Nicholas A. Pohlman, Ph.D.

Title: Professor
Department: Mechanical Engineering
Office Location: EB 216
Office Phone: 815-753-9913
Email: npohlman@niu.edu

Education

  • Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2006
  • S.M. in Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2002
  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Dayton, 2000

Research Interests

  • Design at the Intensity Frontier – Component and detector development providing structural, thermal-fluid, and integration design support for high energy physics accelerators (PIP-II) and experiments (mu2e and muon g-2).
  • Granular Flows – Fundamental principles of granular materials such as boundary flow effects, energy loss in transportation devices, transient dynamics from unsteady forcing.
  • Biomass Energy – Material handling, densification, transportation and utilization for local energy conversion
  • Energy Optimization – Evaluating and designing mechanical systems and operational methods for optimal consumption and generation of total energy.
  • Estimation and Control – Create experimental systems with appropriate sensors for robust evaluation of state in order to conduct responsive, real-time control.

Selected Projects

  • Design of beamline components for mu2e including muon beam stop, instrument feedthrough bulkhead, and integrated rail positioning, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.
  • Detector development for g-2 in support of tracker system, flammable gas flow delivery, and magnetic fringe field, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.
  • A continuous-operation variable-feedstock biomass gasifier design based on indigenous materials, Environmental Protection Agency – P3 Award: A National Student Design Competition.
  • Transport and processing of biomass stock materials, Sustainable Agriculture Grant Program (IL Dept. of Ag).
  • Modeling and evaluation of beamline components,” Advanced Photon Source Argonne National Laboratory.

Professional Associations

  • American Physical Society, Division of Fluid Dynamics
  • American Society for Engineering Education
  • Intrapreneurship Advisory Board, Ideal Industries

Selected Publications

  • Muon g-2 Collaboration, “Measurement of the Positive Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment to 0.46 ppm,” Physical Review Letters, Vol 126, 2021, Article 141801.
  • Muon g-2 Collaboration, “Magnetic-field measurement and analysis for the Muon g−2 Experiment at Fermilab,” Physical Review A, Vol 103, 2021, Article 042208.
  • Muon g-2 Collaboration, “Measurement of the anomalous precession frequency of the muon in the Fermilab Muon g−2 Experiment,” Physical Review D, Vol 103, 2021, Article 072002.
  • Muon g-2 Collaboration, “Beam dynamics corrections to the Run-1 measurement of the muon anomalous magnetic moment at Fermilab,” Physical Review Accelerators and Beams, Vol 24, 2021, Article 044002.
  • Higgins, H., Krupiarz, K., O’Connor, R., Roenig-Donna, M., Tan, J., Pohlman, N.A., “Granular flow behavior in a conveyor system: from local velocity profiles to mass flow rate,” Powder Technology, Vol 382, 2021, pp 263-273.
  • Gumino, B., Pohlman, N.A., Barnes, J., Wever, P., “Design Features and Performance Evaluation of Natural-Draft, Continuous Operation Gasifier Cookstove,” Clean Technologies, Vol 2, Issue 3, 2020, pp 252-269.
  • Woodall, M., Baechler, G., Salehinia, I., Pohlman, N.A., “Mars Rover Rocker-Bogie Comparative Differential Study,” International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering, and Technology, Vol 9, Issue 4, 2020, pp 1874-1888.
  • Link, K., Pohlman, N.A., “Deicing Simulations for Windshields in Commercial Vehicle Applications,” SAE International Journal of Commercial Vehicles, 11(1):17-30, 2018.
  • Spitulnik, A., Pohlman N.A., “Erosion boundary effects due to fill fraction variation within quasi-2D granular tumblers,” Powder Technology, September 2017.
  • Muon g-2 Collaboration, “The Measurement of the Anomalous Magnetic Moment of the Muon at Fermillab,” Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data, Vol. 44, 2015, Article 031211.
    • Muon g-2 Collaboration, “Muon (g-2) Technical Design Report,” arXiv: 1501.06858, 2015.
    • Mu2e Collaboration, “Mu2e Technical Design Report,” arXiv: 1501.05241, 2014.
  • Si, Y., Pohlman, N.A., “Transient behavior of granular materials with symmetric conditions for tumbler shapes and fill fractions,” Granular Matter, Vol 18, 2015, Article 63.
  • Klisiewicz, P., Roberts, J.H., Pohlman, N.A., “Segregation of Titanium Powder with Polydisperse Size Distribution: Spectral and Correlation Analysis,” Powder Technology, Vol. 272, 2014, pp. 204-210.
  • Lenczewski, M., Pohlman, N.A., “Engaging Undergraduate Students in Hydrophilanthropy in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico,” Water Resources IMPACT, Vol. 18, 2014, pp 22-24.
  • Pohlman, N. A., Paprocki, Jr., D. F., “Transient Behavior of Granular Materials as Result of Tumbler Shape and Orientation Effects,” Granular Matter, Vol. 15, 2013, pp. 39-47.
  • Pohlman, N. A., Roberts, J. A., Gonser, M. J., “Characterization of Titanium Powder: Microscopic views and Macroscopic flow,” Powder Technology, Vol. 228, 2012, pp. 141-148.
  • Pohlman, N. A., Ghrayeb, O., Vohra, P., “Developing a disciplinary honours programme within an engineering college,” Global Journal of Engineering Education, Vol. 14, 2012, pp. 20-26.
  • Pohlman, N. A., Ottino, J. M., and Lueptow, R. M., “Unsteady Granular Flows in a Rotating Tumbler,” Physical Review E, Vol. 80, September 2009, pp. 031302.
  • Blazey, G., Chakraborty, D., Dyshkant, A., Francis, K., Hedin, D., Hill, J., Lima, G., Powell, J., Salcido, P., Zutshi, V., Demarteau, M., Rubinov, P., Pohlman, N., “Directly Coupled Tiles as Elements of a Scintillator Calorimeter with MPPC Readout,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods A, Vol. 605, 2009, pp. 277-281.

Work Experience

Honors Faculty Fellow (2022-2023)

  • As an Honors Faculty Fellow, Professor Pohlman will teach a seminar on Technology Adoptions of 21st Century: Affordable Access or Intrusive Invasion with Professor Nguyen in fall 2022 in the University Honors Program. The Honors Faculty Fellowship program identifies faculty eager to teach innovative, exciting seminars of interest to highly-motivated students from across the university.

Contact Us

College of Engineering and Engineering Technology
Engineering Building
590 Garden Rd, DeKalb, IL
815-753-2256
ceet@niu.edu
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