ASU Department of Physics Newsletter (Winter 2005)

Department of Physics and Astronomy Alumni Newsletter Winter 2005

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1504 --- phy.asu.edu Ernst Bauer thrice honored for outstanding work in physics Distinguished research professor Ernst Bauer was terns. Ernst Bauer realized that the only way to re- honored three times in the period from October 2003 solve this problem is to use the diffracted electrons to November 2004. for imaging. He took this challenge and the first In October 2004 Bauer was awarded the very pres- LEEM was ”born” in 1964 but it took about 20 years tigious Davisson-Germer prize of the American to bring this instrument to fruition (1985). LEEM is Physical Society for 2005. This prize was estab- using slow electrons, which makes it very surface sensitive. The high signal intensities available from this instrument allows dynamic imaging of surface processes in real time. By the eighties LEEM had matured and began producing remarkable movies of semiconductor and metal systems, which contributed greatly to the understanding of atomic processes on surfaces. In the late eighties/early nineties he extended the LEEM technique in two directions by developing two new surface microscopy methods: Spin-Polarized Low Energy Electron Microscopy (SPLEEM) and Spectroscopic Photo Emission and Low Energy Elec- tron Microscopy (SPELEEM). In 1996 the SPELEEM instrument built in Bauer’s research group was transferred to the synchrotron radiation facility ELETTRA in Trieste (Italy) and started in the following years a new era in X-ray Photo Emission Electron Microscopy (XPEEM) by combining (Ernst Bauer with the SPELEEM instrument at the synchrotron radiation source ELETTRA in Trieste, Italy in imaging with diffraction and spectroscopy, both in February 2002. ) (continued on page 4) lished to recognize and encourage outstanding work in atomic physics or surface physics. Prof. Bauer was In This Issue recognized “For contributions to the science of

thin-film nucleation and growth, and for the inven- 1 Ernst Bauer Honored tion of Low Energy Electron Microscope”. The 2 ASU Astronomers Develop Space Missions prize will be presented at the APS March 2005 meeting at a special Ceremonial Session. 3 David Hestenes Awarded Bauer's career has included pioneering contribu- 2003 Four Corners Meeting tions to most aspects of surface science. His classic 4 ‘t Hooft fascinates at DPA’s 1st early work (1958) on the classification of crystal Distinguished Lecturer Series growth modes, which he called Volmer-Weber, Stran- 5 In Memoriam ski-Krastanov and Frank-van der Merwe mechanisms 6 New Faculty provided the theoretical background used to under- 2003 - 2004 Degrees Awarded stand epitaxy worldwide to this day. The invention in 1962 of the Low Energy Electron 7 Letter From the Chair Microscope (LEEM) was stimulated by a scientific Spring 2005 Colloquia Schedule dispute with Lester Germer about the interpretation 8 Faculty and Staff Index of the low energy electron diffraction (LEED) pat-

ASU Department of Physics and Astronomy Alumni Newsletter - Winter 2005 Page 1 ASU astronomers develop new space missions

ASU astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) have had a remarkably produc- JWST tive and exciting era using that orbiting spacecraft to unlock many of the secrets related to how stars, galaxies, and planets have formed. However, with the telescope well into its second decade and limited options available for sustaining HST since the Columbia disaster, ASU astronomers and others are looking at a new set of missions to continue observations beyond Hubble. Prof. Rogier Windhorst is one of six interdisci- plinary scientists selected for the Science Working Group planning NASA’s next generation space telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). JWST will be a large-aperture (6.5 m) op- tical and infrared telescope designed to study the years of the Sun in order to understand how the lo- first stars and galaxies after the Big Bang, and to cal environment influences the way stars and plan- uncover the processes of star and planet formation ets form. in our galaxy. Unlike HST which carried out its Following this local survey, the second phase will work in low-earth orbit, the $1.6 billion JWST will provide a similar survey of portions of nearby galax- orbit in the second Lagrange point beyond the ies. The results from the local survey will allow the Moon (L2). The telescope has an expected launch characterization of low-mass star forming environ- date in 2011 and a 5-10 year lifetime, and will ments in the Magellanic Clouds, study the spatial carry three infrared instruments. distribution of star forming environments and ana- ASU astronomers are also developing a $170 lyze stellar population photometry to trace star for- million mission to study star and planet formation. mation history. Finally, in the third phase, a repre- Like JWST, the 1.2-m ultraviolet-visual observatory, sentative sample of more distant galaxies will be named ORION also will orbit at L2. The project is used to characterize nearby star formation regions, lead by Prof. Jon Morse, Associate Research Pro- mapping the distribution of star forming regions for fessional Paul Scowen and Postdoctoral Research galaxies out to 25 million light-years. Associate Matthew Beasley. Profs. Jeff Hester, While these two spacecraft will look at various Rogier Windhorst, Steve Desch, and Assistant wavelengths of light, another probe being devel- Research Scientist Rolf Jansen. are also members oped by ASU astronomers and colleagues will tar- of the team. ORION’s mission encompasses three get “dark energy”. phases. The initial phase will conduct the first high Over the past 15 years, astronomers have found spatial resolution survey of visible star-forming envi- evidence that the Universe has not been expanding ronments in our “neighborhood,” within 8,000 light- at a constant rate, but was expanding more slowly in the past and is now accelerating. The impetus behind this acceleration has been dubbed dark energy. The properties of dark energy are almost completely unknown at this time, and yet this mysterious force is responsible for over 70% of the energy density of the Universe! (By comparison, the normal matter that composes stars, planets, and people makes up a paltry ~5% of the energy density of the Universe, with the rest of the energy density residing in the elusive “dark matter”, which scientists are still unable to explain after detecting its effects on galaxies several decades ago.) The “Dark Energy Space Telescope” (DESTINY) ORION is a mission concept to explore this dark energy. DESTINY is designed to observe a large sample of

ASU Department of Physics and Astronomy Alumni Newsletter - Winter 2005 Page 2 Council of Scientific Presidents 2003 Educational Research Award for David Hestenes At a ceremony in Washington, DC on November action planning for the future of research universi- 23, 2003, Prof. Emeritus David Hestenes was ties, biotechnology, economic competitiveness, given the Council of Scientific Society Presidents environmental sustainability, ethical limits of re- (CSSP) 2003 Educational Research Achievement search, educational research, cyberspace and Award for outstanding research that measurably other areas. improved student learning. Hestenes was selected At the award ceremony, Hestenes challenged after a deliberative process of more than two CSSP with a proposal for nationwide K-12 science/ years. math education reform based on his long experi- The award citation reads “For his seminal re- ence with physics education and the success of search that developed pioneering programs to his program at ASU. “With more than a decade of open new vistas of value in effective model curric- NSF support, the Modeling Instruction Project has ula for the teaching of science, Extensive applica- evolved from a program of summer workshops on tion of his concepts has significantly improved physics pedagogy to a full-scale graduate program learning outcomes for a wide spectrum of stu- for professional development of teachers in all the dents.” sciences and mathematics,” he noted. The CSSP, with an outreach to more than 1 mil- “A successful exemplar institutionalized at Ari- lion scientists and science educators, is a na- zona State University proves that this mechanism tional center of science leadership development is easy to implement, cost effective, and sure to and science policy, and serves as the premier work.” forum for open, substantive exchanges on emerg- ing scientific issues. Its meetings are devoted to 2003 Four Corners section meeting at ASU The ASU Department of Physics and Astronomy Venkatesh Narayanamurti, Dean of the College of hosted the annual Four Corners Section Meeting Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard of the American Physical Society on October 24- University. In addition to the plenary talk and the 25, 2003. This is a relatively new APS Section (~5 eight invited talks, there were a total of 79 contrib- years old) formed to promote interaction and com- uted talks running in three parallel sessions. munication among physicists within Ari- The local conference committee con- zona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. sisted of Profs. Bruce Doak (Chair), The meeting took place in the ASU Me- John Shumway, John Page, Per morial Union. Financial support was pro- Aannestad, Rich Lebed, and Howard vided by the ASU Department of Physics Voss, in addition to graduate students and Astronomy (DPA) and by the Gradu- Marianne Stefanini, Daniel Martin, ate College. Outside support was con- and Mike Grams and undergraduate tributed by Motorola and the Durel Cor- Tom Skala. Administrative affairs poration. were handled by Linda Scowen of the Over 200 physicists attended from over DPA, along with other office staff who 15 different universities and labs in the pitched in to help with everything from Four Corners states and several other finding ball point pens to stuffing 200 states as well. Among the participants separate envelopes. were faculty, graduate students, undergraduate Twelve awards of $100 each were given for the students from universities; researchers from na- best student talks and posters. Seven went to tional labs; officers from the APS and AAPT; and graduate students, including ASU students Candi high school students. Invited talks were given by Cook, Ramon Grima, Emily McDaniel, and New- Keith Dienes (UA), Steven Elliott (LANL), Jeff ton Ooi. Four awards went to undergraduates: Hester (ASU), Angelo Mascarenhas (NREL), Carolee Blackham (BYU), Thomas Butler (BYU), Margaret Murnane (CU), Timothy Newman Melinda Tonks (BYU) and Thomas Topel (CSU). (ASU), Brian Saam (Utah), and Michael Thorpe Another award went to high school student Sarah

(ASU). A plenary public talk was given by Prof. Stokes (working with a group at BYU).

ASU Department of Physics and Astronomy Alumni Newsletter - Winter 2005 Page 3 Gerard ‘t Hooft captivates a packed house as ASU hosts it’s first Distinguished Lecturer Series

Gerard ‘t Hooft, Nobel Laureate and Profes- tum Mechanics”, ‘t Hooft delivered a stunning sor of Theoretical Physics at the University of presentation in which he theorized that in a Utrect gave two standing room only lectures Oc- black hole, an apparent conflict between Ein- tober 11th and 12th. stein’s General Relativity and the laws of Quan- His talks were the first of Arizona State Uni- tum Mechanics becomes evident. versity Physics and Astronomy Department’s Gerard ‘t Hooft received his doctoral degree newly developed Distinguished Lecturer Series. in physics in 1972 at University of Utrecht where The Distinguished Lecturer Series give the pub- he has been Professor of Physics since 1977. lic and academic communities the opportunity to His primary research interests focus on gauge learn about the latest research from speakers theories in elementary particle physics; quantum among the most celebrated and accomplished gravity and black holes; and fundamental as- scientists in the fields of physics and astronomy pects of quantum physics. He is the recipient of today. ‘t Hooft clearly encompassed these traits, several prestigious awards including the 1999 as he thouroghly captivated his audiences. Nobel Prize in Physics. He and his colleague In his first, a general lecture entitled “The Dr. Martinus Veltman are responsible for placing Universe inside the atom”, ‘t Hooft discussed the particle physics theory on a firmer mathematical beauty and wonder of the atomic nucleus in foundation. For more information about Gerard non-technical terms. ‘tHooft and upcoming lectures please visit http:// During his second lecture, a colloquium enti- phy.asu.edu/ tled “Black Holes and the Foundation of Quan-

Bauer honored (from page 1) Now at least 30 LEEM instruments are operat- XPEEM and LEEM. In 2000 a commercial version ing in many laboratories and synchrotron radia- of the SPELEEM was installed at a beamline spe- tion facilities around the world. This is an impor- cifically built for it, the Nanospectroscopy beam- tant recognition for his efforts in the field of sur- line. It is presently the most sophisticated micro- face microscopy. Four international conferences scopic multi-method surface characterization in- have already been devoted entirely to LEEM/ strument (see photo on page 1). PEEM. For this last development he was honored in “My main activities and goals in the area of re- November 2004 with the 2004 year Innovation search were to build up further the reputation of Award on Synchrotron Radiation. This award ASU as the world’s leading center in surface was established in 2001 by the BESSY Society in electron microscopy with slow electrons, thus Berlin, Germany for an outstanding technical broadening its international reputation in electron achievement or experimental method. Prof. Bauer microscopy in general” Bauer said. He achieved was recognized for: “Excellent contributions to- his goal. ASU President Michael Crow wrote in wards the development of the photoelectron his congratulation letter in November 2004: “This emission microscope (PEEM) as energy -, prize both appropriately acknowledges your life’s space- and time resolved detection system of work, and by association, enhances the reputa- photoelectrons”. tion of our university. Such noteworthy distinc- Ernst Bauer has had intensive international sci- tions are a critical part of creating a culture of entific collaborations with several countries, in- high achievement within our New American Uni- cluding Japan for many years. In October 2003 he versity, and I thank you for representing ASU so received the first Award of the Japan Society honorably.” Bauer’s comment: “I would like also for Promotion of Science’s 141st Committee to thank ASU, CLAS and the Department of on Microbeam Analysis. The award is in recog- Physics and Astronomy for providing me the en- nition of Bauer’s “outstanding research on mi- vironment necessary for high quality research. crobeam analysis and contributions to the Great achievements consist of many small JSPS 141 Committee.” Bauer was also made an achievements and many people contributed to honorary member of JSPS. them.” ASU Department of Physics and Astronomy Alumni Newsletter - Winter 2005 Page 4 Department mourns losses of faculty, staff members

Professor Emeritus John wife Marian donated the land and facilities in Cowley passed away on May Flagstaff for ASUBO to ASU in July 2000 18, 2004 in Tempe. (featured in the Winter 2000 newsletter). Cowley joined ASU in 1970 Bob’s enthusiasm for astronomy was infectious. in its first endowed faculty po- As well as facilitating the transition of ASUBO to sition, the Galvin Professor- reliable, remote operation for use in introductory ship in Physics. He founded and advanced astronomy laboratories, he also the electron microscopy facil- worked with Flagstaff High School to provide op- ity, which under his leadership portunities for high school students. The legacy of came to be recognized as the his love for astronomy lives on in the hundreds of premier electron microscopy students who use ASUBO each semester. center in the world. He served as facility director from 1983 to 1990. Last October, the Center for Denise Jackson, Executive Assistant of the De- High Resolution Electron Microscopy was re- partment of Physics and Astronomy passed away named in his honor. June 15, 2004. Denise spent Cowley’s scientific leadership had a highly sig- her entire 21-year career in the nificant impact on establishing ASU as a Research department, serving in many I University. In 1988, Cowley was in the first group capacities prior to becoming the of faculty bestowed with the title Regents’ Profes- department’s Executive Assis- sor, an honor reserved for a limited, small fraction tant in 1993. Denise’s conscien- of the faculty that have demonstrated exceptional tious service to all those who scholarship and achievement. He officially retired worked or visited the depart- from ASU in 1994, but continued to be highly ac- ment was always marked by her tive. He spent time in his campus office almost kindness and joy. every day, including the day of his death. In Janu- In Denise’s memory, an annual award for out- ary 2003, an international workshop was held at standing staff performance in the department has ASU to celebrate Cowley’s 80th birthday and the been established (see “From the Chair” section). 25th anniversary of the Center for High Resolution Electron Microscopy. Vatche Tutunjian, Lecturer, passed away August Cowley was an extraordinarily productive scien- 21, 2003. A dedicated and conscientious instruc- tist, with a career spanning more than a half- tor, he taught introductory physics courses for century. His ideas and understanding of electron over 13 years. During that pe- optics and diffraction phenomena provided inspira- riod, he taught several thou- tion and leadership to the entire field of electron sand students, and was nomi- microscopy. His book Diffraction Physics is the nated for the CLAS Distin- standard reference in the field. He received the guished Teaching Award in highest awards of the International Union of Crys- 1988. tallography, the Electron Microscopy Society of Born in Lebanon, he received America and the American Crystallographic Soci- his Ph.D. in theoretical nuclear ety, and was elected to Fellowship in the Austra- physics from Rutgers in 1984. lian Academy of Science, The Royal Society of He served as a visiting assis- London, and the American Physical Society. tant professor at Stockton State College in 1984 before coming to ASU as a post- Robert Fried, Observatory doctoral research associate. He was an assistant Manager of the ASU Braeside professor at the University of Indianapolis from Observatory (ASUBO) for the 1986-87. He then served as a faculty associate Department of Physics and and faculty research associate from 1988 until be- Astronomy died November ing appointed Lecturer in 2003. 13, 2003 in the crash of his private plane. Bob and his

ASU Department of Physics and Astronomy Alumni Newsletter - Winter 2005 Page 5 New space missions (from page 2) New faculty members join of the Universe over billions of years to a few per- department cent. This precision will allow scientists to test specific models for the expansion history of the Continuing with its five-year growth and devel- Universe and will elucidate the characteristics of opment plan, the Department of Physics and As- the dark energy. The dataset will also aid scien- tronomy (DPA) will expand with two new faculty tists in understanding the physics of supernova members who began in Fall 2004. explosions.

Carl Covatto joins DPA as a Lecturer in phys- NASA has awarded ASU, under the direction of ics and astronomy. Covatto received a B. S. in Prof. Jon Morse, a grant to investigate details of physics from New Mexico Institute of Mining and the technical approach to making the required ob- Technology in 1993. His doctoral research at ASU servations. The award is for a 2-year study of the was with Prof. Per Aannestad on observing strategy, technical implementation, the dynamics of circumstellar technology roadmap, and cost of the DESTINY shells. mission. During his graduate study at The study will also assess the contributions that ASU, he was awarded three se- ground-based observations can make in support mesters of support from the of the DESTINY mission and to the understanding NASA Space Grant Consortium, of dark energy. The NASA award is for ~$200,000 a one-year Regents Academic for a 2-year study. Scholarship, and was twice awarded Teaching Assistant of 37 students complete the Year in DPA. He also served as an Adjunct Faculty member at studies Mesa Community College during that period. Degrees were awarded to 37 physics and astronomy Andrei V. Belitsky joins DPA as an Assistant students during commencement ceremonies held Au- Professor in subatomic theory. Andrei received his gust 2003, December 2003, May 2004, August 2004, doctorate in theoretical physics in 1996 from the and December 2004.

Bogoliubov Laboratory of Theoretical Physics at Degree recipients were: the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia. His dissertation research used quantum Bachelor of Science: chromodyanmics sum rules to investigate the Justice Bruursema, Joseph Cera, Colin Chaney, structure of photons and hadrons. David Clarkson, Michael Cooper, Kevin Dixon, An- Following his graduate study at JINR-Dubna, drew Getskow, Tyler Glembo, Jeremy Janusz, Aaron Belitsky received postdoctoral Jesse, Michael Kocher, Lance Levenson, Adam research appointments at the Mott, Efunwande Osoba, Cody Raskin, Justin State University of New York – Rogers, Scott Schafer, Jason Smit, Donovan Terry. Stony Brook and at the Univer- Master of Science: sity of Maryland in College Park before becoming a Research James Corkins, Eric Dykeman, Theodore Vecchione Assistant Scientist with the Master of Natural Science: Theoretical Quarks, Hadrons, and Nuclei group at the Univer- Brian Bingham, Hussein Fouad El Ebiary, Jayita sity of Maryland. Goswami, Kristen Guyser, Pamela Herriman, Mi- His current research direc- chael Holland, Louise McConnell, Colleen Megowan, tions explore perturbative and non-perturbative Richard Runyon. phenomena in the field theory of strongly interact- Doctor of Philosophy: ing particles using quantum chromodynamics. This work aims to unravel the dynamical structure Kevin Healy, Andrey Korytko, Wei Liang, Antonio of known hadrons, as well as investigating new Ramirez, Justin Shaw, Lingyun Shi forms of matter using a number of field theoretical approaches.

ASU Department of Physics and Astronomy Alumni Newsletter - Winter 2005 Page 6 Spring 2005 Colloquia From the Chair schedule Having missed a few newsletters, we’ve gotten some- what behind in providing you details of all that’s been Exciting topics by internationally recognized speakers happening here. Change is part of the everyday rou- tine here at ASU.

January Wick Haxton Underground As you’ve seen in these pages, we’ve felt the loss of a 27 University of Science and the number of colleagues this past year. Among the keen- Washington DUSEL Effort est losses felt was Executive Assistant Denise Jack- son, a familiar friendly face for anyone who visited the February Maria Kilfoil Tomography of department over the past 20 years. As one faculty 3 McGill University Sphere Packs member put it, she was the “Google” of the department, with an encyclopedic knowledge of the univer- February Molly McCartney Electron Holographic sity and a watchful eye on everything happening here. 10 Arizona State Characterization of Denise passed away in June 2004 from breast cancer, University Nano-scale Electric having spent her entire career in the Department of and Magnetic Fields Physics and Astronomy. In her honor, an annual din- ner and award has been established to honor staff February Ernst Bauer Slow but Powerful: members in the department. With an initial endowment 17 Arizona State Microscopy with provided by the faculty of DPA, the fund continues to University Slow Electrons receive financial gifts of remembrance for Denise from alumni and friends around the world. If you’d like to March Mildred Recent Advances in help honor and remember Denise by contributing to 3 Dresselhaus* the Photophysics of that fund, please send your contribution to Ms. Martha MIT Carbon Nanotubes Ledy here in the department. If you have any remem- March David Stork Did the Great brances you’d liked passed along to her family, we’d be happy to do that, as well. 10 Ricoh Innovations Masters Cheat Using and Stanford Optics? Big organizational changes are afoot. Two new University schools are being established at ASU: the School of Earth and Space Exploration and the School of Materi- March Paulo Freire Double Pulsars als. With those changes (which likely will see some 24 Arecibo University colleagues in DPA move to the new schools), our de- March Denis Weaire The Physics of partment is looking at recasting itself as an intention- st 31 Trinity College Foam ally cross-disciplinary physics department for the 21 Dublin century. I hope to share more details of those plans with you in the next newsletter. April Alan Boss A Heretics Approach As always, your financial gifts to the department’s Gifts 7 Carnegie Institu- to Solar System and Awards Account make many things possible we’d tion of Washington Formation otherwise be unable to do. We are grateful for those April Christian Iliadis Nuclear Astrophys- gifts and acknowledge our family of contributors at all 14 University of North ics Experiments the events those funds help sponsor. If you’re not a Carolina financial contributor to the department, I hope you’ll consider becoming one. Please contact Ms. Martha April Salvatore Torquato Optimal Particle Ledy if you have any questions (by e-mail 21 Princeton Packings: Problems [email protected], mail to the department, or by University for the Ages phone at (480) 965-0587).

April Andrey Vilesov Helium Droplets Finally, I’d like to acknowledge the skillful editing and 28 University of production of the newsletter by Ms. Stephanie Alvey- Southern California Read, who now is serving as our newsletter editor. If you have any news or story ideas you’d like to share with her, please e-mail those to her at *Distinguished Lecturer [email protected].

Please keep in touch and visit us when you can. Physical Science F-wing, Room 123 All talks begin at 4:00 PM Sincerely yours,

(Refreshments at 3:40 PM) Barry G. Ritchie Professor and Chair ASU Department of Physics and Astronomy Alumni Newsletter - Winter 2005 Page 7 Department of Physics and Department of Physics and

Astronomy Staff Astronomy Faculty for the

Main Office Business Office 2004-2005 Academic Year Stephanie Alvey-Read Niki Deahl Ricardo Alarcon Jon Morse Cali Chavarria Martha Ledy Ernst Bauer Timothy Newman Shawn Dubon Joelina Peck Andrei Belitsky Luanna Ortiz Lynne Kincaid Zoe Schildhauer Peter Bennett John Page David Burstein Fernando Ponce Computer Support Instructional Support Ralph Chamberlin Peter Rez Larry Catania Tim Cook Joseph Comfort Barry Ritchie Lois Lehman Wayne Easterling Carl Covatto Otto Sankey Jim Krider Anne Cowley Kevin Schmidt Iwonna Rzanek Robert Culbertson John Shumway College of Liberal Arts and Science Mechanical and Steven Desch David Smith Electrical Shop Bruce Doak John Spence John Dow Sumner Starrfield Bob Barling Richard Henne Jeff Drucker Michael Thorpe William Chapin Gary Jarrette Nicole Herbots Bill Tillery Bill Coleman James Makar John “Jeff” Hester Mike Treacy Zoltan Farakas Brian Nagy Stuart Lindsay Frank Tsen Richard Flubacher Mark White Richard Lebed Ignatius Tsong You can reach faculty and staff members via e-mail by Robert Marzke John Venables using their name plus the domain asu.edu, Martha “Molly” McCartney Rogier Windhorst e.g.:[email protected] Jose Menendez

Arizona State University Physics & Astronomy Department P.O. Box 871504 Tempe, AZ 85287-1504

ASU Department of Physics and Astronomy Alumni Newsletter - Winter 2005 Page 8