormalization procedure in QED"
Q.Z. Lv, J. Betke, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 92, 032121 (2015).

"Space-time dynamics of the vacuum's polarization charge density"
A.T. Steinacher, J. Betke, S. Ahrens, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 89, 062106 (2014).

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2014,2015), ISAAPT (2014,2015), Argonne Undergrad. Symp (2014).



William Bauer

I am a high school student at Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA) and worked the summer 2014 at ILP. It was an amazing experience to be so close to cutting edge research work.

Conference Presentations:
Argonne Undergrad. Symp (2014).



Miles Maggio

My research is to learn how to use super-computer at UT Austin to parallelize computer code for quantum field theretical computations.

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2014,2015), ISAAPT (2014,2015), Argonne Undergrad. Symp (2014).



Andrew Vikartofsky

I transferred from Purdue University. I enjoy my research experience at ILP. I am presently applying at graduate schools in Physics.

Publications
"Instantaneous rest frame transformation method for temporally induced pair creation"
Q.Z. Lv, A. Vikartofsky, S. Norris, Y.J. Li, R. Wagner, R. Grobe and Q. Su, Phys. Rev. A 89, 042105 (2014).

"Absorbing-like boundaries for quantum field theoretical grid simulations"
S. Norris, A. Vikartofsky, R.E. Wagner, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Comp. Phys. Comm. 184, 2412 (2013).

"Dynamics of two- and four-boson interactions in dressed vacuum states"
R.E. Wagner, M.R. Ware, A.M. Vikartofsky, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Int. J. Theor. 51, 3787-3804 (2012).

Conference Presentations:
APS Prairie Section (2011), ISU Undergrad. Symp (2012,2013,2014), ISAAPT (2012,2013,2014), Argonne Undergrad. Symp (2011,2012,2013).



Isaac L. Goodin

I began working for the ILP center as the succesor of Sawyer in the bio-optical laboratory. The LabView codes that control our translation stage and the photo detector are really complicated, but I am making progress. My hobbies are dancing and reading.

Publications
"Laser beam widening mechanisms in turbid media"
S.D. Campbell, T.P. Garvin, I.L. Goodin, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Las. Phys. 19, 238 (2009).

"Decomposition based imaging with fiber and ccd camera detections"
S.D. Campbell, I.L. Goodin, S.D. Grobe, Q. Su and R. Grobe, J. Opt. Health Sci. 1, 115 (2008).

"Limitations of decomposition based imaging of longitudinal absorber configurations"
S.D. Campbell, S.D. Grobe, I.L. Goodin, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 77, 023821 (2008).

"Decomposition based recovery of absorbers in turbid media"
S.D. Campbell, I.L. Goodin, S.D. Grobe, Q.Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 76, 063802 (2007).

Conference Presentations:
APS Prairie Section (2009), ISU Undergrad. Symp (2007,2008,2009,2010), ISAAPT (2007,2008,2009,2010), Argonne Undergrad. Symp (2007,2008).



Emily Gospodarczyk

I study the fermion-boson interaction through a model Yukawa system. It turns out that during the interaction bosons are gathered around fermions to form the so called "dress" fermion, or the so-called "physical", states. The interaction in the so-called Greenberg-Schweber limit becomes completed decoupled. Technically I accomplish my computations by diagonizing large matrices. Research has been a tremendous experience for me, and I have been lucky to be chosen as a 2009 Barry Goldwater Scholar.

Publications
"Numerical studies of a model fermion-boson system"
T. Cheng, E.R. Gospodarczyk, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Ann. Phys. 325, 265 (2010)

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2009), ISAAPT (2009), Argonne Undergrad. Symp (2008).



Matt Morris

I joined ILP in the summer of 2010, before transferring from Heartland Community College. I have been studying relativistically invariant time dilation effects in a two particle system under the Lorentz transformation, as compared with Poincare derived numerically modeled orbits. I am also now exploring new ways to model and understand the exchange force between fermions and bosons. I have been fascinated by topics in quantum computers, biophysics, neuroscience, and conceptually variant models of time. Aside from reading, learning physics, math, and conducting research, I am also involved in numerous collaborative works of art, music, and literature. I love to travel as often as possible, and to spend time with my close friends and family.

Publications
"Time dilation in relativistic two-particle interactions"
B.T. Shields, M.C. Morris, M.R. Ware, Q. Su, E.V. Stefanovich and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A. 82, 052116 (2010).

Conference Presentations:




Benjamin Rogers

I am exploring new ways to reconstruct images from scattered light data. In particular the Principal Component Analysis is very interesting as the same method has been used in facial recognition. Besides doing research in the dark (room), I like to read and hang out with Physics majors and be enlightened.

Publications
"Scanning techniques for decomposition based imaging of turbid media"
B. Rogers, B. Graybeal, A.C. Su, R.E. Wagner, M.R. Ware, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Laser Phys. 23, 036003 (2013).

Conference Presentations:
APS Prairie Section (2009), ISU Undergrad. Symp. (2010), ISAAPT (2010).



Benjamin Shields

I study the problem of possible violation of causality in quantum relativistic situations. Numerical and analytical evidence show that total probability out side of light cone does not vanish. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and hiking.

Publications
"Causality and relativistic localization in one-dimensional Hamiltonians"
R.E. Wagner, B.T. Shields, M.R. Ware, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 83, 062106 (2011).

"A space-time resolved approach for interacting quantum field theories"
R.E. Wagner, M.R. Ware, B.T. Shields, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 023601 (2011).

"Time dilation in relativistic two-particle interactions"
B.T. Shields, M.C. Morris, M.R. Ware, Q. Su, E.V. Stefanovich and R. Grobe, P hys. Rev. A 82, 052116 (2010).

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp. (2010,2012), ISAAPT (2010,2012), APS Prairie Section (2010,2011), Argonne (2010,2011), APS DAMOP meeting, (2011).



Andrew Steinacher

After having worked the summer at Mathematica, I joined ILP in the fall of 2013. I am presently working for Wolfram Alpha.

Publications
"Impact of interfermionic forces on the pair creation process"
A.T. Steinacher, R.E. Wagner, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. 89, 032119 (2014).

"Space-time dynamics of the vacuum's polarization charge density"
A.T. Steinacher, J. Betke, S. Ahrens, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 89, 062106 (2014).

Conference Presentations:
ISAAPT (2014), ISU Undergrad. Symp. (2014), Argonne (2013),



Alexander C. Su

I joined ILP during my high school years. It has been a very fascinating experience to "do" things that are usually found in textbooks. I am attending Harvard University.

Publications
"Pair creation for bosons in electric and magnetic fields"
Q.Z. Lv, A.C. Su, M. Jiang, Y.J. Li, R. Grobe and Q. Su, Phys. Rev. A 87, 023416 (2013).

"Scanning techniques for decomposition based imaging of turbid media"
B. Rogers, B. Graybeal, A.C. Su, R.E. Wagner, M.R. Ware, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Laser Phys. 23, 036003 (2013).

Conference Presentations:
APS Prairie Section (2011), ISAAPT (2012,2014), ISU Undergrad. Symp. (2012,2013,2014), Argonne (2012,2013), LAW conference (China, 2013), Intel Science Fair (2012), Siemens Science Fair (2013), IL State Science Fair (2012,2013).



Brandon Graybeal

I found it rather fascinatinig to work on imaging algorithms and learning how to use Mathematica and fortran.

Publications
"Scanning techniques for decomposition based imaging of turbid media"
B. Rogers, B. Graybeal, A.C. Su, R.E. Wagner, M.R. Ware, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Laser Phys. 23, 036003 (2013).

Conference Presentations:
APS Prairie Section (2011), ISAAPT (2011,2012), ISU Undergrad. Symp. (2011,2012), Argonne (2011).


Matt Ware

I joined ILP the summer I graduated from Normal Community High School in 2009. I helped to design computer program codes to compute the scattering of a boson off a potential barrier. Such an exercise turns out to be related closely with boson pair creation based on full quantum field considerations. I am very fortunate to have received the 2010 Barry Goldwater Scholarship. Besides research and doing challenging math, I like biking and learning foreign languages such as German and Chinese. After ISU, I am attending Stanford pursuing my PhD in Physics.

Publications
"Scanning techniques for decomposition based imaging of turbid media"
B. Rogers, B. Graybeal, A.C. Su, R.E. Wagner, M.R. Ware, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Laser Phys. 23, 036003 (2013).

"Causality and relativistic localization in one-dimensional Hamiltonians"
R.E. Wagner, B.T. Shields, M.R. Ware, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 83, 062106 (2011).

"A space-time resolved approach for interacting quantum field theories"
R.E. Wagner, M.R. Ware, B.T. Shields, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 023601 (2011).

"Time dilation in relativistic two-particle interactions"
B.T. Shields, M.C. Morris, M.R. Ware, Q. Su, E.V. Stefanovich and R. Grobe, P hys. Rev. A 82, 052116 (2010).

"Space-time properties of a boson-dressed fermion for the Yukawa model"
R.E. Wagner, M.R. Ware, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 82, 032108 (2010).

"The bosonic analogue of the Klein paradox"
R.E. Wagner, M.R. Ware, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 81, 024101 (2010).

"Exponential enhancement of field-induced pair creation from the bosonic vacuum"
R.E. Wagner, M.R. Ware, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 81, 052104 (2010).

"Pair creation rates for one-dimensional fermionic and bosonic vacua"
T. Cheng, M. Ware, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 80, 062105 (2009).
also published in V. J. Ultrafast Sci. 9, 1 (2010).

Conference Presentations
APS Prairie Section (2009,2011), ISU Undergrad. Symp. (2010,2012,2013), ISAAPT (2010,2012), APS DAMOP meeting, (2011), Argonne (2011,2012), APS LeRoy Apker final (2012).

David Wischhusen

I joined ILP during my Freshman year in 2006 and work in the quantum field theory group. My present job is to develop better computer graphics and movies to better visualize the pair-creation dynamics. I work closely with Nic and Dr. Cheng. I love the Chicago cubs. After ISU, I work for EPIC.

Conference Presentations:
APS Prairie Section (2009), ISU Undergrad. Symp. (2008,2009,2010), ISAAPT (2007,2008,2009), Argonne Undergrad. Symp (2007,2008).

Former Members: (more details)

Ryan M. Balfanz

Anthony Battaglia

Michael S. Bell

Alexander Bergquist

Trisha Blood

Joshua W. Braun

Sawyer D. Campbell

Kareem Carr

Kevin Cooley

Nic Chott

Jason C. Csesznegi

Jennifer R. Csesznegi

Travis N. Faust

Tim Garvin

Joshua C. Gillespie

Sebastian D. Grobe

John C. Henderson

Benjamin P. Irving

Marek M. Jacobs

Chad W. Johnson

Nathan Kidwell

Kara D. Lamb

Allen F. Lewis

Shannon M. Mandel

Kimberly N. McGill

Matthew E. Narter

Kevin M. Paul

Alison O'Connell

Peter J. Peverly

Tony J. Piraino

Sarah Radovich

Kelly N. Rodeffer

Tyson R. Shepherd

Kress M. Shores

Brad A. Smetanko

Robert E. Wagner

Rebecca Wenning

Dr. Taiwang Cheng

Dr. Piotr Krekora

Dr. Sunish Menon

Dr. Harshwardhan Wanare

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