Yonathan Gomez Wins First Place in Scientific Imaging Contest

2017 Aug 16

Yonathan Gomez won First Place in Wesleyan's second annual Scientific Imaging Contest, which recognizes student-submitted images from experiments or simulations done with a Wesleyan faculty member. All the images are scientifically intriguing as well as aesthetically pleasing.

This year, 33 images were submitted from six departments. The entries were judged by a panel of four faculty members based on the quality of the image and the explanation of the underlying science.

Gomez was recognized for his image, "Jumping Drop." The drop is an expanding partially-ionized plasma created underwater by a pulsed Nd:YAG laser, which pushes upwards on the surface of the water. As the plasma bubble expands, it disrupts the surface from below, which launches a water drop upward. The water drop shown has a diameter of approximately 2mm. The image was taken at 1/2,000 of a second.