High schoolers’ projects at UR earn scholar recognition

Two area high schoolers have been named scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, formerly the Intel Science Talent Search, for summer research projects at the University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics.

Nikhil Bose of Pittsford Sutherland High School and Yujia Yang from Brighton High School are among the 300 scholars nationwide chosen from more than 1,800 students who entered the competition.

Bose and Yang will each be awarded $2,000 and their schools will receive $2,000 to support science, math, and engineering programs. Bose and Yang, who are now seniors, have a chance to be included among the 40 finalists chosen to attend a week-long Science Talent Institute in March in Washington, D.C., to compete for college scholarships with a top prize of $250,000.

During his time at the LLE, Bose developed a simulation model to explore a method for improving the performance of the lab’s OMEGA EP laser. He showed that with the insertion of a frequency conversion crystal of a carefully chosen thickness, it might be possible to increase the current energy limit.

Yang carried out hydrodynamic simulations of a new fusion concept for the National Ignition Facility known as Revolver. The NIF is the world’s largest laser and is located at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. LLE collaborates closely with LLNL on fusion research in which spherical capsules are imploded using high-power lasers. Yang improved on the uniformity of the best previous Revolver design.

Involving young adults in state-of-the-art science is an important goal for LLE. The lab started its summer high school program in 1989 and has had 364 participants to date. A total of 36 students from the LLE program have now become scholars.