LIGHT & MATTER 36TH PROFESSOR HARRY MESSEL INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE SCHOOL LIGHT & MATTER The lectUre series of the 36TH PROFESSOR HARRY MESSEL INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE SCHOOL 3–16 JUly 2011 LIGHT & THE SCIENCE FOUNDAMATTERTION FOR PHYSICS WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY “IN THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE” EDITOR Dr Chris Stewart, Manager, International Science School School of Physics The University of Sydney, Australia A course of lectures given at the 36th Professor Harry Messel International Science School for High School Students 3–16 July 2011 The Science Foundation for Physics School of Physics A28 The University of Sydney NSW 2006 Australia www.physics.usyd.edu.au/foundation © Copyright Science Foundation for Physics July 2011 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without permission in writing from the Science Foundation for Physics, The University of Sydney. Design and print production: Peter Thorn Printed using Forestry Stewardship Council approved paper Light and Matter ISBN: 978-1-74210-236-8 CONTENTS SMALLER, FASTER, BETTER, UNIMAGINABLE-ER? THE QUANTUM REVOLUTION IS COMING. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR Stephen Bartlett ................................................................ 19 CHILDREN OF THE STARS, PLASMA IS THE FOURTH STATE OF MATTER Professor Christine Charles ................................................................................................ 27 A VERY LARGE MICROSCOPE TO PROBE VERY SMALL DISTANCES — PART I Professor Allan G. ClarK .............................................................................................. 43 A VERY LARGE MICROSCOPE TO PROBE VERY SMALL DISTANCES — PART II Professor Allan G. ClarK .............................................................................................. 63 BENDING SPOONS FOR FUN & PROFIT DR KARL KRUSZelnicKI ......................................................................................................... 81 CAPTURING CO2 DR Deanna D’Alessandro ................................................................................................. 89 PHOTOVOLTAICS: SOLAR ELECTRICITY BY COUPLING LIGHT AND MATTER PROFESSOR MARTIN GREEN ................................................................................................ 101 SPONTANEOUS HUMAN COMBUSTION DR KARL KRUSZelnicKI ......................................................................................................... 113 METAMATERIALS AND THE SCIENCE OF INVISIBILITY PROFESSOR SIR JOHN PENDRY ........................................................................................... 117 NEGATIVE REFRACTION AND A PERFECT LENS PROFESSOR SIR JOHN PENDRY ........................................................................................... 125 PAINTBRUSHES, CANNIBAL CRICKETS AND HUMAN OBESITY PROFESSOR STEPHEN SIMPSON .......................................................................................... 137 DARK SECRETS: DARK MATTER, DARK ENERGY AND DARK SKIES PROFESSOR FRED WATSON .................................................................................................. 145 EXPLORING THE EARTH’S VARIED AND DYNAMIC SEAFLOOR DR Joanne WhittaKer ........................................................................................................ 161 TWINKLING STARS DR KARL KRUSZelnicKI ......................................................................................................... 177 THE MESSEL ENDOWMENT To ensure the continuation of the Professor Harry Messel International Science School the Science Foundation for Physics established The Messel Endowment in 1999. While the Endowment holds over $3.69million in funds the Foundation seeks to raise a further $3.31million to reach a total goal of $7million to ensure the ISS can be continue in perpetuity allowing for rising costs over the years. The Foundation seeks to do this via donations, grants and bequests. The Messel Endowment is open to accept donations at any time and currently has over 200 supporters — all of whom the Foundation is highly appreciative and values greatly. Donations of $2.00 and over are tax-deductible. Pledged gifts i.e. donations spread over a three to five year period are also accepted and are tax deductible. The ISS now has over 4,000 alumni with many going onto outstanding achievements in their chosen fields including science, medicine, engineering and technology. The ISS honours excellence in our high-achieving youth and encourages them to reach their full potential and pursue careers in science and its related areas. A donation to the Messel Endowment is really an investment in the future of these young scientists. A donation form can be found at the back of this book and at www.physics.usyd.edu. au/foundation 4 LIGHT & MATTER MESSEL ENDOWMENT DONATION HONOUR BOARD The Science Foundation for Physics established the Messel Endowment in 1999 to honour Emeritus Professor Harry Messel AC CBE and to ensure the Professor Harry Messel International Science School, established in 1962 continues in perpetuity. The Endowment is managed to preserve the real value of all donations received. To date approximately $3.69 million has been raised. A list of donors who have donated $10,000 or more appears below. All donors to the Endowment are listed on the Messel Endowment Honour Banner in the Slade Lecture Theatre, School of Physics and can be viewed online at: www.physics.usyd.edu.au/foundation/ donations/MEhonour.shtml The Science Foundation for Physics appreciates and thanks all our Messel Endowment donors. EXTRA GALACTIC Mr Albert YL Wong James Hardie Industries Pty Ltd DONORS & Mrs Sophie Wong Dr Peter Jones AM Macquarie Group Foundation $1 MILLION AND OVER STELLAR DONORS Emeritus Professor Harry Messel AC CBE $10,000 TO $99,999 Mr Michael Messel Mr Jim O'Connor Anonymous OneSteel Limited ANZ Banking Group Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Mr Terrey Arcus AM Foundation Limited Mr Robert Arnott Australian Government through Mr John Slade Australian Business Limited the Department of Innovation, Mr Paul Slade Emeritus Professor Maxwell Industry, Science and The James N Kirby Foundation H Brennan, AO & Mrs Ionie M Research (DIISR) Pty Limited Brennan Mulpha Australia USA Foundation Donors Dr Gregory Clark Mr Ming Tee Lee through Vonwiller Foundation Cochlear Limited Mulpha Australia Westpac Banking Corporation Emeritus Professor Richard Mr Thomas Yim Collins & Mrs Marilyn Collins GALACTIC DONORS Mr Trevor Danos $100,000 TO $999,999 Cecil & Ida Green Foundation James Hardie Industries Pty Ltd Dr John Graham Associate Professor Robert Hermon Slade Foundation Hewitt & Mrs Helen Hewitt Nell & Hermon Slade Trust Mr John Hooke CBE Science Foundation for Physics IBM Australia Limited 5 SUPPORTERS OF ISS2011 THE SCIENCE FOUNDATION FOR Young Scientists of Australia (YSA) PHYSICS WARMLY THANKS ALL DONORS, SUPPORTERS AND VOLUN- Australian students were selected in their TEERS OF THE 36TH PROFESSOR states and territories with the support of the HARRY MESSEL INTERNATIONAL Science Teachers Associations in: SCIENCE SCHOOL: LIGHT AND MATTER Australian Capital Territory Northern Territory The Messel Endowment Queensland Department of Education and Training, NSW South Australia Government (DET) Tasmania Department of Innovation, Industry, Science Victoria and Research, Australian Government (DIISR) Western Australia Adolph Basser Trust and in New South Wales through the NSW The James N Kirby Foundation Department of Education and Training Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney Mr Ron Enestrom The following institutions assisted in the Associate Professor Robert Hewitt selection and travel of the overseas students: and Mrs Helen Hewitt The Affiliated High School of Peking Dr Peter Jones AM University, China And all donors to the Foundation’s Sydney Raman Research Institute, India Development Fund ISS2011 Appeal Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, The ISS2011 Volunteer Staffies: Science and Technology in Japan (MEXT) Ms Charlotte Fletcher, ISS2009 Ministry of Education, Malaysia Mr Matthew Georgiades, ISS2009 The Royal Society of New Zealand Mr Matthew Hourigan, ISS2007 Ministry of Education, Singapore (MOE) Ms Pamela Karas, ISS2009 Ministry of Education, Thailand Mr Victor Lu, ISS2009 The Association for Science Education, Mr Gabriel Nguyen, ISS2007 United Kingdom Ms Sukey Pan, ISS2007 The Royal Institution of Great Britain Ms Clare Paynter, ISS2009 The Ogden Trust, Great Britain Mr Andrew Perryman, ISS2009 The Comino Foundation, United Kingdom Ms Rebekah Raymond, ISS2009 Department of Energy, United States Mr Jun Tong, ISS2009 of America Ms Jessica Whiting, UK Scholar - ISS2009 6 LIGHT & MATTER PREFACE THE SCHOOL OF PHYSICS AND THE the lecturers, the many university staff and SCIENCE FOUNDATION FOR PHYSICS students who run activities and workshops, WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY and the many volunteers who give their ARE DELIGHTED TO PRESENT ISS2011, time and energy to the program. Like the THE 36TH PROFESSOR HARRY MESSEL Foundation itself, ISS supporters, donors INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE SCHOOL, and lecturers are committed to promoting FROM 3-16 JULY 2011. science education at the very highest level of excellence. On behalf of the Foundation and The theme for ISS2011, Light and Matter, the School of Physics, I express our grateful marks the recent 50th anniversary of the thanks to all these benefactors. laser,