Mechanical Engineering - Story Archives

Periodically, the Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics Portal showcases new Mechanical Engineering discoveries. As we post new material to the Mechanical Engineering Portal, we move other Mechanical Engineering stories to the archives.

Feature Stories

Improving Medical Imaging and Underwater SONAR Reconnaissance: Mechanically Robust Piezoelectric Crystals Deliver High Resolution
(Professor David J. Quesnel, Mechanical Engineering)
February 8, 2007: Recent research by Professor David J. Quesnel of the University of Rochester's Department of Mechanical Engineering may dramatically improve medical imaging and underwater reconnaissance. Piezoelectric crystals are integral to medical ultrasound and SONAR devices, watches, guitar pickups, microphones, speakers, cable and telecommunications equipment, inkjet printers, and high-resolution microscopes, to name only a few. Current polycrystalline piezoelectrics provide limited image resolution. While the newest next-generation piezoelectric crystals improve resolution by ten times, they tend to break quickly with use. By removing invisible cracks, Dr. Quesnel has strengthened next-generation piezoelectric crystals so they can last much longer while providing the increased image resolution.
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Advances in Alternate Energy: Professor Wins 2 Million Supercomputer Hours to Study Nuclear Fusion
(Assistant Professor Chuang Ren, Mechanical Engineering and Physics; Scientist, Laboratory for Laser Energetics)
February 1, 2007: Assistant Professor Chuang Ren of the University of Rochester Mechanical Engineering Department has won a Department of Energy (DOE) award of 2 million supercomputer hours to do detailed computational analyses for nuclear fusion research. Many experts believe that nuclear fusion, which is the energy of the sun and stars, is the key to global energy needs. Dr. Ren, who is also a Scientist at the University's Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE), received one of only 45 DOE "Innovative and Novel Computational Impact on Theory and Experiment (INCITE)" awards granted to researchers for 2007.
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