62nd Annual STS (2002-2003)
Finalists
Daniel Jacob Ketover

NEW YORK
Daniel Jacob Ketover, 17, of Woodbury, studied the dynamics of the spin wavefunction of a molecular magnet using concepts developed by Ettore Majorana for his Intel Science Talent Search project in physics. To visualize the spin tunneling process, a process by which a particle can pass through a potential energy barrier higher than the energy of the particle, Daniel calculated the Majorana polynomial for [Fe8O2(OH)12(tacn)6]8+ and plotted its roots on a Riemann sphere creating a geometric picture of spin. Dan believes that Majorana's natural, classical representation of quantum mechanics could help reconcile the differences between classical and quantum mechanics. Dan is president of Mathletes and the Latin and French Honor Societies and member of the forensics club at Syosset High School. He plays piano and zither and volunteers at the Goudreau Museum of Mathematics in Art and Science. Dan recently gave a lecture on Einstein field equations and variation principles to graduate students at Hofstra University where he is close to completing a master's program in mathematics. The son of Dr. Brian and Lori Ketover, Dan plans to study math and physics at Harvard or the University of Chicago.