Physics

Among the core components of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems are the radio frequency (RF) transmitter and receiver coils responsible for acquiring the signals used to create images. Specialized imaging techniques typically include the use of custom RF coils to maximize signal-to-noise ratio and localize the area within the body being imaged. The design of such RF coils requires sophisticated electromagnetic (EM) algorithms that include, for example, the modeling of interface circuitry and cabling used to drive the coils.

Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) microscopy is a very promising method of directly imaging biological processes occurring in living cells. It is unique because the imaging does not harm the cell, is molecule specific, and does not require the introduction of additional chemicals that may alter the biology. For example, CARS would allow us to visualize how viruses invade a cell membrane, which is still a mystery.

In industrialized countries, the expansion of power systems has become very difficult. According to power utility consortiums such as CEATI and EPRI, only drastic changes to the current power grid architecture, together with the introduction of new technologies can prevent the high social costs associated with a reduction in reliability of energy supply. High temperature superconductors (HTS) are among the most promising technologies to achieve this goal.

Many fundamental and important scientific and industrial processes can be described in terms of transport phenomena, or processes in which particles are physically displaced from one location to another. Transport phenomena are broadly categorized into three types: transport of mass, transport of energy and transport of momentum.