December 2003 Volume 12, No. 11 NEWS http://www.physics2005.org A Publication of The American Physical Society http://www.aps.org/apsnews

APS March Meeting Heads North to Montréal California Physics Departments Face More The 2004 March Meeting will Physics; International Physics; Edu- be organizing a host of special For those who want to Budget Cuts in an be held in lively and cosmopolitan cation and Physics; and Graduate events, including receptions, explore, there will be tours of Uncertain Future Montréal, Canada’s second largest Student Affairs, as well as topical alumni reunions, a students’ Montréal, highlighting the city’s city. The meeting runs from March groups on Instrument and Mea- lunch with the experts, and an history, cultural heritage, cosmo- The California recall election 22nd through the 26th at the surement Science; Magnetism and opportunity to meet the editors politan nature, and European was a laughing matter to many, Palais des Congrès de Montréal. Its Applications; Shock Compres- of the APS and AIP journals. flavor. a veritable circus of replace- Approximately 5,500 papers sion of Condensed Matter; and ment candidates of dubious will be presented in more than 90 Statistical and Nonlinear Physics. celebrity and questionable invited sessions and 550 contrib- An exhibit show will round out APS Honors Two Undergrads qualifications for the job. But for uted sessions in a wide variety of the program during which attend- physics departments across the categories, including condensed ees can visit vendors who will be With Apker Award state, the ongoing budget woes matter, materials, polymer physics, displaying the latest products, that spurred angry voters to chemical physics, biological phys- instruments and equipment, and Peter Onyisi of the University action in the first place remain ics, fluid dynamics, laser science, software, as well as scientific pub- of Chicago received the award deadly serious. computational physics, and lications related to the research and for a PhD-granting institution for Once the flagship of state- atomic, molecular, and optical application of physics. his research entitled, “Looking funded education, boasting 44 physics. There will also be several for New Invisible Particles.” Nobel Laureates and some of There will also be forums on special programs, including a Nathaniel Stern of Harvey Mudd the top research facilities in the Industrial and Applied Physics; Division of Polymer Physics Short Nathaniel Peter College received the award for a nation, the University of Physics and Society; History of Course on Rheology and Dynamics Stern Onyisi non-PhD-granting institution for California (UC) system is simul- of Polymers & Com- his thesis entitled, “Exchange taneously facing an enrollment plex Fluids, and eight Two young physicists have Anisotropy and Giant Magne- boom and deep budget cuts. The half-day tutorials on been honored with the 2004 toresistance in Thin Film Spin California State University specialized topics: Apker Award for their outstand- Valves Containing Ultra-thin (CSU) system, already stretched magneto- transport; ing undergraduate research. The IrMn Antiferromagnetic Layers.” thin with its 23 campuses and computational cell bi- APS presents two Apker awards Onyisi’s research involved network of community colleges, ology; semiconductor annually, one to a student from searching for evidence of new is facing similar drastic cuts. quantum dots; quan- a PhD-granting institution, one particles in data from proton- In August, then-Governor tum information to a student from an non-PhD- anti-proton collisions at 1.8 TeV, Gray Davis approved a particu- science; spintronics; granting institution. The using data collected by the larly stringent 2003-2004 budget, opportunities in bio- recipients, who will each receive Collider Detector at Fermilab in response to a lackluster logical physics; $5,000, were selected by a com- (CDF). California economy that gener- Terahertz frequency mittee from a group of six After analyzing photon and ated a record $38 billion deficit. spectroscopy at low finalists. See APKER RECIPIENTS on page 5 After the dust settled, the $2.9 temperatures; and billion state funding package for Java programming us- the UC system lost $410 million ing the Open Source AMS, Biomedical Applications in cuts, including a $10.8 million Physics Library. reduction to its $259 million gen- The Society will eral research fund. This comes on Highlight 2003 DNP Meeting the heels of an $18 million mid- year reduction, and last year’s 10% New techniques for carbon 14 with several grams required for beta budget cut. dating and trace element analysis, counting. He illustrated this point Nobel Laureates Past and Present The CSU system has been hit as well as the application of nuclear with the case of Iceman Oetzi, a well just as hard, according to Chris particle detectors in the biomedi- preserved 5200-year-old body Gaffney, chair of the physics cal arena, were among the found in the central European Alps department at CSU-Chico, highlights presented at the annual in 1991. losing $304 million of its $2.6 bil- meeting of the APS Division of At a special public lecture, Dou- lion state funding, while Nuclear Physics, held October 30 glas Donahue (University of Arizona) simultaneously being expected to through November 1 in Tucson, described his team’s studies of artis- absorb a 4.3% growth in Arizona. The technical program tic artifacts, the populating of the enrollment. Such a large reduc- also featured several talks on sub- Americas, and the study of Martian tion in state funding would have jects related to last year’s National meteorites using an AMS instrument. been truly devastating, except for Research Council report, “Con- He incorporated a small tandem elec- a 32% increase in fees necting Quarks to the Cosmos,” trostatic accelerator as one (tuition) this year, raising the along with presentations on the component of a conventional mass yearly cost from $2100 to nuclear physics of supernovae. spectrometer, giving the ions to be $2800. These large statewide cuts analyzed kinetic energies of millions translated into, among other Revolutionizing Carbon DatingDating. of electron volts instead of the more See CALIFORNIA on page 6 A public lecture on Wednesday See DNP MEETING on page 3 evening and an invited talk on Thurs- Photo credit to Darlene Logan day afternoon both focused on At a recent reception for APS Fellows in the Chicago area, Leon Lederman (left), applications for accelerator mass Nobel Laureate in 1988, chats with Aleksei Abrikosov, Nobel Laureate in 2003, spectroscopy (AMS), most of which and his wife Svetlana. (Another picture from the same reception appears on center on its use for carbon 14 dat- HHighlights page 2.) Abrikosov, for a long time at the Institute for Physical Problems in ing. According to Walter Kutschera Moscow and now at Argonne National Laboratory, shares the 2003 Nobel Prize in Physics with Vitaly L. Ginzburg of the Lebedev Institute in Moscow and (University of Vienna, Austria), AMS Anthony J. Leggett of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). has revolutionized the field by mea- 4 8 They were honored for their work on the theories of superconductivity and super- suring carbon 14 through isotope fluidity. In addition, this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine recognized ratios rather than the classical an important physics-based technology, magnetic resonance imaging or MRI. method of beta counting, increas- This Prize is being awarded to two pioneers in this field, Paul C. Lauterbur of ing the sensitivity almost one million The Back Page: UIUC, and Peter Mansfield of the University of Nottingham, UK. All of this Viewpoint: times, which in turn enables Spencer Abraham: Energy Department year’s laureates will receive their prizes in Stockholm on December 10. Howard Greyber: Science High Schools Releases 20-year Plan for New Facilities researchers to reduce the sample Provide Useful Educational Model size to milligram amounts, compared 2 December 2003 NEWS

Fusion Tops DOE Facilities List This Month in Physics History Speaking at the National Press an international collaboration to December 1958: Invention of the Laser Club on November 10, Secretary of build an experiment capable of pro- Energy Spencer Abraham unveiled ducing the first self-sustaining fusion the Department’s twenty-year plan reaction. Every now and then, a scien- ter at Bell Labs. Schawlow came Perhaps that is why the question for the future of science facilities. The list of 28 facilities is repro- tific breakthrough occurs that up with the idea of arranging a set of who really invented the laser The plan lists the 28 major duced below. In addition, Secretary has a revolutionary impact on of mirrors, one on each end of the has proven to be a fairly litigious research facilities that should Abraham’s speech appears as the daily life. One example of this is device’s cavity, to bounce the light one, due in large part to the ef- receive priority for near, mid, and Back Page on page 8 of this issue. the invention of the laser, which back and forth, thus eliminating forts of Gordon Gould, a far term funding. The number one The complete report is available at stands for light amplification by the amplification of any beams scientist at Columbia and later priority for near term funding is ITER, http://www.science.doe.gov/ . stimulated emission of radiation. bouncing in other directions. He with Technical Research Group Few people realized (TRG), to earn patent rights at the time of its in- based on his research notebook. Priority Program Facility vention that it would An entry on his initial ideas for 1 FES ITER prove to be such a the laser was dated and nota- 2 ASCR UltraScale Scientific Computing Capability useful (and lucra- rized November 1957. Gould 3 (tied) HEP Joint Dark Energy Mission tive) device, but the fought for decades, and in 1973 3 (tied) BES Linac Coherent Light Source laser ultimately the US Court of Customs and 3 (tied) BER Protein Production and Tags launched a new Patent Appeals ruled that the 3 (tied) NP Rare Isotope Accelerator scientific field and original patent awarded to 7 (tied) BER Characterization and Imaging opened the door to Schawlow and Townes was too 7 (tied) NP CEBAF Upgrade what is today a general, and did not supply 7 (tied) ASCR Esnet Upgrade multi-billion dollar enough information to create 7 (tied) ASCR NERSC Upgrade industry. certain key components. Gould 7 (tied) BES Transmission Electron Achromatic Microscope The principle of was finally 12 HEP BTeV the laser dates back to 1917, thought that granted 13 HEP Linear Collider when Albert Einstein first this would patent rights, 14 (tied) BES Analysis and Modeling of Cellular Systems described the theory of stimu- enable them receiving his 14 (tied) BES SNS 2-4 MW Upgrade lated emission, but the practical to adjust the fourth and 14 (tied) BES SNS Second Target Station device has its roots in the 1940s dimensions final patent 14 (tied) BER Whole Proteome Analysis and early 1950s, particularly so that the on lasers in 18 (tied) NP Double Beta Decay Underground Detector the work on microwave spec- laser 1988. 18 (tied) FES Next-Step Spherical Torus troscopy—a powerful tool for would only Although 18 (tied) NP RHIC II discovering the characteristics have one fre- it was a 21 (tied) BES National Synchrotron Light Source Upgrade of a wide variety of molecules— quency Charles Townes Arthur Schawlow remarkable 21 (tied) HEP Super Neutrino Beam by physicists Charles Townes, which could technical 23 (tied) BES Advanced Light Source Upgrade Arthur Schawlow and others, be selected within a given line breakthrough, in its early years 23 (tied) BES Advanced Photon Source Upgrade and the subsequent invention of width, and that the mirror size the laser did not have many prac- 23 (tied) NP eRHIC the maser (microwave amplifi- could be adjusted so that even tical applications, since it was not 23 (tied) FES Fusion Energy Contingency cation by stimulated emission of slight off axis motion could be powerful enough for use in 23 (tied) BES HFIR Second Cold Source and Guide Hall radiation). damped. He also suggested using beam-based weaponry, and its 23 (tied) FES Integrated Beam Experiment After World War II had certain solid state materials for the ability to transmit information ended, Townes was intrigued by lasers. through the atmosphere was Red indicates Near-term Blue indicates Mid-term the possibility of using stimu- Eight months later, the two men severely hampered by its inabil- Green indicates Far-term lated emission to probe gases wrote a paper on the proof of ity to penetrate clouds and rain. ASCR = Advanced Scientific Computing Research for molecular spectroscopy. As concept for their work, published But it didn’t take long for BES = Basic Energy Sciences BER = Biological and Environmental Research FES = Fusion Energy Sciences HEP = High Energy Physics the wavelength of the micro- in the December 1958 issue of the researchers to develop the first NP = Nuclear Physics wave radiation grew shorter, its Physical Review (Vol. 112, No. 6, pp. laser sighting systems and the interactions with molecules 1940-1949), and received a patent first tools for laser surgery. became stronger, making it a for the invention of the laser two Today, lasers are ubiquitous Chicago Area Fellows Convene more powerful spectroscopic years later—the same year the first in the commercial marketplace, tool. Townes and colleagues at working laser was built by used in CD players, in correc- Columbia University demon- Theodore Maiman at Hughes tive eye surgery, tattoo removal, strated a working maser in Aircraft Company. Townes was a industrial assembly lines, super- 1953, two years after similar co-recipient of the 1964 Nobel market scanners, optical devices were independently Prize in Physics for his fundamen- communications, and optical invented by researchers at the tal work in quantum electronics data storage. University of Maryland and that provided the basis of the Lebedev Laboratories in maser/laser principle. Schawlow’s Further ReadingReading: Moscow. recognition came much later; he Bromberg, Joan L., “The Birth However, Townes realized shared the 1981 Nobel Prize for of the Laser”, Physics Today, that the wavelengths of infrared his contributions to the develop- October 1988, pp. 26-33. and optical light, because they ment of laser spectroscopy. “A Laser Patent That Upsets

Photo Credit: Darlene Logan were shorter, would be even While Townes and Schawlow the Industry,” Business Week, 24 more powerful tools for spec- are the names most often associ- October 1977, pp. 121-130. APS Fellows from the Chicago area met on October 7 at the 410 Club in down- troscopy, and mentioned the ated with the invention of the laser Hecht, Jeff, “Winning the town Chicago. The reception was hosted by Robert Eisenberg of Rush Medical idea of extending the maser prin- because of their 1958 paper and Laser Patent War,” Laser Focus Center and Leon Lederman, Director Emeritus of Fermilab. The assembled Fel- ciple to shorter wavelengths to subsequent patent, numerous oth- World, December 1994, pp. 49- lows heard from APS President Myriam Sarachik, Executive Officer Judy Franz, Director of Education Fred Stein, and Director of Public Affairs Michael Lubell. Schawlow while visiting the lat- ers made vital contributions. 51. Shown here (l to r) are Wendy Gibson and from Argonne National Laboratory, Wai-Kwong Kwok, Igor Aronson, Paul Fuoss, and J. Murray Gibson.

Series II, Vol. 12, No. 11 Department, American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, Editor-in-Chief Timothy P. Lodge, (Polymer Physics), J. H. Eberly December 2003 College Park, MD 20740-3844, [email protected]. Martin Blume*, Brookhaven National Laboratory (Laser Science), G. Slade Cargill*, III (Materials), ©2003 The American Physical Society For Nonmembers—Circulation and Fulfillment Past-President Bunny C. Clark (Nuclear), Sally Dawson, Peter Meyers NEWS Division, American Institute of Physics, Suite 1NO1, 2 William F. Brinkman*, Bell Labs-Lucent Technologies (retired) (Particles & Fields), Stephen Holmes (Physics of Huntington Quadrangle, Melville, NY 11747-4502. General Councillors Beams), James Drake (Plasma), Gian Vidali, (New Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 Allow at least 6 weeks advance notice. For address Jonathan A. Bagger*, Janet Conrad, Stuart Freedman*, Frances York Section), Joe Hamilton (Southeast Section) changes, please send both the old and new addresses, Houle, Gerald Mahan, Margaret Murnane*, Cherry Ann Editor ...... Alan Chodos and, if possible, include a mailing label from a recent Murray*, Philip Phillips*, Laura Smoliar, Jin-Joo Song ADVISORS Associate Editor ...... Jennifer Ouellette issue. Requests from subscribers for missing issues will Representatives from Other Societies Special Publications Manager ...... Elizabeth Buchan-Higgins be honored without charge only if received within 6 International Councillor Charles H. Holbrow, AAPT; Marc Brodsky, AIP Design and Production ...... Stephanie Jankowski months of the issue’s actual date of publication. Periodical T. Maurice Rice Forefronts Editor ...... Neville Connell Postage Paid at College Park, MD and at additional mailing International Advisors offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to APS News, Chair, Nominating Committee Héctor O. Murrieta Sánchez, Mexican Physical Society, Proofreader ...... Edward Lee Membership Department, American Physical Society, Susan Seestrom Bela Joos, Canadian Association of Physicists APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published 11X The APS reserves the right to select and to edit for length One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844. yearly, monthly, except the August/September issue, or clarity. All correspondence regarding APS News should Chair, Panel on Public Affairs Staff Representatives by the American Physical Society, One Physics be directed to: Editor, APS News, One Physics Ellipse, APS COUNCIL 2003 John Ahearne Alan Chodos, Associate Executive Officer; Irving Lerch, Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844, (301) 209- College Park, MD 20749-3844, E-mail: [email protected]. President Director of International Affairs; Fredrick Stein, Director 3200. It contains news of the Society and of its Myriam P. Sarachik*, City College of New York - CUNY Division, Forum and Section Councillors of Education and Outreach; Robert L. Park, Director, Divisions, Topical Groups, Sections and Forums; Subscriptions: APS News is an on-membership President-Elect Kate Kirby (Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics), Robert Public Information; Michael Lubell, Director, Public advance information on meetings of the Society; publication delivered by Periodical Mail. Members Helen R. Quinn*, Stanford University (SLAC) Eisenberg (Biological), Sylvia Ceyer (Chemical), Allen Affairs; Stanley Brown, Editorial Director; Charles and reports to the Society by its committees and residing abroad may receive airfreight delivery for a fee Vice-President Goldman* (Condensed Matter Physics), Steven White Muller, Director, Journal Operations; Michael Stephens, task forces, as well as opinions. of $15. Nonmembers: Subscription rates are available Marvin L. Cohen*, University of California, Berkeley (Computational), Harry Swinney (Fluid Dynamics), Peter Controller and Assistant Treasurer at http://librarians.aps.org/institutional.html. Executive Officer Zimmerman (Forum on Education), Stuart Wolf (Forum on Letters to the editor are welcomed from the Judy R. Franz*, University of Alabama, Huntsville (on leave) Industrial and Applied Physics),Gloria Lubkin (Forum on Administrator for Governing Committees membership. Letters must be signed and should Subscription orders, renewals and address changes should Treasurer History of Physics), James Vary (Forum on International Ken Cole include an address and daytime telephone number. be addressed as follows: For APS Members—Membership Thomas McIlrath*, University of Maryland (emeritus) Physics), Ed Gerjuoy (Forum on Physics and Society), * Members of the APS Executive Board NEWS December 2003 3

GAO Says Current Missile Program Committee Prepares for March Meeting Defense Plan Is Risky

A recent report from the Gen- GAO was especially concerned eral Accounting Office asserts that that the Cobra Dane radar system the Administration’s current mis- will not be tested in an integrated sile defense plans are risky given flight test. The Cobra Dane radar the state of the critical technolo- system is designed to differentiate gies. The report recommends that between active warheads and the Department of Defense explore decoys or other countermeasures. options to properly demonstrate Although DOD officials told effectiveness of one of these tech- GAO that they might be able to test nologies and establish procedures the radar in other ways, GAO does to help ensure data from the Mis- not believe that, in the absence of a sile Defense Agency’s monitoring test where all the components of the system are reliable. system are involved, the more The GAO report, requested by isolated tests will provide the assur- Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI), ance that the radar system would senior Democrat on the Senate work in a real situation. subcommittee that oversees inter- The GAO report is the second Photo Credit: Alan Chodos national security, investigates the report this year to come out with In October the program committee gathered at APS headquarters in College Park to organize the sessions for the March maturity of technologies critical to reservations about the effectiveness Meeting in Montréal. It’s a big meeting, and it’s a big committee. Shown here, left to right, are: John Bechhoefer (front), Dan the performance of the Ground- of missile defense as it is envisioned Fleetwood (rear), Zhixun Shen, Denis McWhan, Laurie McNeil, Denis Rousseau, Moses Chan, Charles Clark, Allen Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) by the Administration. Earlier this Goldman, Sid Nagel, Art Ramirez (rear), Andrea Liu (front, with baby), Don Gubser, Barry Schneider, Paul McEuen, Sue element. Of the 10 critical tech- year, the American Physical Society Coppersmith (front), Steve Girvin (rear), Eva Andrei, Peter Schiffer, Mark Robbins, Ray Goldstein, and Nitash Balsara. Not nologies to ensure an released a report of the Study Group shown: John Wilkins. effective midcourse defense sys- on Boost-Phase Intercept Systems tem, only two have been for National Missile Defense. The demonstrated technologically APS report determined that inter- Entire APS Journal Collection Licensed By “mature,” that is, tested success- cepting missiles while their rockets fully in a realistic operational are still burning would not be an Los Alamos “Library Without Walls” environment. Without demonstra- effective approach for defending By Ernie Tretkoff tion of the effectiveness of all of the US against attacks by an the technologies, says the report, important type of enemy missile. The APS has agreed to license APS journals to its collection. “This technical partner, we hope that a “the agency has accepted higher The full GAO report can be its entire collection of online jour- agreement will provide a set of criti- product of maximum usefulness cost and schedule risks by found at http://www.fas.org/spp/ nals to Los Alamos National cal physics content that we can and longevity will be achieved,” beginning integration of the military/program/track/gao-03- Laboratory. This is the first time the richly integrate into our informa- said Thomas McIlrath, treasurer element’s components before 600.pdf under Report Number APS has allowed any entity to host tion environment and services,” and publisher of the APS. these technologies have matured.” GAO-03-600. the entire collection, which said Rick Luce, Los Alamos APS and Los Alamos will use the includes Physical Review, Physical Research Library Director. “In Open Archive Initiative protocols Review Letters, Reviews of Modern addition, it will provide a model to keep the Los Alamos copy syn- Candid CAMera Physics and PROLA. mechanism for a standardized chronized with the APS original The move will allow Los distribution of content.” version. Alamos to integrate APS journals As scientific journals continue Allowing Los Alamos to host APS into its Library Without Walls, an to move away from print and journals also helps keeps APS jour- internationally recognized state- towards digital distribution, sup- nals visible and accessible to both of-the-art, large-scale digital porting the large electronic archive current and new users, said Barbara library. Through subscription becomes increasingly technically Hicks, APS Associate Publisher. authentication, library users will challenging. The new licensing “It is especially noteworthy to be able to access APS journals and agreement makes it possible for APS that Los Alamos will offer other other scientific publications all APS to work with skilled technical libraries and institutions access to through one site. library experts at Los Alamos. “By the collection through its inte- Los Alamos was eager to add moving deliberately with a leading grated service.” said McIlrath.

DNP MEETING from page 1 Photo credit: Tom Tierney The APS Forum on Graduate Student Affairs (FGSA), together with counterparts typical thousands of electron volts. of understanding the chemical his- entific case for a deep under- in Canada and Mexico, organized the latest in a series of joint meetings of the three This enabled him to use nuclear phys- tory of the universe, according to ground laboratory, and progress to physical societies, known as CAM meetings. CAM 2003 was the first ever interna- ics techniques to eliminate sources Bradley Sherrill (Michigan State date in developing one. tional graduate student meeting, and it took place in Merida, Mexico, October 24- of background noise, and thus de- University). While a few light ele- 26, organized around the theme “Student Visions for Physics in the 21st Century”. tect trace elements in concentrations ments were created in the first few ATTA on the NileNile. A team of Shown here are students chatting informally with Ron Olowin (right) of St. Mary’s of a few parts per thousand trillion. minutes after the Big Bang, most scientists at Argonne National Labo- College, who gave an invited talk on Archeoastronomy in the American Southwest. others were created in the subse- ratory is developing an Atom Trap Attendance at CAM 2003 included 46 participants from the US, 36 from Mexico Cosmic QuarksQuarks. The NRC quent 14 billion years by nuclear Trace Analysis (ATTA) method for and 24 from Canada. At the meeting, participants discussed plans for holding the report “Connecting Quarks to the reactions in stellar objects. Sherrill the analysis of two long-lived rare next graduate student meeting, CAM 2005, in the United States. Cosmos” outlined eleven critical provided an overview of the role krypton isotopes, making it an ideal scientific questions for the 21st of unstable nuclei in the cosmos method for determining the ages Facility focuses on the development neutrinos, the detection of neutri- century. Among them was deter- and the scientific frontiers that can of old ice and groundwater in a and use of nuclear particle detec- nos from a galactic supernova mining new states of matter at be addressed as scientists come to range beyond the reach of radio tion utilizing gas detectors, would provide vital information for exceedingly high density and tem- better understand their properties, carbon dating. In ATTA, individual scintillation and light guide tech- understanding the explosion, as well perature. This question is related and described how scientists mea- atoms of the desired isotope are niques. While its main function is as neutrino properties such as their to the central mission of the Rela- sure and model the chemical selectively captured in a laser trap to provide nuclear particle detec- masses and mixing angles. Cristina tivistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) evolution of the universe. and detected by observing their tor support to the lab, the group Volpe of the Institut de Physique at Brookhaven, according to W.A. Kevin Lesko (Lawrence Berke- fluorescence. Zheng-Tian Lu and has since 1996 applied these and Nucléaire in Orsay, France, Zajc (Columbia University), who ley National Laboratory) pointed his colleagues have used the other technologies to the develop- described how one can determine described efforts to recreate in the out that of the 11 major scientific method to date ancient ground- ment of novel high resolution the initial neutrino spectra, and laboratory states of matter similar challenges outlined in the NRC water of the Nubian Aquifier in the gamma ray imaging systems for bio- once the neutrino fluxes are known, to those that existed in the first few report, about one half either Western Desert of Egypt, one of the medical applications and x-ray can use supernova neutrinos to microseconds after the Big Bang. require deep underground facili- largest aquifiers in the world. The imaging techniques. These include obtain limits on the less known neu- He summarized the project’s suc- ties to conduct the research, or technique can also be used to ana- systems for breast cancer detection, trino mixing angle. Doing so requires cesses to date, with particular said research would be signifi- lyze krypton 18, a fission product brain cancer therapy, and small ani- a precise knowledge of neutrino- attention given to the possibility of cantly enhanced with such of uranium and plutonium, which mal imaging to support biomedical nucleus interaction cross sections, connecting this physics to that of facilities. In fact, a Deep Under- can help verify compliance with the research, according to Jefferson of equal importance for nucleosyn- the early universe. ground Facility was one of seven Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Lab’s Andrew Weisenberger. thesis studies, and Volpe believes Another important question is recommendations included in the that building a facility for low determining how the heavy ele- report, and is also a high priority Dual Use DetectionDetection. The Nuclear Physics of SupernovaeSupernovae. energy neutrinos would offer the ments from iron to uranium were for the Nuclear Physics Long Detector Group at the Thomas Because Supernova type II explo- opportunity to perform systematic made, part of the broader challenge Range Plan. He reviewed the sci- Jefferson National Accelerator sions are powerful sources of studies of these interactions. 4 December 2003 NEWS LETTERS

Science High Schools Provide Useful Don’t Make Pancakes with Lumpy Dough Educational Model I have a comment with regard elevation difference just about 2 to the “Zero-Gravity” article in the miles. The state area is 103,730 sq. By Howard Greyber October 2003 issue. I’m not cer- mile, so the flatness estimate for tain of the applicability of the Colorado is 1-2/sqrt(103730)= At a time when math and per year, per child. measure used by Fonstad, et. al., 0.995. science education nationwide is One scintillating facet of to human perceptions of flatness. By that estimate, interpolating struggling to keep up with the rest American public high school edu- From the information given in between the verbal descriptions of the world, Stuyvesant High cation, shining amid the generally your article, I deduce that a rough given to the pancake and to School in New York City turns dismal vista, is the outstanding estimate of the flatness of a state Kansas, Colorado turns out to be out well-educated graduates who success of high schools of science (requiring zero hours of “pretty damn flat”. I’m sure that the are accepted easily into most of like Stuyvesant and the Bronx programming work) is given by 1- Colorado Chamber of Commerce the top universities in the US. High School of Science. Very few (maximum difference in elevation will be surprised to learn this. Prominent graduates include of them exist to serve our huge within the state)/(square root of Perhaps the pancake is a poor Eric Holder, US deputy attorney society of over 285 million state area). Let’s move the selected standard by which to judge flat- general, and Nobel Laureate Roald people. Where they do exist, like state one spot to the west and ness, or perhaps the dough used Hoffman, a professor of chemistry the public North Carolina High apply that to Colorado. by IHOP that day was particularly at Cornell University. Two other School of Science and Technology, skip brighter kids ahead to a higher My Road Atlas lists the highest lumpy. In any case, I suggest that a Nobel laureates—the famous geneti- they quickly attract interest from grade. Today educators oppose point in Colorado at 14, 440 ft. The panel of experts be convened to cist Joshua Lederberg and the the majority of the surrounding skipping grades. Are not these edu- highest point in Kansas, just next ponder the question and recom- distinguished economist Robert high technology companies. High cators partially responsible for the to the Colorado line, is a little over mend a response. Fogel—also graduated from tech companies extend assistance, general drop in student perfor- 4000 ft., so that’s a reasonable Fred Boynton Stuyvesant. It was not the magnifi- equipment, visits and offer summer mance? When kids are bored, they estimate of the elevation of the low La Jolla, CA cent new Stuyvesant building and part-time employment, hoping tend to misbehave. point in Colorado. This makes the (finished in 1993) which promoted for fresh, bold ideas from the ✶✶✶ these achievements. young people. When Lederberg, Fogel and My suggestion is to revolution- Regarding October’s Zero Grav- high school physics students know Hoffman attended, the school was ize American public education, i.e., ity column, “Scientists Prove how important multiple trials are. located in a decrepit, very crowded for our Federal government—in Kansas Flatter than a Pancake,” my It is entirely possible that another building on the lower East Side in cooperation with the states and lo- colleagues at Texas State and pancake served at another restau- Manhattan. The library was inad- cal government—to fund and to Arizona State are forgetting one rant would exhibit a different degree equate, the books tattered, the labs build 435 high schools of science, very important factor that is inte- of “flatness.” far out of date, and the teachers like Stuyvesant, over the next seven gral to any experiment: multiple Peggy Grow average. No grassy suburban cam- years, one in each Congressional trials! They only tested one pancake Mooresville, IN pus, just dirty concrete sidewalks district and locally controlled. The from one IHOP restaurant. Even my on a narrow crowded street. Nei- The perilous state of elementary, cost is quite reasonable. Building ther were there school buses; middle and high school public edu- 63 such public high schools each students had to use public trans- cation is obvious to all. Many reports year, at a cost of $3.8 billion per portation; most traveled over a have been issued, such as “A Nation year, means the total cost to the dozen miles daily from the outer at Risk” in 1983, but while various federal budget is less than $27 bil- INSIDE THE BELTWAY: boroughs. dubious changes have been lion over seven years — about half Yet Stuyvesant was regularly adopted, it is fair that impartial mark- the cost of the Apollo Space A Washington Analysis tops or very close to the top of high ers for academic achievement like Project when one corrects for sub- schools in New York State, and in SAT and PSAT scores have shown no sequent inflation. The cost could the number of students being significant improvement since then. be shared by the Education Cold Turkey and a Glass of Bubbly awarded the prized New York State It is a fact that when foreign visitors Department, Commerce Depart- By Michael S. Lubell, APS Director of Public Affairs Regent’s Scholarships for college. arrive in America and put their chil- ment, National Science Foundation The basic stimulation for dren in our public schools, they and NASA budgets. It could be It may not be a hot feast this level down. Rules Committee achievement came from the discover their children are two or called the Second National Defense year, but at least the bird’s still on Chairman David Dreier (R-CA), creative interaction and friendly three grades ahead of ours in most Education Act. the table. A decade ago, with Con- Science Committee Chairman competition of a critical mass of subjects. E.G. Sherburne, Jr. once pointed gress and the White House focused Sherwood L. Boehlert (R-NY), VA bright, intensely curious students, out, “While many people think on deficit reduction, science faced HUD Chairman James T. Walsh and from the rigid, tough stan- that a ‘genius’ will thrive without the grim reality of years without (R-NY) and Ranking Member Allan dards, such as the Regent exams, any encouragement, studies tell a Thanksgivings. Back B. Mollohan (D-WV) which set challenging goals. different story.” Each year hun- then, about the only and Energy and Water Success in learning mathemat- dreds of thousands of bright upbeat advocate on Chairman David ics was aided greatly by a longtime American students of all skin col- Capitol Hill was Newt Hobson (R-OH) are custom in New York of forming ors are lost to science for lack of Gingrich, the newly staunch defenders of math teams in all high schools which the proper challenging education. elected Republican the faith. So too are met and competed against each The high standards of these pro- Speaker of the House Judy Biggert (R-IL), other. Peer tutoring is a produc- posed nearby federal science and an unabashed Nick Lampson (D-TX), tive technique, well known and schools would exert a strong posi- techie. Nick Smith (R-MI), used in the 19th century, but unfor- In science and mathematics tive influence on all public Times have changed. Eddie Bernice Johnson tunately forgotten or ignored by one finds that American public education, as parents of kids in the Speaker Gingrich is (D-TX), Edward J. today’s educational dogma. Kids high school kids rank last among feeder elementary and middle gone, but in his place Markey (D-MA) Michael S. Lubell will accept harsh criticism from 16 industrialized nations. [Ed. schools in the area demand that are more than a dozen Michael Capuano another kid, which might devastate note: This refers to results of the Third courses in those schools be im- members of Congress in each (D-MA) and California Democrats them if it came from an adult International Mathematics and Sci- proved to give their children a chamber who have science high on Anna Eshoo, Mike Honda, Zoe teacher. Such clubs and teams, ence Study (TIMSS) released in 1998, chance to pass the exam to enter their list of priorities. Lofgren, Ellen O. Tauscher, and competing with other high schools and can be understood as reflecting the local science high school. Count among them “old bulls” Lynn Woolsey. And of course two in all the academic subjects would the fact that US high-school students The federal science high schools like Senators Pete V. Domenici APS Fellows, Vern Ehlers (R-MI) help all students achieve. take much less science, especially would provide student tutoring, (R-NM), “Fritz” Hollings (D-SC), and Rush Holt (D-NJ). Research has found that physics, compared to students in other special facilities and demonstra- Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) and In truth, these days it’s easier to McGuffey’s Readers, standard text- countries. See Michael Neuschatz,The tions to nearby schools. As John Warner (R-VA). Add to the find science protagonists on the Hill books in the late 19th and early 20th Science Teacher 66, 23-26 (1999).] President John Adams wrote, “The list eight more members of the than a single antagonist. We should century, use vocabulary three or Even more shocking is that while preservation of the means of “Club”: Lamar Alexander (R-TN), be thankful for that in this holiday four grades ahead of those used in Asian children, who excel, do not knowledge among the lowest George Allen (R-VA), Jeff Bingaman season, because the next few years textbooks today. Our textbooks feel they compare well with other ranks is of more importance to the (D-NM), “Kit” Bond (R-MO), are not going to be easy for have been dramatically dumbed nations, American children think public than all the property of the Majority leader Bill Frist (R-TN), budgeteers of any persuasion. down. wrongly that they are doing quite rich men in the country.” Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Jay Even the White House Office of New York City public schools well. We badly need capable A former wartime lieutenant in the Rockefeller (D-WV), Ron Wyden Management and Budget concedes in the 1930s were generally American workers who know ba- U.S. Naval Reserve, Howard Greyber (D-OR) and presidential contend- that the tide of red ink could reach regarded as the best in the nation, sic mathematics and science for is a PhD astrophysicist, a fellow of the ers John F. Kerry (D-MA) and five percent of GDP next year, the but no more. Tracking of students our modern, technology-inten- Royal Astronomical Society, and a Joseph I. Lieberman (D-CT). tipping point, according to most was done back then in every grade, sive economy. Expensive private member of the International Astro- In the people’s House, the lead- economists, for public loss of con- yet today educators oppose track- schools for bright kids are spring- nomical Union. He lives in Potomac, ership may be barren ground for fidence in a government’s ability to ing. Teachers then were happy to ing up costing up to $20,000 Maryland. science champions, but not so one See BELTWAY on page 7 NEWS December 2003 5

MEETING BRIEFS

•The APS New England tory around the theme of particle hyper-polarized gases, protein Section held its annual meeting accelerator frontiers and the asso- flexibility and folding, and a con- October 3-4 at Bates College in ciated new physics. Friday tinuum theory of movement in The 2003 Ig Nobel Prizes Lewiston, Maine. For those afternoon featured lectures on new interacting cellular systems. who arrived early for the meet- light sources, x-ray sources, and Friday evening’s plenary speaker The 2003 Ig Nobel Prizes, hon- LITERATURE PRIZE ing, Thursday evening featured free-electron lasers, followed by a was Harvard University’s oring achievements that first make John Trinkaus, of the Zicklin two general lectures, one by banquet and a public lecture by Venkatesh Narayanamurti, who people laugh, and then make them School of Business, New York City, William Phillips, 1997 Nobel BNL director Nicholas Samios on discussed the future of physics think, were awarded at Harvard for meticulously collecting data Laureate in physics, and the the past, present and future of high in the 21st century. University’s historic Sanders Theatre and publishing more than 80 other by Lynn Margulis of the energy physics and accelerators. • The APS Southeastern in October before 1200 spectators detailed academic reports about University of Massachusetts, On Saturday, the day’s sessions Section held its annual fall meet- in a ceremony filled with lab coats, specific annoyances and anoma- Amherst. included talks on future neutrino ing November 6-8 at the opera singers, paper airplanes, lies of daily life, such as: • The APS Ohio Section physics, the Large Hadron Collider University of North Carolina in ducks, and both the spirit and flesh What percentage of young held its annual fall meeting and Spallation Neutron Source, cos- Wilmington, North Carolina. In of Murphy’s Law. people wear baseball caps with the October 17-18 at Case Western mic accelerators and high energy addition to contributed papers The event was produced by the peak facing to the rear rather than Reserve University in Cleveland, cosmic rays, and high intensity and a Friday evening banquet, science humor magazine Annals of to the front; Ohio, along the general theme, muon physics. there were focused sessions on Improbable Research. What percentage of pedestrians “Physicists Get Down to Busi- • The APS Texas Section held chiral symmetry in QCD, wear sport shoes that are white ness.” The meeting was its annual fall meeting October 23- nanoscience, QCD axial The 2003 Ig Nobel Prizes rather than some other color; co- sponsored by the American 25 at Texas Tech University in anomaly, and neutron science. What percentage of swimmers Association of Physics Teachers Lubbock, Texas, and while it was a Other sessions focused more ENGINEERING PRIZE swim laps in the shallow end of a with the theme of “No Physics general meeting, the program broadly on biophysics, high The late John Paul Stapp, the pool rather than the deep end; Teacher Left Behind.” Friday emphasized materials physics. energy physics, nuclear and late Edward A. Murphy, Jr., and What percentage of automobile afternoon and Saturday morn- Plenary presentations included astrophysics, and condensed George Nichols, for jointly giving drivers almost, but not completely, ing sessions featured plenary talks on applications of condensed matter physics. birth in 1949 to Murphy’s Law, the come to a stop at one particular talks on the physics and busi- matter theory in industry, defects • Finally, the APS California basic engineering principle that “If stop-sign; ness of industry and in semiconductors, conduction Section held its annual meeting there are two or more ways to do What percentage of commuters entrepreneurship by represen- through molecules, and integrated November 14-15, co-hosted by something, and one of those ways carry attache cases; What percent- tatives from start-up nanotechnology, as well as a talk by the University of California, can result in a catastrophe, some- age of shoppers exceed the number companies, business schools, Shell Oil’s Jack Hirsch on why physi- Berkeley, and Lawrence Berke- one will do it” (or, in other words: of items permitted in a supermarket’s and the oil and gas exploration cists are well suited for industry. ley National Laboratory. Friday’s “If anything can go wrong, it will”). express checkout lane; and industry. Physics education pre- Friday evening’s banquet speaker program featured workshops What percentage of students sentations included the keynote was Frederick Suppe of Texas Tech, and a tour of LBNL, and Friday PHYSICS PRIZE dislike the taste of Brussels sprouts. at Friday evening’s banquet, by who spoke about philosophy of evening’s banquet was followed Jack Harvey, John Culvenor, Case Western’s James Zull, who science. Other invited speakers by a lecture by Andrei Linde of Warren Payne, Steve Cowley, ECONOMICS PRIZE spoke of enriching the practice covered such topics as quantum Stanford University, co-recipi- Michael Lawrance, David Stuart, Karl Schwoerzler and the nation of teaching by exploring the computing algorithms and electron ent of the 2002 Dirac Medal for and Robyn Williams of Australia, of Liechtenstein, for making it pos- biology of learning, and a talk hole plasmas in gallium arsenide. Theoretical Physics, on infla- for their irresistible report “An sible to rent the entire country for by James Kakalios (University • The APS Four Corners Sec- tion, dark energy and the fate Analysis of the Forces Required to corporate conventions, weddings, of Minnesota) on the fantastic tion held its annual meeting of the universe. On Saturday Drag Sheep over Various Surfaces.” bar mitzvahs, and other gatherings. physics of comic book super- October 24-25 at Arizona State morning, there was a plenary heroes. University in Tempe, Arizona. session with invited lectures on MEDICINE PRIZE INTERDISCIPLINARY • That same weekend, the Invited presentations included the future of physics education, Eleanor Maguire, David Gadian, RESEARCH PRIZE APS New York State Section such topics as vacuum ultra-violet antimatter, followed in the after- Ingrid Johnsrude, Catriona Good, Stefano Ghirlanda, Liselotte held its annual fall meeting at spectroscopic ellipsometry, multi- noon by general research and John Ashburner, Richard Jansson, and Magnus Enquist of Brookhaven National Labora- photon extreme UV photonics, education sessions. Frackowiak, and Christopher Frith Stockholm University, for their of University College London, for inevitable report “Chickens Prefer presenting evidence that the brains Beautiful Humans.” of London taxi drivers are more highly developed than those of PEACE PRIZE Homeland Security Programs Need Best their fellow citizens. Lal Bihari, of Uttar Pradesh, India, for a triple accomplishment: Scientific Talent, Says DHS Undersecretary PSYCHOLOGY PRIZE First, for leading an active life even Gian Vittorio Caprara and though he has been declared In late September, Charles E. accommodate many needs, but and revolutionary research,” Claudio Barbaranelli of the Univer- legally dead; Second, for waging a McQueary, Under Secretary for smaller labs have expertise in certain McQueary said. sity of Rome, and Philip Zimbardo lively posthumous campaign against Science and Technology in the critical areas,” he said, “We will need McQueary’s briefing to the of Stanford University, for their bureaucratic inertia and greedy rela- Department of Homeland Security, a mix of both types of labs, and will DOE Facilities Caucus was very discerning report “Politicians’ tives; and Third, for creating the spoke to the DOE Facilities match their capabilities with our timely, as the next day, President Uniquely Simple Personalities.” Association of Dead People. Caucus about the role that he requirements as needs arise.” Bush signed the FY 2004 DHS intends the Department of Energy The DHS currently has more appropriations bill with a large in- CHEMISTRY PRIZE BIOLOGY PRIZE national laboratories to play. than $114 million in funding in crease for the Science and Yukio Hirose of Kanazawa C.W. Moeliker, of Natuurmuseum “Our programs require the place within the national labora- Technology Directorate. Further University, for his chemical inves- Rotterdam, the Netherlands, for mobilization of the nation’s pre- tory system to support its work, information about DHS and its tigation of a bronze statue, in the documenting the first scientifically mier science and technology and McQueary expressed his programs can be found at city of Kanazawa, that fails to recorded case of homosexual talents from academia, private in- desire for the laboratories to com- www.dhs.gov. attract pigeons. necrophilia in the mallard duck. dustry, and the Federal pete for extramural funding as well. government,” said McQueary. In Effective tech transfer is key, he addition to the Homeland Security stressed. APKER RECIPIENTS from page 1 Advanced Research Projects One of the persistent questions missing energy events for evidence Stern investigated the magnetic 2003, and is now pursuing Agency, which will fund extramu- about DHS is the relative funding of supersymmetric particles or par- exchange interaction between graduate studies in physics at the ral programs from universities and emphasis on basic versus applied ticles lost to extra dimensions, Onyisi nanoscale antiferromagnetic films University of California, Santa the private sector, DHS “will also research. At the DOE Facilities observed no deviation from the Stan- and ferromagnetic films. Barbara with the support of a tap into the Federal government’s Caucus briefing, McQueary said dard Model, and as a result placed Though these structures are the Hertz Fellowship and an NSF research community where the that in the early stages, the new limits on contributions from basis for magnetic sensor and mag- Graduate Fellowship. Department of Energy national emphasis would be on applied new physics. netic storage devices, the exchange laboratories play a prominent research, with only about 10-15% Onyisi published these results interaction is not fully understood. role.” McQueary complimented of research dollars going to “for- in Physical Review Letters in 2002. Stern demonstrated that mag- lawmakers on ensuring that DHS ward-looking” research. “If S&T is He also authored a number of netic exchange biasing occurs with Visit would have an “equal footing” at going to be long-term relevant,” he internal CDF notes on his research antiferromagnetic film thicknesses the national laboratories with said, “We must make some scien- and presented his work at the April that are substantially less than was APS everyone else. “It’s not going to just tific ‘hits.’ ” APS meetings in 2001 and 2003. previously thought possible, show- News be, ‘oh, now we’re not doing Once S&T has shown that Onyisi received his BA in phys- ing that existing theories are anything else, we have time to do homeland security research can ics and applied mathematics in inadequate to explain the interaction. Online this.’ ” and will work, the percentage June 2003, and is now a graduate Stern published his research The Directorate plans to going to higher-risk, longer-term student in physics at Cornell in the Journal of Applied Physics, http://www.aps.org/apsnews/ engage both the large and small labo- research will increase. “In the University with an NSF Graduate and presented at several confer- ratories. “The larger labs can end, we need both evolutionary Research Fellowship. ences. He received his BS in May 6 December 2003 NEWS

APS Members Capture Array of Honors CALIFORNIA from page 1 By Ernie Tretkoff things, the CSU Chico physics and slated for a seismic retrofit next department’s operating budget being year. And the department has suc- Several APS members have the University of Pennsylvania, was the first to create a degenerate slashed by 20%. “It’s part of a trend cessfully hired several junior faculty recently received recognition for the first to directly detect solar fermi gas, uses laser cooling and that’s been going on for a number of members to fill positions vacated by their work, including the Enrico neutrinos, and his work has helped magnetic trapping techniques to years: an ever decreasing percent- retirements and faculty wooed Fermi Award, China’s International determine that electron neutrinos explore the properties of super- age of the state’s general fund has away to other institutions. “The most Scientific Collaborations Award, the from the sun and can oscillate into cooled fermions. In 2002 the APS been devoted to higher education,” important mark of how well the de- MacArthur Fellowships, and selec- other flavors on their way to Earth. awarded Jin the Maria Goeppert- says Gaffney, adding that the current partment is doing is our ability to tion by MIT’s Technology Review as He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Mayer Award, which is given to troubles “are really exacerbating the attract the best and brightest of the “Bold Young Innovators.” Physics in 2002. an outstanding young woman problem.” young up-and-coming physicists,” Seymour Sack was recognized physicist. The situation is only going to get says McKee. “By that score, we’re Fermi Awards for his contributions to national James Collins, 38, is a biomedi- worse, with a projected $8 billion still doing extraordinarily well.” The Enrico Fermi Award was security in assuring the reliability cal engineer at Boston University. state budget shortfall for next year, Other campuses haven’t fared so presented on October 22 to John of nuclear weapons. His theoretical and experimental that may rise to $14 billion with gov- well. On August 1, UC Riverside Bahcall, Raymond Davis, and research has explored the mecha- ernor-elect Schwartzenegger’s eliminated 18 of its 135 state-funded Seymour Sack. The award, admin- China’s International Scientific nisms regulating biological systems, promised recision of the car tax. The technical research slots, although istered by the Department of Collaboration Award especially how noise affects biologi- various institutions in the UC and many of the ousted staff members Energy, recognizes scientists for Joe Hamilton of Vanderbilt cal signals. CSU systems are responding to the have been shifted to soft money for their lifetime achievements in the University received the Interna- expected shortfalls in numerous the time being. Barry Klein, vice development, use, or production of tional Scientific and Technological Technology Review “Bold Young ways. At Berkeley, the physics chancellor for research at the energy (broadly defined). The Collaborations Award of the Innovators” department’s budget was slashed 5% University of California, Davis, told Fermi award has been given annu- People’s Republic of China—the Seven APS members are among this year, according to department Science magazine that his institution ally since 1956. Past recipients highest award the Chinese govern- the “100 Bold Young Innovators,” chair Christopher McKee. To absorb expects to lose 72 faculty slots and include John von Neumann, Ernest ment bestows on foreign scientists. in the October 2003 issue of MIT’s the cut, several staff positions have 28 staff positions over the next three O. Lawrence, Hans Bethe, and He was honored in Beijing on Sep- Technology Review. This is the third not been filled, straining an already years. CSU Chico has eliminated its Edward Teller. tember 22 in a ceremony presided year the magazine has named 100 overworked staff, and several only physics course for nontechni- over by China’s Minister of Science scientists and engineers under 35 courses have been eliminated, pri- cal majors, eliminated elective and Technology. whose work is at the cutting edge marily duplicate sections of required courses [“That which is not required Hamilton’s award recognizes his of computing, biotech, the Internet, courses. There are also a handful of is forbidden, “ Gaffney ironically efforts bridge the gap between nanotech, or other fields. Among non-required upper division courses notes], and increased class sizes of Chinese and American scientists. this year’s winners are the follow- being taught less frequently, “because the surviving courses. Since the 1970’s, Hamilton has col- ing APS members: we just don’t have enough faculty and These developments are particu- laborated with Chinese scientists Daniel Gottesman, 33, a lecturers to cover them,” says McKee. larly worrisome to Gaffney, since the and encouraged them to publish research scientist at the Perimeter An outside review panel recently CSU system’s primary mission is their work in international journals. Institute. concluded that Berkeley’s physics undergraduate education and train- His research has included studies Xiangfeng Duan, 26, a scientist department was in a state of “gen- ing future high school teachers. “It’s of nuclear structure in high spin at the Palo Alto-based start-up com- teel decline,” losing six of about 50 a 19th century industrial model: states, nuclei far from stability, and pany Nanosys. tenured professors over the last punch out the students at a cheaper John Bahcall accepts the Fermi Award. explorations of the fission process. Jordan Katine, 34, a researcher four years to top-notch private uni- rate per unit cost,” says Gaffney. “In Bahcall and Davis, both APS at Hitachi Global Storage Technolo- versities like Harvard, Cornell and my view, it degrades the whole edu- Fellows, received the award for MacArthur Fellows gies in San Jose, CA. Caltech. The department also suf- cational process.” their work on neutrino physics. Two APS Fellows, Deborah Jin David Muller, 35, an engineer- fers from aging facilities. The The UC system also has a newly They received a medal and shared and James Collins, have been ing physics professor at Cornell newest of its physics buildings is 40 appointed president, physicist with Sack a $187,500 honorarium. awarded 2003 McArthur Fellow- University. years old, and while the university Robert Dynes, formerly chancellor The citation reads: “For their inno- ships. The MacArthur Fellows Yasunobu Nakamura, 35, a has been investing heavily in life at UC San Diego. Dynes has said that vative research in astrophysics program provides unrestricted researcher at NEC Fundamental sciences facilities and programs, his foremost concern is maintain- leading to a revolution in under- funds to outstanding individuals who Research Laboratories in Tsukuba, physics spending has lagged. More ing the university’s quality— even if standing the properties of the demonstrate exceptional talent, Japan. potential physics graduate students that means restricting enrollment elusive neutrino, the lightest known creativity, and promise in any field. Ainissa Ramirez, 34, a mechani- are declining enrollment after instead of admitting all eligible stu- particle with mass.” Deborah Jin, 34, is a NIST physi- cal engineering professor at Yale being accepted into the graduate dents. “We cannot continue to grow Bahcall was recently elected APS cist, a fellow of JILA, and a faculty University. program. Meanwhile, part of the in student body and shrink in bud- vice president, and will begin his member in the physics department Peidong Yang, 32, a chemistry Berkeley tuition increase will go to get. It’s unstable,” Dynes told the term in January 2004. at the University of Colorado, professor at the University of a scholarship fund to benefit Contra Costa Times in August when Davis, a research professor at Boulder. Her research group was California, Berkeley. economically disadvantaged his appointment was announced. undergrad students. Above all, Dynes is trying to main- McKee concedes that there have tain an historical perspective. “There APS-led Teacher Preparation Program been problems in the department, have always been problems,” he told but cites several positive actions as a the Los Angeles Times in June. “The Adds Another Participating School result of the panel report. The University of California has faced By Ernie Tretkoff Berkeley administration allocated different challenges at different $12 million to renovate one of the times, and it has always come The Physics Teacher Education school physics teacher who aids the master teachers will be available to oldest physics buildings, built in 1942 through strong.” Coalition (PhysTEC), which aims to departments in course revisions and mentor new student teachers. improve the science preparation of helps coordinates mentors for “It’s not entirely clear what will future K-12 teachers, continues to novice science teachers. happen,” said Hoellwarth, “There are grow. California Polytechnic State “What we want to do is produce a lot of factors going on.” University, San Luis Obispo, recently teachers that are better prepared to Currently eight future science became the seventh participating teach,” said physics professor teachers are participating in the university in the project. Chance Hoellwarth, who leads physics program at Cal Poly. The APS, in cooperation with the Cal Poly’s PhysTEC project. Hoellwarth points out that the AAPT and the AIP, established Hoellwarth also emphasized the program’s small size makes it less PhysTEC in response to national importance of the Teacher-in-Resi- vulnerable to cuts. “We don’t have a reports calling for improved science dence. “It gives us the other side huge number of student teachers, teacher preparation. The program of the coin. It facilitates building so you can kind of absorb any is funded by grants from the National up connections with teachers, and effect.” Cal Poly can design the pro- Science Foundation and the US gives us real-world experience.” gram it wants now, then expand when Department of Education. The Teacher-in-Residence will also it becomes possible, said Hoellwarth. The PhysTEC program encour- help develop a mentoring program Cal Poly’s participation in PhysTEC ages collaboration between physics for student teachers. is supported by an APS fund-raising and education departments at par- Though the university and local campaign. With this campaign ticipating Primary Program K-12 schools are affected by the PhysTEC plans to continue to expand, Institutions to create a curriculum recent California budget cuts, adding one or two new institutions a that emphasizes student-centered, Hoellwarth said he expects the year for several more years. The six inquiry-based, hands-on learning. As PhysTEC project will continue as other Primary Program Institutions part of the program, physics depart- planned. already participating in PhysTEC are ments work to restructure their As a whole the university is not the University of Arizona, Ball State introductory courses to emphasize offering as many classes, so students University, Oregon State University, active learning. A key component of may take longer to graduate. Also, University of Arkansas, Western the PhysTEC program is a full-time cuts at the elementary and second- Michigan University, and Xavier Teacher-in-Residence, a local high ary school level may mean fewer University of Louisiana. NEWS December 2003 7

ANNOUNCEMENTS

New Member Benefit for 2004 – Prize & Award APS SEEKS APS will offer a new journal benefit to members in Nominations 2004. APS Member Article Packs will be available for HEAD OF MEDIA RELATIONS $50, allowing members 20 APS journal article down- Otto Laporte Award DEADLINE: 02/10/04 loads (excluding PROLA and RMP). This is a considerable The APS anticipates an opening for a media relations professional to Established as an APS award in 1985, but savings on single APS article downloads. Look for more promote physics in the popular media. Based at APS Headquarters in existed as a division lectureship prize for information in your 2004 Renewal Packet. twelve previous years. The award is to College Park, MD, this position will develop and coordinate all media In addition, APS members can already purchase AIP recognize outstanding contributions to fluid relations for APS. Journal Packs at a 50% discount on https://store.aip.org/ dynamics and to honor Otto Laporte. Responsibilities include working as part of a team that identifies physics articlepacks/. news stories, locates press contacts in the physics community, and pitches Purpose: To recognize outstanding the stories to the national media. 2004 APS Member Directory – research accomplishments pertaining to Opportunities to travel exist. Members will be contacted at the end of the year and the physics of fluids. The qualified applicant will have at least a bachelor’s degree in science, asked to request either a paper or cd-rom copy of the 2004 and preferably additional scientific work experience (physics a plus). Considerable experience interacting with the media is necessary. Directory. Members will have to notify APS of their choice Fluid Dynamics Prize by February 23, 2004, to receive one of the available Excellent oral and written communication skills are required. Competi- DEADLINE: 02/10/04 tive starting salary and outstanding benefits package offered. Visit our versions. Online directory access is always available at Established in 1979 with support from the website at: www.aps.org. Office of Naval Research. http://www.aps.org/memb/enter-directory.html. To apply, send cover letter including salary requirement, resume, and contact information for three professional references via e- APS Bulletins – Purpose: To recognize and encourage mail, fax or conventional mail to: Starting in 2004, the APS Membership Department outstanding achievement in fluid dynamics research. will no longer be processing orders for APS Bulletins. American Physical Society The paper version will be distributed onsite at meetings One Physics Ellipse to attendees. Open access to all APS Bulletins (current Marshall N. Rosenbluth and archived) will be available online at http:// Outstanding Doctoral Thesis College Park, MD 20748-3844 www.aps.org/meet/. Award Attn: Joe Ignacio, Director of Human Resources DEADLINE: 04/01/04 E-mail to: [email protected] Established in 1985 (originally as the Simon

APS Membership Department News Fax to: (301)699-8144 301-209-3280 ´ [email protected] Ramo Award) and endowed in 1997 by General Atomics Inc. APS Council and Committee Position Nominations Purpose: To provide recognition to American Physical Society, exceptional young scientists who have Washington Office, VICE-PRESIDENT; GENERAL COUNCILLOR (2); preformed original thesis work of NOMINATING COMMITTEE; Vice-Chairperson-Elect • outstanding scientific quality and Senior Science Policy Fellow Members; PANEL ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS; Vice-Chairperson- achievement in the area of plasma Elect • Members physics. Responsibilities: Craft and advocate for key sci- Please send your nominations to: American Physical Society; ence policy issues. Develop grass roots activities One Physics Ellipse; College Park, MD 20740-3844; Attn: Ken ERRATUM: Cole; (301) 209-3288; fax: (301) 209-0865; email: for one of the nation’s largest scientific societies. [email protected]. A nomination form is available at http:// The wrong web address was Organize congressional visits programs, “APS www.aps.org/exec/nomform.html. given in the story “Revolution- Alerts,” and letter-writing campaigns. Represent DEADLINE: JANUARY 31, 2004 ary Breakthroughts Needed for APS Washington Office at selected APS national Hydrogen Economy” in the and divisional meetings, APS committee meet- November issue of APS News. ings and science advocacy coalition meetings. We are sorry for any confusion Requirements: Excellent verbal, writing and interpersonal skills. this may have caused. Hill experience desirable. Science PhD strongly preferred. http://focus.aps.org The correct web address is: Salary: Commensurate with experience. www.sc.doe.gov/bes/ For more information, please contact the American Physical Down-to-earth accounts of hot research from the hydrogen.pdf. Society, 529 14th Street, N.W., Suite 1050, Washington, DC 20045, Physical Review journals—ideal for college physics majors and Attn: Michael Lubell, [email protected] (202) 662-8700 [voice], (202) researchers interested in work outside their specialty. Write to 662-8711 [fax]. [email protected] to get weekly e-mail updates. APS Mass Media Some recent Focus stories: Fellowship Now Appearing in RMP: Recently Program Now Appearing in RMP: Recently Nobel Focus: Helium Impersonates a Posted Reviews and Colloquia Supercondutor Applications are now being accepted for the 2004 summer You will find the following in the online edition of Reviews of Modern Anthony Leggett’s complete theory for atomic Physics at http://rmp.aps.org. pairing in a superfluid won him one-third of the APS Mass Media Fellowships. In 2003 Nobel Prize in Physics. affiliation with the popular AAAS Colloquium: Theories of Scanning Probe Microscopes at the The Royal Swedish Academy of Science program, the APS is sponsoring Atomic Scale two ten-week fellowships for phys- —Werner A. Hofer, Adam S. Foster, and Alexander L. Shluger Travels of An Exciton Scanning probe microscopes have revolutionized the study of the ics students to work full-time over Researchers have generated the first direct structure, physics, and chemistry of surfaces. The complexity, detail, images of the motion of a single exciton, a the summer as reporters, research- and accuracy of the images produced by atomic scale probes are particle that is essential to modern electronics. ers, and production assistants in remarkable, but the quantitative meaning of the patterns is not mass media organizations nation- always clear. This review explains the use of theoretical simulation K. Matsuda/Kanagawa wide. Information on application tools in conjunction with the applications, especially the balance of Acad. of Science and Tech what can be learnt by the use of simple models and full electronic requirements can be found at The Slightest Splash of Superfluid? simulations. Just seven helium atoms are enough to produce http://www.aps.org/ Also Recently Posted: resistance-free flow, the hallmark of super- public_affairs/massmedia/ Hamiltonian Theories of the Fractional Quantum Hall Effect fluidity. index.html. —Ganpathy Murthy, and R. Shankar Serious consideration of Present Status of Inclusive Rare B Decays W. Jäger/Univ. of Alberta candidates will begin December —Tobias Hurth 15, 2003.

BELTWAY from page 4 sage that built up the ranks of Hill century economy. The sciences— nation faces a deficit of $500 masochists. Social Security and make good on its IOU’s. champions during the last ten especially the physical sciences—are billion? Fair question to ask. But Medicare are the third rail of poli- In this nasty fiscal climate, it’s years. the generators of American wealth. not a tough one to answer. tics—they won’t be touched. And hard to see how any part of the From my perch, ten stories up in The sciences—especially the physi- First, consider how much worse the discretionary budget, includ- discretionary budget—of which, the National Press Building, three cal sciences—are key to securing a deficit of $501 billion is than one ing defense, would have to be cut these days, science has become a blocks from the White House and a our safety at home and serving our of $500 billion. The financial mar- by 90%—that won’t happen either. significant element—will escape mile or so from the Capitol, these military needs abroad. The kets won’t even notice. The Investing in science is clearly unscathed. But so far, science is are the themes that will resonate in sciences—especially the physical difference is in the noise. the best bet for growing the not on the chopping block. And a time of fiscal crunch, as we enter sciences—will pave the road to Second, without substantial economy and fighting our way with Congress chock full of believ- the run-up to the 2004 election. The energy independence. economic growth, largely driven by back to fiscal sanity. So pull the ers, it may well stay that way, sciences—especially the physical But is it responsible for lawmak- innovation, the deficit will become cork on a bottle of bubbly and provided the community keeps sciences— along with engineering ers to bump the science budget up structural. Tax increases are not an toast the champions of science. hammering home the same mes- are the job engines of the 21st by a billion dollars or so when the option—except for political They deserve it. 8 December 2003 NEWS The Back Page Energy Department Releases 20-year Plan for New Facilities By Spencer Abraham

Ed. Note: On November 10 the mended 28 be consid- Department. us to understand the thousands of erties of one of the strangest par- Department of Energy released its ered for funding over ✶✶✶ proteins that make up the microbes ticles yet discovered—the Quark. 20-year plan for new facilities. Twenty- a 20-year planning First on our list is we want to put to work for our From the very large, with new eight facilities were listed in order of horizon. This may fusion. The prospect of energy mission. But these facilities, pictures of how our universe funding priority. The list appears in this appear unilateral, but a limitless source of together, will speed this process evolved, to the very small, with issue on page 2. Below we reprint the the selection was clean energy for the dramatically, and give energy and insights into the structure of the speech that Energy Secretary Spencer informed by the best world leads with our medical science powerful new tools. nucleus, the facilities we are pro- Abraham delivered at the National Press minds in all the commitment to join the The Rare Isotope Accelerator posing will secure American Club in Washington. Due to space con- affected fields. And, international fusion can help us understand how preeminence in science for the straints, the text has been somewhat frankly, the alternative energy experiment everything from the cosmos to better part of the 21st Century. abridged. (Elisions are indicated by of decision by commit- Spencer Abraham known as ITER. This is a heavy elements was formed. It What I have discussed is just a asterisks.) The full text, and other infor- tee was not acceptable, Presidential priority would allow our scientists to learn snapshot of the detailed roadmap mation about the 20-year plan, can be because committees—despite their with enormous potential. Successful how the chemical elements that we have drawn for our major sci- found on the DOE web site at http:// best efforts—are notorious for negotiations among the international make up the world around us were ence projects over the next two www.science.doe.gov/ delivering compromise documents partners will lead to the first-ever developed, help us develop new decades. ✶✶✶ I can’t tell precisely that too often settle on the lowest fusion science experiment capable of nuclear medicine techniques, and how or when the projects and ✶✶✶ common denominator. producing a self-sustaining fusion improve our ability to model the research I’ve discussed today might I am pleased to announce the This effort has been endorsed reaction. If we reach agreement, ITER explosions of nuclear weapons. uncover deep mysteries of science Department of Energy’s 20-year by the directors of our science will be our top facility. This project would be a major or deliver immediate practical plan for building the scientific laboratories, who understand the Next on the list is our desire to addition to the Department’s benefits. But that’s the beauty of sci- research facilities of the future. It importance of modern facilities for regain global leadership in areas of nuclear physics program and make ence. It can have so many is our plan to keep the United future scientific discovery. supercomputing that many believe a major contribution to stockpile unexpected outcomes. States at the scientific frontier. In addition, the Task Force on we have lost. Japan’s new Earth stewardship. But even if we knew our search Nothing of this scope has ever the Future of Science at the Simulator machine is a remarkable The Joint Dark Energy Mission, for Dark Energy or our particle been attempted by our Depart- Department of Energy, which was achievement. It has the computing a space-based probe to be devel- physics research would have no ment, or indeed by any other established at my direction and is power of the 20 fastest US com- oped with NASA, will help us direct impact on our everyday science agency in government. We chaired by Dr. Charles Vest, Presi- puters combined. The Japanese are understand one of the greatest lives, we still would want to go for- are not only planning two decades dent of MIT, has praised this effort to be congratulated for launching mysteries in science today—why ward, because we want to know out, but we are prioritizing our in its recent report. It is gratifying a new era in scientific computing, the universe is expanding at an why the universe and our planet facility needs across all fields of sci- that this effort has received sup- but the US must be part of this era. accelerating rate. By placing a new act the way they do. We do basic ence supported by the Department port from those who understand We can create new computer wide-angle telescope in space, research to understand. And many of Energy. the enterprise of science best. architectures that can boost com- researchers will be able to see far- times that’s justification enough. In the 21st Century, the health This list of facilities is driven by puting power by 100 times over ther back in the evolution of the But we also want to go forward and vitality of US science and tech- science and the Department of current machines. Such an achieve- universe to help unravel this because that is what a great nation nology will depend upon the Energy mission, nothing else. Our ment will give scientists the ability strange thing called dark energy— does. It explores. It attempts to availability of the most advanced criteria were straightforward: to simulate complex reactions as a force that is apparently working know and to understand. research facilities, not only because which facilities are most impor- never before and give industry the against gravity to speed up the Some people have told me it science today is so complex, but tant for Department of Energy ability to virtually prototype every- expansion of the universe. would be hard to explain why the because science now requires that science over the next two decades, thing from new aircraft engines to As we look out into this expand- Department of Energy’s basic sci- chemists, physicists, biologists— taking into account whether the super-efficient auto bodies, thus ing universe, we are also thinking entific research is so important. I that all fields of science—work prospects for construction were saving hundreds of millions of dol- of how best to understand the haven’t found that to be the case. together. The facilities we propose in the near, mid, or far-term? lars. Scientific computation materials that make up our day- Everyone understands that invest- today will bring the sciences ✶✶✶ deserves the kind of serious atten- to-day world. A new generation of ments in science produce benefits under one roof and give research- We believe this list of 28 facilities tion we believe our facilities list gives electron microscope can help us for our lives. ers the tools they need to work outlines to an important extent the it. study how atoms combine to form And I think everyone is curious. their wonders. future of science in America and We will also look at advancing materials, and how materials Discoveries like Dark Energy lead Let me discuss the way we made indeed the world. These facilities our lead in light sources. The Linac respond to external factors such to deeper mysteries that, them- our decisions and give you some cover the critical areas where dis- Coherent Light Source would pro- as electric fields. This new instru- selves, compel us to continue our flavor of the enormous benefits we coveries can transform our energy vide x-ray brightness that is 10 ment, the Transmission Electron search—even when we know the see flowing from these new future, boost economic productiv- billion times greater than current Achromatic Microscope or TEAM, search is not in any normal sense projects. The process we followed ity, transform our understanding of light sources. That would allow will help us design lighter, more practical. was transparent and interdiscipli- biology, and provide revolutionary researchers, for the first time, to efficient materials for everything To be sure, no one knows what nary. The Associate Directors of new tools to deal with disease. They create real-time images of chemi- from automobiles to advanced fuel field of science, or what potential our six science divisions—Basic can make major and necessary con- cal reactions at the atomic scale, cells. new science machine, will produce Energy Sciences, Fusion Energy tributions to national security and leading us to far greater understand- In addition to launching new the next big discovery. But we can Sciences, High Energy Physics, give us the ability to understand ing of how our bodies work, indeed, projects such as these, we are also be certain of one thing. There will Nuclear Physics, Advanced Scien- matter at its most fundamental level. how virtually all materials are put planning important upgrades to be a big discovery. A solitary tific Computing, and Biological and They can also do something together. existing facilities. Improvements to genius, or a group of scientists from Environmental Sciences—were else. They can surprise us. The Department of Energy our energy sciences computer net- a half dozen fields working asked to list in rank order the ma- The unexpected benefits of launched the human genome work, what we call ESnet, which together, will take some step, jor facilities necessary to maintain work at these research facilities project nearly 20 years ago in our links researchers around the coun- apply some test, seek some insight, world scientific leadership in their will lead us in directions we can- effort to understand how radiation try to our laboratories and that will inevitably lead beyond programs over the next 20 years. not even imagine. And we are affects cells at the most fundamen- research facilities, will allow us to their expectations to a result as Some 46 facilities were identi- looking down the road far enough tal level. The Protein Production and accommodate the huge demand unexpected as it is wonderful. fied in this process. This list was to the time when facilities that are Tags Facility can help us build on for this network. ESnet puts the All we are doing is giving them then submitted to the respective now under construction, such as these discoveries and make a huge power and capability for our the tools, and the freedom, to work programs’ Advisory Committees, the Spallation Neutron Source, will contribution to our Genomes to Life investment in light sources and these mysteries out. And we don’t which are composed of top scien- need enhancements. That is the Program. We are now taking the accelerators literally at the insist on results on some time scale, tists from universities, industry, and purpose of this list: to look into insights from that project to create researcher’s desktop. and basic research doesn’t work our laboratories. We asked these the future and to be prepared. And microbes that do everything from ✶✶✶ that way. We expect only that sci- committees to analyze the scien- as with all our existing facilities, making hydrogen, to sequestering And upgrades to facilities, such ence will employ the traditions of tific importance of each proposed any new projects we undertake carbon dioxide, to accelerating en- as the Continuous Electron Beam inquiry and curiosity that extend facility and to add or subtract as will benefit a wide spectrum of sci- vironmental clean-up. The Protein Accelerator, would essentially cre- in a straight line from today’s Nobel they saw fit. The appetite for new entists and will profit from close Production and Tags Facility will join ate new facilities by applying Prize winner directly back to facilities grew, and a total of 53 new cooperation with other agencies. the Molecular Machines Facility to advanced technology to our cur- Aristotle. projects were recommended. So, let me now profile some of help create a facility to mass-pro- rent stock of powerful research I believe the blueprint we have Then came the hard part. our top priorities and a set of duce tens of thousands of proteins machines. The upgrade to this presented will allow that tradition The Director of our Office of Sci- facilities that not only represent a year, code them by their DNA, and accelerator, located at Thomas to grow and prosper. And it will ence, Raymond Orbach, tremendous opportunities, but make them available to researchers Jefferson Lab, will double its power provide the foundation for the next reviewed these proposals, ordered demonstrate the breadth of the around the country. Using current and apply advanced computing generation of scientists to work them across disciplines, and recom- science encompassed by the methods, it is virtually impossible for power to help us explain the prop- their wonders.

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