June 2008 Volume 17, No. 6

www.aps.org/publications/apsnews APS NEWS April Prize and Award Recipients A Publication of the American Physical Society • www.aps.org/publications/apsnews Page 7

Chinese Human Rights Advocate Receives APS Sakharov Prize Physicist Liangying Xu has been first inspired by Einstein’s views on writings. Xu did eventually get the awarded the 2008 Andrei Sakharov democracy and human rights when translations back, and they were Prize by the APS for his efforts to he read Einstein’s essays in school. published beginning in 1975, as the promote human rights in China. In- In 1939, Xu enrolled in Zhejiang Cultural Revolution was ending. spired by Albert Einstein, Xu has University to study physics. Trou- Soon after, Xu rejoined the Acad- been a lifetime advocate for democ- bled by the plight of poor peasants emy of Sciences in Beijing. racy, free speech, human rights, and he saw in the countryside, he joined Throughout his life, Xu contin- academic freedom. the communist party. After complet- ued to advocate for human rights. In Xu’s son, Chenggang Xu, ac- ing his studies, Xu joined the Chi- 1981, he cited Einstein on the need cepted the prize on his behalf at the nese Academy of Sciences in Bei- for freedom of speech for scientific April Meeting in St. Louis because jing, where he has been a historian progress. Xu felt the government Xu is in his eighties and not healthy of science. was not adequately supportive of enough to travel. At a session and In 1957, Xu spoke up against basic science, and that more aca- press conference, Chenggang Xu Mao Zedong’s repressive govern- demic freedom was needed both for described his father’s lifelong strug- ment. He was then denounced as scientific progress and for human gles to promote human rights de- an “extreme rightist,” forced to di- progress. spite persecution. vorce his wife, and banished to the In 1989, astrophysicist Fang Li- “Both Sakharov and my father countryside. He later reunited with zhi wrote an open letter calling for followed the steps of Einstein, not his wife. the release of political prisoners. At only in physics but also in promot- While in exile, Xu translated the same time, Xu and friends wrote Photo by William Greenblatt ing human rights,” said Chenggang Einstein’s political, philosophical an open letter calling for democra- Xu. The Sakharov prize is named and scientific writings into Chinese. At the ceremonial prize session at the APS April meeting, Chenggang Xu (left) cy, protection of human rights, and for the Soviet physicist, dissident During the Cultural Revolu- presents APS President Arthur Bienenstock (right) with a copy of the three-vol- free speech. The letter was signed and human rights activist Andrei tion, the Red Guards, considering ume Chinese translation of Einstein's collected works that was produced by his by prominent dissidents, including Sakharov. Einstein’s work anti-Marxist, con- father, Sakharov Prize recipient Liangying Xu. Looking on is APS Associate Ex- many scientists. This and Fang’s let- ecutive Officer Alan Chodos. Born in 1920, Liangying Xu was fiscated Xu’s translations and other PRIZE continued on page 7 Workshop Attendees Get the Lowdown on Politics Physics of Homeland Security is About eighty scientists and en- Focus of NE Section Meeting gineers picked up some pointers By Ernie Tretkoff larization of gamma rays. “The same on how to run for public office at a problem is encountered in medical recent campaign education work- Ways in which physics can con- applications, biology, materials sci- shop in Washington. Organized by tribute to homeland security were ence and nonproliferation, and se- Scientists and Engineers for Amer- discussed at the joint APS-AAPT curity,” said Curioni. Many current ica, the workshop took place May spring New England section meet- gamma ray detectors for homeland 10 at Georgetown University, and ing, held April 4-5 at the Coast Guard security typically just count gamma was also sponsored by APS and Academy in New London, CT. rays, but don’t measure their energy, several other scientific societies. Alessandro Curioni of Yale said so it can be difficult to distinguish There is increasing need for that some of the same gamma-ray harmless radioactive materials from scientific input into policy issues, detection technology being devel- dangerous ones. and although scientists may be in- oped for astronomy could be used One difficulty in detecting terested in becoming involved in for homeland security. For security gamma rays for any purpose is that politics, they tend to be unfamiliar purposes, one might want to mea- “there is no good focusing optics for Photo by Brian Mosley with the campaign process. Speak- sure energy, direction, time and po- NE SECTION continued on page 3 ers at the workshop covered the Dean Levitan makes a point to workshop participants. basics of how to run a campaign, Dean Levitan of MHSC Partners, Levitan. Voters “want to know that as applied to offices ranging from who has managed many success- you’re competent and capable, but Navigating the Universe local school board to Congress. ful campaigns. In fact, nowadays you don’t necessarily need politi- One question on some partici- people are tired of politicians, and cal experience to show that,” he pants’ minds was how much po- are looking for candidates with said. A scientist or engineer can litical experience is needed to run a different background, he said. show that they have expertise on for office. “The American public is starving relevant issues. “None,” answered speaker for a new kind of leadership,” said WORKSHOP continued on page 7 APS Flips for PhysicsQuest By Calla Cofield digit–each heads representing a one too large, and all coins would have and each tails representing a zero. to be flipped again. It only took two It’s been said that physicists To make things even more in- tries to get 00010111100, or, num- never do anything the easy way, teresting, APS recruited some very ber 188: Jan Aschim’s 4th period 8th and the APS Outreach Department special coin flippers–the kids at grade class from Rockford, Illinois. is no exception. To randomly select the American Center for Physics To spare the kids from a whole after- a grand-prize winner for its annual daycare center. The well-behaved noon of coin flipping, the five runner- PhysicsQuest contest for middle youngsters flipped their quarters as up classes were chosen using an on- school classes, APS abandoned the best they could (though most simply line random number generator. Photo by Brian Mosley traditional method of drawing raffle threw them in the air), and were then The students in the winning class In conjunction with the April Meeting, the APS sponsored a public lecture tickets, and randomly generated a told to hold their hands over the coins will all receive iPod Shuffles, along that took place at the Saint Louis Science Center. The speakers were Joel Primack and Nancy Abrams, and they talked about “The View from the binary number by flipping a coin. as the results were recorded. Because with some fun science gadgets from Center of the Universe.” They are the authors of a book of the same name. Each of the 1032 eligible classes was most of the numbers (anything under Educational Innovations. Five run- Although he is standing on solid ground, in the picture Primack seems to assigned an 11-digit binary number 1024) began with a zero, there was a ner-up classes will also receive sci- float through the cosmos as he is captured in silhouette against the back- in the order they submitted their an- good chance that a “heads” flip in the ence gadgets for each student and a drop of a video presentation that took the audience through a speeded-up tour of the nearby universe. swers. A coin was flipped for each first spot would generate a number PHYSICSQUEST cont'd. on page 5 2 • June 2008 APS NEWS

Members in the Media This Month in Physics History

“This is a Nobel Prize-winning universe is something we know result if it is proved. But it needs to nothing about, we’d better learn June 1798: Cavendish weighs the world be confirmed, and the experiment everything we can about it.” really has to demonstrate a total Daniel McKinsey, Yale Univer- n June 1798 Henry Cavendish reported his fa- chell, who had been interested in doing the experi- mastery of the data. Neither of sity, Argus Leader, May 1, 2008 Imous measurement of Earth’s density. A great ment himself but wasn’t able to carry it out before those criteria have been achieved, chemist and physicist, Henry Cavendish (1731- he died. Realizing that Michell’s equipment was 1810) was obsessive, extremely shy, and eccentric. inadequate to measure the tiny gravitational force and therefore you have to bring a “If you cared about money He was known for wearing clothes that were 50 between two small metal spheres, Cavendish set healthy skepticism to the result as you wouldn’t be a scientist at all, it stands.” years out of style. He avoided company, especially about tinkering until he had a more precise setup. would you.” fearing women. He took walks at night to avoid He built a large dumbbell, with two-inch lead Richard Gaitskell, Brown Uni- John Womersley, Science and versity, on the DAMA collabora- beings seen by neighbors, and even had an extra spheres stuck to the ends of a six-foot long wooden Technology Facilities Council, tion announcement that they have staircase installed in his house to avoid meeting his rod. The rod was suspended from a wire held at the answering a student concerned observed evidence for dark mat- servants on the stairs. center, and was free to rotate. A second dumbbell about pursuing a career in sci- ter, Los Angeles Times, April 19, Elements of this odd personality undoubtedly with two twelve-inch lead spheres weighing 350 2008 ence, given the funding situation made him a great scientist, capable of dedicating pounds each was then brought near the first so that for science in the UK, BBC News himself to making extremely precise measurements the large spheres would attract the smaller ones, “I have all the lifetime miles I online, April 9, 2008 where others would lose patience. He liked to build exerting a slight torque on the suspended rod. Cav- need. I don’t need any more.” and rebuild scientific instruments, always trying to endish would then painstakingly watch for hours to Kevin Lesko, Lawrence Berke- “We’ll compare the images we improve them. He was extremely methodical, sys- observe the rod’s oscillations. ley National Laboratory, on hav- get tonight with all the accumulat- tematically ruling out various sources This would provide a measure of ing to travel to Canada or Japan ed images of the same part of the of error, never satisfied that the work the gravitational force of the larger to conduct research that he will sky on other nights and look for was complete. spheres on the smaller ones. And since soon be able to do at DUSEL, As- what’s there now that wasn’t there Like many scientists at the time, the density of the spheres was known Henry Cavendish was an aristocrat, and the gravitational attraction be- sociated Press, April 27, 2008 before. This is how we are going and had inherited enough money to tween Earth and the spheres could be to find killer asteroids and a few finance his chemistry and physics measured by weighing the spheres, the “I don’t see anything to suggest million other solar system objects. experiments. He turned much of his ratio the two forces could be used to this is propaganda. They seem to It will be the greatest movie ever house into a laboratory, dedicating determine Earth’s density. be working on an advanced ma- made.” only a small portion of the house to Since the gravitational force be- chine.” Zeljko Ivezic, University of living space. tween the spheres is so weak, the tini- Houston G. Wood, Univer- Washington, on the Large Syn- Among his many experiments, he est air current could ruin the delicate sity of Virginia, on new photos of optic Survey Telescope, Discover is most famous for what is now called experiment. Cavendish placed the Iran’s nuclear reactor, The New Magazine, May 13, 2008 the Cavendish experiment, which apparatus in a closed room to keep York Times, April 29, 2008 Henry Cavendish he used to determine the density of out extraneous air currents. He used “I’m typically using several Earth. a telescope to observe the experiments through a “Maybe there is a compass in hundred processors. For the big- Newton had published his law of gravitation in window, and set up a pulley system that made it the eye of birds, and a map in their 1687, but he hadn’t made any attempt to determine possible to move the weights from outside. The beaks.” gest projects, the calculations take the constant G or the mass of Earth. By the 1700s, room was kept dark to avoid temperature differ- Thorsten Ritz, University of months.” astronomers wanted to know the density of Earth, ences in different parts of the room affecting the California, Irvine, on how birds Jacques G. Amar, University as it would make it possible to determine density experiment. use magnetic fields to navigate, of Toledo, on his research on far from equilibrium processes that of the other planets. In addition, as the New World Cavendish relentlessly tracked down poten- Washington Post, May 5, 2008 was being explored and territory being claimed, tial sources of error. He rotated the spheres in uses the Ohio Supercomputer surveyors needed to know the density of Earth. In case they had picked up some magnetization. He Center, The Columbus Dispatch, “There are at least 15 theoreti- 1763 Mason and Dixon set out to settle a boundary observed the attraction of the rods without the April 29, 2008 cal models out there, and most of dispute between Maryland and Pennsylvania. Cav- spheres on the ends. He tried different types of them are pure guesses,” endish wondered how precise their measurements wire to support the apparatus. Warren Pickett, University of “There are not that many alter- could be. He realized that the Allegheny Mountains After agonizing over every possible com- California, Davis, on a new class natives.” would exert a slight pull on their surveying equip- plicating factor, Cavendish finally reported of superconductors, Christian Sci- Klaus Lackner, Columbia ment, possibly affecting their measurement, but he his results in June 1798 in a 57-page paper in ence Monitor, May 7, 2008 University, on his idea for vacu- didn’t know how large the effect would be. This the Transactions of the Royal Society entitled uming carbon dioxide out of the led him and others to wonder about the averaged “Experiments to Determine the Density of the “You could drop it.” atmosphere, Los Angeles Times, density of Earth itself. Earth.” He reported that the density of Earth Zeina Jean Jabbour, NIST, on April 29, 2008 In 1772 the Royal Society set up a “Commit- was 5.48 times the density of water. (The cur- reasons for trying to redefine the tee of Attraction” to determine the density of Earth. rently accepted value is 5.52). standard kilogram, which is still “Our universe will not be af- Some people had proposed measuring this by find- Others later repeated the experiment, using based on a physical object, Los fected by what you do in the ing a very uniformly shaped mountain and measur- similar apparatus, and for almost a century no Angeles Times, April 17, 2008 past.” ing how much it deflected a plumb bob. Since grav- one achieved any improvement over Caven- Ronald Mallett, University of ity is so weak, this would be a tiny effect, but the dish’s original measurement. “This is a real geek fest.” Connecticut, on time travel, The committee, including Cavendish, nonetheless tried Today Cavendish’s experiment is viewed as Terry Schalk, University of it, using a large mountain in Scotland. They came a way to measure the universal gravitational Boston Globe, May 12, 2008 California, Santa Cruz, on the up with a value for the density of Earth of about 4.5 constant G, rather than as a measurement of the Maker Faire in San Mateo, CA, times the density of water. But they had made as- density of Earth. Using updated measuring ap- The New York Times, May 13, “I’m trying to do this without sumptions that Cavendish thought unfounded. paratus but the same basic setup, physics stu- 2008 money because I think money cor- He considered the problem for years, until in dents and scientists today often perform Cav- rupts the whole thing,” 1797, at age 67, he began his own experiments. He endish’s experiment, which is still recognized “If most of your world is water, David Maker, running for started with a torsion balance apparatus given to as one of the most elegant physics experiments you’d better know something Congress, The Huntsville Times, him by his friend, the geologist Reverend John Mi- of all time. about water. If nearly all of the May 13, 2008

Series II, Vol. 17, No. 06 For Nonmembers–Circulation and Fulfillment Division, Editor-in-Chief Wolf (Ohio Section), Heather Galloway (Texas Section), June 2008 American Institute of Physics, Suite 1NO1, 2 Huntington Gene Sprouse*, Stony Brook University (on leave) Amber Stuver (Forum on Graduate Student Affairs) APS NEWS © 2008 The American Physical Society Quadrangle, Melville, NY 11747-4502. Allow at least Past-President 6 weeks advance notice. For address changes, please Leo P. Kadanoff*, University of Chicago ADVISORS send both the old and new addresses, and, if possible, General Councillors Representatives from Other Societies Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 include a mailing label from a recent issue. Requests Robert Austin, Christina Back*, Marcela Carena, Eliza- Fred Dylla, AIP; Lila Adair, AAPT from subscribers for missing issues will be honored beth Beise, Katherine Freese, Wendell Hill*, Ann Orel*, Editor•...... Alan Chodos International Advisors Staff Writer...... Ernie Tretkoff without charge only if received within 6 months of the Richart Slusher*, issue’s actual date of publication. Periodical Postage Paid International Councillor Francisco Ramos Gómez, Mexican Physical Society Contributing Editor ...... Jennifer Ouellette Louis Marchildon, Canadian Association of Physicists Art Director and Special Publications Manager...... Kerry G. Johnson at College Park, MD and at additional mailing offices. Sabayasachi Bhattacharya Design and Production...... Nancy Bennett-Karasik Postmaster: Send address changes to APS News, Mem- Chair, Nominating Committee bership Department, American Physical Society, One Philip Phillips Staff Representatives Proofreader...... Edward Lee Alan Chodos, Associate Executive Officer; Amy Flatten Science Writing Intern ...... Nadia Ramlagan Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844. Chair, Panel on Public Affairs Miles Klein Director of International Affairs; Ted Hodapp, Director of Education and Diversity; Michael Lubell, Director, APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published 11X yearly, ed to: Editor, APS News, One Physics Ellipse, College APS COUNCIL 2008 Division, Forum and Section Councillors Public Affairs; Dan Kulp, Editorial Director; Christine monthly, except the August/September issue, by the Park, MD 20740-3844, E-mail: [email protected]. President Charles Dermer (Astrophysics), P. Julienne (Atomic, Mo- Giaccone, Director, Journal Operations; Michael American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, Col- Arthur Bienenstock*, Stanford University lecular & Optical Physics) Robert Eisenberg (Biologi- Stephens, Controller and Assistant Treasurer lege Park, MD 20740-3844, (301) 209-3200. It con- Subscriptions: APS News is an on-membership publi- President-Elect cal), Charles S. Parmenter (Chemical), Arthur Epstein tains news of the Society and of its Divisions,Topical cation delivered by Periodical Mail. Members residing Cherry Murray*, Lawrence Livermore National Labora- (Condensed Matter Physics), (Computational-TBA), Administrator for Governing Committees Groups, Sections and Forums; advance information on abroad may receive airfreight delivery for a fee of $15. tory James Brasseur (Fluid Dynamics), Peter Zimmerman* Ken Cole meetings of the Society; and reports to the Society by its Nonmembers: Subscription rates are available at http:// Vice-President (Forum on Education), Roger Stuewer (Forum on Histo- committees and task forces, as well as opinions. librarians.aps.org/institutional.html. Curtis G.Callan, Jr.*, Princeton University ry of Physics), Stefan Zollner (Forum on Industrial and Executive Officer Applied Physics), David Ernst* (Forum on International * Members of the APS Executive Board Letters to the editor are welcomed from the member- Subscription orders, renewals and address changes Judy R. Franz*, University of Alabama, Huntsville Physics), (Forum on Physics and Society-TBA), Steven ship. Letters must be signed and should include an ad- should be addressed as follows: For APS Members– (on leave) Rolston (Laser Science), Leonard Feldman* (Materials), dress and daytime telephone number. The APS reserves Membership Department, American Physical Society, Treasurer Akif Balantekin* (Nuclear), Janet Conrad (Particles the right to select and to edit for length or clarity. All One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844, Joseph W.Serene*, Georgetown University (emeritus) & Fields), Ronald Ruth (Physics of Beams), David correspondence regarding APS News should be direct- [email protected]. Hammer (Plasma), Scott Milner (Polymer Physics), Paul APS NEWS June 2008 • 3

After the Particles, it’s Power to the People for Physicist-turned-Politico Bill Foster By Alaina G. Levine

Congressman Bill Foster wants cast a vote in favor of establishing As a team leader and project problem solving, have already served equipped. “One of the advantages YOU for the US Government. Occupational Safety & Health Ad- manager at Fermilab, Representative him well in politics. Before he ran that physicists…have is that they are “It’s very important for scientists ministration (OSHA) standards for Foster designed and built vital sec- for Congress, he spent the 2006 elec- forced to deal with a wide range of to inject themselves into the bureau- explosive dust. “As a result of that tions of the equipment that ultimately tion cycle volunteering full time for things from the purely theoretical to cracy,” the freshman Representative vote, I am fairly confident that 10 detected the particle. He ran groups the campaign of Patrick J. Murphy the hands-on technology to working from Illinois says, “and for the sci- years from now there are going to be of between five and 200 people do- (D-PA). “For the last two months or with groups of people,” he says. To entists who choose to do that to be many people that are alive because of ing various projects, from software so (of the campaign) I camped out in have all of those “bits and pieces of given full respect by the scientists in that vote,” he says. data analysis of physics events to a Ramada Inn across from the head- experience” when you go in, pro- the academic world.” But he has also felt joy from his construction management of the quarters,” he says. “I did every pos- vides an advantage. Congressman Foster (D-IL) can other career as a physicist, and before accelerators. His moment of Zen sible job for the campaign.” Representative Foster has a few talk. A physicist who worked at Fer- that, as a businessman and entrepre- occurred when he “looked at candi- One of the tasks he undertook warnings and pieces of advice for milab for 22 years, he propelled him- neur. At age 19, as an undergraduate was writing a computer program that physicists who want to throw their hat self head first into the bureaucracy major in physics at the University helped determine which homes the in the ring, either as an elected offi- earlier this year when he ran for Con- of Wisconsin-Madison, he and his campaign staff should visit. Called cial, or as a staff member of Congress gress in a special election after the younger brother started a company “Get out the Vote”, the program or a federal agency. First, you have seat in his district (which includes that now produces about 70% of the streamlined the campaign because to have an understanding that “the Fermilab) was vacated by House theater lighting equipment in the US. it analyzed which district residents political system you’re going into Speaker J. Dennis Hastert. After graduating, he ran the firm full- were most likely to react favorably to is something that very smart people Four days after being elected and time for a while, and eventually got a knock at their door from a Murphy have worked on for a very long time, literally one day after being sworn his PhD in physics at Harvard under supporter. most of them with their hearts in the in, he was asked to cast the deciding the mentorship of Lawrence Sulak. The team “knocked on 240,000 right place trying to make things bet- vote in favor of House ethics reform. As a scientist, Bill was driven by doors in the last 72 hours and we ter,” he says. “The places where you “This had been stuck in Congress for his conviction that when he saw the ended up (beating) the incumbent bring a unique perspective are places most of the year and passed by a sin- first result of an experiment, he had by 1500 votes. It got me a standing where facts and numbers can be use- gle vote after I joined,” he explains. “looked at something that was only ovation from a couple of busloads of fully injected into the debate, which “So afterwards I was being slapped known to the creator of the Universe dates of events that might indicate volunteers,” he says. is an increasing fraction of our public on the back by House leadership say- and me,” he says. He had the privi- evidence of the Top Quark,…and I With his confidence elevated debate.” ing, ‘Bill, this is fantastic–we could lege of experiencing this phenom- realized that the Top Quark mass was from the role he played in the win, A physicist may tend to spend too not have passed this without you.’” enon twice in his life. The first was so heavy it could not be discovered at Congressman Foster turned his at- much time contemplating “techni- So Bill, 52, got his first reward while in graduate school, when he CERN, only at Fermilab,” he recalls. tention to his own campaign, which cally interesting things”, warns Fos- for having selected a new career in noticed that the proton decay data he Of course, the Fermilab data did he won in March 2008 with 53% of ter. “The nature of the job here is… politics–the joy of knowing he made was analyzing showed that it was not establish the presence of the Top the votes. you’re juggling a very large num- a difference. “Experiences like that happening at the rate predicted by a Quark, and as Congressman Foster He is certain that physics provides ber of balls and you have to choose make it hard for me to feel useless,” “cadre of Nobel Prize winners.” puts it, “At that moment you get this a practical platform upon which to a very limited number of issues on he says. He wants to know that he is The second time was when he wonderful feeling of discovery.” build leaders, especially in politics. which you’re going to become an a “useful cog in the machine,” and in played a significant role in the exper- As it happened, the skills he honed His belief is that physicists whose expert.” just a few short months in office, he iment that resulted in the discovery in physics, particularly his knack for careers involve a diversity of projects But he stresses the strategic role has gotten that chance. Recently, he of the quark known as Top. computer programming and general and experiences are especially well FOSTER continued on page 5

NE SECTION continued from page 1 gamma rays” Curioni said. Gamma dangerous materials quickly, from energy device could be used for non- can tell there’s a cloud of stuff some- oping self-decontaminating surfaces rays are highly penetrating, and eas- far away, and without interrupting lethal crowd control, by creating a where, but I can’t tell if it’s biological, and a wide variety of other tools to ily travel several centimeters through commerce. painful, though supposedly harmless, and certainly can’t tell if it’s anthrax,” plan for many contingencies. dense materials. A detector needs to For radiation safety, time, distance burning sensation. Directed energy says Dasey. Even high school students can have large area, large field of view, and shielding are friends, Schumer devices could be non-lethal, could A basic detection system might begin to learn the science involved and large stopping power. said. “These same things make it be deployed rapidly, and have select- have as a first level a trigger detec- in homeland security. Lea Beau- There are several types of inter- hard to find smuggled nuclear ma- able effects, Luginsland pointed out. tor that would provide some tenta- lieu, a teacher at Joppatowne High actions gamma rays produce when terials,” he said. Passive detection However, the technology is imma- tive warning of a threat, and perhaps they hit a material, the most common schemes, which simply detect radia- ture and controversial. some rudimentary agent classifica- School in Maryland, described a new being Compton scattering, in which tion a material emits, are limited be- Currently Luginsland and others tion, but not specific details. Dasey’s program for high school students in a photon transfers some of its energy cause radioactive materials can eas- are working on simulations of com- group is working on making small homeland security and emergency to an electron. The incoming gamma ily be shielded by those wishing to pact high power microwave devices. and inexpensive biological agent preparedness. The program, devel- ray scatters in some detector medium, conceal them. Current scanners also Such devices would use relativistic warning systems that use ultraviolet oped in cooperation with partners in such as liquid xenon or liquid argon, have trouble distinguishing danger- magnetrons, similar to the magne- laser light to induce fluorescence in government, higher education, and and both the electron and photon are ous materials such as highly enriched tron in a microwave oven, but much amino acids that might be present. industry, supplements the standard detected, giving a measurement of uranium from harmless radioactive more powerful. Luginsland’s simu- The next level of sensing would high school curriculum and is aimed the energy of the gamma ray photon, materials. lations, which start from the basic identify specific agents. There are at average students. Some students in as well as some information about Active detection methods, which electrodynamics, can suggest ways several potential ways to do this. In the program choose a science track, the direction it came from. Compton Schumer and others are working on to improve the devices. Applications one test device, the researchers took in which they focus specifically on telescopes are currently some of the developing, might work better. Such require new, compact, high efficiency living cells and engineered them to the science involved in homeland most sensitive instruments to detect methods would hit the target con- sources of electromagnetic radiation. respond to certain pathogens that gamma rays for astronomical uses. tainer to be scanned with a beam of Advanced computation is providing they want to detect. When the patho- security, learning, for instance, the Curioni and others are working on neutrons, which would induce fis- new ways to virtually prototype these gen hits the cell, a biochemical reac- chemistry and physics involved in building better Compton telescopes. sion in any fissionable material in the devices, he said. tion in the cell releases calcium ions detecting dangerous materials and The energy resolution of these instru- container, resulting in emission of Tim Dasey of MIT Lincoln Lab that could be detected. This method the biology of how the body responds ments is already good, though they a characteristic radiation that could focused on biological and chemical gives results in minutes, but the cells to toxins. They have hands-on les- could use improved position resolu- be detected. This method could de- defense. Attacks with biological or only live for about a week at room sons using relevant technology such tion, Curioni said. tect highly enriched uranium even chemical weapons such as anthrax temperature. as Geographic Information Systems Applying some of these develop- through light shielding. Schumer would be extremely difficult to pre- After attack, there are several steps and chemical detectors. The program ments to homeland security is the called the scheme a “nuclear car- vent, since it’s relatively easy for before action can be taken, including began last year, with about 60 tenth next step. “There is a lot of overlap wash.” anyone to get hold of the materials figuring out where exactly the attack grade students. After graduation, the between fundamental research in John Luginsland of NumerEX and the knowledge to make a bio- originated, how large the attack was, students may go on to college or di- particle and astrophysics and appli- Corporation talked about simulations logical or chemical weapon. Dasey’s who was exposed, and what medical rectly into the job market. “Home- cations,” Curioni said. of directed energy devices. These talk focused on what could be done response is needed. Time is crucial in Joseph Schumer of the Naval Re- devices, some of which are still at in the aftermath of an attack. “The such situations. Cities are developing land security is a booming industry,” search Laboratory talked about ways the science fiction stage, could be first thing you want to do is- under response plans, and Lincoln Labs is she said. Beaulieu also believes the to monitor cargo for dangerous ma- used to temporarily or permanently stand what happened,” he said. developing simulation-based train- program will help interest some stu- terials. This is challenging because disable electronics without harming That requires fast, reliable detec- ing tools to help, Dasey said. The re- dents in science by showing them authorities would want to detect humans. A different type of directed tors. With most current detectors, “I searchers are also working on devel- important ways science is useful. 4 • June 2008 APS NEWS Letters

“Easy” Course Would Provide Useful Background Reading “Conference Takes of Physics a Critical Look at Graduate Edu- Each of these areas is currently cation” in the March 2008 APS discussed in newspapers, radio/ News, I recalled being at a similar TV, and books for a popular au- conference a decade ago (“Chairs’ dience. (And number 3 comes Science! Who Needs It? Conference on Graduate Educa- up in too much pseudo-science.) by Michael S. Lubell, APS Director of Public Affairs tion”). Our conclusions were also The course should include, even similar: that our programs should emphasize, controversial issues, When it comes to math and sci- sponse? A lot of rhetoric but pre- nology we need to deploy a fleet not be the same as 50 years previ- which do get the most popular at- ence, American students get fail- cious few dollars and precious few of plug-in hybrid cars. He seemed ous. Since most of our PhDs will tention. Can anyone deny that our ing grades, and they have for quite policies that might make a differ- to suggest that all we required was have careers in industry, we might PhDs in one of those areas are of- some time. It used to be a dirty ence! It’s not that policy makers an enlightened auto industry to emphasize less academic-research ten unable to discuss the others? In little secret, and it didn’t seem to don’t care; it’s that they don’t re- oriented courses, start research fact, the course would have to be act in the public interest, and our ally understand how the science early, and work for shorter time to taught by several different people, matter much. But it’s no longer a energy future would be secure and the PhD. even lecturers from outside the de- secret and it matters a lot now. enterprise works–the need for pa- the global environment, saved. However, I’d also like to sug- partment. Last December, the Program tient nurturing and patient capital. Would that it were true! But the gest an “easy,” definitely qualita- As a former industrial physi- for International Student Assess- It’s a fair guess that most mem- reality is that we don’t have af- tive, course to broaden the physics cist, I know that the ability to talk ment released its 2006 math and bers of Congress and high-level fordable, safe batteries with high perspective of young physicists about current issues with non- science test scores for 15-year- Executive Branch officials have enough energy density to make about to leave academia. physicist, technical colleagues olds in countries belonging to never taken a chemistry or phys- plug-in hybrid cars practical for Five possible topics: will benefit the career of a new in- the Organization for Economic ics course in college. And when family use right now. And given 1. Particle physics dustrial physicist PhD. Such back- Cooperation and Development. they speak of calculus, they mean the schizophrenic way our gov- 2. Cosmology ground would also be valuable for Of those 30 richest nations in the political calculus, not derivatives ernment officials treat science, 3. Foundations of Quantum Me- a new instructor at any level. world, the United States ranked and integrals. Their decisions are plug-in hybrids may be a long chanics 17th in science and 23rd in math. generally informed by keen po- time coming. 4. Condensed Matter Bruce Rosenblum That should be a wake-up call litical acumen and either fine legal We do need more home-grown 5. Some Industrial Applications Santa Cruz, CA for every American politician, but training or a good brain for finance scientists and engineers to com- but rarely by any understanding of judging by the lethargy in Wash- pete in the global economy, but ington, the message hasn’t sunk even rudimentary principles of we also desperately need a more in. Here’s why it should. math and science. scientifically literate populace. Need to Educate Public About Energy For half a century, the United Corn-based ethanol is a good Sadly that won’t happen until state During the early 1970s there ingly, the government recently States reigned supreme economi- example. It produces more carbon and local governments wake up to was a nationwide shortage of was forced to fund minimal re- cally among all nations. We were than it saves, as reported in the gasoline for our transportation the problem. And it won’t happen coverable energy research. But the greatest innovators, the most February 29, 2008 issue of Sci- needs. At that time I, probably unless teachers’ organizations be- at this rate it would take at least productive manufacturers and ence, and it generates barely more along with other technology- gin to recognize the size of the cri- 25-50 years for real change. always on the cusp of the revo- energy than the non-renewable oriented individuals, was out- sis and make science a priority. This country and the rest of the lutionary discoveries that drove sources it consumes. Yet lawmak- spoken about the concept to de- world are captive to the whims technology. Our standard of living ers embrace it as a means of wean- For now we can only hope that velop new propulsion technolo- of the energy producers and the was the highest, and the expecta- ing us off imported oil and cutting scientists redouble their efforts gy and energy sources to replace world energy lobby. tion that our children would be greenhouse gas emissions. Man- to reach out to the public and to the internal combustion engine. The energy industries’ and better off than we were was al- dating its use demonstrates either lawmakers at all levels of govern- This would have required a con- our government’s recent ap- ways a dream fulfilled. appalling ignorance or pure politi- ment and establish the case for re- siderable undertaking, requiring proach is to produce ethanol But the rest of the world has cal pandering. In truth it’s prob- search and education. It won’t be extensive Government support from corn as a stop-gap mea- caught up, and the American as- ably a combination of the two. easy, but, hey, the physics caucus for research projects. sure. For ethanol and biodiesel piration for a better tomorrow is Next November is unlikely in the House of Representatives It was the ideal time to start there are a number of other less- to bring us much more scien- just increased 50 percent when an all-out program to develop at risk of becoming nothing more in-demand farm crops to use, as former Fermilab employee Bill practical means of capturing than an illusory pot of gold at the tific enlightenment from the new well as fungi and seaweed. This Foster won a special election in Il- energy from natural existing end of a rainbow. The dollar has crop of public servants whom we puts ethanol in competition with linois’ 14th congressional district sources and utilizing them to lost its might, the nation’s debt will elect. Just consider the May feed for cattle and humans, and this past March. If we could just meet our various needs. Back has skyrocketed, and the balance 4th edition of NBC’s “Meet the corn syrup production. Now get one more Foster to win every then, it was already realized that of trade is so deeply in the red that Press.” Responding to Tim Rus- there is a corn crop shortage, the break-even line is almost in- sert’s question about soaring gaso- month for the next few years, at the reserves of oil had a limited causing extensive price infla- supply left and would be need- visible on the economic horizon. line prices, Senator Barack Obama least in Washington science might tion. Also remember, it takes ed way into the future for many And what is Washington’s re- asserted that we have all the tech- get the attention it deserves. considerable energy to produce uses other than energy. These ethanol. included many manufactured Where do we go from here? products that require oil as a The APS and IEEE have pro- raw material. We had (have) to grams to encourage members conserve oil. to educate the public on scien- This was contrary to the inter- The Lighter Side of Science tific topics. The possibilities for est of the various energy indus- future energy sources should tries and therefore no research The Other Side of Science was funded. Thirty-five years probably be at the top of the list. later, we are even more depen- The increasing cost of auto fu- “Dark Matter”: Music and Lyrics by Jonny Berliner els and power for our homes is dent upon the same combustion Editor’s Note: Jonny Berliner And now it’s really pissing all already a major part of the fam- engine and carbon-based power is a UK-based singer/songwriter. There needs to be a substance the cosmologists off generation. ily’s budget and will continue to His debut album, “Friend for All that we’re just not detecting It’s a dark, dark matter It must be acknowledged that escalate. Seasons,” will be released shortly But it’s hard to find material more recently some progress, What better way to educate on his own label, MCM Record- that just ain’t reflecting So what does it feel like and mostly privately sponsored, the public than through students ings. He has also appeared on But maybe it's our theories just how does it smell? has been accomplished with at all school levels and adults BBC network television and BBC need some correcting If you had some in a bucket, solar cells to recovery elec- through public television. local radio. You can find out more It's a dark, dark matter well how would you tell? tricity, as well as with electric Through this, both the new gen- about his work at http://www.jon- Can you sit on it, or sculpt it, or and hydrogen cars. But these eration and the older may real- nyberliner.com, and listen to the So what does it feel like and eat it as well? are in its infancy, and we still ize it is their responsibility to musical track for “Dark Matter” how does it smell? It's a dark, dark matter don’t know which technology is be outspoken and to lobby our online at http://www.null-hypothe- If you had some in a bucket, practical for mass usage. It will elected officials to help get the sis.co.uk/science//item/geek_pop_ well how would you tell? We’ve found that finding evi- take many years for new proven necessary accelerated research jonny_berliner. Can you sit on it, or sculpt it, or dence is fairly demanding technology to be developed and started. When you look up in the sky at eat it as well? It’s stretched us to the limits of phased in. The APS should help set up a night you’re seeing a mystery It’s a dark, dark matter our understanding Here we are today, with mas- member advocacy group to help The physicists are in a twist And then it opened up a can of sive environmental problems advance this effort. ‘bout the forming of the galaxies We haven’t got a clue what this worms and minimal newly developed It’s a very heavy issue, it's an stuff consists of About why the Universe is still technology on the horizon to Roger Gottfried issue of gravity It’s not made from any particle expanding meet our energy needs. Grudg- East Northport, NY It's a dark, dark matter that there is a list of It’s a dark, dark matter APS NEWS June 2008 • 5 Space Debris Still a Growing Problem China made global headlines in they drift through space for awhile an orbiting object into many small- Pencils in Parallel January 2007 when it used an anti- between re-entering the atmosphere, er fragments of debris, initiating a satellite (ASAT) missile to destroy often burning up in the process. chain reaction as that debris collides one of its old weather satellites orbit- However, the greatest concern is with other satellites in nearby orbits, ing 537 miles above Earth, but na- debris that results from explosions, breaking them into fragments in turn tional security wasn’t the only critical such as when rockets or spacecraft and compounding the problem fur- issue at stake. China’s ASAT missile with unspent fuel collide with other ther. test created the largest amount of objects, thereby producing a great At high altitudes, the debris space debris in history, making the can stay in orbit for decades, ac- threat much more severe, according cumulating to the point where to several speakers at a session on the there is a much higher risk of col- growing problem of space debris at lisions with satellites. In fact, it the APS April Meeting in St. Louis. may already be too late: Wright Space debris has long been cause cited a 2006 study by NASA’s for concern. In the mid-1990s, the Orbit Debris Program that found United Nations deemed it a signifi- certain parts of space particular- cant enough risk to implement miti- ly the 900 to 1000 km band, or gation measures aimed at reining in Lower Earth Orbit (LEO) have al- An artist's rendering of orbiting space the proliferation of space debris. debris around Earth, courtesy of the ready reached supercritical debris (New updated measures were re- European Space Agency. densities. NASA estimates that an introduced in June 2007.) Mitigation active satellite in LEO will col- Photo by Ed Lee held the density of space debris to number of fragments. According to lide with a piece of debris larger constant levels throughout the 1990s, Geoffrey Forden, an MIT physicist, than 1 centimeter every five to six At the APS Teachers' Day in St. Louis, held in conjunction with the 2008 but in recent years, the number of the Chinese action produced more years. April Meeting, 63 physics and physical science teachers gathered for a fragments has begun to climb again. than 2300 pieces larger than a golf With their high speed in orbit, day of talks, workshops, and networking. In the photo, Christine Stewart, who teaches at the Govenor French Academy, investigates diffraction with There are now more than 150 million ball, and over 35,000 pieces larger even fairly small pieces of debris a variable slit system constructed with two pencils and rubber bands (de- pieces floating in space, most mea- than 1 centimeter. We are in danger can damage or destroy satellites veloped by Cornell's Center for Nanoscale Systems Institute for Physics suring less than 2 inches across. of a runaway escalation of space de- in a collision, said Wright. Or- Teachers). Space debris mostly consists of bris, he said. bital speeds in LEO are typically a mix of discarded objects: spent The density of debris is fast ap- greater than 7 kilometers per rocket stages, defunct satellites, frag- proaching supercriticality, accord- second, 30 times faster than a jet New Ways Suggested to Probe Lorentz Violation ments from explosions of various ing to David Wright of the Union of aircraft, and the relative speed Lorentz invariance, a ba- versity described another way space equipment, paint flakes, dust, Concerned Scientists, which main- of a piece of debris approaching sic building block of relativity, to look for violations of general even the occasional glove, camera, tains a satellite database tracking all a satellite in an intersecting or- holds that the laws of physics relativity. Torsion is a warping or jettisoned garbage bags. Most of those bits of debris. This situation bit may be 10 km per second or remain the same for observ- these are at low enough altitudes that could result from the destruction of higher, said Wright. of space and time in addition to ers traveling at constant speeds the curvature of spacetime that PHYSICSQUEST continued from page 1 relative to each other, or rotated Einstein’s general relativity pre- $100 gift certificate to Educational with respect to each other. Some dicts. Such a warping, predicted Innovations. theoretical models, called stan- by some alternative theories of PhysicsQuest is an APS activity dard model extensions, have gravity, would cause particles’ kit given free of charge to middle predicted violations of Lorentz spins to precess. A University of school classes who request it. An ac- symmetry. At the April Meet- Washington experiment used a tivity book and small set of supplies ing, several theorists reported large number of electron spins to help students perform classroom ex- on ways Lorentz violation might detect these effects. A comple- periments that have a different theme turn up in various experiments. mentary approach by a Harvard each year. Results from carefully con- “All of known physics de- group used microwaves emit- ducted experiments help the students pends on Lorentz symmetry,” ted by a helium-xenon maser solve a physics-themed mystery. Matt Mewes of Marquette Uni- to measure changes in the spin This year’s PhysicsQuest mystery fo- versity said in a press confer- orientation of neutrons. Tasson cused on Marie Curie and the secret ence at the April Meeting. If that and Kostelecky used these mea- classes she took in Russian-occupied symmetry is not exact, there will surements to determine limits Poland. Women were not allowed to be some small defects in every- on 15 of the 24 quantities that attend the local university, so Curie thing else. He likened Lorentz would describe torsion. So far, met with professors and other female symmetry to a building block on no evidence of torsion has been students in secret. which much of the rest of phys- observed in these extremely sen- ics rests. If the Lorentz symme- This year’s experiments involved sitive measurements, Tasson re- temperature, heat and energy. They try block was slightly chipped, Photo by James Riordon ported. included measuring temperature the whole structure on top of it As described in the accompanying story, Shachi Mahajan flips her coin to help find Still another place to look for by touch vs. with a thermometer; would lean slightly. So by mak- the PhysicsQuest grand prize winner. Lorentz violation is by search- using dye to observe the speed of ing very precise measurements ing for tiny variations in the molecules in cold water vs. warm materials. Each class had to submit a dents. “At first it was hard for of many different physical phe- moon’s orbit about the earth. water; creating your own bulb ther- correct set of answers to be entered them because they were so used nomena, one could expect to see Quentin Bailey of Embry-Rid- mometer to show the change that into the drawing. to me helping them. Some were evidence of Lorentz violation. dle Aeronautical University de- materials undergo with temperature The very surprised Ms. Aschim slower than others, but they just One way to look for Lorentz scribed how researchers looked change; and measuring the creation said the students were proud of their sat and worked through it. I liked violation is in the cosmic micro- at data from a laser ranging ex- of heat through energy release by victory, walking around saying “We to hear them talking back and wave background polarization, rubbing your hands together, or add- really did something!” forth trying to work out the prob- Mews suggested. Recent experi- periment that bounced lasers off ing yeast to hydrogen peroxide. The Students are supposed to solve lems,” she said. ments have measured the polar- mirrors placed on the moon by experiments showed students the the PhysicsQuest problems on For more information about ization of the CMB at different astronauts. The scientists used importance of precision instruments their own, which Aschim says PhysicsQuest, visit http://physic- positions in the sky. An unex- that data to measure parameters and the effects of heat and energy on was a challenge for some stu- scentral.com/physicsquest/. pected twist in that polarization that would reveal any deviation from general relativity. In addi- FOSTER continued from page 3 would indicate a breakdown of relativity. Mews, in collabora- tion, another experiment, per- scientists do play in managing, im- country as he has. He offers that a and practical assistance in getting in- tion with Alan Kostelecky of In- formed at Stanford, tracked the proving and advancing our nation. first step for both emerging and es- volved in politics.” diana University, analyzed data gravitational force felt by atoms “The best starting point for any de- tablished physicists is to seek a fel- And to ensure more physicists are from the CMB experiment BOO- very accurately, looking for tiny bate on public policy is the facts and lowship (such as the Congressional empowered to work for the people, MERANG, looking at many dif- deviations from what general the numbers,” he argues. “There’s Fellowship Program in which APS Congressman Foster says that he ferent parameters. They found relativity predicts. These experi- plenty of time afterward to inject participates) that affords scientists is “seriously talking to the physics that the results hint slightly at a ments are all very sensitive, to opinion, biases, and visions for the the opportunity to spend a year or community and the scientific com- potential unexpected twist in the several parts in ten billion. All future, but the times we’ve gotten two in DC working for the feds. munity at large to encourage you to polarization. Future experiments measurements were consistent ourselves into trouble as a country “I want to encourage [scientists] send your best and brightest students will be needed to verify this. with general relativity, Bailey were when we didn’t pay attention to get involved,” he says. “It is a tre- into the federal bureaucracy,” and, he The CMB polarization is a good reported. to what the real facts were.” And of mendous amount of work, but most requests, “salute them when they do way to look for relativity viola- Although no solid evidence course, it is a platform of numerical scientists I know already work very choose that career path.” tions because the longer light of Lorentz violation has been truths that serve as the “the starting long hours. So far, it has been as re- Alaina G. Levine can be reached travels, the more chance it has to found so far in any experiment, point for debates for whether or not warding as anything I’ve done in sci- through her website at www.alaina- undergo this slight rotation, said there is still room for ever more our system can improve,” he says. ence, and I encourage them to take levine.com. Mews. No other light has trav- sensitive experiments to search Congressman Foster wants to a shot at it. If they are serious about Copyright, 2008, Alaina G. eled further than the CMB. for the effect, the researchers inspire other scientists to serve their it, I’d be happy to give them advice Levine. Jay Tasson of Indiana Uni- said. 6 • June 2008 APS NEWS

25th Anniversary Commemoration Physicists Adopt Complementary Approaches in Dark Matter Search Physicists are adopting a strike the electrons orbiting the a liter of a fire-extinguishing varied range of complementary nucleus. This will change the liquid (iodotrifluoromethane). approaches in the experimental “recoil” behavior and thus com- When a WIMP hits an atomic search for the elusive dark mat- prises a unique signature. nucleus, it triggers an evapora- ter. According to speakers at the The Cold Dark Matter Search tion of a small amount of that APS April Meeting in St. Louis, (CDMS) collaboration has liquid, producing a tiny bubble. these approaches include using moved its experimental head- The bubble is initially too tiny liquid noble gases as a detecting quarters to the Soudan Under- to see, but it grows, and that Focus on medium; solid state devices in- ground Laboratory, an aban- growth can be recorded with corporating germanium and sili- doned iron mine 700 meters digital cameras. Once the bub- con crystals cooled to cryogenic below ground in Eli, Minnesota, ble reaches about 1 millimeter temperatures; and resurrecting according to Jodi Cooley of in size, the COUPP scientists the relatively old technology of Stanford. The site also houses can study the images for tell- bubble chambers in the search the Main Injector Neutrino Os- tale statistical variations be- of searching for dark matter. cillation Search (MINOS) facil- tween photographs. Ideally, this Focus on Photo courtesy of Darlene Logan The two leading contend- will enable them to distinguish On April 12, in conjunction with the April Meeting in St. Louis, APS hosted a ers for dark matter are mas- whether a bubble resulted from dinner to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the J. J. sive astrophysical compact background radiation, or from a Sakurai Prize, which is awarded for outstanding achievement in theoretical objects (MACHOs) and weak dark matter particle. particle physics. The Prize is named for Jun John Sakurai, who died in 1982 at age 49, at the height of a brilliant career as a researcher, teacher and textbook interacting massive particles Like the CDMS collabora- author. Sakurai was Professor of Physics at UCLA at the time of his death. (WIMPs). The former would tion, Collar’s group has succeed- The dinner guests included (l to r): Alexei Smirnov, one of the recipients of the be black holes, neutron stars, ed in placing some fundamental 2008 Sakurai Prize; Lincoln Wolfenstein, the 1992 Sakurai Prize recipient; Leo brown dwarfs, and other celes- limits on certain predicted prop- Stodolsky (Max-Planck-Institut für Physik, München); Noriko Sakurai, widow tial objects that emit little or no erties for WIMPs. Next on the of J. J. Sakurai; Harold Ticho (UCSD, emeritus); Marie De Jesus, Chair of radiation and therefore escape agenda is to increase the bubble the science department at Thomas Jefferson High School in St. Louis, which J. J. Sakurai attended; APS Director of Development Darlene Logan; APS detection. WIMPs would be an chamber detector’s sensitiv- Treasurer/Publisher Joseph Serene; and Daniel Sternheimer (Université de entirely new type of matter that ity by increasing the amount of Bourgogne). almost never interacts with reg- liquid from one liter to around ular matter, making them even 30 liters. Collar has also just in- more difficult to detect than stalled a new germanium-based MACHOs since they only inter- A bubble chamber dark matter detec- compact neutrino detector in the tor at the Chicagoland Observatory for ocus on act through the gravitational and Underground Particle Physics experi- sewers of Chicago, renting this weak nuclear forces. ment at the University of Chicago unusual lab space from the city. Therefore, physicists search- The design has been modified to ing for dark matter are going ity. As cold as it gets in Min- detect WIMPs. Focus on APS Topical Groups: Group on deep underground, using Earth nesota during the winter, joked Several days after the APS as a natural shield to filter out Cooley, it’s still not cold enough April Meeting, the DAMA- Plasma Astrophysics the background noise from ra- for the cryogenics of their ex- LIBRA collaboration in Gran By Calla Cofield magnificent, examples of plasma as- diation emitted by other parti- periment. Sasso, Italy, announced confir- trophysics phenomena is the north- cles, such as neutrinos and cos- The germanium and silicon mation of a controversial earlier The APS Group on Plasma As- ern and southern lights. The auroras mic rays. WIMPs seem to share crystals they use in their de- experimental result of a statis- trophysics (GPAP) bridges two are theorized to be the result of a certain qualities with neutrinos, tectors are the size of hockey tically significant signal of the bodies of physics that are deeply process called magnetic reconnec- which also only rarely interact pucks, cooled down to about sort one would expect from the and intricately linked. Astrophys- tion, in which plasmas containing with other subatomic particles, 50 milliKelvins. When a WIMP collision of WIMPs with the de- ics offers new examples of plasma magnetic fields are pushed together so many neutrino experiments passes through a crystal, it sets tector. DAMA-LIBRA is an up- physics phenomena not seen any- and the fields cancel, converting can be modified to search for off tiny vibrations whenever it grade of a 2000 experiment pro- where else, and many of the most a portion of their energy into fast WIMPs. bumps into an atom, which can ducing what the Italian scientists important questions in astronomy electrons which enter the upper at- Tom Shutt of Case Western be detected via a layer of tung- believed to be a “clear” signal Reserve University is spear- sten-aluminum metal. Of course, for dark matter (WIMPs). and astrophysics have plasma phys- mosphere and cause the air to glow ics at their core. Finding answers heading the Large Underground the detector also picks up vibra- Other physicists disagreed, during the auroras. Magnetic re- to these questions will require as- Xenon (LUX) experiment, tions from other sources as well, arguing that the original find- connection may also be the driving trophysicists with an up-to-date housed in the abandoned Home- so the team uses lead and copper ings were probably a systemat- force behind solar flares and coro- knowledge of plasma physics, and stake gold mine in Lead, South for additional shielding to fur- ic error stemming from the high nal mass ejections, both of which the group aims to create a commu- Dakota, in the very same cavern ther reduce background noise. degree of background noise nity where that knowledge can be can impact life on Earth. Plasma as- where physicist Ray Davis con- In March, Cooley’s team an- associated with DAMA’s par- shared. trophysicists are also searching for ducted his seminal solar neutrino nounced new results they say set ticular experimental approach: FocusAPS on has a Division ofTopic Astro- evidence of magnetic reconnectionGroups experiments in the 1950s. Noble an upper limit on certain key pa- looking for a tiny signal varia- physics (DAP) and a Division of in accretion disks and around black gases are excellent scintillating rameters, thereby excluding sev- tion in a sodium iodide detec- Plasma Physics (DPP), but the two holes. materials for the purpose of de- eral of the numerous theoretical tor over the course of one year. TopicIn the past tenGroups years, scientists fields are large and there is a need tecting collisions between atoms models that have been proposed The tiny variation is believed to for specific focus to be given to the have created the first laboratory and WIMPs because they block for where the dark matter signal be due to the orbital motion of overlapping areas found in plasma results clearly showing magnetic the passage of many radioactive would likely be seen. Cooley Earth through the cosmic dark Focusastrophysics. GPAP’son current chair Topic reconnection occurring. However, Groups particles that could interfere said it is the best upper limit matter background. Subsequent Steven Spangler of the University there is controversy over how the with detecting dark matter sig- achieved thus far, and that any experiments at a French un- of Iowa says that one of group’s onset of this process occurs, how nals. LUX will use xenon, the model predicting values above derground experiment called goals is to increase the interaction it proceeds, and exactly how the heaviest noble gas, which liqui- that (a mass of 60 GeV/c2 and EDELWEISS and at CDMS between these two divisions. charged particles and electromag- fies at -108 degrees Celsius. a size of 4.4 x 10-44 cm2) could failed to confirm DAMA’s orig- In addition to participating in the netic fields in plasma interact with The detector will have both a be safely excluded “because we inal results. April Meeting, GPAP hosts a mini- each other. “Plasma astrophysicists large pool of liquid xenon, and a would have seen it.” The detec- Collar and many other scien- symposium at the annual meetings need to remain in close communi- layer of the gaseous version just tors are currently being upgrad- tists say that the latest DAMA- of the DPP. The symposium offers cation with basic plasma physicists above it. Should a WIMP strike ed to conduct even more sensi- LIBRA results, while intrigu- GPAP members the chance to dis- to be aware of the current under- a xenon atom, it will emit a flash tive experimental measurements ing, still must be confirmed by cuss the issues that are central to the standing of magnetic reconnection, of light, which will be recorded in 2009. other dark matter searches us- advancement of the field. The sym- as well as limitations to this under- by photosensitive detectors. Juan Collar at the University ing complementary approaches Electrons will be bumped off the of Chicago is taking a very dif- before scientists can definitive- posium also informs plasma physi- standing,” says Spangler. cists about applications of their atom at the time of impact, and ferent approach, using bubble ly conclude that this is indeed a GPAP was formed in 1999, with discipline to astronomical objects. pulled through an electric field chambers to search for dark mat- direct detection of dark matter. key leadership from Amitava Bhat- Last year’s symposium was on mo- out of the liquid and into the ter in his Chicagoland Observa- “There is no perfect dark matter tacharjee, then of the University of mentum transport in laboratory and gaseous layer, emitting a second tory for Underground Particle detector out there,” Collar said, Iowa, and now of the University astrophysical plasmas. Among oth- flash of light when they encoun- Physics (COUPP) experiment, and each approach has its own er things, momentum transport in of New Hampshire. GPAP’s 381 ter the gaseous xenon atoms. located 350 feet underground strengths and weaknesses. plasmas can explain how matter or- members are involved in active Those two flashes of light in a tunnel on the Fermilab site. “We all weigh in from differ- biting in the accretion disks around discussion about ways to advance will comprise a telltale “signal” Bubble chambers were nearly ent directions,” and then com- black holes can transfer its angular the field of plasma astrophysics. for a collision between a xenon extinct in high-energy physics pare results, according to Shutt. momentum outward and spiral into Their current aims include improv- atom and a WIMP, as opposed labs before Collar put them to That includes upcoming ex- the black hole. Previous sympo- ing relations with other APS units, to another type of particle, such use in the COUPP experiment. periments at the Large Hadron sium topics have included shock primarily the DPP and DAP, and as a neutrino or cosmic ray. The However, “This is not your Collider at CERN, which will acceleration in space, astrophysi- other scientific societies, including signal will be different in part daddy’s bubble chamber,” he look for missing energy in its cal explosions, and the dynamics of the American Geophysical Union because a WIMP should strike insisted. collisions as a possible signal magnetic flux tubes in space. and the American Astronomical the nucleus of an atom, whereas COUPP’s bubble chamber for direct detection of the dark One of the most visible, and Society. cosmic rays or neutrinos would detector is a glass jar filled with matter. APS NEWS June 2008 • 7

ANNOUNCEMENTS April Meeting Prize and Award Recipients Now Appearing in RMP: CORRECTIONS Recently Posted Reviews and Colloquia You will find the following in the online edition of In the March APS News, Reviews of Modern Physics at in the Focus on the Topical http://rmp.aps.org Group on Gravitation on CODATA recommended page 5, we placed one of values of the fundamental the LIGO labs in the wrong physical constants: 2006 state. The two LIGO labo- Peter J. Mohr, Barry N. Taylor ratories are in Louisiana and David B. Newell and Washington State. This review of the fundamen- tal constants provides recom- mended values and their associ- In the April APS News, ated uncertainties, updating the we incorrectly identified last review of 2002. Since that one of the people in a front- time, new data and methods have led to a significant reduc- page photograph with the tion in the uncertainties of many headline "Money Matters". previously recommended values. The person on the right is For example, the uncertainty of the fine structure constant has DPB secretary-treasurer α Photo by William Greenblatt been reduced by nearly a factor Stan Schriber. Front row (l to r): Lillian C. McDermott, Ronald E. Mickens, Gerald Holton, Pierre Goldschmidt, Vicky Kalogera, Friedrich of five and the one of Planck's K. Thielemann, Arthur M. Poskanzer, H. Eugene Stanley. Back row (l to r): George Cassiday, Peter Shaffer, Jedrzej constant ℏ by over a factor of Biesiada, Nikolai Tolich, Michael R. Brown, Lyndon R. Evans, Alexei Smirnov, Soon Yoon Chang, James Trefil, Pierre three. The outlook and sugges- Sokolsky, Pavel Podvig, Matthew Becker, Chenggang Xu. Individual pictures and biographies for most of these recipi- tions given for future work will ents can be found in the Spring APS News Prize and Award insert, available online with the March 2008 issue. certainly spark several ambitious experiments from various groups.

WORKSHOP continued from page 1 PRIZE continued from page 1 Levitan went over the elements Nancy Cline, a civil engineer of how to run a campaign, includ- and public works director for ter served as inspiration to the stu- year’s April Meeting, Zuoyue rently no restrictions on pure sci- dents who gathered in Tiananmen Wang, a historian at California State ing budgeting, finding campaign the town of Addison, Texas, and ence in China, to his knowledge, but Square in 1989 to protest against the Polytechnic University, Pomona, a staff, and targeting voters. Partici- Board of Trustee member for people in China do have to be care- Chinese government and to call for former student of Xu, talked about ful about what they say and write. pants also took home a “campaign Carrollton-Farmers Branch In- handbook” with more informa- democratic reforms. (Xu did not at- Einstein’s’ influence on Xu. The sci- Most censorship in China is self dependent School District, also tion. tend the demonstration due to a re- entist’s sense of social responsibil- censorship, he said. pointed to the need to get involved Joe Trippi, who as a campaign cent heart attack.). ity inspired him. Einstein’s words, In response to a question about in the community. “When I ran, I Xu continued to appeal for hu- “The State is for the people, not the manager for Howard Dean’s 2004 whether we should engage Chinese ran against three opponents who man rights, and has written several people for the State,” particularly campaign made pioneering use scientists or boycott them to protest had never been to a school board letters calling for democracy, civil impressed Xu. of the Internet, described how China’s human rights violations, the Internet has changed political meeting,” she said. rights, and protection of dissidents. It is especially appropriate that Chenggang Xu said he and his fa- campaigns and is continuing to Some participants wondered These letters resulted in several pe- APS awards the Sakharov prize, ther encourage involvement. “Fight- do so. Howard Dean’s campaign whether it helps to be a scientist, riods of house arrest. said Wang, because “APS has been ing for democracy and human rights was the Wright brothers; Obama’s since most voters don’t relate to Xu is currently free to travel, but leading the fight for human rights.” is old and sick. He and his wife are APS was one of the first scientific is going to be long term,” he said. campaign is the Apollo project, academic science. David “Doc” he said. The Internet has created working on a long book on the his- organizations to take an interest in The best thing to do is educate and Westerling, a civil engineer and new ways to reach people and get tory and theory of democracy. the freedom of scientists. engage the Chinese people, Xu be- town moderator in Harvard, Mas- them to donate. Internet tools such In a press conference at this Xu’s son said that there are cur- lieves. as social networking sites are now sachusetts said that being a sci- “important even for the most local entist “is both a liability and an race,” he said. asset.” There’s a risk of being per- Workshop participants learned ceived as elitist, but he found that Major Accelerators Closing in on Elusive Higgs Particle how to craft a message and com- the nickname “Doc” resonated The game’s afoot! Particle physi- into a W boson and a Higgs particle. signed to produce proton beams at 7 municate with the media. When with people, and he was perceived cists at Fermilab’s Tevatron and The Higgs in turn quickly decayed TeV, initially the LHC will produce communicating with the media as honest. Lanzerotti said that the CERN’s Large Hadron Collider into a bottom-antibottom quark pair beams at a much lower 5 TeV. and the public, a candidate needs to local paper reported “rocket sci- (LHC) are closing on the last re- with a combined mass of 120 GeV. have a clear, concise message, and Abraham Seiden of the Universi- entist runs for town council,” and maining undiscovered particle in the However, this does not constitute needs to keep repeating that mes- ty of Santa Cruz presented a timeline that helped his campaign. Cline Standard Model: the Higgs boson, “discovery” of the Higgs, since it is sage, said Kevan Chapman, com- plotting the data to be collected at the pointed out that her work as a civil thought to pervade the vacuum of just one event. The Tevatron would munications director for physicist LHC as a function of time, pointing and congressman Vernon Ehlers engineer,–“roads and commodes,” space, interacting with particles to have to find a substantially larger out where key expected discoveries (R-MI). Scientists tend to want as she called it—connected to give them mass. According to vari- number of candidate events than are most likely to be made. Potential to go into the details and nuances things people were familiar with, ous speakers at the APS April Meet- would be expected from the usual milestones include discovery of the of their point, but in a campaign, and that probably helped her get ing in St. Louis, physicists are fast noise of background events that could Higgs particle around 2009, assum- they need to focus on the outcome elected. approaching the energies and lumi- mimic the Higgs signature. Accord- ing it is around 200 GeV in mass. nosities required to detect the Higgs ing to Winer, only time and further of any policy they are advocating, A parallel session presented ad- Should the Higgs be closer to 120 particle. luminosity improvements will tell not the finer points. vice for students, and participants GeV in mass, the chart indicates dis- Fermilab’s Tevatron is reaching whether enough Higgs events have In a roundtable discussion with covery around 2011, since it is harder and speakers networked after the its performance peak, with energies been collected to constitute a sta- scientists who had successfully to detect at that lower energy because workshop. quite sufficient to create a particle tistically significant “discovery.” run for office, Louis Lanzerotti, it decays into a key signature involv- Participants generally said they in the expected energy range for the Fermilab physicist Dmitri Denisov chair of the AIP governing board ing photons that is very similar to found the workshop useful. For Higgs: between 114 GeV and 190 estimated that when the CDF and and former school board mem- other decay signatures. instance, APS member Hina Ayub, GeV, according to current theoreti- D0 collaborations begin to wrap up ber and former mayor of Harding LHC data should also provide Township, New Jersey, said that currently a physics graduate stu- cal calculations. The primary issue in 2010, luminosity would probably evidence for supersymmetry in 2009 “scientists and engineers can real- dent, hopes to eventually run for a is luminosity, or the density of the be twice what it is now, and as much if the energy scale for supersymme- ly contribute a lot to local issues.” local office such as school board. beam particles that collide per sec- as 4 to 8 times more data would have try breaking turns out to be 1 TeV. He gave an example of a question “I want to start small,” she said. ond, and the Tevatron recently set a been analyzed. 32 Should the appropriate energy scale that came up in his district–the Before the workshop, she hadn’t record high luminosity of 3.1 x 10 / Should Fermilab fail to uncover 2 be 3 TeV, that discovery would more possible installation of artificial known how much work goes cm , raising hopes that the accelera- the Higgs, the LHC’s higher colli- tor might beat the long-awaited LHC sion energy is expected to produce an likely show up much later, around turf on athletic fields. This raised into even a small campaign. “It safety and environmental issues to the punch. abundance of the elusive particle. Of- 2017. If there are extra dimensions of does seem a bit overwhelming,” that a scientist could help analyze. Brian Winer of Ohio State Uni- ficial estimates from CERN’s leader- space, scientists might be able to de- Lanzerotti said he got started in she said. Nonetheless, at the end versity said that the “most Higgs-like ship indicate the cool-down process tect them when energy scales reach politics by sitting in on school of the workshop, she and others Higgs event” observed to date at the for the LHC’s magnets should be 9 TeV in 2012. Evidence for a new board and town meetings, and by said they felt encouraged, having Tevatron involved a proton-antipro- complete by mid-June, with the first type of Z' force, assuming it exists, is staying visible in the community learned a lot about how to run for ton collision in April 2005 that pro- beam injection occurring two months unlikely to be observed until at least and making contacts. office and where to get help. duced a fireball which then decayed later. Although the accelerator is de- 2019. 8 • June 2008 APS NEWS The Back Page

hat ignorant referee has finally conceded that rights to reuse that material or anything based The was wrong and your paper has now been on that material? accepted by the Journal of Extraordinary Phys- The publishers argue that they need this ics for publication. Among all of the other things Physicists and Copyright- copyright transfer in order to publish your in the acceptance letter is a Copyright Transfer How to give away your birthright for what? paper. They do not. They do need your per- Form for you to sign and send to them before mission to publish it. they will publish your paper. You sign without By W. G. Unruh The APS worries that placing the old jour- even reading it. After all everyone else signs is so nal papers on the web or making special col- it must be okay. lections of noteworthy old papers could be Two weeks later, you get an email from the disputed by their authors. They fear that they conference you attended last summer. They want transfer the copyright in this new work. would have to get everyone’s permission if a manuscript. You grab that paper, rewrite some paragraphs In many cases the journals do reserve some rights to the APS did not own the copyright. But this is almost cer- from it, change a few captions or even details in the figures the authors. Unless they do so, you are legally obliged to tainly covered by an exclusive license or at most by their and send it off as a conference proceeding, signing another request and obtain permission from the publishers of that owning the copyright in the article as a whole. They do not copyright transfer form for those publishers. You also make journal for each and every use you make of any of the ma- need to own the right to control all derivative works or re- 30 copies of the paper to distribute to your students in your terial in that publication. Whether you write a new paper use by the author of parts of the work. class. The University of Peerdom invites you to give a talk based on that original paper, you deliver a recorded lecture Other journals (e.g., the Canadian Journal of Physics) on the work and pays you a small honorarium, or you speak showing the figures or text (or figures derived from those leave the author no rights whatsoever. Some (e.g., Royal at a conference that charges a conference fee and records figures) in a lecture, post that article on your web site, make Society of London journals) only ask for a license, leaving the talks. copies of the paper for your students, or abstract material the copyright with the author. You have just done what hundreds of other physicists for that conference proceeding, you are legally required to All copyright transfer forms should explicitly allow the have done. If those actions are not specifically reserved to obtain permission to do so if that permission is not already authors to make derivative works, in any context, com- you in your copyright transfer agreement, you have also specifically contained in the copyright transfer form. You mercial or non-commercial. It is their paper. Some limits broken the law of copyright, and in some countries (like also cannot lift paragraphs, or rephrase paragraphs from (such as not using exactly the same form of the work as Canada) committed a criminal offense. the original (even with citation) without getting the express was published) may be reasonable, but the current situation When you sign that copyright transfer agreement, you permission of the journal. is not. And the publishers will not change unless they are give away to the publishers all rights to that paper. You no The APS reserves some rights to the authors, in a num- pressured to do so by their authors. That is you. You should longer have any more rights to use the material in that paper ber of different categories. For the medium of print, reprint- not sign a copyright transfer agreement in which the journal than I have unless that publisher explicitly gives you some ing of the paper or parts thereof is allowed, but only if not does not renounce their interest in derivative works which rights. You cannot take parts of that paper and reuse them, in another journal and only if no fee is involved. Copies are you create from the paper, or of your right to reuse parts of anymore than I could do so with your paper. allowed to be made for classroom use, but only if these do the paper. Copyright law applies not only to the original work, not become a permanent part of the class notes. The article, That copyright transfer form is not innocuous. It is a le- and all parts of that original work, but also to “derivative but not derived works from the article can be posted on your gal document in which you are giving away your rights. works” that “depend on” that original. If you give a talk own (not others’) web pages. You may “post” to eprint serv- Before you sign that copyright transfer form, read it careful- on your paper with your computer slides containing mate- ers, but it seems there is no permission to license the article ly, and think about it. Ask yourself if what you get back in rial from the paper, and that talk is recorded, that recorded to them (as demanded by the arXiv). APS has stated that it exchange for that transfer (e.g., publication) is worth what talk is a derived work of the paper, and is controlled by the does not mind the perpetual license option the arXiv offers, you are giving away: the right to disseminate your idea as copyright on the paper. (Recorded talks are “fixed” and the but refuses to countenance the Creative Commons licenses, widely as possible. copyright applies to them.) If you give that recorded talk and apparently will not publish a paper submitted to the Or submit your papers to journals willing to make agree- without the express permission of the copyright owner you arXiv under that license. ments that reflect the way physics research is actually done may have broken the law. If you write a summary of that This situation is absurd. You have labored long and hard today. work for a conference proceeding, you probably have no in producing that paper. You have then given the results of William G. Unruh is Professor of Physics and Astronomy right to transfer the copyright to that conference-proceeding that labor away “for free” to the publisher (or even paid at the University of British Columbia, and fellow of the Ca- publisher. You must obtain the permission of the journal to them page charges). Why would you then also give away all nadian Institute for Advanced Research.

A Response from APS

APS publishes journals in order to serve the needs of the tions Oversight Committee of APS (a volunteer committee of poses as long as a fee is not charged, a PDF copy of his/her international physics community. Our contributions include APS members). We thank Professor Unruh for bringing these article using either the APS-prepared version or the author certification of the value of the papers we publish through peer issues to the attention of a wider audience. prepared version.” An author can distribute copies of the ar- review by referees whose contributions we respect and value, Unfortunately, his presentation of these legitimate issues is ticle as needed. Third parties can use them for teaching also, professional composition and copy editing, electronic hosting muddied by a number of claims that, frankly, we find prepos- but incorporation into course notes for more than one semes- and archiving, and continual protection of the integrity of the terous, and because many readers of APS News have trans- ter requires APS permission. definitive archival record of our authors’ work for the benefit ferred copyright to APS, we must comment on Unruh’s more UNRUH: “The University of Peerdom invites you to give of current and future researchers and scholars. extreme examples. The basic question is this: when you, as an a talk on the work and pays you a small honorarium, or Copyright has traditionally played a large role in many of author, transfer copyright to APS, what rights do you retain you speak at a conference that charges a conference fee and these activities. The move to electronic publishing, in which to reuse your article or parts of it in lectures, in other publi- records the talks.” APS has been a pioneer, demands ongoing reexamination of cations, and for teaching? Although our copyright agreement APS: APS would never consider the presentation, in a our copyright policies. Our aim is to provide the maximum is relatively simple and straightforward, any legal document lecture or talk, of one’s own figures, tables, text, or ideas as a freedom and convenience for authors while preserving the fi- requires interpretation, and we provide this in a series of fre- violation of copyright! That is how physicists communicate, nancial health of APS publications, which enables us to create quently asked questions (FAQ) on our journals website: http:// and the goal of the APS is the advancement and diffusion of archives, collections of papers, etc., and to defend the accu- forms.aps.org/author/copyfaq.html, to which we will refer in the knowledge of physics. racy of our part of the scientific record. We trust that our col- our replies to Unruh. If authors do not understand the intent of our copyright leagues share these goals and understand that for us copyright Here are Unruh’s alleged examples of copyright violations, agreement, we are concerned. We accept our responsibility has continued to be a tool for the ultimate good of our shared and relevant APS policy. to make the agreement more understandable to those who scientific community, and not a weapon to strip researchers of UNRUH: “You grab that paper, rewrite some paragraphs sign it, and to improve it as necessary. But as we continue the right to disseminate their accomplishments and insights, from it, change a few captions or even details in the figures to consider alternatives to our current agreement, we also as Professor Unruh suggests. and send it off as a conference proceeding, signing another want to emphasize that transferring copyright to APS has Our record is strong. When the arXiv was formed APS copyright transfer form for those publishers. ... If those actions advantages for authors, especially since most papers now responded positively, by integrating it into our submission are not specifically reserved to you in your copyright transfer have multiple authors representing multiple institutions, process and providing a mirror site to improve service, and agreement, you have also broken the law of copyright…” and authors frequently change institutions. In this situation, we have continued to collaborate with arXiv for over fifteen From APS FAQ: “…you have the right to use figures, a single benevolent and enduring holder of copyright has years. APS has been a leader in “Green” Open Access, by tables, graphs, etc. in subsequent publications using files pre- much to offer. allowing authors to post the final APS-published version of pared and formatted by the author.” And you can, of course, The goal of APS is to protect and preserve in perpetuity their papers on their own and their institution’s websites, im- restate your ideas in another publication, with appropriate ci- the archive of research in physics. As we consider ways that mediately upon publication. Unlike a number of other major tations. If in fact this restriction existed, as Unruh seems to we can better serve our community by changes in our copy- scientific publishers, we have never had an embargo on the suggest that it does, it would have brought scholarly commu- right agreement, we welcome comments and input from all distribution of research results, either before or after publica- nication to a halt long ago. of our colleagues. tion. UNRUH: “You also make 30 copies of the paper to distrib- Recent developments in online publishing raise impor- ute to your students in your class.” tant and legitimate copyright issues, particularly about reuse APS FAQ: “As the author of an APS published article, Gene D. Sprouse, Editor in Chief, APS of published materials. Some of these issues have complex may I provide a PDF of my paper to a colleague or third ramifications, and are under active discussion by the Publica- party? The author is permitted to provide, for research pur- Joseph W. Serene, Treasurer/Publisher, APS

APS News welcomes and encourages letters and submissions from its members responding to these and other issues. Responses may be sent to: [email protected]