December 2017 • Vol. 26, No. 11

A PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Robert Bragg, Jr. 1919-2017 APS.ORG/APSNEWS Page 4

What You Need to Know: APS Inventories Its Carbon Footprint APS and SCOAP3 By Tawanda W. Johnson After issuing its Statement on Following extensive discussions Earth’s Changing Climate, APS and a vote by the APS Board of has conducted a greenhouse gas Directors at its meeting in April, (GHG) inventory—often referred APS recently signed an agreement to as a carbon footprint—of its daily operations. The results were with CERN, which represents the Adapted from epa.gov Sponsoring Consortium for Open audited by an independent firm Access Publishing in Particle and posted online, making APS Physics (SCOAP3), to publish the first scientific society in the high-energy physics (HEP) papers United States to broadly assess open access. APS leadership took and publish its emissions. APS is this step in support of the high- now exploring ways to reduce the energy physics community to GHG emissions from its day-to- offer researchers a convenient • HEP papers covered by day operations and is evaluating 3 route to publish their HEP work SCOAP are all those posted emissions attributable to various open access in Physical Review on arXiv.org prior to publica- activities of the Society, which journals. Starting January 1, 2018, tion in any of the primary ‘hep’ include APS member travel to and The APS greenhouse gas inventory follows established standards: Scope HEP papers published in Physical categories: hep-ex, hep-lat, from its national meetings. 1 - direct emissions from APS activities; Scope 2 - indirect emissions from hep-ph, hep-th, and irrespec- “Having issued a statement purchased energy; Scope 3 - indirect emissions from commuting, business Review Letters, Physical Review travel, and outsourced activities C, and Physical Review D will be tive of the authors’ institution on Earth’s changing climate, we open access, paid for centrally by or country affiliation. thought it important for the Society APS selected Anthesis—a global continue its own GHG inventory SCOAP3. Library subscriptions • HEP papers published in the to understand its own carbon foot- specialist consultancy skilled in going forward. will be modified accordingly. This three participating APS jour- print,” said APS Chief Executive GHG inventory development— The committee used the well arrangement will initially last for nals on or after January 1, Officer Kate Kirby. to support the committee and established and industry-recog- two years, up to the end of 2019. 2018, will be open access, The GHG Inventory Advisory assist the Society in determining nized standards of The Climate Authors: Authors of HEP even if the manuscript was Committee, which is overseen by its inventory. Anthesis was also Registry (TCR) to develop APS’s papers submitted to these journals originally submitted prior to the APS Panel on Public Affairs, charged with helping APS develop GHG inventory. TCR is a non- will notice very little change in this date. has managed the inventory proj- the tools and institutional knowl- procedures. SCOAP3 continued on page 4 ect since last year. Additionally, edge necessary for the Society to FOOTPRINT continued on page 4

Charting a Future for U.S. Physics International News Physics in Africa: An APS Project Poised for Impact By James Gubernatis, Brian Masara, Joseph Niemela, and Tajinder Panesor As physicists, we routinely seek unifying ideas from complex situ- ations about which we often have only limited information. In many

respects, the APS Committee on Gettyimages.com International Scientific Affairs is trying to do the same, in co-oper- APS President Laura Greene, APS President-Elect Roger Falcone, and APS Director of Public Affairs Francis Slakey ation with the U.K. Institute of Physics (IOP), European Physical Editor’s Note: The following by science and technology. branch. That said, we have great Society (EPS), International Centre roundtable discussion with 2017 Roger Falcone: We live in communications with the execu- for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), APS President Laura Greene, 2018 interesting times politically but tive branch agencies responsible and South African Institute of APS President Roger Falcone, and there’s a broader debate over the for providing resources to scientists Physics (SAIP), in what is called institutions, population sizes, and APS Director of Public Affairs importance of science and technol- and engineers, such as the National the Physics in Africa project. The geographical areas vary widely. Francis Slakey is reprinted from ogy to innovation, which translates Science Foundation (NSF) and the objective of this project is quite When we say “African,” it is a special report on physics in the into jobs and other benefits to peo- Department of Energy (DOE). different from understanding the merely a label for the people and U.S. published by Physics World ple. It’s a much larger discussion Francis Slakey: The admin- physical world; rather, it is the iden- nations in this continent as opposed (Institute of Physics, U.K.) with and we should focus on that rather istration is simply not staffed up tification of programs and activities to some other unifying characteris- kind permission. than any individual administration. to the extent that Obama’s was. to promote and enhance physics in tic about them. Consequently, the The current and future presidents How well have you com- The obvious example is the OSTP Africa. Thus, the project, while not nations of Africa are not candidates of APS—Laura Greene and Roger municated with the Trump where there’s a skeleton crew there, physics, is something about phys- for one-size-fits-all “African” pro- Falcone—along with public-affairs administration? just a couple of people. Under ics, something that we enjoy and grams. What set of programs do director Francis Slakey—talk RF: There are typically two Obama, it was a robust office and enjoy sharing. the various nations need? Which to Physics World about their hopes groups we want to talk to—one is you always found people to whom Africa however is a vast con- ones have the highest priority for a and fears for physicists under the the executive branch, such as the you had ready access. But those tinent of 54 nations whose econ- specific nation? Trump administration. Office of Science and Technology positions have not been filled—and omies, political and religious AFRICA continued on page 5 What’s been your over- Policy (OSTP), and the other is the may not be—so part of the trick has all impression of Trump’s legislative branch, or Congress. We been to find ways in to the hand- administration? still have great communication ful of people at the DOE or in the Laura Greene: There’s a tre- channels with the members and Office of Management and Budget. mendous divide in the U.S. and staffers in Congress, who are very What impact could this lack of what we’ll do as APS is to keep interested in hearing our stories. communication have? our lines open to the legislature— Our ability to advocate for science RF: I see two critical things for to members of our Congress and technology through Congress science and the country. First, we and senators—and ensure they has not diminished. But there are need science to inform anything understand that a big part of the fewer people to talk with in the our government is doing. We want American economy is supported administration, in the executive FUTURE continued on page 7

Revised 12/06/17 2 • December 2017 YouTube’s Physics Girl By Rachel Gaal This Month in Physics History

During the 2017 APS March UCSD Meeting, APS News sat down with Dianna Cowern (aka Physics December 12, 1921: Death of Henrietta Swan Leavitt Girl) to find out what it takes to be a physics YouTube star. She he Harvard College Observatory is justly independent means—she became a volunteer “com- received a bachelor’s in physics Tproud of its Astronomical Photographic Plate puter” at the Harvard College Observatory a few from the Massachusetts Institute of Collection, consisting of more than 500,000 pho- years later, eventually joining Pickering’s perma- Technology, but now hosts a PBS tographs of the night sky taken between 1882 nent staff at the modest salary of 30 cents an hour. Digital Studios Channel, which and 1992. To take data from these images, the She was deemed “hard-working and serious minded features do-it-yourself experi- Observatory’s then-director Charles Pickering put … little given to frivolous pursuits and selflessly ments and presentations on space Dianna Cowern together a small cadre of women. Among them devoted to her family, her church, and her career.” and astronomy topics. This inter- a science video challenge, while I was Henrietta Swan Leavitt, who would go on to Pickering assigned Leavitt the task of studying view has been edited for length and was working at the University of study one of the most important class of stars—the the variable stars—those changing from bright to clarity. California, San Diego (USCD), Cepheid variables. dim to bright again at periodic How did you come up with the doing outreach with their phys- These women, known as intervals—in the Small and idea of Physics Girl? ics department. One of the board “computers,” performed the Large Magellanic Clouds. By I started my channel in 2012, members at PBS was a UCSD alum tedious and time-consuming overlaying one plate on top of but it took about two years to really and saw an article about my award, task of measuring and cata- another to see how the star had get it going and to actually put vid- and they wanted to put me in touch loguing the brightness of all the wikimedia commons changed its brightness between eos up. I had maybe three in the with PBS. stars captured in Harvard’s vast exposures, she meticulously first year? ... They were silly skit Are you a one-woman opera- collection of photograph plates noted 1777 such stars, but also videos more than physics-related tion, or does your channel have of the night sky. Pickering first noticed something peculiar and then it morphed into a science multiple players? hired his maid, Williamina about them: the brighter the channel. Now, I am sponsored by I have five people but they are , out of frustration star, the larger the period. As PBS Digital Studios—I signed in less than full time … sometimes with his male assistants, declar- Leavitt wrote, “A straight line August 2016. It was serendipitous, I am a one woman team! About a ing that she could do a better can be readily drawn among like a lot of things in life are. I won year and a half ago, I was work- job. He was right; Fleming each of the two series of points The Flame Challenge, which was COWERN continued on page 7 wound up working for him for Henrietta Swan Leavitt corresponding to maxima and the next 34 years, along with minima, thus showing that several other women there is a simple rela- who also proved equal tion between the bright- to the task. And since ness of the Cepheid he did not have to pay variables and their them at the same rate as periods.” This is now men, he could afford to wikimedia commons known as Leavitt’s law, hire more of them and or the “period-luminos- APS Congressional stay within his budget. ity relationship.” She His team catalogued would ultimately dis- Science Fellowship more than 10,000 stars cover more than 2400 2018-2019 for the Henry variable stars. Catalogue, and the pre- Her discovery was liminary version was significant because The American Physical Society is accepting applications for published in 1890. the brightness of such the Congressional Science Fellowship Program. Fellows While it was said stars proved remark- serve one year on the staff of a senator, representative, or that Pickering chose the The "computers" of Harvard College Observatory ably consistent regard- congressional committee, beginning September 2018. This is an women “to work, not less of their location in opportunity to learn the legislative process and explore science to think,” several proved to be highly capable the universe. They became a useful “standard policy issues from the lawmakers’ perspective and to lend astronomers. They included Annie Jump , candle” in astronomy, enabling scientists to easily scientific and technical expertise to public policy issues. who devised a classification system for stars that compute the distances to galaxies too far away for Qualifications is still in use today. And then there was Henrietta the prior method of stellar parallax observations Swan Leavitt, who determined how to measure to be useful. Within a year astronomers had used • Ph.D. or equivalent in physics or a closely related field, distances to far-off celestial objects. her results to determine the distance to several • a strong interest in science and technology policy and, Born in 1868 to a Congressional church min- Cepheid variables in the Milky Way. Ultimately, ideally, some experience in applying scientific knowledge ister, the young Henrietta hailed from a proud her discovery convinced Harvard astronomer (and toward the solution of societal problems. Puritan heritage. She attended Oberlin College future Observatory director) Harlow Shapley that • must be an APS member and what would later become Radcliffe College. It the sun was not the center of our galaxy. It also Application was a rigorous education for a woman of that era, convinced Edwin Hubble that the Milky Way is • letter of intent of no more than two pages, including instruction in ancient Greek, philosophy, not the center of the universe. • a two-page resume: with one additional page for publications analytical geometry, and calculus, as well as sci- Most significantly, Hubble drew on her work • three letters of reference ence and the fine arts. Leavitt fell in love with with Cepheid variables to measure the distance astronomy during her senior year while taking a between Earth and the Andromeda galaxy: at 2.5 Deadline for all materials is January 15, 2018. class in the subject. million light years away, it is the nearest gal- A stipend is offered in addition to allowances for relocation, in-service travel, and After earning a bachelor’s degree in 1892, she axy beyond our own. And of course, by mea- health insurance premiums. took some time to travel in Europe, but an illness suring the redshift of stars, Hubble determined left her largely deaf for the rest of her life. Still, that our universe was not static, as astronomers Visit aps.org/policy/fellowships/congressional.cfm her love of the stars remained, and—blessed with LEAVITT continued on page 3 for further information.

Series II, Vol. 26, No. 11 APS COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES 2017 General Councilors Applied Physics), Young-Kee Kim* (Forum on Inter- December 2017 President Nadya Mason, Gail McLaughlin*, Bonnie Fleming, national Physics), Pushpa Bhat* (Forum on Physics © 2017 American Physical Society Laura H. Greene*, Florida State University, National Andrea Liu and Society), Beverly Berger (Gravitational Physics), High Magnetic Field Laboratory Nicholas Bigelow* (Laser Science), Samuel Bader International Councilors (Materials Physics), Akif Baha Balantekin (Nuclear Editor...... David Voss President-Elect Eliezer Rabinovici, Johanna Stachel, Kiyoshi Ueda, Physics), P. Michael Tuts (Particles & Fields), Thomas Roger W. Falcone*, University of California, Berkeley/ Marta Losada Roser (Physics of Beams), Cary Forest (Plasma Phys- Contributing Correspondent ...... Alaina G. Levine LBNL ics), Murugappan Muthukumar (Polymer Physics), Design and Production...... Nancy Bennett-Karasik Chair, Nominating Committee Philip Johnson (Mid-Atlantic Section), Carlos Wexler Copyeditor and Proofreader...... Edward Lee Vice President Paul Chaikin, New York University (Prairie Section) David J. Gross*, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara Chair, Panel on Public Affairs * Voting Members of the APS Board of Directors Frances A. Houle, Lawrence Berkeley National APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published monthly, Subscriptions: APS News is an on-membership publica- Past President Laboratory SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM 11 times per year, except the August/September issue, tion delivered by Periodical Mail Postage Paid at Col- Homer A. Neal*, University of Michigan Mark Doyle, Chief Information Officer, Jane Hopkins by the American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, lege Park, MD and at additional mailing offices. Editor in Chief Gould, Chief Financial Officer, Kate P. Kirby, Chief College Park, MD 20740-3844, (301) 209-3200. It con- Chief Executive Officer Michael Thoennessen, Michigan State University (on Executive Officer, Matthew M. Salter, Publisher, tains news of the Society and of its Divisions, Topical For address changes, please send both the old and new Kate P. Kirby, Harvard Smithsonian (retired) leave) James W. Taylor, Deputy Executive Officerand Chief Groups, Sections, and Forums; advance information on addresses, and, if possible, include a mailing label from Operating Officer, Michael Thoennessen, Editor in meetings of the Society; and reports to the Society by its a recent issue. Changes can be emailed to membership@ Speaker of the Council Division, Forum and Section Councilors Chief, committees and task forces, as well as opinions. aps.org. Postmaster: Send address changes to APS Daniel Kleppner*, Massachusetts Institute of Technol- Miriam Forman (Astrophysics), Timothy Gay* News, Membership Department, American Physical ogy (Emeritus) (Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics), William Bi- Letters to the editor are welcomed from the member- Society, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740- alek (Biological Physics), Robert Continetti (Chemical ship. Letters must be signed and should include an ad- 3844. Treasurer Physics), John Bradley Marston* (Condensed Matter dress and daytime telephone number. APS reserves the James Hollenhorst*, Agilent Technologies Physics), Giulia Galli (Computational Physics), Ann right to select and to edit for length and clarity. All cor- Karagozian (Fluid Dynamics), Noah Finkelstein (Fo- respondence regarding APS News should be directed to: Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 Corporate Secretary rum on Education), Julia Gonski, (Forum on Graduate Editor, APS News, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, Ken Cole, APS Student Affairs), Dan Kleppner* (Forum on History MD 20740-3844, Email: [email protected]. of Physics), John Rumble* (Forum on Industrial and December 2017 • 3 A Physicist Pushes for Interstellar Travel

News from the APS Office By Katherine Kornei

There’s a lot to explore within NASA of Public Affairs a couple billion kilometers of FGSA Email Campaign Tackles Provision the Sun—, planets, aster- oids—but some scientists like in Proposed Tax Reform Bill Les Johnson are already looking beyond our solar system. Johnson, By Tawanda W. Johnson to turn this campaign around in a who holds degrees in chemistry The APS Forum on Graduate quick timeframe, launching it a day and physics, is a researcher at Student Affairs (FGSA), with assis- before the Senate released details the NASA George C. Marshall tance from the Society’s Office of of its bill.” Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Public Affairs (APS OPA), coordi- - said partnering Alabama. He’s investigating how nated an advocacy campaign that with APS OPA was crucial in help- a new kind of fuel-less propul- led more than 1,000 graduate stu- ing students amplify their voices on sion known as solar sail technol- dents to tell their senators to reject a the matter. ogy might one day be used to send provision in the House tax bill that “Working together with the APS instruments to faraway worlds [OPA], we were able to create and orbiting other stars. Johnson is also would tax students’ tuition waivers. Les Johnson of NASA displaying the material used in solar sails On November 9, the morn- send a message that both informed a published science fiction author, ing before the Senate Finance FGSA members of the upcom- and his day job at NASA is often and testing a solar sail that is slated When Johnson isn’t researching Committee released its bill, FGSA ing bill and was a call to action. inspiration for his novels. to launch in 2019, the first inter- solar sails, he’s writing about them members began making contact Without the APS [OPA], and its Traditional propulsion systems planetary solar sail mission led by and other new space technologies. through phone calls and emails. tools in place for handling govern- like rockets all suffer from the same the United States (Japan launched As he started his scientific career, By the morning of November 10, ment messaging, it would have limitation: they have to carry their a mission in 2010). Its destination Johnson was often asked to give the students had made more than been a significant challenge to get own heavy stockpiles of fuel. On will be an asteroid within the solar talks on space and science at sci- 1,200 contacts, reaching 21 of the the message out in the necessary, the other hand, solar sails and their system known as 1991VG, thought ence fiction conventions. “I was 26 members of the committee. expedient manner.” payloads can be much, much lighter to be a rocky world about 50 meters often told ‘you need to write these That Friday afternoon, the Senate The House of Representatives because the sails draw on energy across circling the Sun in an Earth- ideas down’,” he says. In the early announced that it would reject the passed its version of the tax bill on from the Sun rather than from an like orbit. There’s been a lot of 2000s, he met Gregory Matloff, an House provision. November 16, by a vote of 227-205. onboard fuel source. Solar sails are interest in better understanding the astronomer who had written a few “It is the most responsive email For graduate students, the silver lin- also cheaper and less dependent composition of nearby asteroids. popular science books. The two campaign we’ve ever had, and it ing was the Senate’s exclusion of a on precise launch windows than For many of them we don’t know researchers began to talk about was a big win,” said Greg Mack, tax on tuition waivers—and gradu- traditional rockets, Johnson notes. much more beyond their existence, writing a book together, which APS government relations spe- ate student voices played a role in When large sheets of light- says Johnson. “Unless there’s a ultimately became “Living off cialist. “It was great working with that. Before a final bill is sent to weight, durable materials—like low-cost reconnaissance mission the Land in Space,” published in FGSA Chair Joshua Einstein-Curtis FGSA continued on page 4 CP1, a proprietary material devel- beforehand, it’d be too risky to 2007. This book is about how to oped by NASA that resembles send people in,” he says. use the resources of space to sup- a non-sticky version of Saran That’s where NEA Scout comes port exploration beyond Earth, says Wrap©—are unfurled in space in—the mission is built around a Johnson. He’s currently working on and pointed toward the Sun, they square of solar sail 9 meters on a “Mission to Methone,” a thriller act like sails that reflect sunlight. side, roughly the length of a school set in the future about the fictional Tawanda Johnson Tawanda Think about how a sailboat works bus. The sail, made of 2.5-micron- Space Resources Corporation find- but replace the wind with sunlight, thick CP1, is coated in aluminum ing an abandoned spaceship when says Johnson. These sails effec- to increase reflectivity and will surveying asteroids for possible tively receive a push from each be attached to a camera payload mining. photon that reflects from them. designed to fly within a kilometer Johnson is looking forward to Over time, all of those tiny pushes of 1991VG. By imaging over 85% testing solar sail technology with acting together accelerate whatever of the surface of the asteroid in NEA Scout, and he’s hopeful payload is attached to the solar sail, unprecedented detail and sending that solar sails will one day carry and the direction of movement can the data back to Earth, researchers scientific instruments to worlds be controlled by adjusting the angle can estimate 1991VG’s spin rate beyond our solar system. “I would of reflection. and examine whether it has a halo be thrilled to have pictures of any As Solar Sail Principal of dust surrounding it. These obser- solar system with a potentially hab- Investigator for NASA’s Near Earth vations will help scientists decide itable planet,” he says. Asteroid Scout project, Johnson is whether 1991VG would be a safe The author is a freelance writer currently working on developing place for a future human visit. based in Portland, Oregon. Cornell University physics graduate students Michelle Kelley (center) and Eliott Rosenberg (right) after discussing the negative impacts of the tuition waiver tax in the House tax reform bill with Molly Safreed (left), a staffer in REGISTER BY the office of U.S. House Rep. Tome Reed (NY-23rd) January 18, 2018 Join the nation’s Learn how to increase largest meeting dedicated to the enrollment of physics majors education of future physics teachers LEAVITT continued from page 2 2018 2018 previously believed, but expand- wrote to Shapley in 1926 request- Building Thriving ing. Astronomy would never be ing more information on her work. PhysTEC the same. The ambitious Shapley informed Undergraduate Sadly, Leavitt died from can- Mittag-Leffler that Leavitt had Conference Physics Programs cer on December 12, 1921, shortly died, rendering her ineligible, PET February 9–10 after being named head of the stel- and suggested he might be a more Workshop American Center for Physics February 10–11 College Park, MD lar photometry division. In his obit- worthy recipient for his interpre- February 8 uary, her colleague, Solon Bailey, tation of her findings. (He never Full Day Pre-Conference praised not just her science, but won the Nobel Prize either.) But travel funding also her personal character: She while Leavitt may not have won available phystec.org/conferences/2018/ “had the happy faculty of appreci- the Nobel Prize, there is an asteroid ating all that was worthy and lov- and a crater on the named in able in others, and was possessed her honor, as well as a play about of a nature so full of sunshine that, her life and science, Silent Sky, by to her, all life became beautiful and critically acclaimed playwright 2018 APS OUTREACH MINI GRANTS Lauren Gunderson. full of meaning.” NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS As director of the Observatory, Further Reading: Pickering published Leavitt’s work Johnson, G. 2005. Miss Leavitt’s under his own name, although she Stars: The Untold Story of the Woman APS is awarding several grants to encourage was credited with “preparing” it. Who Discovered How to Measure the new outreach activities to engage the general But at least one scientist deemed Universe. New York: W.W. Norton. public with physics and inform them about Leavitt’s contributions worthy Sobel, D. 2016. The Glass the importance of physics in their daily lives. of a Nobel Prize. In 1924, the Universe: How the Ladies of the LEARN MORE Swedish Academy of Science’s Harvard Observatory Took the DEADLINE: DECEMBER 29, 2017 aps.org/programs/outreach Gӧsta Mittag-Leffler sought to Measure of the Stars. New York: nominate her for the prize and Penguin. 4 • December 2017

FGSA continued from page 3 Robert Henry Bragg, Jr. 1919-2017 the President for his signature, the APS members have taken more Materials scientist Robert Henry House and Senate must reconcile than 10,000 actions to-date toward

Bragg, Jr., passed away on October LBL their respective versions of the contacting their congressional 2, 2017, after a long career in phys- bills. APS OPA will continue to representatives. Those actions are ics and engineering, having made work with FGSA to keep the pres- op-eds, tweets, emails, letters, and a number of contributions in char- sure on. phone calls. acterizing materials using x-ray dif- In the meantime, the students “We are here to support APS fraction. Among many honors, he are elated that they overcame at members, and we want them to was named a fellow of the National least one crucial hurdle. know that when issues break on Society of Black Physicists (NSBP) “Removing the tuition exemp- Capitol Hill, we stand ready with in 1995 and a professor emeritus of tion would have caused some grad- them to take rapid and appropriate the University of California (UC), uate students to move from one of action to effectively address their Berkeley upon his retirement in 1987. the lowest tax brackets to the top concerns,” said Francis Slakey, Bragg was born on August 11, tax brackets, with no actual income director of APS OPA. 1919, in Jacksonville, Florida, and change for the student. Having APS members interested in attended Tilden Technical High such a large tax increase with no learning more about science policy School and Woodrow Wilson increase in actual income would and how they can advocate on cur- Junior College in Chicago before completely destabilize graduate rent issues can access APS OPA’s cutting his education short to enlist education in the U.S. and effec- Advocacy Dashboard via the fol- in the military during World War II. tively bankrupt graduate students,” lowing link: aps.org/policy/issues/ After the war, he obtained his said Einstein-Curtis. The author is press secretary in bachelor’s degree in physics from Including the FGSA campaign, the APS Office of Public Affairs. the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in 1949 and his master’s degree in 1951. After a stint in industry, where he became an SCOAP3 continued from page 1 expert in x-ray crystallography, he • Papers published under the their 2019 subscription charge. returned to IIT and completed his Robert Henry Bragg, Jr. agreement will be marked as • SCOAP3 is primarily financed Ph.D. in 1960. also managed the Chancellor’s entists and engineers. At Berkeley, 3 supported by SCOAP and by direct voluntary contribu- From 1961 to 1981, Bragg was Fellowship Program, which pro- he worked with the U.S. Department will be covered by a Creative tions of these reductions by a research scientist at the Lockheed vided opportunities for minority of Energy to survey historically Commons CC-BY license. Palo Alto Research Laboratory in faculty. Black colleges and universities over 3,000 libraries in 43 Authors will not be required countries. More information California. He became the presi- Bragg’s research interests and determine their prospects for to pay the open access Article dent of the Palo Alto chapter of included x-ray diffraction and its research funding. He sponsored the about how to support the ini- Processing Charges (APC) for tiative is available at scoap3. the NAACP. In 1969, he joined the application to such topics as the first Black Engineering and Science their articles as these will be department of materials science and Students Association at Berkeley, org/join. structure and electronic properties covered centrally by SCOAP3. engineering at UC Berkeley, and of carbon materials, which are used and was involved in the Northern • The offset reduction has served as the chair of the depart- in aircraft, golf clubs, and tennis California Council of Black Librarians: Because APS been meticulously calculated HEP articles will be open access, ment from 1978 to 1981, the only rackets. Professional Engineers. While on to ensure that APS does not paid for by SCOAP3, all customer African American to do so at that After his retirement in 1989, the faculty at Berkeley, he served “double-dip” on papers pub- libraries will receive a commensu- time. Beginning in 1969 he became Bragg was awarded a Fulbright on the policy advisory board of the lished open access under rate reduction in subscription fees a principal investigator for the Fellowship in 1992 to con- Black Studies program. SCOAP3. APS will receive to offset this arrangement. Materials and Molecular Division, duct research for one year at the Additional Information no additional revenue for the • The amount of the reduction Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. Obafemi Awolowo University For more about Robert Bragg, HEP papers, apart from that will be clearly shown on the While at Berkeley, Bragg was in Nigeria. He also performed see this oral history interview: received via SCOAP3. on the policy advisory board of the research at the Advanced Photon renewal notice received by thehistorymakers.org/biography/ Readers: The biggest and most Black Studies program, and during Source at the Argonne National customers, along with the full robert-bragg-41 and the oral history obvious change is that HEP papers the late 1980s he had to struggle Laboratory in 1999. page at Berkeley. bancroft.berke- subscription price and the final published in APS journals will be against departments that were Bragg is remembered for efforts ley.edu/ROHO/projects/aa_faculty/ amount payable incorporating 3 available to anyone to read without reluctant to hire minorities. Bragg on behalf of African American sci- bragg_robert.html the SCOAP offset. The reduc- tion reflects, and offsets, the any charge, through the appropriate proportion of the HEP open Physical Review journal website. access content of their sub- • Papers published under scription already covered by SCOAP3 will carry the FOOTPRINT continued from page 1 payments made by SCOAP3 Creative Commons CC-BY license, which is the most profit group of nearly 300 public Washington, D.C. -Cole, tical and economic feasibility of to APS. Libraries already 3 permissive available. Others and private organizations and 60 an independent environmental purchasing RECs at each location. participating in SCOAP will may distribute, reuse, remix, states and provinces across North auditing firm and TCR-approved Improve Buildings’ Energy receive an immediate reduc- tion. Libraries not yet contrib- or build upon the published America; it designs and operates verification body, verified the Efficiencies: OPA staff should uting to SCOAP3 will receive work, properly attributed to voluntary and compliance GHG results from Scopes 1 and 2. work with building management at a credit note in 2018 against the authors. reporting programs globally and Scope 3 emissions calcula- the National Press Building and the assists organizations in measuring, tions—which have required APS to co-owners of the American Center reporting and verifying their GHG develop its own methodologies— for Physics to improve the energy inventories. are ongoing. Preliminary results efficiencies of the buildings, where Following the TCR protocol, the indicate two Scope 3 emission possible. NominateNominate aa HistoricalHistorical APS GHG emissions were divided sources —travel to APS meetings APS is now exploring avenues into three categories: and the Society’s investment port- to reduce its Scope 1 & 2 emis- PhysicsPhysics SiteSite Scope 1: Emissions from direct folio—significantly impact overall sions, including working with the energy combustion that occurs on- APS GHG emissions. building managers at its D.C. loca- site or from owned vehicle opera- The detailed inventory for tion to increase energy efficiency. tion; also direct industrial/HVAC Scopes 1 and 2 are posted on the Each year, APS recognizes a small number APS plans to present its Scope 3 gas emissions; APS website and can be found here: results and recommended Society of historic physics sites in the United Scope 2: Indirect emissions aps.org/policy/reports/upload/APS- actions to APS members during the States (and occasionally abroad). resulting from purchased energy 2015-GHG-Report-Scopes-1-2.pdf first quarter of 2018. generation, often in the form In addition to overseeing the Deadline: January 15, 2018 “By having its Scopes 1 and of electricity, steam, or chilled APS GHG inventory, the advisory water; and committee has provided the Society 2 emissions independently veri- Scope 3: Other indirect emis- recommendations to reduce and/or fied and publicly posted, APS sions that are a result of organiza- mitigate its GHG emissions. The has completed a critical stage tional activities; includes emissions committee’s inventory recommen- of its GHG inventory,”said Bill from business travel, employee dations for Scopes 1 & 2 are: McCurdy, a chemistry professor commuting, waste management and Consider Purchasing at the University of California, supplier or outsourced activities. Renewable Energy Certificates Davis, who served as chair of Because there are well-defined (RECs): APS should investigate the GHG Inventory Advisory protocols by TCR for Scopes 1 and the possibility of purchasing RECs Committee.“Not only does APS 2, the initial analysis included only for the electricity used by APS at now have an understanding of the Scope 1 and 2 emissions, assessing each of its three locations. The GHG emissions from the Society’s activities at APS headquarters in Office of Public Affairs (OPA) day-to-day operations, but it is College Park, MD, the Society’s staff should work with the appro- establishing a path for like-minded editorial offices in Ridge, N.Y., priate APS staff in College Park organizations to follow; we hope go.aps.org/historic-sites-2018 and its public affairs office in and Ridge to determine the prac- that they will join us.” December 2017 • 5

AFRICA continued from page 1 Managing the Flood of Space Program Data While these are natural ques- the second phase of the project to tions, finding their answers is target issues associated with the challenging. We lack information organization and communication By Katherine Wright about the state of physics in all but of physicists within a nation and In the sweltering sun of the New a handful of African nations. The between African and non-African Mexico desert, Ben Feist held out first phase of the Physics in Africa nations, physics education span- his cell phone. Snap. The camera project sought more information ning all grade levels and boosting on a nearby scientific instrument Katherine Wright by sending to physics leaders in activity in “hands-on” experimental captured a shot of the phone’s various African nations a ques- physics. screen showing a clock. Click. tionnaire asking about the size of From working with our African Another instrument did the same. undergraduate and graduate degree colleagues, we also captured The instruments’ operators, a programs, research opportunities information not possible by a handpicked team of NASA geolo- at the faculty and postdoctoral survey. This is their commitment gists and an active astronaut who levels, at academic, government and enthusiasm to make phys- lived in space for six months, were and industrial research centers, the ics “happen” in their countries. in the desert testing gadgets for existence and activities of physical Accordingly, in the second phase, future space explorers. The clock societies, employment opportuni- by working with and listening to shots, Feist hoped, would provide ties, etc. them we can fully expect to iden- a way to sync data in chronological This task seems straightforward tify programs and projects that order from different instruments. but identifying these leaders was will be well received and poised Feist came up with the idea while far from it. Even if physics activity for success. trying to piece together documents exists, in many African nations it The major non-African physi- from the 17 moon-landing lacks visibility. Nonetheless lead- cal societies, working individually, Ben Feist and a colleague prepare a drone vehicle for studying data syn- mission. But Feist doesn’t work for chronization and management in a simulated space environment. ers in 32 nations were identified already have several programs NASA; he’s a web-data special- and contacted. These nations have targeting introductory science ist based in Canada and he didn’t quickly review the day’s data so and 4200 photographs from this about 94% of the African popu- education and increased research expect to be here. “I never dreamed they can plan for their next space- 1972 moon landing, enabling view- lation. Twenty responded. The collaborations and exchanges with of being in a position where I could walk, said Jacob Bleacher, a geo- ers to experience the mission in real responding nations represent about physicists in specific developing contribute to the challenge of help- scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space time from launch to splashdown. 60% of the population. The survey nations. Similar programs will ing humanity to leave Earth and Flight Center, who tests geologi- You can simultaneously watch, phase of the project has concluded, have their place in Africa, but other visit another planet,” said Feist. cal instruments for use in space listen, and read along as the astro- the responses have been summa- programs will be needed because Space exploration produces an by humans. Today they can’t. “We nauts journey through space and rized, and the project’s second of the smaller scale of physics in abundance of data. In 1972, Apollo don't have a way for the science explore the moon’s surface. Feist phase—the definition and priori- most nations. This situation, plus 17 astronauts Eugene Cernan and team and the crew to handle that also added in images from the tization of programs—has begun. opportunities provided by exploit- Harrison Schmitt snapped thou- data in real time,” said Bleacher. Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and From the survey, we could ing the Internet and social media, sands of photographs, bagged So how does NASA manage data from samples the astronauts make several important observa- invites the development of novel 334 rock samples, and performed their data now? Missions like returned to Earth, which are acces- tions. With several exceptions, programs addressing a broader numerous experiments, includ- NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory sible at the click of a mouse. “You physics in each African nation is spectrum of needs beyond simply ing investigations of the moon’s dump datasets into a repository can watch the moment Jack picked on a relatively small scale. The facilitating, for example, scientific tenuous atmosphere and the elec- called The Planetary Data System up the sample, and see images of nations with universities having exchanges. What is distinctive trical properties of its rock. More (PDS), which according to Niles the rocks, without having to go do advanced degree programs do not about the Physics in Africa project recently, “robot geologist” Mars is “very hard to navigate.” Unless a bunch of legwork to figure out span the continent geographically. is that major non-African physi- Rover has been making scientific you are on the team that took when that might have happened and Of the responding nations, seven cal societies, working collectively observations with nearly a dozen the data, finding and interpreting which video file you need to look had physical societies, some cre- among themselves and with leaders instruments for the last 17 years. files on PDS is overly difficult. It at,” said Feist. “Suddenly you have ated recently. Again with several in African physics, are seeking to Knowing how these extensive data- can take months to figure out the a research tool.” exceptions, a common limiting identify these new programs. sets fit together is essential if they where, when, and what for each Feist’s work shows the effec- issue to the growth of physics is the The project has a modest web- are to be properly interpreted. file, said Niles, providing a sig- tiveness of timestamps to organize lack of employment opportunities site (saip.org.za/index.php/physics- “These missions are extraordi- nificant barrier to data analysis. information. But for it to be a use- in national government-sponsored in-africa-survey), hosted by SAIP, narily complex,” said Paul Niles, “It’s just a couple of steps above ful research tool the streams of data and industrial-connected research which offers a fuller description of a planetary scientist at NASA’s raw data,” he said. Both Niles and need to sync automatically, without centers. In a number of cases, the the Physics in Africa project, the Johnson Space Center who studies Bleacher think that linking datasets hours of manual intervention— national economies are unable to questionnaire, plus a more detailed Mars’ geochemistry. “Being able to with transcripts, audio recordings, Apollo17.org was five years in the support these centers; in others, summary of the completed ques- quickly and easily understand what photographs, and videos via time- making, albeit mostly evenings and industrial and government lead- tionnaires. Suggestions about pro- happened in a mission, what data stamps could solve this problem, weekends. Then team members can ers might not appreciate the value grams in the second phase target were collected [and where], and particularly in a tool that allows instantly explore and analyze the of doing so. Because experimen- areas are welcomed, and room on how that data fits into everything you to move seamlessly through footage and measurements being tal facilities and instruments are the subcommittees exists for those else, that’s key … but we don’t do documents chronologically or geo- collected with little to no effort. often expensive, physics teaching wanting to enter the dialogue with it very well.” graphically. This is exactly what To field-test (near) real-time and research tends to emphasize our African colleagues to help For human missions the turn- Feist created with Apollo17.org. synchronization of data, Bleacher theoretical physics. physics “happen” in this intrigu- around time is particularly impor- Apollo17.org connects over 300 invited Feist to the desert. There The survey also showed that ing continent. tant. Astronauts should be able to hours of audio, 22 hours of video, DATA continued on page 6 educational activities have sev- James Gubernatis is a mem- eral special roles, such as being an ber of the APS Committee on important source, if not the main International Scientific Affairs, source, of both student employment an APS Fellow, and a physicist at and preparation for opportunities Los Alamos National Laboratory. elsewhere. Still another role, likely Brian Masara is Executive Officer APRIL MEETING 2018 less appreciated and practiced, is of SAIP. Joseph Niemela is an APS educating the general population Fellow, Chair of the Physics for and students in particular about the Development Group of EPS, and is importance of science and technol- based at the Abdus Salam ICTP in ogy and the special role that phys- Trieste, Italy. Tajinder Panesor is quarks cosmos ics plays in these areas. Head of International and Member These observations prompted Services at IOP. April 14 - 17, 2018 Q2C Columbus, Ohio Present Your Research The APS April Meeting encapsulates the full range of physical scales, APS News online including astrophysics, particle physics, nuclear physics, and gravitation. aps.org/apsnews To experience the meeting is to explore research from the “Quarks to the Cosmos (Q2C),” which is the true essence of the meeting.

DEADLINE: JANUARY 12, 2018 aps.org/meetings/april 6 • December 2017 In Recognition of the 2017 APS Fellows Each year, no more than one half of one percent of American Physical Society members are elected Fellow. APS Fellows have been recognized by their peers for their outstanding contributions to physics, including original research and publication, innovative applications to science and technology, exceptional teaching and outreach, or esteemed leadership and service to the Society. Here are the newly elected 2017 Fellows, listed by the unit who recommended their nomination for election to the APS Council of Representatives. For more infor- mation, visit.aps.org/programs/honors/fellowships/

DIVISION OF ATOMIC, DIVISION OF CONDENSED DIVISION OF Richard A. Moyer TOPICAL GROUP ON MOLECULAR & MATTER PHYSICS MATERIALS PHYSICS James R. Myra FEW-BODY SYSTEMS OPTICAL PHYSICS Adrian Bachtold Andy Christianson Juergen Rapp Roxanne P. Springer Alexander L. Chernyshev Anatoly I. Frenkel Raul Sanchez David B. Cassidy TOPICAL GROUP ON Rafael M. Fernandes Brent T. Fultz Christopher J. Fontes DIVISION OF HADRONIC PHYSICS Francisco Guinea Markus Greiner Debdeep Jena POLYMER PHYSICS Kawtar Hafidi Zoran Hadzibabic Victor Gurarie Chun N. (Jeanie) Lau Thomas H. Epps III TOPICAL GROUP ON W. Vincent Liu Igor F. Herbut Michael A. McGuire Raffaele Mezzenga INSTRUMENT & Miguel Orszag Michael A. Hermele Janice L. Musfeldt Ras B. Pandey MEASUREMENT SCIENCE Zhe Yu J. Ou Kee Hoo Kim Eric A. Stach Christopher M. Stafford Peter H. Grutter Jacob M. Taylor Maxim Mostovoy Mauricio Terrones Francis W. Starr Xiao-Min Tong Eduardo R. Mucciolo Kang-Lung Wang Christian Stoeckl Shuichi Murakami DIVISION OF QUANTUM Susanne F. Yelin DIVISION OF TOPICAL GROUP ON Yuval Oreg INFORMATION Chuanwei Zhang NUCLEAR PHYSICS MAGNETISM Gerardo Ortiz Norbert Lutkenhaus DIVISION OF ASTROPHYSICS Michael P. Enrique Del Barco Johnpierre Paglione Margaret D. Reid H. Thomas Diehl Richard B. Firestone Stephane Mangin Dmitry Reznik Dan Hooper Daniel N. Kasen FORUM ON EDUCATION Robert Stamps Takasada Shibauchi Dragan Huterer Toshihiko Kawano Susan K. Blessing Vivien Zapf Hermann Suderow Morgan May Alexander Kovner Harvey S. Leff Stuart A. Trugman TOPICAL GROUP ON PHYSICS Reshmi Mukherjee Reiner Kruecken Jonathan P. Pelz Ziqiang Wang EDUCATION RESEARCH James A. Musser Rachid Nouicer Steffen Wirth FORUM ON THE HISTORY Rachel E. Scherr Daniel Schwartz Ernst Paul Sichtermann Lilia Woods OF PHYSICS Nicholas Suntzeff Peter Steinberg TOPICAL GROUP ON PLASMA Han Woong Yeom Paul H. Halpern Risa Wechsler Remco G.T. Zegers ASTROPHYSICS FORUM ON INDUSTRIAL Nikolai Pogorelov Rosemary Wyse DIVISION OF DIVISION OF PARTICLES AND APPLIED PHYSICS FLUID DYNAMICS TOPICAL GROUP ON DIVISION OF AND FIELDS Deji Akinwande Louis N.Cattafesta PRECISION MEASUREMENT & BIOLOGICAL PHYSICS Christian W. Bauer Matthias Bauer Suman Chakraborty FUNDAMENTAL CONSTANTS Chris Adami Stephen Brice Bruce E. Gnade Jeff D. Eldredge Maynard S. Dewey Paul A. Janmey Christopher David Carone Carlos Jesus Gutierrez Toshiyuki Gotoh David B. Newell Wolfgang Losert John W. Mihailo Jovanovic Zhenqiang Ma Thomas T. Perkins Lisa L. Everett TOPICAL GROUP ON SHOCK Keith A. Julien Patrick I. Oden William Ryu Adam K. Leibovich COMPRESSION OF Ho-Young Kim A. Albert Talin Jun Song Daniel McKinsey CONDENSED MATTER Lou Kondic Yong Zhang Yang Xia Yasunori Nomura Thomas Dan Sewell Stefan G. Llewellyn Smith Manfred Paulini FORUM ON Laura Beth Smilowitz DIVISION OF Surya P. Vanka Aaron T. Pierce INTERNATIONAL PHYSICS CHEMICAL PHYSICS Jun Zhang TOPICAL GROUP ON Frank C. Porter Ahmed Ali Mischa Bonn Sushanta Mitra SOFT MATTER DIVISION OF David M. Strom Eberhard K. U. Gross Chilakamarri Rangacharyulu Ramin Golestanian GRAVITATIONAL PHYSICS Christopher William Walter Han Htoon William T. M. Irvine John Baker A. Surjalal Sharma Vitaly V. Kresin DIVISION OF Pedro M. Reis Jolien D. Creighton Bernardo Spagnolo Andrei Sanov PHYSICS OF BEAMS Michael J. Solomon Charles R. Shining Zhu Roland Wester Alexander V. Aleksandrov Slobodan Zumer Eric K. Gustafson Alexey Burov FORUM ON DIVISION OF Daniel Holz TOPICAL GROUP ON Georg H. Hoffstaetter PHYSICS & SOCIETY COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS Vuk Mandic STATISTICAL & John W. Lewellen William D. Gabrielle Allen Neil F. Johnson NONLINEAR PHYSICS DIVISION OF Fulvia C. Pilat Narayana R. Aluru R. Scott Kemp Thomas L. Carroll LASER SCIENCE Nathan Barton DIVISION OF PLASMA PHYSICS Michelle Girvan Hui Deng TOPICAL GROUP ON Anatoly B. Belonoshko Radha Bahukutumbi Bjoern Hof Munira Khalil ENERGY RESEARCH Jean Pierre Boon William A. Bertsche Corey Shane O'Hern Niels Asger Mortensen & APPLICATIONS Paul R. C. Kent Dustin Froula Gunter Steinmeyer Nancy Haegel APS GENERAL CATEGORY Thomas R. Mattsson William H. Goldstein Edo Waks Mark A. Prelas James W. Taylor Lev Shchur Robert K. Kirkwood Timo Thonhauser Mikhail A. Malkov

DATA continued from page 5 he evaluated a data linkup protocol has added in still images the crew With their proof-of-principle while Bleacher’s team carried out shot. In his mock-up website, the data link-up running, Bleacher, simulated moonwalks around a vol- recordings play simultaneously, Niles, and Feist hope to take this canic crater. The protocol involved side-by-side on the screen, while project further and have submit- capturing a shot of a highly accu- the path the team traversed over- ted a grant proposal for funding. Events for Undergrads rate clock, such as those found on lays a map of the desert giving the Bleacher said this tool has a wide Join us in 2018 for Future of Physics Days (FPD) phone apps, in the viewfinder of crew’s spatial location. Bleacher range of possible uses. It could find at the March and April meetings! each instrument. The shots embed- adds that now the team can sit applications as an educational out- FPD EVENTS INCLUDE: MARCH ded “timestamp” markers in each down and replay any part of the reach mechanism for NASA in the MEETING2018 · Undergrad research sessions MARCH 5–9, 2018 data stream that Feist could use to day they need to, a luxury they’ve form of Apollo17.org-like websites, · Professional development workshops Los Angeles, California quickly arrange measurements and never had in the past. as a data collection teaching aid in · Networking and social activities · Free t-shirt APRIL MEETING 2018 recordings in chronological order. “Ben’s approach, his methodol- classrooms, or as a tool to coordi- · and more - just for undergrads!! quarks cosmos By the end of the week, Feist ogy is pretty outstanding,” said Noah nate the efforts of rescue crews and Learn More: Q2C APRIL 14–17, 2018 had stitched together video footage Petro, a planetary geologist also aid organizations in regions rav- go.aps.org/fpd2018 Columbus, Ohio from the first field day (cameras at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight aged by natural disasters. Bleacher were attached to the chests of the Center, who was responsible for added that “The options for use of two members of astronaut “crew” bringing Feist and Bleacher together. this type of software are immense.” carrying out the simulated space “It opens the door for interpretation Katherine Wright is an asso- walks, and one was attached to a of data in near real time when we are ciate editor of Physical Review drone, capturing an aerial view in the field, or if humans are doing Letters and a contributing editor of their journey). Since then, he something in space.” of Physics.

News and commentary about research from the APS journals

TM Sign up for Alerts: physics.aps.org December 2017 • 7

FUTURE continued from page 1 to make sure science is included was first announced, all the com- ing to understand how important it in all those policy discussions, and panies I talked to were opposed to is for their own survival. Reviews of Modern Physics I’m not sure that is happening with- the ban—not because the numbers FS: It depends what you mean out senior scientific advisers in the coming from any one of those by “involvement.” I want more Colloquium: Quantum coherence as a resource government. We also need a good countries was going to impact their physicists to make the case for sci- Alexander Streltsov, Gerardo Adesso, policy for science, which means business, but because they were ence to their elected officials and knowing how best to invest pre- concerned with the tone and the about 1200 APS members have and Martin B. Plenio cious tax dollars in science. Maybe complete disregard it showed for already done so. The dictum that "information is physical" indicates that we there, via agencies and Congress, the importance of the free flow of RF: The influence of science on should understand how features of quantum physics, in we’ve found more people to talent around the world. American social policy is enormous, whether particular, the phenomenon of quantum coherence, can be engage with. industry needs to be able to hire the it’s just saying that actions need to Trump’s budget proposal best talent wherever they are in the be data-driven, or we need innova- understood to be, and quantified as, a resource for the pro- for 2018 earmarks big cuts to world. The executive branch didn’t tion to create replacement jobs for cessing of information. This Colloquium discusses how to the likes of the NSF and major understand that point. people who’ve been displaced from characterize, quantify, and manipulate quantum coherence, national labs. What are the dan- RF: At APS, we recognize sci- low-skilled jobs by automation. in application areas ranging from many-body and solid state gers for U.S. physics if those pro- ence is an international enterprise. That engagement [with officials] is physics to biological and nanoscale systems. posals go through? For example, more papers are pub- as important as running for office. LG: The repercussions of those lished in APS journals from scien- FS: There’s no question that the cuts need to be thought through tists in Europe than from those in same issues we’re addressing in doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.89.041003 and that’s what we’re trying to the U.S. The travel ban is creating the U.S. politically are happening get through to our legislators. If bad climate and morale. all over the world. We must work journals.aps.org/rmp you lose a hundred scientific jobs, Do you think the March for across all societies in the U.S., you’re probably losing thousands Science was a success? Did it Europe and Asia to articulate how of jobs for people who work in have any impact on the budget science can best contribute to the those locations. At the National or on people not marching for issues we’re addressing. High-Magnetic Field Laboratory, science? Laura, how do you feel about COWERN continued from page 2 for example, most people aren’t LG: That’s a very, very tough your presidency so far? ing by myself. First, I hired an bit lost in translation. But some- scientists and the economic impact question. I know I was hesitant to LG: I wanted to take the job editor, and I have one writer who times it’s just me, I’ll mess up or of the labs to that area is vital. We get involved with it because I didn’t on because I care about APS and does research. Sometimes we miss something that looks wrong also have an educational role— want to take a political stance. But about physics and science diplo- work on it together—it changes in the video. So I’ll watch the training the next generation of stu- when the march became really macy, and human rights. I don’t for every video. comments for the first couple of dents—and a big role in innovation, embraced on a worldwide stage as look like a calm person but I think Did you always envision your- hours to double check. I’ve had to bringing new techniques to market. a pro-science, not a political state- I’m a calming influence on people self in physics, particularly sci- take it down a few times … you The U.S. is still a leader in science ment, I think a lot of organizations who want to react very strongly ence communication? have to look at all the details, but and engineering—and deep cuts to such as the American Association and may damage our society and I started out loving math, but as Physics Girl, I can’t have that science will be bad news. for the Advancement of Science science in general. But yeah I’m then I realized physics was just kind of error! My audience is ready RF: There’s no question the (AAAS) and APS had a role in having a blast. I love working with applied math … I became inter- to point out my errors … but in a U.S. faces significant challenges making sure it remained non-polit- the people here. ested in high school, and then in critical helpful way. with respect to annual deficits ical. Did it have an effect? Well Are you happy with the over- college I decided I wanted to study Speaking of audience, do you in our budget and the integrated you’ve seen the president’s budget all diversity of APS? it. I tried neuroscience, mechani- have any idea who your biggest national debt. Science and tech- so it didn’t have an effect on that. LG: The APS has done tremen- cal engineering, and I even took fans are? nology comes under a portion of But it did show just how science dous things on diversity. The num- science writing classes to see if I My audience in general is 83% that budgeted funding that’s dis- impacts on society, how much fun ber of programmes for women in wanted to do science communica- men. I’ve asked a lot of other phys- cretionary, which means we have it is, how gorgeous the discovery physics is huge. The Conference tion. I decided that I really loved ics channels to see if it’s the same, to decide it every year and it’s not process is. for Undergraduate Women in physics, and I wanted to do science which it is, and biology channels set in stone. It’s our job to argue RF: What I really liked about the Physics started out [in 2006] with a communications. Finally I was like, usually have more women. I think that our precious dollars should be Phoenix march, where I gave a talk, hundred people and it’s now grown “Ok, this is gonna happen…”, and that reflects the number of people spent on science and to articulate was that the biggest applause came by orders of magnitude. About a that's when I started my channel. that are studying those subjects. why those investments are going to when I thanked the science teach- year and a half ago we published an Are your video topics your But then looking at age groups, a lead to innovation and jobs. ers. Bunches of teachers and their LGBT report that’s had a tremen- own ideas, or mainly suggestions lot more girls are interested at a FS: The budget was not a sur- spouses came up to thank me. So dous impact. We have a committee from viewers? young age. Girls are losing interest prise. We knew what was coming I think the march boosted science on minorities that’s been terrific, People do suggest ideas. For as they get older, it seems. and had encouraged scientists to teachers—gave them a sense of offering fellowships and identify- example, I grew up in Hawaii and Do those numbers make you make the case for science to their appreciation and recognition. That ing speakers and reminding people people suggested the formation of want to change your channel in local representatives and senators. may not have been the major goal of to invite minorities as speakers or Hawaii, so I did a video on that. any way? We’d also learned from the first the march, but the fact that so many to nominate them for medals or We found some interesting things, I think it inspires me to start a budget battle we’d fought in the regular people, who are not engaged awards. [APS is a world leader] but sometimes I run out of ideas new channel, I want to aim it at spring, where we got Congress on in science and technology, could in pushing diversity and I’m very … a lot of the videos are random younger women to retain their our side to push back. To me, the show their appreciation to schools proud of that. because I’m constantly thinking interest. I might get better demo- issue is less about the 2018 num- and teachers was really powerful. Roger, what about your about Physics Girl … it’s in the graphic data, but doing Physics bers, but about what happens next So no regrets about endorsing plans for your term as president back of my mind all the time. If Girl has been a really fun learning February when the 2019 numbers the march as a society? in 2018? I’m talking with someone about experience. I’m making videos on are released and whether we are RF: No, not at all. It was so RF: I’ve been trying to figure something science-related, I think topics that I’m interested in, not making any progress with the much bigger than any individual out how to follow Laura’s great to myself, “that might make an what I was learning in school at age administration. The question will person or society. leadership! We have a formal interesting video”! I also used to 13… I’ve been thinking about it be: are we seeing better numbers? LG: It was not political. There position of past president at the live with three physics grad stu- for a while, but I’m not sure it will We’ll be fighting every year for the were certain people who tried to APS, who stays engaged in the dents, and they constantly talked happen in the near future. next three years. politicize it. But it was so vast, decision-making process, so I’m about riddles or questions, which For someone who wants to How do you feel about so broad, so international. I was really pleased she’ll be continuing serve as starter topics … like “Why stay in the sciences but become Trump’s attempts to ban people really nervous but I’m really happy to guide us. Her focus has been on are plants not black”, but it can involved in the communica- from certain nations from travel- right now. science diplomacy, but I’ll focus also mean “Why are plants always tions aspects, what advice would ling to the U.S.? Bill is currently the more on how to articulate the role green”? you give? LG: When I talk to young only physicist in Congress. Do of science and technology in eco- How do you interact with your As with any profession you have researchers in the U.S. who have to you think more physicists should nomic development for society. audience over the internet? to practice … I can’t emphasize come to work in this country, many get involved in politics? In a word, how would you sum You filter the comments, and enough how important that is. I of them tell me they are looking to LG: Yes we need more people up the state of U.S. physics? you filter what you listen to or read. have practiced giving talks, writ- find jobs elsewhere because they are involved. APS, as does the AAAS, RF: Optimistic. I have actual filters of what can or ing scripts, working with my cam- worried about leaving the country has a congressional fellowship LG: Innovative. can’t be posted on my comments, era, and now it’s part of my job. I and not being able to come back. The programme to help train people to Any final message for the to remove the “less acceptable got to learn it on the job, which is long-term impact is that we could get involved. There were times we world’s physics community? words” ... I also can’t read every awesome, and I’m really lucky. But have a brain drain of the brightest had as many as three physicists in LG: Let’s work together. comment, there are over 100 a with just a communications degree, people in the world not wanting to Congress and I would definitely RF: I’ll second that! day. I try to stay on top of Twitter I don’t think I would be ready to come to the U.S. any more. like to see more. APS members The full special report is avail- though, that's where I interact with do that. I think a lot of the skills FS: When the immigration ban want to be involved. They’re start- able at ow.ly/DRge30gSB9n my fans the most. weren’t natural to me, but the pas- Have any of your viewers sion and science was ... like I said, spotted mistakes in your vid- I’m much better at math, but even eos before? I had to practice speaking clearly Sometimes I get some really to engage my viewers. MARCH 5-9 great feedback … I do get things Rachel Gaal was the staff sci- LOS ANGELES, CA wrong from time to time. I have ence writer for APS News from an animator, and things can get a 2017 - 2017. 8 • December 2017

Doublet Dudes: Shaping the Future of Fusion By: Ryan Chaban

ditor’s Note: This article is adapted from the winning As DIIA met its objectives, Ohkawa, with the aid of his Eentry in the APS Forum on the History of Physics Essay team of theorists, proposed the significantly larger Doublet Contest. III (DIII) in 1974 and construction was completed in 1978. Fusion energy research involving confinement of plasma Because DIII was designed as a doublet, it possessed many with magnetic fields is the story of a relatively small group of shaping coils which would prove crucial to its impressive scientists pursuing a paradigm-changing goal while knowing capabilities and versatility in both older and present-day it would most likely not be achieved during their lifetimes. experiments. After the installation of a Neutral Beam Injector This is less true today than it was 60 years ago, and the heating system, DIII’s last great achievement was to create field owes a debt to the determined pioneers of the General and validate a high-confinement mode plasma discovered in Atomics (GA) fusion program who persevered through poli- 1982 on the ASDEX in Germany, and now crucial to a the tics, budget cuts, and others’ lack of interest in their research. design of fusion reactors. In 1984 the DIII machine, under the Among those pioneers are Tihiro Ohkawa (1928-2014), a supervision of John Gilleland, was upgraded to a D-shaped lauded leader, innovator, and risk-taking scientist; and Torkil vessel (nicknamed “Big Dee” by the scientists) to achieve Jensen (1932-2004), a man whose name is always spoken even higher β, closing the chapter on doublet research at GA. with a soft undertone of awe inside the gates of GA but sel- During the heyday of this research at GA (1968-1984), dom mentioned outside the campus save for the innovation the foundations were laid for a long-lasting energy program award that bears his name. Ohkawa was a powerful visionary that included the training of a new generation of plasma with drive to build; Jensen was a kindhearted mentor and physicists. Spurred by political forces in the late 1970s, the innovator [1]. As a pair, the impact they left on the fusion newly created U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) assumed program at GA and the world is rich and lasting. the funding and research roles of the AEC [3]. The new DOE Ohkawa was the inaugural vice president of the GA fusion was eager to drive the U.S. towards energy independence program and his name is the first to appear on many public Tihiro Ohkawa through a diversity of energy assets including fusion. histories and publications from the company. He saw the Because of the tremendous amount of capital required to future machines he wanted to build and pursued them single- build energy research sites, Ohkawa saw an opportunity and mindedly. As an accomplished scientist when he arrived at appealed to the DOE for the funding of continued research GA, his team complemented him well—none more so than studies on DIII-D, with the implied promise (carried out by Jensen, who with his softer friendly style and critical intuition Jensen) that GA would train plasma physicists. Jensen oper- exposed and patched any shortcomings in Ohkawa’s experi- ated as a universal sounding board for ideas from his peers, ments. Together the pair operated by proposing unusual ideas, and during his entire time at GA he always had a mentee. defending them vehemently until implemented, then once The impact of Jensen’s emphasis on mentorship is evident proven correct, repeating the process. Their research was in modern-day GA culture, as the company sometimes pri- relevant not only during their lives, but survives today in vately funds researchers to study DIII-D, and actively recruits the designs and approaches of international fusion programs undergraduate students into fusion research. and in the minds of the students they mentored who are now While Ohkawa went on to become a vice chairman of some of the leaders in physics within and outside of fusion. GA, Jensen continued as senior technical advisor, always From 1957 until 1965 fusion at GA (then General lending his aid and ideas on new approaches to research and Dynamics) was supported by the Texas Atomic Energy training his mentees. Jensen continued to work and publish Research Foundation (TAERF) [2]. Ohkawa and Jensen papers at GA even after his official retirement in 1994. His arrived in 1960, the former from the University of Tokyo and influential engineering ideas laid the foundation for Lang the latter from an electrical engineering research assistantship Lao’s EFIT code, used ubiquitously in fusion research to in his native Denmark. In 1962, Ohkawa assumed the role of find the magnetic equilibria in a tokamak, and the concept of primary experimentalist for fusion research. Jensen began at “almost ideal MHD,” a constraint on the equations that allows GA familiarizing himself with basic plasma research through for magnetic reconnection. Moreover, he helped create the a smaller effort on a phenomenon called Landau damping. Torkil Jensen induction motor model of plasma rotation, which is still used In 1965 the contract with TAERF ended and the GA fusion as an straightforward explanation for how a tokamak starts program, because of budget and disillusionment, dwindled to and how the plasma rotation is affected by currents and fields. 14 scientists who needed to come up with something notable To this day, DIII-D remains one of the most capable to survive [3]. tokamaks for the investigation of the effects of shaping Around this time, scientists at the Princeton Plasma on confinement. Its success has influenced the design of Physics Laboratory (PPPL) were struggling with their General Atomics other programs that have followed and currently serves as Model-C stellerator, which lost confinement as the plasma America’s premier tokamak, devoted to establishing the sci- diffused across magnetic field lines. Ohkawa managed to entific basis for the next generation machine, and the largest secure funding from the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) tokamak in the world, ITER. to build a machine called the DC Octopole that, although The author is a first-year Ph.D. not confining the plasma well, did show diffusion several student at The College of William hundred times lower, and brought enough renown to GA to and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. secure more funding [3]. His interest in fusion began In 1968 impressive progress by Russian researchers in through a 2016 Summer Science achieving improved confinement time and higher temperature Undergraduate Laboratory steered the direction of fusion research worldwide towards Internship at General Atomics in the tokamak, including at GA with an important twist [4]. San Diego, CA. During that summer Instead of a traditional circular tokamak, Ohkawa put forward he researched energetic particles the unorthodox idea of the “plasma-current multipole” or on the DIII-D Tokamak, and this doublet. The doublet was a strongly shaped plasma that used experience guided him towards a research career in fusion two separate currents to create a “figure 8” in the magnetic The "Figure Eight": (left) magnetic field equilibria in Doublet II. energy and intrigued him to learn more about the history of equilibria (see the diagram). Doublet-I (DI) was a small-scale Shaded region is the thick copper wall to control the plasma. the science. The full version of this essay can be found at (8 cm major radius) proof-of-concept model built with thick, (right) Doublet IIA's equilibria and shaping coils around the aps.org/units/fhp/essay shaped copper walls to allow better inductive control, and thinner vacuum vessel wall. References: was so successful it operated for only three months before inherently better β. Eagerly pressing onward, Ohkawa pro- 1. Information in this article is derived from interviews the author Ohkawa secured funding for the much larger Doublet-II (DII). posed and built Doublet IIA (DIIA) hoping to show that conducted with Andrea Garofalo, Teruo Tamano, Rob La Haye, DII was successfully built, ran for two years, and demon- the large conducting wall, which facilitated eddy currents Ming Chu, and Alan Turnbull. For detailed citations please see strated longer confinement times with a higher β (the ratio of to correct changes in plasma shape, could be replaced by aps.org/units/fhp/essay/ plasma pressure to magnetic pressure) than comparable toka- external shaping coils around a thinner vacuum vessel wall. 2. Maisel, M. 2007. Celebrating 50 Years of Fusion at General maks [4]. Because Ohkawa and most of his staff were work- Designed by Teuro Tamano and troubleshot by Jensen, the Atomics (internal GA document). ing on the DC Octopole, Jensen was placed in charge of many shaping coils were a significant step forward in active control 3. Bromberg, L. 1982. Fusion: Science Politics, and the Invention of the operations for DII; there he made some of his most of plasma; they forced GA’s scientists to develop advanced of a New Energy Source. MIT Press. Cambridge. important contributions to magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) control techniques which would become the basis of the 4. Jensen, T. et al. 1975. Confinement of Plasma in the Doublet-II theory, such as proving that elongated plasmas achieved modern-day plasma control system. Device. Physical Review Letters, Volume 34, No. 5.

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