MAY 1997 the AMERICAN P Hysicalnews SOCIETY VOLUME 6, NO 5

FEATURING A P S N E W S APSMAY 1997 THE AMERICAN P HYSICALNews SOCIETY VOLUME 6, NO 5

Congressional Members Respond to Joint Society Statement

umerous Congressional dent to renew America’s historical com- impossible to maintain the United the next generation in a position to N representatives have endorsed the mitment to scientific research and States’ position as the technological enjoy a robust, growing economy.” Joint Society Statement calling for an education. It was drafted in response leader of the world,” he said, pointing Lieberman also said that the nation’s across-the-board increase of 7% in to the decline in research funding for out that Japan and Germany have spent current prosperity, intellectual leader- research funding, released in early four straight years. President Clinton’s a larger share of their GDP on research ship in science and medicine, and the March by leading scientific, FY 98 budget request for science again and development than the U.S. growth of entire new industries are di- mathematical and engineering falls behind inflation and behind the Brown also praised scientists for rectly linked to federal investments societies, including the APS (see APS overall increase of the budget. speaking out and announced his in- made 30 years ago. He praised Gramm’s News, April 1997). Senator Phil Gramm Gramm urged scientists to contact tention to introduce legislation calling bill, but said it should encompass ap- (R-TX), Senator Joseph Lieberman (D- their own senators on behalf of his bill, for an increase of 5% per year in non- plied research, and called for an end CT) and Representative George Brown entitled the National Research Invest- defense R&D, lest continued to partisan conflicts, in order to best (D-CA) all expressed their support of ment Act (S.124), which aims at under-investment in science lead to a identify areas in need of federal sup- the statement, and Gramm and Brown doubling the federal investment in ba- less prosperous future. “Economists port. “I believe it is a mistake to separate both have proposed bills calling for sic research in 10 years — a estimate that as much as half of our research into two warring camps,” he increased investment in basic research. commitment he deems critically impor- Nation’s economic growth in the last said. “Rather, the research enterprise The joint statement, signed by the tant to the nation’s future. “If we do hundred years is due to technological represents a broad spectrum of human presidents of more than 20 major orga- not restore the high priority once af- innovations,” he said. “Just as we have activity with basic and applied science nizations representing more than one forded science and technology in the a generational obligation to balance the at either end, but not in opposition. million engineers, mathematicians and federal budget and increase federal in- budget and not make the next genera- Every component along the spectrum scientists, urged Congress and the Presi- vestment in research, it will be tion pay for our consumption, we also produces returns: economic, social and have an obligation to continue to in- intellectual gains for the society as a vest in those programs that will leave whole.”

INSIDE THE BELTWAY INTERNATIONAL NEWS Paralytic Federalitis CIFS Rallies to Aid of Cuban Scientists Denied U.S. Visas by Michael S. Lubell, APS Director of Public Affairs In March, the APS Committee on the seph Birman, a professor at the City Science finally made it onto the Washington radar screen, only to find the airport International Freedom of Scientists College of New York. all but shut down. Congress has been in a monumental funk since it convened (CIFS) embarked on a letter-writing Lerch believes the blanket refusals almost four months ago. And at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, where the campaign on behalf of several Cuban were based on the fact that all univer- Lincoln Bedroom has remained largely vacant for the first time in two years, a scientists denied visas to attend scien- sity professors and researchers are bunker mentality seems to prevail. These days only Wendy’s is offering up any tific conferences in the U.S. Letters were essentially employees of the Cuban beef, and inside the Beltway, Hale-Bopp has a monopoly on the vision thing. sent to the U.S. Interest Section in Ha- government. However, these same Call it “paralytic federalitis”: it has its genesis in deviant fundraising practices vana and to State Department officials, strict standards are not applied to Chi- and deep fiscal phobias, and it has spread through Washington like a conta- and APS President D. Allan Bromley nese scientists applying for similar visas, gious disease, affecting leaders in both political parties in the process. (Yale University) issued a personal ap- which would essentially forbid scien- House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who was hit with a stern reprimand and a peal to Secretary of State Madeleine tific exchanges with that country. The $300,000 penalty by the House Ethics Committee in January, has all but van- Albright advocating for the free circu- denials “constitute a debilitating intru- ished from the congressional scene, leading some vocal critics in his own party lation of scientists. sion into the free and open exchange to call for his resignation. But so far the House Republican leadership has According to Mr. Andrew Simkin, a on which the U.S. and international sci- presented a united front in his defense, and no one with serious credentials has consular section officer at the U.S. In- entific communities are absolutely stepped forward to replace him. terest Section, located in the Swiss dependent,” he said. “If our important President Clinton, who has made a career of rebounding from certain defeat, is Embassy in Havana, the scientists were research universities and major scien- facing the prospects of yet another resurrection, one that may make the physical denied visas in accordance with the 1985 tific conferences are to be closed to therapy for his torn tendon seem like a trivial matter. It is not yet clear whether the Immigration and Nationality Act speci- international collaboration and dis- Administration broke any laws in its zeal to raise money for the 1996 campaign, but fying that employees of the Cuban course, we will suffer inestimable the fallout from the accusations and the perceptions of improprieties have tied up government and Cuban Communist damage to our credibility and, ulti- the White House in political knots since the inauguration. Party members should not be granted mately, to our domestic scientific Even Vice President Al Gore and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott have seen visas to enter the U.S. without permis- enterprise.” the luster of their squeaky clean images sullied somewhat. The Vice President, sion of the Department of State. In his letter to Albright, Bromley (Continued on page 2) According to Irving Lerch, APS di- noted that the U.S. has always adhered rector of international scientific affairs, to the International Council of Scien- the scientists in question are a group tific Unions statutes guaranteeing free IN THIS ISSUE of five quantum chemists from the Uni- circulation of scientists, an organization versity of Havana, led by Luis Alberto that can, and in the past, has made it Congressional Members Respond to Joint Society Statement ...... 1 Montero Cabrera, seeking admission to impossible for international scientific INSIDE THE BELTWAY ...... 1 the U.S. to visit Clark Atlanta Univer- meetings to be scheduled in countries International News ...... 1 sity in Atlanta, Georgia, and the that violated its statutes. Hence, “The New Staff Brings Expertise to APS Meetings, Education, Outreach ...... 2 University of Florida before attending visa denials are not only disappointing White House Taps Panel of Experts on Energy R&D ...... 2 the Sanibel Island Symposium on to meeting organizers and applicants IN BRIEF ...... 3 Quantum Chemistry, during which they alike, but also are detrimental to Ameri- Physicists to be Honored at PAC’97 ...... 3 are scheduled to give a presentation can science,” Bromley wrote. “The APS Reaffirms 1981 Statement on Creationism ...... 3 on their research. Carlo Trallero-Giner credibility of the U.S. as host to impor- 1996 Annual Report ...... 4 of the University of Havana has also tant international meetings would be Letters ...... 6 been denied an entrance visa. He is an seriously damaged… Free exchange of Announcements ...... 7 expert on semiconductor nanostructure information is essential to the health The Back Page ...... 8 systems who is seeking to collaborate and vitality of our domestic and inter- APS Meeting News ...... Insert on joint theoretical research with Jo- national scientific enterprise.” APS News May 1997 New Staff Brings Expertise to APS Meetings, Education, Outreach

he APS has added three new key staff members to further support its meetings, the American Teducation and outreach programs. Kevin Aylesworth, former APS general Health Planning councillor and Congressional Fellow, joined the Society in November as an Association in assistant to the APS Director of Education and Outreach, Ramon Lopez. Donna Washington, DC. Baudrau replaced Michael Scanlan as APS meetings manager in March. And “I’m looking for- Sherrie Preische has been hired as an assistant to the executive officer, presently ward to making a focusing on organizing the upcoming APS Centenary and various other projects. contribution to Aylesworth received his PhD in physics from the University of Nebraska in Donna Baudrau Kevin Aylesworth Sherrie Preische the APS, ensuring 1989, specializing in the magnetic and structural properties of magnetic thin that its meetings and exhibits run like a Swiss watch, and that we are doing our films and multilayers. He spent two years as a postdoctoral associate at the Naval best to serve the members and meeting attendees,” she said. Research Laboratory and then worked as a technical assistant/paralegal for an Preische received her B.A. in physics from Randolph-Macon Woman’s Col- attorney in Cambridge, Massachusetts, worked as an independent consultant, lege in Lynchburg, Virginia, and her PhD from Princeton University in 1995, with and was an APS Congressional Fellow. He was the recipient of the 1996 APS a doctoral thesis in plasma physics. She spent the following year and a half at the Forum Award for founding the Young Scientists Network in May 1990, which Tore Supra tokamak in Cadarache, France, on a postdoctoral fellowship from had a membership of over 3,000. He was elected to the APS Council in 1993 after the French Foreign Ministrys, where she continued her research on ECE mea- a successful write-in campaign placed him on the ballot. surements during rf experiments on the tokamak. She is an elected member of A certified meeting professional who has managed conventions, meetings the APS Division of Plasma Physics Executive Board, and was a co-organizer of and exhibit shows for almost 19 years, Baudrau comes to the APS from the the first Open House associated with the annual DPP meeting, in 1994. American Society for Parenteral and Entertal Nutrition, where she was director of conventions and exhibits. Prior to that she was a conference coordinator for

INSIDE THE BELTWAY (Continued on page 7) for whom the title “Mr. Straight Arrow” requests on February 6, he asserted that promptly. However, former Senator Sam TX) and several Senate colleagues sub- used to be regarded as an understate- his plan would result in budgetary bal- Nunn, a conservative Democrat from Geor- mitted legislation that would double ment, has been preoccupied defending ance in 2002. Rather than risk the kind gia who is widely respected on both sides the research budget in 10 years. And the use of his office telephone for po- of confrontation with the White House of the aisle, had these words of caution for George Brown (D-CA), former chair- litical fundraising, a practice that former that had resulted in a shutdown of the the Speaker’s critics. Reflecting on the GOP man of the House Science Committee, White House counsel Abner Mikva government in 1995, the Republicans strategy that had misfired two years ago released a balanced budget plan that warned was illegal. decided to use the President’s budget when tax and budget cuts became linked, would increase research spending at a And Mr. Lott, for whom charm, co- as a starting point for negotiations, he said, “What the Republicans offered then rate of five percent per year. mity and respect are guiding principles, rather than produce their own plan. was a soft slow pitch over the plate, and Reinforcing the science message, the had his perfectly coifed feathers ruffled Thus, although GOP criticism was im- the Democrats demagogued it right out of presidents of societies representing a bit in mid-March when Republicans mediate, the rhetoric was muted, and the park.” more than a million engineers, math- rebelled against a deal he had brokered preliminary discussions with the White Whether or not a budget deal can ematicians and scientists signed a joint within the GOP conference to keep the House took place several weeks later. But be struck, Congress will soon have to statement in March advocating in- Senate investigations of campaign plans for further talks were put on hold get on with the business of passing creases for research in the range of fundraising focused on the White when the Congressional Budget Office appropriations bills for the coming year. seven percent. The unprecedented House. When the proposed legislation declared the President’s spending plan $69 And right now the science signals are show of unity seemed to have an im- hit the Senate floor, Joseph I. Lieberman billion out of balance in 2002. Mr. Clinton, fairly good. For openers, the mediate effect. House Science (D-CT) offered an amendment to the Republicans said, should resubmit a President’s budget, instead of cutting Committee Chairman James broaden the investigating committee’s truly balanced budget. or freezing science spending, as first Sensenbrenner (R-WI), who only mandate. And much to the pleasure Sensing a possible stalemate and re- promised, would generally provide weeks earlier had said that a freeze was of committee chairman Fred Thomp- membering how the GOP had been small increases. The policy shift, ac- inevitable, agreed to support increases son (R-TN) and the dismay of Mr. Lott, damaged politically in 1995, Speaker cording to Presidential Science Advisor in the range of three percent. the Senate ultimately voted 99 to 0 to Gingrich, then proposed that both sides Jack Gibbons, was largely due to the But the story is far from over. Ap- accept the Lieberman amendment. forego discussions of tax cuts until they political activity of the science commu- propriators will still have the final word. While Congress stewed over inves- had arrived at a consensus on spending. nity. (Physicists take note!) Before then, of course, scientists will tigations, budget issues languished. Immediately, House Republicans screamed On the Hill, the voices of scientists have one more chance to make their When President Clinton submitted his “Sellout!” leading Gingrich to reverse course have also been heard. Phil Gramm (R- case. White House Taps Panel of Experts on APS COUNCIL 1997 Energy R&D President APS News D. Allan Bromley, Yale University President-Elect r. John H. Gibbons, Assistant to sector investments in energy research Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 Andrew M. Sessler, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory the President for Science and and development and U.S. commit- Vice-President D Series II, Vol. 6, No. 5 May 1997 Jerome Friedman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Technology, announced in March the ments to international cooperation in © 1997 The American Physical Society Executive Officer Judy R. Franz, University of Alabama, Huntsville formation of a panel of distinguished, energy research and development. Is- Editor: Barrett H. Ripin Treasurer independent experts to review the sues covered by the panel will include Newswriter: Jennifer Ouellette Thomas McIlrath, University of Maryland Editor-in-Chief Nation’s energy research and develop- R&D on energy and end-use efficiency, Production: Elizabeth Buchan-Higgins Martin Blume, Brookhaven National Laboratory Adrienne Vincent Past-President ment (R&D) program. The panel, renewables, advanced fossil-fuel tech- Coordinator: Amy Halsted Robert Schrieffer, Florida State University created under the auspices of the nologies, nuclear fission and nuclear General Councillors President’s Committee of Advisors on fusion. The panel will report its find- APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published 11X yearly, monthly, Daniel Auerbach, Virginia Brown, Jennifer Cohen, Charles Duke, except the August/September issue, by The American Physical Elsa Garmire, S. James Gates, Donald Hamann, William Happer, Science and Technology (PCAST), will ings to the President by October 1997. Society, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844, (301) Anthony M. Johnson, Zachary Levine, Paul Peercy, Susan Seestrom, provide recommendations on how to The other members of the panel, of 209-3200. It contains news of the Society and of its Divisions, Virginia Trimble, Ronald Walsworth, Sau Lan Wu Topical Groups, Sections and Forums; advance information on ensure the United States’ energy R&D whom are longstanding APS members, meetings of the Society; and reports to the Society by its com- Chair, Nominating Committee mittees and task forces, as well as opinions. Gerard Crawley program addresses the economic, en- are Diana MacArthur, Dynamac Corpo-

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Postmaster: Send address changes to APS News, ministrative Editor; Reid Terwilliger, Director of Editorial Office U.S. energy R&D programs and will Paul, Chevron Corporation; Robert Membership Department, The American Physical Society, One Services; Michael Stephens, Controller and Assistant Treasurer Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844. make recommendations on federal sup- Williams, Princeton University; and port for energy research and Maxine Savitz, Allied Signal Ceramic development, incentives for private- Components. 2 May 1997 APS News Physicists to be Honored at PAC’97 IN BRIEF Two physicists will be honored for their OUTSTANDING DOCTORAL work in particle and beam physics at THESIS RESEARCH IN BEAM • The APS Ohio Section is holding its annual spring meeting 2-3 May at the 1997 Particle Accelerator Conference PHYSICS (PAC’97), to be held 12-16 May 1997 in Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. The invited talks during the plenary session focus on nonlinear optics and ultrafast phe- Vancouver, BC. Andrew Sessler of Established in 1990 by the Division of nomena. On Friday afternoon, Duncan Steel (University of Michigan, Ann Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Physics of Beams, this award is sup- Arbor) speaks on quantum optics of semiconductor heterostructures, par- will receive the 1997 Robert R. Wilson ported by the Universities Research ticularly recent results demonstrating the fully resonance coherent nonlinear Prize, and Linda Klamp Spentzouris, a Association. It is intended to recognize optical response of a single quantum dot, using various spectroscopic research associate at Fermi National doctoral thesis research of outstanding methodologies. He is followed by Nasser Peyghambarian (University of Laboratory, will receive the 1997 award quality and achievement in beam phys- Arizona) who summarized his recent program in developing polymeric for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Re- ics and engineering. search in Beam Physics. laser diodes and highly efficient photorefrative polymers, with improved Linda Klamp Spentzouris performance of four orders of magnitude than previously achieved. On Northwestern University Saturday morning, Alex Kaplan (Johns Hopkins University) speaks on the 1997 ROBERT R. WILSON PRIZE physics of high-intensity, sub-cycle sub-femotosecond pulses, in particular Citation: “For her pioneering measure- novel field-ionization patterns that can be induced by them. He is fol- Established in 1986, the Wilson Prize is ment of nonlinear coherent phenomena lowed by a talk on the physics, electro-optics and nonlinear optics of intended to recognize and encourage in high-energy hadron beams, building laser-induced photoconductivity and photorefractive responses of nematic outstanding achievement in the phys- upon the rich theoretical development liquid crystals by Iam-Choon Khoo (Pennsylvania State University). ics of particle accelerators. in plasma physics over the last several decades. Her findings include the iden- • The APS New York State Section held its 76th topical symposium 11-12 Andrew Sessler tification of three-wave interactions in April at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. Focusing on lasers in Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory beams, and a related phenomenon, science, the program featured 12 invited lectures on recent developments Citation: “For a broad range of theo- echoes, which provides a means to in novel lasers and a rich variety of scientific studies based on lasers. retical and conceptual advances in detect extremely weak diffusive pro- Friday morning’s session covered new laser sources, such as x-ray free particle beam dynamics, leading to im- cesses at work in the beam. Her work electron lasers, high power fiber lasers for communications systems, and portant accelerator performance serves as a starting point for the un- the current status of blue-green and violet-UV semiconductor laser di- improvements; for contributions in the derstanding of saturation and turbulent odes. On Friday afternoon, the discussion turned to such laser-originating areas of synchrotron rings, including states in high-energy synchrotrons.” topics as quantum effects in laser cooling, nanofabrication and anti-viral negative mass instability and resistive Spentzouris received her BA in phys- testing, and subatomic microscopy and micromanipulation. The use of wall instability, and free electron lasers; ics from Colorado College in 1979. lasers in other areas of science was featured at Saturday morning’s ses- for the two-beam accelerator concept; During the intervening years between sion, covering such topics as lasers in surface science, laser vision for helping shape the very language of her undergraduate degree and enter- correction, laser chemistry, and the Laser Interferometer Gravitational- beam physics; and for inspiring and ing graduate school, she worked in the Wave Observatory (LIGO). guiding several generations of accelera- operations group of the Accelerator Di- tor scientists and serving as a statesman vision at Fermilab. She received her • The APS New England Section also held its spring meeting 11-12 April at of science.” PhD in physics from Northwestern Uni- the University of Maine in Orono, organized jointly with the New En- Currently the APS President-Elect, versity in 1996. The subject of her gland zones of the American Association of Physics Teachers and the Sessler received his PhD from Colum- disseration was coherent nonlinear lon- Society of Physics Students. Friday afternoon’s plenary session provided bia University in 1953. In 1961, he gitudinal phenomena in unbunched an overview of the area of tribology. While most physics courses treat joined the Lawrence Berkeley National synchrotron beams. These phenomena friction simplistically, in a way that often does not correspond to reality, Laboratory, where he was instrumen- include the weakly nonlinear three- recent advances in theoretical and experimental methods have led to tal in initiating an Energy and wave coupling process of parametric renewed interest in the fundamental aspects of friction. Friday evening’s Environment program. He served coupling and beam echoes, as well as banquet featured a keynote address by Edward Tenner on the perils of LBNL’s director from 1973 to 1980, and moderately nonlinear wave- particle in- technological security. Tenner is the author of the book “Why Things Bite is presently a Distinguished Senior Staff teractions. She has recently been hired Back: Technology and the Revenge of Unintended Consequences.” Satur- Scientist in the Accelerator Fusion Re- as a research associate by Fermilab, to day morning featured a special plenary address by Lillian McDermott of search Division. A past chair of the work on a high-intensity photoelectron the University of Washington on bridging the gap between teaching and Federation of American Scientists, source now under construction. The learning, followed by talks on recruiting and retention of minority phys- Sessler has been active in human rights source will be used as a prototype in- ics graduate students, and on recent developments in the large scale matters, being one of the co-founders jector for the Tesla Test Facility. structure of the universe. of the Sakharov, Orlov and Experiments at Fermilab are planned Shcharansky (SOS) Society, and was the which will use this source as a driver • In March, the APS Texas Section held its annual Joint Spring Meeting with first recipient of the APS Nicholson for a plasma-wakefield advanced ac- the American Association of Physics Teachers and Zone 13 of the Society Medal for Humanitarian Service in 1994. celerator. of Physics Students and the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. In addition to sessions on nuclear and particle physics and atomic and molecular physics, the conference also featured two sessions on surface physics. Topics in Friday morning’s session included scattering and re- APS Reaffirms 1981 Statement coiling imaging spectroscopy, ion beam synthesis of silicon nitride, and computer simulations of coupled piano strings. Saturday morning’s session focused on modern techniques for looking at surfaces, including on Creationism magnetic resonance force microscopy, cross-section tunneling electron oncerned with recent attempts to scientific principles has lead to a cur- microscopy, spin polarized electron spectroscopy, and secondary ion mass Chave the biblical story of creation rent picture of life, of the nature of our spectroscopy. The keynote speaker at Friday evening’s banquet was John taught in public schools as science, the planet, and of the universe which, while Hubisz. APS Executive Board voted unani- incomplete, is constantly being tested mously at its February meeting to and refined by observation and analy- • The APS Division of Laser Science is currently accepting applications from reaffirm the position adopted by the sis. host schools for the next round of awards for its Distinguished Traveling Society in November 1981. The state- This ability to construct critical ex- Lecturer program, intended to bring distinguished scientists to predomi- ment strongly opposes the teaching of periments, whose results can require nantly undergraduate colleges and universities for two-day visits, which “creationism” in science class, maintain- rejection of a theory, is fundamental to may include lectures and informal meetings with faculty and students. ing that “attempts to present scientific the scientific method. While our soci- Lecturers for the 1996-1997 academic year and their topics are Geraldine inquiry and religious beliefs in the same ety must constantly guard against Richmond (University of Oregon), surface nonlinear optics; Jagdeep Shah context can only lead to misunder- oversimplified or dogmatic descriptions (AT&T Bell Laboratories), quantum optics; Stephen Leone (University of standings of both.” The full text of the of science in the education process, we Colorado), chemical physics; Philip Bucksbaum (University of Michigan) statement is below. must also resist attempts to interfere with high-field laser physics; and Bill Phillips (NIST), atom cooling and trap- The Council of the American Physi- the presentation of properly developed ping. Detailed information is available on the DLS homepage: http:// cal Society opposes proposals to require scientific principles in established www.physics.wm.ed/~cooke/dls/dls.html. The deadline for spring 1998 “equal time” for presentation in public guidelines for classroom instruction or applications is June 15, 1997. school science classes of the biblical in the development of scientific text- story of creation and the scientific books. We therefore strongly oppose any • According to a report published in the New York Times (4 March 1997), theory of evolution. The issues raised requirement for parallel treatment of the names of elements 104 through 109 have finally been accepted by by such proposals, while mainly focused scientific and non-scientific discussions nuclear scientists and certified by the International Union of Pure and on evolution, have important implica- in science classes. Scientific inquiry and Applied Chemistry. The delay over the names was caused partly by rival tions for the entire spectrum of scientific religious beliefs are two distinct elements claims to priority; the pertinent experiments rendered mere handfuls of inquiry, including geology, physics, of the human experience. Attempts to atoms. Physics and chemistry students worldwide will now have to memo- and astronomy. In contrast to “Cre- present them in the same context can rize the following additions to the Periodic Table: Rutherfordium ationism,” the systematic application of only lead to misunderstandings of both. (abbreviated Rf, element 104), Dubnium (Db, 105), Seaborgium (Sg, 106), Bohrium (Bh, 107), Hassium (Hs, 108), and Meitnerium (Mt, 109).

3 APS News May 1997 1996 Annual Report

1996 was an exciting year for physics and the American Physical Society. NIST is supplying the APS with $150,000 per year for two years to work closely Major new developments were reported in all fields of physics and several, with them and with AAS to help in the development of authoring tools and including advances in quantum computation, the creation of metallic hydro- other important services for NIST scientists. gen, sending atoms down hollow fibers, and evidence that quarks are point- Editorial Changes: There were two major changes in editorial leadership like down to 10-19 m, were highlighted in the major media. APS passed its in 1996. After nearly 22 years as editor of Reviews of Modern Physics, David third anniversary of the move of APS headquarters to the American Center for Pines stepped down and was replaced in January by George Bertsch, a nuclear Physics in College Park, Maryland, where the close proximity of other scien- physicist resident at University of Washington in Seattle. As a result the RMP tific and professional societies has proved to be the advantage that was origi- editorial office moved to the University of Washington campus, along with its nally anticipated. In addition, the pleasant working conditions of the ACP long-term assistant editor Karie Friedman, who continues to serve very effec- building have helped APS to attract an exceptionally talented staff. Plans for a tively as the full-time overseer of the journal. Lowell Brown retired as editor major addition to the APS Editorial Offices in Ridge, New York, were com- of Physical Review D at the end of 1995, and was replaced by Erick Weinberg, a pleted. This will allow all the excellent editorial and support staff on Long particle theorist at Columbia University. In addition, an in-depth review of Island to come together under one roof. Physical Review C, completed in 1995, was considered by the Publication Over- The APS made major progress in its electronic publishing efforts through- sight Committee in 1996, resulting in a renewal of Sam Austin as editor for out 1996, offering Physical Review Letters, and Physical Review C, D and B-Rapids another five year term. online, and laying the ground work for all APS journals to be online by the end of 1997. The adoption of an electronic abstract submission procedure for all Membership Operations APS meetings allowed the programs for all APS meetings, general, topical, Membership: In 1996 the headquarters staff switched to a new electronic and regional, to be available and searchable on the web long before the meet- database to track membership and member journal subscriptions. The new ings themselves. system should aid staff in serving members more effectively and efficiently This year APS expanded its public service and outreach programs in many and provides greater flexibility in tracking and reporting membership trends. directions. APS’s first capital fundraising efforts, carried out jointly with the New members will now be able to join at any time of the year. Anniversary American Association of Physics Teachers and called the Campaign for Physics, billing is expected to improve first-year renewal rates and should help reverse had an excellent year and is quickly approaching its goal of $5 million. The the slight downward trend in total membership of the past few years. The funds raised in this way allowed APS to expand greatly its programs to in- Committee on Membership approved a one-year waiver of membership and volve research scientists in improving pre-college science education. unit dues for unemployed members, and the free first-year offer to graduate stu- The APS intensified its effort to involve scientists in grassroots efforts to dents was offered to undergraduates as well. promote physics to the public and support for science in general, and physics This year the APS established an extensive home page on the Internet. Com- in particular, to legislators and government leaders. In addition, we have been prehensive information about meetings, individual units, membership, edu- working with other societies to develop a coordinated approach in seeking cation and outreach programs, honors and awards, What’s New, etc., is avail- increased federal funding for science and technology. able to members and non-members. Certain areas such as the Membership Looking toward the future, the very successful searches for two new oper- Directory and issues of APS News are restricted to APS members. The direc- ating officers may have been the most important events of the year. Harry tory is searchable by name and is updated daily. Lustig, APS treasurer for 11 years, retired in November. In addition to initiat- The Society has become increasingly concerned about the significant por- ing and leading many new APS programs, he managed APS finances with tion of non-academic physicists who have not been well served by APS. To such distinction that the Society faces the future with an unusually firm foun- learn more about this community and its needs and to encourage these physi- dation. He was replaced by Tom McIlrath, an atomic and optical physicist cists to take part in APS activities, the Forum on Industrial and Applied Phys- from the University of Maryland who brings a broad base of experience both ics was formed and quickly became the most popular forum, with over 5,000 in physics and in administration. At the end of the year, Ben Bederson retired members. Other new units include the Topical Group on Gravitation, the Topi- as APS editor-in-chief after a five-year term in office. He shepherded the jour- cal Group on Magnetism and Its Applications, and the Topical Group on Statisti- nals through a period of rapid growth and change and laid most the ground- cal and Nonlinear Physics. In addition, the Laser Science Topical Group grew work for the development of the new online journals. He has been replaced by large enough to become a division. Martin Blume, a condensed matter theorist, who recently stepped down as Career and Professional Development: The APS closely monitors the ca- deputy director of Brookhaven National Laboratory and whose management reer and employment situations for physicists through member surveys and skills and enthusiasm are well known throughout the physics community. statistical surveys conducted by the AIP. Due to several factors, the number of J. Robert Schrieffer permanent physics positions in such traditional areas as teaching and basic President, 1996 research has lagged behind the supply of physicists over the past several years. The Society has continued its efforts to inform members, and particularly student members, about diverse employment options open to physicists. Career HIGHLIGHTS OF APS OPERATIONS information is available through APS News articles, brochures, and career workshops and employment services at APS meetings. CareerPlus, a special insert to the March issue of APS News, was produced to bring much of this informa- Research Publications APS Journals: 1996 was a relatively quiet year for APS journals, excepting tion to members and students. the increasing impact of electronic publishing. The journals experienced a year Many APS units, such as the Forum on Education, the Forum on Physics of stability, with modest and manageable growth, and with a healthy financial and Society, the new Forum on Industrial and Applied Physics, and several return of revenue over expenses. The Council mandates to limit growth, trim technical units have ongoing activities in the area of careers. An APS Task operating expenses, reduce subscription rate increases to libraries, and phase Force on Career and Professional Development was appointed in 1996 to ad- down page charges have all been adhered to. Many of these favorable trends vise the Society on how it can most effectively coordinate its activities and use can be attributed to the significant slowing down of submission increases, from its resources to deal with the near-term problems, as well as to develop a long- an almost constant 8 or 9 percent per year in recent years to about 4 percent in term strategy. 1996. The number of international submissions continues to rise dramatically, APS News: A regular column, Inside the Beltway, was introduced to high- representing more than b of all submissions. For the first time, in 1996 sub- light current government actions that affect science, as well as Society public missions from western Europe exceeded those from the US. and governmental education activity. The Caught in the Web column lists new Library subscriptions continued their 30-year decline at the rate of about 3 postings on the rapidly expanding APS web pages. Issues with special insert percent. So far our collective wisdom has been unable to make a dent in this pullout sections were introduced on career issues (CareerPlus) and APS electronic unyielding statistic. publication activity (APS Online and Guide to Electronic Abstract Submission). APS Electronic Publishing: This was a year of intense activity in electronic pub- News was also made available to members through the APS website in html and lishing for the APS. A critical change in production strategy occurred in April pdf formats. when APS successfully moved all Physical Review production into electronic New Prizes and Awards: Several APS awards and lectureships were en- production using the Xyvision composition system at AIP. A serendipitous dowed in 1996. The Hans A. Bethe Prize, a new annual $7500 award for out- byproduct of the Xyvision process was that all articles are now easily convert- standing work in areas of nuclear physics and astrophysics, was initiated and ible to pdf files and, for the first time, APS became capable of delivering all of endowed through the joint efforts of the Divisions of Nuclear Physics and As- its journals electronically. Physical Review D and B Rapids were offered online trophysics. Keithley Instruments endowed the Joseph F. Keithley Award, a through the efforts of APS Journal Information Systems staff, with PRD having new annual $5000 award to recognize contributions to instrumentation and the added advantages of external links to the xxx eprint server at Los Alamos measurement techniques. The former Forum Award was endowed by Jean and the library at SLAC. In July 1996, Physical Review C online was launched Dickey Apker and renamed the Joseph Burton Forum Award in honor of Jo- via a newly developed AIP service. This service has now grown into the AIP’s seph Burton, a past treasurer of the APS. Elsevier Science endowed the exist- Online Journal Publishing Service. All remaining APS journals are scheduled to ing Dillon Medal for an outstanding young high polymer researcher, and fi- be delivered online via the AIP service by summer 1997. nally, the APS Henry Primakoff Lectureship, intended to bring eminent speak- APS developed an eprint server that went online in July. In addition to ers to an APS meeting, was established and endowed in Primakoff’s memory. providing electronic access to preprints in all fields of physics, this has al- Information Services: The headquarters Information Services Department lowed authors to submit papers to APS journal directly via the web. Signifi- was challenged during 1996 by the Society’s ever-growing electronic informa- cant progress was also made on the development of a web-based online archive tion needs. The most significant project of the year was the replacement of our for APS journals. Working in collaboration with Los Alamos and the Naval seven-year-old custom written membership system with a new package based Research Laboratory, APS hopes by the end of next year to have all its articles on state-of-the-art database technology. This transition meant many long hours dating back to 1985 available through hot links from current journals. and much frustration for staff and, even occasionally, our members. However, 1996 also saw the first receipt of an external grant in electronic publishing. APS has now started to reap some of the benefits of the new technology.

4 May 1997 APS News 1996 Annual Report

Significant effort went into enhancing the APS World Wide Web site. Mem- continued to provide Colloquium Speakers lists. The COM list contains the names bers can now update their mailing address, e-mail address, or add a home of more than 60 minority physicists while the CSWP list contains the names of page URL to their online directory listing. The capability to securely accept over 300 women physicists. Both committees also offer travel grants for speak- credit card transactions was implemented on our web site. Access to APS web ers. information was improved for overseas members through the establishment The CSWP/COM Roster of Women and Minorities in Physics assists institu- of a mirror web server at the European Physical Society. tions in finding qualified women and minority candidates for job openings. In Enhancements were also made in support of planning for the Society’s vari- 1996, 23 paid database searches were conducted. ous meetings. The electronic abstract submission process was improved and The Education and Outreach Department continues to expand its online ser- now allows researchers to view abstracts in their publication format prior to vices and resources. The Women in Physics (WIPHYS) list server fosters lively final submission to APS. discussions among its 750+ members. APS Industrial Summer Intern Program: During 1996, 14 students were Scientific Meetings The 1996 March Meeting in St. Louis was a great success, with more than hired by industrial and applied research laboratories through this program. 4,600 registrants. Thirteen units participated in more than 450 sessions. The 1996 Due to a tremendous response from members of the new Forum on Industrial Joint APS/AAPT Meeting was held outside of Washington, DC for the first time and Applied Physics, the program will be expanded to over 30 companies and in many years. Indianapolis turned out to be an excellent location. The sessions labs for the summer of 1997. were well attended and the 14 APS units, the AAPT, and most of the 1300 participants were enthusiastic about the outcome. International Affairs For the last several years, the APS Meetings Department has helped the Divi- In 1996 the APS International Affairs programs addressed a number of ob- sion of Plasma Physics manage its annual meeting. From time to time, other jectives which included establishing bi- and multi-lateral relations with the divisions have also asked for this assistance and APS staff would like to extend international physics community, promoting telecommunications access in the this service more widely. It is, however, difficult for APS to match low costs that international academic/research community, and developing and monitoring the divisions are used to incurring through the use of volunteer labor. response to the crisis in physics in the former Soviet Union (fSU). The computerization of abstract submission and the electronic production The Society continues to offer a Matching Membership program, which and distribution of the APS bulletins (BAPS) for meetings made major progress offers APS memberships at significantly reduced dues to encourage participa- in 1996. Over 90 percent of the abstracts were submitted electronically. tion in APS activities and programs by colleagues in currency-poor countries. Over 200 physicists enrolled in the program this year. Access to the APS journals is offered to institutes and universities through the Library Outreach Pro- Development Efforts The Campaign for Physics: In addition to the establishment of funds for gram. In 1996, 50 participating libraries in Russia, Ukraine, and the Baltics the awarding of APS prizes and awards and annual member voluntary contribu- were joined by a dozen new subscribers in China. tions which have been solicited via member invoices, APS development efforts In 1996 the APS participated in planning and organizing a number of inter- have centered around a $5 million campaign to support science education pro- national workshops and symposia. These included Advanced Networking grams of the APS and the American Association for Physics Teachers. The Campaign, Training Workshops for network managers, system administrators, and pro- called the Campaign for Physics, has raised $3.9 million to date. grammers held in Kiev, Ukraine and St. Petersburg, Russia and the University This Campaign benefits from outstanding corporate leadership and financial of Accra in Legon, Ghana, and an ICSU Press - UNESCO conference on elec- support. The Campaign’s executive committee is led by William Hewlett (Co- tronic publishing in science in Paris. In addition, the APS continues to serve Founder of Hewlett-Packard Company), assisted by eight other chief executives on the Physics Action Council to provide the UNESCO Director General and who serve as vice chairs, a 39 member Campaign Council of Nobel laureates led his staff with connections to the international physics community. by Nicolaas Bloembergen, and the Individual Gifts Campaign Committee, led by John Armstrong. Public Affairs and Information Public Affairs Activities: Legislative initiatives undertaken by the Office of Public Affairs include the grassroots Physics and Government Network Education and Outreach Teacher/Scientist Alliance Institute (TSAI): Funded by the Campaign for (PGNet) as well as direct lobbying on Capitol Hill. Legislative activities that

Physics, the TSAI program involves scientists in the systemic reform of elemen- were targeted during 1996 include: preserving the helium reserves and pre- tary science education. In 1996, TSAI became a major force in the country-wide serving and increasing funding for the National Science Foundation; energy . effort to introduce well-tested, hands-on science activities into elementary sci- research in the Department of Energy; plasma science and nuclear physics ence programs. Program components include an annual one-week workshop With strong recruiting efforts, the PGNet membership increased to 957 active held in Washington, DC to develop leadership teams of scientists at targeted members. APS members equipped with information packets prepared by the sites around the country and local one-day workshops for scientists who want Public Affairs Office made visits to more than 200 elected representatives to to support hands-on science in their schools. In addition, the TSAI organized its seek support for science. first regional Leadership Institute for 13 New England school district teams of In 1996 the Office provided assistance in drafting two Council statements scientists and educators. Many of these districts are currently implementing the (one on the DOE Office of Energy Research and one on the budget for fusion K-6 science reform plans developed during the Institute. energy science) and presidential letters covering such issues as copyright pro- APS Minority Scholarships Program for Undergraduate Physics Majors: tection, strategic helium reserve and alternative medicine. Written congres- Allocating Federal Funds for Science and Tech- As one of the five initiatives of the Campaign for Physics, this APS program sional testimony on the NAS report nology continued to support 21 outstanding minority undergraduate physics students requested by the House Science Committee was submitted by J. Robert in 1996. The program provides a monetary grant to the student as well as a Schrieffer and D. Allan Bromley and received extensive coverage in the sci- mentor to advise on career choices, course selections, research experiences and ence press. Public Information Activities: general information on physics. In addition, a small monetary grant to the host The Office of Public Information responds physics department is made available for special activities. to numerous media and public inquiries ranging from simple scientific ques- Other Education and Outreach Programs included High School Teachers tions and requests for names of people to contact, to hour-long background Days conducted with the cooperation and participation of APS units at the March discussions. and April meetings, as well as some divisional meetings. The Committee on In addition, it administers the Congressional Fellows and the Media Fel- Minorities (COM) and Committee on the Status of Women in Physics (CSWP) both lows Programs. Each year a new APS Congressional Fellow is selected to work (Continued on next page)

Net Revenues (expenses) Net Revenues (expenses) of Operations Fiscal Year 1996 Fiscal Year 1996

5 APS News May 1997

STATEMENTS of FINANCIAL POSITION as legislative assistant in a congressional office advising the legislator on broad June 30, 1996 and 1995 science policy issues. This year APS initiated the Media Fellows Program as a Assets 1996 1995 joint program with American Association for the Advancement of Science. Cash and cash equivalents $ 7,727,436 $ 7,670,220 Bob Park continues to produce What’s New on a regular basis. The total Investments, at fair value 47,823,939 40,592,233 readership is now estimated to be well over 25,000. It is distributed directly to Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful more than 7,000 e-mail addresses and is copied on numerous networks and bul- accounts of $350,000 and $248,000 843,735 963,335 letin boards, including the APS home page. Pledges receivable, net of allowance for doubtful pledges of $7,000 and $27,000 689,318 378,693 Prepaid expenses and other assets 236,754 746,769 FINANCES Land, building and equipment, net 2,153,981 2,411,459 Total assets $59,475,163 $ 52,762,709 Fiscal Year July 1, 1995 - June 30, 1996 At the end of fiscal year 1996, the total assets of the American Physical Society had grown to a record $59.5 M, up from $52.8 M a year before [See Liabilities and net assets: Statements of Financial Position below]. Of this amount $16.2 M were bal- Liabilities anced by liabilities; the remainder, $43.3 M are the Net Assets of the Society. Accounts payable: The assets have reached an unprecedented level. American Institute of Physics $ 1,103,198 $ 2,249,907 The Net Assets fall into two categories: (temporarily) restricted assets — Other 820,486 1,063,032 Deferred revenues: the monies intended for prizes and awards and for the programs of the Cam- Publications 10,335,139 9,693,023 paign for Physics; and unrestricted assets — funds that may be used for the Membership dues and contributions 2,151,539 2,464,669 other operations of the Society. This latter quantity has been traditionally re- Grants and similar contracts 11,010 8,459 ferred to within the APS as our Reserve Fund. Liability for post-retirement medical benefits 1,752,972 1,566,786 The APS is now in an enviable financial position. Its Reserve Fund has met Total liabilities 16,174,344 17,045,876 and exceeded its goal of being equal to one year’s operating expenses. Rea- sonable returns from investments (which can and undoubtedly will be lower Commitments and contingency than the overheated profits of recent years), together with modest success in fundraising, can meet the deficits of our public affairs and outreach programs Net Assets provided their growth is kept under control. What this means is that the APS Unrestricted net assets 38,356,800 32,235,724 journal surplus will no longer be required to bear the full burden of keeping Temporarily restricted net assets 4,944,019 3,481,109 the science and other Society programs going. [See charts below.] Total net assets 43,300,819 35,716,833 Total liabilities and net assets $59,475,163 $52,762,709 LETTERS

Let’s Fund Both Science and Entitlements proposal still has some breath left on So, for the foreseeable future science Capitol Hill. The reason is simple. So- will be squeezed if the entitlement bud- It is useful to have an update on the Lubell calls for the adoption of the cial Security is going to be in trouble get continues to grow. It will take a lot state of government support for phys- highly partisan Boskin committee in less than thirty years simply due to of Gary Goldsteins to change the po- ics research. However, Michael S. Lubell report’s conclusion that the Consumer demographics. Either taxes will have litical landscape. Of course, that doesn’t (“Will a Thaw Follow the Hard Freeze?” Price Index is inflated and must be ad- to go up or benefits will have to be mean they shouldn’t try. March 1997) devotes only a few para- justed downward. This report is a cut. Again, the political reality is that Michael S. Lubell graphs to that subject. His major transparent attempt to redefine the stan- right now nobody will consider rais- purpose in the article is to advocate dard of living downward for most ing taxes. cutting “entitlements,” particularly So- Americans. cial Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Underlying all of Lubell’s discussion He poses a false choice - cut entitle- is the supposition that the federal bud- On the Influx of Foreign Students ments or cut science research. get must be put in balance. While this Allan Bromley’s remarks on the “in- of a reduction in the proportion of for- There are several reasons to read that makes good sloganeering, we physi- flux of foreign students” (February 1997 eign students to about 20% (excluding article with skepticism. For one thing, cists should know better. Without APS News) reminded me of Will Rogers’ those from Canada and Mexico) to en- as he points out, half of the deficit spending, future programs, vi- comment in the early 1930s: “Its not courage recruitment of U.S. young government’s discretionary budget is sionary or prosaic, will never be what President Hoover doesn’t know people, especially minorities and devoted to defense programs. Bloated possible to support. All of recent his- that bothers me, it’s what he does know women into scientific careers. In other Cold War defense spending has out- tory shows the US economy thriving that ain’t so!” Bromley states that “... words, U.S. students would be attracted lived its reason for existence by many while the government functions with last summer the INS substantially tight- to these careers by a tighter labor mar- years. an unbalanced budget. There is no ened the restrictions on admission of ket. This is much in the style of Brian There are many such expenditures evidence that a balanced budget pro- foreign scholars and students.” (He ap- Schwartz’s use of the “X” word (xeno- that could be cut for the good of the duces positive effects on the economy parently meant Congress passed the phobia) in his “The Back Page” piece country and for peace in the world, as as a whole, nor on the standard of liv- Illegal Immigration Reform and Immi- (February 1997 APS News) under the well as to foster science and vital civil- ing for the average citizen. grant Responsibility Act of 1996.) After rubric of Myth #4 (concerning “..large ian programs. Instead of focusing on We physicists are trained in analyti- consulting the law and checking with numbers foreign graduate students”). this, Lubell reproduces the conserva- cal reasoning. We must not accept the an attorney specializing in immigration, Bromley attributes the illusory reduc- tive doctrine on balancing budgets and false choice, proposed by Lubell, be- I find that Bromley is entirely mistaken. tions “…in part because of pressure from reducing entitlements. He accepts, tween support for scientific research or It is essentially “business as usual” for Americans who didn’t want the increased without question that the entitlements support for the nation’s elderly, poor the influx of foreign students and schol- competition.” Interestingly enough, both are a growing part of the budget and and helpless. ars; ditto for skills-based importation of Bromley and Schwartz are tenured pro- must be reined in, without asking why Gary R. Goldstein scientists and engineers. fessors and hence exempt from labor this situation has come to be. Tufts University As for his other point on the brain market economics. Were tenure abol- drain “not going to be allowed to con- ished or greatly modified they would Lubell Replies… tinue” by “..their home countries,” he surely more keenly appreciate the situa- Gary Goldstein raises some interest- of powers issues, for the second con- is also wrong. Many foreign countries tion of many APS members when U.S. ing and provocative points about the secutive year missed a two-thirds have surpluses of scientists and engi- university administrators began import- need for a balanced budget and the majority in the Senate by only one vote. neers and will continue to send them ing highly qualified and less expensive trade-off between growth of entitle- Goldstein also suggests that the fed- abroad to relieve their own domestic foreign nationals. ments and cuts to the discretionary eral government should spend less surpluses and to earn U.S. dollars from The current oversupply of PhDs is civilian programs. He suggests that money on the military and impose price expat remittances. The only noticeable clearly related to immigration policy, balancing the federal budget is not controls on the delivery of medical ser- drop is students from Taiwan, not be- which is itself a legitimate, though often good economic policy, since it inhibits vices. Whatever the merits of these cause of a government clamp down, uncomfortable, topic for debate. Cur- long-term capital investment. He is cor- proposals, they are simply not politi- but rather improved economic and po- rently universities gear the size of PhD rect, in my view. Indeed, if the federal cally viable at this time. And so far as litical conditions at home. programs to their “needs” to attract lu- budget were divided into operating and the Boskin report is concerned, while Bromley also posited the reason that crative federal research grants (not to the capital parts—which unfortunately it is there is some debate over the numbers, half U.S. science and engineering doc- PhD job market). Foreign students sup- not—the operating part currently an overwhelming majority of econo- torates go to foreigners is that “... our ply half the labor. What is wrong with would be in balance. But the political mists who have spoken out believe that problem has not been too many for- this? It ignores the fact that the U.S. tax- reality is that both parties have agreed the CPI is not a good measure of Cost eign students, but too few American payer largely bears the direct and hidden to do their level best to balance the of Living Adjustments (COLAs) for So- students.” Of course this is a “chicken costs, while the majority of U.S. citizen integrated federal budget. Case in cial Security. Although President and egg” argument. Back in 1991, John PhDs-both native born and immigrants point: The “Balanced Budget Amend- Clinton has backed away from the idea M. Deutch of MIT in a Science (Vol. receive little benefit. William E. Murray, Jr. ment,” which raised serious separation of a bipartisan COLA commission, the 253, p. 492) editorial, broached the idea

6 May 1997 APS News

Letters (continued) NOMINATIONS FOR 1998 APS PRIZES The Last Word on the End of Science AND AWARDS I find that all too often controver- more practical definition that allows Members are invited to nominate candidates to the respective selection commit- sies are centered around words rather truth to include a modicum of doubt tees. A brief description of each prize and award is given below, along with the than their meanings. J.B. Gunn and and tries to equate Gunn’s view with addresses of the selection committee chairs to whom nominations should be sent. John Horgan (“Letters,” APS News, the “postmodernist” notion that truth Please refer to the APS Membership Directory, pages xxiii- xxxix, or the APS Home March 1997) have some real disagree- is only a matter of opinion. Arguments Page [http://aps.org] under the Prize and Award button, for complete information ments, but they exaggerate their such as theirs would be far more inter- regarding rules and eligibility requirements for individual prizes and awards. differences by refusing to acknowledge esting if each participant made a greater that there may be more than one way attempt to discern what the other was 1998 FLUID DYNAMICS PRIZE 1998 OTTO LAPORTE AWARD to define truth. Gunn defines it as an saying rather than pick at his choice of Sponsored by the Division of Fluid Sponsored by the friends of Otto absolute certainty and therefore denies words. Dynamics and the AIP Journal Physics LaPorte and the APS Division of Fluid that science achieves it. Horgan uses a John Fletcher of Fluids. Dynamics. Purpose: To recognize and encourage Purpose: To recognize outstanding re- outstanding achievement in fluid dy- search accomplishments pertaining to Now Appearing in RMP… namics research. the physics of fluids. Nature: The prize consists of $5,000, Nature: The award consists of $2,000 Reviews of Modern Physics is a quarterly journal featuring review ar- a certificate citing the contributions and a certificate citing the contributions ticles and colloquia on a wide range of topics in physics. Titles and brief made by the recipient, and a travel al- made by the recipient. descriptions of the articles in the April 1997 issue are provided below. lowance to the meeting at which the Send name of proposed candidate A dying universe: long-term fate & evolution of astrophysical prize is bestowed. and supporting information before 1 objects Send name of proposed candidate September 1996 to: Frederick K J. Adams and G. Laughlin discuss how the universe will evolve after the end and supporting information before 1 Browand, Dept of Aerospace Engr, of conventional stellar evolution. Unusual dynamics will continue on a greatly September 1997 to: James Martin USC, Los Angeles, CA 90089-1191; slowed-down time scale, possibly up to a time of 10100 years. Wallace, Dept of Mech Engr, Univer- phone: (213) 740-5359; fax: (213) 740- sity of Maryland, College Park, MD 7774. Reconstructing the inflaton potential—an overview 20742; phone: (301) 405-5271; fax: J. Lidsey, A. Liddle, E. Kolb, J. Copeland, T. Barreiro, and M. Abney review the (301) 314-9477; email: wallace inflaton theory of the early universe, emphasizing the effects of fluctuations that @eng.umd.edu. may be passed down to observable inhomogeneities in the present universe. Nuclear reaction rates in a plasma L. Brown and R. Sawyer develop the quantum statistical formalism for the NOW AVAILABLE AT THE theory of nuclear reaction rates in a plasma and illustrate it with calculations of the leading corrections to reactions under stellar conditions. NIELS BOHR LIBRARY Improving the resolution of ground-based telescopes M. Roggemann, B. Welsh, and R. Fugate discuss the resolution limitations due Send your Friends A Pack of Physicists to atmospheric turbulence, and how these are overcome. Techniques include passive methods that process the speckled images, and active methods that Featuring four of the most admired physicists, correct the telescope optics in real time. these handsome notecards make a unique statement and an unusual gift Nonlinear wave collapse and strong turbulence P. Robinson discusses wave collapse, a phenomenon that can exist in three- These photos come from the Emilio dimensional nonlinear media, and its consequent strong turbulence, which Segre Visual Archives, part of the has been observed in many plasma environments ranging from laboratory to world-renowned AIP Center for astrophysical scales. History of Physics. proceeds from the Superconductivity in fullerides To order, send sale of these cards benefit the Center O. Gunnarsson reviews the theoretical and experimental work on supercon- your check (made and will be used to ductivity of alkali-doped C60. Special attention is given to analysis of the out to the Center support the Center’s possible mechanisms for the superconductivity. for History of mission to preserve Physics) for $10 and make known The microscopic magnetization: concept and application per pack of 8 the history of physics Magnetization in condensed matter is both a microscopic and macroscopic cards (2 of each photo) to: and allied sciences. concept. L. Hirst bridges these points of view, relating the magnetization to AIP Center for History of Physics neutron-scattering observables. American Institute of Physics RMP Colloquium: One Physics Ellipse College Park, MD 20740 Spin-exchange optical pumping of noble-gas nuclei New technologies have been made possible by the availability of liter quanti- ties of spin-polarized noble gases. T. Walker and W. Happer discuss the many For more information on the Center, physical processes that go into producing these gases. contact us at [email protected] or http://www.aip.org/history/ If you would like to subscribe to RMP, please add it to your invoice or contact: The American Physical Society Attn: Membership Department One Physics Ellipse College Park MD 20740-3844 Phone: (301) 209-3280 1998 APS Prize and Award Nominations Email: [email protected] The following are impending deadlines of APS Prizes and Awards. For complete infor- ❑ Domestic, $45 ❑ Foreign Surface, $55 ❑ Optional Air Freight, $70 mation regarding the description of each prize, previous recipients and the chair of prize selection committees, please see the Prize, Awards and Fellowship Page of the APS home page [http://www.aps.org]; consult the front of the APS Membership Directory, email your request to [email protected], or call (301) 209-3268.

CAUGHT IN THE WEB Prize NominationDeadline Frank Isakson Prize 07/01/97 David Adler Lectureship Award 07/01/97 Joseph F. Keithley Award 07/01/97 Notable additions to the APS Web Server. The Will Allis Prize 07/01/97 Otto Laporte Award 09/02/97 APS Web Server can be found at http://www.aps.org Apker Award 07/01/97 Lilienfeld Prize 07/01/97 Hans A. Bethe Prize 07/01/97 Maria Goeppert-Mayer Award 05/30/97 APS News Online latest edition Women to Physics and Women in Dissertation in Beam Physics 07/01/97 Dissert. in Nuclear Physics Award 07/01/97 • Limerick contest results Science & Engineering Web Sites DAMOP Dissertation Award 11/18/97 Onsager Prize 07/01/97 • Online limerick submittal form Units Biological Physics Prize 07/01/97 George E. Pake Prize 07/01/97 APS Committees and Governance • Division of Astrophysics Newsletter Tom W. Bonner Prize 07/01/97 W. K. H. Panofsky Prize 07/01/97 • Joint Statement on Scientific Research • New Eng. Sect. Spring 1997 Newsletter Edward A. Bouchet Award 07/01/97 Aneesur Rahman Prize 07/01/97 • 1997 APS Operating & Bylaws Commit- • FHP: Birthday of the Electron Oliver E. Buckley Prize 07/01/97 Prize for Research in an tees Meetings Davisson-Germer Prize 07/01/97 Undergraduate Institute 07/01/97 • CIFS: Online Petitions posted for Chi- • Virtual Pressroom for the 1997 March John H. Dillon Medal 07/01/97 Earl K. Plyler Prize 07/01/97 nese Scientists and Alexandr Nikitin and April Meetings Fluid Dynamics Prize 09/02/97 J. J. Sakurai 07/01/97 • CSWP: Added Women in Science and • PAC’97 Meeting Joseph A. Burton Forum Award 07/01/97 Arthur Schawlow Prize 07/01/97 Engineering Web Sites to the CSWP page • Ohio Section Spring Meeting Dannie Heineman Prize 07/01/97 Leo Szilard Award 07/01/97 • CSWP: Contributions of 20th Century • Non-APS Meeting Calendar updates High Polymer Prize 07/01/97 Robert R. Wilson Prize 07/01/97 7 APS News May 1997 THE BACK PAGE Science & Technology Challenges Before the 105th Congress by Senator Pete Domenici

he 105th Session of Congress has to a two-year budget cycle. Better un- state-of-the-art are needed. Existing al- Tsome very major challenges as it derstanding of budget expectations can liances already involve Intel, IBM, and seeks to set priorities in a time of sig- help many parts of our federal system Cray/Silicon Graphics with the labora- nificant budget constraints. I am a plan more effectively, particularly the tories. Academic partners are also being strong supporter of the nation’s science science community. Certainly the time sought, and significant resources are and technology programs, but we face scale for most truly innovative research being dedicated to these partnerships. a fiscal environment in which it will be is far longer than one year. I’m hope- The ASCI program is the type of major increasingly difficult to protect those ful that doubling the planning horizon national alliance that will not only en- programs. The scientific community will help increase the progress made able the laboratories to meet the must work especially closely with the with the available funds. Researchers challenges of their mission, but also, Congress and the Administration to will save time from annual budget re- through the alliances with industry and help craft the federal budget for 1998 quests and Congress will have time to universities, enable whole new com- and the years beyond. focus on key national challenges be- puting paradigms to be explored and Science and technology programs sides the budget, including oversight utilized across the country. must compete with hundreds of other of the programs it funds. There will be Another excellent example of a na- federal programs for a shrinking level real benefits to all from a biennial bud- tional alliance, with truly global impact, of discretionary dollars left in the fed- get cycle. is the DOE’s Initiatives for Proliferation eral budget after we pay our obligations Despite all the budget challenges, Prevention. This program couples in- to entitlement programs and interest on I’m proud the Congress has treated sci- stitutes in the former Soviet Union to our debt. During the Kennedy admin- ence very well. From fiscal years 1996 ten of the U.S. national laboratories, istration, more than two-thirds of the to 1997, the AAAS calculated an in- and meets key national goals for non- tary Federico Peña will have a signifi- budget was available for discretionary crease in basic research of 2.7 percent proliferation of weapons of mass cant challenge to move the Department spending. But this year, only 34 per- to $14.8 billion. The National Institutes destruction. The program conducts further toward the recommendations of cent of the budget is available for all of Health (NIH) provided the largest projects in cooperation with a coalition the Galvin commission, with signifi- discretionary programs, including ev- component of federal support for ba- of 75 U.S. corporations and a number cantly less micro-management and erything from defense to the nondefense sic research, with $6.9 billion (up 6.4 of universities. It involves weapons over-regulation. In addition, the syner- components of the Department of En- percent). The National Science Foun- scientists in the Newly Independent gies among various DOE offices are far ergy (DOE), to housing, environment, dation was up 2.5 percent, and DOE States in peaceful commercial activities, from optimum. But I propose that Sec- job training, education, and to many rose 2.3 percent. and helps to stem a “brain drain” of retary Peña be given the opportunity more programs. The Department of Energy’s labora- weapons-trained scientists away from to make these improvements before In 1997, 51 percent of the budget tories face tremendous challenges, their parent institutes and potentially serious consideration of the drastic step will go toward entitlement programs, perhaps none as substantially as the to countries ready to exploit their of dismantling the Department. If any including Medicare, Medicaid, Social national security laboratories at Los knowledge. The program already en- dismantlement were to be considered, Security, and other mandated programs. Alamos, Livermore, and Sandia. As the gages about 2,700 former weapons I would provide alternatives for con- Interest on the national debt takes 15 nation has moved beyond nuclear test- scientists of the former Soviet Union sideration. percent of the budget, which leaves us ing, those laboratories have the in more than 250 projects. About 50 of I recently co-sponsored with Sena- with that last 34 percent. Because de- awesome challenge of maintaining the projects involve cost sharing with tors Frist, Lieberman, and Rockefeller fense requires almost half of the whatever stockpile the country needs, U.S. industry. a bipartisan Senate Science and Tech- discretionary funds, we are left with with unquestioned safety, security, and Over the last few years, several stud- nology Caucus Roundtable discussion. about 17 percent to fund all the non- reliability — without the ability to test. ies like the Galvin Commission study During the Roundtable, we interacted defense programs, including the Some have likened the challenge as on Alternative Futures for the national with a group of ten prominent speak- nondefense science programs. akin to storing a modern airliner for a labs, have evaluated aspects of the ers representing different perspectives As you hear debates on the role that few decades, then traveling on it with national laboratory system. The report on the national science and technol- entitlement programs play in shaping little notice. The labs must explore of the Galvin Commission noted sev- ogy enterprise. I was struck by the the country’s destiny, remember those whole new areas of science to thor- eral concerns, including many strong consensus on the national criti- figures above. Without changes in the oughly understand how the passing surrounding the mode in which the De- cal importance of science and rate of growth of entitlement programs, years impact the stockpiled weapons. partment of Energy has managed the technology and the enabling roles that our problem with limited discretionary Of course, at the same time the labs national labs. There was great concern the federal government plays in the resources will only be dramatically and facilities are supporting extensive expressed about micro-management of overall health of that enterprise. Speak- compounded in the future. Some pro- dismantlement to dramatically reduce the labs, and excessive bureaucracy and ers emphasized the importance to the jections show entitlement programs the size of the stockpile. But as the over-regulation. There has been an nation of maintaining the level of ex- consuming all the federal revenues by number of weapons in the stockpile abundance of rhetoric in Congress as cellence we currently have in our 2012. Concern over entitlements has led becomes smaller, the performance of well with concerns about the DOE. university research system and its key to a consensus between Congress and those remaining becomes even more There have been some who have ad- educational role. In a time of con- the Administration to seek a balanced important. vocated dissolving the Department. strained budgets, many spoke to the budget by 2002, although the paths laid The DOE weapons labs are engaged In this session of Congress, Senator importance of partnerships that include out to this goal by these two architects in a new program, Science-Based Stock- Rod Grams of Minnesota introduced all components of the national science differ in important aspects. pile Stewardship, to accomplish this the Department of Energy Abolishment and technology enterprise, to best le- The balanced budget is essential for new and challenging mission. It may Act of 1997 (S.236), I do not support verage the investments made in each the nation, and essential for the health well be one of the greatest challenges this bill as it is written. It would move toward larger end goals. Ideas gener- of science in this nation. Even if we for these labs. the national security labs, Los Alamos, ated from that Roundtable will be succeed in reaching a balanced bud- Even with the expertise resident Sandia, and Livermore to the Defense evaluated over the next few months. get in 2002, continued vigilance will within the labs, they will need signifi- Department. I do not concur that we In closing, let me reiterate my con- be required to keep a deficit from bal- cant help from the scientific should change the civilian control over cern over the impact of entitlement looning again beyond 2003. community, from universities, other nuclear weapon technology that has programs on the federal budget. All A balanced budget will help create labs, and from industry. Alliances with been our nation’s credo for the past concerned citizens need to carefully an environment where innovation and these other providers of science and five decades. It would transfer some evaluate the path that unbounded en- scientific progress can flourish. With- technology will be even more impor- of the other labs to the NSF. I do not titlements will chart for our nation. Your out it, the ability to fund science tant in the future than in the past and want to destroy the synergies that ex- views on entitlements need to reach your programs within a shrinking pool of opportunities for these alliances need ist among several of the components elected representatives so that this 105th discretionary dollars will become in- to be sought out and nurtured. of the present Department, and I do Congress can move effectively ahead in creasingly difficult. Your friends in One excellent example of such alli- not want to see the NSF moved away the best interests of our nation. Congress need your help to talk with ances involves the Department’s from its currently unbiased peer review your colleagues about the dangers of program on the Accelerated Strategic into an environment where their judg- Senator Pete Domenici is serving his 5th continued growth in entitlements. The Computing Initiative (ASCI), with the ment could be questioned through term as senator from New Mexico. He nation needs a broader consensus on goal to provide vastly improved simu- having vested interests in some provid- is Chairman of the Senate Budget Com- the importance of corralling entitle- lation capabilities to the weapons labs, ers of technology. mittee and Chairman of the Senate ments. a sort of “numerical test site,” by 2003- However, my statements should not Energy and Water Development Appro- As part of my Budget Committee re- 4. To reach their goal of 100 Tflop be taken as an endorsement of the priations Subcommittee. sponsibilities, I’m also trying to move speeds, tremendous advances in the present DOE and its operations. Secre-

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