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Spectrometric standouts

By Lyndel Owens '10
September 5, 2007

Ben McDonald '07 and Charlie McEachern '09 were the only undergraduate students to present at the annual International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy at Ohio State University in June. The pair, along with advising Professor of Physics Jim Cederberg, had spent last summer using molecular beam spectroscopy to examine the potassium iodide molecule and learn about the electric and magnetic fields that act on the atom nuclei. (View the duo's conference abstracts and presentations here.)

Other conference participants were professional scientists, professors and graduate students from internationally renowned institutions who gathered to discuss spectrometry, a field of physics that analyzes a substance's light and radiation. Cederberg says that the spectrometer at St. Olaf is the only one in existence that can make the kinds of measurements that his students reported at the conference.

While researching last year the two students worked on different aspects of the project: McDonald focused on experimenting and collecting data while McEachern concentrated on creating more efficient software for analyzing results. Each delivered a separate talk at the symposium.

McEarchern, who is beginning his junior year at St. Olaf, appreciates the peek that the conference allowed him into the professional world by gaining familiarity with how such seminars work, meeting people in the field and getting an idea of what can be pursued in the field. McDonald currently is working toward a doctorate in the University of Minnesota's Department of Mechanical Engineering (he was still an undergraduate during last summer's research).

Seven Oles have presented at the OSU conference since 1988.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.