TAMU DEEP - Aj

Mentor

Howdy! Welcome to our Texas A&M University (TAMU) DEEP-Aj page. You may explore the projects we’re working on and learn more about our students’ work.

I have been a DEEP mentor for 5 years and have worked with over 50 undergraduate students. Our group tackles a wide range of projects involving lasers, optics, light and sound modulation, control systems, embedded systems, high-voltage plasma arc music, and quantum electronics.

The Texas A&M Physics & Engineering Festival 2027 is scheduled for April 3, 2027. Come see DEEP in action there! You can also check out our projects in this YouTube playlist.

APS-Project Grant

Principal Investigator of an APS Minigrant ($2,500) for the DEEP project, "From Theory to Reality: Hands-On Photon Entanglement Exploration." This ambitious project aims to develop an apparatus for exploring photon entanglement, with the potential for broad impact. Dharmasiri will present the exciting results at the 2026 APS meeting.

TAMU Announcement

Newsletter

Check the latest videos

DEEP-Aj 25/26 Videos

Signature Projects

Quantum Entanglement

APS funded project specializes on creation of real time polarization entangled photons. An EMCCD camera is employed for real time visualization.

Laser Eavesdrop

Imagine being able to listen to conversations inside a building miles away just by aiming a laser at a window. When people speak, sound waves create vibrations in the air, which, in turn, cause subtle vibrations on surrounding surfaces, including windows. By directing a laser at these reflective surfaces, we can capture and decode those vibrations to extract the audio. This technique, famously used during World War II, allows us to retrieve information from a distance in a remarkably sophisticated way.

Project Leader: Sarah Urbansky

Anti-gravity Water

Experience the mesmerizing water freeze effect from "Now You See Me 2" in real life! Using synchronized water flow and a strobe light system, we create a stunning stroboscopic effect. By adjusting the water flow rate or the strobe light frequency, you can make water droplets appear to flow slowly, freeze in mid-air, or even seem to defy gravity by moving upward! Custom 3D-printed nozzles ensure a smooth, laminar water flow, while pulsing speakers generate a steady stream of droplets for this captivating illusion.

Project Leader: Ami Chou

Quantum Cryptography

Cryptography has been essential for securing communication since its inception. However, when an eavesdropper intercepts a channel, they could potentially tap into the system, capture the signal, decode it, and send the original signal back to the receiver without detection, compromising security. Enter quantum physics, offering a groundbreaking solution. Through the principle of complementarity, senders can detect a breach simply by analyzing a set of data—no need to search for the eavesdropper. We will build an analogous system from scratch, introducing you to the fascinating world of BB84 quantum cryptography!

RFID Reader

How do wireless ID cards work, and are they secure? Dive into the world of NFC and RFID technology as we explore the working principles behind these systems. Our main focus is to understand how they operate, investigate cloning threats, and examine security precautions. With our homemade RFID reader, integrated with a NODE MCU and Java application, you'll have a hands-on playground to explore and experiment in this fascinating field.

Project Leaders: Nihar Kumar, Arik Rahman

1D/2D Ball Balancers

How does an automated balancing system work? In engineering, these are known as control systems, where we begin with PID algorithms and advance to newer ideologies. We're currently working on 1D and 2D ball balancing systems, and this year, our focus is on an upgraded system featuring an exposed gyro to clearly demonstrate the underlying principles.

Project Leaders: Rhea Kaithal, Louis Hlavinka

Laser Music Transfer

How cool is it to transmit music in real-time through a flashing LED bulb? We start with a basic LED system, then progress to using a simple laser for enhanced clarity and distance. This demonstrates the cutting-edge technology foundational to the optical fiber networks that power the internet. This year, we're excited to explore this application further by transitioning from analog to digital transmission methods. If you're fascinated by lasers and communications, this is the project for you!

Project Leader: Kaylyn Sitka