Grace Mattingly

Grace, performing a test on a vacuum chamber with a Mott Polarimeter, used to measure polarization of GaAs photocathodes.

Name: Grace Mattingly

Home Institution: Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis

Program: Research Experience for Undergraduates

Semester: Summer 2019

Mentor: Luca Cultrere (CBETA) & Jai Kwan Bae

Q&A

What is the research you are engaged in and what you have accomplished this summer?

I am doing photocathode research here at Cornell, specifically growing and characterizing GaAs photocathodes to make efficient, long-lasting, spin-polarized electron beams. This summer we have worked on activating GaAs superlattice samples and some alterations to our vacuum chamber which will result in cooling down the system to cryogenic temperatures.

What are the impacts of your research for the general public?

The photocathodes we grow here will be used in electron accelerators within Cornell's accelerator physics group. Spin-polarized electron beams are used for low energy electron diffraction to study surface structure, exchange scattering of ferromagnetic surfaces to determine surface magnetization, and various testing of atomic physics. High intensity, highly spin-polarized electron beams with long lifetimes are of interest to next generation nuclear physics facilities like Electron Ion Colliders.

What did you enjoy most about this research/summer experience?

The best part of research is always finding a solution to a problem you thought to be difficult. For me this summer it was each step towards finding a leak in a troublesome chamber and culminating in finally reaching Ultra High Vacuum there. I enjoyed learning all the ins and outs of performing experiments within vacuum chambers and performing the activation and characterizations of our GaAs samples.

What did you find the most challenging about this research?

Staying encouraged when many experimental challenges prolonged the journey from idea conception to fulfillment was one of the difficult aspects of experimental physics I experienced. Knowing what to do next when it seems like you have tried everything was difficult at times.

How has this experience changed your view about being a researcher?

I believe that I am leaving here with a pretty complete grasp on experimental photocathode research and a better understanding of accelerator physics in general. Now the question of type of research I want to pursue myself can be answered with slightly more completeness.

REU Class of 2019

Grace Mattingly

Name: Grace Mattingly

The Center for Bright Beams

REU Class of 2019

Grace Mattingly

Name: Grace Mattingly

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