APPLIED PHYSICS
Programs of physics, applied physics, electronics and scientific computing in Petnica are designed to give experience in both scientific methods and technological aspects of modern physics and technology to students. In mini-research projects students have opportunity to find a way how to solve the problem. We expect inventive and interest in getting knowledge, rather than precognition in the given filed.
In Petnica physics program, we are based in both experiments and numerical simulations. We have capability to serve experiments in many fields of physics with great mix of optical, electronic, mechanic and computing equipment. We also have access to pretty good high performance computing facilities to calculate computing intensive numerical simulations. Petnica has great cooperation with top researchers in Serbia and worldwide as Institute of Physics in Belgrade, Institute for Nuclear Research in Vinca, Faculty of Physics in Belgrade, but also with our ex-students and colleagues in CERN, Madrid, Leiden, Boston, New York, Irvine and other places.
PROJECT PROPOSALS
NON-NEWTONIAN FLUIDS
A non-Newtonian fluid is a fluid whose flow properties differ in any way from those of Newtonian fluids. Most commonly the viscosity of non-Newtonian fluids is not independent of shear rate or shear rate history. However, there are some non-Newtonian fluids with shear-independent viscosity that nonetheless exhibit normal stress-differences or other non Newtonian behavior. In a Newtonian fluid, the relation between the shear stress and the shear rate is linear, passing through the origin, the constant of proportionality being the coefficient of viscosity. In a non-Newtonian fluid, the relation between the shear stress and the shear rate is different, and can even be time-dependent. Therefore a constant coefficient of viscosity cannot be defined. We will measure some characteristics of those fluids.
OPTICAL TWEEZERS
Optical tweezers (optical trap) are scientific instruments that use a highly-focused laser beam to provide an attractive or repulsive force (typically on the order of piconewtons), depending on the refractive index mismatch to physically hold and move microscopic dielectric objects. In Petnica Science Center we can assemble such system with low power CO2 lasers, few lenses and an old microscope.
ITERATIVE PRISONER’S DILEMMA
The Prisoner's dilemma is a fundamental problem in game theory that demonstrates why two people might not cooperate even if it is in both their best interests to do so. Extending the basic problem to iterative prisoner's dilemma we can develop classes of strategies. The aim of project is to test such strategies and make systems that evolve during time.
