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ILLINOIS NEWS

THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN • 2003 NUMBER 2

Tony Leggett Named 2003 Nobel Laureate in Physics

directions for research in the quantum transmitted this information to several When Leggett came to Illinois physics of macroscopic systems and theorists, including Leggett. According as the John D. and Catherine T. the use of condensed matter systems to Richardson, Leggett came up with MacArthur Chair in 1983, he was to test the foundations of quantum the explanation in less than three already widely recognized as a world mechanics. He is a master at under- weeks, working out the complete leader in the theory of low-tempera- standing how the most fundamental theory from their data. ture physics. According to Ralph laws of nature—the weird world of That discovery was indeed worthy Simmons, professor emeritus and head that tells us how of a , and in 1996, the of the Department of Physics at that atoms work—apply to the everyday award was given to the original three time, the MacArthur Foundation had world we live in. . . . He has added experimenters. In the announcement settled on 10 universities that were to immeasurably to the rich intellectual of the 1996 , be given endowments for professor- development of condensed matter Leggett was cited for assisting the prize ships. The University of Illinois was physics at the University of Illinois, winners in their interpretation of the one of only two public universities and he has unlocked the door to experiments that led to a breakthrough on the list. discovery, that greatest of all human in low-temperature physics. “When the Department got an endeavors.” In his statement to the media on opportunity to compete for the Anthony J. Leggett, the John D. and The decisive theory explaining October 7, Leggett said that he had MacArthur professorship awarded to Catherine T. MacArthur Professor and how the helium atoms interact and are thought about winning a Nobel Prize this campus, we thought at once of Center for Advanced Study Professor ordered in the superfluid state was some day, but, “realistically, I gave Tony Leggett,” Simmons explained. of Physics, has been awarded the 2003 formulated while Leggett was working myself a 10 percent chance.” He noted “I called him about our enthusiasm to Nobel Prize in Physics. He shares the at the University of Sussex in England. that his work exploited and applied nominate him, and he had no ques- prize “for pioneering contributions to Theorists had long expected that 3He the Nobel Prize-winning work on tions about the quality of the Depart- the theory of superconductors and would become a superfluid and by ment. He did comment, however, that superfluids” with Alexei Abrikosov predicted the transition temperature. and colleagues and he’d heard that all the magnificent elm of Argonne National Laboratory and In 1972, , Robert Schrieffer, adding, “I’m sure trees were gone. Fortunately, he and of the Lebedev Robert Richardson, and at without my postdoctoral year here, his family consented to visit anyway. Physical Institute in Moscow. Cornell discovered the superfluid state this work would never have been We have been extremely fortunate, In her announcement on of 3He through their experiments with done.” (Leggett worked with David ever since, to enjoy his many October 7, 2003, University of Illinois nuclear magnetic resonance. Because Pines as a postdoctoral research contributions to departmental life.” Chancellor Nancy Cantor stated that there were major aspects of their data associate in 1964–65.) “Tony Leggett has shaped our under- that they did not understand, they standing of superfluids and set

Physics Van Milestone—Almost 50,000 Smiles and a Van of Its Own

Now in its 10th year, the Physics Van as far north as Madison, Wisconsin (http://van.hep.uiuc.edu/) is one (where they performed—and won of the University of Illinois’ most third place!—at the University of successful outreach programs. Wisconsin’s Engineering Expo), and More than 60 undergraduate student as far west as Snowmass, Colorado volunteers from physics and engineer- (where they showed the high-energy ing spend countless hours each attending the 2001 semester in a traveling science road Snowmass Conference how to bring show, bringing the wonder of science to the public). They even had scientific discovery to children. a two-day gig at the Adler Planetarium The Van will soon present Show in Chicago in May, and they are an #400. To date, more than 47,000 annual summer attraction at the youngsters, parents, and teachers have University of Illinois tent at the experienced the adventure that is Illinois State Fair. “doing physics,” thanks to the ingenu- Recently, two of the Van ity, dedication, and plain hard work volunteers—Sara W. Pogatshnik and of these outstanding students. Jonathan D. Wilson—were recognized The College of Engineering with the 2003 Physics Student recently recognized the importance Outreach Award. The award, which of this innovative program by giving was instituted in the mid-1990s, is the department its very own van. given annually to one or two students No longer will the Van crew have to who have shown a special interest and load and unload a vehicle from the aptitude for sharing their love of University motor pool for every show. physics with children. Every week throughout the In addition to the live shows, Van academic year, Van volunteers travel volunteers also staff a web-based “Ask to elementary and middle schools the Physics Van” service, answering Tim McArdle, a student coordinator of the Physics Van, demonstrates how nitrogen throughout Illinois. They have been changes from a liquid into a gas—with a giant soap explosion. continued on page 12 2 PHYSICS ILLINOIS NEWS • 2003 NUMBER 2

J. Leggett, John D. and Catherine T. aware of, undoubtedly I am overlook- TAs and RAs. These increases were MacArthur Professor of Physics and ing numerous other alumni achieve- essential to retaining our competitive- Center for Advanced Study faculty ments. Do keep me informed of your ness, given the salary freeze of the member, had won the 2003 Nobel activities, achievements, and awards. preceding year. We were also able to Prize in Physics. The news was Another success in the past make a superb new hire in the atomic, electrifying, and it is a fitting tribute academic year was the completion in molecular, optical area, thereby to an extraordinary and a early summer 2003 of the $3 million expanding our thrust in quantum colleague who is generous with his remodeling project for the top five information research. Additional time and ideas with faculty, postdocs, floors of the Engineering Sciences faculty searches are underway this year. and students alike. The next day at Building (ESB), the high-rise section Sustaining the excellence and the start of Tony’s class, “Supercon- of the former Coordinated Science competitiveness of the Department of ductivity: Ancient and Modern,” his Laboratory. The remodeling converted Physics in the future will require new Letter from students paid him a heartfelt tribute dysfunctional space assigned to sources of funds and additional space. by presenting him their writing Physics many years ago into a bright There is little hope that the long-term the Head pens—a moment inspired by a scene and interactive new home for the trend of decreasing state funding for in the movie A Beautiful Mind. condensed matter theory group— the University will reverse or even halt. We have focused this edition of Physics The faculty’s harvest of awards, faculty, postdocs, and students alike. Private gifts, named professorships Illinois News on some of our vibrant prizes, and accomplishments over The remodeling also provides larger and endowed chairs, undergraduate educational initiatives and outreach the past year has been a rich one. and more attractive space for all of our scholarships, stipends for undergradu- programs. I’m sure you will be proud In addition to Nobel and Wolf prizes junior- and senior-level laboratory ate summer research, and graduate of the efforts that your department is won by Tony Leggett, Dale Van courses, including a new spectroscopy fellowships will all be needed in much making to ensure that all our students Harlingen was chosen for a College of lab course. Areas that have opened up greater measure than in the past. have the opportunity to succeed and Engineering Willet Professorship and in Loomis by these moves to ESB are As we will rapidly saturate the that they are well prepared for their elected to the National Academy of being put to new uses, providing badly newly available space in Loomis, it is future careers. We also take as part of Sciences. Jim Wolfe was recognized needed research space for existing and apparent that additional space will our mission encouraging more young with the APS Frank Isakson Prize. new faculty members. soon be needed. The best solution people to consider scientific and Gordon Baym was invested as a In the midst of our successes, appears to be a second building, in technical pursuits and making science George and Ann Fisher Distinguished however, is the ongoing concern about close proximity to Loomis, containing more accessible to the general public. Professor of Engineering, and Naomi our financial well-being. A second year a mix of teaching and research func- In other good news, our incoming Makins and Ali Yazdani were named of reductions in State of Illinois’ tions. But funding for an adjunct undergraduate and graduate student Willett Faculty Scholars. These are just recurring funding for the University building is unlikely to come from numbers are up substantially; the Fall a few highlights of the many junior of Illinois has created budgetary crises the state alone. 2003 entering graduate class was the and senior faculty members who have at all levels in the system. Fortunately, Through these times, as in the largest in several decades, and the received highly competitive awards the effect on the Department of past, “excellence and collegiality”—the quality of the students is outstanding. for research, teaching, and service. Physics—while significant—was legacy of Wheeler Loomis—will guide Of all of the happenings since the A number of alumni have also somewhat less than the reductions at us as we address the challenges of the last newsletter, the highlight is the been honored for their work, includ- the College of Engineering and overall future. announcement that came from ing Dale Compton, Richard Norberg, UIUC levels. Stockholm early in the morning of and Julie Ann Wade Borchers. We were able to provide modest Tuesday, October 7, 2003—Anthony Although these are the ones we are raises for faculty, staff, and graduate Jeremiah D. Sullivan

Dale Van Harlingen Elected to the NAS More Nobel Excitement for Physics Congratulations to Professor Dale Van Harlingen, On October 6, 2003, University of Illinois Professor Paul Lautebur and who was elected to the National Academy of Sciences former Physics postdoctoral research associate Sir were (NAS) on April 29, 2003. He was one of 72 new awarded the 2003 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology. Mansfield was a members and 18 foreign associates from 11 countries postdoctoral research associate with Charles Slichter from 1962–64. recognized for their distinguished and continuing Lauterbur is a Center for Advanced Study professor of chemistry and holds achievements in original research. appointments in the bioengineering program and the UI Center for Bio- Van Harlingen is a professor of physics and physics and Computational Biology. In the prize announcement, Lauterbur investigator at the Frederick Seitz Materials Research and Mansfield were lauded for “seminal discoveries concerning the use of Laboratory. In 1998, he received the prestigious magnetic resonance to visualize different structures. These discoveries have Oliver E. Buckley Prize in led to the development of modern magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, from the APS, and he was elected a member of the which represents a breakthrough in medical diagnostics and research.” American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1999. Election to the NAS is considered one of the highest honors that can be accorded a U.S. scientist. The Academy was established in 1863 by a congres- sional act of incorporation, signed by Abraham Lincoln, which calls on the Academy to act as an official adviser to the federal government, upon request, PHYSICS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION in any matter of science or technology. “MARCH MEETING” RECEPTION In July, Van Harlingen was also named a Donald Biggar Willett Professor in the College of Engineering. The Willett Professorships honor the late Mr. Willett, Join fellow alumni and faculty for a festive Physics Illinois reunion at the who attended the UI from 1916–22. As a result of a bequest by his wife, 2004 APS March meeting. Learn about the latest developments at Illinois Elizabeth Marie Henning Willett, the College of Engineering established the while you greet old friends and meet new ones. All Illini welcome! Willett Research Initiatives Fund in 1994, which is used to support scholarships, fellowships, research awards, and other activities. The purpose of the Willett Tuesday, March 23, 2004 • 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Professorships is to increase the distinction of the college and its departments by Marquette Room of the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel recognizing and stimulating intellectual leadership and outstanding research. 900 Rene Levesque Quest • Montreal, Canada

For more information contact Celia M. Elliott at [email protected].

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN PHYSICS ILLINOIS NEWS • 2003 NUMBER 2 3

Alumni News Alumnus Richard Norberg More 2002 APS Fellows! Receives the We regret that we overlooked two new APS Fellows in the pioneering the field of the study of the early events in protein ISMAR Prize last newsletter: folding using laser temperature jump initiation and fluores- Alumna Julie Ann Wade Borchers (M.S. ’85; Ph.D. cence lifetime detection.” Professor Gruebele received his B.S. Richard E. Norberg (A.M. ’47; ’90) was cited “for her insightful neutron investigations into degree in 1984 and his Ph.D in 1988 from the University of Ph.D. ’51) has received (with his interlayer exchange interaction phenomena in magnetic California at Berkeley. After working as a postdoctoral fellow former student, Irving Lowe) the thin films and superlattices.” Dr. Borchers works at the at the California Institute of Technology, he joined the faculty triennial prize awarded by the Center for Neutron Research at the National Institute of of the University of Illinois in 1992. His research interests are International Society of Mag- Standards and Technology. in chemical physics and chemical biology, using energy- netic Resonance (ISMAR), And our colleague Dr. Martin Gruebele, professor of resolved and ultrafast lasers to probe and manipulate the which recognizes outstanding chemistry, physics, and biophysics at Illinois, was cited “for dynamics of complex chemical systems. achievement in magnetic resonance science. Their work was fundamental to the wide- spread use of Fourier transform for high-resolution NMR as well Were You In the Ensemble? as to a wide variety of schemes using magic-angle spinning to At his 60th birthday party in 1968, John Bardeen was determine molecular structures. presented with a “superconductor” collage by Paul Handler Norberg is a professor of (left) and J. Robert Schrieffer. The collage, which was physics at Washington Univer- assembled by Schrieffer (who later shared the 1972 Nobel sity, St. Louis. As the first thesis Prize in physics with Bardeen and Leon Cooper), depicted student of Professor Charles P. Bardeen as the “superconductor” of his “grand canonical Slichter, Norberg joins six other ensemble” of students. distinguished Illinois faculty and The collage, which hung in Bardeen’s office for many students who have won the years, has recently surfaced. After it has been reframed, we ISMAR prize. They include would like to hang it in the newly remodeled quarters for Erwin L. Hahn (M.S. ’47; Ph.D. the condensed matter theorists. Unfortunately, we have ’49), Herbert A. Gutowsky been unable to identify all those pictured, and we need your (Professor of Chemistry), help. Close-ups from the collage are available at Charles P. Slichter, Paul C. www.physics.uiuc.edu/Alumni/Bardeen_photo.htm. If you Lauterbur (Professor, Beckman are pictured, or recognize someone who is, please forward This photo is courtesy of Lillian Hoddeson, co-author of Bardeen’s Institute), Sir Peter Mansfield the individual’s name (and image number) to biography, True Genius. (postdoctoral research associate, [email protected]. 1962–64), and Alfred G. Redfield (M.S. ’52; Ph.D. ’53). ISMAR is a society devoted to the advancement of magnetic resonance and its applications. Compton Honored With Alumni Award Its triennial ISMAR meeting is one of the largest such scientific W. Dale Compton (Ph.D. ’55) was honored with the 2003 College of Engineer- executive director for research in 1972, conferences, bringing together ing Alumni Award at the Honors Convocation in April. He was cited for and later served as Ford’s vice presi- magnetic resonance practitioners “substantive research achievements in unraveling the behavior of defects and dent for research from 1973 to 1986. from many countries and from color centers in , exceptional leadership in engineering practice and There he promoted innovations in all domains, including NMR, management, and enduring contributions to engineering education.” modeling and simulation of the design NQR, ESR, MRI, ICR, and After earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from Wabash College and a and manufacture of automotive aspects of coherent optics. master’s in physics from the University of Oklahoma, components and systems, leading to a Compton began his professional career as a research number of technological break- physicist for the Navy at the U.S. throughs that enabled Ford to develop Naval Ordinance Test Station at China Lake, Califor- superior products and produce them successfully worldwide. nia. In 1952, he came to the University of Illinois Since 1988, Compton has been the Lillian M. Gilbreth Distinguished earning a Ph.D. in experimental condensed matter Professor of the School of Industrial Engineering at Purdue University. He has physics before continuing his research efforts at the been active in the oversight of the School’s Center for Cooperative Manufactur- Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. ing, undertaking research on the unit processes of manufacturing and focusing on Compton returned to the Urbana-Champaign improving the productivity and quality of manufacturing systems. He also served campus as an associate professor in 1961. He was as the interim head of the School of Industrial Engineering from 1998 to 2000. promoted to full professor in 1964 and was Compton’s research and professional achievements led to his election to the appointed the director of the Coordinated Sciences National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in 1981, where he was named the Laboratory (CSL) at Illinois the following year. As director of the CSL, Compton first-ever NAE Senior Fellow in 1986. He served the Academy as its director of expanded its interdisciplinary mission and broadened its focus, building a industrial and education-related activities from 1986 to 1988, and chaired an world-class reputation in control, computer, and communication systems. NAE panel to assess U.S. engineering practice and to address competitiveness The CSL developed theories and created landmark inventions that were issues. Compton was elected to a four-year term as the NAE’s home secretary in considered to be years ahead of their time. 2000. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society, the American Association In 1970, Compton joined the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan, for the Advancement of Science, the Engineering Society of Detroit, and the as director of its Chemical and Physical Sciences Laboratory. He was named Society of Automotive Engineers. He received the American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ M. Eugene Merchant Manufacturing Medal in 1999.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 4 PHYSICS ILLINOIS NEWS • 2003 NUMBER 2

Gordon Baym Named George and PAUL SELVIN RECEIVES SECOND AWARD Ann Fisher Distinguished Professor FROM THE BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY of Engineering Paul Selvin has received the Biophysical Society’s 2004 Michael and Kate Bárány Award for Young At a special investiture ceremony on October 15, Investigators. Established by the Biophysical 2003, Gordon Baym was named the first holder in Society in 1992 and renamed in recognition of physics of the George and Ann Fisher Distinguished the endowment gift from Michael and Kate Professor of Engineering. Now in his 40th year as a Bárány in 1998, the award recognizes outstanding member of the faculty, Baym has also been a Center contributions to biophysics by a person who has for Advanced Study Professor of Physics since 1993. not yet achieved the rank of full professor at the A leader in the study of matter under extreme time of nomination. Selvin also won the 1999 conditions in astrophysics and nuclear physics, Baym Fluorescence Young Investigator Award of the has made original, seminal contributions to our Biophysical Society. understanding of neutron stars, relativistic effects in After joining the Department in 1997 as an assistant professor, Selvin nuclear physics, condensed matter physics, quantum was promoted to associate professor in 2000. Selvin studies the structure fluids, and most recently, Bose–Einstein condensates. His work is characterized by and dynamics of biological macromolecules using biophysical techniques— a superb melding of basic concepts, from condensed matter to particularly fluorescence. Specific biological systems of interest include nuclear to elementary particle physics. molecular motors (conventional and unconventional myosins, kinesins), Baym received his bachelor’s degree in physics from Cornell University in voltage-controlled ion-channels (Shaker potassium), and ligand-gated ion 1956, his A.M. in mathematics from Harvard in 1957, and his Ph.D. in physics channels (GABA, Acetylcholine). His work focuses on both technology from Harvard in 1960. He joined the development and biological applications. Selvin has pioneered new lumines- Department of Physics at the University cent lanthanide probes, single-molecule fluorescence methods, and new of Illinois as an assistant professor in George M. C. and forms of fluorescence resonance energy transfer. 1963. Ann Fisher His current projects include evolution of ultrarelativistic heavy-ion George M. C. Fisher, a native BENJAMIN WANDELT NAMED collisions, studies of dense matter of Anna, Illinois, earned a 2003–04 NCSA FACULTY FELLOW applied to the problem of neutron star bachelor’s degree in civil engi- interiors, and other problems in neering from the University of Ben Wandelt, assistant professor of physics and of astrophysics; correlations between Illinois in 1962. After receiving astronomy, is among eight Illinois faculty chosen nucleons in nuclei and of subnuclear master’s and doctoral degrees by the National Center for Supercomputing degrees of freedom, as seen in high- from , he began Applications (NCSA) to participate in the fifth energy scattering; studies of his career at AT&T Bell Labora- annual NCSA/UIUC Faculty Fellows Program, nuclear vibrational modes applied to tories and later joined Motorola, which extends opportunities in advanced comput- scattering experiments on nuclear Inc., eventually becoming the ing and information technology to Illinois re- bound states, giant resonances, the company’s chairman and chief searchers. Faculty Fellows have access to NCSA’s quasi-elastic region, collective motion at executive officer. He assumed high-performance computers and visualization and finite temperature, and Bose–Einstein leadership of Eastman Kodak virtual reality environments and have opportuni- condensation of trapped atomic gases. Company in 1993. ties to collaborate with colleagues at NCSA and throughout the National Baym is a member of the National Fisher, with his wife Ann Computational Science Alliance. Academy of Sciences (where he has Wallace Fisher, has funded two Wandelt plans to use his fellowship to develop parallel algorithms for served as chair of the Physics Section), a George and Ann Fisher Distin- cosmological statistics, building production-quality parallel implementa- member of the American Philosophical guished Professorships and two tions of his group’s advanced computational methods to analyze cosmic Society, a Fellow of the American Ralph M. and Catherine V. microwave background (CMB) data taken by the Wilkinson Microwave Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Fellow Fisher Professorships—the latter Anisotropy Probe (WMAP). Wandelt believes that his codes will be of the American Association for the in honor of his parents—in the uniquely capable of handling the complexities of future CMB data sets, Advancement of Science, and a Fellow College of Engineering. promising an enduring role for NCSA at this fast-moving frontier of of the American Physical Society. cosmology.

VIJAY PANDHARIPANDE NAMED CAS PROFESSOR

Vijay R. Pandharipande was appointed to the Carolyn Wright Retires Center for Advanced Study in August. Professors On March 31, 2003, the Department bid are permanent members of the Center, selected farewell to Carolyn Wright as she began a well- from the faculty on the basis of their outstanding deserved retirement. Carolyn began working for scholarship. These appointments are among the the Physics Department as a clerk-typist in highest forms of faculty recognition on the Urbana December 1973. She worked in the graduate campus. office for a number of years before joining the Much of Professor Pandharipande’s research is aimed toward developing business office, where she was promoted to a unified theory of all nuclear systems, ranging from the lightest nuclei to program administrative assistant, responsible the heaviest neutron stars. With several graduate students and collaborators, for visas, payroll, and grant applications. he developed realistic models of nuclear forces and methods to solve the Carolyn’s friendly smile and quiet profes- quantum nuclear many-body problem. Some of these methods have found sionalism will be sorely missed by all of us in the Department, but we wish applications in other branches of physics and chemistry. her well as she enjoys spending more time with her children and grandson. In 1999, Pandharipande received the Bonner Prize of the American Physical Society. He has served as chair of the Advisory Committee of the National Institute of Nuclear Theory and is a member of the joint National Science Foundation and Department of Energy Nuclear Science Advisory Committee. He received his doctorate from Bombay University in 1969 and joined the Department of Physics in 1973.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN PHYSICS ILLINOIS NEWS • 2003 NUMBER 2 5

GEORGE GOLLIN Outreach and Education RECEIVES THIRD NORDSIECK TEACHING AWARD

Steve Errede Shows Children that George D. Gollin received the Physics Can Be Fun! third annual Arnold Nordsieck Award for Teaching Excellence in The old Orpheum Theatre in downtown Champaign, listed on the National Physics for developing innova- Register of Historic Places, found new life in the 1990s as the home of a museum tive honors sections for the where kids can explore the wonders of science in an informal setting. Billing itself introductory calculus-based as a “hands-on children’s science center where science takes center stage,” the physics Orpheum Children’s Science Museum hosted Professor of Physics courses to Steven M. Errede on March 1, 2003, as part of Sound Wizard Weekend. challenge Never one to do anything by half, Steve prepared several demon- under- strations on the physics of music and spent a Saturday explaining them graduates to children and their parents. Although he claims “my impedance and to match is not so good with little kids,” Errede clearly wowed his share with audience, showing them that although physics is challenging, it is also them the interesting and a lot of fun. excite- He is currently working on an installation for the museum that ment of physics. would enable children to observe the waveforms associated with the Gollin began by creating an sounds that they generate and hear. Although the setup must be robust, honors section to complement easy to maintain, and safe for children to operate, we’re betting that the the introductory electricity and experimentalist in Errede will come up with an engaging solution. magnetism course, Physics 112. Illinois students have also benefited from Errede’s wide-ranging Students now have the option of musical interests. He has developed two undergraduate courses, a enrolling for an extra discussion Using a bronze Tibetan bowl to generate section (and an additional hour sounds, Steve Errede shows children how “discovery” course for freshmen and a hands-on “physics of electronic musical of credit), where they can the sound creates a waveform on an instruments” for advanced undergraduates. The freshman course features lab explore a limited range of topics oscilloscope and displays the harmonics on demonstrations and experimental setups for “learning by doing.” Topics include the an HP 3561A Dynamic Signal Analyzer. physics of sound (propagation of sound waves), the physics of hearing (psycho- at a deeper level. In weekly acoustics), the physics of music (all musical styles, and music in the natural world— meetings, students work together living organisms and physical processes), and the physics of musical instruments in small groups to solve prob- (brass, wind, strings, percussion, song, electronic, computer and beyond). lems created by Gollin and then The advanced course, which allows students to build their own electronic discuss the conclusions that can musical instruments or amplifiers, explores the physics of electric stringed instru- be drawn from their results. ments, keyboard instruments, and amplifiers—how and why they work the way Students thus derive for them- they do—and how the characteristic sounds of rock and roll, blues, and jazz music selves some of the surprising were and are created. The history of scientific and technological advancements that features of our postclassical lead to the development of electronic musical instruments is also covered. physical world. Topics covered range from using Mathematica® to visualize fields and potentials to the electrodynamics of Saturday Physics Program Celebrates 10 Years barbecuing. Gollin’s initiative, and the After 10 years of fun and enlightenment, the Saturday Physics Honors Program extremely positive student has become an institution. On December 6—after the last lecture of the response, have nucleated the Fall 2003 season—we celebrated the beginning of the new decade of the creation of honors sections for Saturday Program with some liquid nitrogen ice cream and a birthday cake. Physics 111—General Mechan- The Program, administered by physicists Professor Kevin Pitts and Dr. Inga ics, Physics 113—Thermody- Karliner, with Program Coordinator Nicole Drummer, namics, and Physics 114— consists of a series of lectures on modern aspects of the Quantum Mechanics. physical sciences held every other Saturday beginning in Arnold T. Nordsieck, a September and ending in early December. Although designed professor of physics at Illinois for high school students, the Program is open to the general from 1947 to 1961, was a public and regularly attracts college students, teachers, and brilliant theorist with an uncom- community residents who take advantage of this unique mon affinity for experiment. opportunity to meet world-class researchers in a relaxed, A specialist in the mathematics interactive setting. Participants learn about recent advances of computation, he (with Hicks in the physical sciences, see how physics inspires modern and Yen) successfully solved the technology, and view its impact on our everyday lives. One of full nonlinear Boltzmann the lectures is traditionally followed by a guided tour of many equations for computational Physics Department research groups and their laboratories. fluid dynamics and rarefied gas In 10 years and 70 sessions, 53 different lecturers have dynamics. He proposed the first made presentations to approximately 7,000 individuals! electrostatically supported Many recent alumni worked on the Program as members of Program Coordinator Nicole Drummer gyroscope and build the first the Society of Physics Students, helping high school students in the audience cuts the SPH Anniversary cake. Nearly computer to be used at Lawrence 250 people helped us celebrate ten great get to know the University. The lecturers who volunteer for the program have Livermore National Laboratory, years of physics on December 6. included new faculty members—together with equally enthusiastic members of the Nordsieck Analog Com- the National Academy of Sciences—and distinguished visitors. They share their puter. The Nordsieck Award is interests and explain how things work—from MRI, transistors, liquid crystals, made possible by a gift from the and the global positioning system to neutron stars, , gluons and black Nordsieck family. holes.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 6 PHYSICS ILLINOIS NEWS • 2003 NUMBER 2

Educators Come from Korea to Learn about Physics Outreach

Dae-Eun Kim, a professor of mechanical engineering at Yonsei University in manufacturing industries move Seoul, South Korea, and Jong-Heon Kim, Hwasung Elementary School, Seoul, offshore in the 1970s and 1980s, visited Urbana to learn more about the successful outreach programs pioneered Korea now fears that without by the Department of Physics. technology leaders, it will see its Professor Kim stated that dropping enrollments in the sciences, engineering, burgeoning electronics and high- mathematics, and technology is a matter of great concern to Korean leaders, and tech industries move to countries educators there are very interested in U.S. methods of encouraging young people with lower labor costs, such as the to pursue science careers. Just as the United States saw many of its core domestic Republic of China. While at the University of Illinois, the Korean educators met with Physics faculty and staff, learned about the Physics Van, the Saturday Physics Honors program, and the “Whys Guy.” They also Physics Van faculty adviser Mats Selen presents spoke with Physics Head Jeremiah a “Van Crew” tee shirt to Korean visitor Sullivan and attended a physics Jong-Heon Kim, Hwasung Elementary School, session of the G.A.M.E.S. (Girls’ Seoul, South Korea. Adventures in Mathematics, Engineering, and Science) Camp. The G.A.M.E.S. Camp, held each summer at the University of Illinois, provides academically talented girls with the opportu- nity to explore math, engineering, and science through demonstrations, classroom presentations, hands-on activities, and contacts with professionals in the technical From left, Jong-Heon Kim, Jeremiah Sullivan, Mats Selen, and Dae-Eun Kim. fields. Mats Selen has assisted with G.A.M.E.S. for the last three years.

Welcome to Brian DeMarco Congratulations Graduates! RESEARCH: Atomic, molecular and optical physics with an emphasis on science. On May 17, faculty and staff celebrated with family and friends of the Class of 2003 in the annual Physics and Astronomy Commencement Convoca- TEACHING: Laboratory sections of Physics 102— tion. Matthew Rakher (LAS Physics, 2003) presented the welcome address General Physics; faculty coordinator of all lab and introduced David Hertzog, professor of physics, who was selected by the sections of Physics 102. graduating students as the Convocation’s featured speaker. Assistant Professor Brian DeMarco joined the One of the most highly regarded instructors in the department, Hertzog Department of Physics in August 2003. He received has won nearly every teaching award given by the College of Engineering his B.A. in physics, with a mathematics minor, from at Illinois. the State University of New York at Geneseo in 1996, Jeremiah Sullivan, head of the Department of Physics, recognized photo by Bill Wiegand photo by Bill graduating summa cum laude. As an undergraduate individually the 43 physics graduates. He was followed by Astronomy researcher, he worked on calibrating and developing neutron detectors for Department Chair Lewis Snyder, who recognized the two astronomy laser-driven inertial confinement fusion experiments. graduates in this year’s class. The Convocation, which was held in 141 He earned a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Colorado at Boulder in Loomis Laboratory of Physics, was followed by a reception in the lobby. 2001, where he extended magnetic trapping and evaporative cooling techniques used to produce atomic Bose–Einstein condensates to create the first quantum degenerate of atoms. This achievement merited Science magazine’s imprimatur as one of the “top ten scientific discoveries of 1999,” earning Matthew DeMarco the first JILA Scientific Achievement Award. In 2002, he received Rakher and the American Physical Society’s DAMOP Thesis Award. Department of From 2001 to 2003, he was a National Research Council postdoctoral Physics Head, research fellow, working with David Wineland at the National Institute of Professor Standards and Technology (Boulder) on quantum computing experiments with Jeremiah trapped atomic ions. DeMarco’s work with the Ion Storage Group focused on Sullivan developing improved quantum logic elements and “scaling-up” the complexity of quantum information processing tasks with trapped ions. “Brian is an outstanding addition to the UI faculty because of his strong interests in teaching and his demonstrated excellence as a scientist,” said Jeremiah David Hertzog was the Beth Bye D. Sullivan. “He already has received prestigious awards recognizing his research Convocation’s featured (Astronomy, accomplishments. In addition, he plans to include undergraduate students at speaker 2003) Illinois in his research program, knowing first-hand how stimulating that introduced experience can be.” Astronomy Department Chair, Professor Lewis Snyder

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN PHYSICS ILLINOIS NEWS • 2003 NUMBER 2 7

Physics Is Hard, Not Impossible

By Tina Prow

Physics is one of the most challenging are reacting positively, and more course sequences many engineering faculty and teaching assistants have students take. For too many, the first made campus teaching excellence lists physics class is the last. They not only than ever before. drop the course, but also leave the The Physics 100 course recognizes engineering program. Determined to that students arrive with a variety of keep more good students in engineer- backgrounds in math and science. ing, physics faculty developed a Although introductory physics starts preparatory course—now they just at the beginning, the pace is fast and have to convince students to take it. students who have not seen the “Failure in physics has little to do material before often fall behind. with how bright students are. It has to Physics 100 fills those gaps and brings do with the fact that physics is hard,” students up to the level expected for said Gary Gladding, professor and the Physics 111 and 112 sequence. associate head of the Physics Depart- In addition, the course continues to ment. “It takes time to understand support students as they take the physics, and students who are not at physics sequence by providing supple- the right level of preparation can get mental materials and small classroom in trouble.” instruction—a tutoring environment Teaching Assistant Sara Wright moves between the tables as part of the “tutoring On average, 20% of students of sorts. environment.” fail or withdraw from introductory “I’ve come to understand that physics each semester. That percentage it’s important to have not only good advantage of the course, the college Education Research Group has under increases for minority students— instruction, but also a good support recently began providing financial way to evaluate new techniques for almost double for Hispanics and more structure for the transition as students aid for enrollment. The program is teaching and learning. Researchers will than triple for African-American navigate changes in their environment. supported by a grant from the Na- look at indicators for success and make students. It’s also important for students to tional Science Foundation, adminis- adjustments as needed to improve the Those numbers could change as come together to sort out common tered through the college’s Minority course. more students take advantage of problems. We’re hoping that takes Engineering Program. “We’ve been successful for other Physics 100, a new course designed to place in Physics 100,” Gladding said. According to Gladding, “We students and have an expectation that prepare students for their first physics Data from four years show Physics know these student are good, or they this course will work for minority sequence. The course is part of a broad 100 works—for those who enroll. wouldn’t be here. So the question students as well. We’ll look at data and curriculum revision under way in The class is not required and draws becomes this: is there enough support try to figure out what we might need physics. In the past few years, faculty only about 120 students, but more and appropriate structure for them to to do differently, if anything,” members have adopted new classroom could benefit from it, Gladding said. be successful? It’s just not enough to Gladding said. “If we can remove the instruction techniques, used more A voluntary self-evaluation test on admit students and say ‘good luck’.” barrier of this first physics sequence, collaborative learning, Web-based the Web can help students find out The course is not static, he added. then maybe we’ll have larger reten- interactive instruction, and introduced if they should enroll. It is one of several components of a tion—that’s a critically important more experience- and concept-based To encourage students from larger research project that the Physics goal.” problem-solving strategies. Students underrepresented groups to take

DAVID HERTZOG RECOGNIZED FOR INNOVATIVE INSTRUCTION

Professor of Physics David W. Hertzog received the 2003 research project in the summer, and come back in the fall BP Amoco Award for Innovation in Undergraduate Instruction semester for “Senior Thesis,” when they produce a 40–50-page for his novel approach to preparing advanced undergraduate thesis on their research. students for careers in physics. During the last three years, he has Broad themes covered in the Physics 398IPR sequence are developed an integrated three-semester sequence of classroom “doing science” (documentation of research, intermediate reports instruction and research training that emphasizes communication and studies, proposals, reviewing), the ethical conduct of science and teamwork skills. As one of the most able and most highly (sharing credit, treatment of data, avoiding bias), communicating regarded instructors in the Department of Physics, Hertzog in science (preparing figures and visual aids, oral presentations, has won nearly every teaching award given by the College of publications), and pursuing a physics career (research opportuni- Engineering. ties in various subdisciplines, applying to graduate school, Physics 398IPR differs considerably from the conventional nontraditional careers). “lecture with readings” style of instruction. Hertzog meets with prospective The new course sequence provides not only a very valuable experience for participants individually to determine their interests, previous research experi- our students, but research has shown that the opportunity to do hands-on ence, and aptitudes. He then carefully matches each student with a research research is also a determining factor in attracting and keeping women and adviser, who agrees to supervise the student on a summer research project. minorities in science careers. Indeed, 30 percent of the students completing The course itself emphasizes “learning by doing.” For example, students the 398 sequence have been women—more than double their representation begin with five-minute talks on a research paper they have read or a one- in our overall undergraduate ranks. Thus, the new program is becoming an paragraph abstract that they have written. Communicating in science, to important step in our broad goal of increasing the diversity of our department different audiences on a variety of subjects, is emphasized. As part of the and our discipline. teaching team, Celia Elliott, director of external affairs and special projects Hertzog’s innovative approach is already attracting national attention. for the Department of Physics, contributes her expertise as a science writer In addition to the Amoco Award, he was invited to make a presentation on and technical editor. the course to the American Physical Society/American Association of Physics Students begin with “Introduction to Physics Research” in the spring Teachers biennial Physics Chairs’ Conference in June 2002. semester of their junior years, undertake an intensive 10-week independent

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 8 PHYSICS ILLINOIS NEWS • 2003 NUMBER 2

Summer Research Prepares Students Four Receive Lorella Jones Summer for Science Careers Research Fellowships by Erin Carlson Thanks to the vision and generosity of the family and friends of former Professor Lorella M. Jones, four outstanding undergraduate students were able to pursue While many college students spend their summers at the pool or on the beach, hands-on independent research projects this summer. some prefer to spend their breaks in the laboratory. Students involved in the 2003 Shahzeen Attari of Dubai, U.A.E., studied the effects of leaf damage on Physics Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at the Univer- photosynthesis using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy under the sity of Illinois forgo fun in the sun for an intense summer of research projects and direction of Robert Clegg. Shaz is a senior in engineering physics. real-world training they said prepares them for future careers in physics. Keri Dixon, Urbana, Illinois, “It’s really good to get research in as an undergrad,” said Jake Simon, an REU hopes to pursue an academic career participant from Collinsville and a senior in physics. “(The program) gives you a in physics. This summer she real taste of science. It’s different from class. It’s a whole new experience.” worked with George Gollin on a The REU program is hosted by the Physics Department and supported by Fourier series kicker for TESLA, a the National Science Foundation. It gives students the opportunity to do experi- TeV superconducting linear mental and theoretical research, belong to a research group, attend weekly talks, accelerator proposed for the write a formal paper, and give presentations about their research. Deutches Elektronen-Synchrotron The program began June 2 and ended August 9. Students are assigned to in Hamburg, Germany. Keri is a specific research projects, where they work closely with faculty members and senior in LAS physics. Shahzeen Attari Keri Dixon other researchers. This year, 20 students participated, including 9 from the Tim Hartman is a double University of Illinois. The students are granted $4,000 stipends, and those major in mathematics and physics. from other universities receive assistance with campus housing. Tim worked with Kevin Pitts on Simon, who participated in the program last year, said he returned this why bottom production summer to work with Charles Gammie, an assistant professor of physics and observed experimentally at the astronomy, on the evolution of circumstellar disks, or disks that form around Fermilab Tevatron is far greater young stars. than that predicted theoretically “These disks could be very important in the formation of planets,” Simon by quantum chromodynamics. explained. “In fact, it is thought that planets come from these disks. So, specifi- Now a senior, Tim originally Tim Hartman Christopher Lesher cally, this is why the project is meaningful . . . and the study of these disks is majored mechanical engineering another corner of exploration of the universe. but switched to engineering physics to follow his interest in the more theoretical “The model is a slowly developing project, so I will probably not be able field of physics. Tim plans to study theoretical particle physics in graduate school. to finish it. But my goal is to contribute significantly to it and learn a lot about Christopher Lesher’s summer research project with Laura Greene on planar physics and research in the process.” He said his research will give him a volume tunneling spectroscopy into oriented YBa2Cu3O7 thin films represented a new of experience and that could help him get accepted into graduate school for research direction. He had previously worked with Susan Lamb on simulations astrophysics. of colliding galaxies. Chris is an amateur astronomer. “In the classroom, you work through problems and you know there’s an Lorella Jones, an outstanding theoretical high-energy physicist, was the answer,” said Simon, who values one-on-one time with physics professors in REU first woman to attain tenure and a full professorship in the Department. and would like to be a professor someday. “This research is brand new. It’s not She died in 1995. been done before. You have to make sure it’s right before you publish.” “For U of I students, the program is broken up into three semesters,” said Keri Dixon, an REU participant from Champaign and a senior in physics. “They take Introduction to Physics Research during the spring semester, where they learn to give presentations and write papers. They apply those skills during the summer semester while working on projects where professors expect them to CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2003 present research regularly. During the fall, students take a senior thesis course BRONZE TABLET SCHOLARS where they give presentations about their REU experiences.” Dixon said REU prepares students because a career in science is gauged by Randall L. Cooper how well you write your papers and how often you go to other universities to Bradley S. Hagan give presentations. “I thought (the program) would be a good idea because I need to go to grad Soojin Kwon school,” said Dixon. “It’s geared for people who want to do research later in life.” Dixon works with George Gollin, a physics professor, on a Fourier series Christopher P. Michael kicker for the Tera Electronvolt Superconducting Linear Accelerator (TESLA) Jeffrey R. Olsen that will be built in Germany. She said if the kicker works, it will condense groups of into a smaller area so that “the required size for the damping ring Matthew T. Rakher component of the accelerator will be reduced by possibly a half. This could reduce the cost of building the accelerator by millions of dollars. A tradition at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign since 1925, “At this point, we’re not sure if it’ll work or not, but we’re going to spend the Bronze Tablet honors consistent academic achievement by the institution’s summer trying to figure it out,” said Dixon, who is using Mathematica® and finest undergraduates. Students selected for this award must have main- other programming languages, writing code, and conducting simulations to test tained at least a 3.5 (out of 4.0) grade point average for all work taken at the the kicker. “Personally, I am modeling the effects of series of rf cavities, which University of Illinois and must rank in the top 3 percent of their college’s would make up the kicker for the TESLA design, on a bunch of electrons. graduating class. This modeling is done with the ultimate goal of deciding whether this Fourier series kicker design will work and what will make it better.” Students do not spend the entire summer cooped up in laboratories and offices, though. REU offers field trips to Fermilab in Batavia, Illinois, and excursions to St. Louis and the Taste of Chicago festival, Simon said. Simon said he and other students in the program get along well because they share a love and fascination for science. “There’s a scientific community feeling,” he said, “all these kinds of people working together toward a common goal.”

Editor’s note: A University of Illinois journalism graduate, Erin Carlson is working on a master’s degree at Northwestern University.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN PHYSICS ILLINOIS NEWS • 2003 NUMBER 2 9

Nobel Laureates Head List of Colloquium Speakers

Leon Lederman on Improving Science Education Leon Cooper on Learning and Memory “I now believe that I know what must be done to bring American education into On April 17, 2003, Nobel Laureate Leon Cooper of the Brown University the 21st century,” remarked Dr. Leon Lederman, featured speaker at a colloquium Departments of Physics and Neuroscience spoke on “Matrices to Molecules: on February 27, 2003. His colloquium was part of the Department of Physics’ Towards a Physiological Basis for Learning and Memory Storage.” on-going commitment to improve the introductory physics curriculum and A postdoctoral research associate with John Bardeen, Cooper received teaching methods. the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1972 (with Bardeen and According to Lederman, “There are many others who also know but, prob- J. Robert Schrieffer) for their jointly developed ably, not as objectively. The problem is not what to do but how to get it done.” theory of superconductivity. By the time he received The Nobel Laureate summed up “about a dozen years of deep involvement in his Nobel prize, some 15 years after the theory’s science education” in the title of his development, Cooper had already shifted his presentation, “A Physicist in Science scientific interests to neuroscience. “As a theoretical Education: Mired but Triumphant.” physicist,” Cooper said, “once a problem had been Lederman is director emeritus of Fermi solved, it was no longer mine.” National Accelerator Laboratory in Cooper is currently the director of Brown Batavia, Illinois. He chaired the State University’s Center for Neural Science, founded in of Illinois Governor’s Science Advisory 1973 to study animal nervous systems and the Committee and is a founder and the human brain with the aim of understanding memory University Brown Abromowski, photo by John Dale Van Harlingen, Leon Lederman, inaugural resident scholar at the Illinois and other brain functions, and thus formulating a scientific model of how Gary Gladding, and Jim Wolfe. Mathematics and Science Academy, a the human mind works. Now, at the age of 70, he is also one of the leaders three-year residential public high school of the broadest collaboration of theoretical and experimental study: the for gifted students. He is also a founder and chair of the Teachers Academy for Brain Science Program. Mathematics and Science, an organization active in the professional development In his talk, Cooper retraced the career path that took him from the of primary school teachers in Chicago. abstract mathematical expressions familiar to physicists to the biochemical A Nobel laureate in Physics (1988, jointly with and Jack pathways that provide the likely cellular and molecular basis for learning Steinberger for the discovery of the muon ), Lederman has been honored and memory storage. with the National Medal of Science (1965), the Elliot Cresson Medal of the “The journey was marked by an interaction between theory and Franklin Institute (1976), the (1982), and the experiment, the norm in physics since Galileo, but still novel and not Prize (1993). He served as a founding member of the High Energy Physics universally accepted in neuroscience,” Dr. Cooper stated. “These interac- Advisory Panel of the United States Department of Energy and the International tions have proven extraordinarily fruitful. Theory has suggested experimen- Committee for Future Accelerators. tal directions that have uncovered new phenomena. Experiment has confirmed specific theoretical postulates and predictions. Possibly most significant, theory has clarified connections between seemingly unrelated observations in different parts of the brain.”

PHYSICS ILLINOIS NEWS

Physics Illinois News is published twice a year by the University of Illinois Physics-Astronomy Library Survives Budget Cuts—Barely Department of Physics for its students, faculty, alumni, and friends. This has been a difficult budget year for the University delivery of information to the students, faculty, and staff MISSION Libraries, and in an effort to consolidate service points of the UIUC campus, including low-cost, timely document The mission of the Department of Physics within its 43 departmental libraries, Library administration delivery of articles from journals to which we no longer of the University of Illinois at Urbana- suggested the possibility of moving the Physics-Astronomy subscribe,” explained Physics-Astronomy Librarian Greg Champaign is to serve the people of the State Library into the Grainger Engineering Library. Youngen. “In many cases, we are opting for electronic access of Illinois, the nation, and the world through leadership in physics education and research, In March 2003, the University Librarian issued a call to articles rather than ownership of the paper editions of public outreach, and professional service. for input on the proposal. The overwhelming response of non-core titles. The fact remains that every library’s buying faculty and students was to maintain the separate Physics- power is greatly reduced by budget cuts, inflation, and the EDITOR Celia M. Elliott Astronomy Library. Their argument that proposed cost current paper/electronic transition period, where informa- COPY EDITOR AND PROUCTION savings would be minimal was accepted by the University tion must be supplied in both formats.” COORDINATOR Rick Kubetz Librarian and the Provost. Youngen emphasized that gifts to the UIUC Library While the Physics-Astronomy Library remains, there Friends Fund and through the Departments of Physics ONLINE www.physics.uiuc.edu/Alumni are significant problems. To meet the budget reduction and and Astronomy are essential to maintaining the quality of WRITE TO US absorb the inflation of its existing titles, the Library had to the collection. These supplemental funds help purchase Subscriptions are free. To place your name cancel 10 subscriptions to physics and astronomy journals big-ticket items (such as electronic journal backfiles) and on our mailing list or to request an address this year. An additional librarywide reduction in the student meet user requests for specific items outside the normal correction, please contact us at: wage allocation has resulted in shortened hours of operation. book acquisition practices. [email protected] “The Library continues to explore new methods for the (217) 244-7725

Physics Illinois News 215 Loomis Laboratory of Physics, MC-704 Department of Physics Physics-Astronomy Library “wish list”: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 1110 West Green Street Kostorz, Gernot (ed.) Phase Transformations in Materials. Weinheim, Wiley-VCH, 2001. ($265) Urbana, IL 61801-2982 USA Beoer, K.W. Survey of Semiconductor Physics. 2nd ed. New York: Wiley, 2002 ($545) If you have suggestions for stories or features that you would like to see, comments about Lifshin, Eric. X-ray Characterization of Materials. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH, 1999. ($180) this edition, or requests for an electronic version of the newsletter, please write to us. If you would like to donate one of these volumes or contribute to the Library Friends Fund, contact: Greg Youngen We’re listening! ([email protected]) or Celia Elliott ([email protected]).

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 10 PHYSICS ILLINOIS NEWS • 2003 NUMBER 2

Mike are superb teachers who are I look on the award as another bridge BARDEEN AWARD regulars on the University’s “Incom- between countries already joined by Student plete List of Teachers Ranked as many ties of people, culture, and The Bardeen Memorial Award is given Excellent by Their Students.” friendship.” annually to recognize outstanding The award is named for Physics research achievements in condensed matter physics or the physics of Awards Illinois alumnus Scott Anderson 2003 DRICKAMER (Engineering Physics, M.S. ’37, Ph.D. electronic devices by a Physics ’40), who founded Anderson Physics RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP graduate student. Laboratories in Urbana in 1944. Shashank Misra was selected for The 2003 Drickamer Research A creative and prolific entrepreneur, the 2003 award for his work with Ali Fellowship in Physics, which recog- Anderson developed metal halide Yazdani on nanoscale phenomena in nizes significant achievements in Departmental lighting systems. It was through the cuprate superconductors. For the research, has been presented to Anderson’s initiative as president of first time, a single copper-oxide plane Tzu-Chieh Wei, a student of Paul Endowed Awards the Physics Alumni Association and at the surface of one of the high-T Goldbart. A graduate of National c his generous philanthropy that the cuprates was imaged. Taiwan University, Tzu-Chieh com- Anderson Award was endowed. Shashank’s work has not only pleted two years of obligatory military Benny R. Brown, a student of uncovered some surprises in the nature 2003 FELIX T. A DLER service before enrolling in graduate Alfred Hubler, did his undergraduate of electronic states in these planes, but FELLOWSHIP school at the University of Illinois. work at Carnegie Mellon University it has also created a new methodology At Illinois, his thesis research focuses Charles C. “Chris” Polly is the 2003 and worked as an electrical engineer at for probing electrons in these unusual on quantum information science, recipient of the Felix T. Adler Award, Motorola near Chicago before enter- materials. His research was featured in particularly on the geometry of which recognizes outstanding work by ing the physics program at Illinois. the Spring 2003 edition of Physics entanglement and maximal entangle- a graduate student in nuclear physics. His research involves complex systems, Illinois News. Shashank is a graduate of ment vs. entropy for mixed quantum Chris, a student in David Hertzog’s where he is studying the experimental the University of Wisconsin, Madison. states. group, is working on the ground- realization of one- and two-dimen- Although he is a theory student, breaking g–2 experiment at sional cellular automata using simple Tzu-Chieh seeks interactions with RICHARD K. COOK Brookhaven National Laboratory, electronic elements. He is particularly experimentalists; “I find I benefit a lot which has measured the anomalous interested in nanoscale implementa- SCHOLARSHIP from discussions with people doing magnetic moment of the muon tions and possible natural occurrences experiments, especially with ‘Kwiat’s The 2003 Richard K. Cook Scholar- to 0.7 ppm. in biological and condensed matter clan’. I get more from them than I ship—recognizing a meritorious An undergraduate math major systems, as well as potential commer- can actually help…a point that all undergraduate engineering physics at the University of Missouri–Rolla, cial applications. In the future, Benny theory students should keep in mind student at the end of his or her Chris enrolled in physics courses, would like to spend time teaching or and take advantage of.” Tzu-Chieh sophomore year—was presented to which influenced his strong interest in working in a third-world country. was honored earlier this year with a Jonathan A. Van Schelt. Jon has been the application of mathematics over Michael L. Scott, who is a student Mavis Memorial Fund Scholarship active in Physics Society and is a theory. Pursuing an advanced degree in Gary Gladding’s physics education Award from the College of regular crewmember of Physics Van. in physics has allowed him to combine research group, graduated from the Engineering. The annual award is made his two passions. University of Indianapolis. Pursuing a Professor Harry G. Drickamer, possible by the generous gift of The Adler Award was endowed career in physics to better understand for whom the Drickamer Fellowships Richard K. Cook, a 1935 Ph.D. by the family and friends of the late the nature of the world, he hopes to were named, was a distinguished alumnus who spent his entire career Professor Felix T. Adler, a theoretical teach physics in an intellectually member of the Departments of at the National Bureau of Standards, nuclear physicist who was instrumen- stimulating environment. Physics, Chemical and Biomolecular now the National Institute of tal in making Illinois a center for Engineering, and Chemistry at Illinois Standards and Technology (NIST). reactor science and engineering in 2003 BOBONE AWARD who contributed extensively to the Dr. Cook specialized in ultrasonics the 1960s. Adler, who held a joint understanding of the physics and and acoustics. appointment in Physics and Nuclear The Renato Bobone Award, which chemistry of matter at high pressure. Engineering, served the Department recognizes the year’s outstanding A summary in his own words of his with great distinction from 1958 until LAURA B. EISENSTEIN European graduate student based on research accomplishments in the field his untimely death in 1979. His work academic achievement, was awarded he established, pressure tuning AWARD spanned the development of nuclear for 2003 to Markus Dittrich of spectroscopy, can be found in Ann. energy—reactor control theory, The 2003 Laura B. Eisenstein Award, Crailsheim, Germany. Markus Rev. Mater. Sci. 20, 1–17 (1990). reactor kinetics and stability, neutron recognizing the outstanding woman received his diplom in physics from Drickamer died May 6, 2002, at transport theory, chemical physics, undergraduate physics student, was the University of Regensburg, where the age of 83. operational calculus in electrodynam- he completed a thesis in theoretical presented to Soojin Kwon of Incheon, ics, accelerator physics, and theoretical condensed matter physics. At Illinois, Korea. Soojin worked on two separate plasma physics. He was also an he has joined Klaus Schulten’s group, JORDAN S. ASKETH independent research projects while at exceptional teacher, noted for his where his thesis research involves the FELLOWSHIP Illinois—one with Susan Lamb infectious enthusiasm for physics and computational study of catalytic developing simulations of colliding his painstaking patience with students. control in molecular motors. Dimitrios Galanakis was selected to galaxies, and one with John Stack on This award was created by Physics receive the 2003 Jordan S. Asketh properties of the Lie group G2 and its Fellowship, which recognizes the work application to strong interactions. SCOTT ANDERSON Illinois alumnus Renato Bobone (Ph.D. ’60). A student of Hans, of an outstanding European graduate In 2003, Soojin was also one of AWARD Bobone spent his entire career student. Dimitrios enrolled at Illinois 100 recipients of the inaugural in 2001 after graduating from Samsung Lee Hun Kee Graduate The 2002 Scott Anderson Outstand- (1960–1987) at the General Electric Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Fellowships. Soojin intends to pursue ing Teaching Assistant Awards, which Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in Greece. His thesis work is on the a research career in theoretical physics. recognize superlative performance in Schenectady, New York, working on Hubbard model with Philip Phillips. She is enrolled in graduate school at teaching by graduate students, were several aspects of naval reactor design. He hopes to pursue an academic the University of California, Berkeley. awarded to Benny R. Brown for his When he endowed the award in 1985, career, initially in the United States, The award is named for the late Physics 102 work in the Spring 2002 Bobone wrote: “Interest in physics and but eventually in Greece. Laura B. Eisenstein, a distinguished semester, and to Michael L. Scott for the education I have been privileged to receive in , first, and then in this biological physicist who made impor- his Physics 100 contributions in the tant discoveries using a variety of Fall 2002 semester. Both Benny and country, have carried me over many obstacles and will be with me forever. techniques, including time-resolved

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN PHYSICS ILLINOIS NEWS • 2003 NUMBER 2 11

research. He is in graduate school in AHMET YILDIZ WINS 2003 demonstrate outstanding academic merit and leadership astronomy at Harvard this fall. FORESIGHT INSTITUTE AWARD and who are committed to serving their communities. Matt Rakher worked with Paul By October 2003, about 250 Gates Cambridge Scholars Kwiat’s quantum information group, Physics graduate student Ahmet Yildiz has won the 2003 from more than 50 countries are expected to be at where he studied the feasibility of Foresight Institute Distinguished Student Award, which Cambridge pursuing advanced degrees. Chris is the using a commercial recognizes the graduate or undergraduate student whose second physics student from Illinois in two years to display as a spatial light modulator work is deemed most notable in advancing the develop- receive a Gates Scholarship; Harish Agarwal (B.S. ’02) for optical quantum research. He is ment and understanding of molecular nanotechnology. was a 2002 Gates Scholar. currently a physics graduate student The award was presented at the Feynman Awards Ban- at the University of California, Santa quet during the 2003 Foresight Institute Conference on EDGAR LARIOS RECEIVES 2003–04 Barbara. Molecular Nanotechnology, which was held October 11 The award is named for Ernest M. 2003 in San Francisco, California. IBM GRADUATE RESEARCH Lyman, a distinguished researcher and Ahmet, who was nominated by his thesis adviser, FELLOWSHIP teacher who served on the faculty for Paul Selvin, was recognized for his contributions to 36 years. In addition to making Edgar Larios received one unraveling the motion of the molecular motor myosin V. seminal contributions to experimental of 54 graduate research Their work was featured as the cover article of the June nuclear physics—he was a world fellowships awarded in 27, 2003, issue of Science. expert on scattering—Lyman 2003 by IBM Corpora- maintained great interest in teaching tion as part of its IBM undergraduate physics and was one of CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL NAMED Ph.D. Scholars Program. the early proponents of computer- GATES SCHOLAR Edgar was one of only assisted physics education. three graduate students Christopher Michael, a 2003 gradu- majoring in physics to be ate in physics and selected in the interna- ROBERT A. STEIN and engineering, was one of 42 U.S. tional competition. SCHOLARSHIP IN students chosen from 500 applicants Edgar received a B.S. PHYSICS to receive a merit-based scholarship in engineering physics funded by an endowment from the in 1998 from ITESM, Mike Ferraro of Chicago received the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Campus Monterrey, in 2003 Stein Scholarship, which allows of Seattle. The awards, valued at Mexico. As an undergraduate, he attended the University the department to recruit outstanding approximately $32,000 each, cover of Colorado at Boulder for one year as an exchange undergraduate physics students. the full cost of studies at Cambridge University in student. He started to work with Martin Gruebele and A freshman majoring in LAS physics, England as well as some travel and living expenses for Klaus Schulten in the Theoretical and Computational Mike is active in Physics Society. a period of one to four years. Biophysics Group in 1999 and received his M.S. degree He did hands-on research at the Chris, who completed in just four years a five-year in physics in May 2000. Currently, Edgar is performing UNICAT facility at Argonne National undergraduate engineering program at Illinois, enrolled molecular dynamics, optical, and NMR experiments Laboratory as a high school student. at Cambridge this fall for a one-year master’s degree on ubiquitin. He is interested in the folding properties The Stein Scholarship was program in microelectronics engineering and semicon- of this protein as functions of both temperature and endowed by the family and friends of ductor physics. He plans to study microelectronic circuit pressure. former Physics alumnus Robert Stein fabrication and design for interfaces with neural net- The IBM program honors exceptional Ph.D. stu- after his untimely death in 1998. works, with a goal of improving the effectiveness of dents in disciplines of traditional interest to the company, Mr. Stein greatly valued the education neural implants. In addition to earning a perfect grade- including chemistry, computer science, electrical engi- he received in engineering physics point average while participating in the Campus Honors neering, materials science, mathematics, mechanical at the University of Illinois, and his Program, Chris did hands-on independent research, both engineering, and physics, as well as emerging technical family thought the best tribute to his on- and off-campus, beginning in his freshman year. fields, such as e-commerce and nanotechnology. All IBM memory would be to provide that He was also a regular on the “Incomplete List of Teachers Ph.D. Fellows are matched with an IBM mentor accord- opportunity to other Chicago youths. Ranked as Excellent by Their Students” as an under- ing to their technical interests, and they are expected to graduate teaching assistant in physics. intern at an IBM research or development laboratory Administered by the Gates Cambridge Trust since under their mentor’s guidance. Internship assignments BRISTOW SCHOLARSHIP 2001, the scholarship program is open to students outside are designed to strengthen and broaden the awardee’s Rebecca Jo Rosenblatt, a freshman, the United Kingdom. Awards are given to students who technical experience and contacts. received the 2003 Commonwealth Edison/Beryl Bristow Endowed Scholarship for Award. The scholarship supports an resonance Raman and X-ray absorp- Students,” and is a deadly adversary in ERNEST M. LYMAN outstanding freshman or sophomore ® tion spectroscopies, of the mechanism Trivial Pursuit . Chris got to show off PRIZE woman physics student and is named of light energy transduction by his trivia knowledge in 1998 as a after Beryl Love Bristow (B.S.’18, biomolecules. contestant on the television game The 2003 Ernest M. Lyman Prize, M.S.’19), the first woman to receive show Jeopardy! which is awarded to the outstanding a master’s degree in physics from the GUILIO ASCOLI AWARD The Ascoli Award is made possible senior physics student, was shared this University of Illinois. by the generosity of the family and year by Randall L. Cooper and The scholarship was established Christopher Sedlack, a student of friends of Guilio Ascoli, who served Matthew T. Rakher. by Commonwealth Edison as part Mats Selen, is the 2003 recipient the Department with distinction from Beginning in his sophomore year, of its commitment to women in of the Guilio Ascoli Award, which 1950 until his retirement in 1986. Randy Cooper worked with the math, science, and engineering. recognizes the year’s outstanding During his career in high-energy Center for Theoretical Astrophysics After graduating from Illinois, graduate student in experimental physics, Ascoli participated in the undergraduate research team under Bristow worked for CommEd as a high-energy physics. Chris is involved design and fabrication of hardware the direction of Stuart Shapiro and data analyst until her marriage. with the search for charm mixing in and in the development of algorithms Fred Lamb. He previously won a Barry semileptonic decay channels at the for data analysis for experiments at M. Goldwater Scholarship for aca-

CLEO experiment. He has been a CERN, Argonne National Laboratory, demic achievement and independent The University of Illinois at Urbana- regular on the “Incomplete List of and Fermi National Accelerator Champaign is an equal opportunity and affirmative action institution. Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Laboratory.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 12 PHYSICS ILLINOIS NEWS • 2003 NUMBER 2

Physics Van Milestone, continued from page 1 children’s questions on such burning (right) Students at Martin Luther King issues as “Why do tennis balls lose Elementary School in Urbana pull as their bounce?” (Michael, age 13, Lost hard as they can on a set of Magdeburg Mountain Middle School, Acworth, hemispheres, demonstrating the power Georgia); “How do you get electricity of air pressure. out of a lemon?” (Justin, age 8, Connecticut); and “Do shadows have mass?” (Natasha, age 11, Fort Collins, Colorado). Questions come from all over the world—Hoopeston, Illinois, PS 153 in New York, the United Arab Emirates, Korea, Republic of Ireland, and Hong Kong. Huge thanks to the College of Engineering and to the many alumni donors and friends who contribute to the Excellence in Physics fund that makes the Van program and many other department initiatives possible. And special thanks to all the dedicated student volunteers who share their Note: The Department of Physics is planning a special celebration to knowledge and enthusiasm, introduc- recognize the 10th Anniversary of the Physics Van. A reunion for Van ing the nation’s next generation of alumni is tentatively scheduled for the weekend of April 2–3, 2004. scientists to the wonder of physics. (If To receive updates on the planned festivities, send your contact information you’d like to support the Van program, to Celia Elliott ([email protected]). If you are interested in helping with go to www.physics.uiuc.edu/Giving/ the reunion—locating fellow Physics Van alumni, on-site coordination, UI student Rachel Williams pours liquid whyEIP.html.) etc.—contact Celia. nitrogen into a cork cannon that will later

Photos reproduced by permission of The Champaign-Urbana result in an intense “cork launch.” News-Gazette. Permission does not imply endorsement by the newspaper.

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