April 2003 NEWS Volume 12, No.4 A Publication of The American Physical Society http://www.aps.org/apsnews

Philadelphia Hosts 2003 April Meeting APS Units, Members Get The APS heads to the city of brotherly love this month for the More Political 2003 APS Spring Meeting, April 5- By Pamela Zerbinos 8 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This year’s meeting is also the spring The APS Office of Public Affairs meeting of the APS Division of Par- (OPA) is responsible for the Society’s ticles and Fields (DPF). efforts to lobby Congress on behalf Astrophysics comprises a strong of the physical sciences. Recently, a component of the technical pro- sions, antimatter, quantum chaos, other APS prize recipients. Washington, DC, who will discuss growing number of individual APS gram, along with nuclear physics, gamma-ray bursts, and matter, Masatoshi Koshiba of the Interna- his pioneering role in the develop- members and units have begun par- plasma and computational phys- space and time at the energy fron- tional Center for Elementary Particle ment of x-ray astronomy, and ticipating in this effort, both within ics, particle physics, gravitation, tier. There will also be lectures on Physics in Tokyo—co-recipient with James York and Yvonne Choquet- OPA and by undertaking lobbying and precision measurement and recent Chandra observations of Ray Davis for their independent Bruhat, co-recipients of the 2003 on their own. fundamental constants. There are supernova remnants and young neutrino experiments —will be on Dannie Heinemann Prize. Finally, Last year, for example, the also nontechnical sessions on such neutron stars, as well as the out- hand to discuss the birth of the field Princeton’s John Wheeler, co- Division of Condensed Matter topics as physics education, inter- look for science done of neutrino astrophysics. He will be recipient of the 2003 Einstein Physics supported an additional APS national affairs, physics history, and underground, such as at the SNO joined by Riccardo Giacconi of As- Prize, will offer his thoughts on the Congressional Fellow to assist the physics and society. facility in Canada. sociated Universities, Inc., in See APRIL MEETING on page 6 lobbying efforts of the OPA. In keeping with the meeting’s Nobelly Yoursours. In addition to “The DCMP has felt that phys- tradition of emphasizing the unity being the subject of a plenary lec- Board Approves New Ethics ics in general needed more of physics, the technical program ture on SNO, solar neutrinos are lobbying in Congress,” said divi- will feature nine plenary lectures among the topics to be discussed sion chair Donald Gubser. “The providing a general overview of a during a special session with lec- Guidelines for Journals APS did have one fellow, but we broad range of topics. These will tures by the 2002 recipients of the By Pamela Zerbinos felt they were overworked and include mysteries of extra dimen- Nobel Prize in Physics, along with needed more help.” The DCMP Last year, in response to the Allegations usually involve paid for the fellow out of its own ethics violations that infected the plagiarism, duplicate submis- coffers for one year, and this year physics community, the APS modi- sions, referee misconduct, many of the other divisions have The Long and Short of It fied its guidelines for ethical and improper credit assignment, or chipped in to help cover the costs. professional conduct [see APS false or fabricated data. “Having two fellows has defi- News, January 2003; http:// “For some of those cases,” nitely made the office more than www.aps.org/apsnews/0103/ Blume said, “there is no way in twice as effective,” said APS 010301.html ]. At its February which we can carry out an appro- Executive Officer Judy Franz. meeting, the APS Executive Board priate investigation. For example, Gubser agrees, saying he has has taken the further step of ap- the fabrication of data. That’s the seen an increase in the efficacy of proving a revised set of guidelines sort of thing that is the responsi- the OPA, but also in the lobbying for the handling of allegations of See GUIDLINES on page 3 See POLITICAL on page 5 research misconduct related to the APS journals. “These have been in place for Lobbying on Capitol Hill some time,” said APS Editor-in- Chief Martin Blume, “but they have been sharpened up and made more explicit.” Because of the large number of articles that get submitted, it isn’t possible for APS to examine each for evidence of misconduct. In- stead, the Society relies on everyone involved in the editorial process to safeguard its integrity. “Before investigating,” Blume

PhotoCredit: Jessica Clark said, “we have to have some indica- tion from someone that something APS past President William Brinkman (right) hands the gavel, symbolic of the awesome power of the APS Presidency, to new APS President Myriam Sarachik at is wrong. That someone can be an the meeting of the Executive Board in College Park in February. editor, or it can be whoever’s read- ing the manuscript at an early stage.”

Photo Credit: Susan Ginsberg New Spanish Lab Manual Available for Physics Teachers Bob Behringer of Duke University (left) discusses science policy with Robert Gordon, Legislative Director for Senator John Edwards (D-NC) and Kathryn Marks, Policy Director for Senator Edwards. See story this page. Science teachers in Latin ish Royal Society of Physics. The at the Cuernavaca meeting. This America and Spanish-speaking new publication is called group gave very high priority to the educational districts in the U.S. Experimentos con Hilos y Cinta production of new teaching mate- now have an additional alternative Adhesiva (Experiments with String rials that described simple to the standard English physics and Sticky Tape), and 2500 copies experiments that teachers could do HHighlights texts published in the U.S., thanks have been printed. It is a transla- with their students. APS Executive to a joint translation project of the tion of “String and Sticky Tape Officer Judy Franz, who was part APS and the Mexican Physical So- Experiments”, edited by Ron Edge of this working group, agreed that ciety. This was first suggested at a and published by the American APS would work with the Mexican 5 meeting in Cuernavaca, Mexico in Association of Physics Teachers Physical Society to try to produce From Physics to Sci-Fi’s Rising Star The Back Page 1998 of representatives of South, (AAPT). useful materials in Spanish. Franz Catherin Asaro is a Central, and North American The project was discussed by and APS Director of Education and rising star among 8 An American Physicist physical societies and of the Span- the working group on education See SPANISH on page 6 science fiction authors. Visits Birzeit University 2 April 2003 NEWS

This Month in Physics History April 18, 1916: Langmuir Patents the Incandescent Lamp “The dark matter paradigm is tists should self-censor sensitive data, so bad that truly radical ideas, like Science, January 17, 2003 the breakdown of inverse-square ✶✶✶ Born in Brooklyn, New York, coiled tungsten wire radiated heat welding torch that produced a law at large distances, deserve “Amanda does what it is Irving Langmuir was encour- as if it were a solid rod. He sug- flame of such high temperature careful examination.” designed to do. Of all the high- aged by his parents from an early gested filling the bulbs with that it is still used for welding —Matt Visser, Victoria University, energy particles emitted from the age to be a careful observer of nitrogen (and later, argon) gas, and metals which are not affected by Wellington, New Zealand, the Guard- violent, energetic events in the nature, and to keep detailed twisting the filament into a spiral the standard oxyacetylene. His ian (London), February 13, 2003 Universe, only neutrinos can records. form to inhibit the vaporization of studies also offered the first clear ✶✶✶ directly provide information on He was also influenced by his tungsten. picture of thermionic emission: “We have laid the cornerstone these activities.” older brother, Arthur, a chem- His improved device, patented the flow of charged particles of a unified coherent theory of —Steven Barwick, UC Irvine, BBC ist, who helped Langmuir set up on April 18, 1916, soon made the from hot metals. the cosmos.” News, January 30, 2003 his first lab in the corner of his Nernst lamp and others like it vir- He was among the first to —Charles L. Bennett, Goddard ✶✶✶ bedroom. tually obsolete, and is the basis for work with plasmas, and actu- Space Flight Center, on the latest “The resistance of our school In 1892, the family moved to the design still used today. ally coined the term to describe measurement of the cosmic micro- systems to change is awesome and Paris. Upon returning to America, However, the work for which the aggregations of ionized gas wave background by WMAP, NY the shortage of physics teachers Langmuir graduated from the Langmuir is best know is his work with unusual electric and mag- Times, February 12, 2003 a major handicap.” Pratt Institute’s Manual Training in surface chemistry, as well as his netic properties. ✶✶✶ —Leon Lederman, Fermilab, on High School in Brooklyn and went elaboration on the theory of chemi- And he introduced the con- “We have a lot of Russians who revising the curriculum to teach on to earn a BS in metallurgical cal bonding in terms of electrons, cept of electron temperature have built parts. We rely on the physics first, Washington Post, engineering from the Colarado and invented the device Russians to upgrade and maintain January 28, 2003 School of Mines in 1903. to measure it: the ther- them. If they’re stranded in Rus- ✶✶✶ Langmuir attended graduate mionic probe. sia, they have to try to diagnose “I was a little disturbed to see school at Gottingen University, Furthermore, his re- it over the phone. But it’s like how deep the fear of math and working under Walter Nernst, search helped develop when your car has problems, you science was in them. It was clear who was both a theoretician and technology employed to need the experts on the spot.” that if we wanted to maintain tech- an inventor of the so-called win both World Wars: —John Womersley, Fermilab, on the nology, we would have to prepare “Nernst glower”, an electric lamp. submarine detection de- visa troubles of Russian scientists, Wall our youngsters.” Langmuir’s PhD in 1906 was vices during WWI, which Street Journal, January 20, 2003 —Usha Mallik, University of Iowa, granted for research done Langmuir later drew ✶✶✶ on the Family Adventures in Science using Nernst’s lamp, attempting to upon to improve the qual- “Snow is really very special. program, Iowa City Press-Citizen, determine what happened to vari- ity of sound recordings; The world would be a very differ- February 16, 2003 ous gases produced in the and the development of ent place if, whenever ice ✶✶✶ presence of a hot platinum protective smoke screens precipitated out of the atmo- “In pueblo life there is a cal- wire. This work laid the and methods for de-icing sphere, it took the form of some endar of the year that consists of groundwork for many of his aircraft wings. The latter kind of pellet other than snow.” a series of rituals that have to be later interests. research led to his work —Robert Sekerka, Carnegie Mellon done in a particular order and at He returned to the US to in the somewhat contro- University, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a particular time. They used teach chemistry at Stevens versial area of weather January 27, 2003 astronomy to set the sacred Institute of Technology in first expressed by control, using dry ice pellets and ✶✶✶ calendar with observations of the Hoboken, New Jersey. Gilbert Lewis. silver iodide crystals to seed “Would you like it to be found sun and the moon.” After spending the sum- In Lewis’s clouds. in a cave in Afghanistan with —Michael Zeilik, University of New mer of 1909 doing research model electrons Langmuir’s other interests sections highlighted in yellow?” Mexico, on the cultural roots of with the General Electric Irving formed stable encompassed far more than —Gerald Epstein, Institute for astronomy in New Mexico, Santa Fe Company in Schenectady, Langmuir groups of eight just science. Mount Langmuir Defense Analyses, on whether scien- New Mexican, February 24, 2003 New York, he accepted a po- at the corners of in Alaska is named after him; sition there as a researcher. The a cube. Langmuir proposed that he was a lifelong avid climber focus of his early research was these octets could be filled by shar- who climbed the Matterhorn I’m a Little Teapot... on the use of the lightbulb for ing pairs between two atoms: the and explored the Adirondacks. the study of gas at varying tem- “covalent” bond. He also flew airplanes, skied, An audience volunteer is peratures and pressures, similar In the area of surface chemis- skated, and once walked 52 lifted from the floor by an to his thesis research in try, he developed a new concept miles in one day. He was the sub- inflating balloon at the Con- Gottingen. adsorption, in which every ject of a 1999 documentary for ference for Physics on the His first project was to solve molecule striking a surface re- public television, “Langmuir’s Road held at Colorado State University in February. the problems the company was mains in contact with it before World,” directed by his grand- About fifty different univer- having with the new tungsten evaporating, thus forming a son, Roger Summerhayes. sities sent representatives to filament light bulbs: the lamps firmly held monolayer. And his association with GE share their experiences in would “blacken” or grow dim as He was awarded the Nobel colleague Bernard Vonnegut— taking physics on the road the inside of the bulb became Prize in chemistry in 1932 for this brother to novelist Kurt—led to by bringing demonstrations coated with evaporated tung- work, the first nonacademic chem- his being a model for a character and hands-on experiments sten. Based on his investigations ist to be so honored. in Vonnegut’s novel, Cat’s Cradle. into the schools. A highlight of the chemical reactions cata- Throughout his long, produc- Langmuir also contributed of the meeting was the open lyzed by the hot tungsten tive life, Langmuir made many the notion that there might be a house for “Little Shop of Physics” hosted by Brian filament, Langmuir found that other significant contributions in form of ice that remains crystal- Jones of CSU, featuring the presence of nitrogen slowed both physics and chemistry. line at room temperature, which about 300 exhibits and the evaporation process, and He discovered hydrogen in its Vonnegut dubbed “ice-nine.” demonstrations. The Confer- that thin filaments radiated heat atomic form, which led to the de- Langmuir died in Woods Hole, ence was sponsored by the faster than thick filaments, while velopment of an atomic hydrogen Massachusetts in 1957. APS, the AAPT, and the APS Photo Credit: Jessica Clark Forum on Education.

Series II, Vol. 12, No. 4 Membership Department, American Physical Society, Thomas McIlrath*, University of Maryland (emeritus) Physics), Ed Gerjuoy (Forum on Physics and Society), April 2003 One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844, Editor-in-Chief Timothy P. Lodge, (Polymer Physics), J. H. Eberly ©2003 The American Physical Society [email protected]. Martin Blume*, Brookhaven National Laboratory (Laser Science), G. Slade Cargill*, III (Materials), NEWS For Nonmembers—Circulation and Fulfillment Past-President Bunny C. Clark (Nuclear), Sally Dawson, Peter Meyers Division, American Institute of Physics, Suite 1NO1, 2 William F. Brinkman*, Bell Labs-Lucent Technologies (retired) (Particles & Fields), Stephen Holmes (Physics of Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 Huntington Quadrangle, Melville, NY 11747-4502. General Councillors Beams), James Drake (Plasma), Gian Vidali, (New Allow at least 6 weeks advance notice. For address Jonathan A. Bagger*, Janet Conrad, Stuart Freedman*, Frances York Section), Joe Hamilton (Southeast Section) Editor ...... Alan Chodos changes, please send both the old and new addresses, Houle, Gerald Mahan, Margaret Murnane*, Cherry Ann Associate Editor ...... Jennifer Ouellette and, if possible, include a mailing label from a recent Murray*, Philip Phillips*, Laura Smoliar, Jin-Joo Song ADVISORS Special Publications Manager ...... Elizabeth Buchan-Higgins issue. Requests from subscribers for missing issues will Representatives from Other Societies Design and Production ...... Stephanie Jankowski be honored without charge only if received within 6 International Councillor Charles H. Holbrow, AAPT; Marc Brodsky, AIP Forefronts Editor ...... Neville Connell months of the issue’s actual date of publication. Periodical T. Maurice Rice Postage Paid at College Park, MD and at additional mailing International Advisors Proofreader ...... Edward Lee offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to APS News, Chair, Nominating Committee Héctor O. Murrieta Sánchez, Mexican Physical Society, APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published 11X The APS reserves the right to select and to edit for length Membership Department, American Physical Society, Susan Seestrom W. J. McDonald, Canadian Association of Physicists yearly, monthly, except the August/September issue, or clarity. All correspondence regarding APS News should One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844. by the American Physical Society, One Physics be directed to: Editor, APS News, One Physics Ellipse, Chair, Panel on Public Affairs Staff Representatives Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844, (301) 209- College Park, MD 20749-3844, E-mail: [email protected]. APS COUNCIL 2003 John Ahearne Alan Chodos, Associate Executive Officer; Irving Lerch, 3200. It contains news of the Society and of its President Director of International Affairs; Fredrick Stein, Director Divisions, Topical Groups, Sections and Forums; Subscriptions: APS News is an on-membership Myriam P. Sarachik*, City College of New York - CUNY Division, Forum and Section Councillors of Education and Outreach; Robert L. Park, Director, advance information on meetings of the Society; publication delivered by Periodical Mail. Members President-Elect Kate Kirby (Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics), Robert Public Information; Michael Lubell, Director, Public and reports to the Society by its committees and residing abroad may receive airfreight delivery for a fee Helen R. Quinn*, Stanford University (SLAC) Eisenberg (Biological), Sylvia Ceyer (Chemical), Allen Affairs; Stanley Brown, Editorial Director; Charles task forces, as well as opinions. of $15. Nonmembers: Subscription rates are available Vice-President Goldman* (Condensed Matter Physics), Steven White Muller, Director, Journal Operations; Michael Stephens, at http://librarians.aps.org/institutional.html. Marvin L. Cohen*, University of California, Berkeley (Computational), Harry Swinney (Fluid Dynamics), Peter Controller and Assistant Treasurer Letters to the editor are welcomed from the Executive Officer Zimmerman (Forum on Education), Stuart Wolf (Forum on membership. Letters must be signed and should Subscription orders, renewals and address changes Judy R. Franz*, University of Alabama, Huntsville (on leave) Industrial and Applied Physics),Gloria Lubkin (Forum on Administrator for Governing Committees include an address and daytime telephone number. should be addressed as follows: For APS Members— Treasurer History of Physics), James Vary (Forum on International Ken Cole * Members of the APS Executive Board NEWS April 2003 3

Number Five Unified Approach for Molecular Dynamics and Density Functional Theory, (R. Car and M. Parrinello, Phys. Rev. Lett. 55 (1985), 2471), 2819 citations

This is the sixth in a series of ciently model the phase transition do this enormous range of appli- and the other is that water is a sol- lems. That’s probably my greatest articles by James Riordon. The via ab-initio molecular dynamics. cations.” vent for many chemical reactions, virtue. To move from one subject to first article appeared in the Density functional theory allowed “I think what was very good,” for electrochemistry. And water is the other to face various new chal- November 2002 issue. The them to replace the many-body says Parrinello, “was Roberto had of course necessary for life, so we lenges. It’s important because often articles will be archived under electronic structure problem with the background in electronic struc- are trying to build toward biophys- people don’t move because of fear. “Special Features” on the APS an effective single particle prob- ture theory, and my background ics and biochemistry. So that’s why I’m always growing, as it were. I didn’t News online web site. lem. To put it somewhat was more on the side of molecular we are focused on water, because start like that, but growing and hav- simplistically, once they calculated dynamics and statistical mechan- it is such an important substance ing success with this paper and a a three-dimensional electron den- ics, and we could talk well to each for life,” says Parrinello. couple of other things gave me cour- “It was like a short blanket,” says sity, they could determine how the other. Once we decided to start In recent years, Car has broad- age to face the world.” Michele Parrinello as he explains molecules would respond to the with exploring the possibility of cal- ened his research to include such Parrinello is now Director of the the hodgepodge of theoretical distribution. The new molecular culating things abinitio it all went things as modeling electronic cur- Swiss Center for Scientific Com- methods available in the early ’80s arrangement would lead to a new very fast. I mean, the code and the rent in nanostructures, in addition puting and Professor of for describing the respective crys- electron density, and so on. In hind- first results came in a few months.” to his continuing work on extend- Computational Science at the Swiss talline and liquid phases of silicon. sight, the algorithm seems fairly The Car-Parrinello algorithm is ing the Car-Parrinello algorithm. Federal Institute of Technology in “You know, you pull it over your straightforward, but as Car points now a standard tool in condensed But regardless of the particular Zurich. Car is a professor in the head and your feet stick out in the out, “It was at that time considered matter physics, but it has perhaps problem he is addressing, Car feels Chemistry department and at the cold, and vice versa.” At the time, simply not possible to use that kind been even more useful in other dis- that he is still benefiting from the Princeton Materials Institute is Parrinello was a professor at the of theory to base a real molecular ciplines—a fact that is reflected in collaboration with Parrinello. “The affiliated with the Physics depart- International School for Advanced dynamics simulation.” the many awards that the two have way we approached the problem ment and the program in applied Studies (SISSA) in Trieste, with an The unified scheme combining garnered. Although Parrinello and when we came out with the Car- math. The two researchers have interest in the phase transition of molecular dynamics and density Car shared the 1995 APS Rahman Parrinello approach has given a not worked together since their melting silicon. “It was a popular functional theory, commonly called Prize for Computational Physics, permanent inspiration to all my brief collaboration on the Car- subject at the time,” continues the Car-Parrinello algorithm, ulti- says Parrinello, “I personally re- subsequent activity,” says Car. It has Parrinello algorithm, but they Parrinello, “Silicon is a semicon- mately turned out to provide ceive more recognition from the also opened his eyes to problems continue to share awards for their ductor. It is well known in the plenty of blanket to keep the chemists than from the physicists. that he might not otherwise have method and maintain a strong per- crystalline phase. And when you researchers’ toes and ears simul- I don’t have training as a chemist, recognized. “When you make some sonal bond. “We are brotherly melt it, which happens at about taneously warm, so to speak. “We but most of my papers tend to go important progress in one field, friends on very good terms,” says 1700k, it goes into a metallic state. had this idea that it could be use- into chemical journals.” this always make you think more Parrinello, “but the dynamics of People were trying very hard to ful in a variety of contexts,” says Both researchers have pub- deeply about fundamental prob- life have taken us to different parts devise potentials that would be suit- Parrinello, “but what is amazing is lished dozens of papers extending lems,” Car explains, “and you of the world and different inter- able for the solid state phase and that same code—without chang- their algorithm to new regimes, in- inevitably discover that in spite of ests.” And neither they nor the for the liquid state phase.” ing anything but the atomic cluding the biological sciences. your progress you did not solve all countless scientists who apply the Parrinello and SISSA colleague number—can model ionic sys- Parrinello is particularly interested of them.” algorithm must suffer with the Roberto Car decided that computer tems, semiconductors, metals, in studying the nuances of water. Parrinello has experienced simi- short blanket that once hampered technology had advanced suffi- hydrogen bonds, water, hydrogen “Water is interesting for two rea- lar benefits from the highly-cited studies of the molecular dynamics ciently that they might be able to fluoride, protein. You see what I sons; first it’s a very subtle system work. “I’ve not been afraid of new of condensed matter phase tran- devise a number of tricks to effi- mean? It is the same code that can so it’s a challenge for the theory, things and new areas and new prob- sitions.

GUIDELINES from page 1

bility of the institution. said. “But if somebody makes an “In some cases, the institution accusation, they have to expect might be unwilling or unable to that accusation and the name of carry out an investigation, and the individual making it will ulti- then it comes back to [the APS].” mately find its way to the Putting Astronomical Budget Numbers in Perspective This happens primarily because accused.” of the international nature of the Blume said he hopes the new Physics professors William 3. The list price of a 2003 Hum- war, and buy all of Iraq’s oil with APS journals and the fact that guidelines, which were discussed Franz and George Spagna have mer H2 is $48,000. Therefore, for about a year and a half’s worth of there are no international stan- at the February 8 Executive Board found an unusual use for the bud- a modest investment of $2.23 tril- federal spending. dards for conduct of research or meeting, are only the beginning. get proposal President George W. lion, we could instead buy 46 6. A single grain of sugar is a for institutional response to “The journals need to have Bush sent to Congress in early million brand new Hummers to cube approximately 0.25 millime- allegations. uniform policies on this,” he said. February. They devised 14 real- help ease transportation problems. ters on a side, with a volume of 1.6 “In other cases where we have Blume, who chairs the Interna- world analogies to make the $2.23 4. If one pizza is about $10, x 1011 cubic meters. 2.23 trillion to do the primary research,” Blume tional Union of Pure and Applied trillion dollar total more under- then $2.23 trillion converts to 2.23 grains of sugar then have a vol- said, “such as cases involving Physics’ Working Group on Com- standable to their students at x 1011 pizzas. As of April 1, 2000 ume of about 35 cubic meters — plagiarism or referee misconduct, munication in Physics, has just Randolph-Macon College in census, the US population was a cube about 10-1/2 feet on a side. ultimately the punishment is our in- received IUPAP’s approval to Ashland, Virginia. 281,421,906. This comes to 711 7. Using the same size for sugar forming the institution of that have an international gathering 1. A single Sacajawea dollar coin pizzas per person. If we fudge on grains, a five-pound bag of sugar misconduct.” APS also carries out of journal editors and publishers has a mass of 8 grams. Therefore the price of the pizza and correct contains about 225 million grains. the main investigation in cases of to discuss how journals can work 2.23 trillion of them would weigh for the change in population since If the entire federal budget were duplicate submission. together to facilitate better han- 1.96 x 107 tons. The battleship 2000, we could get an answer of spent on that single bag, it would “The primary point,” Blume said, dling of allegations. Missouri weighs 58,000 tons, fully 730 pizzas per person — twice the be about $10,000 per grain of “is that when an allegation is made, “I hope that journals will rec- outfitted. Therefore, the federal number of days in a year. There- sugar. we must do something about it. But ognize that we have reason to budget, if cashed into Sacajawea fore, the US government, instead 8. There are about 100 billion we’re rather like a district attorney’s take common cause in this,” dollars would weigh the equivalent of spending its $2.23 trillion as the stars in our Galaxy. The federal office. We may decline to prosecute Blume said. “One example is, of 339 full-sized battleships. President recommends, could sat- budget could buy the entire Milky if we don’t find sufficient evidence when there is suspicion of pla- 2. If President Bush (L = 1.8 m) isfy hunger in the nation by Way Galaxy for about $23 per star. to do so.” giarism. The journal from which were laid end to end 2.23 trillion ordering two pizzas for every man, Similarly there are about 100 bil- The new guidelines are careful the article is plagiarized ought to times, the distance would be 4.01 x woman and child in the US every lion galaxies in the observable to respect the rights of the accused, be notified and they should work 1012 meters. The distance from the day for the entire fiscal year. university. With the federal bud- and if the APS doesn’t find evidence together.” earth to the sun is 1.50 x 1011 5. Proven reserves of Iraqi oil get, you could buy the entire thing of misconduct, the institution won’t Blume does not expect this meters. So if Bush were laid end to are estimated at 112 billion barrels. for $23 per galaxy. be informed. meeting to be held until late this end 2 trillion times, he would At today’s prices of $31 per barrel, 9. The Apollo program which “We’re not going to an institu- year or possibly next year, but he stretch to the sun and back 13 Iraq’s net worth of oil is $3.47 tril- sent American astronauts to the tion if somebody makes a said that the APS procedures might times, although he might choose to lion. We could just skip spending Moon cost a total of about $40 pie-in-the-sky accusation,” Blume be refined once it takes place. do this at night, when it’s cooler. on other things, skip the potential See ZERO GRAVITY on page 4 4 April 2003 NEWS LETTERS

Forgotten Works and the Fragmentation of Physics Article Overstates Earth’s Field

That Alpher and Herman’s work was later awarded the Nobel University of Illinois in Urbana, I was very interested in reading above this “...a much weaker or- predicting the cosmic microwave Prize for what has since become where we could ask Fred Seitz your article of “Physics News in thogonal measuring field of 5mT” background is often forgotten an active field of research. His ex- about the Mossbauer paper. Fred’s 2002.” Thank you for putting for- is incorrect too. My guess is 5 (APS News Letters October 2002) perimental result was clearly first response was: “Who is this fel- ward this excellent section. microT. is not surprising. This happens all understandable from already- low Mossbauer? On page 6 under the subtitle of Dexin Wang the time. What is more surprising published theoretical papers, Does anybody know him? Is he “Microtesla nuclear magnetic reso- Eden Prairie, MN is the rediscovery of their predic- particularly a paper by Willis reliable? Give me a few days to nance” the statement that the Ed Note: The writer is correct on tion by Bob Dicke in seeing a signal Lamb on neutron absorption in think about it.” A few day later he Earth’s field is roughly 50mT is in- both counts. The Greek letter mu was in the noise discovered by Penzias crystals. But my generation had told me: “This work is perfectly all correct. It is well known that the erroneously transcribed as an English and Wilson and making the con- already fragmented into nuclear right. But when I first saw it I was Earth’s field is about 0.5 Gs or 50 m. For interested readers, the article nection with the cosmic and solid state physicists who did sure it was completely crazy.” microT, not 50 milliT. on which this item was based is: microwave background. In this not talk to one another. Several Trying to understand why Fred It might be possible that the line Science 295, 102 (2002). year which mourns the departure groups of nuclear physicists were thought it was crazy enabled me of Viki Weisskopf and celebrates so sure that the experiment must to learn a great deal as I penetrated Bohrs’ Reaction Logical the 100th anniversary of the birth be wrong that they repeated an the barrier between nuclear and of Eugene Wigner we see that already-published experiment solid state physics. I found that one With regard to the letter from, Perhaps Heisenberg sincerely physicists like Dicke who can see which was clearly consistent with can make a fruitful career by dis- Klaus Gottstein in the February (if terribly naively) actually be- beyond the limits of their own spe- already-published theory, ob- covering nothing new and only 2003 APS News: At the risk of bela- lieved that this argument would cialties are disappearing. tained exactly the same result, acting as an interpreter between boring the obvious, may I suggest appeal to Bohr. If he actually be- I saw symptoms of this dis- and published it as original re- different groups of physicists who that Bohr’s reaction to Heisenberg’s lieved that, it is simply another ease back in 1958 with the search. do not talk to one another. “involved language” regarding example of why a great physicist’s publication of Rudolf I was a nuclear physicist at that Harry J. Lipkin their now-famous meeting in views about topics outside his or Mossbauer’s first paper which time, but was fortunately at the Rehovot, Israel Copenhagen—granting that her field of expertise can readily Heisenberg’s 25-years-after-the- be discounted. fact explanation was sincere—is A less charitable interpretation Is the Universe Trying to Tell Us Something? the only logical reaction possible. would be that Heisenberg may The head of the Nazi atomic have consciously ignored his own bomb project, at a time when many interest in the matter at the time people still believed that the Nazi’s and, long after the fact, could still would win the war, tries to suggest not accept the unequal position that both sides abstain from pur- he was in vis-a-vis Bohr at the suing this ultimate weapon. Who time. has the most to gain from such an Robert A. Myers absurd (at the time) proposition? New York, New York

ZERO GRAVITY from page 3 billion. The proposed budget is 13. Using values cited above equivalent to about 56 Apollo pro- for the mass of a Sacajawea dol- grams. lar and the US population, each 10. Round trip business rate air- individual’s share of the budget fare from Richmond, Virginia, to is $7936, which would have a the West Coast is about $1100. You mass of 63.5 kilograms and weigh could purchase about 2 billion about 140 pounds in Sacajawea Stephane Coutu of Pennsylvania State University has uncovered the true meaning of the Cosmic round-trip tickets, not counting dollars. Microwave Batground. frequent flyer miles. 14. Cell phone minutes cost 11. A year is approximately 31.5 about 10 cents each. A $2.23 tril- million seconds. The proposed lion cell phone call that you hang federal budget spends money at the up from today would have been rate of $71,000 per second. placed about 42 million years ago 12. The universe is approxi- during the Eocene Epoch, probably mately 14 billion years old. by one of the first modern mam- What I Learned Looking for A Job Accordingly, if we wish to appear mals to walk the earth. Calling more frugal, we could spend at the 10-10-220, rates drop to 7 cents a By Jenny Magnes rate of about $160 per year since minute, and the call could have A job search is a tedious and as early as possible through may get in the way of progress. the Big Bang. been placed by a dinosaur. time-consuming process for the career fairs, conferences and in- In my opinion, undergraduate future employee as well as the em- ternships. The Optical Society of and graduate physics education ployer. The process is essentially a America has already started a need some revisions geared to- learning experience. One collects mentorship program that may wards producing better A PARCful of Fellows information about companies, uni- not only help with making con- communicators and team players. versities, laboratories, etc. There nections, but also with giving Team spirit would certainly make are many internet sites that allow feedback to the students on what us much more marketable. one to do job searches and post a their capabilities are and where Finally, it is imperative not to resume, but nobody I know has improvement is needed. rule out potential employment as ever received a reply to any post- Evaluating a student’s capabili- absurd when not too much infor- ing or resume via the web. Most ties is critical. A professional may mation is known about the correspondence, job offers and in- know what jobs a graduate is quali- employer or the job. For example, terviews that I received were after fied for, avoiding the waste of time many studious physicists may shy personal encounters, or through applying for employment with a away from positions in the mili- someone I knew personally. Is this mismatch in qualifications. Employ- tary based on reputation or movie because one can only find a job ment centers in universities are stereotypes. My advice is to go through “friends”? I don’t think so. many times not good evaluators. to the source and find out what If I were an employer, I would want I would also like to mention an employer is all about. to hire someone who was compe- that while most physicists are cer- I hope that this assessment of Photo Credit: Darlene Logan tent, approachable, hard-working, tainly in command regarding my recent experiences is of some and pleasantly collegial. Only one their subject, scientists are not help. Perhaps it will initiate more Three APS Fellows from the Palo Alto Research Center are shown of these characteristics can be ex- necessarily well-trained at pre- interactions between employers enjoying the Fellows reception held in February at the Faculty Club at the University of California, Berkeley. Left to right they are John tracted from a resume. The best senting their knowledge or and future employees. Employers Northrup, Noble Johnson, and Chris Van de Walle. The event, at- way to assess if somebody is a communicating in general. Espe- also benefit from partnerships tended by about 100 Fellows from the Bay Area, was hosted by match for a position is to get to cially during their coursework, with universities, since it would George Trilling, and the program was chaired by APS President know him or her personally, but students tend to work in small provide better matches for hir- Myriam Sarachik. The Fellows heard from APS Executive Officer that takes time. vacuums, a very slow and expen- ing instead of firing. Judy Franz, Director of Public Affairs Michael Lubell and Director of Future graduates should sive way to make progress. Also, Jenny Magnes is a graduate stu- Education and Outreach Fred Stein. make professional connections the pride of giving up some ideas dent at Temple University. NEWS April 2003 5

From Physics to Sci-Fi’s Rising Star

Former physics professor The solution Asaro found was Chatting with Little Green Men Catherine Asaro is a rising star a mathematical trick involving by Anne Applebaum among science fiction authors. imaginary numbers. Her books range from “hard” “It’s as if you’re traveling in the I have just cloned a baby. CNN: When would The public is no science fiction, with scientific plot complex plane,” she explains, “It’s ac- To be precise, I found some those tests take place better prepared for devices and premises laid out in tually kind of simple, and it’s pretty.” sticks and stones in my back yard, involving the second the next wave of intricate detail, to softer science In fact, discovery of the trick led Asaro crushed them with my coffee baby? genetic break- fiction novels that use futuristic to publish a paper in the American grinder, threw them in a cauldron BOISSELIER: I throughs, or indeed technology as a kind of backdrop Journal of Physics entitled “Complex and added eye of newt and toe of wish I could give you for any scientific to character-driven plots. Speeds and Special Relativity,” (Am. J. frog. Then I boiled everything a date, but what I’m breakthroughs. The Arguably, her best work includes Phys, 64 (4), April 1996, 421). down, nurtured it for nine months telling you is that I am emergence of the new a substantial dose of hard science Like her novels, Asaro’s per- in a test tube and—Voil”!—a the one pushing for interdisciplinary field fiction in addition to well-developed, sonal life is a successful blend of cloned baby. this to happen and I’m of bioethics won’t interpersonal relationships. traits that at first might seem I would now like to be inter- pushing hard. But at Anne Applebaum solve the problem In fact, the characters in her mutually exclusive. viewed simultaneously on ABC, NBC, the same time, I am a either. If the public science fiction books occasionally She initially had aspirations to CBS, CNN and Fox, please, so that I human being and a mother and I needs “experts” in order to distin- have relationships that are, to say be a professional dancer, and can hawk my book about cloning don’t want these parents to be— guish between a space alien cult the least, steamy. began college as a dance major. But and make a million dollars to sup- to have their lives completely de- and a legitimate scientific institute, “Traditionally, you couldn’t she had always been fond of sci- port my future scientific research. stroyed by that, so I’m careful. then the problem lies elsewhere. write intimate scenes in science fic- ence and math, attributing her You don’t take me seriously? Indeed, there was something tion. You just turned the lights out,” interest in science in part to her Why not? The Raelians, a cult Now the journalist charged by disturbing about the sight of the says Asaro. “Well, you don’t have father Frank Asaro, a highly whose leader claims to communi- the Raelians with the task of bioethicists—grown-ups, with to turn the lights out anymore.” respected chemist at Lawrence Ber- cate with extraterrestrials, whose confirming their claims has discov- advanced degrees—being hauled A few well-lit boudoir scenes cer- keley Laboratory. Web site features pictures of flying ered—surprise!—that it all may be out last weekend to explain, tainly haven’t hurt her book sales. She eventually completed a PhD saucers and whose members an elaborate hoax. Or perhaps it’s patiently, what was wrong with the Asaro’s novels and short in chemical physics at Harvard, believe that human beings are all an elaborate lesson about how Raelian theory of alien cloning. stories seem to appeal to both hard- although along the way she clones of space aliens, received ut- little the media—and everyone There is no substitute for core science fiction fans and to founded two performance com- terly serious treatment when they else—know about science these knowledge, nothing that can romance fiction fans. panies, the Mainly Jazz claimed to have cloned two babies. days, and how easily, therefore, we replace scientific literacy. Scientists In 2001 Asaro Dancers and the The Washington Post published are gulled into reporting and read- need to bend over backward to received the Nebula Harvard University a photograph of the group’s lead- ing non-stories as if they had some explain their work in whatever Award, one of science Ballet and served as ar- ing “scientist,” one Brigitte scientific, social or any other kind ways they can. Given the gap that fiction’s most presti- tistic director for both Boisselier, on its front page. of validity. has developed between the aver- gious prizes, for Quantum groups. Asaro now Leading scientists—real scien- But the ludicrously straight age graduate of a high school Rose, even though it is lives in the Maryland tists, at real universities—were treatment of the Raelians is only chemistry class and the average one of her softer sci- suburbs with her hus- asked for their reactions by lead- half the story. genetic scientist, it may also be time ence fiction works. band John, a NASA ing newspapers and, unsmilingly, The other half is the shock and to broaden what we mean by “lib- Asaro enjoys ex- astrophysicist, and her gave them. CNN, like many other consternation caused when actual eral arts education” to include ploring the details of daughter Catherine. television stations, aired a long, scientific achievements are sprung more science—a lot more science. the scientific elements More information, including a bib- deadly earnest interview with on a totally unprepared public. People should not be allowed in her stories. Many liography, book excerpts, and Boisselier. The appearance of Dolly, the first to graduate from college—or to of her books docu- upcoming public appearances, is cloned sheep, was a perfect conduct television interviews— ment the adventures of various available on her website www.sff.net/ Here’s an excerpt: example. None of the hundreds of unless they feel intuitive skepticism members of the Ruby Dynasty, who people/asaro. CNN: What has happened to experiments that led up to her about a group whose leader has rule the galactic Skolian Empire. Editor’s NoteNote: The above was the independent lab tests that were birth had caused much comment. close personal ties to little green “You can’t have a galactic featured in January on Physics Cen- supposed to be conducted . . . when No one, aside from the men from outer space. empire without a way to go faster tral [www.physicscentral.com], the you announced the findings of this cognoscenti, perused the scientific Anne Applebaum is a reporter with than the speed of light,” says Asaro. public outreach web site of the APS. alleged first birth? journals that described them. the Washington Post. The above “So I wanted to come up with a For more profiles, cutting-edge BOISSELIER: So those tests have The result: shock, horror and appeared in the January 8, 2003 edi- believable way to do it, even if it’s research topics, and other fun features, been postponed. They are still pos- demands for congressional action tion of the newspaper. Reprinted with not physically possible.” access the web site regularly. sible and I hope they will happen. . . —and expect more of the same. permission.

POLITICAL from page 1 efforts of the members of DCMP. rently in the process of setting up a will head off some of the bad feel- tatives to come to Washington one Increase funding for the physical “Members come a day early telephone and e-mail tree that will ings that arise when people go to day early to do some lobbying. Of sciences, and support H.R. 34. almost every time they come [to Wash- assign each congressional represen- Congress and just push their pet the 65 participants in the Convo- “Everyone was very enthusiastic ington],” he said, “they write letters at tative a DPF member from their project. The message gets too frag- cation, 26 accepted the invitation. and interested in what we had to say,” APS meetings, and this is pushed by district. Some congressmen, such as mented that way.” The participants made their own said Anne Cattla, chair-elect of the our Congressional fellow.” members of key appropriations com- This doesn’t mean Carithers ad- appointments to see their represen- Forum for Graduate Student Affairs. Other units have taken a differ- mittees, will have multiple DPF vocates totally ignoring pet projects, tatives (it’s much easier for a Cattla spoke with representatives ent approach and started to do their members assigned to them. however. constituent to make an appointment from her home state of Kansas. own lobbying. “Basically, we want to make sure “The strategy is,” he said, “if than it is for APS to get one), and “I’d never lobbied before,” Cattla “This all got started about two that every member is covered and your tier-one message is well-re- attended an hour-long crash course said, “because I didn’t think anyone years ago,” said William Carithers, that key members receive a full- ceived, you follow up and say, ‘By on lobbying given by the OPA staff. would listen. But I read a lot of news- vice-chair of the Division of Particles court press,” Carithers said. When the way, I work in the field of high “We spent lots of time talking papers and I’m aware of what’s going and Fields. “We set up a group to there is a key issue before Con- energy physics and we’re on the about how to have a successful on and I’m always talking about what step back and take a look at what gress, such as H.R. 34, which verge of doing incredible things like meeting,” said Susan Ginsberg, the I think about these things. When I the DPF was doing, how we could proposes to increase the budget of discovering supersymmetric part- congressional fellow who led the heard about this [lobbying event], I better serve our membership and the Department of Energy’s Office ners and extra dimensions, but course. “You start with the ‘Asks,’ decided I should stand up for what I the field, and what new initiatives of Science, the DPF members are we’re being held back by a lack of what you want them to do for you. believe is important.” could be useful.” supposed to call their appointed funding.’ If you’re still getting a Their time is extremely valuable, so Based on their experiences, Cattla Two standing DPF subcommit- representatives and urge support sympathetic response, then you go it’s critically important to get this and Behringer both said they plan to tees came out of those meetings: the of the measure. on to tier three programs, key ini- out of the way first and front-load do more lobbying in the future, and Education and Outreach committee, They use what Carithers calls the tiatives within the discipline like your requests.” Cattla hopes to convince members and the Government Liaison com- “three-tier method, which is not improving accelerator R&D. That’s “It was a very positive and of the FGSA to join her. mittee, which Carithers now chairs. quite as original as we first thought.” where your pet projects come in, worthwhile experience,” said Rob- “It definitely has a nontrivial im- “Initially,” Carithers said, “we The tier-one message is the most but you only get there after you’ve ert Behringer of Duke University. pact,” Behringer said. “By the time thought more in terms of the educa- important and the broadest, and it’s talked about tier one and tier two.” After the crash course, Behringer a given office gets ten to 20 letters tional aspect, of just making sure the the one representatives should hear The OPA supports this ap- visited the offices of Sen. John or phone calls, they start to take congress and state government were first. It’s also very simple: Increase proach, and has been encouraging Edwards and Rep. Robin Hayes, notice.” aware of the issues in our field. But funding for the physical sciences. individual Society members to get both from North Carolina, and “They’re very happy to hear from we came to the conclusion that ap- “It’s something that all the physi- involved with lobbying represen- went along for moral support to their constituents,” said Cattla. “One proach was not going to be effective cal sciences professional societies tatives from their home districts. the offices of Reps. John Boozman of the aides had spoken to people enough, and that what was required can get behind,” Carithers said. “This For this year’s Unit Convocation, (R-Ark.) and John Peterson (R-Pa.). from the APS before, but they’d never was more traditional lobbying.” way, over and over, Congress will which took place on February 1, The lobbyists’ key message was spoken to someone from Kansas. It To that end, the committee is cur- hear this message first. Hopefully, this the OPA invited the unit represen- the same as DPF’s tier-one message: made a big difference.” 6 April 2003 NEWS

APRIL MEETING from page 1 origin of spacetime. [Session B6] dark energy component. The next detector; instead the impacts of neu- Franklin Institute Sunday night Never Enough NeutrinosNeutrinos. Pro- generation SNAP will determine the trinos are measured by an orbiting (See events side-bar), entitled “Ben viding some historical context to the dark energy density and equation of April Meeting satellite looking back down at the ice. Franklin’s Scientific Amusements”. topic of solar neutrinos, Allan state. Currently under construction The next generation of AMANDA will In addition, a Saturday afternoon Franklin (University of Colorado) is the Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Special Events be used to search the skies for gamma session explores innovative ways will discuss early experiments that Telescope (GLAST), a satellite-based ray bursts. [Session P9] to use science history and biogra- Friday, April 4 led to the “solar neutrino problem”: experiment to measure the cosmic Demining DetectivesDetectives. Antiper- phy to bring physics to life in the Student Reception the fact that the observed number gamma-ray flux in the energy range sonnel landmines left over from classroom. [Sessions P1, C4] 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm of solar neutrinos was far less than of 20 MeV to 300 GeV. Slated to previous conflicts cause a great deal Cultural DichotomyDichotomy. The predicted by the Standard Solar launch in 2006, GLAST is expected of human suffering, and while the recently reissued (2000) biogra- Saturday, April 5 Model. John Bahcall (Institute for to open a new window on high issue has only recently received sig- phy of I.I. Rabi—Rabi: Scientist and Meet the PR and PRL Advanced Study) will provide the energy phenomena, including nificant public exposure, the US has Citizen, by John Rigden— Editors theoretical perspective, while supermassive black holes, active been investing in research to detect includes a footnote recounting a 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Kenneth Lande (University of Penn- galactic nuclei, gamma-ray bursts, and defuse landmines since World visit by novelist C.P. Snow at the Welcome Reception sylvania) will discuss the history of supernova remnants, and cosmic War II. [Earlier this year, the APS Coun- Rabi home in New York City, dur- 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm the Homestake Chlorine Solar Neu- ray acceleration, as well as search cil approved the commission of a study ing which Snow reportedly told trino Detector. Other speakers will for such new phenomena as on humanitarian demining provided fund- Rabi’s son that his father was the Sunday, April 6 describe current experiments with supersymmetric dark matter anni- ing can be obtained; see APS NEWS, man who gave him the idea for his Awards Program radiochemical gallium, and the hilations and big bang particle relics. January 2003.] seminal work, The Two Cultures. 5:15 pm - 6:45 pm Kamioka experiments. [Session T2] [Session U12] In a Saturday afternoon session, Michael Day of Lebanon Public Lecture The Future of Particle PhysicsPhysics. Shaping a New Identity? Trig- speakers will provide an overview Valley College in Annville, Penn- At the Franklin Institute The DPF will be sponsoring a Mon- gered by state-of-the-art nuclear of the topic, covering approaches sylvania, has studied the Ben Franklin’s Scientific day afternoon session at the physics experiments at Virginia’s aimed at detecting the casing of chronology of events, Rabi’s pub- Amusements University of Pennsylvania as part Jefferson Lab, the University of landmines, and those aimed at lished and unpublished works, 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm of its meeting program, exploring the Mainz, and the MIT-Bates Linear directly detecting the explosive and his correspondence with future of particle physics. Noted Accelerator facility, physicists are contents. Some techniques to be Snow to build a strong case for theorist Edward Witten (Institute for revising basic assumptions about the discussed include electromagnetic the truth of this assertion. He will Advanced Study) will be on hand to proton and neutron. According to key piece of information that will induction, acoustics, ground prob- present his findings in a Sunday discuss theory and the future, while some nuclear theorists, the data pro- point scientists toward the cause for ing radar, trace explosive vapor morning session, providing an Peter Meyers (Princeton University) vide evidence that the proton is not this violation of charge symmetry. detection, and nuclear quadrupole overview of Rabi’s views on science will give an overview of the next 20 always spherically shaped but can [Session C3] resonance. and society and the mutual influ- months to 20 years of neutrino regularly assume different shapes. Speed of GravityGravity. A recent con- For example, Caltech’s Nathan ence between Rabi and Snow. oscillation experiments. Homer Neal Gerald Miller (University of Wash- troversial measurement claimed to Lewis will describe recent results [Session H8] (University of Michigan) will cover ington) will display pictures that measure the speed of gravity by look- in exploiting vapor detection tech- Test Your Physics IQIQ. Piquing the status and planned capabilities show that the shape of the proton ing at the gravitational lensing of a nology to make a low power, low the interest of apathetic non-phys- of the Large Hadron Collider cur- can vary from a pancake to a peanut star by Jupiter. While there is no cost “electronic nose”, while Surajit ics majors requires innovative rently under construction at CERN, to a sphere. Miller has also devel- doubt that this is an impressive Sen (SUNY-Buffalo) will describe educational approaches. The Uni- and Michael Turner (University of oped a new relativistic model of the experiment, the interpretation of the efforts to apply impulse-based im- versity of Maryland’s Richard Berg Chicago) will summarize recent neutron. Agreeing with recent Jlab claim that the speed of gravity can aging to detect and image small has created a distinctive approach exciting discoveries on the compo- data, the model shows that part of be extracted from the results is con- nonmetallic mines. [Session C2] to piquing student interest: a phys- sition of the universe and remaining the time, a neutron is actually a pro- troversial. Clifford Will of Vintage FranklinFranklin. Distinguished ics IQ test. Assembled throngs vote critical questions to be answered in ton surrounded by a negatively Washington University in St. Louis, a Founding Father Benjamin Franklin on the outcomes of “brain-teaser” the 21st century. [Session R15] charged pion. Other speakers will leading expert in gravitational phys- is also America’s earliest model of type physics questions, which are Dark Energy is a SNAPSNAP. In the discuss these new experiments and ics, will present his analysis of the the “civic scientist,” according to then answered by performing a face of mounting evidence that the theories. [Session B3] problem, which indicates that the Neal Lane (Rice University), one of demonstration experiment. universe is accelerating, theoretical Weighty Particle MattersMatters. Scien- reported interpretation is flawed. the featured speakers at a session At the same session, J.C. Sprott physicists are debating the implica- tists at the Indiana University [Session R12] exploring Franklin’s pioneering (University of Wisconsin-Madison) tion of the existence of a new and Cyclotron Facility have made the Telescopes of IceIce. Burying string- role in this arena. “Science was his will describe the outreach program very different type of matter in the first unambiguous identification of of-pearl detectors kilometers deep in passion and expertise, but society he founded in 1984. Called “The universe: the so-called “dark a rare process: the fusion of two Antarctic ice doesn’t sound like the was his concern,” says Lane. He will Wonders of Physics”, it is a series of energy”. In a Tuesday morning ses- nuclei of heavy hydrogen to form a usual way to make a telescope. But that be joined by Harvard University’s public lectures intended to foster sion, distinguished speakers will nucleus of helium and an uncharged is exactly what is happening with the Dudley Herschbach, Claude-Anne general interest in physics with fast- discuss various aspects of dark pion. This process wouldn’t exist with- AMANDA neutrino telescope. Steven Lopes (Yale University) and James paced demonstrations, including energy science, focusing on two out a small violation of charge Barwick of the University of Califor- McClellan III (Stevens Institute of music, costumes, skits and surprise major projects. The Supernova symmetry—a violation which also nia, Irvine, will report on the latest Technology), all of whom will pro- appearances by special guests. The Acceleration Probe (SNAP) is a two- causes to neutron to be slightly results from AMANDA and also dis- vide historical background of the presentation routinely draws capac- meter telescope in high Earth orbit, heavier than its charged partner, the cuss the upcoming ANITA experiment, scientist and citizen. ity crowds totaling over 50,000, and designed to measure the time- proton. The rate at which this rare which uses Antarctic ice without Herschbach will also be giving a a traveling show was added in 1988 dependent equation of state of the process occurs is expected to be a embedments to form the neutrino special public lecture at the for school children in 19 states and provinces. SPANISH from page 1 Also, Louis Bloomfield will occurred in create from it a verb, an adjective, describe a course he developed for Outreach Fred Stein were able to The Perils of Translation the midst of whatever you like. You can’t do that non-science students called How obtain a grant of $25,500 from the all these ef- in Spanish.” Things Work, which teaches National Science Foundation to forts were There were some grammatical elementary physics in the context offset the production costs and the amusing. For errors, and many problems arose of everyday life. [Session H7] project was underway. The Span- example, the from the inevitable confusion of the Disarmament Goes BallisticBallistic. ish and Mexican Physical Societies scanner mis- plethora of local Spanish variations: Approved by the United Nations agreed to purchase some copies read “stresses each region of Central and South in 1996 with only three opposing and this added resources. in beams” as America has its own slang and idi- votes, the Comprehensive Test Ban Translation of the book turned “stresses in oms, differences between which Treaty (CTBT) enjoys near-unani- out to be more difficult than ex- beans”, which can be addressed conversationally mous support by the international pected. No electronic form of the was then by simply asking for clarification. community. But now that India is book was available, so the text had translated A book lacks that same interactive considered a “threshold nuclear to be scanned into a computer and into “la ten- nature. If a second edition of the nation”, it must approve the treaty then converted to pdf files before sion de los translation is published, Halpern if it is to enter into force, and the translators could begin their frijoles”. And would like to include an appendix India’s U.N. representative has said work. As a result the initial elec- “levers and of such idiomatic terms so that the country will never sign the tronic draft was full of errors. This the steel readers can look up unfamiliar treaty. Ram Chaturvedi (SUNY made it very difficult for members yard” was terms and match them with the idi- College at Cortland) will provide of the Mexican Physical Society to translated as oms of their region. “The concept an overview of the treaty’s current carry out the translation. Stein en- the daunting task of essentially re- “las palancas y la Romana”, which, is not to reach specific Hispanic status, including India’s continued listed the help of several other writing the translated text, and when translated back into English, populations in the states, but all refusal to ratify it. Meanwhile, on translators without much progress cutting and pasting the original reads, “levers and the Roman fe- Latin Americans as well, so the Tuesday morning speakers will and finally persuaded Teodoro hand-drawn illustrations into the male.” Such errors are frequent in translation has to be as close to provide an overview of the cur- Halpern, an emeritus professor of corrected text. Federico’s quality translations because of the very ‘proper’ Spanish as possible.” he rent status and future prospects physics at Ramapo college in New work earned him co-editor status different natures of English and says. “I believe that is where the APS for the US ballistic missile defense Jersey to help. He in turn recruited — a nice professional credit for a Spanish. “The flexibility you have can make the most impact in im- programs, focusing on both mid- his great-nephew, Federico, a phys- young scientist starting his career. with English is infinite,” says proving physics education in Latin course and boost-phase ics major at the college, to assist in Some of the mistakes that Halpern. “You can take a noun and American countries.” technologies. [Sessions H8, T5] NEWS April 2003 7

ANNOUNCEMENTS Under 30? Distinguished Traveling Lecturer Now Appearing in RMP Good at Physics? Program in Laser Science Recently Posted Reviews and Colloquia Win a New Car!!! The Division of Laser Sciences the DTL committee Chair Rainer (or the equivalent) (DLS) of the American Physical Grobe ([email protected]) and to You will find the following in the online edition of Reviews of Modern Society announces the expansion the DLS Secretary-Treasurer Dan Physics at http://rmp.aps.org. See the of its lecture program in Laser Elliott([email protected]). Self-consistent mean-field models for nuclear structure Science, and invites applications The deadline for application for —Michael Bender, Paul-Henri Heenen, and Paul-Gerhard Reinhard Call for from schools to host a lecturer visits in Fall 2003 is April 30. De- Self-consistent mean-field theory has now become the foremost tool for calculating properties of all but the lightest nuclei. This review discusses the Nominations for in 2003. Lecturers will visit se- tailed information about the various versions of the theory that have appeared, differing in their lected academic institutions for program and the application pro- underlying energy functional. The review also surveys the applications, THE two days, during which time they cedure is available on the ranging from binding energies to transition moments of excited states. GEORGE E. VALLEY will give a public lecture open to DLS-DTL home page: http:// Also Recently Posted: the entire academic community physics.sdsu.edu/~anderson/ JR. Colloquium: Stars, planets, and metals PRIZE OF THE APS and meet informally with stu- DTL/ —Guillermo Gonzalez dents and faculty. They may also in Box at bottom give guest lectures in classes re- Structure and fluctuations of smectic membranes lated to Laser Science. The Lecturers for —Wim H. de Jeu, Boris I. Ostrovskii, and Arcadi N. Shalaginov of this page purpose of the program is to the bring distinguished scientists to 2003-2004 colleges and universities in order to convey the excitement of La- Academic APS UNDERGRADUATE PHYSICS ser Science to undergraduate Year: and graduate students. STUDENT COMPETITION The DLS will cover the travel Robert Byer, Stanford expenses and honorarium of the University. 2003 APKER AWARDS lecturer. The host institution will Lee W. Casperson, be responsible only for the local Portland State University. expenses of the lecturer and for Eric Cornell, University of For Outstanding Undergraduate Student Research in Physics advertising the public lecture. Colorado. Endowed by Jean Dickey Apker, in memory of LeRoy Apker Awards to host institutions will Jim Kafka, Spectra be made by the selection com- Physics. DESCRIPTION ELIGIBILITY search publication or senior thesis mittee after consulting with the Marsha Lester, University (unbound). lecturers. Priority will be given of Pennsylvania. Two awards are normally made • Students who have been en- each year: One to a student attend- rolled as undergraduates at col- 4. A 1000-word summary, writ- to those institutions that do not Christopher Monroe, ing an institution offering a Physics leges and universities in the ten by the student, describing his have extensive resources for simi- University of Michigan. PhD and one to a student attend- United States at least one quarter/ or her research. lar programs. Luis A. Orozco, State ing an institution not offering a semester during the year preced- 5. Two letters of recommenda- Applications should be sub- University of New York at Physics PhD ing the JUNE 13, 2003 deadline. tion from physicists who know the mitted by members of the DLS. Stony Brook. • Recipients receive a $5,000 award; • Students who have an excellent candidate’s individual contribution Membership applications can be Carlos Stroud, University finalists $2,000. They also receive academic record and have dem- to the work submitted. easily filled out on the home page of Rochester. an allowance for travel to the onstrated exceptional potential for 6. The nominee’s address and tele- phone number during the summer. for APS: http://www.aps.org/ Ron Walsworth, Harvard Award presentation. scientific research through an origi- Applications should be sent to University. • Recipients’ and finalists’ home in- nal contribution to physics. stitutions receive $5,000 and • Only one candidate may be nomi- FURTHER INFORMATION $1,000, respectively, to support nated per department. See http://www.aps.org/praw/ undergraduate research. apker/descrip.html 2003 – 2004 DPP Distinguished Lecturers • Recipients, finalists and their APPLICATION PROCEDURE home physics departments will The complete nomination package DEADLINE be presented with plaques or is due on or before JUNE 13, 2003 Send name of proposed candidate The Division of Plasma Physics of the Steve Allen certificates of achievement. The and should include: and supporting information by APS announces the Distinguished [email protected] student’s home institution is 1. A letter of nomination from the JUNE 13, 2003 to: Dr. Alan Lecturers in Plasma Physics for Improving Tokamak Confinement prominently featured on all with “Plasma Surgery” and head of the student’s academic de- Chodos, Administrator, Apker 2002-2003. This Program is intended “Plasma Floating” awards and news stories of the partment. Award Selection Committee; The to share with the larger scientific competition. 2. An official copy of the student’s American Physical Society; One community exciting recent advances R. Paul Drake • Each nominee will be granted a academic transcript. Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD [email protected] in plasma physics. free APS Student Membership for 3. A description of the original con- 20740-3844; Telephone: (301) Connecting Laboratory Experiments one year upon receipt of their with Astrophysical Phenomena tribution, written by the student such 209-3268, Fax: (301) 209-3652, completed application. Under the Plasma Physics Travel as a manuscript or reprint of a re- email: [email protected]. John Goree Grant Program funded by the [email protected] Department of Energy, the lecturers Making a Plasma Act like a Crystal are available for talks at US colleges Call for Nominations and universities for the academic year Raffi Nazikian [email protected] 2002-2003. Their travel expenses The Scientific Frontiers of Fusion for 2004 APS Prizes and Awards will be supported by the grant; Energy Science preference will be given to invitations Members are invited to nominate candidates to the Arthur L. Schawlow Prize in Laser Science John D. Sethian respective committees charged with recommending the Prize to a Faculty Member for Research in an from colleges and universities that do [email protected] not have substantial programs in The Science and Technology of recipients. A brief description of each prize and award is Undergraduate Institution plasma physics. The Lecturers may Electron Beam Pumped KrF Lasers given in the March 2003 APS News Prizes and Awards George E. Valley Jr. Prize for Fusion Energy insert, along with the addresses of the selection com- Robert R. Wilson Prize be invited by contacting them directly. mittee chairs to whom nominations should be sent. For questions about the DPP Lecturer AWARDS John T. Slough Please visit the Prizes and Awards page on the APS web Program, contact Don Correll [email protected] LeRoy Apker Award (June 13, 2003 Deadline) Development of Compact Fusion site at http://www.aps.org under the Prizes and Awards [email protected] Joseph A. Burton Forum Award Plasmas for Deep Space Exploration button for complete information regarding rules and Maria Goeppert-Mayer Award eligibility requirements for individual prizes and awards. Joseph F. Keithley Award for Advances in PRIZES Measurement Science Will Allis Prize for the Sudy of Ionized Gases Leo Szilard Lectureship Award http://focus.aps.org Hans A. Bethe Prize MEDALS AND LECTURESHIPS http://focus.aps.org Biological Physics Prize David Adler Lectureship Award Down-to-earth accounts of hot research from the Tom W. Bonner Prize in Nuclear Physics Edward A. Bouchet Award Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Physics Prize John H. Dillon Medal Physical Review journals—ideal for college physics majors and research- Davisson-Germer Prize in Atomic or Surface Physics ers interested in work outside their specialty. Write to Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics DISSERTATION AWARDS [email protected] to get weekly e-mail updates. Polymer Physics Prize Andreas Acrivos Dissertation Award (April 14) Frank Isakson Prize for Optical Effects in Solids Mitsuyoshi Tanaka Some Recent Focus Stories: James C. McGroddy Prize for New Materials Dissertation Award (June 30) Lars Onsager Prize Nicholas Metropolis Award (Sept. 15) Fast-Growing Raindrops W.K.H. Panofsky Prize in Experimental Particle Dissertation Award in Nuclear Physics Raindrops may form in clouds through a nucleation pro- Physics Earle K. Plyler Prize for Molecular Spectroscopy NOMINATION DEADLINE IS cess like the one that makes bubbles in soda and sugar JULY 1, 2003, UNLESS OTHERWISE crystals in honey. Aneesur Rahman Prize for Computational Physics J. J. Sakurai Prize for Theoretical Particle Physics INDICATED. 8 April 2003 NEWS The Back Page An American Physicist Visits Birzeit University by Joel Lebowitz

I strongly believe that the sci- small university campus in the US Ekeland on his program for half an hour to forty-five entific perspective makes or in Europe. There are about teaching undergraduates minutes. Indeed, after one differences between peoples based 5,000 students in Birzeit and the mathematics applied to hour we had only pro- on nationality, race, religion or gen- campus has functioned normally economics, organized gressed about 25 meters der entirely trivial compared to the (without closures) since the fall se- about three years ago by and we were still about 50 things all humans have in common. mester began. I then met my host, four Parisian universities. meters from the actual This places extra responsibility on Aziz Shawabka, who had received They send lecturers to checkpoint. Finally Badran scientists to use their knowledge his PhD in Physics from the Uni- Birzeit for a few weeks at a decided to pull out of the and influence towards bridging versity of Colorado in Boulder. He time and offer the Birzeit line and go ahead to the gaps between peoples and to be told me that the economic situa- faculty visits to France checkpoint in the hope responsive to the needs of our col- tion at Birzeit is quite bad and that equivalent to a total of two that, since he had an East leagues everywhere. all of last year the faculty had re- months per year. They also Jerusalem license plate and Like many scientists and others ceived only half their salaries. This give some fellowships to Photo Credit: Ivar Ekeland had foreigners in his car, right now, I am deeply concerned led to the threat of a strike by the students finishing the pro- Joel Lebowitz (left) at Birzeit University with Dean of they would let us pass in- about the continuing tragic conflict faculty and for the last three gram. The program is Science Aziz Shawabka. stead of sending us back to between Israelis and Palestinians. months they had been getting full supposed to be taken over the end of the line. The ma- With that in mind, I was very glad salary but are uncertain how long fully by Birzeit this year. It appeared opposing suicide attacks. He neuver worked. After showing our to accept an invitation from Pro- that will last. to be popular with students, al- added, however, that the Israelis documents we were permitted to fessor Aziz Shawabka, Dean of I told Shawabka that my Israeli though it was not clear what jobs should think about what they have pass and we then went along Science at the Palestinian Univer- colleagues were all very eager to these students could get in the Pal- done to make these people willing smoothly towards Jerusalem. sity of Birzeit to lecture there (The cooperate with their Palestinian estinian areas at the present time. I to commit suicide. He noted par- On the plane returning from Is- contact with Prof. Shawabka was colleagues, but felt that Palestin- was told that the physics depart- ticularly the settlements, which he rael via Paris I sat next to a young established by Prof. Vincent ians were not willing to do that. ment had started a program in said were designed to establish French fellow, Bruno Fert (the son Rivasseau, from Orsay, France). I He confirmed that this is indeed computer simulation, since the “facts on the ground” ’ that would of a French physicist), who was re- was visiting Israel for a conference the case at present, for both secu- number of students interested in make a viable Palestinian state im- turning from Ramallah and Birzeit, and lectures and made the final ar- rity and political reasons. majoring in physics was rather possible. Nassir cited those where he had taken photographs rangements with Prof. Shawabka Security reasons are obvious at small. (One of the organizers of this around East Jerusalem as an ex- of young people for a book in a over the telephone from the the present time and in fact the program is Prof. Najeh Jisrawi, a ample. (I agree with him about the series “Being 20 in ...”. He con- Weizmann Institute. Israeli government has recently Rutgers PhD, who is currently on settlements but was disappointed trasted the quiet of Birzeit and the At 8 a.m. on Tuesday, January prohibited its citizens, for security sabbatical at Brookhaven.) by his refusal to really come straight absence there of any posters of 14, Prof. Iyad Jaber, head of the reasons, to visit Palestinian areas We then met with Hanna Nasir, out and condemn those who in- “martyrs” with the agitated atmo- Computer Science Department at in the West Bank or Gaza. The po- President of Birzeit University. (He cite the young people to hate and sphere in Ramallah. Birzeit, met me with his car in front litical situation is such that the got his PhD in physics from Purdue kill including committing suicide at- In a way, my visit to Birzeit con- of the American Consulate in East Palestinian academics would feel University.) We ended up having a tacks.) firmed my worst fears about the Jerusalem. On the ride, Jaber ex- uncomfortable getting special per- revealing discussion about the dif- Meanwhile, his wife, Tanya Nasir, political and existential chasm plained that, as a resident of East mission to go to Israel while it is ferent perceptions by Israelis and joined us. She described her expe- separating the two sides, despite Jerusalem, he has an Israeli ID and difficult for other Palestinians to Palestinians about the current situ- rience crossing the checkpoint the many things they have in com- license plates, which permit him to pass checkpoints even when on ation. I asked Nasir about between Birzeit and Ramallah, mon. However, it also confirmed travel on recently built roads in the their way to hospitals. Both statements by Arafat and others where it is impossible to cross by my belief that there are positive West Bank from which West Bank Shawabka and others with whom from the Palestinian Authority, of- car for a distance of about one ki- things we can and should do to try Palestinians are excluded. I spoke expressed the hope that ten quoted by Israelis and lometer. It was a muddy day and an to help things move in the right di- This makes his commuting pos- this will change. When asked if Americans, saying that the Oslo elderly person was being moved rection. As a first step in that sible. (However, many Israelis who they had any objection to meeting Agreement, which had been signed across in a wheelbarrow. Seeing a direction, it is very important for don’t live on the West Bank shun Israelis at conferences abroad or by Israel and the PLO in 1993, was sympathetic-looking Israeli soldier, scientists from the outside to in- these controversial “bypass roads” to visitors like me going to both for them just a first step in a pro- she went up to him and said: “Do form themselves properly about the out of fear, as there have been Israeli universities and to Birzeit, gram which would really make all you see what you are doing to these way the “two” sides perceive the some shootings there.) everyone said emphatically no. of Israel into a Palestinian state. people”. He didn’t have an answer, current situation. This is best done Jaber—who got his masters’ de- After a seminar given by the Nasir responded (disingenuously, I but other soldiers said it was just by establishing and strengthening gree in computing at the American French mathematician Ivar thought) that he did not know part of security because of recent contacts with colleagues on both University in Washington, DC— Ekeland, we met with about a about such statements and that he attacks. (According to Israeli sides. Having done this we should informed me that the computer dozen faculty members from the was part of a committee involved sources, many attacks by suicide try to get those on each side to see situation in Birzeit was quite good sciences, who expressed their in the Palestinian Authority offi- bombers and car bombs are pre- how the situation looks from the and that he had a good staff. He strong interest in opportunities to cially recognizing Israel. (He heads vented by such checkpoints.) other side and act appropriately. mentioned that during the effec- spend time in Europe and the US the Central Elections Committee Over lunch, I told Nasir that I This has to be done carefully so as tive closure of Birzeit for two doing science. There are currently and is a member of the Palestinian would be seeing Yakov Ziv, the not to appear “pontificating”, and months the previous spring they a few Fulbright fellowships for National Council.) He added that President of the Israel Academy of will not be universally appreciated. continued lessons via the Internet travel to the US and some pro- of course there are extremists who Sciences and Humanities, the next But, if not we, then who? And if so students could finish their se- grams in European countries, but disagree, but it was the official Pal- morning and asked whether there not now, then when? mester. After a while we turned these are quite limited, so addi- estinian position. was any message he wanted me to A free interchange between sci- off the good road and then, a few tional funding is highly desired. I Nasir opined that maybe in the convey. Nasir told me that a few entists and academics on both sides kilometers from Birzeit, there was repeated that I had just come from long term there ought to be just a weeks earlier the Israeli army had, of the conflict would of course be a checkpoint with a few Israeli sol- visiting various Israeli universities single democratic state. I said that for the first time in a long period, ideal, but clearly this did not seem diers. Prof. Jaber stopped his car and that there are many people this would mean that Israel would no entered Birzeit University, forcing feasible at this time to the Palestin- and showed them his ID, I showed there very eager to collaborate sci- longer be a Jewish State. He agreed the gates to be opened. They came ians I talked to. Outside scientists them my passport and we were entifically. While apparently but said there was already a philo- in with some jeeps, drove through must therefore assume the role of through in a minute. accepting the good intentions of sophical question of how Israel can the campus, and left. He said it intermediaries for the present time. When we arrived, the village of the Israeli scientists, they told me be a Jewish state while the popula- was lucky it had happened on a In addition to visiting there it is also Birzeit looked drab and dilapi- again that this is not the right time tion was 20% Arab. I said I didn’t see Friday, when there were very few possible to help our Palestinian col- dated under the drizzling rain. In for that. (There was later some any insurmountable problem with students on the campus. He was leagues in practical way, such as contrast to the village, the campus skepticism expressed about the that. After all, France has 10% Arabs afraid, however, that if they re- inviting them for extended scientific looked prosperous. It is about a Israeli academic community’s sin- and is still a French state. In any case, turned during regular school time visits, using local funds and existing dozen years old with very nice four- cerity in this regard. In particular I don’t see a one-state solution in the there would likely be incidents with national and international pro- story stone buildings, donated it was pointed out that there are foreseeable future. All I can see at potentially serious consequences. grams. If you are interested, please mainly by wealthy Palestinians and very few Arabs on the science fac- the present time is a two-state solu- On the drive back to Jerusalem contact me by e-mail. other Arabs. To my pleasant sur- ulties of Israeli universities (less tion. He seemed to agree. in the car of Ismae’l Badran, an- For an extended version of this prise, things appeared very normal, than half a dozen and none in I also brought up the question other Birzeit faculty member, we report and related matters, please with students milling about in front Jerusalem) despite the fact that of suicide bombers, saying that I did ran into a checkpoint with a long visit my web site, http:// of the building. Aside from the tra- there are quite a few Israeli Arabs not see enough condemnation of it line of waiting cars soon after leav- www.math.rutgers.edu/~lebowitz ditional long-sleeved dresses and with PhD’s from Israeli and foreign from the Palestinian leadership and ing the campus. Badran said it Joel Lebowitz is the George Will- head scarves worn by many of the universities.) intellectuals. Nasir responded that might take us hours to cross the iam Hill Professor of Mathematics and women, it could have been any There was also a report from he had written statements in arabic checkpoint, which normally took Physics at Rutgers University.

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