Physics News in 1998 A P S N E W S Honors & MARCH 1999 THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY VOLUME 8, NO. 3 Awards APS News[Try the enhanced APS News-online: [http://www.aps.org/apsnews] APS APS Centennial 100 March 20-26, 1999 years www.aps.org/centennial APS Centennial Meeting Draws Record Crowds to Atlanta t’s here at last! The APS will celebrate Selected Technical Highlights it, enabling diagnosis Iits 100th anniversary this month at the Photonic Crystal Lasers. Consisting of without the need for Centennial Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. slender bars arranged in a regularly repeat- an invasive biopsy. The conclave will constitute the largest ing pattern, a photonic crystal prevents the Once detected with physics meeting of all time, with an escape of light waves having a certain range lasers, such diseased expected 10,000 physicists in attendance at of colors or wavelengths. Modifying the ba- tissue may be treated, the Georgia World Congress Center. sic pattern of a photonic crystal can cause it effectively ridding The scope is infinite, from atoms to the to force light to travel in specific paths. As an the body of the risk universe as a whole. All of the APS units will “optical waveguide” it redirects light more of developing poten- be represented, so one will be able to hear than three times more efficiently than tradi- tially deadly diseases, talks about quarks, protons, nuclei, atoms, tional waveguides. Such waveguides could such as cancer. Mary- molecules, DNA, living organisms, crystalline cause light to bounce back and forth, in es- Ann Mycek of solids, gases, liquids, granular materials, plan- sence creating a highly efficient mirror. Dartmouth College ets, plasmas, stars, galactic clusters, and the Physicists have hoped that such mirrors will illustrate the appli- microwave background. In temperature, the could serve as a basis for a new kind of cation of “laser-induced subject matter extends from billionths to bil- low-power laser. Now, Attila Mekis of MIT fluorescence spectros- lions of kelvin, in pressure from billionths to and Lucent Technologies and his colleagues copy” to the detection billions of pascals. Laser power starts with have built a photonic-crystal laser which of epitelial dysplasia: milliwatts and goes all the way up to guides light in two dimensions. They will a pre-malignant skin petawatts, while computer power goes from present experimental measurements of this condition leading to single qubits to petabytes. Particles under dis- device. (Paper BC31.07) cancer. (Paper cussion are sometimes free, or quasi-free, but Early Cancer Detection with Laser FC32.01) more often than not are subject to some kind Spectroscopy. Many physics discoveries and New Possibilities of restraining order while they are subjected techniques have been successfully applied for DNA Comput- to quantum dots, quantum wells, quantum ers. In the marriage of Photos courtesy of (from left to right): General Atomics; Anglo-Australian Observatory, Epping Australia; to medicine. The laser is another example, ISIS, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory; Charles Townes; Brookhaven National Laboratory; AIP Niels Bohr contacts, quantum interference, quantum and physicists are now exploring the ability computer science and Library; and P. Tuffy, University of Edinburgh. chaos, quantum gravity, quantum comput- of laser light to detect subtle visual signa- molecular biology ers, quantum teleportation, quantum logic, tures of disease at an early stage. In the body, known as DNA computing, scientists create cent Technologies will show that it is pos- and quantum pinball. Indeed, the confine- the presence of disease alters the chemical fragments of DNA — whose letters repre- sible to use DNA to construct a massive neural ment of electrons, and the implication of this composition and shape of the affected tis- sent computer data and instructions — and network — computers modeled after the for the movement of information (ultimately sue. These microscopic alterations can be mix them together in test tubes to solve prob- human nervous system — with a connectiv- a trillion-dollar endeavor), is one of the pri- detected by shining laser light on tissue and lems, such as the shortest path through a ity of 1 trillion synapses, or 1% of a human mary motifs of the meeting. studying the spectrum of light reflected from number of cities. Allen Mills of Bell Labs/Lu- Continued on page 6

Inside… Corporate Sponsors Lend Support to CENTENNIAL Guide to Special Centennial Events ...... 2 Centennial Projects Banquets, exhibits and the Physics Festival — where and when it’s all happening in Atlanta. he APS Centennial will feature of the wall chart, has donated funds to cover teract with the Nobel laureates. Delta Air- Centennial Meeting Tutorials ...... 3 APS host tutorials during the Centennial Meeting. T several special events, exhibits and printing costs. The National Science Founda- lines is sponsoring the travel of selected Exhibits and Topical Conferences ...... 3 ongoing projects made possible by generous tion and Department of Energy are funding dignataries to the Centennial. Vice President Highlights of special exhibits open at the Centen- donations from corporate and government its distribution and the United Parcel Service Gore has been invited to address the lun- nial as well as four Centennial Topical Conferenes sponsors. [See the “Guide to Special Events” will fund packaging. The educational timeline cheon guests who will include APS leadership, being held at Atlanta colleges and universities. on pages 2-3 for specific times and locations.] will be distributed free to high schools, junior local dignitaries and program sponsors. Centennial Stuff for Sale ...... 6 Books, CD-ROMS, and novelty items will be avail- colleges and universities, along with a teach- able for purchase at APS Centennial Meeting. Fernbank Museum Gala ers guide — developed with funds provided Microscapes Exhibit Numerous organizations have contributed Lucent Technologies is also sponsor- NEWS by the Lounsbery Foundation — as well Court Victory for APS and AIP ...... 5 to supporting the gala buffet dinner at the as to science centers and libraries. ing an exhibit entitled Microscapes: The US Court of Appeals upholds ruling in favor of Fernbank Museum on Sunday evening, March To complement the paper timeline Hidden Art of High Technology, featuring APS and AIP in Gordon & Breach publisher’s suit. 21, a formal affair celebrating the APS Cen- wall chart, IBM is sponsoring the develop- 50 photographs that explore the conver- Halsted Returns to Roots ...... 7 tennial and the accomplishments of 20th gence of art and technology, created in Long-time employee, Amy Halsted, to become ment of a timeline website, to become special assistant to Editor-in-Chief. century physics. In addition to dancing, available later this month. The website is collaboration with the scientists and re- Elbow Room at the APS Editoral Office ...... 7 there will be three screenings of “Cosmic designed as an electronic version of the searchers of Lucent/Bell Laboratories. The New conference rooms dedicated to former Voyage” in the IMAX Theatre. Entertain- literal text and images of the wall chart, exhibition has been shown in museums, editors Samuel Goudsmit and Simon Pasternack inexpanded Ridge offices. ment will be offered in the auditorium by accessed through multimedia, interactive art centers and universities through the U.S. Amendment to APS Bylaws ...... 7 Lynda Williams, “The Physics Chanteuse,” and and external-link enhancements. It ex- and abroad. Available for viewing are such Notice of a minor change in APS Bylaws to allow science magician Bob Friedhoffer. Primary pands the amount of information available subjects as a fiber optic illumination of a sili- anniversary billing. sponsors include the American Institute of via the paper version, allowing more in- con chip for echo-free conversations, a OPINION Physics, The Beacon Group, Herbert V. Fried- depth exploration of physics discoveries and computer-simulated “fingerprint” of a super- APS Views ...... 4 man, and Hartford Life. Additional sponsors their application to our world. conductor, and a scanning electron Physics and the APS, Then and Now. Parallel columns by first and current APS presidents. include Herbert L. Jamison & Co., Chroma micrograph of sulfur crystals. [For online text Graphics, Inc., and Global Mail Ltd. Nobel Laureate Luncheon and graphics, see http://www.lucent.com/ DEPARTMENTS Zero Gravity ...... 5 The Coca-Cola Company and the APS are microscapes/microscapes.html Winners of the Brain Teaser Limericks contest. Timeline Wall Chart and Web Site jointly hosting the Nobel Laureate luncheon, Inside the Beltway ...... 7 Numerous organizations are sponsoring scheduled for Saturday, March 20, which is Budget Surplus Culture Shock various aspects of the Timeline Wall Chart, intended to promote and highlight the im- Students Receive Travel The Back Page ...... 8 an educational outreach project entitled A portance of science education. This invitation Grants to Centennial Discovering Our Roots: The PhD Lineage Con- Century of Physics. A compilation of photo- test Winners only luncheon will honor an outstanding high The APS awarded 352 travel grants graphs and text highlighting major school science teacher from each state and of $250 to enable undergraduate INSERTS developments and contributions of physics will be attended by science teachers and stu- and graduate students from 141 in- Physics News in 1998 throughout the 20th century is displayed on Research highlights of the past year in physics. dents from Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding stitutions attend the Centennial. eleven 40”x 26" panels. Each panel high- Honors and Awards areas, as well as more than 40 Nobel Prize Student travel grants were funded lights one decade of 20th century physics. Listing of prizewinners to be honored at the Cen- winners in physics and chemistry. Students by DOE, NSF and the APS. tennial meeting; new fellows; announcements. Lucent Technologies, the primary sponsor and teachers will have an opportunity to in- APS News March 1999 A Guide to Special Centennial Events s most of our members are now well SUNDAY, MARCH 21 Public Lecture: “The Physics of Dance.” Public Lecture: “Sunlight and Ice A aware, the APS will celebrate a GWCC Auditorium Crystals in the Skies of Antarctica.” GWCC Auditorium century of physics accomplishments Physics Demonstration: “Magnetism, 11:00 - 11:50 AM March 21 through March 26, 1999, in Ken Laws, a professor of physics of 10:00 - 10:50 AM Materials, Blue Sky Science and Life.” Robert Greenler recaps his South Pole Atlanta, GA. The expanded technical GWCC Lawn Dickinson College and long-standing bal- let dancer and enthusiast, will analyze a experiences studying optical halo effects meeting and exhibit program has been 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM from the interaction of sunlight with ice augmented with numerous special events Sam Spiegel of Florida State University sequence of ballet movements with a bal- lerina assistant using principles of physics. crystals. and outreach activities. To help presents a light-hearted but heavy-handed attendees navigate their way around the look at the implications of magnetism Physics Demonstration: “What Does a Public Lecture: “Nonsense and Non- Science: From Aliens to Creationism.” Centennial meeting, we offer the through some clasic demonstrations and Scientist Do?” discussions with a twist. [Presented by the GWCC Auditorium following guide to special Centennial SciTrek Museum (Midtown) National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.] 11:00 - 11:50 AM events. 11:00 AM Sam Spiegel from Florida State Univer- Lawrence Krauss offers examples from In addition to a Nobel laureate lun- Opening Centennial Session various advertisements, TV shows, and GWCC sity presents an engaging demonstration and cheon and exhibit opening involving discusion of what scientists do through the movies to discuss the difference between teachers, students and Nobel Prize win- 1:00 PM - 1:45 PM science and fiction, and how the distinc- Speaker: D. Allan Bromley use of magic and observation. It is intended ners Saturday, there is an honorary to challenge the common perception of tion between sense and nonsense is international banquet on Saturday night, Gala at Fernbank Museum of Natural white men with wild hair dressed in white becoming blurred in popular discourse. and a special gala buffet dinner at the History lab coats, and encourage students to be- Physics Demonstration: “Mr. Magnet” Fernbank Museum on Sunday night. The 6:30 - 10:00 PM gin to explore the world around and within Sci Trek Museum (Downtown) cornerstone of the week’s festivities is Black Tie Optional themselves through science. 11:00 AM - Noon the Physics Festival in Atlanta: Mastering Lunchtime Popular Lecture: Mr. Magnet—a.k.a. Paul Turner, a tech- the Mysteries of the Universe. A series “Ice Crystal Halos Over the South nical supervisor at MIT’s Plasma Science of popular physics talks will be offered, Pole.” and Fusion Center—will demonstrate the principles of magnetism and electricity and including a talk on Wednesday night by Georgia Pacific Auditorium (Downtown) 12:15 - 1:15 PM interesting applications in daily life, such Stephen Hawking. Physics demonstra- as magnetic strips on credit cards, audio tions will be offered throughout the Robert Greenler, an adjunct professor of physics at the University of Wisconsin- and video tape recorders, and automotive week, along with special museum ex- Courtesy of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau Fernbank Museum Milwaukee, highlights his experiences at the magnet motors, and magnetic sensors. hibits. Finally, local universities will host U.S. research station on the South Pole, Lunchtime Public Demonstration: “The special on campus topical lectures and A gala buffet dinner celebrating the APS Centennial and the accomplishments of studying optical effects from the interac- Science of Magic and the Magic of conferences just prior to the meeting. 20th century physics. In addition to danc- tion of sunlight with ice crystals. Science.” ing, there will be three screenings of Physics Demonstration: “FUNdamental Georgia Pacific Building Auditorium SATURDAY, MARCH 20 “Cosmic Voyage” in the IMAX Theatre. En- Physics with Toys” (Downtown) tertainment will be offered in the auditorium GWCC Lawn 12:15 - 1:15 PM Opening of the Nobel Discoverers Exhibit by Lynda Williams, “The Physics Chan- 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM Science magician and award-winning GWCC; Level 3 Registration Area teuse,” and science magician Bob Raymond Turner of Clemson University author Bob Friedhoffer—a.k.a. “The Mad- 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM (Exhibit on view Friedhoffer. A limited number of tickets are uses a variety of ordinary children’s toys man of Magic”— uses magic to illustrate throughout the week) available at $50 per person. to demonstrate fundamental scientific prin- basic scientific principles, and shows how magic uses science to create its illusions. International Science Plenary Talks ciples, including Weebles that wobble, GWCC, Conference Center MONDAY, MARCH 22 periscopes that invert images, balls that Physics Demonstration: Adventures in 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM bounce (or don’t bounce), and the use of Physics infrared blasters or bungee jumpers to per- GWCC Lawn International Reception and Banquet Public Lecture: “Fractals and Scaling in form quantitative measurements. 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM Westin Peachtree Plaza Nature, Culture and Finance.” Cynthia Keppel of Hampton University 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM GWCC Auditorium Special Centennial Plenary Talks and several students present dynamic, in- National and local dignitaries as well as 10:00 - 10:50 AM 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM teractive physics demonstrations Nobel laureates will be invited guests at this Richard Voss, a professor of physics and • Physics of the Very Big and Very Small; illuminating physics principles, including event celebrating international cooperation mathematics at Florida Atlantic University, Steven Weinberg, University of Texas/Austin a vacuum cannon, liquid nitrogen bath, bed in physics. Reservations required. A lim- illustrates the impact of fractal geometry and • The Impact of Physics on Medicine and of nails and exploding powder. ited number of tickets are available at $40.00 chaos theory on practical applications from Biology; Harold Varmus, Director, NIH economics to DNA analysis. per person. • Physics and the Information Revolution; Public Lecture: “Fractals and Chaos: Joel Birnbaum, V.P. Research, Hewlett- Bridging Science and Culture.” Packard Labs Atlanta College of Art, Woodruff Arts Cen- ter, Rich Auditorium (Midtown) APS COUNCIL 1999 Welcome Reception GWCC, Level 1 West 3:00 - 4:15 PM President Richard Voss reprises his discussion of APS News Jerome Friedman*, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM President-Elect Join your colleagues at the APS Wel- fractal geometry and chaos theory for a Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 James S. Langer*, University of California, Santa Barbara general audience, focusing on how these Series II, Vol. 8, No. 3 March 1999 Vice-President come Reception at the Convention Center © 1999 The American Physical Society George H. Trilling*, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory new fields provide tools and unifying con- Executive Officer on Monday evening. Judy R. Franz*, University of Alabama, Huntsville (on leave) cepts that bridge the traditional boundaries Editor ...... Barrett H. Ripin Treasurer Public Lecture: “The Physics of Star between science, art and finance. Associate Editor ...... Jennifer Ouellette Thomas McIlrath*, University of Maryland (emeritus) Trek.” Editor-in-Chief Contributing Editor ...... Amy Halsted Martin Blume*, Brookhaven National Laboratory Rialto Theatre (Downtown) Production ...... Alicia Chang Past-President 8:30 - 9:30 PM Andrew M. Sessler*, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published 11X yearly, Lawrence Krauss, a professor of phys- monthly, except the August/September issue, by the Ameri- General Councillors ics and astronomy at Case Western Reserve can Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, Daniel Auerbach, Beverly Berger, Philip Bucksbaum, L. Craig MD 20740-3844, (301) 209-3200. It contains news of the Davis, S. James Gates*, Donald Hamann*, Leon Lederman, University and bestselling author of The Society and of its Divisions, Topical Groups, Sections and Cynthia McIntyre, Roberto Peccei, Paul Peercy*, Helen Quinn, Physics of Star Trek, relates examples from Forums; advance information on meetings of the Society; Susan Seestrom*, James Trefil, Virginia Trimble*, Ronald and reports to the Society by its committees and task Walsworth, Sau Lan Wu the popular TV series to illustrate concepts forces, as well as opinions. Chair, Nominating Committee at the forefront of modern physics. Michael Turner Letters to the editor are welcomed from the membership. Letters must be signed and should include an address and Chair, Panel on Public Affairs daytime telephone number. The APS reserves the right to Dennis McWhan select and to edit for length or clarity. All correspondence regarding APS News should be directed to: Editor, APS Division and Forum Councillors Image from Sprott’s Fractal Gallery website: http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/fractals.htm News, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20749-3844, Steven Holt (Astrophysics), Eric Heller*, TBA (Atomic, Molecular Fractal Lectures: “Fractals and Scaling in E-mail: [email protected]. and Optical), Robert Callender (Biological), Stephen Leone Nature, Culture and Finance” on Monday (Chemical), E. Dan Dahlberg, David Aspnes*, Arthur Hebard, Subscriptions: APS News is an on-membership publica- Zachary Fisk* (Condensed Matter), Warren Pickett (Computa- and “Fractals and Chaos:Bridging Science tion delivered by Periodical Mail. Members residing abroad tional), Jerry Gollub (Fluid Dynamics), James Wynne (Forum on and Culture” on Tuesday. may receive airfreight delivery for a fee of $20. Non- Education), Gloria Lubkin (Forum on History of Physics), Matt members: Subscription rates are: domestic $160; Canada, Richter (Forum on Industrial & Applied Physics), Myriam Sarachik Mexico, Central and South America, and Caribbean $180; (Forum on International Physics), Dietrich Schroeer (Forum on Physical Review Drop-In Reception Air Freight Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania $210. Physics and Society), Andrew Lovinger (High Polymer), Daniel Grischkowsky (Laser Science), Howard Birnbaum (Materials), Sponsored by Physical Review, Physical John Schiffer, John D. Walecka (Nuclear), Robert Cohn, Sally Subscription orders, renewals and address changes Review Letters, and Physical Review Special Dawson (Particles and Fields), Robert Siemann (Physics of Beams), should be addressed as follows: For APS Members—Mem- Richard Hazeltine, William Kruer (Plasma) Topics bership Department, The American Physical Society, One *Members of APS Executive Board Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844, GWCC, 3rd Level Terraces [email protected]. For Nonmembers—Circulation ADVISORS 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM and Fulfillment Division, American Institute of Physics, The journal editors will be available to 500 Sunnyside Blvd., Woodbury, NY 11797. Allow at least Sectional Representatives

6 weeks advance notice. For address changes, please send George Rawitscher, New England; William Standish, New York; Copyright © 1998 Paramont Pictures answer questions and share concerns about both the old and new addresses, and, if possible, include a Perry P. Yaney, Ohio; Joseph Hamilton, Southeastern; Stephen Lawrence Krauss will lecture on the journals. Stop by for refreshment - all mailing label from a recent issue. Requests from subscrib- Baker, Texas “The Physics of Star Trek” ers for missing issues will be honored without charge only are welcome. if received within 6 months of the issue’s actual date of Representatives from Other Societies publication. Thomas O’Kuma, AAPT; Marc Brodsky, AIP TUESDAY, MARCH 23 Special Centennial Plenary Talks Staff Representatives • Physics and Technology; Mary L. Good, Periodical Postage Paid at College Park, MD and at addi- Barrett Ripin, Associate Executive Officer; Irving Lerch, Director tional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to of International Affairs; Ramon Lopez, Director of Education and APS Senior/Retired Member Buffet Managing Member, Venture Capital APS News, Membership Department, The American Physi- Outreach; Robert L. Park, Director, Public Information; Michael Breakfast • Physics and Materials; Richard Smalley, cal Society, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740- Lubell, Director, Public Affairs; Stanley Brown, Administrative 3844. Editor; Charles Muller, Director, Editoral Office Services, Michael Rutherford Hall, Omni Hotel Rice University Stephens, Controller and Assistant Treasurer 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM • Physics and the American Culture; Mar- Cost: $10.00 tin Klein, Yale University

2 March 1999 APS News

Centennial Guide Continued

Public Lecture: “The Physics of Student’s Luncheon Exhibits Baseball.” GWCC, Level 1 West, Maple Point To Advance and Diffuse the Knowledge of Physics: 100 Years of the APS. Sci-Trek Museum (Midtown) 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM Georgia World Congress Center entrance lobby. Open S-F. A curated exhibit of the 4:00 - 5:00 PM All student attendees are invited to origins and historical development of the APS. Display contents include: APS Richard Brandt, a professor of physics mingle with fellow physics students and research journals, outreach programs, as well a number of interesting incidents that at New York University, discusses the un- enjoy complimentary lunch. helped shape the character of the Society. derlying physical principles of pitching and Demonstration: “The Science of Magic hitting in baseball, drawing on examples Felice Frankel Photography Exhibit: “Envisioning Physics.” Fernbank and the Magic of Science” from the sport’s long history. Museum of Natural History. Open M-F, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Award-winning science GWCC Lawn Microscapes Exhibit Opening 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM photographer and MIT Artist-in-Residence Felice Frankel presents a series of science- Atlanta College of Art, Woodruff Arts Bob Friedhoffer—a.k.a. “The Madman based photographs, many of which have appeared in major scientific journals and Center, North Galleria of Magic”— uses magic to illustrate basic magazines. 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM scientific principles, and shows how magic Microscapes: The Hidden Art of Woodruff Arts Center will host an open- uses science to create its illusions. High Technology. Woodruff Arts Center, ing reception for the exhibit, “Microscapes: Awards and Retiring APS President’s North Galleria. Open T-F, 9:00 AM - 5:00 The Hidden Art of High Technology,” Address sponsored by Lucent Technologies. [See PM. The exhibit presents 50 photographs GWCC Ballrooms II & III “Exhibits” for more information.] that explore the convergence of art and 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM technology, created in collaboration with Alumni Reunions Public Lecture: “The Physics of Dance.” the scientists and researchers of Lucent/ GWCC Hall D The Grand Salon, Fox Theatre (Midtown) Bell Laboratories. [For online text and 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

6:00 - 7:00 PM Technologies Lucent Credit: As part of the Centennial Celebration graphics, see http://www.lucent.com/ Ken Laws again analyzes a sequence many university and laboratory alumni microscapes/microscapes.html.] Soldering Iron Tip. Photomicrograph with of ballet movements with a ballerina asistant reflected illumination John Carnevale. A groups will hold alumni receptions in the using principles of physics, this time in con- Virtual Earth. GWCC Auditorium soldering iron tip has been ground down to exhibit hall adjacent to the APS exhibits. junction with the dress rehearsal of a new (entrance). Open M-W, 9:00 AM - 5:00 reveal the copper core within its iron sheath. Join your colleagues for an evening of re- work, “Requiem,” by the Atlanta Ballet in PM. The National Center for Atmospheric The image reveals the crystal structure of laxation and renewing old acquaintances. the metals and the nature of the bond the Fox Theatre, starting at 7:00 PM. Research offers a 3-D visualization of between them. Theatre: “Schrödinger’s Girlfriend” Earth. Lilienfeld Public Lecture: “The Universe GWCC (Room TBD) in a Nutshell .” APS Timeline Wall Chart: “A Century of Physics.” Georgia World Congress 8:30 PM Atlanta Civic Center A staged reading of the new romantic Center. Open M-F, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. The timeline traces the development of 8:30 PM - 10:00 PM comedy by Matthew Wells in which love physics throughout the 20th century. obeys the crazy laws of subatomic physics APS Unit Exibits. Georgia World Congress Center Exhibit Hall D. Open M 10:00 will have its world premiere at the centen- AM - 5 PM; T 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM; W 10 AM - 3:00 PM. Twenty-seven APS Divisions, nial meeting. Topical Groups, Forums and Sections will highlight activity in their units. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24 The African-American Presence in Physics (two identical exhibits to be installed at Atlanta University Center Complex and at Georgia World Congress Center Exhibit Hall D). Open M-W at GWCC. Official opening reception on Public Lecture: “The Physics of Brass Instruments Or, What do Horn Players March 20 will coincide with the meeting of the National Society of Black Do With Their Right Hands, Anyway?” Physicists. GWCC Auditorium Nobel Discoverers Gallery. The unique AIP W. F. Meggers collection of 10:00-10:50 AM Stephen Hawking, renowned theoreti- physics Nobel Laureate portraits will be exhibited during the Nobel Laureate Brian Holmes, a professor of physics at cal physicist and author of the bestselling Luncheon and, later, throughout the Centennial in the Georgia World San Jose State University who also performs A Brief History of Time, will give the 1999 Congress Center near the registration area. regularly with the San Jose Symphony and APS Lilienfeld Prize lecture (see honors in- Opera, reviews the physics of brass musi- sert for further information). Physics in Our Lives. An APS exhibit under development that illustrates to cal instruments throughout history. youth the impact that physics has on the exploration of Nature, saving lives and Public Lecture: “The Physics of THURSDAY, MARCH 25 driving technology. It includes several interactive demonstrations. Baseball.” GWCC Auditorium Demonstration: “The Science of Magic On-Campus Topical Conferences 11:00 - 11:50 AM and the Magic of Science.” Richard Brandt reprises his discussion Sci-Trek Museum (Midtown) Industries of the Mind: Physics and Economic Growth. Georgia State of the underlying physical principles of 11:00 AM University, New Student Center, Tuesday, March 16, 1999, 2:30 - 5:30 PM. pitching and hitting in baseball, and will Bob Friedhoffer—a.k.a. “The Madman Various Career Choices with Foundations in Physics. Spelman College, focus on the 66 and 70 home runs hit by of Magic”— uses magic to illustrate basic Cosby Center, Thursday, March 18, 1999, 9:00 AM - 12 Noon. Sosa and McGwire, respectively, in the 1998 scientific principles, and shows how magic season. uses science to create its illusions. Reporting Science in the 21st Century. Emory University, Friday March 19, 1999, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Demonstration: “Adventures in Lunchtime Popular Lecture: “The Physics” Physics of Brass Instruments.” The Influence of Physics on Developments in Other Disciplines During Sci-Trek Museum (Midtown) Georgia Pacific Building Auditorium the 20th Century. Morehouse College at the Atlanta University Center, Thursday, 11:00 AM and 12:00 Noon (Downtown) March 18, 1999, 2:00 PM - 3:45 PM. Cynthia Keppel of Hampton University 12:15 - 1:15 PM and several students present dynamic, in- Brian Holmes reprises his talk on the teractive physics demonstrations physics of brass musical instruments illuminating physics principles, including throughout history. a vacuum cannon, liquid nitrogen bath, bed Centennial Meeting Tutorials of nails and exploding powder. FRIDAY, MARCH 26 he APS is hosting five tutorials during The Physics of Cold Atoms at Lunchtime Lecture: “The Physics T the APS Centennial Meeting, to be held Millikelvin, Microkelvin and Chanteuse” Lunchtime Popular Lecture: “The on Sunday, March 21, from 9:00 am to 1:00 Nanokelvin Temperatures. An overview Georgia Pacific Building Auditorium Physics of Beer: Drinking and Eating pm. Arranged by MIT’s Lawrence Rubin, the of the physics of laser cooling and its impact 12:15 PM - 1:15 PM the Foam We Love.” topics to be featured are listed below. Further on various areas, such as a new generation Lynda Williams, a.k.a. “The Physics Georgia Pacific Building Auditorium information can be found in recent APS of atomic clocks and atom interferometry. Chanteuse,” offers Cosmic Cabaret, her (Downtown) Meeting Announcements, inserts to APS Laser-cooled atoms, which were crucial to unique blend of science and showtunes 12:15 - 1:15 PM skewering a broad range of physics con- Sid Perkowitz, a News, or online at http://www.aps.org under the realization of gas phase Bose-Einstein con- cepts. [See ZERO GRAVITY, APS News, professor of physics the Centennial Meeting button. densation, were recognized by the 1997 February 1999] Williams will also be per- at Emory University, Applications of Magnetic Force Mi- Nobel Prize in Physics.

forming Monday at 8:00 PM at GWCC. explores the science website: croscopy in Magnetic Imaging of Perspectives on Career Choices in behind the formation Materials. An overview of the development Industrial and Applied Physics. An over- of foam and bubbles of magnetic force microscopy and its appli- view of the goals, career choices, technical in beer, soda, bread, cation in three major areas for the study of activities, motivation and other aspects of the The New Brewer whipped cream, me- materials: imaging under external fields, quan- professional life of industrial physicists, in- ringue and other titative studies, and using MFM as an imaging tended to broaden the scope and delicacies. Photo from “Physics of Beer” www.aob.org/IBS/newbrewer/articles/nitrobrew.htm and measuring technique. perspective of physics students, postdocs, Cellular Automata Simulations with and faculty. NOTE: This schedule reflects all events, times and locations at press time, and is subject to Mathematica. An introduction for students Development of Key Concepts in last-minute changes. To check on updated to the use of computer simulation as a Surface Science. An historical overview festival events, see the APS Centennial website tool for the study of natural phenomena in of the development of key areas of sur- at http://www.aps.org/centennial, or refer to the a wide range of fields. Specific topics to be face science up to the present frontiers.

Photo courtesy of Lynda Williams Physics Festival booklet available at the APS Lynda Williams, a.k.a. “The Physics Chanteuse” Centennial Meeting. covered include diffusive processes, solidifi- Topics include low energy electron dif- cation, interfacial diffusion fronts, solid fraction, photon spectroscopy, dynamics electrolytes and fast ion conductors, coales- of molecule-surface interactions, and key http://www.aps.org/centennial cence, and surface adsorption-desorption. issues in atomic imaging. 3 APS News March 1999 APS Views: Physics and the APS, Then and Now APS Purpose: “In the firm belief that an understanding of the nature of the physical universe will be a benefit to all humanity, the objective of the Society shall be the advancement and diffusion of the knowledge of physics”

The Highest Aim of the Physicist Meeting Challenges of the 21st Century by Henry Rowland, 1899 APS President by Jerome Friedman, 1999 APS President

e meet here in the interest of a knowledge are very he APS has the responsibility of which explains W science above all sciences, which deals small indeed. T providing opportunities for the the nature and with the foundation of the universe, with the All the facts which physics community to communicate value of physics. constitution of matter from which everything we have consid- scientifically, both within fields and We must also in the universe is made, and with the ether ered, the liability to across fields, by means of meetings and make better con- of space by which alone the various portions error in whatever di- journals. This central function must be tact with science of matter forming the universe affect each rection we go, the continually strengthened, but the APS journalists to am- other even at such distances as we may never infirmity of our must do more to ensure the health of plify our message expect to traverse whatever the progress of minds in their reason- Henry Rowland physics at a time when science in and enlarge our Jerome Friedman our science in the future. ing power, the general is facing serious challenges. audience. In the We form an aristocracy, not of wealth, not fallibility of witnesses and experimenters, lead This month — in fact, this entire year long run science can prosper only if of pedigree, but of intellect and ideals, hold- the scientist to be specially skeptical with — is a celebration of 100 years of the the public truly supports it. ing him in the highest respect who adds the reference to any statement made to him or APS, and 100 years of remarkable The more unified the physics com- most to our knowledge or who strives after any so-called knowledge which may be advances in physics. But we also want munity is the greater its political it as the highest good. brought to his attention. to use this event as an opportunity for effectiveness will be. Because of the Let us cultivate the idea of the dignity of How shall we regulate our mind with re- extensive outreach to the general diverse range of subfields represented our pursuit, so that this feeling may sustain spect to the imperfections of the knowledge public, to policy makers and to within the Society, the APS works to us in the midst of a world which gives its of physics? The scientific mind should never students. The continued support of enable the physics community to highest praise to the one who uses it for sat- recognize the perfect truth or the perfect physics will depend on our ability to speak with one voice. The same prin- isfying the physical rather than the intellectual falsehood of any supposed theory or obser- articulate to the federal government ciple applies to the scientific needs of mankind. He who makes two blades vation. It should carefully weigh the chances and the public at large the community in general. The APS and of grass grow where one grew before is the of truth and error and grade each in its proper contributions that physics makes to over 100 other scientific and technical benefactor of mankind; but he who obscurely position along the line joining absolute truth society. The APS has been playing an societies are now working together as worked to find the laws of such growth is and absolute error. important role in organizing and a unified advocate of better funding the intellectual superior as well as the greater The ordinary crude mind has only two leading this effort, and the Centennial for basic and applied science. benefactor of the two. compartments, one for truth and one for er- celebration is the beginning of new The public today is largely disen- ror; indeed, the contents of the two efforts in this direction. gaged from science. They are the compartments are sadly mixed in most cases. Today the pursuit of science is un- product of a K-12 school system that The study of nature’s secrets The ideal scientific mind, however, has an der great budgetary pressures in a has failed to provide scientific literacy. infinite number. Each theory or law is in its period of budget caps and major so- The young people of today are not is the ordained method by proper compartment indicating the probabil- cial problems. With the end of the Cold being equipped to succeed in a tech- which the greatest good and ity of its truth. As a new fact arrives the scientist War, the social contract between sci- nological society. Another serious issue “““ changes it from one compartment to another, ence and society embodied in is that a scientifically uninformed pub- happiness shall finally come so as to always keep it in its proper relation Vannevar Bush’s ground-breaking re- lic cannot effectively participate in to the human race....Let us to truth and error. The ideal scientific mind, port, Science: The Endless Frontier, has political decisions related to science go forward, then, with therefore, must always be held in a state of begun to erode. In the decades follow- and technology. confidence in the dignity of balance which the slightest new evidence ing the end of World War II, the The APS must continue to may change in one direction or another. It is support of science was regarded as a strengthen and develop its programs our pursuit. Let us hold our in a constant state of skepticism, knowing wise investment. However, in recent to improve physics education in the heads high with a pure full well that nothing is certain. It is above all years there have been some in gov- elementary and secondary schools. We conscience while we seek an agnostic with respect to all facts and theo- ernment who have questioned this should extend our existing efforts by ries of science as well as to all other so- called premise. They do not accept the view increasing our associations with sci- the truth, and may the beliefs and theories. that the pursuit of scientific knowledge ence teachers, helping them devise American Physical Society Yet it would be folly to reason from this has social as well as intellectual value; more effective curricula. We should do its share now and in that we need not guide our life according to and they have wanted guaranteed, encourage an increase in the partici- the approach to knowledge that we pos- short-term benefits as the justification pation our members, providing them generations yet to come in sess. Nature is inexorable; it punishes the child for their support of science. We must with the support they need to work trying to unravel the great who unknowingly steps off a precipice quite transmit the message that the support effectively at the local level. Our com- problem of the constitution as severely as the grown scientist who steps of science and technology is an invest- munity also has the responsibility to over, with full knowledge of all the laws of ment that is critical for the future of bring to the public and political lead- and laws of the Universe. falling bodies and the chances of their being the nation, and that an appropriate ers those scientific insights and facts Henry Rowland correct. Both fall to the bottom and in their portion of the federal budget should that bear upon scientific issues in spe- 1899 APS President fall obey the gravitational laws of organic go into both basic and applied re- cific political decisions. The Society matter, slightly modified by the muscular search. should continue to play an important Thus, to encourage the growth of any contortions of a falling object, but not in any The way we live today is very much role in this area. science, the best thing we can do is to meet degree changed by the previous belief of a product of the scientific discoveries Finally, although we are the Ameri- together in its interest, to discuss its prob- the person. of the past and the technologies de- can Physical Society, the world is lems, to criticize each other’s work and, best Natural laws there probably are, rigid and veloped from them. These advances getting smaller, and greater involve- of all, to provide means by which the better unchanging. Understand them and they are have also shaped how we see our ment in international issues is portion of it may be made known to the beneficent; we can use then for our purposes place in the universe. Science has inevitable. Today we have many mem- world. Furthermore, let us encourage discrimi- and make them the slaves of our desires. played and is playing a vital role in bers outside the U.S.,and most of the nation in our thoughts and work. Let us Misunderstand them and they are monsters improving our lives. This view is clearly manuscript submissions to our journals recognize the eras when great thoughts have who may grind us to powder or crush us in expressed in Vern Ehlers’ recent re- are from foreign authors. In the inter- been introduced into our subject and let us the dust. Nothing is asked of us as to our port, Unlocking Our Future, which national arena the APS should pick its honor the great men who introduced and belief; they act unswervingly and we must updates the Bush report. This report goals carefully, focusing on issues in proved them correct. In choosing the sub- understand them or suffer the consequences. and the Frist-Rockefeller Bill, S.2217, which we can be effective, such as jects for our investigation, let us, if possible, What greater fool, then, than he who states which seeks to increase federal funds promoting human rights and the free work upon those which will finally give us that belief is of no consequence provided it for science by a factor of two in twelve flow of scientific information.. Above an advanced knowledge of some great sub- is sincere. years signify a changing climate in all, we must continue to foster good ject. What is matter; what is gravitation; what An only child lies on a bed of illness. The Washington with regard to support for collaboration with physical societies in is ether and the radiation through it; what is physician says that the disease is total: a scientific research. But this change is other parts of the world, with joint electricity and magnetism; how are these con- minute plant called a microbe has obtained far from complete and the scientific meetings and other activities. nected, and what is their relation to heat? entrance in the body and is growing at the community must work hard to bring it To accomplish these broad goals, These are the great problems of the uni- expense of its tissues, forming deadly poi- about and maintain it. we must look within our own ranks for verse. But many infinitely smaller problems sons in the blood or destroying some vital The nation has many diverse needs, both ideas and help. Our objectives we must attack and solve before we can organ. Can we doubt there is a remedy which and we, the scientific community, must must reflect the consensus of our mem- even guess at the solutions to the greater shall kill the microbe or neutralize its poison? ensure that the public and our policy bers. In this regard we must continue ones. Why, then, as he not used it? The answer is makers are aware of the importance to make the Society more responsive It is a curious fact that, having minds tend- ignorance. The physician is waiting for oth- of research when political choices are to the needs of its members, commu- ing to the infinite, with imaginations unlimited ers to discover it, or perhaps is experimenting being made. Our community should nicating with them to find out how to by time and space, the bits of our exact Continued on page 5 undertake a general educational role Continued on page 5

4 March 1999 APS News zero Court of Appeals Affirms Victory gravity for APS and AIP in Litigation Brain Teaser Limericks Over Survey of Journal Prices Physicists love their limericks. That’s what 3. Consider a cube for a minute we discovered a couple of years ago when And imagine the largest square in it. n January 25, 1999, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit unanimously we first requested submissions of science- If you’re a math whiz, Oaffirmed the decision by U.S. District Judge Leonard B. Sand that the publication themed limericks, and received literally Tell me how big it is; and promotional use of a survey of journal prices did not constitute false or misleading hundreds of replies. [Winners appeared on It’s tricky to even begin it! advertising. The suit had been brought by Gordon and Breach Science Publishers The Back Page of the [March 1997] issue S.A. and affiliates (“G&B”) and alleged that a survey conducted by Professor Henry of APS News. A complete collection of lim- Now let us move up one dimension: Barschall and published by the American Institute of Physics (“AIP”) and The American ericks can be found at http://www.aps.org/ Find the cube of the largest extension Physical Society (“APS”) should be enjoined. The survey showed that G&B’s physics apsnews/.] Encouraged by this success, APS That fits (neatly packed) journals were, on average, far more expensive in terms of cost per thousand characters News announced a second limerick con- Into one tesseract, than those of other publishers. test last summer, this time requesting verse And, boy, will you have stress and tension! Following a seven-day trial, Judge Sand issued a decision in August 1997 in which in the form of “brain teasers” (APS News, he stated that “Barschall’s methodology has been demonstrated to establish reliably August/September 1998). The responses Martin Gardner proposed this last precisely the proposition for which defendants cited it— that defendants’ physics this time were not nearly as prolific; none- question, journals, as measured by cost per character and by cost per character divided by theless, some clear winners did emerge. And I solved it, at no one’s suggestion. impact factor, are substantially more cost-effective than those published by plain- It took 15 years tiffs.” (The impact factor is a measure of citation frequency.) See http:// A note on selection criteria: We adopted a Of blood, sweat and tears, barschall.stanford.edu for the decision, for background information, and for copies of rather liberal interpretation of what consti- And gave me severe indigestion. tutes a “brain teaser:” some limericks were the late Professor Barschall’s original articles. Although G&B had raised a variety of My proof fills up 100 pages; issues in its appeal of Judge Sand’s decision, the Court of Appeals found that none intended as cleverly phrased exam ques- tions, others as riddles, still others as ‘Til I solved it, it stumpled all the sages. warranted specific mention. In an opinion that issued just two weeks after oral It was recently checked argument, the Court stated simply that “[w]e affirm for substantially the reasons standard “brain teaser” story problems. We also allowed some minor divergence from And pronounced quite correct, stated by the district court in its opinion.” But it hasn’t augmented my wages. In setting the context for the dispute, Judge Sand had observed that “defendants strict adherence to the rules of scansion in introduced evidence that G&B has engaged in an aggressive corporate practice of the limerick form. Call it “poetic license.” Marion Cohen, a mathematician and challenging any adverse commentary upon its journals, primarily through threat- It’s all in the spirit of fun, after all, and we writer at Drexel University whose hus- ened (and actual) litigation. This evidence persuasively demonstrated that the present hope our readers find these entries enter- band is a physicist, credits APS News suit is but one battle in a `global campaign by G&B to suppress all adverse com- taining, challenging, and perhaps even with inspiring her to begin writing ment upon its journals.’” Because the relevant statute allows the recovery of attorneys useful as an educational tool. math-related limericks. Although her fees in “exceptional” cases, AIP/APS sought fees. Although the Court of Appeals B. Ripin, Editor many submissions were more in the observed that G&B’s suit “may not have been strong on the merits,” it affirmed line of limerick riddles than brain teas- First prize goes to Fred Bortz, physicist Judge Sand’s denial of fees. ers, we picked one dealing with and author of numerous science and tech- Marc Brodsky, the Executive Director of the AIP, stated that “we are extraordinar- differential equations — as an honor- nology books for young readers [http:// ily pleased with the outcome because it allows the free flow of information that able mention in our contest: bears on the difficult problems that libraries confront in dealing with the rising costs www.cherryvalleybooks.com/DrFred], of journals.” Tom McIlrath, the Treasurer of the APS, observed that “G&B has repeat- and a self-proclaimed “limerician at large.” 4. We were known by Dirac and Wigner edly attacked the societies for the publication of the Barschall survey and it is gratifying He offered the following as a replace- But not knowing brings no stigma to have such sweeping vindication in the U.S. courts. Unfortunately, we are still ment to any exam question asking for a ‘Cause we simply ooze under attack in French and Swiss courts for using exactly the same data and method- description and explanation of the With n’s, m’s, and 2’s, ology that the U.S. courts found be completely acceptable.” Anomalous Zeeman Effect: And don’t forget x and big-sigma. The litigation was handled for the societies by Richard A. Meserve of Covington & 1. The famed mathematiker Riemann Maurice Macholver of St. John’s Univer- Burling in Washington, D.C. Meserve commented that “the case is important because it Shared manifold cocktails with Zeeman. sity in Jamaica, New York, submitted his shows that the full protection of the First Amendment applies to the publication of Their degenerate state own version of a limerick riddle: scholarly works, even in the face of alleged commercial motive.” Meserve, who is both Split in six. (They saw eight.) a physicist and a lawyer, is a Fellow of The American Physical Society. How anamolous can spectra be, Mon. 5. A real, square matrix named “A” For further information or questions, please contact Phil Schewe, (301) 209-3092. Asks you, “Is this Yea or Nay?” Advises Bortz: “It works best when read If I were orthagonal by a Leighton-type reader affecting a And also diagonal Carribbean accent, accompanied by a My name would be Delta-IJ. Rowland, continued from page 4 Friedman, continued from page 4 Feynman impersonator on bongos.” Finally, Thomas Walnut, emeritus pro- in a crude and unscientific manner to find it. best serve their needs, as well as those Kay DeVicci of Moorestown, NJ, submit- fessor of chemistry at Syracuse Thus the present generation suffers for the of the physics community at large. The ted several sample limericks, from which University, adopted Bortz’s approach, sins of the past, and we die because our an- APS should be an inclusive society, in- we selected the following: submitting a limerick which poses an cestors dissipated their wealth in armies and tegrating the entire physics community. interesting question and asks for an 2. The sum of 3 numbers is 4; navies, in the foolish pomp and circumstance It should represent physicists in every explanation: of society, and neglected to provide us with sphere of activity: academia, industry The product is (-2) more; a knowledge of natural laws. In this sense and government laboratories; those The sum of their squares, 6. The distant planet Gazoo they were murderers and robbers of future working in basic and applied research; If anyone cares, Has lakes made of helium II generations of unborn millions, and have and those with Bachelor’s degrees, Is just 14 less than a score. There’re some might tough snakes Who live in those lakes made the world a charnel house and place Master’s degrees, and PhDs. For those desiring more of a mathemati- Can they swim in that very cold goo? of mourning where peace and happiness We have had 100 years of spectacu- cal challenge, DeVicci’s “quadruple might have been. Only their ignorance of lar physics advances, and we can limerick” in four parts warrants an hon- Walnut did not supply an answer, “be- what they were doing can be their excuse, envision similar achievements for the orable mention, not just for level of cause I am not sure what it is,” although but this puts them in the class of boors and future. There is no question that the in- difficulty, but also for its wry commen- he offered to supply the answer “if savages who act according to selfish desire tellectual questions to be answered are tary on the meager rewards of pressed.” We prefer to let our members and not to reason and to the calls of duty. Let very deep and manifold. There will be mathematical proficiency: figure it out for themselves. the present generation take warning that this major discoveries that we cannot even reproach be not cast on it, for it cannot plead anticipate, as well as new revolutionary ANSWERS TO BRAIN TEASER LIMERICKS ignorance in this respect. All sciences are technologies, and much more interdisci- 1. ?? of the two real roots of: 4 x **4 - 28 x **3 - 7 x linked together and must advance in con- plinary work. Physics in the 21st century 2. 1, 1, and 2 **2 + 16 x + 16 = 0. Numerically, sqrt (A) is cert. The human body is a chemical and will require an environment in which all 3. The side of the largest square in a cube of approximately 1.007435. physical problem and these sciences must of its various manifestations can flour- unit side is the square root of 9/8. The side of 4. Legendre functions the largest cube in a tesseract of unit side is 5. ?? advance before we can conquer disease. But ish. The APS will play an important role the square root of A, where A is the smaller 6. [Your answer here] the true lover of physics needs no such spur in fostering such an environment by con- to his actions. He strives to understand the tinuing and strengthening its outreach universe on account of the intellectual plea- activities. CORRECTIONS sure derived from the pursuit, but he is My personal vision is an APS that • On page 2 of the January 1999 issue, Vary was incorrectly affiliated. Vary is the upheld in it by the knowledge that the study enhances the ability of physicists to do APS News made an error in the last item director of the Iowa State University’s In- of nature’s secrets is the ordained method their work, contribute to society, and on the “Friedman Fact Sheet.” Jerome ternational Institute of Theoretical Physics. by which the greatest good and happiness play a role in establishing educational Friedman shared the Nobel Prize in 1990 • On page 7 of the same issue, George shall finally come to the human race. levels of excellence. I would like us with Kendall and Taylor demonstrating Snow of the University of Maryland was Henry Rowland was the first elected presi- to be seen as an organization that the existance of quarks as constituents omitted from the photo caption accom- dent of the APS. Adapted from Rowland’s serves society as well as physics. of matter — not, as was erroneously panying the Apker Award article. presidential address, delivered at the second Jerome Friedman, a professor of stated, for demonstrating the existence meeting of the APS on October 28, 1899. physics at Massachusetts Institute of of the top quark. We apologize to Professors Friedman, The full text of his speech can be found on Technology, assumed the APS presi- • Also on page 6 of the same issue, James Vary and Snow for the oversights. the APS Web page: http://www.aps.org dency on January 1, 1999. 5 APS News March 1999

Centennial Meeting Draws Crowds, continued from page 1 brain. Simon Berkovich of George Washing- the Tevatron at Fermilab, the Relativistic most powerful in the world) can ton speculates that the DNA in a biological Heavy Ion Collider (opening later this year create not only very high-energy organism serves a role comparable to a at Brookhaven), and the Large Hadron electrons, but also provides very barcode: it provides classification, so that small Collider (at CERN by 2005), computers will bright beams of gamma rays that differences are enough to distinguish be- have to keep up with, and control, the furi- can induce nuclear reactions in the tween species, and it provides a unique ID ous pace of data collection, probably at the target materials. Following up on number that is responsible for the biological petabyte scale. (Session OB09.) late-breaking results presented in individuality of an organism. (Session BC31) History of Physics in National De- November, Tom Cowan of Black Silicon. Silicon, the raw ingredi- fense. Hans Bethe, who wrote out the Livermore will provide a review ent of computer chips and modern nuclear reactions that govern the production and update on these experi- electronics, often has a dark bluish-grey color. of energy in the Sun, was in charge of the ments, which includes the However, researchers have discovered that theory division on the Manhattan Project, creation of 100 MeV electrons (a changing its color may lead to more efficient which lead to the construction of the first new record for electrons coming solar panels. By repeatedly shining pulses of atomic bombs. He will discuss his personal from a solid), positrons moving femtosecond laser light, Claudia Wu and her recollections of the World War II project, in- at relativistic speeds, and various Harvard colleagues have made microscopic cluding the Trinity test in New Mexico where photo-nuclear reactions black spots on silicon. As it turns out, these the first atomic bomb was exploded. C. Paul (RP01.88). spots absorb significantly larger amounts of Robinson, the president of Sandia National Supernovae in the Uni- light than comparable areas on traditional sili- Labs, will argue that the success or failure of verse and on Lasers. con. The researchers believe that such the international Chemical Weapons Conven- Core-collapse supernovas (SNs) “spiked” silicon can lead to highly efficient tion and the proposed Biological Weapons represent one of nature’s most light absorbers for solar cells and photode- Convention will depend upon new technol- dramatic events, the catastrophic tectors. (Paper IC07.10) ogy to enable the monitoring of these explosion of a massive star. Ow- Courtesy of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Fertilize Locally but Think Globally. challenging and unique threats. A.D. Wheelon ing to their intrinsic brightness, To simulate a supernova explosion, energy from the Anthropogenic carbon flow is primarily in the of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- they are used to gauge the dis- powerful NOVA laser hits a central target. energy sector and has an immense effect on ministration will discuss details about tances to the outermost reaches the worldwide economy. The correspond- physicists’ role in developing strategic recon- of the space, allowing the rate of expansion Physics in the Petroleum Industry. ing nitrogen flow is primarily in the agricultural naissance programs during the Cold War. of the universe to be assessed, and provid- R.L. Kleinberg of Schlumberger-Doll Research sector and its effects more evident on a local (Session SA03) ing the shocking recent evidence that the in Ridgefield, CT will describe how nuclear level. For example, fertilizer runoff has cre- The Rental Car Problem. Kristen Joan universal expansion is accelerating. However, magnetic resonance (NMR) — the basic tech- ated a 1000-square mile hypoxic deadzone Russell of the Northwestern State University the basic mechanisms and fundamental nology used in magnetic resonance imaging for fish where the Mississippi meets the Gulf of Louisiana will discuss an intriguing math- physics behind the triggering of a SN still (MRI) — is now being used by oil compa- of Mexico. For these reasons, argues Robert ematical connection between Fermat’s have many open questions. In a burgeon- nies to characterize hydrocarbon reservoirs Socolow of Princeton, the sustainability of ni- principle — in which light chooses a path ing new subfield of plasma physics, intense on-site. Daniel Rothman of MIT will discuss trogen use ought to receive greater attention. that minimizes the time of travel as it passes lasers are being used to recreate small-scale the complex, beautiful structures and pat- (Paper VB15.03) through different substances — and the of- laboratory versions of certain exploding SN terns of eroding landscapes; he will also discuss Petabyte Recreation of the Early Uni- ten vexing “rental car problem,” in which plasmas for more careful scrutiny. Bruce efforts to model the erosion process so that verse. When particles smash into each other one tries to minimize the cost of fuel in a Remington of Livermore will describe physicists can, in essence, go backward in at high energy accelerators a miniature fire- round trip between cities with varying prices these experiments and mention numer- time to infer the structure of sedimentary ball is ignited; in a volume less than the size of fuel along the way... all while returning ous other examples of “laboratory basins before the onset of erosion. Jim Black of an atom, hothouse conditions resembling with a full tank. (OC38.17) Incidentally, astrophysics.” (XB21.02) of Landmark Graphics Corporation in Colo- those of the very early universe are created. Russell is an undergraduate. This talk and Wax Tectonics. Eberhard Bodenschatz rado will discuss the latest advances in using The fiery collisions are often followed by a many other examples of creative under- of Cornell will report on the use of wax seismic waves to construct 3-D images of prompt blizzard of secondary particles graduate physics research will be showcased sheets as a model for the movement of hydrocarbon reservoirs. Nicholas Cernansky spawned courtesy of E=mc2. Tracking, sort- at four Society of Physics Students sessions. tectonic plates. Simulating in an afternoon will describe ideas for scientists to improve ing, and assessing this jumble requires the (BC11, IC11, LC11, OC38) what geologic forces took millions of years the internal combustion engine in cars. (Ses- world’s fastest electronics, consisting of such Nuclear Physics with Lasers. Irradiat- to do, Bodenschatz gets good agreement sion JC.08) items as silicon microstrip detectors, lead glass ing solid targets at very high intensities with between his lab specimens and the actual Compiled by Philip F. Schewe and Ben- scintillators, vertex trackers, and drift cham- a very short pulse of laser light from a short- patterns observed in oceanic rifts. (Session jamin Stein of AIP’s Public Information bers. At the highest energy colliders, such as pulse laser like Livermore’s Petawatt laser (the QC28.) Division

Prominent Physicists of the 20th Century Centennial Stuff for Sale The American Physical Society Books, posters, CD-ROMS, and an assortment of novelty items are among the kinds Prominent Physicists of the of merchandise that will be available for purchase at the APS Centennial Meeting in 20th Century Atlanta later this month. A few specific items include: A collection of approximately 200 portraits of Celebrate late physicists available on CD-ROM, intended to a APS Timeline Wall Chart: “A Century of Physics” provide a pictorial history of distinguished physi- Century A compilation of photographs and text highlighting major developments and contri- cists throughout the last century. of butions of physics throughout the 20th century, displayed on eleven 40"x 26". It will be Indexed alphabetically, including birth and death Physics distributed to high schools, junior colleges and universities, with a teachers guide, as a dates, and a short description of the subject’s con- 1899-1999 gift from the APS, and to science centers and libraries. Individuals may order copies at tribution to physics. the Centennial and through the URL: www.aps.org/timeline. Einstein and Franklin Brainy Babies Physics in the 20th Century Brainy Babies are small stuffed caricatures of famous historical A lavishly illustrated coffee-table book, figures known for their genius and/or ingenuity. A limited quantity published by Harry N. Abrams, Inc. The of standard-sized Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin Brainy Ba- book is intended for the general public bies will be offered for sale at the APS Centennial Meeting in Atlanta, with text by the well-known Washing- along with smaller figures on keychains. ton Post science writer Curt Suplee and Brainy Babies were created by Susan Forkin and Kevin over 200 illustrations. Physicists will en- O’Donnell in the wake of the Beanie Babies craze to provide joy sharing this with their non-physicists young children with better role models from many different fields. Photo from Brainy Baby website: www.brainybabies.com friends and family. It will be available at Other figures currently represented include Leonardo Da Vinci, Christopher Columbus, the Centennial Meeting at a 40% re- Time-exposure photograph of a nuclear Photo courtesy of Sandia National Laboratory Harriet Tubman, Amelia Earhart, Confucious, Shakespeare, and Beethoven. [Yes, we’re duced, pre-publication price of $29.95. fusion experiment. waiting for them to introduce a Marie Curie Brainy Baby, too.] The company maintains a colorful Web site [http://www.brainybabies.com] that is geared to children, featuring More Things in Heaven and Earth biographical information on each subject and interactive cartoons and games, as well as A hard-bound book containing articles from the special issue of Reviews of Mod- Web links to additional educational sites related to each figure. ern Physics commemorating the APS Centennial. Approximately 50 articles, written Earlybird Abstract Winners 2nd Prize (2 tickets to the Gala Event at the by distinguished physicists, with topics ranging from particle physics through appli- Fernbank Museum) cations to other areas. It will also include a section on historical perspectives, written Winners were chosen at random from those March Submission: Bijan Rao, Virginia submitting abstracts before the earlybird by some of the people who helped create its history. A special pre-publication 40% Commonwealth University abstract deadlines for each program. April Submission: Bernard Pope, Michigan off offer for APS members expires March 20, 1999. Congratulations! State University 1st Prize (Roundtrip, domestic airfare to Miscellaneous Merchandise Atlanta, GA) 3rd Prize (a copy of Physics in the 20th March Submission: Jess Wilcoxon, Sandia Century, by Curt Suplee) A wide assortment of T-shirts, coffee mugs, buttons, and bumper stickers will be National Lab March Submission: C.A.R. Sa de Melo, available for purchase at the Centennial Meeting, featuring various APS-related logos, April Submission: Z.C. Yan, Steacie Institute for Georgia Tech as well as selected entertaining slogans suggested by our own members in last Molecular Sciences April Submission: Arthur Wicklund, Argonne year’s slogan contest. [See APS News, October 1998] National Lab 6 March 1999 APS News Elbow Room at the APS Editorial Office INSIDE THE BELTWAY n January, conferences rooms at the by 1990 space was tight again. A Washington Analysis I newly expanded APS Editorial Offices were In 1993 the covenant restricting further named and dedicated to two of Physical expansion of the building was lifted and the Review’s most revered editors: Samuel need for more space was clear, but a few Surplus Culture Shock Goudsmit (Managing Editor, 1951-1966; months later another obstacle arose when Editor-in-Chief 1967-1975) and Simon the Ridge property was included in the newly by Michael S. Lubell, APS Director of Public Affairs Pasternack (Assistant Editor, 1951-1976). established and environmentally sensitive o dismal and dank is the typical National Missile Defense System. No Pasternack’s wife Ruth, and his children, Irene, “Pine Barrens” area. Working with an attorney, SWashington winter, that Congress headlines! Eric, and Louise, were in attendance. Weather former Director of Editorial Office Services hibernates every year until the ides of As the Senate lurched toward its im- did not permit Goudsmit’s wife Esther to Cindy Rice was able to negotiate a one-time- March. That’s why Beltway denizens peachment finale, no one doubted the travel, but the event was videotaped for her. only exemption to the ban on building yawned when Democrats issued dire result. But what would come afterward Photographs and memorabilia of the two expansion within the Pine Barrens. Since it warnings of a government shutdown, was anybody’s guess, particularly when editors are displayed in the rooms, including opened in 1979, the building had been should zealous Republicans proceed it involved the federal budget. Goudsmit’s doodled notes which hung in the expanded 38%, staff had increased 134%, with impeachment. To the The knee-jerk GOP reaction to the conference room bearing his name at the and manuscripts by 185%. Under the cognoscenti it was just political hype. President’s February 1 spending plan old New York APS offices. There was a time circumstances, it was felt that the maximum That’s not to say that everyone in was derision. No news there. When the when the APS journal operations were nimble expansion should be undertaken, even if the Washington takes a two-month nap be- Democrats held sway on Capitol Hill, enough to relocate with each change of editor- additional space was not finished off or ginning January 1. Hill staffers that’s how they responded to every in-chief (or equivalent thereof), but when occupied immediately. meticulously draft bills for their bosses Republican presidential budget. Samuel Goudsmit took over in 1951, Physical When Rice relocated and Reid Terwilliger to submit. And at the other end of But cut through the expected par- Review moved for the last time. The APS took over, he continued the planning and Pennsylvania Avenue, moles with the tisan rhetoric and you find politicians editorial offices joined Goudsmit at permit-obtaining process. In the mean time, green eye shades toil away at the bud- who are in culture shock. Weaned on Brookhaven and have remained in the vicinity journal submissions continued to rise and get due the first Monday in February. decades of federal deficits, they must ever since. In 1979 the journal operations quarters became so cramped at the Ridge But Congress really doesn’t get now confront an estimated surplus of relocated “across the street” from BNL to a office that in some of the halls it was neces- down to serious business until the $117 billion for FY 2000 and a stag- permanent home in a modest office building sary to turn sideways to pass a colleague. scent of cherry blossoms fills the air. gering projection of $393 billion for FY known as the “Ridge Office.” Staff people were seen to disappear under That’s why, away from the unrelent- 2009 — no error bars given. In 1987, the office expanded from 12 their desks to retrieve files. There was no ing squawking on tabloid television, Despite it’s sturm und drang repu- thousand to 16.5 thousand square feet, but conference space to speak of, and certainly you could hardly tell that the Senate tation, Washington is notorious for its no room large enough for the whole staff to was paralyzed by the trial of the cen- inertia. Only six years ago the federal meet at once. Morale suffered, but produc- tury. budget was $290 billion. Dealing with tivity did not, much to the staff’s credit. Still, impeachment creates an aura that kind of swing is tougher than turn- Construction finally got underway in Janu- of surrealism in a city that places a pre- ing around the QE2. ary 1998 (to see a photo of the construction, mium on habitual behavior, however So in response to President see APS News, July 1998, page 5), nearly unconventional. Even by Washington Clinton’s plan to fence off the six- ten years after the need to expand was first standards, the House scene on Janu- percent surplus for Social Security, felt. Half way through construction, the win- ary 19 was bizarre. congressional Republicans predict- dows in Editor-in-Chief Martin Blume’s office Here was the President delivering ably called for across-the-board tax Photo by Bob Kelly were bricked over. “I was uneasy working his State of the Union Address to a cuts and more defense spending, Dedication ceremony for the Samuel Goudsmit there with the door closed,” Blume says, “I and Simon Pasternack conference rooms at the captive audience of accusers and ju- while liberal Democrats just as pre- APS Editorial Offices, January 15th, 1999. From expected to open it and find it too bricked rors charged with determining dictably advocated more money for left to right in foreground: Louise Pasternack- over and myself entombed.” Nine short whether he would finish out his social programs. But except for pay- Rafferty, Eric Pasternack, Irene Pasternack, months later the office had doubled in size. elected term. Should they punctuate ing down the national debt or Jonothan Logan (Goudsmit’s close associate), In December, the office had a holiday party Ruth Pasternack, George Trigg, and his speech with applause when it was investing in Social Security, the Bal- Pasternack’s brother-in-law and his wife, in the new cafeteria, with plenty of room for his due or scowl perpetually for the anced Budget Agreement puts the Kenneth and Doris Simon. the whole staff. prowling cameras? It was a tough call. surplus off limits. Even the $1.88 trillion Presidential The only way around the con- budget, which landed with a thud on straint is a new agreement. Here’s a STAFF IN THE the steps of the Capitol on February possible compromise: $50 billion for Spotlight 1, couldn’t command top billing. It had Social Security, $10 billion for de- to compete for prime-time coverage fense, $10 billion for civilian with conjectures about Monica programs, $30 billion for tax cuts and Halsted Returns to Roots in Ridge Lewinsky’s video-taped deposition. the balance to begin paying down PS Headquarters in College Park lost ment of Interna- Nary a mention of the 4.2 percent in- the debt. Pretty neat. All it requires Aone of its most valued employees in tional Scientific crease for basic research. is bipartisan action. And if the sci- February. Amy Halsted, staff administrator to Affairs under Irv- A few weeks earlier, the White ence community speaks out, the APS Council and Executive Board since ing Lerch, another House had tacitly abandoned its sup- research might even get a nifty boost. 1993, left that position to become special personal mentor, port of the ABM Treaty in favor of a We’ll see. assistant to APS Editor-in-Chief Martin Blume and found herself at the APS Publications Office in Ridge, New grappling with York. human rights and A 1979 graduate of the University of Con- other global is- necticut at Storrs, Halsted joined the APS 11 sues. Former APS Amy Halsted Amendment to APS Bylaws: Dues Billing Date years ago, when the headquarters office was Treasurer Harry Lustig, APS Executive Of- still located in New York City. She confesses ficer Judy Franz and Associate Executive More efficient handling of membership information by the APS has to feeling a bit intimidated initially by the Officer Barrie Ripin are among the others now made it possible to bill on the anniversary date of each membership esoteric environment — not to mention the who have significantly influenced her during rather than on July 1 for all members. Anniversary billing spreads the plethora of acronyms for the Society’s innu- her tenure with the APS. work of the APS Membership Department more evenly through the year merable units, publications, and committees. That same year, Halsted took advantage and assures new members of a full year of membership upon joining. The A turning point came during an administra- of the Society’s tuition reimbursement pro- APS Bylaws require a minor revision to accomodate this change. The revision tive meeting, when her attention strayed gram to earn her Master’s degree in public was considered by the Committee on Constitution and Bylaws and approved down the table at a volunteer committee administration, completed in 1993; she wrote unanimously by APS Council on 15 November 1998. The revision appears member. “His concentration had also lapsed, her thesis on the APS decision to relocate to below and is hereby presented to the membership for any comment, prior and I watched him holding a clear plastic College Park, Maryland. She chose to move to its re-submission to Council in April for final ratification. Old language cup half- full of water, tipping and rotating it with the Society, and has not regretted her appears in strikeout, new language in UPPER CASE. Comments may be slowly before his eyes and watching the sur- decision, although “I never really warmed addressed by regular mail or email to Danita Boonchaisri at the APS: face remain level as the water assumed the up to Washington,” she confesses, despite [email protected]. Please respond by April 1. changing shape of its container,” she says. her job satisfaction and the opportunity to “At that moment I began to understand the purchase her first house. “It’s always reminded Article X — Membership nature of physicists.” Halsted began as a staff me of tofu: extremely nutritious and totally 1. Application for Membership. - Application for membership in the liaison to five committees charged with moni- lacking in flavor.” Society shall be made to the Executive Officer. Membership shall commence toring non-technical issues in physics, and also Halsted’s new position will enable her to on the 1st of July of the calendar year in which annual dues are received. began writing a monthly page of Society news return to the region she loves, and also to FOR NEW MEMBERS, MEMBERSHIP SHALL COMMENCE ON THE 1ST for Physics Today magazine, crediting then- create many of her own job responsibilities, OF THE MONTH FOLLOWING RECEIPT AND PROCESSING OF THE Senior-Editor Bill Sweet with teaching her the although she will continue to support the APPLICATION AND DUES, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURES ropes of basic reporting. In 1991 she became Publications Oversight Committee, and will SET BY THE SOCIETY. administrator for the newly formed Depart- assist Blume with numerous other projects. 7 APS News March 1999 THE BACK PAGE Discovering Our Roots: The PhD Lineage Contest Winners ast March, APS News announced a David Lockwood of Canada’s National Most Cited LPhD lineage contest, in which entrants Research Council had the earliest date Forebears were asked to trace their professional (1719) with the fewest generations (8). Many of our ama- “family tree” — i.e., the production of His lineage dates back to a German math- teur geneologists with doctoral level physicists by their thesis ematician/astronomer named Abraham roots in England advisors — as far back as possible. We Kastner who taught at universities in counted Rutherford received many entries, often containing Leipzig and Gottingen. Michael Hilke of and/or Thomson fascinating historical details, and were Princeton University placed a close sec- among their intellec- impressed at the considerable effort ond, tracing his lineage back to the 1770s tual ancestors. In fact, expended by certain members to trace within 9 generations. the two might be con- their academic lineage. In many cases, the Most “Generations” sidered the founding submissions included substantial, detailed fathers of modern commentary based on exhaustive The clear winner in this category is Lanier, whose chemist ancestors go back physics PhDs in En- research. gland. As such, we The further back in time our amateur 24 generations, but Sibener’s 22 genera- tions qualified him for a close second. honor them posthu- geneologists went, the more blurred the mously for being the lines between the disciplines became. Gerver, with 19 generations in his primary lineage, placed third. Among the runners- forebears most fre- Chemists, mathematicians, medical doctors, quently mentioned in and apothecaries appear regularly prior to up, Register and Rick Strickert of Radian International in Austin, Texas, each had 15 our geneological con- the 19th century, along with geologists in- test submissions. volved with mining concerns. Those APS generations dating back to Christolphe Glaser, an MD in Basel, Switzerland, who Significantly lacking Bainbridge Collection Schoenberg/AIP Niels Bohr Library: D. Photo by members strongly rooted in chemistry had among the various sub- Most frequently cited forbears: J. J. Thomson and Ernest B. something of an unfair advantage, thanks is generally credited with the education Rutherford of N. Lemery, a Paris apothecary in the mitted lineages were to an established tradition of tracking in- istry to medicine, based on medieval late 1600s. Louis Grace of Livermore Na- such giants as Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, tellectual lineage in chemistry. Many can concepts), influencing an entire genera- tional Laboratory had 14 generations dating Werner Heisenberg, Niels Bohr, or Rich- track their ancestry back to such 18th-cen- tion of physicians in the late 1600s. back to Lavoisier. George Snow of the ard Feynman. We’re not sure if this is tury luminaries as Claude-Louis Berthollet Priestley was the first to give a detailed University of Maryland deserves special because they mentored fewer students, and Antoine Lavoisier. In the spirit of pro- published account of Franklin’s kite and mention for submitting the shortest pos- or because their intellectual descendents fessional inclusion, the judges did not lightning experiment in 1767, and was sible lineage: his thesis advisor was Eugene simply don’t have the time or inclination quibble as to whether a lineage was strictly an ardent supporter of the colonists dur- Wigner — who won the 1963 Nobel Prize to enter geneological contests. in “physics,” provided the submission was ing the American Revolution, emigrating for mapping the structure of the atom and made by an APS member. Other Notable Ancestry to the U.S. in 1794 after an angry Tory its nucleus — and Snow apparently felt Similarly, the further one moved from Of course, ancestors don’t have to be mob destroyed his house and laboratory. no need to trace his heritage further. the 19th century, the more fuzzy became Nobel laureates in order to be distin- Ralph H. Fowler, who taught at Cam- the definition of what constitutes a “PhD Most “Nobel” Lineage guished. Gerver’s lineage includes such bridge in the 1930s, married Rutherford’s thesis advisor.” [One entrant listed his ulti- illustrious figures as Percy Bridgman, only daughter, and first introduced Dirac mate ancestor as “God,” but this was Several of those who submitted geneologies had three Nobel Laureates Gustav Kirchhoff, Joseph Priestley, and to quantum theory by providing him with deemed inadmissible since everyone Franklin. Brian Garris and Nikolaos the galley proofs of Heinsenberg’s famous knows that God does not even have ten- among their direct intellectual ancestry, making it difficult to choose a clear-cut Kidonakis traced their line back 11 gen- “matrix article” of 1925, which led to ure, never mind a PhD.] Many entrants erations to William Hopkins, a Cambridge Dirac’s discovery of Poisson-bracket re- surmounted these obstacles by counting winner, but we eventually decided on a tie. Martin Perl of Stanford University had professor in the 1820s, and count James lations. Fowler’s student, John E. Lennard- personages more aptly described as men- Clerk Maxwell, George Stokes, and Will- Jones was actually born Jones, but tors or major influences as part of their a mere three generations in his lineage, but every one is a Nobel laureate: Isidor iam Thomson (Lord Kelvin) among their changed his name after marrying intellectual family tree. And who are we ancestors. Kathleen Mary Lennard in 1925. Origi- to discount their claims, provided they can Rabi, Perl himself, and Perl’s student, Samuel Ting. [This no doubt places con- Even so-called “rank and file” names nally from Germany, Edward L. Nichols supply sufficient evidence to support their are rendered illustrious with the passage was a postdoc at Johns Hopkins under argument? siderable pressure on the generation of students under Ting.] E. Raymond Andrew of time. Gerver found that the earliest the first APS president, Henry Rowland, Earliest Ancestry of the University of Florida, Gainesville, names in his lineage had much more ex- and served as an assistant to Thomas tensive entries in The Dictionary of Edison in his work on electric lighting. The geneology dating back the furthest also counts three successive Nobelists Scientific Biography (DSB). “They made APS News thanks everyone who sub- was submitted by Steven Sibener of the among his five generations of ancestors: important contributions, not so much in mitted geneologies for this contest. University of Chicago. The chart spans as Joseph J. Thomson (who discovered the scientific discoveries, but in organization Without the diligent efforts of the APS many as 22 “generations” (depending on electron), Ernest B. Rutherford, and Pyotr and institution building,” he wrote, which members who took the time to rummage the “fork” one follows) and eventually Kapitza. In addition, he was mentored as no doubt accounted for their more numer- in the musty, disorganized files of his- dates to back to Pelope who taught in a postdoctoral fellow by another Nobelist, ous descendents. “And many of the tory, our readership might never have Padua in 1453. It was created as a 60th Edward Purcell. discoveries that they did make, although heard such colorful details, which only birthday present to Sibener’s advisor, Yuan Others who can claim three “Nobel” not as dramatic as the discoveries of New- serve to enhance our sense of physics T. Lee, and includes several as forks from ancestors certainly deserve honorable mention. Charles Slichter of the Univer- ton, Maxwell, Einstein or Bohr, were history. the primary lineage. In fact, the oldest fork necessary in order for the ‘big’ discoveries dating back to Pelope leads not to Lee, sity of Illinois is another descendent of Thomson and Purcell, as well as Nobelist to be made.” but directly to Dudley Herschbach of One of Gerver’s more fascinating fore- Harvard University, with whom Lee shared Owen Richardson. Matthew Walhout of The Winner’s Circle Calvin College descends from Rabi, bears was Guener Rolfincke, who received the 1986 Nobel Prize, along with John his MD from the University of Padua in Earliest Ancestry: Polanyi. [See http://www.scs.uiuc.edu/ Norman Ramsey, and William D. Phillips. Steven Sibener, University of Chicago Rigoberto Hernandez’s Nobel Trinity 1625 and became a professor of anatomy, ~mainzv/Web_Geneology] Earliest U.S. Ancestry: includes Linus Pauling, honored once in surgery and botany at the University of Michael Gerver of MIT placed a close Michael Gerver, MIT chemistry in 1954 and again in 1962, Jena. He is best known for building the second, tracing his academic lineage back Most Generations: when he won the Nobel Peace Prize. The first anatomical theatre there, giving con- to Johann Georg Magnus, a medical doc- Robert Lanier, Livermore National Lab third is 1909 Nobelist Friedrich Ostwald, troversial lectures on dissection using the tor in Germany in the early 1500s. A Earliest Date/Fewest widely considered to be the father of bodies of recently executed criminals (a secondary lineage reaches back to Adam Generations: American physical chemists. Grace also practice known locally as “Rolfincking” for Spencer, who lectured regularly on science a time). He was the first German to teach David Lockwood, National Research in Boston in the early 1720s and was a descends from Pauling, as well as Council of Canada Herschbach. Hilke can lay claim to two Harvey’s theory of blood circulation, and primary influence on the (largely informal) the first to demonstrate that cataracts were Shortest Lineage: scientific development of Benjamin Nobel laureates among his academic an- George Snow, University of Maryland cestry: Wolfgang Pauli, who won in 1945, located in the lens of the eye; he also Franklin. Robert Lanier, a chemical engi- Most “Nobel” Lineage (tie): and Wilhelm Roentgen, who won the very trained 104 doctoral candidates. neer at Livermore National Laboratory, Martin Perl, Stanford University E. first Nobel physics prize awarded in 1901. Rolfincke’s student, Georg Wedel, was traced his lineage back to Paracelsus (early an MD whose views hovered curiously Raymond Andrew, University of 1500s), tying for second place, while Ri- Carlo W.J. Beenakker of Leiden Univer- Florida, Gainesville sity, The Netherlands, descends from 1913 between the medieval and modern chard Register of Princeton University worlds. Unlike his mentor, Wedel de- Most Frequently Cited traced his roots back to the 1640s. How- Nobelist Heike Onnes, while a secondary Forebears (tie): fork links him to 1902 Nobelist Pieter fended astrology, alchemy, and ever, Gerver certainly wins for tracing his iatrochemistry (the application of chem- J.J. Thomson and Ernest B. Rutherford lineage back the furthest within the U.S. Zeeman.

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