No. 23; FALL 2004 PECTRUM S FOR ALUMNI & FRIENDS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA–LINCOLN ANTHONY F. STARACE, EDITOR Materials Researchers Awarded $5.4 Million NSF Grant BY DAVE FITZGIBBON/ The grant funds more than UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS research projects, Sellmyer said. Editor’s Note: The growing ma- Training of graduate and under- terials research group at UNL graduate students, and programs achieved one of its goals this year, for educational outreach and the award of a 6 year MRSEC for “Quantum and Spin Phenomena in technology transfer to business Nanomagnetic Structures.” David and industry are included in the J. Sellmyer is the Center Director. center. The six-year grant will Department faculty participat- fund salaries for two post-doctor- ing in the Center include Shireen al fellows, 14 graduate students Adenwalla, Bernard Doudin, Peter Dowben, Stephen Ducharme, and 10 undergraduate students. It Sitaram Jaswal, Roger Kirby, Di- also funds a program that brings andra Leslie-Pelecky, Sy-Hwang high school teachers and students Liou, Ralph Skomski, and Evgeny to campus for research experi- Tsymbal. The focus of the center is on fabricating and studying new ences, recruitment of graduate nanomagnetic structures and mate- students from underrepresented rials. In what follows we reprint the groups, and supports a “Women UNL news release of the award. in Science” program for high MRSEC Group: Some of the MRSEC faculty at a September 24th, 2002 cel- school students. incoln, Neb., Sept. 23, ebration hosted by Chancellor Harvey Perlman and Vice Chancellor for Research Prem Paul to recognize the NSF award. Clockwise from left: Diandra Leslie- The center’s research and 2002 — Materials re- Pelecky, David J. Sellmyer, Bernard Doudin, Roger Kirby, and Evgeny Tsymbal. its collaborations with industry searchers at the University L partners such as IBM, Seagate, of Nebraska-Lincoln have won engineering, and the School of their theoretical and experimental Hewlett-Packard, and develop- a prestigious $5.4 million grant Biological Sciences whose research work, and fabrication of new mate- ing relationships with Nebraska from the National Science focuses on nanomagnetic struc- rials. In just the last two years, their companies, hold high potential for Foundation. The grant establishes tures. Their work in magnetic research has included the synthesis inventions and discoveries that can a Materials Research Science and materials at the nanoscale — as of the first magnetic polymer or be patented and commercialized. Engineering Center (MRSEC) at small as one-billionth of a me- “plastic magnet” and has gener- A recent example is a small, pow- UNL, making it one of 27 such ter— has applications in advanced ated six patents granted or filed on erful neutron detector developed elite centers in the nation. computing and data storage sys- devices for data storage, portable at UNL that could be used to de- “This is a very exciting accom- tems, handheld electronic devices, electronics and optical sensors. tect hidden nuclear devices. plishment for UNL. Competition advanced sensors, and possible The MRSEC grant illustrates the UNL’s MRSEC grant is one for these centers is intense and future medical technologies. success of Nebraska’s investments of only three new awards made only the top research programs in “Nanoscience and nanotech- in UNL research, said Prem Paul, this year. Other institutions the country win these awards,” nology are amazingly creative UNL vice chancellor for research with MRSEC grants include the said UNL Chancellor Harvey new subfields of materials sci- and dean of graduate studies. California Institute of Technology, Perlman. ence,” said David Sellmyer, UNL “Our stature in materials Massachusetts Institute of The MRSEC is an outgrowth physicist and director of the new research and nanotechnology Technology, Carnegie Mellon of UNL’s Center for Materials center. “We are delighted at the is a direct result of Nebraska University, Harvard University Research and Analysis, and opportunities this center will bring Research Initiative funding in the and Princeton University. ■ involves scientists from the depart- to students at UNL.” past decade. Now we are seeing ments of physics and astronomy, UNL nanomagnetics research- the return on that investment,” chemistry, and mechanical ers are nationally recognized for Paul said. Editors Note: In case you missed us, please note that there was INSIDE no issue of Spectrum published during the 2002–2003 academic ■ year. Consequently the present Dowben Named Charles Bessey Professor ...... 3 issue is larger than usual. It is ■ Batelaan Creates Bit of Quantum Memory ...... 6 intended to bring you up to date on news and events of the ■ CMRA Researchers Develop Tiny Neutron Detector ...... 8 two years since our last issue of Spectrum up to Spring 2004. ■ Gay Goes International with Football Physics ...... 12 From the Chair Long-Range Research/Outreach Planning Pays Off s I have discussed two being Shireen Adenwalla physics program is already very Science Teachers for the 21st in earlier letters, the and Christian Binek, who strong, is also designated as a Century. The Cosmic Ray ADepartment of Physics are profiled in this issue of UNL priority initiative, and has Observatory Project (CROP), and Astronomy has had a long- Spectrum). also been awarded enhance- headed by Dan Claes and Greg range plan since the mid 1980s In the past year, the ment funding. The enhance- Snow, received $1.34 million to focus its research efforts in Department has received ex- ment funds will permit us to from NSF to build research/ a few areas where we could ternal validation of the success hire three new AMO physicists education relationships with have national and international of this approach. As reported over the next few years, provide Nebraska high-school teachers impact. At the time the plan elsewhere in this issue, the funding for T. P. Jorgensen and students, and it has received was developed, our effort in condensed matter group led postdoctoral fellows, and bring national and international atten- condensed matter physics was the successful effort to obtain a in outstanding short- and long- tion. Similarly, Project Fulcrum, fairly small, involving only 5 or Materials Research Science and term AMO physicist visitors headed by Diandra Leslie so faculty members active in re- Engineering Center (MRSEC) from around the world. We are Pelecky, received $1.44 million search. While there were several successful individual research programs, there was little overall coherence to our effort. Fifteen years later, the condensed matter This began to change with “group includes twelve active faculty members, the establishment in 1987 of the Center for Materials and we now have one of the top few groups in Research and Analysis (CMRA), with David J. the world studying magnetic materials. Roger Kirby, Chair Sellmyer as its Director, a posi- tion he still holds today. CMRA ” provided central facility support, award from the National Science pleased to announce that one from NSF to create partnerships and more importantly, partial Foundation. Competition for of the new hires will be at the with elementary and middle salaries and startup funds for MRSEC awards is extremely senior level as the Dorothy and schools to improve science edu- new faculty hires. This permit- intense, and our group was Leland Olson Chair of Physics. cation at the “grass roots” level. ted the Department to invest in fortunate to come out ahead We hope that this senior hire It appears that Project Fulcrum new areas of condensed matter of similar groups at very well will permit our AMO group to will be renewed for another five research in a more coordinated known research institutions. be even more highly recognized years at an even higher funding way. We chose to emphasize the This $5.4 million grant will among similar groups around level. Thus, the Department is magnetic and electronic proper- enable research and graduate the world. building great strength in educa- ties of materials, and most new education in the fabrication and Let’s also note that our ex- tion/outreach as well. hires established research pro- study of nanoscale magnetic and perimental high energy physics I hope that this letter gives grams in these areas. electronic materials, and will go group, which now includes Greg you a sense that the Department Fifteen years later, the con- a long way towards improving Snow and Dan Claes, will be of Physics and Astronomy is on densed matter group includes the national research standing of expanding to three faculty mem- a very positive slope in develop- twelve active faculty members, our Department. bers by Fall 2004. This group al- ing its research and education/ and we now have one of the The condensed matter ready plays major roles in the D0 outreach programs. I have not top few groups in the world group also was awarded the experiment at Fermi National dwelt on our progress in instruc- studying magnetic materials. In State of Nebraska’s first major Accelerator Laboratory, and tion — I’ll leave that for another addition, we have very strong grant from the W. M. Keck has assumed leadership of the time. In the meantime, I would groups in the electronic prop- Foundation to study nanoscale luminosity portion of the CMR appreciate hearing from you. erties of surfaces and in spin materials and establish the experiment at the Large Hadron I enjoy greatly my interactions transport. As reported in the Keck Center for Fast Dynamics. Collider at CERN (in Geneva, with our alumni. I hear many 2002 issue of the Spectrum, the In toto, our successes in the Switzerland). Adding another fascinating stories and take pride condensed matter group leads nanoscale science arena have faculty member is essential if the in your collective successes. the UNL-supported priority been very significant to us, and group is to continue building on initiative in Nanoscale Science they have made us highly visible its significant successes so far. Sincerely, and Technology. The “enhance- on the national research scene. Finally, the Department is ment” funds for this priority Motivated by these successes, also recognized for its outstand- initiative program are permit- the Department hopes to effect a ing education and outreach ting us to hire four additional similar revolution in our atomic, programs, which have some faculty members in condensed Roger D. Kirby molecular and optical (AMO) overlaps with the UNL funded Professor and Chair matter physics (with the first physics program. The AMO priority initiative in Math and

2 FALL2004 Department News Dowben Named Charles H. Bessey Professor BY ROGER D. KIRBY papers in peer-refereed journals, which is a n December 20, 2001 Chancellor very large number for a physicist of his age. Harvey Perlman announced his Among these papers are many significant Oselection of Professor Peter A. contributions to our discipline’s under- Dowben to become a Charles H. Bessey standing of surface phase transitions, sur- Professor of Physics. Dowben joins three face magnetism, and electronic structure of other chaired professors in the Department. materials ranging from metals, to oxides, to (John R. Hardy, David J. Sellmyer, and polymers. In the year 2000 alone, he pub- Anthony F. Starace are all George Holmes lished seven papers in two of the most high University Professors of Physics.) profile journals in physics: Physical Review Dowben was one of 10 leading UNL Letters and Applied Physics Letters, which scholars chosen to become the University’s indicates that his work is not only highly re- first Charles Bessey and Willa Cather garded but also merits accelerated publica- professors, which “were created…to tion. Among his very recent successes is the recognize distinguished scholarship and development of the Boron Carbide neutron creative activity,” said Perlman. Perlman detector (see the Research Highlight in this made the final selection after a field of 38 issue of Spectrum). candidates were reviewed by the University Peter Dowben has served as a “spark Professorships committee. Perlman stated plug” for condensed matter/materials sci- that “The establishment of the Bessey and Peter Dowben: “Peter Dowben has served as ence research on our campus. He is broadly a ‘spark plug’ for condensed matter/materials knowledgeable about condensed matter Cather professorships is an important ele- science research on campus.” ment in the university’s efforts to retain its physics, has many ideas, and has a talent top faculty…whose research and creativity Dowben is regarded as an exceedingly for bringing together teams of researchers carry on in the tradition of Charles Bessey productive experimentalist who specializes to work on interesting projects. Evidence and Willa Cather, two of the outstanding in the investigation of surface electronic for this latter point are his eleven currently individuals in the history of the University structure in a wide variety of interesting active collaborative grants, totaling over of Nebraska.” materials. He is a recognized innovator in $10 million. Professor Dowben was ap- Professor Dowben earned the Ph.D. developing instrumentation for photoemis- pointed a Research Professor of Chemistry degree at Cambridge University, spent sion and inverse-photoemission studies of at UNL because of his strong collabora- two years at the Fritz Haber Institute in solids and surfaces. He has two patents on tions and joint funding with Chemistry Berlin, after which he joined the faculty such instrumentation (among a total of 10 faculty. He has long-standing collabora- of Syracuse University as an Assistant patents), and he has led the development tions and joint funding with faculty in our Professor. He rose to the rank of Associate of two beam lines on the recently commis- Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Professor (with tenure) but left Syracuse to sioned synchrotron source at the Center for Departments. It is clear that Professor join our faculty in 1993. He was promoted Advanced Microdevices in Baton Rouge, Dowben is an intellectual leader on our to the rank of Professor in 1996, and he has Louisiana. His work has established UNL campus and that the honor of being named since proved to be a catalyst for condensed as a world-wide leader in this area. a Charles H. Bessey Professor is well de- matter/materials physics research at UNL. Dowben has published more than 300 served. ■

Programs Benefit as University Funds Priority Initiatives n academic year 2000– across the campuses. Ideas for might use additional funds for the 21st Century. (The 2001 the University devel- programs originated from the to build upon their exist- Department’s high energy Ioped and approved more various colleges and depart- ing strengths. Of the many physics program is also a UNL than 80 priority programs as ments; upper administrators programs that applied for priority; but it was not award- a means toward focusing uni- then encouraged and facilitated enhancement monies, only 15 ed enhancement funding in this versity resources in areas that some larger multidisciplinary were funded, including three first round of competition.) already are, or are potentially combinations, when appropri- that involve Department fac- The goal of the AMOP able to become, nationally ate. ulty: (1) Atomic, Molecular, program is to use enhance- competitive. A key goal was to During academic year and Optical Physics (AMOP), ment funding of approximately develop a number of priority 2001–2002 the selected pro- (2) Nanoscale Science and $600,000 over the five aca- programs in multidisciplinary grams were invited to submit Technology (NST), and (3) PRIORITY areas that involve faculty from proposals indicating how they Math and Science Teachers continued on page 4

SPECTRUM 3 Department News

PRIORITY continued from page 3 demic year period 2002–2008 to become faculty, including 4 in Physics to bring the tional model for a research university one of the top-ranked programs in this area. Condensed Matter and Nanoscale Physics where mathematicians and scientists work As a means toward this goal, the en- group to 12 faculty. Two hires have already together with education faculty and local hancement funds will help the Department been made in Physics: Shireen Adenwalla K-12 systems to develop superior math to increase the number of tenured or ten- and Christian Binek (see page 7 of this and science teachers – teachers who are ure-track faculty in this area by 50%, from issue of Spectrum). able to significantly strengthen the math the current six to nine. Grant funding for The NST priority initiative is being and science education of the K-12 students the current six administered they teach. This partnership includes faculty is al- by the Center faculty from the University of Nebraska- ready in excess During academic year 2001– for Materials Kearney and the Lincoln Public Schools, of $900,000 2002 the selected programs were Research and and over time a number of faculty from the annually and “ Analysis, which Department will contribute. it is expect to invited to submit proposals indicat- is directed A number of Department faculty are increase more by David J. already engaged in projects involving K- than propor- ing how they might use additional Sellmyer. The 12 science teachers. Kevin Lee and C. tionally as funds to build upon their existing 5-year total Edward Schmidt have organized astrono- the size of the funding for my workshops for area teachers during the group grows. strengths. the NST prior- academic year, and week-long astronomy Enhancement ity initiative is camps for high-school students during the funding will also allow the group to” invite $4.89 million, including $1.14 M, $1.77 summer. Diandra Leslie-Pelecky is the many more leading AMO physicists to cam- M, and $1.98 M respectively from the Principal Investigator for the NSF-funded pus, including for longer visits (from several NST’s enhancement funding; CMRA, Project Fulcrum, which forms partnerships days to a few months). Department and College matches; and the between UNL science graduate students It will also fund two Jorgensen Vice Chancellor for Research. Included in (Fulcrum Fellows) and middle and elemen- Postdoctoral Fellows per year, who will col- these funds is tary schools in laborate with group faculty but who also $700,000 to Lincoln. The have freedom to pursue their own research renovate por- Of the many programs that Fellows are re- interests. The first two Jorgensen Fellows tions of Behlen “applied for enhancement monies, sources for the are Jin Wang (Ph.D. 2001, University of Laboratory public school Queensland, Australia), who is collaborat- and Ferguson only 15 were funded, including three teachers to draw ing with the groups of Herman Batelaan Laboratory to that involve Department faculty: upon. and Anthony Starace in the area of quan- house experi- The goals of tum information, and Igor Mariyenko (Ph. mental labora- (1) Atomic, Molecular, and Optical this program D. 2000, Institute of Physics, Kiev, Ukraine tories for the are to improve ), who is working in the area of intense nanoscale phys- Physics (AMOP), (2) Nanoscale science and laser physics with the group of Cornelis ics effort. Science and Technology (NST), and math educa- Uiterwaal. These reno- tion in public The main aim of the Nanoscale Science vation efforts (3) Math and Science Teachers for schools and to and Technology (NST) priority initiative are already the 21st Century. develop Ph.D. is to use enhancement funding of approxi- underway, and scientists who mately $1,140,000 over the 5 academic include a major are knowledge- year period 2002–2008 to create leading renovation of the current underground ”able about the challenges of science and national programs in selected areas of “accelerator laboratory” in the sub-base- math education. NST through growth in faculty, facilities, ment of Behlen. Greg Snow and Dan Claes have de- research, and education. The UNL depart- NST enhancement funds also are being veloped the CROP program, which trains ments involved in this priority initiative used to hire administrative and accounting high-school teachers and their students in include Physics, Chemistry, Chemical staff to administer large grants, including cosmic ray physics and instrumentation, Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and the NSF Materials Research Science and and places cosmic ray detectors at the high- Mechanical Engineering. Engineering Center on Quantum and Spin school sites. So far teachers and students NST has been predicted to lead to the Phenomena in Nanomagnetic Structures, from more than 20 schools have participat- next industrial revolution, with break- and the W.M. Keck Center for Mesospin ed in the month-long summer workshops throughs likely in computation and data and Quantum Information Systems. In and these schools now have cosmic ray storage; magnetic, optical and structural addition, enhancement funds support detectors at their sites. It is anticipated that materials and devices; medicine and health the CMRA Materials and Nanoscience collective studies of highly energetic cosmic care; environment and energy; and national Seminar Series. rays shows will begin later this year, with security. The NST program will be used The goal of the Math and Science students from many high schools collabo- from 2003-2008 to hire and set up 11 new Teachers priority is to make UNL a na- rating and sharing their data. ■

4 FALL2004 Department News

Keck Center faculty. Left to right: Roger Kirby, Andrzej Rajca (Chemistry), Peter Dowben, Ralph Skomski, David Sellmyer, and Anthony Starace. (Other Keck Center faculty not shown: Bernard Doudin, Sy-Hwang Liou, and Evgeny Tsymbal.)

postdoctoral research associ- nanoscale magnetic dots and Foundation to establish a Behlen Lab ate and eight graduate students clusters. Mesospin structures Materials Research Science and from the Departments of Physics have great potential for future Engineering Center [see page 1 Houses New and Astronomy, and Chemistry. technological applications in of this issue of Spectrum]. Many The proposed research is information processing and of the scientists involved in that Research Center basic, new, and high risk. The storage. project are also involved in the Keck funding will initiate the A crucial aspect of the Keck Center studies. Funded by Keck laboratory, enabling equipment study of mesospin structures is The W.M. Keck Foundation purchase and lab preparation. developing precise fabrication is one of the nation’s largest Foundation Prem S. Paul, Vice techniques through lithographic philanthropic organizations new center for the study Chancellor for Research at or self-assembly methods. The with assets totaling more than of mesospin structures UNL, said the Keck grant is an fabrication techniques require $1.5 billion. Established in 1954 A was dedicated on May example of the increasing part- extreme precision and their by the late William Myron 1, 2003. The W.M. Keck Center nerships between private foun- development is as important as Keck, founder of The Superior for Mesospin and Quantum dations and the University. the theoretical portions of the Oil Co., the foundation’s grant- Information Systems and the “The Keck Foundation is science, especially as scientists making is focused primarily on W.M. Keck Fast Dynamics among the premier groups fund- move toward building complex the areas of medical research, Laboratory are sited in Behlen ing leading edge science and mesospin structures with tai- science, and engineering. Laboratory. The Center is fund- research projects,” Paul said. lored properties. The primary interest of the ed by a $750,000 grant from the “This grant is further evidence The project goal is to initiate W. M. Keck Foundation is sup- W.M. Keck Foundation. This is of the exemplary work done by a comprehensive and integrated port for exemplary scientific, en- the first time the Los Angeles- materials scientists at UNL.” approach to develop novel gineering, and medical research based Keck Foundation has Mesospin research occurs at mesospin structures with great programs at accredited universi- made a grant in Nebraska. the intersection of condensed potential for future data storage, ties and colleges throughout Researchers in the Center, matter physics, chemistry and logic operations, and quantum the United States. The W. M. administered by David materials science, and deals with information systems. Keck Foundation seeks to enrich Sellmyer, George Holmes topics not even perceived until UNL has developed a research and teaching through University Professor of Physics, recently. Mesospin structures particular area of strength in support for equipment, facilities, will conduct frontier research on are those intermediate in size nanotechnology research. In fellowships, and basic research mesospin structures. The Center – ranging from single atomic 2002, UNL received $5.4 mil- projects at the frontiers of sci- will involve nine faculty, one spins to high-spin molecules to lion from the National Science ence and engineering. ■

SPECTRUM 5 Department News

Much as a journey of a thou- sand miles begins with a single step, the journey to a quantum computer begins with a single qubit — a single bit of quan- tum memory. MA first baby step in that journey was taken during an experiment in a UNL labora- tory earlier this year when a team led by physicist Herman Batelaan captured polarized light in a cell containing a vapor of atoms of the metal rubidium. In the experiment, designed by Gao Hong, a post-doctoral student in Batelaan’s lab, 20- microsecond pulses of polar- ized light were beamed into a tubular, 4-centimeter-long cell containing rubidium vapor, where the pulses were captured before being released intact. Light normally moves through space at about 186,000 miles per second and a microsecond is one-millionth of a second, so a 20-microsecond light pulse normally would be about 3.72 miles long. But in Gao’s ex- periment, that 3.72-mile-long light pulse was captured and stored in a tube about 1 1/2- inches in length. That was a notable and interesting achievement, Batelaan said, but it only confirmed results published in 2001 by teams of scientists at Harvard University and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center Herman Batelaan and Gao Hong capture polarized light in a cell containing a vapor of atoms of the metal rubidium. for Astrophysics, both in Cambridge, Mass. “We’re happy that we at RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT least are up to par with the people at Harvard, but Gao did something more,” Batelaan Batelaan Group Stops said. “He changed the parame- ters and found out he could do something with it that actually Polarized Light, Creates Bit might mean something.” Gao demonstrated that po- larized light could be harnessed of Quantum Memory to create quantum memory.The ability to store quantum infor- BY TOM SIMONS/ mation is a critical element in UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS the quest to create quantum computers, devices that would

6 FALL2004 Department News vastly outstrip in power and with it. They created a quan- speed any computer now in tum memory. existence. In present-day com- “The scientists at Harvard puters, memory is stored as looked at one polarization Adenwalla, Binek millions of zeros and ones on only, and what Gao is capable silicon chips. But the point of of doing is not only two po- a quantum computer is to take larizations, but all combina- Join Department advantage of how the laws of tions,” Batelaan said. s part of UNL’s plan to increase its faculty strength in physics change at the atomic, “The fidelity for all po- nanoscale materials research, supported in part a grant or quantum, level, where it’s larizations is better than 95 Afrom the Office of Naval Research, in Spring 2003 the possible to exist in more than percent, so it’s darn good. It Department successfully completed searches for two new faculty. one state simultaneously. shows that the polarization Shireen Adenwalla was appointed an Associate Professor in Something other than state is well-maintained during the Department. Her research expertise is in the static ones and zeros on silicon storage in the rubidium cell. areas of exchange coupling in magnetic multi- chips, then, will be necessary He clinched this issue that you layer systems, structural changes in ferroelectric can use polarized light polymers, and the development and fabrication as a qubit, as a one-qu- of high-performance boron-carbide neutron The ability to store bit quantum memory.” detectors. Christian Binek was appointed an A standard, run- Assistant Professor in the Department. His re- quantum information is a “ of-the-mill desktop Adenwalla search expertise is in the areas of spin structures critical element in the quest computer typically has and exchange bias in magnetic metal/insulator to create quantum computers, more than 100 mil- heterostructures as well as in studies of fer- lion bits of memory, romagnetic nanoparticles in antiferromagnetic devices that would vastly however, and Batelaan environments. readily acknowledges Shireen Adenwalla received her B.Sc. degree outstrip in power and that there is a long way in physics from St. Xavier’s College of Bombay speed any computer now in to go in the quest for University (India) and her Ph.D. degree from a functional quantum Binek Northwestern University. Her doctoral dis- existence. computer. sertation concerned ultrasonic measurements “How many bits of two highly correlated Fermionic systems: superfluid helium for memory storage.” do you have in a typical com- and a superconducting uranium compound. Following a post- “If you have light going puter memory? A boatload. doctoral appointment at Northwestern University, she worked as a certain way, you have an How many do we have on our an Assistant Scientist at Argonne National Laboratory’s Intense electric field that oscillates,” table? One,” he said. “But the Pulsed Neutron Source laboratory. When her husband, Associate Batelaan said. “It can oscillate difference between zero and Professor Dan Claes, joined our faculty in 1996, Shireen horizontally or it can oscillate one is often enormous and took a Visiting Assistant Professor position in the Department. vertically. Those are the zeroes the obvious thing that we’re Since 1998 she has held a Research Assistant Professorship. and ones of your qubit in this discussing is how do we make Adenwalla has over 50 scientific publications and is involved as case. more. a Principal or Co-Principal Investigator on several individual “But the problem is, sup- “It’s anybody’s guess what and collaborative research projects. (See the Research Highlight pose I want to make a quan- the future components of on one of these projects in this issue of Spectrum.) tum computer out of light. I quantum computers are going Christian Binek was born and raised in Duisburg, need to do something with to be. But if you ask my guess, Germany, where he received both his Diploma and his Ph.D. the light, but the light goes light is definitely going to play degree at Gerhard-Mercator-University. His doctoral thesis by so quickly that I can’t do a role, and some medium that work involved various experimental studies of model anti- anything with it. So it would can store the information, ferromagnetic and ferromagnetic systems. In 2002 he was be nice to take that light and some material like rubidium awarded the Certificate of Habilitation for his work on Ising- dump it into something so that that can talk to the light, is go- type antiferromagnetic systems. Since then he has been a post- we can actually do something ing to play a role. The process doctoral researcher at Gerhard-Mercator-University. During the with it.” of how light talks to matter, 1990s, Binek’s research has taken him to the Laue-Langevin Batelaan, Gao and their that’s what we’re studying.” Institute in Grenoble, France (to perform neutron scattering research team (which included Gao, Rosenberry and measurements), to the RIKEN Wako Institute in Saitama, research assistant professor Batelaan published their re- Japan (to carry out calorimetric and magnetometry studies), Mark Rosenberry and under- search in the May 2003 issue and to the Hahn-Meitner-Institute in Berlin, Germany (to carry graduate student Ben Williams of Physical Review A, the jour- out neutron scattering studies). Binek has over 40 scientific pub- of Yankton, S.D.) “dumped” nal of atomic, molecular and lications and is the author of a monograph entitled Ising-Type the light into the rubidium optical physics. Their research Antiferromagnets: Model Systems in Statistical Physics and in tube, and they found they were was supported by a Nebraska the Magnetism of Exchange Bias (Springer, Berlin, 2003). ■ indeed able to do something Research Initiative grant. ■

SPECTRUM 7 Department News

Research team members, all affiliated with UNL’s Center for Materials Research and Analysis: (Clockwise from lower right) Associate Professor of Physics Shireen Adenwalla, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering Jennifer Brand, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Brian W. Robertson, Professor of Physics Peter Dowben, and engineering graduate student Andrew Harken.

A highly sensitive, hand-held neu- said mechanical engineer Brian RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT tron detection device developed Robertson. by UNL researchers could be used Five patents are held by UNL for locating hidden nuclear materi- or are pending on the device itself CMRA Researchers als, monitoring nuclear weapons and on the processes for produc- storage and other national security ing the semi-conductors. The team Aapplications. is continuing to refine the device, Develop Tiny The detector, built around focusing on improving its efficien- a boron-carbide semiconductor cy and reliability, and is exploring diode smaller than a dime, can commercialization with a Lincoln- Neutron Detector detect neutrons emitted by the ma- based engineering company. terials that fuel nuclear weapons. “The materials used to make BY MONICA NORBY/ “This is a leapfrog technology the device are fairly inexpensive UNL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS in neutron detection,” said Peter and there are manufacturers here Dowben, UNL physicist who in Nebraska with the technology Editor’s Note: Two Depart- was the first to fabricate a boron to produce these detectors right ment faculty, Shireen Adenwalla carbide semiconductor. Using now,” Dowben said. and Peter Dowben, are part Dowben’s boron carbide semicon- Development of the detector of a team of UNL researchers associated with the Center for ductors, the research team built a was funded largely through the Materials Research and Analysis detector about the size of a Lego Nebraska Research Initiative, a (CMRA) who have patented block that is much more efficient, state-funded competitive grants a novel small-scale neutron lighter and tougher than existing program. detection device based on boron detectors. “This is a story of how the carbide semiconductor technol- ogy. This is the university’s press “This device is very small, state’s investment in research can release on their achievement. it can be powered with small lead to technology that benefits batteries or even solar cells, and Nebraskans and the nation,” said it can withstand corrosion and Prem Paul, UNL Vice Chancellor extremely high temperatures,” for Research.

8 FALL2004 Department News

The detector has applications The research team, all af- and European laboratories to beyond national security, said filiated with UNL’s Center for present results and participate in physicist Shireen Adenwalla. Materials Research Analysis, research programs. NASA wants a low-mass, thin includes Robertson, Adenwalla, “This is something people device like this for their comet Dowben and chemical engineer have been trying to do landers, which measure the hy- Jennifer Brand. for more than 38 years drogen content of comets. It also Robertson presented a scientif- and haven’t been able to has uses in experimental medical ic paper on the device at a meeting accomplish,” Robertson radiation treatments for cancer in July of the International Society said. “We have in- Neutron and for “scattering” experiments for Optical Engineering, generat- vented this device and detector performed in basic neutron re- ing intense interest and invitations it works very, very compared to a dime. search. from U.S. national laboratories well.” ■ Nobel Laureate Wieman Kicks Off UNL’s Project Fulcrum’s Second Year obel Prize-winning physicist Carl easily seen and manipulated, exhibits the does on a large scale. His group dubbed this Wieman spoke to UNL students and nonintuitive quantum behavior normally the “Bose-nova.” Shocking the condensate can NLincoln Public Schools teachers on important only at much tinier size scales.” make it vacillate between acting like an atom Aug. 21, 2002 at the University of Nebraska– In addition to providing an outstanding and acting like a molecule, or several atoms Lincoln in an address that kicked off the introduction to BEC for teachers and students, linked together. second year of UNL’s Project Fulcrum. Wieman showed “applets” — web-based “We’re seeing things right now that nobody Project Fulcrum is a col- programs that provide visual explanations and understands,” he told the group. “That’s laboration between teach- demonstrations of physics concepts — that he how science progresses... studying strange, ers, scientists and teacher uses to help non-science students understand unexplained behavior. If you’re a physicist, educators. Graduate and BEC and the physics surrounding it. Last year, this should sound very strange and disturbing undergraduate science stu- Professor Wieman was one of six scientists in — all of which makes it precisely the kind of dents from the University of the country to be awarded the first National material that intrigues scientists.” Nebraska partner with teach- Science Foundation Director’s Award for Wieman showed a number of pictures of Carl Wieman ers in LPS elementary and Distinguished Teaching Scholars. This is the ceremony surrounding his receipt of the middle schools to improve science and math the highest honor bestowed by the National Nobel Prize. Since 2001 was the centennial education. The National Science Foundation- Science Foundation for excellence in under- of the Nobel Prize, all of the living Nobel funded program is coordinated at UNL graduate education and research. Prize winners were invited to the ceremony. by Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, Associate Although the Project Fulcrum teachers and Wieman emphasized the importance of Project Professor of Physics and Astronomy, graduate students found the explanation of Fulcrum’s focus on upper elementary and and Gayle Buck, Assistant Professor of BEC fascinating, they were also impressed by middle school students by noting that most Curriculum and Instruction. the contagious enthusiasm Wieman has for Nobel Prize-winners decided on their careers Wieman, who is a Distinguished Professor scientific research. in their middle school years. of Physics at the University of Colorado– Wieman discussed more recent experiments The presentation was followed by a re- Boulder, shared the 2001 Nobel Prize in phys- that show that the condensate can be “poked,” ception, during which Wieman spoke with ics with Eric Cornell, also of the University of collapse in on itself, and then explode — acting graduate students and teachers. ■ Colorado, and Wolfgang Ketterle of MIT for on a microscopic scale in much the same way a the first observations of Bose-Einstein conden- supernova sation (BEC) in a dilute atomic gas. BEC, pre- dicted by Albert Einstein in 1924, is the dra- matic transformation of a gas at a sufficiently low temperature. To observe Bose-Einstein condensation, Wieman and his team in 1995 cooled a gas sample to the unprecedented tem- perature of less than 100 billionths of a degree Celsius above absolute zero. “The BEC state is a novel form of matter in which a large number of atoms lose their individual identities and behave as a single quantum entity, the ‘superatom,’” Wieman said. “This entity is the atom analogue to laser light, and although large enough to be Carl Wieman, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2001, speaks with UNL and LPS students and teachers.

SPECTRUM 9 Department News Jack Loos Retires After More Than Thirty Years of Service BY ROGER D. KIRBY/ worked very well with faculty bined shop would serve the DEPARTMENT CHAIRMAN and graduate students. Faculty very different needs of two ack Loos, an invalu- found him to be extremely Departments. Jack man- able member of the helpful during the design phase aged the merger very well, JInstrument Shop staff, of the instrument fabrication and it moved forward with retired in December 2002 after process, where his extensive few glitches. We now have more than 30 years with the knowledge and experience led an excellent Instrument Shop Department. to improved designs and sim- which continues to make very Jack joined the Physics and plified construction techniques. significant contributions to the Astronomy Instrument Shop Jack was Shop Manager research and education efforts in November, 1970 as an during the period when of both the Department of Instrument Maker/Machinist. the Physics and Astronomy Physics and Astronomy and Over the years, Jack was Instrument Shop and the the Department of Chemistry. promoted to the rank of Chemistry Instrument Shop Jack and his wife Sharon Instrument Maker III. Jack Loos were merged into a combined are enjoying the new level of Following Don Fuehring’s unit. This was a difficult freedom brought about by death in 1992, Jack was pro- effective in this position. He period for the Instrument Jack’s retirement, and we wish moted to the position of Shop earned the respect of the other Shop staff because of con- them both well in this new Manager. He was exceedingly Instrument Shop staff, and he cerns about how well a com- phase of their lives. ■

Nobel Laureate Cronin Receives Honorary Degree ames W. Cronin, who work the two did at Brookhaven National Laboratory while the shared the 1980 Nobel Prize two were on the faculty at Princeton University. The pair described Jin physics, was awarded an CP Violation in the K-meson system, a phenomenon that may honorary doctor of science degree explain why the universe is mostly matter rather than equal parts at the UNL commencement exer- matter and antimatter. (Fitch, a native Nebraskan, was awarded an cises held May 10, 2003. He also honorary doctorate by UNL in 1994.) Cronin left Princeton for the gave the commencement address University of Chicago in 1971. to the approximately 2,100 gradu- Snow was Cronin’s host ates in the Bob Devaney Sports during his visit to UNL. Center. UNL Chancellor Harvey During the afternoon of May Perlman presided. 9th, 2003, the day before James W. Cronin Cronin is a world leader in the graduation ceremonies, ultrahigh-energy cosmic-ray astro- Snow organized an informal physics. He recently returned from western Argentina, where he and reception for Cronin in the over 200 scientists from 15 countries are building the $50 million Department. Brace 211 was Pierre Auger Observatory, the world’s largest cosmic ray experi- filled nearly to capacity ment, to discover the sources of ultra-high energy cosmic rays. with faculty, students, and Cosmic rays are particles that bombard the Earth from all di- visitors. Cronin gave a brief rections, and the origin of the highest-energy cosmic rays is one of slide show on the Pierre the most puzzling questions in astrophysics today. Closer to home, Auger Observatory, follow- Cronin also donated the particle detectors from his previous cosmic ing which Cronin and the ray experiment, the Chicago Air Shower Array, for use in UNL’s members of the audience Cosmic Ray Observatory Project (CROP), which is managed by engaged in a lively ques- Dan Claes and Greg Snow. In this unique education and outreach tion and answer session effort, teams of high-school teachers and students across Nebraska that extended for over an hour. are presently using Cronin’s equipment to detect cosmic rays that Cronin earned his B.S. degree from Southern reach their schools. In the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina, Methodist University (1951), and his M.S. (1953) and Ph.D. Snow serves as the task leader for education, outreach, and public (1955) degrees from the University of Chicago. He is a Fellow of relations activities in the experiment. the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Now an emeritus faculty member at the University of Chicago, American Physical Society and a member of the National Academy Cronin shared the Nobel Prize in 1980 with physicist Val Fitch for of Sciences. ■

10 FALL2004 Faculty News Claes, Leslie-Pelecky, Batelaan, Doudin Promoted uring the past two academic years four of the American Chemical Society, and has in Science Foundation, the Army Research Office, Department faculty have been pro- addition several collaborative grants from other the Research Corporation, and the Nebraska Dmoted with tenure. Effective during the federal agencies. Her recent emphasis has been Research Initiative. He is an excellent teacher at 2002-2003 academic year, Assistant Professors on the development of magnetic nanoparticles all levels, and he has been especially effective in Daniel Claes and Diandra Leslie-Pelecky for biomedical applications such as drug de- promoting the mentoring of undergraduates in were promoted to the rank of Associate livery and hyperthermia treatment of cancer. research. Batelaan has also played a significant Professor with tenure. Effective during the Leslie-Pelecky also co-directs Project Fulcrum, role in the Department’s efforts to improve 2003-2004 academic year, Assistant Professors an NSF-funded outreach program that seeks instruction at the introductory level through Herman Batelaan and Bernard Doudin to improve science and mathematics education the introduction of modern technologies in the were promoted to the rank of Associate in Lincoln Public Schools. Project Fulcrum large lecture classroom. Professor with tenure. In what follows we pro- employs 10 Graduate Fellows annually to serve Doudin is an experimental condensed mat- file each of these newly promoted faculty. as resource scientists at elementary and middle ter physicist interested in nanoscale wires and Claes is an experimental high energy schools. Fulcrum Fellows form partnerships junctions. His research is focused on the gen- physicist engaged in the D0 (pronounced “D-zero”) experiment at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. He has been desig- nated the Coordinator for the Level-3 software trigger upgrade at D0. This is a position of significant responsibility and importance to the overall project, and involves the supervision of about 30 scientists and technicians. Claes has published 133 peer-reviewed articles in leading physics journals, with 73 of these articles being published after he joined our faculty. Claes’ Daniel Claes Diandra Leslie- Herman Batelaan Bernard Doudin research is funded by the National Science Pelecky Foundation and has emphasized the search for new particles expected in supersymmetry (SUSY), which is an extension of the so-called with teachers to develop math and science eral area of spin transport, an emerging field Standard Model of particle physics. Claes is activities for the classroom, help with Science which has much room to develop and grow, also the co-leader of the NSF-funded Cosmic Fairs and after school Science Clubs, and help and he has published in excess of 60 peer- Ray Observatory Project (CROP). The aim of students learn about scientists and what they reviewed journal articles. He was a pioneer CROP is to develop an expanding set of high- do. Fellows learn about the challenges of science in producing and investigating the physical school teams who construct, implement, and and math instruction in public schools, with the properties of nanometer scale wires produced operate their school-based detectors in coordi- hope that Fellows continue to be active in this by electrodeposition. Nanowires, junctions nation with UNL’s HEP group. During its first area throughout their careers. Leslie-Pelecky is between nanowires, and nanocontacts four summers of operation, CROP has provid- also responsible for the development of a phys- show a number of interesting transport and ed summer workshops for nearly 100 students ics course targeted at future teachers. memory phenomena that are expected to play and teachers from more than 20 Nebraska high Batelaan is an experimental atomic physi- major roles in the continued development of schools; detectors and associated electronics cist with interests in matter waves, electron nanotechnology. Doudin’s research has been are now in various stages of operation at these physics, and quantum information technolo- extremely well supported by several individual schools. Ultimately, at least 30 high schools will gies. He is author of more than 20 articles in investigator and collaborative grants from be involved in CROP (and possibly many more, leading physics journals. In a very short time, the National Science Foundation (including depending on the availability of funding beyond Batelaan has established himself as a leader in a prestigious CAREER award), the Office of the fifth year). Claes has also proven to be an his field through two major accomplishments: Naval Research, and the Nebraska Research effective teacher, both at the introductory and The observation of the Kapitza-Dirac effect for Initiative. He is also a leading participant in graduate levels. free electrons in a laser standing wave, and the the Department’s recently funded centers, Leslie-Pelecky is an experimental elucidation of the Stern-Gerlach effect for free the NSF MRSEC and the Keck Center for condensed matter physicist working with electrons in a longitudinal B-field gradient. His Mesospin and Quantum Information Systems. nanostructured magnetic materials fabricated paper on the Kapitza-Dirac effect, published in Doudin has contributed significantly to the by mechanical milling and inert gas condensa- Nature, received international attention, with Department’s instructional programs through tion. She is author or co-author of more than subsequent articles about it appearing in major a complete revision of our undergraduate elec- 30 peer-reviewed journal articles. She has newspapers and popular science magazines. His tronics laboratory. He has introduced modern received substantial research funding from the work on the Stern-Gerlach effect dispelled an computer-based measurements to this labora- National Science Foundation (including a pres- old idea that observing the Stern-Gerlach effect tory and has worked to see that it provides the tigious CAREER award), the Office of Naval on electron spins was impossible. Batelaan has proper background for subsequent laboratory Research, and the Petroleum Research Fund received research funding from the National courses. ■

SPECTRUM 11 Faculty News

T

Tim Gay gives the football a toss in the outdoor physics classroom of UNL’s Memorial Stadium.

Editor’s Note: Since Fall from Heisman trophy winner IN THE SPOTLIGHT 1999, Professor Tim Gay has Eric Crouch. Gay’s work has been taught the largest physics class featured on ABC World News in the world — the 74,000 fans Tonight with Peter Jennings, a front that attend Nebraska home page story in the Wall Street Journal football games in Memorial (11-19-02), People Magazine, Gay’s Football Stadium. During a pause in the ESPN Magazine, the Boston action, Gay’s lessons are shown Globe, the Washington Post, and a on the giant television screens at variety of other television and radio Physics Lessons either end of the field. They range outlets. Gay is currently writing a in length from forty-five seconds book — The Physics of Football to two minutes, and cover such — that is scheduled to be released topics as Newton’s Laws of in Fall 2004. Its target audience is to Be Viewed Motion (blocking and tackling), high school students and football projectile motion (kicking and fans of all ages. (His lessons can punting), kinematics (open-field be viewed on the Web: http:// running), and the ideal gas law physics.unl.edu/outreach/ Internationally (why not fill the football with football.html) helium to get better hang time?). In 2001 Gay was retained Laboratory demonstrations by the National Football League BY KELLY BARTLING/ have featured Professor Gay being to create a series of segments for UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS tackled by a 370 pound lineman, international distribution. The pummeled with a sledgehammer following story is reprinted from as he lies on a bed of nails, and the August 29, 2002 UNL news learning the finer points of passing release on this development.

12 FALL2004 Faculty News The bow tie, broad grin and Scientific American for Kids, enthusiasm of physics profes- The Chronicle of Higher sor Tim Gay will soon be seen Education, The Christian a bit more widely than just Science Monitor, and the the 74,000 football fans at Philadelphia Inquirer, as Memorial Stadium. well as interviews with the TGay’s “Physics of Football” BBC, the Canadian Discovery lessons will be seen by mil- Channel and numerous other lions of foreign NFL fans radio and television stations. internationally on a National Several other universities, Football League promotional including the Universities program called “Blast!” of Tennessee, Virginia, and Gay, the professor made Michigan have started their famous by HuskerVision for own Football Physics series.” explaining football physics on Gay said it’s possible that the big screen during home the Football Physics segments games, traveled in early July could be shown in the United 2002 to Philadelphia to co- States in the future, because write and appear in 21 foot- Tim Gay, center, with Brad Minerd (left) and Matt Miller, producers at NFL many “Blast!” segments are ball physics segments filmed at Films. shown on ESPN and HBO NFL Films studios. after their original use. Gay “It was a lot of fun, and much better they could make it $10,000 on suits for me. They also negotiated free use of very educational for me, to sound than what I was able to returned the rest, and I got to the segments in university see how they do it in the ‘big do. The writing was a very dy- keep the ones I wore. That was classrooms and in Memorial leagues,’” Gay said. “They namic process; we holed up in a cool. And I got four bow ties Stadium. had about 50 people working windowless room and screamed out of the deal.” Jeff Schmahl, on this shoot, and we spent at each other for HuskerVision several frantic days of writing two days. director, said and filming.” “I introduce I’m extremely excited for Tim and NFL Films is the “Blast!” is a promotional each piece on most respected program by the NFL shown the set, stand- “for the University of Nebraska that of production outside the United States to ing in front of a all the thousands of physics professors group in sports, market American football to blackboard in a and that it was new audiences. It appears in classroom at a out there, they chose Dr. Gay. We might an honor to have 190 countries and features local Philadelphia have had a small part in finding and them pick up on interviews, profiles and infor- college. They had his idea. mational pieces for interna- done interviews creating the thing, but it’s Tim and his “I’m ex- tional audiences. Gay said the with players and tremely excited Physics of Football segments found footage personality and his knowledge of physics for Tim and for would be three to four minutes and I do a voice- that have been the key reason for the the University of long and include interviews over and then end Nebraska that of with NFL stars. They are fash- each piece. They popularity of the feature. all the thousands ioned and written in the enter- did all the player of physics pro- interviews back — JEFF SCHMAHL, taining and informative style HUSKERVISION” DIRECTOR fessors out there, of the HuskerVision pieces, in June after I they chose Dr. and in fact, Gay recycled most gave them ques- Gay. We might of the HuskerVision topics for tions to ask.” Roger Kirby, Chair of have had a small part in find- use by the Blast! program. Gay said he was disap- the Physics and Astronomy ing and creating the thing, but Gay was co-writer, techni- pointed that he didn’t actually Department, said the program it’s Tim and his personality cal consultant and standup get to interview the players helps bring the good news of and his knowledge of physics talent for the lead-ins and for in the segments, like Ahman the University to an interna- that have been the key rea- voice-overs. Green, Tiki Barber, Hugh tional audience. son for the popularity of the “We cover all the football Douglas, Jeff Garcia and “More of the world will feature. He’s just got the per- physics topics: blocking, tackling, Donovan McNabb. have heard of the University sonality to make these things kicking, fumbling, timing … you He was excited, though, to of Nebraska in another year click. That’s really terrific name it,” Gay said. “They pretty get a bunch of free suits. And or so,” he said. “Football for a University of Nebraska much wrote the scripts and then bow ties. Physics has already led to professor to be involved with I made sure the physics was right. “The best thing was that significant media cover- them, and to have their pieces I was very impressed at how they went out and spent, like, age, including articles in go before millions.” ■

SPECTRUM 13 Student News Guess Who? Speaks at 2002 Recognition Luncheon reaking tradition, the about life and how to live it. Department did not an- More recently, Ted has become Bnounce beforehand the famous as the author of the all- Department alumnus scheduled time best selling book published to speak at its May 9th, 2002 by the American Institute of Recognition Luncheon in honor Physics, The Physics of Golf. of the Department’s graduating In speaking to our 2002 students. The program simply graduates, however, Ted related showed the speaker’s portrait more personal experiences, photograph, not all well reproduced known, about here. Can you how he was Hanging out near the beam line at Fermilab during the 2002 SPS guess who educated Chicago Road Trip are (front row left to right): Nancy Lanning, tour guide, Ray Lemoine (2002 SPS President), Brad Peterson, Katie this is? and began to Everett (2003 SPS President and niece of Nancy Lanning), Tim The forge a career, Gay; (back row left to right): Chad Petersen (2001 SPS President), suspense driven always Elizabeth Klimek, Gary Pike, and Luke Pawlowski. ended when by curios- Roger Kirby, ity about how Annual Road Trip Becomes SPS Tradition Department Nature works. mong the annual activities of the Department’s Chair, ushered He was raised Chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS), our beloved in rural South Aone is becoming a tradition: the Spring Break Road Professor Dakota. His Trip. For the past 7 years, typically over the weekend preceding Emeritus mother had the week-long Spring Break, the SPS, accompanied their advi- Theodore received mas- sor, Professor Tim Gay, have traveled to visit various physics Prey ter’s degrees laboratories located within a day’s drive from Lincoln. These Jorgensen in English and labs have included the superconducting LINAC at the J.R. (B.A. 1928, Who is this alum? Mathematics MacDonald Laboratory at Kansas State University, the Joint M.A. 1930) at UNL in Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (JILA) at the University into the room. the 1890s. In of Colorado in Boulder, the National Institute of Standards (The photograph is from the his early years, she taught Ted and Technology (NIST), also in Boulder, and Fermilab, just 1930s.) Everyone knows, of at home and, in particular, west of Chicago. They have also toured the Museum of Science course, that Ted Jorgensen, af- introduced him to mathemat- and Industry and the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. ter doing his undergraduate and ics. When he was ready for The SPS group’s size has varied between fi ve and fi fteen. master’s level work at UNL, re- college, he and a friend drove Typically, they leave Lincoln by van after classes on Friday, ceived his Ph.D. from Harvard, by motorcycle to Lincoln to arriving at their destination late that night. Saturday and and worked on the Manhattan register at UNL. He related Sunday mornings are spent touring, and everybody heads back Project in Los Alamos. how the roads they traveled on to Nebraska Sunday afternoon. Highlights of the various trips They know that while were unfi t for motorcycles, but have been numerous and varied. They included a 1999 “insid- there, besides doing physics, he they managed to arrive by the ers tour” of the D0 experiment at Fermilab, led by the then cooked Chinese meals for some last day to register. However, SPS President, Jennifer Webster, who had worked the previ- of the most famous physicists he was turned away by the th ous summer on that experiment with UNL Professor Greg of the 20 Century. After the registrar because Sorum High Snow. At JILA in 2001, they got the complete tour (including war he joined the faculty at the School (in Sorum, S.D.) was not brownies) from Carl Weiman, fi ve months before he won the University of Nebraska, built a on the university’s list of ac- Nobel Prize for his observation, along with Eric Cornell, of Cockcroft-Walton accelerator credited schools. Luckily he was Bose-Einstein condensation in an atomic vapor. On that same with his students, and, together able to take a competency exam visit, Dave Wineland gave them the cook’s tour of the time and with the other atomic physics (the Army’s Alpha Test) and frequency laser labs at NIST, and Chris Greene (B.S. 1976), a faculty he helped recruit, es- was then allowed to register. Professor at CU, welcomed them as only a Nebraska alum can. tablished a world-class atomic Ted’s friend registered in the Other notable events have included a high speed blow-out on collisions program here. Engineering College, but Ted I-80 returning last year from Boulder, and an attempt by Prof. Many alumni recall with could not afford the required Gay to park a 2.5 m tall van in a 2.4 m tall parking garage on fondness the courses he taught Chicago’s North Michigan Avenue. ■ and the insights he gave them, GUESS WHO? not only about physics but also continued on page 15

14 FALL2004 Student News Department Scholarship Funds Increase Fivefold he Department recognizes that the cost — Elbridge and Mary Stowell of attending college is increasing at a Scholarship Fund: Established in 1999 by Tsignificant rate, and we have been con- the estate of Elbridge (M.S. 1923) and Mary cerned that many capable students are find- Stowell, to assist deserving UNL physics ing it more difficult to afford UNL. Thus, students. we have made a concerted effort to increase — Banti and Mela Ram Jaswal the number and amounts of the scholarships Scholarship: Established in 2000 by that we offer. Thanks especially to the gener- Professor Sitaram Jaswal and his wife Alice osity of our alumni and faculty, the amount in honor of his parents Banti and Mela Ram of scholarship funds available to our best Jaswal, to assist deserving UNL physics stu- students has increased by about a factor of dents. five in the past eight years, as shown in the adjacent figure. husband´s life and achievements as professor — Kurt Meyer Physics Scholarship: During the early- to mid-nineties, the of physics at UNL for the period 1900 to Established in 2002 by alumnus Kurt Meyer Department awarded approximately $7,000 1942. The scholarship “shall be awarded to a (B.S. 1988), to assist deserving UNL physics in scholarships annually to about eight stu- student pursuing work in the Department of students. dents. During each of the past two years, the Physics providing said student has satisfacto- — The Cheunjit Katkanant Memorial Department has awarded more than $30,000 rily completed one academic year of college Scholarship Fund: to about 20 students. The Physics and work and further providing that said student Established in 2002 Astronomy Alumni Scholarship Fund was set displays marked ability and promise of suc- by alumnus Vanvilai Katkanant (M.S. 1979, up as an endowment fund in the mid-1980s cess.” Ph.D. 1983) in honor of her mother Cheunjit (by then Chair Anthony Starace) so that the Katkanant, to assist deserving UNL physics — Henry H. Marvin Memorial students. Dr. Katkanant has the distinction value of gifts from alumni and friends would Scholarship: Established in 1954 by Mrs. increase with time. It now generates enough of being the first woman to be awarded a Henry H. Marvin, whose husband was from Ph.D. from our Department. She is cur- income annually to provide a substantial 1919 to 1952 a professor of physics in the scholarship. Other “named” scholarships rently Chair of the Physics Department at Department. “Recipients of the scholarships California State University–Fresno specifically for physics and astronomy stu- shall be regularly enrolled undergraduate dents have been established through substan- students at UNL who have proven their abil- — The Elizabeth Anne, Stephan M. tial donations from individuals. They are: ity to do satisfactory college work and who and Robert M. Eddy Scholarship Fund: — John E. Almy Scholarship: Given are worthy of financial assistance, but in the Established in 2003 by alumnus Stephan by Amy C. Almy, the wife of John E. Almy selection of the recipients preference should M. Eddy (B.S. 1978) in honor of his wife (M.S. 1897), in 1944 to commemorate her be given to those majoring in physics.” Elizabeth and his father Robert, to assist deserving UNL physics students. ■

GUESS WHO? continued from page 14 slide rule, so he registered in [His] message to our graduates was summed up in a phrase his the Arts and Sciences College, “where a slide rule was not “mother often used: ‘You can thank your lucky stars that....’ He required, and registered in admitted that when he entered the university, ‘I had no idea what I courses that had no labora- tory fees.” He was still forced was getting into.’ But he implied to our graduates that things would to take courses in beginning algebra and trigonometry, even work out for them as they had for him. though he had already learned these subjects from his mother. ” By doing well in these subjects, Scott was of the opinion that “You can thank your lucky to our graduates that things however, he was able to estab- some were of low quality and stars that….” It expressed the would work out for them as lish himself in the Mathematics even “impossible”; Gaba rebut- thought that it often seems they had for him. ■ Department. Ted related ted that some were truly excel- that one’s life depends on so how Professor Gaba of the lent. After a while, Gaba and many chance influences and [Editor’s note: Ted Jorgensen’s Mathematics Department had Scott realized they had in mind yet things seem to work out speech at our 2002 Recognition a conversation while at lunch the same student, Ted. for the best. He admitted that Luncheon was based on his one day with Professor Scott of informal autobiography, “An Ted’s message to our when he entered the university, Autobiography: The Adventures the English Department about graduates was summed up in a “I had no idea what I was of a Physicist (July 2002; the incoming freshman class. phrase his mother often used: getting into.” But he implied unpublished).]

SPECTRUM 15 Brief Notes

Bob Fuller is another of the leaders in the effort to transform the Brief Notes teaching of physics by employing active learning methods. Fuller is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, has served in 1980 as • Associate Professor Herman Batelaan has won the 2003 President of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), Outstanding Young Scientist Award of the UNL Chapter of Sigma and has received numerous accolades and awards throughout Xi, the Scientific Research Society. Batelaan’s group achieved inter- his career. In particular, he won the AAPT’s Robert A. Millikan national recognition in 2001, when it became the first to observe Medal for outstanding contributions to the teaching of physics in the Kapitza-Dirac effect (electron diffraction from a standing wave 1992, won the University of Nebraska’s Outstanding Teaching and of light). This observation was widely reported and discussed (e.g., Instructional Creativity Award in 1993, and was named to UNL’s see the January 2002 issue of Physics Today). The group recently Academy of Distinguished Teachers in 1995. demonstrated the ability to stop polarized light (see page 6 of this issue of Spectrum). In addition to doing cutting edge experiments, Timothy Gay Herman is also a ranked badminton player who competes regularly • Professor served as content consultant for the in local and Midwest tournaments. NETCHE-produced CD-ROM Physics of Light. NETCHE is the Nebraska Educational Television Council for Higher Education, a consortium of postsecondary institutions devoted to the improve- • The work of Professor Sy-Hwang Liou, George Holmes University ment of teaching and learning. The CD-ROM introduces the prop- Professor David J. Sellmyer, and Research Associate Professor erties of light to those with little or no background in science or Ralph Skomski has been highlighted in the January 2002 issue math. Its lessons include interactive demos and video clips address- of Photonics Spectra, a leading trade journal. Liou, Sellmyer, and ing reflection, refraction, and color of light. Skomski reported in the October 2001 issue of Applied Physics Letters a unique nanofabrication technique that has considerable potential for enhancing information storage densities in magnetic • Research carried out jointly by Professor and Department Vice Stephen Ducharme media. They showed that patterned magnetic media, in which each Chairman and Russian Academy of Sciences Vladimir M. Fridkin bit comprises several magnetic grains, are more stable against ther- member and UNL Adjunct Professor was featured at a noteworthy physics event in Moscow in November mal fluctuations than individual magnetic grains. This result makes th possible reliable magnetic storage of bits (of information) on a 2001. The occasion was the 1,700 and final session of Vitaly denser scale. Photonics Spectra selected this advance as a significant L. Ginzburg’s celebrated “All-Moscow Seminar on Theoretical research achievement in the section “Technology World.” Physics” in the I.E. Tamm Theory Department of the Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Academician Ginzburg, 85, has made seminal contributions to solid state phys- • The work of Assistant Professor Cornelis (Kees) Uiterwaal ics, astrophysics, and nuclear physics, for which he was awarded and coworkers was selected for discussion in the section “Editor’s the 2001 Nobel Prize in physics. At this event Fridkin presented a Choice” of the 18 January 2002 issue of Science. Uiterwaal and report of the “First Experimental Observation of Intrinsic Landau- coworkers reported in Physical Review Letters 18, 023001(2002) Ginzburg Switching,” which is among the many results of Fridkin that short laser pulses having a broad frequency spectrum that and Ducharme’s 11 year long collaboration. (Landau-Ginzburg pass through a gas of toluene molecules can shatter the molecules. switching concerns the time for reversing the polarization direction More intense laser pulses having a narrower frequency spread left in a ferroelectric material due to intrinsic interactions, without the the molecules intact. The authors conclude that broad frequency influences of defects or domain wall motion.) pulses are able to stimulate the carbon-carbon bonds in the mol- ecule so that the backbone framework of the molecule shatters. Gordon A. Gallup’s One of Uiterwaal’s coworkers, Bernd Witzel, of the University of • Emeritus Professor book, Valence Bond Freiburg, Germany, has been a frequent visitor to UNL since Kees Methods: Theory and Applications, was published in July 2002 by joined our faculty. In 2004 Witzel will move to Canada, where Cambridge University Press. The book presents ab initio valence he will be an associate professor in the physics department at bond theory, which is one of two commonly used methods in mo- Université Laval in Québec. This move may facilitate continued lecular quantum mechanics. (The other is molecular orbital theory.) collaborations. The book is split into two parts. Part I gives simple examples of two-electron calculations and the necessary theory to extend these to larger systems. Part II gives a set of case studies of related • Professor Robert Fuller’s book, A Love of Discovery: molecule sets designed to show the nature of the valence bond Science Education, The Second Career of Robert description of molecular structure. It also highlights Karplus, was published by Plenum Publishing the stability of this description to varying basis Corporation in January 2002. Robert sets. Since retiring from the Chemistry Karplus, a professor of physics at the Department, Gallup has taken up residence University of California, Berkeley, USA, within the Physics Department’s AMO became a leader in the movement to group in the sub-basement of Behlen Lab. reform elementary school science in the 1960s. This His research concerns elastic and inelastic elec- book selects the enduring aspects of his work and presents tron scattering from molecules, dissociative attachment of them for the scientists and science educators of today. It tries polyatomic molecules, and scattering of polarized electrons from to capture the essence of his life and work and presents selections chiral molecules. He has collaborated with Professors Paul Burrow of his published articles in a helpful context. It includes also es- and Ilya Fabrikant on a number of research publications in these says on the impact of his work by former colleagues and students. areas.

16 FALL2004 Brief Notes

received his award at the annual Arts and Sciences Alumni Awards Banquet in April 2003. Dean Richard Hoffmann wrote to Bykov, “It is people like you who make it possible for the University to shine…” Bykov carried out his doctoral research on computational and theoretical studies of liquids in the group of Xiao Cheng Zeng, Willa Cather Professor of Chemistry and Adjunct Professor of Physics.

• Research Assistant Professor Kevin M. Lee and Professor Edward G. Schmidt, Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences, organized the third annual UNL High School Astronomy Camp, held 13-19 July 2003. Marilyn McDowell provided administrative support. The camp, designed for high school students, focused on astrobiology, addressing questions such as whether other stars have planets, what are the conditions necessary for life, where should one look for evidence of life, etc. Campers attended classes during the day and participated W in hands-on observation projects at night. Students used vari- I ous facilities, including the UNL student observatory (with Department graduate students Christina Othon (left) and Anthony N its 16 inch telescope and CCD detector), Behlen Observatory Caruso (middle) together with University of Nebraska Medical Center N graduate student Cerise Elliot. Othon and Elliot were co-winners of E in Mead, NE (with its 30 inch telescope and CCD detector as Sigma Xi’s graduate student paper competition; Caruso received an R well as four 8 inch telescopes), the Minnich solar telescope in Honorable Mention. Photo is taken in Caruso’s lab. Ferguson Hall (with its filter allowing safe viewing of the Sun), and the Ralph Mueller planetarium in Morrill Hall. • Graduate student Christina Othon was a co-winner in The campers the UNL Chapter of Sigma Xi’s Graduate Student Poster took many Competition in April 2002; graduate student Anthony images of Caruso received an Honorable Mention. Othon is working various with Professor Stephen Ducharme on ferroelectric astronomical polymer Langmuir-Blodgett films; Caruso is working with objects (e.g., Professor Peter Dowben on nonmetal to metal transitions see the photo at surfaces. Prior to becoming Department Vice Chairman, of the ring Steve Ducharme organized the annual Sigma Xi graduate nebula shown student poster competitions. In the September-October 2002 here); for other issue, page 486, of Sigma Xi’s magazine, American Scientist, images, see the Ducharme is quoted extensively regarding how the UNL Camp’s web Ring nebula photo taken by 2003 Astronomy chapter supports graduate student research. site: http:// Camp students. astro.unl.edu. • Graduate students in Professor Peter Dowben’s group have The Astronomy Camp is co-sponsored by the UNL Center for received much national recognition recently. Bo Xu (Ph.D. Science, Mathematics, and Computer Education, the Johnson 2002), whose thesis was on “Interfaces with Polymers,” was a Space Center, and the NASA Nebraska Space Grant. 2002 semifinalist for the American Vacuum Society’s (AVS’s) Morton Traum Surface Science Division Student Award. Rui- • Amateur astronomer Bob Linderholm of Cambridge, NE Hua Cheng (Ph.D. 2002), whose thesis was on “Surface and has named asteroid 19294 after Emeritus Professor John Interface Properties of CrO Thin Films,” in 2002 won an AVS 2 Weymouth. The asteroid was discovered on 6 August 1996 Dorothy and Earl S. Hoffman travel grant and was a semifi- by Linderholm at Lime Creek Observatory. The orbital nalist for the AVS’s Falicov Award. Hae-Kyung Jeong won parameters of the asteroid and a visualization of its orbit the 2001 Outstanding Student Presentation Award at the 36th can be seen on NASA’s Near Earth Object web site (http:// Annual Midwest Regional Meeting of the American chemical neo.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/db_shm?sstr=Weymouth). John Society, won the AVS’s 2002 Graduate Research Award, and Weymouth retired from the Department in 1989, but has won a 2002 AVS Dorothy and Earl S. Hoffman travel grant. continued to carry out geophysical surveys of archeological Jeong’s awards were based on her research on unoccupied sur- sites around the world. In 1997 he received the Fryxell face states of molybdenum [specifically MO (112)]. Award of the Society for American Archaeology “for making geophysical techniques an indispensable part” of • Graduate student Tikhon Bykov (Ph. D. 2003) was selected archaeological research. Among the techniques he employed by the College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Instructional at archaeological sites and for which he was cited are proton Development Committee as one of three recipients for a 2003 magnetometry, electrical resistivity, ground penetrating radar, Arts and Sciences Graduate Research Assistant Award. Bykov and chemical surveying. ■

SPECTRUM 17 Alumni News

Group photograph of the reunion attendees. Professor Jorgensen is seated third from the left in the first row.

Old alumni never die; they in Brace Lab. Three came IN THE SPOTLIGHT just have reunions! So, why from as far away as California not physics alumni, too? and others from New Mexico, Bruce Anspaugh (Ph.D. Arizona, Washington, North Graduate Student 1965) and Chester Sautter Carolina and Maryland, just (Ph.D. 1964) decided that it to mention the most distant Owould be fun to get the alums places. Alumni from ‘50s, ‘60s together who did research Thanks to Department on Ted Jorgensen’s Cockroft- Chair Roger Kirby, Walton ion accelerator back incidental expenses such as in the 1950s and 60s. Since secretarial assistance and Have Reunion Eugene Rudd (Ph.D. 1962) refreshments were provided by was still at the University, the Department. Roger also they contacted him to help gave a talk to the group on arrange it. It was decided to the present and future of the include other former grad Department and conducted a students from that era. So on tour of some of the research May 19, 2003 twenty alums laboratories. And, of course, and fourteen wives gathered we also visited the old

18 FALL2004 Alumni News accelerator. It is still in use but slated for demolition before Al-Omari the year is out. An evening reception at the Kirby’s home Wins Shoman provided an opportunity to meet current faculty members. Award Although the chief maddin Al-Omari activities for the two-day (Ph.D. 1996) was meeting were conversations Inamed the recipient with old friends and viewing of the 2003 Abdul Ha- old photographs, there were meed Shoman Award for two additional talks. Eugene Young described the early history Arab of the Department and also Scien- conducted a tour of the tists Department museum, where in the several alums found familiar field of pieces of apparatus from years phys- past. ics. Frisbee players Chet Sautter, Wayne Lang, Don Lorents, John Park, and Imaddin But the highlight for Eugene Rudd had to stop and rest up. Al-Omari There many was a talk by 97-year were old Ted Jorgensen about talk by telling about his youth his later work on the physics 129 applicants from the beginnings of the atomic on a farm in South Dakota, of golf that resulted in a best- 17 Arab countries physics program at Nebraska. his early education in a school selling book. competing for awards He expanded the scope of his operated by his mother, and During our student days in 6 fields. The award we would often relax during includes a $10,000 sti- the noon hour by playing a pend. round of Frisbee golf using a Al-Omari carried course consisting of various out his doctoral studies landmarks on the campus at UNL under the near Brace Lab. So naturally supervision of Professor we scheduled a Frisbee golf David J. Sellmyer. tournament during the He is currently an reunion. Most of the old assistant professor landmarks had disappeared of physics at Sultan but some new ones were Qaboos University in the found and after we limbered Sultanate of Oman. His up our stiff, old throwing research is focused on arms and adjusted our sights, Mössbauer spectroscopy we made it around the course. and magnetic properties Some of the young students of materials. walking by were surprised The Award for Young to see a group of old geezers Arab Scientists is given out on the lawn throwing annually by the Abdul Frisbees! The winner of Hameed Shoman Foun- the prize (a copy of the dation of Amman, Jor- Department history book) was dan, to young scholars Bruce Anspaugh. He did so who are teaching and/or well that some grumbled that doing research at a uni- he must have been practicing versity or research insti- all those years. tute located in an Arab Since most of the alums country. The awardees had not seen each other for must have demonstrated 40 years, there was a lot of exceptionally significant catching up to do. There achievements in scientific seemed to be agreement that research. Al-Omari re- it was a great idea and that ceived the award in Am- Charles Cook with Professor Jorgensen. The accelerator in the background we shouldn’t wait another 40 man in March 2003. ■ was built about 1950 by the two of them, Emerson Jones (another student), years for the next reunion! ■ and the Department machinist, John Heiser.

SPECTRUM 19 Alumni News

Research Contributions in Cancer Detection, Optical Engineering recognized ‘Million-Dollar Professor’ Richards-Kortum Wins 2004 Sharon Keillor Award ebecca Richards- laboratory, thereby enriching neck. Her work on screening on research that would have an Kortum (B.S. undergraduate education. for cervical cancer has been immediate impact on human- R1985 with Highest Richards-Kortum is using highlighted in the April 2004 ity. When she heard about the Distinction) has been selected these funds to develop courses issue of Technology Review field of biomedical engineer- to receive the 2004 Sharon for undergraduates in her (p. 24). The traditional cur- ing, she knew that was the Keillor research specialty, biomedical rent screening method (i.e., field for her. Award for engineering. Together with her the Pap smear) has a high rate She received her Ph.D. in Women in colleagues and collaborators of false positives, leading to Medical Physics in 1990 from Engineering she is also developing — with an unnecessarily high number MIT and has received numer- Education by support of the Hughes grant — of costly and painful biopsies. ous recognitions for her re- the American clinical engineering internships Together with collaborators, search and teaching since then, Society for in biomedical imaging for Richards-Kortum has devel- including an NSF Presidential Rebecca Engineering biomedical engineering majors; oped a pencil-sized probe that Young Investigator Award Richards- the interns apply biomedical shines ultraviolet and visible (1991), the Becton Dickinson Kortum Education (ASEE). imaging technologies to light onto the cervix; pre-can- Career Achievement Award The award, which carries a problems in human health. cerous cells fluoresce at these of the Association for the Ad- $2,000 honorarium, cites Rebecca Richards-Kortum wavelengths. The technology vancement of Medical Instru- Richards-Kortum for her is the Cockrell Family Chair could be ready for Food and mentation (1992), the Univer- seminal research contributions and Distinguished Teaching Drug Administration approval sity of Nebraska Outstanding in cancer detection and optical Professor in Biomedical En- by next year. Young Alumni Achievement engineering, as well as her gineering at the University of Richards-Kortum was Award (1994), and the Y.C. teaching and mentorship. Texas–Austin. Her research greatly stimulated by doing Fung Young Investigator This recent recognition seeks to identify cancer in undergraduate research in Award of the Bioengineering follows upon her selection in very early stages, when the the condensed matter physics Division of the American So- 2002 by the Howard Hughes disease can be more effectively group of Professor David J. ciety of Mechanical Engineers Medical Institute as one of treated. She specializes in the Sellmyer at UNL. Initially (1999). As a Howard Hughes only 20 research scientists development and use of laser her sights were set on becom- Medical Institute Professor, to receive $1 million each to spectroscopy for diagnos- ing a high school mathematics she hopes to give undergradu- develop programs that will ing diseases in human tissue, teacher. However, the experi- ates the same early exposure attempt to bridge the gap specifically early stage can- ence in a research lab changed to research that influenced her between the classroom and the cers in the cervix, head, and her life. She decided to focus own career. ■ Dedication Earns Reed 2003 APS Wheatley Award ennedy Reed (Ph.D. 1978) re- between USA and African director of the Research Collaborations ceived the 2003 John Wheatley institutions, for organiz- Program for Historically Black Colleges KAward of the American Physical ing and conducting inter- and Universities and Minority Institutions. Society (APS). The purpose of the Wheat- national workshops and Reed is a Fellow of the APS and has ley Award is “to honor and recognize the conferences on physics in served as President of the National Society dedication of physicists who have made Africa, and for advocating of Black Physicists. He has been active in contributions to the development of phys- Kennedy Reed increased USA and inter- the programs of the International Center ics in countries of the third world. It was national involvement with for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy. established in 1991 with support of the physics in Africa.” He has served as Vice Chair of the APS APS Forum on International Physics. Reed, Kennedy Reed did his doctoral research Committee on International Science a physicist in the Physics and Advanced at UNL in theoretical atomic physics under Affairs. He is a co-founder of the National Technologies Division at Lawrence Liver- the direction of Professor Joseph Macek. Physical Science Consortium Graduate more National Laboratory (LLNL), was He has over 100 scientific publications. Fellowship Program for women and selected for the award for his “multifaceted His research has focused on atomic colli- minorities. contributions to the promotion of physics sions in high temperature plasmas, and has Reed has been a visiting scientist research and education in Africa.” The contributed to the understanding of elec- at numerous universities including the citation praises Reed “for developing agree- tron-impact excitation and ionization of University of Dakar in Senegal and the ments for exchange of faculty and students highly charged ions. At LLNL, Reed is also University of Cape Coast in Ghana. ■

20 FALL2004 Alumni News Moore Leads ADAPT Workshop in Chile hristopher J. Moore (M.S. 1992) at the University of California–Berkeley who presented a workshop on “College used Piaget’s ideas to develop the learning CTeaching and the Development of cycle method to teach reasoning skills to stu- Reasoning” to more than 30 faculty at the dents in science classes). Upon receiving the Universidad de Tarapacá in Arica, Chile dur- request for such a workshop from the faculty ing 14–15 November 2002. Moore’s invita- at Tarapacá University, Fuller suggested that tion stemmed from the interest of the faculty it would be most appropriate for Moore to at the University of Tarapacá to initiate a present the workshop as he had lived and multidisciplinary program for college stu- been raised in Chile. dents patterned after the successful ADAPT During the workshop, for which Moore (Accent for Developing Advanced Processes translated all materials into Spanish, partici- of Thought) program developed and taught pants took part in active learning activities at the University of Nebraska under the that examined how students reason. They leadership of Professor Robert Fuller from also learned methods for developing student 1975–1997. Moore worked with Fuller in the cognitive skills, and how to incorporate these ADAPT program and also helped develop into college teaching. Faculty participants materials for undergraduate hands-on multi- included the Dean of Education and Human- Christopher J. Moore lectures in Iquique, Chile media physics laboratories. ities, the Director of the Education depart- The ADAPT program provided an envi- ment, and professors from over 8 different before returning to Wisconsin, Moore gave ronment for college freshmen to develop cog- disciplines including anthropology, physics, a lecture to the faculty of the Universidad nitive reasoning patterns based on the work biology, math, and linguistics. Arturo Prat in Iquique, Chile on why it is of Jean Piaget (a Swiss cognitive psychologist Moore is currently the Educational important for college students to develop who studied the phases and processes of in- Outreach Coordinator at the Synchrotron formal reasoning. The faculty expressed an tellectual development in children and young Radiation Center of the University of Wis- interest in having a similar ADAPT work- adults) and Dr. Robert Karplus (a physicist consin–Madison. On November 16, 2002, shop presented at their university. ■ Debra Fickler Speaks at Recognition Luncheon ebra J. Fickler much time in hospitals had her the F-4 Phantom, the F-5 Eagle, degree, she took an internship (formerly Cleveland) thinking of pursuing nursing the F/A-18 Hornet, and the AV- in environmental engineering D(B.S. 1988) spoke as a career. Thus she entered 8B Harrier. For example, she with the U.S. Justice on May 8th, 2003 at the UNL as a biology major. She was involved with testing the Department. Department’s Recognition credits Professor Paul Burrow, trailing edge flap of the F/A-18 While Fickler’s current Luncheon, who taught Physics 141 for Hornet, which is a carrier-based profession is law, her passion held annually Life Science students, and the jet. She noted to graduates is drag racing. She races to honor Department’s strong laboratory that whereas science is “pure,” herself. She also takes great Department courses with influencing her to engineering requires one to interest in the technology and graduates. become a physics major. think outside the box to analyze physics that make for winning Fickler is Upon graduation from real-world situations using the race cars. She specializes in currently an UNL, Fickler went to work for science one knows. intellectual property related to Debra J. Fickler intellectual McDonnell Aircraft Company Fickler became involved high performance automobiles. (formerly Cleveland) property in St. Louis, where she worked in a marketing project, which She and her husband Kyle are lawyer, in the engineering department led McDonnell to send her involved with a company called dealing primarily with patents, on non-destructive materials to the University of Montana Aeromotive, Inc. that makes trademarks, copyrights, etc. She testing. She was the only to study intellectual property components for race cars and is in private practice living and one in her group without an law. She found the study of also sponsors race cars. Debra working just outside Chicago. engineering degree. law intellectually challenging. is also a Board Member and The title of her address was She was involved with She was a member of the General Counsel to the Drag “Physics and Everyday Life,” in using ultrasound, holographic University of Montana’s Trial Racing Association of Women which she discussed how physics imaging, x-ray imaging, and Advocacy Team that won (in (DRAW). Among her other has influenced her career and both electrical and magnetic its category) the American Trial accomplishments, Debra was contributes to her avocation methods to test various materials Lawyer Association’s national named Miss South Dakota in (drag racing). She related how (such as, e.g., graphite, plastics, championship. She returned to the 1984 Miss America Pageant. physics was the only subject in and advanced metals) that are St. Louis to continue working She and her husband became which she did not have a grade used in aircraft. Among the for McDonnell, finishing her parents on 31 December 2003 of “A” in high school. A serious aircraft she tested for damage law degree at the University with the birth of a girl, Danika gymnastics accident that led to from takeoffs and landings were of St. Louis. Upon getting her Carrera. ■

SPECTRUM 21 Alumni News Backhaus Cited Among Top 100 Young Innovators cott Backhaus (B.S. 1990) was Backhaus joined medium used is helium gas inside a pipe. Scott selected by Technology Review as Los Alamos National developed a feedback loop that increased the Sone of 100 Top Young Innovators Laboratory (LANL) in efficiency of the engine dramatically, making for his invention of a novel, high-efficiency 1998, holding a prestigious the device practical for use as a chiller (or engine powered by sound waves. Backhaus’s Director’s Postdoctoral refrigerator). Backhaus and Swift published a work was described on p. 102 of the October Fellowship. He worked report on their 30% efficient thermo acoustic 2003 issue as part of a feature on the TR100, Scott in the group of another engine with a kilowatt of acoustic power “Technology Review’s latest selection of 100 Backhaus alumnus, Gregory W. output in the May 27, 1999 issue of Nature. brilliant young innovators whose vision and Swift (B.S. 1974 with High In October 2003, Swift and Backhaus filed a hard work are shaping our future.” Distinction). When Scott started at LANL, patent on the principle of the device. Already Backhaus is currently a member of the thermoacoustic energies were too inefficient some industrial companies have taken an technical staff in the Condensed Matter and for useful applications. The principle of the interest in commercializing the engines for use Thermal Physics Group at Los Alamos Na- engine is to use heat to produce sound waves in liquefying natural gas, thereby making it tional Laboratory. that can then do useful work. The material easier to transport to end users. ■ Schneider Recognized for Scientific Impact in Space Science onald P. Schneider “quasi stellar objects” — are ated from Minden H.S. in 1973 (B.S. 1976) has been unusually bright and distant in the same class as Doug Kris- Drecognized for his sci- galaxies; their intense light is tensen, who is now Chancellor entific impact over the past two emitted by matter falling into of the University of Nebraska at decades by the Institute for Sci- massive black holes at their Kearney. Schneider majored in entific Infor- centers.) Distant quasars inform both mathematics and physics at mation (ISI), scientists about conditions in the UNL and received his Ph.D. in which moni- early universe as well as about 1982 at California Institute of tors scien- how galaxies are formed. Qua- An arrow indicates a distant quasar Technology. tific citations sars also help scientists study in the Ground-based Image taken Following a research fellow by the Wiyn Telescope, Kitt Peak worldwide. dark matter, which is increas- National Observatory, Arizona appointment at Cal Tech, in Schneider ingly thought to play a large role 1985 he took a research position Donald P. was listed as in the evolution of the Universe. bitious goal of finding 100,000 at the Institute for Advanced Schneider one of 249 At the time the ambitious goals new quasars. The discoveries Study in Princeton, NJ before “highly cited” of the Sloan Survey were an- announced in January 2003 joining the faculty at Penn State researchers from 14 nations in nounced, astronomers had only were subsequently published in in 1994. Schneider received a the area of space science based discovered about 6,000 quasars. the April 2003 issue of The As- University of Nebraska College upon the number of times their As of January 2003, the survey trophysical Journal. of Arts and Sciences Senior work has been cited in scientific had discovered over 15,000 new Schneider is a native of Alumnus Award in April 2002 papers published since 1981. quasars, thus silencing skeptics, Heartwell, Nebraska and gradu- for his many scientific achieve- Schneider is a professor in who initially scoffed at the am- ments. ■ the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Pennsylva- nia State University. He is also Sun Awarded Lindbergh Certificate of Merit the Chairman of the Quasar Sci- ence Group of the Sloan Digital henhua Sun (M.S. 1997, Ph.D. 1999 with High Distinction) was awarded a Certificate of Mer- Sky Survey, a large international it by the Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation for his research project on “Devel- effort that aims to observe Zoping Biodegradable Film Polymers using Modified Starch.” Sun is a postdoctoral research asso- 100,000 quasars, measure dis- ciate working in the group of Professor Ya Jane Wang in the Food Science Department at the University tances to a million galaxies, and of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Sun’s research project addresses the environmental problem of polymer produce a digital map of the sky. waste (i.e., one-time use polymers) that is overwhelming available landfills. Sun’s focus is on the develop- Schneider has published over ment of biodegradable polymer materials that can degrade completely in less than a year when buried in 240 scientific papers. soil. (Nondegradable polymers take several decades to break down.) This work will lessen dependence At a January 2003 meeting on petroleum products and provide economic benefits to farmers, especially those producing corn. of the American Astronomical The Lindbergh Foundation awards Certificates of Merit to unfunded projects that are deemed Society, Schneider’s research worthy of special recognition. It is hoped that this recognition will result in funding by other sources. team announced the discovery In the 2001 competition, out of 168 applications, 10 received funding and 3 received Certificates of of 3 of the 4 most distant qua- Merit. The Lindbergh Foundation is located in Anoka, MN. Its focus is on furthering a balance be- sars known, including the most tween technological advancement and environmental preservation. ■ distant one. (Quasars — or

22 FALL2004 Alumni News We Heard That… • Alston, Steven G. (M.S. 1979, Ph.D. 1982), 1703 20th St. Standards — now called the National Institute of Standards and NW, East Grand Forks, MN 56721 is Dean of Academic Affairs Technology. I was working in the Standards and Calibration at Northland College in East Grand Forks, MN. He previously Laboratory here at the Kennedy Space Center at the time. Chris was Dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences at Wayne was a Ph.D. candidate while I was working in the Physics Dept.; State College in Wayne, NE. he was a really great guy. I get back to Nebraska every few years to a family reunion. I haven’t been there long enough to visit the UNL campus, however… I am presently retired and my wife • Angel, Gordon (Former Postdoctoral Research Associate) still works. However, I may have to go back to work if the stock 3 Sunset Rd., Salem MA 01970 is a Senior Scientist working market keeps going down.” Email: bbryan2@cfl.rr.com for Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc. (VSEA). VSEA designs, manufactures, and services semiconductor processing equipment used in the fabrication of integrated • Cerny, Richard A. (B.S. 1968)12 Military Rd., Worcester, circuits. Gordon and his wife, Lorraine, attended the 2003 MA 01609-1627 is President and CEO of Telecast Fiber Systems, ICPEAC meeting in Stockholm, Sweden, at which Gordon Inc., the world’s leading manufacturer of fiber optic systems for represented VSEA. Email: [email protected] radio and television broadcast production. • Chopra, Dev R. (M.S. 1960), 19138 Dove Creek Drive, • Bao, Minqi (M.S. 1992, Ph.D. 1995), 548 Tarter Ct., San Jose, CA 95136 has enrolled part-time in the M.B.A. program Tampa, FL 33647, is Regents Professor of Physics at Texas at the University of California–Berkeley’s Haas School of A&M University–Commerce. Business. He continues working for Platform Computing, which sells the most comprehensive “desktop to supercomputer” grid • Gao, Bo (M.S. 1986, Ph.D. 1989), 7153 Finchley Ct., Toledo, software solutions for managing IT resources. MinQi and his OH 43617 has been promoted to Associate Professor with wife, Jing Jin, have a two-year-old daughter, Adelaide. Email: tenure in the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the [email protected] University of Toledo. He recently took a sabbatical leave at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, • Bass, Robert J. (B.S. 1985), 102 Windsor Ct., Coeur d’Alene, MD working with the quantum processes group on the theory ID 83815, is teaching physics, mathematics and computer of cold atom collisions. Email: [email protected]; science at Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy in northern Idaho, Web page: http://bgaowww.physics.utoledo.edu/ where he is the Chairman of the Mathematics Department. • Gray, David M. (B.S. 1977), 47678 Woolcott Square, Sterling, • Bryan, Blaine (B.S. 1960 ) wrote to Roger Kirby on 4 October VA 20165, is with American Management Systems developing 2002 of his recollections of some of our faculty and alumni: multimedia training programs for clients’ software applications. “The mention [in a message from Kirby] of Dr. Pearlstein brings back a lot of memories of the • Heeger, Alan J. (B.S. 1957), 1042 Las Alturas Rd., Santa Physics Dept. I recall in the middle Barbara, CA 93103-1608 was recently elected to the National of winter (with temperatures Academy of Engineering. about zero or below and the wind howling away) Drs. • Jacobs, Loyd D. (M.S. 1958), 2004 128 Avenue SE, Bellevue, Weymouth and Pearlstein and a WA 98005-3916. few others would go to coffee at a nearby restaurant. The picture I • Keifer, David W. (B.S. 1968), 12 Princeton Ave., Hopewell, remember was hilarious. Dr.Weymouth NJ 08525, works at FMC Corporation. would be bundled up from head to foot and Dr. Pearlstein • Keim, Chris P. (M.S. 1932, Ph.D. Chemistry/Physics 1940), would be wearing, at most, 360 Laboratory Rd #300, Oak Ridge, TN 37830-6847 is in his regular clothes, a sport excellent health and enjoying retirement in Oak Ridge, TN. coat, and a pair of gloves. He retired from Oak Ridge National Laboratories in the late If it were REALLY cold he 1960s, but has held a variety of consulting positions since might actually don a pair of then. He remembers fondly his days as Director of the Stable earmuffs! It’s good to hear Isotopes Division at ORNL, and also his early life as a student that he is still around. I think in Nebraska. I saw Dr. Weymouth not long ago on the History Channel — something about • Kelton, Phillip W. (B.S. 1970), 5713 Marilyn Dr, Austin, finding ancient civilizations. Also, I used TX 78757-4420 is the Assistant Director of the McDonald to run into Chris Kuyatt (M.S. 1952, MA Observatory of the University of Texas. 1953, Ph.D. 1960) occasionally while he was still living and working at the National Bureau of WE HEARD THAT continued on page 24

SPECTRUM 23 Alumni News

WE HEARD THAT continued from page 23 • Kemeny, Peter (Former Postdoctoral Research Associate), Editor’s note: The error mentioned is not the fault of Andy Unit 2, 59A Pakington Street, St. Kilda, Victoria 3182, Smith, but of the editor, who routinely adds degree and/or Australia, is self-employed. position information to alumni and faculty names that are mentioned in letters such as this one. Lugn is correct; R.C. • Lang, Wayne W. (Ph.D. 1964), 222 Lambeth Walk, Sill did receive the Ph.D. degree from our department in 1954. Fairview, NC 28730 recently retired as Professor of Computer R.C. Sill was probably a faculty member at the University of Science at the University of North Carolina–Asheville. He now Nevada–Reno at some point following his graduation from gives three day workshops on computer hardware design for UNL, according to Roger Kirby. Also, prior to joining UNL in Xilinx Corporation. 1948, Skapsi was a scientific staff member at the James Franck Institute for Metals at the University of Chicago; he left UNL • Lockard, Ronald J. (B.S. 1965), 720 Brookside Dr., in 1953 to join the University of Vermont. Prior to WWII, Lincoln, NE 68528-1019 is Chairman and CEO of Transaction Skapsi had had a distinguished career as a faculty member at Applications Group (in Lincoln, NE), which provides support the Jagiellonian University in Crakow, where he organized and for the insurance industry. Prior to founding TAG, Ron was headed the Institute for Physics and Chemistry of Metals. But Assistant Director of Computing Services at the University of after capture by Russians, slave labor in Siberia, and service Nebraska. for the Polish government in exile in London, he emigrated to the U.S.A. at the end of WWII. Further information on Skapsi • Liu, Chien-Nan (M.S. 1995, Ph.D. 1999) is an Assistant may be found in M.E. Rudd’s book, Science on the Great Professor of Physics at Fu Jen Catholic University, 510 Chung Plains (University of Nebraska Studies No. 71, Lincoln, 1992). Cheng Rd, Hsinchuang, Taipei Hsien 24205 Taiwan, Republic of China. Email: [email protected] • Lund, Christina (B.S. 2000), 6022 S Drexel Ave, Apt 112, Chicago, IL 60637-2635 received an M.S. degree in Medical • Lugn, Alvin L. Jr. (MA 1950) 1234 “K” St., Apt C4, Lincoln, Physics from the University of Chicago and is now job hunting. NE 68508, wrote on 16 August 2002 about an omission in the Winter 2002 issue of Spectrum: “I have just received the latest • Maeda, Kaichi (Ph.D. 1960), 402-27-21-3 Shimizu Minami- issue of Spectrum. Since Dr. T.T. [Theodore Townsend] ku, Fukuoka 815-0031, Japan. Smith [former faculty member in the Dept. from 1919– 1953] was one of my teachers in the department, I • McAvoy-Rybnicek, Tara (M.S. 1997) is working on did find the letter from Andy [Andrew N.] Smith ion implantation technologies for ABB Semiconductors, 3 [B.A. 1947 Physics/Math with High Distinction] Fabrikstrasse, CH-5600 Lenzburg, Switzerland. most interesting. I was …acquainted with Andy. Several other names mentioned by Andy were • Moberg, Robert (Former Postdoctoral Research very familiar, too. I knew and well remember Associate) is a Sales and Business Development Manager Charles J. Cook [M.A. 1950, Ph.D. 1953], with Gammadata Scienta AB, P.O. Box 15120, SE-750 15 Emerson Jones [Ph.D. 1953], and Uppsala, Sweden. Gammadata Scienta is a leading supplier Charles B. Ackerman [ M.A.1950, of high-resolution spectroscopy equipment, including ultra Ph.D. 1954]. Bob Chambers [B.A. high resolution electron spectrometers and X-ray emission 1944 Chemistry/Physics] is an old spectrometers. Robert represented Gammadata at the 2003 friend and a Lincoln H.S. classmate, ICPEAC meeting in Stockholm, Sweden. Email: Robert. whom I have visited with in Lincoln [email protected] several times in recent years at LHS Class of 1940 reunions. • Niva, Gordon D. (M.S. 1975, Ph.D. 1979) has been working So also was the late …Dick for the Missile Defense National Team Systems (NDNTS) Sill [who died in an airplane in Arlington VA on “temporary assignment” since January crash in Reno in 1980] an old 2002. His wife, Susan, is an Army Reserve Pharmacy Officer …friend and a schoolmate …at LHS. who was ordered to active duty for Operation Iraqi Freedom I guess the primary reason for responding …is to point out an and assigned to Walter Reed Hospital. They invite friends and error of omission in Andy’s letter. R.C. Sill is identified with colleagues to visit when in the Washington, D.C. area. Tel.: the degrees (B.A. 1945, M.A. 1950). As I am sure you know, (703) 861-1321. Dick also earned his Ph.D. in physics at Nebraska …under the direction of Dr. Adam S. Skapsi [faculty member in the • Otnes, Robert K. (B.A. math/astronomy 1953; M.S. math/ Dept. from 1948–1953], in the field of solid state physics. It physics 1958), 2160 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto CA 94301 might also be mentioned in passing that Adam Skapsi was is the Editor of the Journal of the Oughtred Society, which himself a very interesting (even somewhat colorful) member of is dedicated to the history and collection of slide rules. In a the physics department staff at that time.” letter dated 14 July 2002 he writes: “I obtained a Ph.D. in WE HEARD THAT continued on page 24

24 FALL2004 Alumni News

WE HEARD THAT continued from page 23 engineering from UCLA and co-authored a couple of books on time series, both now long out of print. Most of my career was spent in government work. While still doing some consulting, We want to hear from you! most of my time is now spent on the Oughtred Society and You may send us your news by using the postcard the writing of a booklet on small adding machines. I have included with the mailing of this newsletter. Alternatively, an old, unpublished paper by one of the Keuffel family. It send your news to: concerns the making of what they claim to be the first optical Professor Roger D. Kirby, Chairman quality glass in the U.S. during the First World War.” Email: Dept. of Physics & Astronomy [email protected] 116 Brace Laboratory The University of Nebraska–Lincoln • Pareek, Prem N. (M.S. 1980, Ph.D. 1983) is Director of Lincoln, NE 68588-0111 Physics at The Kirklin Clinic at Acton Road, 2145 Elmer J. Bissell Email: [email protected] Rd, Birmingham AL 35243. Email: [email protected]

• Pinkerton, Fred (B.S. 1976) is now working on hydrogen storage technologies for General Motors. Previously his Simperman, Roy F. (M.S. 1965), 5609 80th Avenue S.E., research concerned magnetic materials; he discovered the Mercer Island, WA 98040, is the chairman and chief executive strong NdFeB permanent magnets, which are now used of Semaphore Corp. in Seattle, Washington. extensively in the automotive and other industries. • Stevenson, Roger D. II (B.S. 1998), 1342 Locust St. • Schlegel, Mark O. (B.S. 1987) 3209 Orient Fishtail Rd., #1416, Philadelphia, PA 19107 received an M.S. degree in Laurel MD 20724-2931. Physics from the University of Pennsylvania and now is with the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York • Schmidt, James J. (B.S. 1956, M.S. 1957), 187 Eastside City. Road, Deer Lodge, MT 59722 • Waldfried, Carlo (Ph.D. 1998) is in the Advanced • Serra, Efren (M.S. 1994), 2520 Begonia Place, Santa Cruz, Technology Group at Axcelis Technologies, a semiconductor CA 95062 (Tel. 831-465-9604), is a software engineer with equipment supplier in Rockville, MD that provides expertise in Sun Microsystem’s Java language (specifically semiconductor manufacturers with tools for ion implantation, Java 2, Micro Edition or J2ME). He worked for Sun from rapid thermal processing, curing, and cleaning of 2000–2002 writing software for handheld devices such semiconductor wafers. Waldfried’s work is focused on as cell phones and pocket PCs. In 2003 he joined Renesas advanced processing development, including removal of Technology America, which was created to combine the U.S. photoresists and residues from semiconductor wafers using resources of Mitsubishi Electric and Electronics and Hitachi plasmas and developing advanced curing techniques for Semiconductor. There he worked on software for electrically dielectric materials using plasma and UV technologies. Carlo erasable, programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) and his wife have a 4-year-old son, Alexander, and a nearly 2 devices. Then in 2004 he joined NanoAmp Solutions, Inc., year old daughter, Jessica. which designs, manufactures, and markets low-voltage and ultra low-power memory solutions for the wireless • Xu, Yuan-Guang (M.S. 1997, Ph.D. 2001) is a postdoctoral communication, industrial control, medical and networking research associate in the Radiation Oncology Department at markets. He is currently a Senior J2ME Software Engineer Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in upper Manhattan, with the company. Email: [email protected] New York. In December 2001 he wrote about how the terrorist attack the prior September affected him: “…like everybody else • Shahabi, Siamuk (M.S. 1977, Ph.D. 1983), 3442 Nappe here in New York, my life was certainly affected quite a bit by Dr., Middleton, WI 53562-2372 is Chief Technical Editor & Bin Laden. I don’t know to what extent people outside New Managing Editor of Advanced Medical Publishing in Madison, York City can understand what the terrorist attack has brought WI. AMP provides publications in radiation oncology, to people here. My own experience is that I was highly stressed diagnostic radiology, and related fields. for a long time, feeling anxious, scared and being sensitive to any unusual sound and light, even at home and at the office…. • Shi, Xueying (Robin) (M.S. 1987, Ph.D. 1992) survived I still have not gathered enough courage to take an airplane at a summer 2002 tornado in Massillon, OH. Her husband, this time.” Yuan-Guang is currently applying for permanent Donghai Chen, ran upstairs to get her just as the house collapsed positions in medical physics. Email: [email protected] upon them. They both fell 2 floors during the collapse. He suffered a broken nose and collar bone; she escaped injury. • Zeidler, James R. (Ph.D. 1972), 11829 La Colina Road, Both Robin and Donghai returned to Lincoln in August 2002 San Diego, CA 92131, is a Research Scientist and Senior to attend Gordon and Gay Gallup’s 75th birthday celebration. Lecturer with the Department of Electrical & Computer (Chen did his doctoral research in chemistry with Gallup.) Engineering at the Universiy of California, San Diego. ■

SPECTRUM 25 Obituaries

In Memorium Department Stunned by Khuskivadze Death e of the Department’s most bril- opportunity to join the group of Professor liant graduate students, Amiran Ilya I. Fabrikant at UNL to do research O Khuskivadze (Ph.D. 2004), was for a Ph.D. degree in theoretical atomic, Otragically killed in a horrific automobile molecular, and optical physics. accident on Interstate 80 near Wood River, At UNL, Amiran continued to exceed NE on January 30th, 2004. Amiran’s wife, expectations. Together with Fabrikant, Yelena Kosheleva, a graduate student in he co-authored four papers in leading the Psychology Department, was critically research journals on negative ion photo- injured and hospitalized for over one week detachment processes and on molecular in Grand Island. (She has since recuper- Rydberg states. He presented talks on this ated well from her physical traumas.) Ami- research at national and international con- ran was on his way to Boulder, Colorado ferences, including ones in Japan and in to interview for a postdoctoral position. Sweden. What made Amiran exceptional Amiran was born and raised in the was that he always sought to understand Republic of Georgia and began his higher physical processes at a deep, fundamental education at Tbilisi State University in level. He also minored in computer science Tbilisi. In Georgia he received numerous and presented a talk at a national meet- awards in various mathematics, physics, ing on algorithms he developed together and computer science competitions. In with Professor Alvin J. Surkan of the Amiran Khuskivadze 1994 his parents moved to Voronezh, Rus- UNL Computer Science and Engineering sia and Amiran transferred to Voronezh Department. During the 2003–4 academic Lena had clearly brightened the lives of all State University, where he received the B.S. year, Amiran worked on plans for his who knew them. The AMO faculty also degree in physics with a thesis on nuclear future research in a postdoctoral position felt a professional loss: the loss of the sci- beta decay. He received the M.S. degree in a leading AMO group. Among his plans entific advances Amiran would have cer- in physics with honors from Voronezh were new methods for treating atomic pro- tainly made in AMO physics. As Amiran State University in 1998 with a thesis on cesses in the presence of external fields and had essentially completed all requirements the structure of light nuclear potentials also proposals for quantum computation for the Ph.D. degree, the Department based on the analysis of Bremsstrahlung with trapped neutral atoms. petitioned the Graduate College to award radiation and nuclear photodisintegration. Amiran’s untimely death brought his degree posthumously. This request was His thesis research was carried out under together literally scores of friends and approved. Amiran’s diploma is scheduled the supervision of the Head of Theoretical colleagues, not only from the Physics and to be received by his wife at the May Physics, Professor I.V. Kopytin. At Vorone- the Psychology Departments, but from 2004 graduation ceremonies. Ellen M. zh State Univeristy, he held George Soros throughout the University and even from Weissinger, Executive Associate Dean for Foundation Fellowships. In 2000, Amiran outside the State. They came not only to Graduate Studies, has also arranged a me- was nearly ready to defend his Ph.D. thesis mourn the loss of Amiran but also to sup- morial luncheon for faculty, staff, friends, in nuclear physics, but instead took the port and comfort his wife. Amiran and and relatives. ■

• George Anton Freund, Jr. Chief Engi- worked and why things hap- of Professor Roger Kirby, who (M.S. 1976, Ph.D. 1979) neer for Boe- pened.” His family has es- notes that Freund’s thesis was ing and was tablished a scholarship in his “excellent,” that “he was always George Freund, Jr. died on transferred memory at Loras College in excited about what he was do- 20 July 2002 as a result of a from Wichita Dubuque, IA, where Freund ing,” that “he especially enjoyed bicycle accident on Sunday, 14 to Seattle in received his B.S. in physics interacting with others,” and July 2002. He, his wife, and 1990. He in 1969 and from which his that “I have heard from col- friends were cycling on the Sam- George A. Freund, Jr. was a father father, George Freund, Sr., re- leagues that George’s work at mamish River Trail north of of four: three tired in 1985 as Vice President Boeing on thermal emission Redmond, Washington, when sons and one daughter. His for Advancement. At UNL, signatures from jet engines was an oncoming cyclist lost control wife, Patricia, noted that “He Freund did his thesis research widely known and respected.” and crashed into Freund. De- was always reading, always on “Raman Scattering from Both Roger and Sue Kirby “re- spite wearing a helmet, Freund researching and interested in Mixed-Crystal Layered Com- member with great fondness a was knocked unconscious and all kinds of things, how things pounds” under the supervision wonderful dinner with George, never recovered. Freund was a

26 FALL2004 Obituaries wife Pat, daughter Rachel, and NY before joining the physics on “An Electron Scattering At UNL, Underhill did his doc- mother-in-law Margaret Keefe faculty at UNL in 1948 as an Apparatus for Studies of Tem- toral thesis research on “A Study (former Department Business Assistant Professor. At UNL, he porary Negative Ion Formation in Simple Models for the Be-9 Manager) at the Cornhusker carried out experimental work in Complex Molecules” under Nucleus” under the supervision Hotel a few months before on the lifetime of positrons. the supervision of Professor of Professor Henry S. Valk. George’s passing. We will miss This research was supported by Paul Burrow. Burrow reports him greatly.” the National Science Founda- that Tom was one of the “most • Maurice Witten tion. In 1953 he was appointed talented students I ever encoun- (M.A. 1960) • Howard H. Gatliff Acting Chair of the Department tered.” Burrow notes that while Maurice Witten, a former (Former Staff) and in 1954 was promoted to he was a graduate student, graduate student in the Depart- Howard Gatliff, the Associate Professor. He resigned Stephen published three papers, ment, died on Department’s Electronics Shop from the Department in Decem- “constructed the most complex 23 November Manager from 1967–1976, died ber 1955 to join Schlumberger electron scattering apparatus in 2002 in Colo- on Saturday, 14 February 2004 Well Services Corp. in Ridge- the research group,” and “man- rado doing in Lincoln. He was 92 and is field, Connecticut. According aged to survive a bout with what his survived by a son and a daugh- to Professor Ed Pearlstein, who leukemia.” Stephen is survived family says ter. Gatliff taught at Milford arrived shortly after Moore left, by his wife, Barbara, and his he loved most Moore was very well-liked by son and daughter. His twin Maurice Trade School prior to joining Witten — skiing. He the Department. Professor Ed- his faculty colleagues. In later brother, Buck (Joseph), also was nearly gar Pearlstein recalls that “he life, Moore held a variety of received his Ph.D. degree from 71 years old. Born in Mis- believed in education beyond positions with both educational UNL (in mathematics, under souri in 1931, he served in the just what is specifically needed institutions and industrial com- the supervision of Professor U.S. Air Force from 1950–53, for a particular job.” Conse- panies. These include serving John Meakin; he is currently an whereupon he earned his B.S. in quently he taught the trade as Dean of Housatonic Com- Associate Professor of Math- mathematics and science from school students mathematics munity College in Bridgeport, ematics at Northern Illinois Emporia State University in and science as well as electron- Connecticut and working for University). Buck notes that his 1956. Following his M.S. degree ics. At UNL, Professor Duane Bendix Field Engineering in brother was “strong in character from UNL in 1960, he joined Jaecks recalls that Howard Grand Junction, Colorado. He and resolve…[and that] his last the physics faculty of Fort Hays impressed one by his strong was also a Fulbright Fellow hours were quiet and spent with State University (FHSU) in Fort basic knowledge of electronics. in San Luis, Argentina. He is family…” Hays, KS. He earned his Ph.D. When queried about how to survived by his wife, a son, and degree from the University of solve an electronics problem for two daughters. • Glen M. Underhill Iowa in 1967 in science educa- an experimental measurement, (M.S. 1957, Ph.D. 1963) tion. He served as Department “he would sit with you…and • Thomas M. Stephen Glen Underhill, 78, died on Chair at FHSU from 1969– analyze the problem in consider- (M.S. 1982, Ph.D. 1988) Friday 28 November 2003 at 1989. He retired in 1998. able detail, most often coming Thomas Stephen, a former his home in After retirement, Witten up with a solution.” graduate student in the Depart- Riverdale, focused more than ever upon ment, died NE. Under- his skiing, which he had been • Donald Clark Moore on Sunday hill gradu- doing for nearly 40 years. Upon (B.A. with High Distinction 15 February ated from turning 70 in 2001 he made it 1942; Former Faculty) 2004 from McCook a personal goal to ski at all 24 Donald C. Moore died on pneumonia, a High School Colorado ski resorts. As of Feb- complication Glen M. in 1942 and ruary 2002 he had skied at 19, his 82nd birthday, 14 October Underhill 2002, of leukemia in Sequim, stemming his B.S. in leaving only the 5 in Southwest- Thomas M. from cancer. physics from the University of ern, Colorado. Fort Hays State Washington. Born in Omaha, Stephen Moore spent most of his youth He was an Nebraska at Kearney in 1955. University has renamed the Fou- in Inman, Nebraska. At UNL Associate Professor of Phys- Following his graduate work cault pendulum in its Tomanek he majored in both mathematics ics and Chair of the Physics at UNL, he joined the physics Hall in honor of Witten. Witten and physics. Following his un- Department at the University faculty at the University of Ne- had donated the pendulum to dergraduate degree, he worked of Denver. At the University of braska at Kearney (UNK). He FHSU anonymously. At the on the Manhattan Project and Denver, Stephen’s most recent was also Director of the Plan- renaming ceremony, a member earned his Ph.D. degree in phys- research involved high resolu- etarium at UNK. He retired in of the Kansas State Senate com- ics from the University of Cali- tion studies of nitrogen dioxide 1991. He also served as mayor mended Witten for his many fornia at Berkeley. He was an spectra using Fourier transform of Riverdale, NE from 1978 to years of service in the Civil Air Assistant Professor at Rensselaer spectroscopy. At UNL Stephen 2003. Survivors include his wife, Patrol. Survivors include a son ■ Polytechnic Institute in Troy, did his doctoral thesis research two sons, and three daughters. and two daughters

SPECTRUM 27 Acknowledgments

he Department is very grateful to the following individuals and corporations for their new and continuing financial contributions during the period 1 November 2001–31 October 2003. These contributions have been made in support of major items of capi- Ttal equipment, an endowed professorship, graduate fellowships, undergraduate scholarships, and invited lectures as well as for unrestricted purposes. Those who have not been contacted by one of the University of Nebraska Foundation’s telephone campaigns or who might be considering an additional tax-deductible gift to us should note that we have the following general accounts at the UN Foundation.

1. Physics & Astronomy Development Fund (for unrestricted gifts) (Account No. 2557.0) 2. Physics & Astronomy Lecture Endowment Fund (Account No. 3321.0) 3. Physics & Astronomy Scholarship Endowment Fund (Account No. 3303.0)

Contributions to any of these may be made conveniently using the contribution card and return envelope enclosed with the mailing of this newsletter. Checks should be made payable to the University of Nebraska Foundation and should indicate for which account the money is intended. Those contributors whose employers have a matching gift program should indicate this.

Min-Qi Bao (M.S. 1992, Ph.D. 1995) Rebecca Richards & Philip T. Kortum (B.S. 1985) William A. Barrett (B.S. 1952, M.S. 1953) Byron Krauter (B.S. 1976) The Boeing Company Wayne W. Lang (Ph.D. 1964) Larry L. Boyer (M.S. 1968, Ph.D. 1970) William J. Lannan (M.A. 1956) Russell Brace Michael K. Lewis (B.S. 1992) Blaine D. Bryan (B.S. 1960) Lucent Technologies Foundation Geoffrey B. Crooks (B.S. 1965, M.S. 1967, Ph.D. 1972) Robert L. Maher (M.S. 1975, Ph.D. 1980) Stephan M. Eddy (B.S. 1978) Peter & Claudia Martin (M.S. 1970, Ph.D. 1975) Debra J. Fickler (B.S. 1988) Kurt Meyer (B.S. 1988) Oceana Francis (B.S. 1995) Burton E. Moore Robert & Margaret Fuller Donald C. Moore (B.A. 1942) Thomas E. & Carolyn K. Furtak (B.S. 1971) Jerry & Frances Ruckman (B.S. 1962) John S. Gallagher III M. Eugene & Eileen Rudd (Ph.D. 1962) David M. Gray (B.S. 1977) James J. Schmidt (B.S. 1956, M.S. 1957) Alan J. Heeger (B.S. 1957, HDS 1999) Theodore J. & Alice Schuldt, Jr. (B.A. 1959, M.A. 1961) Maurice & Judy Hawthorne (B.S. 1964) David J. & Catherine J. Sellmyer IBM Corporation Roy F. Simperman (M.S. 1965) Interpublic Group of Companies Inc. Anthony F. & Katherine F. Starace ITT Industries, Inc. Joseph R. Steele (B.S. 1988) Sitaram S. Jaswal Alan B. Tveten (M.A. 1959) Loyd & Barbara Jacobs (M.S. 1958) Bruce C. Waggoner (B.S. 1984) Vanvilai Katkanant (M.S. 1979, Ph.D. 1983) Maurice H. Witten Revoc Trust Chris P. Keim (M.S. 1932, Ph.D. Chemistry/Physics 1940) Thank you very much!

For more information about the Department of Physics and Astronomy, visit our Web Site at: http://physics.unl.edu/

28 FALL2004