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Micelles are aggregates made up of amphiphiles. Amphiphiles have
a water-soluble head group and a hydrophobic hydrocarbon chain.
The amphiphiles group together naturally in solution, creating
micelles in the form of bilayers, spheres, ellipsoids, cylinders,
and other shapes. The hydrophobic carbon chains come together
to make the inner core of a micelle absent of solution.
In our experiment, we will use sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to
create micelles in a solution of water. We will then place a radioactive
source in the solution to create positronium atoms. The positronium
atoms will naturally diffuse into the micelles. The average Ps
lifetime inside the micelles will differ from the average Ps lifetime
in the water. After collecting data on the various positronium
components, we should be able to fit our data to determine certain
characteristics of the micelles, such as their average radius
and aggregation number. [1]
This work is being done in collaboration with Dr. Anne Walter,
a faculty member in the St. Olaf Biology Department.
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