Spring 2013 the Physics Illinois Vol. 1 No. 2 Bulletin

inside this issue: Glimpsing the Majorana particle Blue Waters petascale supercomputer yields chemical structure of HIV capsid The changing face of undergraduate physics Professor Eduardo Fradkin elected to National Academy of Sciences Alumnus Dr. Sidney Drell receives National Medal of Science Alumnus William Edelstein receives highest Illinois alumni award Department of Physics College of Engineering University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign We have even more ambitious plans. Two feasibility studies are underway for projects that will expand the size and capabilities of the Department of Physics. One is a design for A Message from the Head: an Advanced Experimental Research Building that would provide high-bay, low-vibration, electromagnetically shielded space for sensitive experiments in condensed matter physics—it would be located behind the Materials Research Laboratory on the site of the former nuclear Looking Forward reactor, which was decommissioned and razed. The other is an addition to the Loomis Laboratory of Physics on the west side, building over the lecture halls. This project would create new lecture halls, space for departmental and faculty offices, a complex for graduate Dear colleagues, alumni, and friends, students, an open atrium for events, and a new gateway for the Department of Physics that faces the core of campus. It is not clear when or if these projects will be realized—it will take At the end of another academic year, it is an appropriate time to reflect on where we are as a creative effort to identify the necessary resources and an equally creative plan for covering a department and where we want go. Certainly compared with where we were a few years ago, our course loads during the construction phase—but it certainly will never happen unless at the peak of the financial crunch and administrative turnover at the University of Illinois, we make a plan and do our best to convince the University, the State, and our friends of the we are in a much better place. At that time, the size of the Physics faculty had dropped transformative impact that these projects would have on advancing physics research and precipitously and was approaching 50, well below our typical numbers in the mid-60s—the teaching at Illinois. combined result of not hiring new faculty for several years and the unexpected departures of several key people. With student With all the attention to the future of the department through hiring and infrastructure, enrollments increasing and research productivity growing, the one longstanding and distinguishing feature of our department remains constant: declining faculty size was putting enormous pressure on our the commitment and excellence of our faculty, students, and alumni and their record ability to carry out our core missions in teaching, research, and of achievement and recognition. This newsletter highlights just a few of the many service. accomplishments of those who are or have been a part of Physics Illinois. The last three years have been increasingly brighter. By The road ahead will not be easy. The State of Illinois continues to have serious financial the end of 2013, we expect to have hired a dozen faculty issues that have translated to decreasing support for higher education and imminent members over the last three years—half of those just this pension changes that could affect the career plans of our faculty and staff. Similar year—all excellent scientists in areas of strategic interest to pressures nationwide are resulting in a squeeze on federal funding after many consecutive the department. This year alone, we interviewed more than 20 years of increases in research expenditures. Our faculty has responded by seeking new faculty candidates from a combined pool in all areas of more grant opportunities to support their research programs and by exploring innovative than 250 candidates. That’s a lot of applications and a lot of interdisciplinary collaborations to address complex scientific problems and to solve societal dinners, but it was worth the effort, because nothing energizes problems in health, energy, and the environment. a program more than bringing in talented young people who take us in new and exciting To our alumni, changes in the funding of public universities nationwide are also driving a directions. Even with these hires, we remain short of our target of 60 faculty members, so we targeted expansion of our advancement activities. We want to maintain contact with as many expect to conduct even more searches next year. of you as possible and to keep you apprised of what is happening in Urbana—this newsletter There has been a corresponding increase in staff size in the department over the last is one way to do that. You are important to us: you are our legacy, you serve as role models for few years, filling critical needs in introductory course administration, communications, our students by demonstrating what you can do with a physics degree, and you are a steady advancement, and technical support for research. Our staff plays an essential role in enabling and greatly appreciated source of support for the Department of Physics through your gifts the department to do great physics and develop great physicists, and we are grateful for their and your role as ambassadors for our program. I encourage you to keep us informed of what extraordinary talents and commitment. is going on in your world and to visit us at any time. The growth in student enrollment and faculty size has triggered a need for more and better space for instruction and research, and we are making plans to address that. We are about to begin a major classroom renovation supported by University funds: this project will expand the classrooms in which we teach courses for our physics majors, upgrade discussion and lab rooms for our introductory courses, and create a new active-learning classroom in the space formerly occupied by scientific journals (which are now available online). It will also bring us brighter hallways, new restrooms, fire suppression sprinklers, and a faculty-staff lounge and kitchen from which to stage departmental events. The proposed project, like the recent construction of the Physics Interaction Room in the old Physics library space and the recent remodeling of the main department office, continues our investment in infrastructure to improve both the utility and attractiveness of our space. the Physics Illinois The tremendous accomplishments Bulletin and varied life paths of our Physics Illinois alumni never cease to amaze us. Dale Van Harlingen 6 10 Professor and Head Glimpses of interfering Wit, grit, and a supercomputer yield Where did your path take you after Majorana pairs at Illinois chemical structure of HIV capsid

Celia Elliott Physics Illinois? Director, External Affairs and Special Projects Let us know where you are and what you are doing—we would love to Erin Kirby Assoc. Director of Advancement hear from you! 30 24 Fradkin elected to National “the beginning of a beautiful Academy of Sciences Siv Schwink friendship.” Greene blogs on Communications Coordinator Get our latest news. Update your contact information. outreach trip to Casablanca

http://go.physics.illinois.edu/alumni the Physics Illinois Bulletin is a semiannual publication of the Follow us. Like us. Department of Physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 38 42 Physics Illinois alumnus Sidney Drell Physics Illinois alumnus Please send us your comments receives National Medal of Science William Edelstein receives or ideas for future stories: Alumni Achievement Award for lifetime of pioneering the Physics Illinois Bulletin contributions to MRI Department of Physics Loomis Laboratory 8 Ha team solves mystery of DNA repair mechanism 1110 West Green Street 12 Electrons are not enough: cuprate superconductors defy convention Urbana, IL 61801-3080 13 Mason’s group uncovers superconducting qualities of topological insulator or contact Siv Schwink at 14 Undergraduate profiles [email protected] 21 The changing face of undergraduate physics or (217) 300-2201 Cover image: Research team leader Dr. Aaron Finck (seated) poses 23 Physics theses and dissertations archives, alumni releases sought with (L-R) ECE Professor Xiuling Li, ECE graduate student Kyooho 26 Column debut: Musings of an ESB Lounge Lizard Jung, Professor Dale Van Harlingen, and ECE researcher Dr. Parsian 28 Historic U. of I. Observatory to be restored 3 Mohseni, next to one of the closed-cycle He dilution refrigerators in 30 Faculty highlights Van Harlingen’s laboratory in the Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory. The team detected Majorana-like signatures in a hybrid 38 Alumni highlights Printed on recycled paper with soybean ink. semiconductor/superconductor device. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer 45 Student highlights researcher Aaron Finck in the were observed to oscillate—to open they are very robust or fragile. Glimpses of laboratory of Professor Dale Van then reform as a single peak—with Over wide ranges of magnetic field, Harlingen at the Frederick Seitz variations to the back gate voltage these states come in, lock onto zero Materials Research Laboratory, or magnetic field. voltage, and stay there so we think interfering used a semiconducting indium- These double peaks and their they are robust; others think they arsenide nanowire expertly oscillations had been predicted are fragile and difficult to stabilize. Majorana pairs grown by three members of the last December as “smoking-gun” We’re trying to get a picture of this.” Department of Electrical and evidence of Majorana states by Definitive proof of the existence at Illinois Computer Engineering at Illinois— condensed matter physicist Sankar of a fundamental Majorana postdoctoral researcher Parsian Das Sarma and colleagues at the particle has yet to be found, and Mohseni, graduate student Kyooho University of Maryland in College some skepticism is sensible and Jung, and Professor Xiuling Li. Park in a paper they published in justified, explained Van Harlingen. The nanowire was mounted on Physical Review B. The phenomena But this experiment does rule a substrate with an electrostatic arises from the quantum wave out certain possible explanations gate beneath it to tune the functions of each Majorana fermion of the observed zero-energy electron density in the nanowire. on either end of the wire interfering state, including magnetic Kondo The researchers measured the with the other. resonances and superconducting conductance across the wire Finck said the findings, while not bound states that can also produce between two superconducting conclusive, are consistent with the zero-energy peaks. niobium nitride leads as predicted behavior of two Majorana “Our second-generation Research team leader Dr. Aaron Finck (seated) poses with temperature, magnetic field, quasiparticles communicating with experiment isn’t conclusive (L-R) Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Professor and gate voltage were varied one another through the nanowire, evidence for the existence of the Xiuling Li, ECE graduate student Kyooho Jung, Professor Dale Van Harlingen, and ECE researcher Dr. Parsian Mohseni, and observed the characteristic wherein the wave functions of the Majorana fermions, but it does next to one of the closed-cycle 3He dilution refrigerators in Majorana fermion signature: a two fermions reach toward one provide further, stronger evidence Van Harlingen’s laboratory in the Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory. conductance peak in the wire at another, overlap, and hybridize, for it. Other research groups are zero voltage. effectively annihilating, or in other now seeing the same thing,” said However, when the words, transforming into more Van Harlingen. ince it was first theorized hold promise for applications in anomalous conductance peak experimentalists changed either the commonplace collective electronic The Van Harlingen group is more than seven decades quantum computing as qubits is the predicted evidence of a magnetic field or electron chemical states. continuing to search for this as-yet ago by Italian physicist (quantum bits) that would be pair of Majorana fermions, one potential, the conductance peak Van Harlingen added, “We are theoretical quasiparticle and has SEttore Majorana (1906–1938), protected from dephasing. positioned at each end of the wire. would broaden and sometimes split trying to understand—if in fact already submitted a second paper the Majorana fermion—believed The first glimmer of the elusive The peak is expected to be exactly into two finite voltage peaks which these are Majorana states—whether for publication based on a different to be the only particle that is its quasiparticle was seen last year, at zero energy when the Majorana approach. “The newly completed own antiparticle—has eluded the when a team of condensed matter fermions are well separated from experiment provides additional searches of experimental particle physicists at the Delft University each other. evidence for Majorana fermions physicists. Unlike more familiar of Technology in the Netherlands, In March of this year, condensed in a related system—topological fermions such as electrons, protons led by Leo Kouwenhoven, (and matter experimentalists in the insulators in proximity to and quarks, this hypothetical including Physics Illinois alumnus Department of Physics at Illinois superconductors. We see intriguing quasiparticle would have zero Sergey Frolov, now at the University announced they had detected signatures of Majorana excitations charge. While it is still an open of Pittsburgh) reported evidence further evidence of Majorana-like in the Josephson effect,” said Van question whether fundamental of a Majorana-like state in a hybrid signatures using a device similar Harlingen. particles such as neutrinos might semiconductor-superconductor to that of the Dutch team but with The search for Majorana be Majorana fermions, recently device. These researchers some important differences. In fermions is one problem in the there have been a number of observed a peak in the electrical particular, the superconducting emerging field of topological theoretical proposals that certain conductance at zero voltage in leads were narrower, enabling any quantum phenomena that is condensed matter systems contain an indium-antimony nanowire, Majorana fermions produced in being explored worldwide, and (a), (b) Conductance traces vs. the magnetic (a), (b) Conductance traces at VBG=10.1 V zero energy states that act like a single-crystal semiconductor the nanowire to be closer together, field for two different densities. (c) Individual for various B values. In (b), the traces differ by researchers at Illinois will attack traces for VBG=10.1 V, each trace differing by 0.1 △B=0.05 T. Adjacent curves are offset for clarity. Majorana fermions. If discovered having strong spin-orbit coupling, possibly leading to distinctive T. Adjacent curves are offset for clarity. it with all the advantages that the and ifcapable of being manipulated in contact with a superconducting interactions. Urbana style of physics affords: Figures reprinted with permission from A. D. K. Finck, D. J. Van Harlingen, P. K. Mohseni, K. Jung, and exchanged, Majorana fermions lead at high magnetic field. This The team, led by postdoctoral and X. Li, Phys. Rev. Lett.,110, 126406, 2013. Copyright 2013 by the American Physical Society. the interaction of theorists and 6 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 7 experimentalists working in By Diana Yates, tandem on big questions. Life Sciences Editor, Illinois News Bureau “We collectively think that the Ha team solves physics of topological materials and topological states is a mystery of DNA very important and intriguing topic. Our theorists and our repair mechanism experimentalists are coming at it from many directions,” said Van Harlingen. “Other experimentalists who are also working in this area very time a human or the Max Planck Society and the include Raffi Budakian, Nadya bacterial cell divides, it Wellcome Trust. Ha is an HHMI Mason, and Jim Eckstein, and most first must copy its DNA. investigator. The National Science of our condensed matter theorists ESpecialized proteins unzip the Foundation provided primary are engaged in this effort, including intertwined DNA strands while funding for this work. Eduardo Fradkin, Mike Stone, Tony others follow and build new DNA repair is vital to health, Leggett, Smitha Vishveshwara, strands, using the originals as vitality and longevity. Disruptions Taylor Hughes, and Shinsei templates. Whenever these proteins of the process can lead to the early Ryu. We also have outstanding encounter a break—and there onset of diseases associated with collaborators at ECE, including are many—they stop and retreat, aging or cancer in animals. The Xiuling Li and Matthew Gilbert. It allowing a new cast of molecular breast cancer mutation known as should be an exciting time.” n players to enter the scene. BRCA2, for example, disrupts a Scientists have long sought gene involved in loading Rad51 to understand how one of these (the human equivalent of RecA) players, a repair protein known onto a broken DNA strand to begin as RecA in bacterial cells, helps the process of repair. Professor Taekjip Ha. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer broken DNA find a way to bridge Previous studies have shown the gap. They knew that RecA that in bacteria, RecA forms a guided a broken DNA strand to a filament that winds itself around matching sequence on an adjoining a broken, single strand of DNA. “We wanted to know how RecA The team determined that RecA he said. “So your DNA would not bit of double-stranded DNA, but Like a matchmaker trying to find helps the DNA find a sequence that is bound to a broken, single- be repaired quickly and damage they didn’t know how. In a new a partner for an unpaired dancer, complementary to it in the sea of stranded DNA molecule actually would accumulate, possibly leading study, researchers report they have it scours the corresponding genomic DNA, and how it does it slides back and forth along the to serious diseases.” identified how the RecA protein DNA strands for a sequence that so quickly.” double-stranded DNA molecule, The research team included does its job. will pair up perfectly with the To answer this question, searching for a match. graduate students Kaushik “The puzzle for scientists has broken strand. Once it finds the the researchers made use of “We discovered that this RecA Ragunathan and Cheng Liu. Ha been: How does the damaged DNA sequence, the broken strand steps fluorescence resonance energy filament can slide on double- is an affiliate of theInstitute for look for and find its partner, the in and chemically bonds to its transfer (FRET) to observe in real stranded DNA for a span of Genomic Biology and a co-director Finck and Van Harlingen gratefully matching DNA, so that it can repair new partner, displacing one of the time the interaction of the RecA sequences covering about 200 base of the NSF Center for the Physics of acknowledge funding for this itself?” said University of Illinois unbroken strands (which eventually protein and the DNA. FRET uses pairs of DNA,” Ha said. “This is Living Cells at Illinois. n experiment through Microsoft’s physics professor Taekjip Ha, who pairs with the other broken strand). fluorescent molecules whose signals how one strand of DNA can be Station-Q. Mohseni, Jung, and Li gratefully acknowledge funding from led the study. “Because the genomic This elaborate molecular square vary in intensity depending on exchanged with another from a NSF under award no. DMR-1006581. DNA is millions of bases long, this dance allows the cell to go back to their proximity to one another. different DNA duplex. That’s the This research was funded by Device fabrication was carried task is much like finding a needle in the work of duplicating its genome. By labeling a single DNA strand process called ‘recombination.’ ” National Science Foundation grant out in the MRL Central Facilities, bound by RecA and putting a The discovery explains how DNA nos. PHY-0646550 and PHY- a haystack. We found the answer to Each broken strand now is paired 0822613; by a National Institutes of partially supported by the DOE under how the cell does this so quickly.” with an unbroken one and uses different fluorescent label on a repair can occur so quickly. DE-FG02-07ER46453 and DE- Health grant no. GM065367; and by FG02-07ER46471. The conclusions The research is described in a the intact strand as a template for stretch of double-stranded DNA, “We did a calculation that found the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. presented are those of the scientists paper in eLife, a new open-access replication. the researchers could see how the that without this kind of process The conclusions presented are those of and not necessarily those of the journal supported by the Howard “If a break in DNA occurs, molecules interacted with one that we discovered, then DNA the scientists and not necessarily those of the funding agencies. funding agencies. Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), you have to repair it,” Ha said. another. repair would be 200 times slower,” 8 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 9 performed by colleagues at the that accounted for the structural reported, allowing the capsid to be Wit, grit, and a supercomputer yield University of Pittsburgh and properties of the capsid’s building a closed structure that would not Vanderbilt University. “It was blocks. have been possible if the capsid chemical structure of HIV capsid very clear that it would require a “The work of matching the were composed only of hexagons. huge amount of simulation—the overall capsid, made of 64 million Possessing a chemically detailed largest simulation ever published— atoms, to the diverse experimental structure of the HIV capsid will involving 64 million atoms.” data can be done only through allow researchers to further Previous research had computer simulation using a investigate how it functions, with established that the HIV capsid methodology we have developed implications for pharmacological contained a number of identical called molecular dynamic flexible interventions to disrupt that proteins. Scientists knew that the function, Schulten said. proteins were arranged “The HIV capsid has actually two into pentagons and completely opposite properties,” hexagons, and guessed he said. “It has to protect the that the pentagons genetic material but once it gets formed the most into the cell it has to release tightly rounded the genetic material. That corners of the capsid has to happen with really shape seen under an good timing—too quick is electron microscope. not good, too slow is not But they did not know good. And this is a moment how many of these when you can throw a wrench protein building blocks were into the system.” needed, or how the pentagons and Some of the most potent antiviral hexagons fit together to form the drugs target the viral capsid, capsid. fitting,” Schulten said. “You Schulten said. Professor Klaus Schulten and postdoctoral researcher Juan Roberto Perilla Led by structural biology basically simulate the physical “The timing of the opening of Photo by L. Brian Stauffer professor Peijun Zhang, the characteristics and behavior of the capsid is essential for the degree By Diana Yates, Pittsburgh team exposed the large biological molecules but of virulence of the virus,” he said. Life Sciences Editor, building blocks of the capsid to you also incorporate the data “This is where we could perhaps Illinois News Bureau high salt conditions, leading the into the simulation so that the best interfere with HIV infection.” Illinois researchers report that they have determined the precise chemical structure of the HIV capsid, a protein shell proteins to assemble into tubes model actually drives itself toward Schulten and Perilla’s research is that protects the virus’s genetic material and is a key to its virulence. The capsid has become an attractive target for made entirely of hexagons. Further agreement with the data.” reported in the paper, “Structure the development of new antiretroviral drugs. experiments revealed interactions The simulations revealed that the of the Mature HIV-1 Capsid by among specific regions of the HIV capsid contained 216 protein Cryo-EM and All-Atom Molecular cientists have long sought sense of the whole. pieces to the puzzle were conducted proteins that were “critical for hexagons and 12 protein pentagons Dynamics Simulation,” in the May to understand how the Until the arrival of petascale during testing of Blue Waters, a capsid assembly and stability, and arranged just as the experimental 28 issue of the journal Nature. n HIV capsid is constructed, supercomputers, however, no one new supercomputer at the National for viral infectivity,” the researchers data had indicated. The proteins The computational research was Sand many studies have chipped could piece together the entire Center for Supercomputing report. that composed these pentagons and carried out at the Beckman Institute away at its mystery. Applications at the The team also conducted hexagons were all identical, and yet at the University of Illinois. The Researchers have used “The timing of the opening of the capsid University of Illinois. cryo-electron tomography of the the angles of attachment between National Institute of General Medical a variety of laboratory is essential for the degree of virulence of “This is a big complete capsid, slicing it into Sciences at the National Institutes them varied from one region of the of Health and the National Science techniques— the virus. This is where we could perhaps structure, one of the sections to get a rough idea of its capsid to another. Foundation supported this research. cryo-electron best interfere with HIV infection.” biggest structures overall shape. “That is really the mystery of it,” The Blue Waters supercomputer microscopy, cryo-EM ever solved,” said Perilla and Schulten used the Schulten said. “How can a single is funded by the National Science tomography, nuclear magnetic HIV capsid—an assemblage of Professor Klaus Schulten, who, data from these experiments and type of protein form something as Foundation. The conclusions presented are those of resonance spectroscopy and X-ray more than 1,300 identical proteins with postdoctoral researcher Juan from their own simulations of the varied as this thing? The protein the scientists and not necessarily those crystallography, to name a few— forming a cone-shaped structure— R. Perilla, conducted the molecular interactions between the hexamers has to be inherently flexible.” of the funding agencies. to peer at individual parts of the in atomic-level detail. The simulations that integrated data and pentamers to conduct a series The pentagons “induced acute This page: HIV capsid image courtesy of capsid in revealing detail, or to get a simulations that added the missing from laboratory experiments of large-scale computer simulations surface curvature,” the researchers Professor Klaus Schulten 10 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 11 is applicable to cuprate superconductors, since the Mason’s group uncovers hypotheses that the theorem is built superconducting qualities on are violated at certain energies in these materials. The group tested of topological insulators it and indeed found discrepancies between the measured charge and the laboratory of Illinois condensed quasiparticle, a fermion which is the number of mobile electrons in matter physicist Nadya Mason theorized to be its own antiparticle cuprate superconductors, defying at the Frederick Seitz Materials and which, if discovered, could Luttinger. Research Laboratory, were carried serve as a quantum bit in quantum “This result is telling us that the out by postdoctoral research computing. physics cannot be described by associate Sungjae Cho using a TI “Since we now have a better electrons alone,” Phillips said. “This material—specially developed by understanding of how topological means that the cuprates are even the Brookhaven team—coupled to insulators behave with regard weirder than previously thought: superconducting leads. to superconductivity, this will Something other than electrons To deplete the electrons in the assist our search for the Majorana carries the current.” opological insulators (TIs) bulk, the team used three strategies: quasiparticle,” Mason explained. “Theorists have suspected that are an exciting new type the TI material was doped with The team also plans to something like this was true but of material that on their antimony, then it was doped at the investigate the same experimental no one has been able to prove Tsurface carry electric current, but surface with a chemical having configuration at lower energy to Electrons are not enough: it,” Phillips said. “Electrons are within their bulk, act as insulators. strong electron affinity, and finally further explore its characteristics. charged. Therefore, if an electron Since the discovery of TIs about an electrostatic gate was used to “The potential of this new Cuprate superconductors does not contribute to the charge a decade ago, their unique apply voltage that lowered the material is very exciting. We are count, then there is a lot of characteristics (which point to energy of the entire system. exploring possible uses for TIs in defy convention explaining to do.” potential applications in quantum “One of the main results we terms of conventional electronic Photo by L. Brian Stauffer Now the researchers are computing) have been explored found,” said Mason, “was in devices and novel devices,” said exploring possible candidates theoretically, and in the last five comparing the two experimental Mason. “And if we can find the new for current carriers, particularly years, experimentally. regimes, pure surface (bulk particle predicted to exist in the by Liz Ahlberg, states that the number of electrons a novel kind of excitation called But where in theory, the depleted of electrons) vs. bulk material’s solid state and then learn Physical Sciences Editor, in a material is the same as the unparticles. bulk of TIs carry no current, in (excess electrons present in to manipulate its position relative Illinois News Bureau number of electrons in all of its Phillips, U. of I. undergraduate the laboratory, impurities and impurities in bulk material). We to a second particle, we could use it atoms added together. Electrons student Kiaran Dave (now a disorder in real materials mean the learned that even when you have for quantum computation. o engineers, it’s a tale as old are the subatomic particles that graduate student at MIT) and bulk is, in fact, conductive. This the bulk, the superconductivity “The implications for quantum as time: Electrical current carry the current in a conductive University of Pennsylvania property has proven an obstacle to always goes through the surface of computing are truly profound,” is carried through materials material. Much-studied conducting professor Charles Kane published experimentation with TIs: findings the material.” she explained. “With today’s Tby flowing electrons. But physicists materials, such as metals and their findings in the journal from prior experiments designed This finding was established technology, computer components at the University of Illinois and semiconductors, hold true to the Physical Review Letters.n to test surface conductivity of TIs by comparing experiments with really can’t get much smaller. If the University of Pennsylvania theorem. unavoidably included contributions theoretical modeling by research Majoranas behave as predicted found that for copper-containing Phillips’s group works from the bulk’s surplus electrons. team members at Illinois’s and can be manipulated to serve as superconductors, known as on the theory behind high- Now an interdisciplinary Department of Electrical and quantum bits, our future computers cuprates, electrons are not enough temperature superconductors. research team at the University of Computer Engineering. Asst. would be extraordinarily powerful; to carry the current. In superconductors, current This research was funded by the Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in Professor Matthew Gilbert and their components would be much “The story of electrical flows freely without resistance. National Science Foundation under collaboration with researchers at graduate student Brian Dellabetta smaller and would be able to store conduction in metals is told entirely Cuprate superconductors have grant nos. DMR-1104909 and DMR- Brookhaven National Laboratory’s showed that superconductivity much more information.” n in terms of electrons. The cuprates puzzled physicists with their 0906175, and by the Center for Condensed Matter Physics and occurred only at the surface of Emergent Superconductivity through show that there is something superconducting ability since their Materials Science Department, has topological insulators and that this This research was funded by the a DOE Energy Frontiers Research Office of Naval Research under grant completely new to be understood discovery in 1987. Center grant no. E-AC0298CH1088. measured superconductive surface is a unique characteristic of these N0014-11-1-0728. The conclusions beyond what electrons are doing,” The researchers developed a The conclusions presented are those of states in TIs where the bulk charge new materials. presented are those of the scientists said Professor Philip Phillips. model outlining the breakdown the scientists and not necessarily those carriers were successfully depleted. It’s been predicted that TIs and not necessarily those of the of the funding agencies. In physics, Luttinger’s theorem of Luttinger’s theorem that The experiments, conducted in harbor the highly sought Majorana funding agency. 12 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 13 Undergraduate profiles

3 The world-class undergraduate program in physics at Illinois attracts extraordinary “At the point where I finished matter-antimatter imbalance in the of He is used in the nEDM individuals from near and far. Students come to us with interesting backgrounds, that project, I realized this area universe. Precision measurements experiment, it is critical that it of physics wasn’t what I was most of electric dipole moments help does not depolarize too quickly, diverse interests, and deep passions for particular hobbies or areas of study. Some 3 are swept into new interests after they are submersed in the rich Urbana-Champaign interested in. I had started to take us to understand the processes because unpolarized He causes a culture. Here are three stories that reflect today’s Physics Illinois undergraduate subatomic physics and modern lab that lead to asymmetry in the background signal.” experience. courses, and it really clicked for me composition of universe.” Sachdeva graduated this spring that I wanted to go into nuclear and In the lab, Sachdeva worked with and has been accepted to a doctoral atomic physics.” principal research physicist Steve program at the University of Once she realized it, it was clear Williamson, under Beck’s guidance. Michigan in Ann Arbor, where that this was the path she had been “What I did specifically she plans to do research in atomic, headed toward from the start. was to measure the rate of 3He molecular, and optical physics. Contributing to physics research as an undergrad: “When I was a kid, I was very depolarizing off surfaces. I got Before leaving Beck’s lab, interested in patterns, numbers, to work independently in a very Sachdeva trained a new Natasha Sachdeva at Physics Illinois and symmetries. You start to hands-on way. Research can be undergraduate researcher to see these in physics, even at the difficult sometimes, since you continue her work. She kept in undergraduate level. We see rules don’t always have somebody telling mind that steep learning curve she that the sub-universe and even the you what to do and when. But the herself had already climbed. greater universe obey. The area of process is actually really rewarding “I tried to write it out step by physics research that I’m interested because you have to figure things step. She’ll understand why I wrote in is fundamental symmetries, a out for yourself. You don’t always those things later. It really takes subfield of nuclear and particle have a go-to solution.” time to understand the context of physics. This field probes “I think, especially, learning everything, particularly in physics,” symmetries and how they are how to do stuff can be challenging. Sachdeva noted. violated and why they are violated.” A year into it, I looked back and “I’ve had a really great experience About that time, Sachdeva thought, wow, I’d be so much at the U. of I. and will be sort of learned about an opening for further if I knew then what I know sad to leave. At the same time, an undergraduate in Professor now. But it’s part of learning and I’m pretty excited to move on to Douglas Beck’s nuclear physics part of the process of research.” something new and like that I will laboratory and she wasted no time Sachdeva has found the work be directly involved in the outcome

Natasha Sachdeva in in making inquiries. That was two related to fundamental symmetries of the experiment, instead of just a Professor Douglas Beck’s years ago. in Beck’s lab intriguing. It inspired component. laboratory, next to an her to research the topic more apparatus used to measure In Beck’s lab, Sachdeva worked Sachdeva said she is grateful to the rate of 3He depolarization on small-scale materials testing deeply, and she ended up writing have had so much time in the lab as it is exposed to various for the upcoming neutron her senior thesis on it. while she was here. materials that will be used at Oak Ridge National electric dipole moment (nEDM) “Electric dipole moments violate “Undergraduate research Laboratory’s upcoming experiment at Oak Ridge National an important symmetry known opportunities are everywhere at the neutron electric dipole moment experiment. Laboratory. This experiment will as CP-symmetry, which may be U. of I. I started research my first attempt to measure the neutron partly responsible for matter- semester, and was able to switch to electric dipole moment. antimatter asymmetry. A precision a different adviser and project when “Several different experiments measurement of the neutron my interests changed, as I started around the world are working on electric dipole moment brings us a to learn more about the various hen Natasha Sachdeva their sophomore year, after they’ve first semester here. I worked on this question,” explained Sachdeva. step closer to understanding what fields of physics. I’ve learned so entered the physics got a few courses under their belts. simulating a chaotic water wheel, “In the early universe, why was mechanisms cause CP-violation, much about what I enjoy and what program at Illinois as She was undeterred. She to investigate the effects of static there a preference for matter because many theories predict I want to do with my future career Wa freshman in 2008, she couldn’t asked around. It was Toni Pitts, friction and noise in a chaotic over antimatter in the creation of different values for the neutron through my undergraduate research wait to get into a lab to get started the department’s coordinator of system. everything? EDM. experience. Once I started working in research. She mentioned this to recruiting and special programs, It was a good starting point, “The nEDM experiment could “During my research experience, in Professor Beck’s lab, I realized an adviser and learned that most who steered her toward Professor but as Sachdeva grew in her have major implications for the I used pulsed nuclear magnetic that I wanted to continue on in undergraduate students don’t start Alfred Hubler’s lab. understanding of physics, her future of physics. In particular, it resonance to monitor 3He as it experimental nuclear physics,” she research until the summer after “I started at the very end of my interests shifted. may help to solve the mystery of the depolarized. Since a large amount said. n 14 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 15 Undergraduate profiles happens sometimes, and you have required to fight at the highest In the ring with physics major Nathan Ridings to move on.” levels of the sport does spill over Ridings finished one of five into other areas of his life. runners up. He hadn’t made the cut “I like studying physics because improve his defensive maneuvers for the Olympic team. I love understanding how things and to get him used to taking hard The next Olympic qualifier was work. But I wasn’t a natural—it’s shots. Sometimes, the coach would in Rio de Janeiro. Ridings fought really something I have to work even have Ridings keep his hands hard. He got a “bye” in his first for. In boxing, perseverance is key. behind his back. fight. In the second match, he Now with my classwork, I know “Those are the moments that developed a persistent nosebleed there are no short cuts. And I think define you as an individual. How so, in accordance with fight rules, I try harder because I know the far could you go? It took me the officials stopped the fight. With game is 80 percent mental. That beyond, just in terms of my mental that, Riding’s 2012 Olympic dream perseverance I learned in boxing is ability to face down any challenge.” ended. applied to every aspect of my life.” Ridings graduated from high “I felt like a couple of those Ridings took this academic year school in 2011 at the age of 17. He judges didn’t give good calls. That off from boxing—and he misses was accepted to the University of was hard. I had worked so hard for the sport. So much so, in fact, that Illinois, but, with the support of his it. But that’s where the perseverance he is giving serious thought to parents, decided to defer entrance comes in. You have to let go and taking another year off from school for a year in order to pursue his move on. Of course there was great to try out professional boxing. Olympic boxing dream. disappointment when I lost, but But nothing is set in stone. If not A dual citizen of the US and El there was also relief. The longest boxing, Ridings is considering Photo by Brett Roseman for the Southtown Star, courtesy of Sun Times Media Salvador, Ridings opted to fight as break I had taken from boxing was pursuing a career in financial law or athan Ridings is not a sport. an El Salvadoran, and he contacted two weeks. Now I could take a real engineering. confrontational person. “In the ring, you are really going the El Salvadoran Olympic bre a k .” “I love to talk to people and In fact, to meet the easy- against someone else’s will. The Committee. He was invited to Ridings admits, it was hard I don’t want to just sit behind a Ngoing, gregarious rising sophomore, human will can be stretched so far, participate in some fights to returning to the books this year, computer. Physics opens a lot of one would never guess he is highly to limits you don’t even understand. attempt to qualify for the team. especially in math and physics. doors—we’ll see where it takes me,” trained in punching people’s lights When you get to the end and they His father at his side, Ridings But the resilience and dedication he said. n out. Growing up in Homer Glen, raise your hand, it’s just awesome.” travelled extensively, competing Nate Ridings battles Ed Brown in the in the outskirts of Chicago, Ridings In high school, Ridings spent against the best boxers in El title bout of the 141 open class at dedicated himself to the sport of most of his waking hours outside Salvador, Venezuela, Ecuador, the Chicago Golden Gloves in April boxing from a young age—starting of school at the gym working to get Panama, and the Dominican 2011. Photo by Brett Roseman for the Southtown Star, courtesy of Sun when he was just 10 years old. into peak condition. He had little Republic. He made it as far as Times Media The following year, Ridings made social life outside of church and the the World Championships in it to the US nationals and placed guys at the gym. There were no late Azerbaijan in September 2011. second in his age bracket, weighing nights on the town, and he kept to a He had fought hard for his place in at just 85 pounds. He was a strict diet. there, but when he arrived, he natural. He remembers, his father John knew he wasn’t in his best form. He “I was this skinny white kid from Mark Ridings was always there by had recently lost 10 pounds, and the suburbs who had never been his side, watching him, coaching the intensive travel schedule had in a fight,” remembers Ridings. “I him, keeping him motivated—and perhaps taken its toll. had never hit anyone, and here of course, shuttling him on the “Looking back, I know I was a bit I was fighting these really tough daily 45-minute drive to and from burned out. I was training 7 days a guys who had been in prison, been his gym. week, 3 times a day for 3 to 6 hours. in gangs, maybe killed someone The training was at times brutal. That was my job. It was my life. or stabbed someone. And I beat Riding’s coach would sometimes “I lost the first fight. I was them.” put him in the ring with bigger drained and there was no stay in Winning felt good. It came at a guys—180 to 200 pounds—and my punches—no power. I wasn’t sacrifice, but he came to love the direct him not to punch back, to performing at my best. It’s hard, it 16 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 17 Undergraduate profiles Physics and opera: Richard Schonberg’s two great passions

explained. senior year of high school when things from each other, the When Schonberg shares what he joined the school chorus. He Count was pretending to be the he has learned about the physics enjoyed it. As a freshman at Illinois, Captain of the Guard, and then the of opera singing, his usually quiet, he wanted to continue, so in the fall Captain comes in, and the stage is subdued demeanor immediately of 2011, he joined the Varsity Men’s rotating—it was so much fun!” brightens, his profound interest in Glee Club under the direction of The lead tenor in that production the subject evident in his swift flow Barrington Coleman. was John Gomez, and Schonberg, of words and joyful tone. It was through that connection now sure he wanted to continue to Schonberg is working toward a that Schonberg learned the sing opera, arranged to get private bachelor’s degree in physics with School of Music was producing voice lessons with him. a minor in mathematics. In his The Magic Flute and needed bass “The lessons really helped me time off from his studies, he has voices in the chorus. Schonberg to prepare for the 2012–13 year,” rehearsed and performed in the joined the production and enjoyed said Schonberg. “I used to sing bass School of Music Opera Program’s it immensely. When he learned because I didn’t have the top notes, productions of The Magic Flute, the School would be producing so I had matched my range to bass. The Barber of Seville, Florencia en Rossini’s Barber of Seville in the But with the correct process, John el Amazonas, and My Fair Lady, spring, he asked Maestro Diaz warmed me up to higher notes the as well as in Opera Venezuela’s Muñoz if he could take part in it, as first day, and he told me, ‘You’re production of Giacomo Puccini’s well. actually a baritone.’” ising junior Richard Gianni Schicchi last fall, and “That production was even more Schonberg explained that voice Richard Schonberg in last fall’s production Schonberg, originally from of Giacomo Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, most recently, Bertholt Brecht’s fun than the first,” said Schonberg. training is a long, difficult process. presented by Opera Venezuela. Photo Rolla, Missouri, admits Threepenny Opera, composed by It was a big set that rotated. At “The voice is an instrument by Anna Longworth, courtesy of Opera Rthat for him, it’s challenging not to Venezuela. Kurt Weill. one point, at the end of Act One, that you can’t see or tune. The overthink the mechanics of things. Opera is a passion Schonberg a bunch of student musicians who training is based on sensation and And while that’s never a bad trait discovered as a student here at played the soldiers were searching feeling. John teaches by the old for an aspiring physicist to have, it Illinois. He started singing in his the house. Everyone was keeping Italian method of the bel canto can get in the way of his operatic school, which puts the most power, voice training. flexibility and range into the voice,” “The way the classically Schonberg commented. trained voice produces tones is “Sometimes, John will refrain so complex—it’s not just a simple from telling me certain things A4 = 440 Hz mechanism. The because I’m a physics major—I pressure waves coming off the think a lot. Thebel canto method is vocal cords resonate through the about conditioning the voice and various resonating chambers. The not thinking about it, just letting sound is uniquely determined by it develop and take place. I’m still the size, shape, and thickness, of working on it—I’m only nine the soft palate, how the throat is months into my training with him. shaped, how your sinus cavities But it’s really rewarding to see the resonate. This all contributes to advancement you can make when every person’s unique timbre,” he Richard Schonberg poses on the stage of the Great Hall at Krannert. 18 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 19 Undergraduate prgrams you put your mind to it,” he added. might be ready. That would give me Sometimes I think about it—just Schonberg aspires one day to a decade of classical voice training. how very lucky I am to be here.” The changing face of sing the most challenging baritone At that point, I would have a choice “I want to take Professor parts, though he is patient in to either go directly at that point Errede’s lab for Physics 406. I’m undergraduate physics at Illinois getting to that—it’s not uncommon into a career in physics, or—I very interested in the physics for students to network through a strong foundation in physics— for baritones to be referred to would love to sing professionally.” of acoustics and the way voice student-led organizations and courses we believe are absolutely as young while in their 40s, he “In opera I have found a produces sound,” Schonberg added. community outreach events. necessary as part of a physics explained. passionate love, and I am happier “He gets singers to sing, and the Our efforts to improve the degree, such as classical mechanics, “In The Barber of Seville, as a here than I would have been students do a harmonic analysis program have paid off. Three years electricity and magnetism, baritone, I could be Figaro, the anywhere else. Harvard, Stanford, and split the sound waves into ago, we had just over 300 physics quantum mechanics, and advanced barber. He’s always having fun, or Princeton—they don’t have fundamental frequencies, to find majors. Today, enrollment is at 450 laboratory. Additionally, students pulling high jinks, and helping the the quality of music program that out just how many simple sound physics majors and growing. In take a set of 4–5 courses in an area Count to get the girl. It’s a funny we do. Illinois is number two in waves there really are coming out fact, we expect the incoming class of specialization. role. But I have to say, it’s the darker undergraduate physics and also in of the human voice to make such a of Fall 2013 will be our largest ever; For students who want to go roles that most appeal to me. As a the top ten in the nation for music. complex, beautiful sound.” n meanwhile, our retention rates are to graduate school in physics, the baritone, I could be Iago in Otello— better than ever. concentration will include more that’s a role I would love to play. Unlike decades ago, we don’t physics courses. But if a student The voice is an extension of the self, expect all of these students to go plans instead on a career in and in that role, I could be dark and on to graduate school and become information technology, the elective brooding.” physics professors or researchers. option would consist of computer But Schonberg’s all-time favorite by Professor Kevin Pitts, We celebrate our alumni’s successes science courses. If medical school, composer is Verdi, and that has Associate Head for in an astonishingly wide array of chemistry and biology courses, and much to do with being a baritone. Undergraduate Programs fields. so on. These elective option courses “Everyone always goes to opera count toward the students’ physics to hear the tenor’s high note—it’s a ndergraduate physics ain’t Curriculum flexibility degrees and provide customization thrilling thing if you can condition what it used to be. In recent years, we modified in line with individual goals. your voice for that,” explained In times past, the physics our program requisites to allow Today, instead of 70 percent of Schonberg. “But Verdi took the Ubachelor’s degree curriculum at students with diverse career our alumni going on to graduate baritone tessitura and ratcheted it Illinois focused entirely on math interests to enroll as physics school in physics, the numbers are up higher, which makes it much and physics. The technical training majors and take advantage of new somewhere in the 40–50 percent more powerful and dramatic, but our undergraduate program offered elective options. At the same time, range (with about 50 percent also much more difficult to sing. was extremely strong, but we the new pedagogical approach in growth in total enrollments). He wrote only two comedies; all the didn’t attempt to prepare students our introductory courses allows We still serve the constituency rest are tragedies. I would like to for anything other than graduate a broader range of students to of students who want a research play Don Carlo in Verdi’s La forza school and research careers. succeed as physics majors, thanks career in physics, but we have de destino. I hope when I’m 45 that Our program continues to be to the collaborative efforts of the now expanded our program to I’ll be able to sing that stuff—it’s extremely strong—one of the best physics education research group better serve the students who amazing!” in the country—but times change, and many faculty members. And don’t—students who pursue If you had asked him two years and we have changed with the to help students transition out of graduate study in other fields (law, ago what he wants to do with times, sometimes as followers, the introductory offerings, we have medicine, economics, nuclear his life, Schonberg would have often as leaders. Because we now developed a bridge course that engineering, computer science, answered, “Get a doctoral degree in offer greater flexibility in our covers special relativity and math materials science, architectural physics and teach.” degree programs, our students methods, to better prepare students acoustics, biomedical engineering, And while he still plans to finish leave better equipped to succeed for the rigors of our advanced neuroscience, or electrical his bachelor’s degree and move on in the profession of their choosing. courses. engineering) and the many students to a doctoral program in physics, Richard Schonberg in We offer new curriculum tailored The elective option curriculum who enter the workforce with Giacomo Puccini’s Gianni it’s clear, for him, physics will share Schicchi, presented by toward academic, government, allows for flexibility in an a bachelor’s degree (employers the stage with opera. Opera Venezuela last fall. teaching, and private-sector careers, individual student’s program of hiring our alumni include Photo by Anna Longworth, “If I pursue my PhD in physics, courtesy of Opera improved academic and career study based upon the student’s CISCO Systems, Intel, Simplex by the time I’m done, my voice Venezuela. advising, and more opportunities own interests. Students still have Investments, Accenture, Belvedere 20 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 21 Library news Trading, IBM, Google, Department have helped them. It is clear that help students better understand opportunities, without excellent education as well as a new set of challenges as we train of Defense, private and public high every student could benefit from the applications of physics as they overburdening our faculty’s better overall experience for our more and more physicists. It’s a schools, and the military). the writing and presentation skills enter the curriculum, we designed schedules and resources. We could students. This outcome has been great problem to have, and we look With our successes come new emphasized in these courses, and a course, The Relevance of Physics, ease the demand somewhat by achieved through a true team effort, forward to finding new ways to challenges. We are continuing we are currently looking at ways aimed at freshman physics majors. finding more corporate internship with numerous faculty and staff improve the Physics Illinois student to work to make students aware to expand the course to make it In this course, students learn opportunities. making incredible contributions. experience, while providing an of all of the possibilities that a available to all physics majors. how physics applies to energy, By far, the biggest challenge I thank them for their continued outstanding education that best physics degree allows and to make space travel, defense, medicine, and facing our students is financial. hard work to provide our students prepares our degree holders for the employers aware of the flexibility Undergraduate Research many other areas. The curriculum Alumni who attended in the 80s with the best possible educational 21st century workforce. n and strengths of a physics degree We continue to be effective is also designed to develop students’ and 90s will remember an era of experience. Follow Professor Kevin Pitts’s holder. And we continue to build at including undergraduates in competency in communication affordable tuition—those days We are excited to watch our undergraduate blog at http://physics.illinois.edu/ ties with our alumni in the private research activities, providing skills. are gone. Illinois has seen in- numbers increase, but we face a undergrad/posts.asp. sector. We’ve made tremendous hands-on, practical experiences As the culmination of the course, state tuition increase 47 percent progress in these areas but need to that supplement classroom students produce a short video in since 2006, and significant tuition do more. For example, we need to learning. The Department which they explain the physics of increases in the preceding years. In Physics theses and dissertations work with our alumni to provide has increased the number of a chosen topic to non-experts. For addition, federal and state financial archive, alumni releases sought corporate internship opportunities undergraduate research experience this assignment, students must aid has fallen far behind tuition by Mary Schlembach, Engineering, for our students who aren’t opportunities we provide (between research the science and consider costs, with the result that many Physics, and Astronomy Librarian pursuing graduate studies. 90 and 100 students in each of the how to present it to the lay person. students cannot afford college. lumni who completed a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation last two summers), but we aren’t Videos produced last year focused Many of our extremely strong may recall submitting copies to the department and wonder Communication skills keeping pace with demand from on magnetic resonance imaging, undergraduate candidates—with whatever became of them. Some were bound, cataloged, and To be competitive in today’s our growing number of physics superconductivity, wind energy, outstanding grades and high test Aadded to the Physics and Astronomy Library collection. Other copies job market, a degree holder needs majors. and optical fiber communications, scores—tell us they simply cannot were left unbound and stored in a small room behind the library. After more than science smarts and To that end, we have revamped among other topics. afford to attend the University of the Physics Library closed in 2009, there was some discussion about what top-notch technical training. The our modern physics laboratory Other new courses have also Illinois; this at a time when our should be done with the decades of unbound theses and dissertations. ability to communicate, via the course to utilize modern been developed that address nation needs more young people This was a great opportunity to digitize the collection and make it written and spoken word, is what equipment, data acquisition physics applications. Most recently, trained in math, science and available in electronic format. A copy of every thesis and dissertation sets people apart in today’s world. methods, and experiments. we added a course in biophysics engineering. from 1950 to 2009 was packed up and sent to the Grainger Library. Our curriculum provides ample Students aren’t trying to reproduce and a new laboratory course on the The University is trying to Library-science graduate assistants scanned each one and deposited opportunities for students to the century-old Millikan oil physics of musical instruments. generate scholarship and financial it into the Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and develop excellent communication drop experiment; instead, they aid funds, but that takes time, and Scholarship (IDEALS), the institutional repository for research by faculty, skills. are performing experiments Challenges those efforts haven’t caught up with staff, and students at the University. Instituted more than a decade to measure the muon lifetime, With change comes new explosive costs. Many competing Since 2010, all University theses and dissertations are published in ago, our senior thesis sequence second sound in liquid helium, challenges, both for the faculty and institutions that charge a higher electronic format and deposited into IDEALS. Physics, however, was the is aimed at helping students who bioluminescence, and quantum for the students. base tuition are able to provide first department on campus to digitize its entire thesis and dissertation plan to pursue graduate studies interference. Students leave this There is the challenge of needed financial support and so archive, thanks to the availability of the unbound copies. There are in physics learn how to write course with hands-on experimental increasing enrollments: classes that can outcompete us for the best 1,783 items in the Physics Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD) papers, document research, and experience. Along with the senior- used to have 40 students now have students. In addition to developing collection. The collection is searchable by title, author, faculty advisor, make presentations. This sequence thesis sequence, our new modern 120. In addition to more physics more need-based financial support, degree year, and department. has helped our alumni get great physics lab is ranked as a top course majors, we have more non-majors we also must develop more merit- Graduates own the copyright to their own theses or dissertations. In jobs, secure excellent graduate by graduating seniors. taking advanced physics courses based awards to help further the order to protect the copyright, all theses and dissertations were added opportunities, and win prestigious to earn a minor or simply to tradition of excellence in our to IDEALS with limited access for University of Illinois users only. This awards such as National Science Relevance expand their knowledge. Higher department; currently, we have means that only current students, staff, and faculty are able to access the Foundation fellowships. In recent years, students have enrollments also put added stress many high-achieving students full text of these theses and dissertations. The quality and depth of the expressed a greater desire to apply on our teaching assistants, as they who are never acknowledged in a Alumni may authorize public release of their scanned thesis and/or senior-thesis sequence is something their physics education to issues have to handle more students in tangible way. dissertation by filling out an online form athttp://hades.grainger.uiuc. that sets us apart from virtually of societal relevance: alternative their already overcrowded sections. edu/pawel/projects/ideals/IDEALS.asp. Updating access rights will likely every other school in the country. energy, the environment and There is also the challenge In Closing take two to three weeks once permissions are submitted. n We routinely have our alumni sustainability, climate change, and of providing more high- The improvements in our telling us how much these courses health and national security. To quality undergraduate research program have resulted in an Please send inquiries to Mary Schlembach, at [email protected]. 22 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 23 Outreach some food. The ones far from alike. “... the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” their university have to find • Barriers for Greene blogs on outreach trip to Casablanca families to live with—or some of women were the schools do have dorms—but all over the These are excerpts from ProfessorLaura Greene’s travel blog, posted during her trip to Casablanca in Morocco, those are harder to afford. Rural map—some where she participated in her firstCOACh International (iCOACh) workshop, “Building Partnerships Workshop on students were definitely more great stories Water, Energy and the Environment for Women Scientists from Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia,” March 5–8, 2013. challenged in this. and some not • Career paths were not all that so great. This is a reception and women scientists. We all learned a different between countries— clearly spotty dinner. We all went great deal! Some bullet points: in academia it is assistant to and changing rapidly—transience what could and could not be done out of our way to • The percentage of women in the associate to full professor. rules. This is best not to blog! —won’t bore you here but between interact with women sciences in North Africa was However, the requirements for alloy growth (Algeria), a variety of not from our home much higher than the US! each level were quite disparate. Thurs, March 7 thin film capabilities (Algeria, IL, countries. Here are • A North African scientist gets a • Recruitment of good students After the panel on Wednesday and OR), computational materials three I had dinner guaranteed base, which is very seemed not to be such a big afternoon, we got into breakout modeling (Tunisia) and a whole lot with—two from small; dependent on ratings of problem. I pointed out that in the groups to see how we could of materials characterization (US), Morocco and one that professor and institution and US, the undergraduates declaring establish collaborations. Most we had a plan to hammer out. from Algeria. I also then can apply for more grants physics as their major basically of this workshop was composed had dinner with from their ministry and outside. doubled over the last few years— of chemists, so finding the right Friday, March 8 Sonia Haddad from They do not have to cover student the problem was not recruitment group for superconductors or Thursday afternoon were more Tunis who has been tuition—that is covered. The but how to give these increased strong electron correlations was a breakout sessions, and we better doing great work funding they get as a base can numbers the same quality of challenge. Mary Wirth suggested defined how we would self- Professor Laura Greene poses with fellow on graphene. With her recent maybe allow them to go to one education as before. we determine a research goal assemble. The main areas were participant Nora Berrah outside a mosque. IoP comment, I think we will conference a year, and sometimes • All agreed that barriers were and work to see how we cold phosphites, water, and materials. grow more communication and one cannot accomplish her work infrastructure (like equipment), collaborate on it, but in my case, it My group was all about design, Tuesday, March 5, 2012 collaborations. I met her first at the with the available funds. funding, and other demands was more important to see what the analysis, and computation of This trip takes us to Casablanca STRIPES conference last year. • This is quite different from US, on time—teaching loads, capabilities of my group members materials to understand their where we meet with Moroccan, where the grants are larger but committee work, etc. This is for were and then design the research properties and design new Algerian, and Tunisian women Wed, March 6, 2012 are used mostly for salaries and all scientists—men and women around that. You see, it is true I functional materials—an old idea scientists. After lunch there was a panel tuition waivers. have “holy grails” in my research, but maybe with some new twists. It took me four airplanes in 19 run by Nora Berrah (Algerian born • Tuition is free in North Africa— but I would be happy working on This will be exciting to work out— hours, plus an hour taxi ride from and raised and now at Western but the sources to pay the almost any problem—maybe that the diversity in laboratories, and the airport to the hotel, to get Michigan—I know her well from students are low. Many students is one of my problems: that I can even backgrounds, will give us new here—AOK because that is just BESAC) with two women each live at home, and their entire scatter shot so easily—but any tacks for approaching these old what I do (... my name is Laura from Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, subsidy goes to commuting and unanswered question in science can problems. n Greene and I’m a travelaholic...). and the US. be absolutely fascinating to me. I

The taxi ride from the airport to Sue Clark, a just wanted to work with some of COACh is a grass-roots organization Casablanca was simple and easy, chemist from the other women—particularly the that promotes the number and but entering the city all is changed. Washington North African ones. success of women in science. There appears to be no traffic State, and I My breakout group consisted of iCOACh workshops are designed signals and making turns is quite were the US Janet Tate, an old friend who is at to build scientific and engineering leadership abilitities among women an ordeal in ruling the road. Brake panelists. We Oregon State but born and raised scientists in developing nations and screeches and horns’ blaring fill compared and in South Africa, Leila Adane from to catalyze and sustain scientific the audible spectrum. It actually contrasted Algeria, who was also an organizer collaborations and networks among did not seem unfriendly—just that funding, of this workshop and a University women across international and kind of driving was one of the local career paths, Professor at USTHB, Nadia Saoula, cultural boundaries. Greene’s next iCOACh meeting will sports. It reminded me of the traffic roadblocks who is in a National Laboratory be on June 23, in Bali, Indonesia, as in Naples; just more crowded and to science in in Algeria (DCTA), and Sonia part the Kavli Indonesia Frontiers in Professor Laura Greene has a monkey on Science workshops. Read more: somewhat more aggressive… general, and her back (and another on her arm) during a Haddad, the theorist from Tunisia. Tonight, we all met and had roadblocks to group excursion to Marakesh. We shared our ideas and found http://coach.uoregon.edu/coach/ 24 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 25 Column

Musings of an ESB Lounge Lizard either form do we have in store as a result of the mere few-degree a disordered rise from global warming? Professor Smitha Vishveshwara shares her inspiration and perspective—on life, physics, the universe—from her insulator in But for the most part, I have celebrated observing vantage point as a theoretical condensed matter physicist (housed in ESB, the Engineering Sciences Building). which atoms the rhapsody of splendid out-of-equilibrium events are stuck at found in nature, especially while swimming content m lattice sites, in the briny sea water, feeling gentle surges of waves, Life Out-of-Equilibriu or an ordered hearing cries of gulls and watching shifting clouds in n the deep cosmos, galaxies collide, stars explode, followed a fancy out-of-equilibrium trajectory as superfluid the bright sky, the occasional surfer balancing and then gaseous nebulae swirl. On Earth, at high tide, white it cooled below a critical temperature, as per one where pirouetting in the air, or the effusive spray created by surf crashes against dark rocks. A rift in tectonic description. The ensuing scenario, known as the they cruise playful harbor seals. Iplates sets off a cascade of geological events. The stock Kibble–Zurek mechanism, concerns shifting between around the In all this, there is the biggest miracle on earth, life market fluctuates. A prayer gong resounds. A lone two different phases of matter by tuning some entire lattice. itself. In the filmKoyanisqaatsi (meaning “Life Out of anemone makes its way to shore. And so, a system parameter across a critical point that separates these Above: Shadow images are taken of ultra-cold Hovering Balance,” or “Equilibrium,” in the Hopi language), one gases. Below: Two images of nano-Kelvin gas; tipped out of equilibrium phases. gas in left image is quenched but does not cross in near- witnesses scenes of changing light over desertscapes, dynamically evolves from For instance, in iron, these two phases would be i) a quantum phase transition; gas in right image vacuum and humanity, traffic racing at a frenzied pace, mushroom is quenched through a phase transition; the one state to the next. a ferromagnet at low temperatures, where each of the topological excitations are vortices produced as manipulated clouds, the thematic deep-throated chanting, the We all have an intuitive little magnetic moments in individual iron atoms order part of the quantum Kibble–Zurek mechanism. with camera halting on the smile of a child. Image courtesy of Professor Brian DeMarco understanding of themselves to point in the same direction and create tremendous More fundamentally, Nigel Goldenfeld in our equilibrium, of balance. a giant magnet; and upon heating above a critical control, these trapped gases occupy one of the coldest department and the revolutionary scientist, Carl In the language of physics, temperature, ii) a paramagnet, in which the moments spots in our cosmos and form isolated, malleable mini- Woese, who passed away last year, have envisioned a system in equilibrium are in a disordered state, pointing every which way, universes in themselves—right in DeMarco’s lab on the evolution and the associated manner in which the exists in a steady state, and the piece of iron shows no net magnetization. third floor of Loomis. genetic code morphs across generations as a collective devoid of any external Now if one started in the disordered phase and On our own planet, while the transformations far-from-equilibrium process. Adorned by the forces acting on it. dynamically changed this drifting across its largely emerald-blue surface colorful, gigantic sculptures of Darwin’s Playground, Generally, unlike a pencil parameter beyond the primarily follow the steady rhythm of its voyage the Institute for Genomic Biology on Gregory Drive precariously balancing on its tip, we think of stable critical point (cooling around the Sun, they are also punctuated by explores related questions on the emergence of life. equilibria, where the system is at a minimum point below the critical cataclysmic events stemming from within. Among Finally, in one’s individual life, as we know too in some energy landscape, and a slight nudge results temperature in the case folks in the department who study these geological well, from conception to death, each of us undergoes only in dynamically bringing it back to this point. of the universe and with phenomena, Richard Weaver finds that rocks, because constant flux between creation, growth and demise, at While understanding complex systems in magnets), globules of of their complex internal structure, show fascinating best resting now and then in a temporary, shifting equilibrium is an exciting and vast study in itself, in order would emerge transient long-term behavior due to shock, or even equilibrium. Kibble–Zurek physics: Order (light) the past few years, I have begun to learn from my emerges from disorder (dark), in different regions, to variations in the environment. Karin Dahmen has For me, the colleagues and marvel at the multitudes of ways in creating defects (dot). grow, and create global shown that “the Earth responds to the slow strains past months of which the dynamics of systems taken far from their Doodle by the Lounge Lizard order, save for places imposed by continental drift through a series of sabbatical travel equilibrium point can play out. It could result from a where these regions would meet to form fascinating earthquakes.” These avalanches traverse a slew of from Illinois have violent jolt, as in an earthquake. It could just be that structures known as defects. metastable states to cause earthquakes that span gone through the system is so complex, as with glass, it becomes Does this scenario account for features of our several magnitudes and produce “crackling noise,” metastable states trapped in a series of states that are stable only locally cosmos? Are we ourselves defects of some sort? We similar to that found in magnets or crunchy cereal between several (metastability) and never reaches true equilibrium. may not have a large enough Petri dish to contain (breakfast has become a different experience after homes, allowing Or perhaps it is a change the universe and to repeat the experiment. But the Karin’s demonstration of pouring milk into a bowl of me in spurts to sit in environment that same scenario can be studied in solid state systems, Rice Crispies and then holding a microphone over it). in my hometown seeds the formation for example, by cooling a material through a critical Over my travels of the past months between the in India at the of exquisite patterns, temperature at which it becomes a superconductor. Pacific shores by the San Andreas fault and those desk where my as in the emergence Several of us have been exploring this scenario in of the Indian Ocean, I encountered those who have grandfather once of glistening six-fold different guises, currently with renewed verve in the personally experienced the disaster of meteorological wrote plays and symmetric snowflakes on context of cold trapped atomic gases. As a fascinating phenomena thrown out of balance, from Hurricane have the joy of a wintery eve. manifestation, Brian DeMarco’s group has pioneered Sandy on the east coast to Cyclone Neelam in Chennai, drafting this Even the universe, observing Kibble–Zurek physics in a quantum system which also experienced remnants of the devastating first column Metastability: being trapped in for our beloved An earthquake fissure caused by the local energy minima. after the big bang of trapped rubidium atoms. Here, the atoms inhabit an Asian tsunami last year. It makes one wonder, forget sudden shifting of tectonic plates below. Doodle by the Lounge Lizard exploded it into being, “optical lattice” created by interfering laser beams and drastic changing of ambient temperature, what havoc department. n 26 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 27 Department of Interior designated Gammie said this is the Historic U. of I. Observatory to be restored the observatory a National Historic first of several phases required Landmark. to complete the renovation After ridding the building of of the University of Illinois mold and mildew in Fall 2012 Observatory, and future and repointing the external wall phases are still in the planning masonry, the first priority in and fundraising stages. the renovation was to repair the “The building is decaying,” primary telescope. The $54,000 he said. “There are leaks in the restoration is being completed roof plus drainage problems by Ray Museum Studios in in surrounding tiles. The Swarthmore, PA; the telescope viewing balcony collects water, was disassembled and removed because it slopes inward. There mid-May, with all work due to be has been damage to storage finished by August 2013 in time for closets and problems with start of the fall semester. mold and mildew. The poor The company will make condition the facility is in mechanical repairs to gears and today is the result of deferred motors to reduce wobble and will maintenance.” restore the steel telescope tube, the “We started with a survey mount, and the brick pier on which through a U. of I. architecture it all sits (the pier is separate from class on historic preservation, The University of Illinois Observatory circa 1897, before campus buildings (and their associated light interference) grew to surround it. the building’s foundation, to reduce taught by Paul Kapp. The Photo courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives (image 2707.tif) vibration). students did a survey and drew rected in 1896 and home Observatory and supported by photometer they had rigged to the Gammie said the restoration will up plans for the renovation. to the Department of the U. of I. Chancellor’s Fund for observatory’s 12-inch Brashear not upgrade the telescope, though They had some really cool Astronomy until 1979, the Excellence, the facility is getting a refractor telescope. that could have been done at about ideas, but of course, money EUniversity of Illinois Observatory well-deserved and much-needed This pioneering work in the same cost: “We are sticking with was no constraint—one student has not been used for research renovation, to preserve both the photometry opened new a refractive lens: it’s a beautiful old even included an underground Above: The observatory’s original 12-inch Brashear refractor telescope prior to since the 1960s, but remains an telescope and the building that possibilities for study, and Stebbins instrument that was used in the planetarium. But most of the disassembly and removal important teaching facility. Since houses it for future generations. published numerous research experiments that gave the building plans included restoration and Below: The exterior of the 117-year-old observatory today looks much the same it first opened its eye 117 years Professor Charles Gammie, articles on his applications of the its status.” improvements to the room on the as when it was first erected, but for some ago, a great number of University head of the astronomy department, new technology. In the following The original two-piece lens is east side of the building, converting telltale signs of age. of Illinois students have used the said maintaining the integrity years, Stebbins worked with physics being stored on campus, to avoid it to a classroom.” facility for observational work in and functionality of the facility professors Jakob Kunz and W.F. damage. “At this point, we are about their astronomy classes—currently is important, especially given the Schulz, who had developed a But the telescope will be fitted $60,000 into a $3- to more than 1,000 per year. observatory’s illustrious history. photoelectric cell photometer to with a few modern improvements, $5-million campaign,” said The facility, which houses In the early part of the 20th obtain even more accurate relative including a new data port that will Gammie. “Our alumni are a historic U. of I. instrument century, the field of astronomy was brightness measurements. make it easier to transfer photos excited, the Friends are very collection from the 1930s and 40s, revolutionized by technological Today, these innovations taken through the telescope to a supportive, and the UIAS is is also frequently used for public advancements developed at the U. continue to be recognized computer, and a mount for solar also very supportive.” n outreach: The University of Illinois of I. In the summer of 1907, for as significant and lasting telescopes or other accessories. Astronomical Society (UIAS) hosts the first time in history, University contributions to the field of Small cameras will also be installed Learn more about the free monthly open houses. Trained of Illinois Observatory Director astronomy. In fact, they are what to help position the telescope with Friends of the University of members of the UIAS have keys to Joel Stebbins and Professor of give the 117-year-old University more precision, and bulbs will be Illinois Observatory and replaced with longer-lasting LED take a virtual tour at http:// the facility and are allowed to use Physics Fay C. Brown used electric of Illinois Observatory its status. www.astro.uiuc.edu/friends/ the facility when it is closed. current to measure astronomical The observatory was listed on lights. fuio/. Visit the University of Now, thanks to fundraising brightness, taking a measurement the National Register of Historic The company will also paint the Illinois Astronomical Society efforts initiated by the Friends of the moon’s brightness during a Places on November 6, 1986, and telescope, to restore its original website at http://uias.astro. of the University of Illinois lunar eclipse with a selenium cell on December 20, 1989, the U.S. appearance. illinois.edu/. 28 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 29 Faculty highlights Faculty highlights Fradkin elected to National Academy of Sciences Ha selected for Gutgsell Professorship

connected to each other and are entanglement at quantum critical as different as a liquid is from a points. gas. This result remains one of the Fradkin received his Licenciado cornerstones of our understanding (master’s) degree in physics from of the phases of gauge theories and Universidad de Buenos Aires represents a lasting contribution to (Argentina) and his doctoral degree rofessor of Physics Taekjip agenda for campus initiatives to elementary particle physics. in physics from Stanford University Ha has been appointed an understand how life evolves from Fradkin was one of the first in 1979. He came to the University Edward William and Jane and is controlled by fundamental theorists to use gauge theory of Illinois in 1979 as a postdoctoral PMarr Gutgsell Endowed Professor, biological processes.” By Celia Elliott concepts in the theory of spin research associate and became an one of the highest distinctions Ha received his doctoral degree glasses and to use concepts of assistant professor of physics at conferred by the University of in physics in 1996 from the chaos and non-linear systems in Illinois in 1981. He was promoted Illinois on distinguished faculty University of California, Berkeley. equilibrium statistical mechanics to associate professor in 1984, and members for achievements in Prior to joining the Department of frustrated systems. Fradkin also became a full professor in 1989. research, teaching, and service that of Physics at the University of he National Academy of pioneered the use of Dirac fermions Fradkin is a fellow of the represent significant contributions Illinois in August 2000, he was a Sciences has elected to for condensed matter physics American Academy of Arts and within their respective fields. postdoctoral fellow at Lawrence membership Professor problems, particularly in two space Sciences, a Simon Guggenheim Ha has established a large, molecules; and the first detection Berkeley National Laboratory TEduardo H. Fradkin, director dimensions. A prime example is his Foundation fellow, and a fellow of successful research group at of enzyme conformational changes (1997) and a postdoctoral research of the Institute for Condensed work on Dirac fermions on random the American Physical Society. Illinois, with collaborations both via smFRET. His work using associate in Steven Chu’s laboratory Matter Physics, for his seminal fields, which is now regarded as the within physics and across campus. single-molecule measurements in the Department of Physics at contributions to theoretical universality class of the transition About the National Academy In addition to physics, he holds to understand protein-DNA Stanford University (1998–2000). condensed matter physics. Joining between quantum Hall plateaus in of Sciences appointments as professor in interactions and helicase enzyme Ha is a Fellow of the American Fradkin in the 2013 class is U. the integer Hall effect. This work Established by President the Center for Biophysics and dynamics has led him to develop Physical Society and the recipient of I. Professor of Chemistry and is important for the description of Lincoln in 1863, the National Computational Biology and as novel optical techniques, fluid- of many honors. Among these, he of Physics Martin Gruebele and quasiparticles in disordered d-wave Academy of Sciences of the a theme leader at the Institute handling systems, and surface was named Searle Scholar in 2001, Professor of Chemistry Sharon superconductors and in the recently United States is charged with for Genomic Biology. He is an preparations that have advanced his was named an investigator of the Hammes-Schiffer. discovered topological insulator providing independent, objective affiliate of theBeckman Institute, field. Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fradkin is internationally materials. advice to the nation on matters the Department of Medical Head of Department and in 2005, was selected for the recognized for ground-breaking A major achievement has been related to science and technology. Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Professor Dale Van Harlingen said, Michael and Kate Bárány Award of work at the interface between the development of the fermion Scientists are elected by their and the Department of Chemistry. “We are delighted to see Taekjip the Biophysical Society in 2007, and quantum field theory and Chern–Simons field theory of the peers to membership in the NAS He is co-director of the Center receive this significant recognition was named a University Scholar at condensed matter physics. He fractional quantum Hall effect, for outstanding contributions to for the Physics of Living Cells, a from the campus. Since he came the University of Illinois in 2009. In pioneered the use of concepts from which has played a central role in research. The NAS is committed Physics Frontiers Center funded by here, he has been a pioneer in 2011, Ha was awarded the Ho-Am condensed matter physics and the current research effort in this to furthering science in the United the National Science Foundation. single-molecule imaging studies Prize in Science by the Ho-Am statistical physics, such as order exciting problem. Fradkin has States, and its members are active Ha has achieved many firsts of DNA, RNA, and the helicase Foundation of Korea. parameters and phase diagrams, to also recently developed a theory contributors to the international in experimental biological enzymes. His work has always The Edward William and problems of quantum field theory of electronic liquid crystal phases scientific community. physics—the first detection of been innovative, pushing the Jane Marr Gutgsell Endowed and high energy physics. in strongly correlated systems and Membership is a mark of dipole-dipole interaction (single boundaries of biological physics Professorships were established Perhaps his most important formulated a mechanism of high- excellence in science and is molecule fluorescence resonance and enabling new questions to be in 1998 and are funded through contribution in this area was the temperature superconductivity considered one of the highest energy transfer, or smFRET); the posed and answered. Many of the a gift to the University by the late proof that when matter fields carry based on this new concept. He honors that a scientist can receive. first observation of “quantum techniques he has developed are Edward William Gutgsell and Jane the fundamental unit of charge, is also a leader in the theory of A total of 84 new members and 21 jumps” of single molecules at now in use in labs the world over, Marr Gutgsell. The professorships the Higgs and confinement phases topological phases in condensed foreign associates from 14 countries room temperature; the first and his interdisciplinary research are five-year renewable-term of gauge theories are smoothly matter and on the role of quantum were elected this year. n detection of the rotation of single with HHMI and IGB is setting the appointments. n 30 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 31 Faculty highlights Faculty highlights acquisition systems within the Pennsylvania in 2001. He went on Nadya Mason and Mark Neubauer win project’s distributed computing to work as a postdoctoral research environment and was a major associate at the Massachusetts Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research player in the University of Illinois’ Institute of Technology in 2001 and ssociate Professor Nadya Mason and Assistant Professor Mark Neubauer have received the College becoming the first US University then at the University of California, of Engineering’s prestigious 2013 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research, in recognition of the to become a Tier-3 data analysis San Diego in 2004. Neubauer outstanding research contributions each has made. center. joined the Illinois faculty in 2007. ADepartment Head and Professor Dale Van Harlingen said both recipients are more than deserving of the Recently, Neubauer built the first “This past year has been the recognition: “Nadya has greatly distinguished herself as a leading-edge experimentalist in complex materials, prototype of a fully grid-capable most exciting time that I have superconductivity, and nanotechnology. In true Urbana style, she maintains a close rapport with theorists to computing cluster, a powerful tool encountered in particle physics make swift headway on some of the most persistent unsolved problems in transport in low-dimensional systems for big-data high-energy physics research,” commented Neubauer. at the quantum limit. nationally and internationally. “The discovery of a Higgs boson “Mark equally exemplifies our highest standards of scholarship, creativity, and leadership. He is a talented Last year, in collaboration with and measurement of its properties high-energy experimentalist who has made singular contributions to the ATLAS collaboration at the Large Professor Mark Neubauer colleagues at the University of is one of the great achievements of Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, participating last July in the big announcement of compelling evidence Chicago and Indiana University, human scientific inquiry. To play a for the discovery of a Higgs boson. With his extraordinary experimental skills and vision and his remarkable As a member of the ATLAS Neubauer helped to create a Tier-2 role in this achievement and receive productivity, Mark is making trailblazing contributions to experimental high-energy physics and to petascale collaboration at LHC, Neubauer Midwest Center for ATLAS. the Dean’s Research Award from distributed computing here at Illinois and internationally.” played a leadership role in the Neubauer is the recipient of the College for my research in this design and implementation of a several honors, including a National area are great honors for me. As hold promise for applications in University in 1995 and her PhD in fast track-finder upgrade of the Science Foundation CAREER is often the case with important superconductivity and quantum physics from Stanford University in ATLAS trigger, the instrument Award (2011), an appointment as a scientific discoveries, this one computing. Mason’s work has direct 2001. She then returned to Harvard that detects and records events of Center for Advanced Study Fellow answers some long-standing bearing on our understanding for a postdoctoral fellowship and physics interest within the project’s (2012/13) and as an NCSA Faculty questions but also raises many new of electronic transport in these was in short order elected a Junior multi-petabyte data stream. Fellow (2008/09), and an Arnold O. ones. It will be an exciting time materials, which is essential for Fellow in the Harvard Society of Through his collaboration with Beckman Research Award (2007). over the next decade to study the the design of nanoscale circuit Fellows. She joined the Physics colleagues at the National Center Neubauer received his bachelor’s properties of this newly discovered elements, an emerging area of Illinois faculty in 2005. She is for Supercomputing Applications degree in physics from Kutztown particle in detail and search for study. currently serving as the Chair of (NCSA), Neubauer was also University in 1994 and his PhD other new phenomena.” n Mason has received numerous the Facilities Committee for MRL instrumental in establishing data in physics from the University of awards for her work, including and as as one of the theme leaders the Maria Goeppert Mayer for the DOE Basic Energy Sciences Award of the American Physical cluster on quantum materials and DeMarco named Willett Scholar Professor Nadya Mason Society (2012), the Denice nanoarchitectures. Denton Emerging Leader Award Mason said she is very honored rofessor Brian DeMarco activation of phase slips in an ason is a principal of the Anita Borg Institute by this recognition: “I feel lucky was one of eight College of optical lattice (published in Nature) investigator in the (2009), a Woodrow Wilson to be working on topics that are Engineering faculty members and the first to realize 3D Anderson Frederick Seitz Materials Career Enhancement Fellowship interesting and fun to think about. Pto be named a Donald Biggar localization of matter (published MResearch Laboratory. Mason’s (2008/09), a National Science And most importantly, I’m grateful Willett Scholar for 2013. in Science). DeMarco’s group was list of publications in peer- Foundation CAREER Award to my students for their hard work, DeMarco’s research focuses on also the first to trap atoms in a reviewed journals attests to her (2007), and her appointment as a and also to my great collaborators solving outstanding problems in disordered optical lattice in a seminal research contributions to Center for Advanced Study Fellow in the college and the department.” condensed matter physics using regime described by the disordered experimental condensed matter (2011/12) at the University of eubauer is an experimental ultra-cold atoms trapped in an Bose–Hubbard model. physics and has established her Illinois. She was one of 122 young physicist whose research optical lattice. DeMarco is the recipient of an as an international leader in the scientists selected to take part in spans diverse topics in the Current research problems being NSF CAREER award, an ONR physics and electronic properties the National Academy of Sciences’ Nstudy of elementary particles and tackled by his team include the Young Investigator award, a Sloan of carbon nanotubes, graphene, US and Chinese-American Kavli their interactions, with his primary properties of the disordered Bose– Foundation Fellowship, and a and topological insulators. Because Frontiers of Science symposium focus centered on the search for the Hubbard model, thermometry in College of Engineering Dean’s of the low dimensionality of (2011). Higgs boson first at Fermilab’s now strongly correlated lattice systems, DeMarco’s group was the first Award for Excellence in Research.n these systems, they often display Mason received her bachelor’s retired Tevatron collider and more and thermopower in the Hubbard to identify the cross-over between novel electronic properties and degree in physics from Harvard recently at CERN’s LHC. model. quantum tunneling and thermal 32 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 33 Faculty highlights Faculty highlights Philip Phillips elected Fellow of AAAS Klaus Schulten awarded Biophysical Society’s Distinguished Service Award wanlund Professor of Physics for scientific discoveries as well as Klaus Schulten was awarded for groundbreaking simulations, the Biophysical Society’s such as visualizing the gating S2013 Distinguished Service Award mechanism involved in generating for “laying the groundwork for and controlling nerve cell signals the realistic molecular dynamic and the first-ever simulation of an simulations of biological entire life form, the satellite tobacco macromolecules on time scales mosaic virus. rofessor Philip Phillips of Washington in 1982. After a that match the physiological realm, The Biophysical Society is a was elected a Fellow of Miller Postdoctoral Fellowship and for making the methods and professional, scientific society the American Association at Berkeley, he joined the faculty software openly available.” established to encourage Pfor the Advancement of Science of the Department of Chemistry Schulten heads the Theoretical development and dissemination of (AAAS) for “distinguished at Massachusetts Institute of and Computational Biophysics knowledge in biophysics with more unprecedented insight into contributions to theoretical Technology (1984–1993). Phillips’s Group (TCBG) at the Beckman than 9,000 members worldwide in biological structures and condensed matter physics, research interests led him to the Institute for Advanced Science colleges, universities, laboratories, processes. including the developments of Department of Physics at the and Technology. Under Schulten’s government agencies, and industry. Two programs developed by the random dimer model and the University of Illinois in 1993. direction, TCBG has been The Distinguished Service Award Schulten and his group, VMD and concept of ‘Mottness.’” Phillips is a Fellow of the an innovator for more than is given to those who have “made NAMD, have more than 200,000 Phillips is a theoretical American Physical Society and two decades in developing an exceptional contribution to registered users worldwide. condensed matter physicist served the society as general software for molecular scale, the field of biophysics and in its Schulten has used the software whose leading-edge research “This is a well-deserved honor for councilor during the 1999/2000 dynamic simulations that give advancement outside of research.”n on high-temperature cuprate Philip and significant recognition academic year. He is the recipient superconductors focuses on for our condensed matter physics of many honors; among these, explaining current experimental group. Philip has distinguished he received the Senior Xerox Beck, JSA’s Outstanding Nuclear Physicist observations that challenge the himself as one of the most creative Faculty Award of the College of the study of nucleon and nuclear Beck is the recipient of many standard paradigms of electron theorists in the area of strongly Engineering in 1998, was named structure, and precision studies of honors: he was named a Sloan transport and magnetism. Phillips correlated electronic materials, a Beckman Associate at the the standard model. Foundation Research Fellow applies geometry and quantum field especially via his pioneering Center for Advanced Study for the “This award to Doug Beck in 1991, was an NSF Young theory to disordered and strongly work elucidating the concept of 1998–1999 academic year, was the and Paul Souder recognizes two Investigator from 1992–97, was correlated low-dimensional systems Mottness in these systems. He is Edward A. Bouchet Lecturer of outstanding nuclear physicists for elected Fellow of the American to understand the properties of leading our ambitious efforts to the American Physical Society in leading distinctive and incisive Physical Society in 2002, was these materials. understand the mechanism of the 2000, was selected as a University physics programs at Jefferson Lab,” named a University Scholar from Phillips’s work has earned him an high-temperature superconductors Scholar at the University of Illinois said JSA President and Jefferson 2001–03, and received the Arnold international reputation. He is the and to design new superconductors in 2004, and was named Bliss Lab Director, Hugh Montgomery. T. Nordsieck Award for Excellence inventor of various models for Bose with even higher transition Faculty Scholar by the College of “Both Doug and Paul have also in Teaching in 2007. He is the metals, of the term “Mottness,” and temperatures. He has been Engineering in 2005. been enormously supportive of the Chair of the Brookhaven National of the random dimer model, which particularly effective at bringing Founded in 1848, AAAS is the entire Jefferson Lab enterprise.” Lab Nuclear and Particle Physics exhibits extended states in one concepts to bear on this problem world’s largest general scientific efferson Science Associates, Beck was the spokesperson for Advisory Committee and a current dimension, thereby representing an from high-energy physics and society. Election as a Fellow is an LLC, selected Professor Douglas a collaboration of more than 100 member of the APS Division exception to Anderson’s localization string theory, moving the field into honor bestowed upon members Beck for the 2013 Outstanding researchers for the Jefferson Lab’s of Nuclear Physics Executive theorem. He is the author of the previously unexplored territory.” by their peers in recognition of JNuclear Physicist Award; he shares G0 electron scattering parity- Committee. comprehensive textbook Advanced Phillips earned his bachelor’s meritorious efforts to advance the award with Paul Souder of violation experiment. Beck led the Jefferson Lab is a world-leading Solid State Physics, published by degree in math and chemistry from science or technology. This year’s Syracuse University. The recipients team that developed the toroidal nuclear physics research laboratory the Cambridge University Press. Walla Walla College in 1979, and fellows were recognized during the were selected for leadership in the spectrometer for G0, overseeing managed and operated by Jefferson Head of Department and his doctoral degree in theoretical AAAS annual meeting in Boston in development of parity-violating its design, testing, installation, and Science Associates for the US Professor Dale Van Harlingen said, chemistry from the University February. n electron scattering as a tool for commissioning at Jefferson Lab. Department of Energy. n 34 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 35 Faculty highlights Faculty/Staff Highlights Errede selected for Ryu wins Condensed Matter Science Prize 2013 Nordsieck Physics Award for Teaching ssistant Professor Shinsei degrees in applied physics from Ryu was selected for the University of Tokyo. In 2001, Excellence Japan’s 7th Condensed he received the Tanaka Shoji Prize AMatter Science Prize for his (master’s thesis prize) from the development of a “periodic table” Department of Applied Physics at for the classification of topological the University of Tokyo. He was phases of matter in three spatial awarded a research fellowship dimensions. Ryu made use of by the Japan Society for the Anderson localization theory of Promotionof Science (2002/03). disordered electron systems and The Condensed Matter Science the methods of quantum field Prize, established in 2006, is aimed rofessor Steven Errede has I rediscovered the joy of playing Dale Van Harlingen said Errede’s theory to categorize known and at encouraging young researchers been selected to receive the music again, but I also laughed at initiative, creativity, and hard work theoretical topological materials for in condensed matter physics. It was Arnold T. Nordsiek Physics myself when I realized that about have turned his passion for music a given set of symmetry properties electronic states and topological privately endowed by Professors PAward for Teaching Excellence half the time, I was instead trying into unique learning opportunities (such as time-reversal, particle- superconductors. Jun Akimitsu of the Aoyama for the 2012/13 academic year, to measure things to figure out why for students: hole, and chiral symmetries). His Ryu received his bachelor’s Gakuin University and Hidetoshi for “creating innovative, engaging or how the musical instruments I “Errede is using music to schematic has proven invaluable in degree (2000) in physics and his Fukuyama of the Tokyo University instructional laboratories in was playing made the sounds that introduce students to rigorous systematizing the search for new master’s (2002) and doctoral (2005) of Science. n acoustics and the physics of musical they did. It was impossible to shut experimental physics. I speak for instruments for beginning and off the physicist. I was having so every member of the faculty when advanced undergraduate students.” much fun myself doing this, that I say that we are immensely proud Elliott selected for Errede has developed I thought that this might be a fun of his work and deeply grateful to undergraduate courses, class to teach. After a decade of have him as a colleague.” Excellence in Teaching Award undergraduate research teaching these two POM courses— The Nordsiek Award is made opportunities, and pubic outreach incorporating into them all of what possible by a memorial endowment irector of External Affairs senior-thesis course sequence programs that allow music lovers we have learned along the way— from the family of distinguished and Special Projects and into one of the most popular to explore the acoustical physics of they are a total joy for me to teach.” Professor Arnold T. Nordsiek teacher of several courses and effective programs in our music (POM). Errede admits, “I shamelessly use (1911–1971), a theorist in the Dat Physics Illinois, Celia Elliott curriculum.” In addition to teaching a the fact that all humans love music mathematics of computation at has been selected as the second Known also among her freshman discovery course, as a ‘hook’ to get students excited Illinois from 1947 to 1961. recipient of the Doug and Judy colleagues for her exacting Physics 193, and an upper-level about the science underlying music Among his many contributions, Davis Award for Excellence in standards in everything to do undergraduate course, Physics 406, and musical instruments. All of Nordsieck built the first computer Teaching Undergraduate Physics. with the written word, Elliott on the acoustical physics of musical the course material in the more to be used at Lawrence Livermore Department Head and Professor has exceptional skills in grant instruments, Errede has provided a technical upper-level POM course National Laboratory, the differential Dale Van Harlingen said Elliott has writing, on which subject she has significant number of students with is eminently applicable—with analyzer. This innovative analog been an asset to teaching faculty authored two books in Russian independent-study opportunities appropriate modifications—to computer was assembled in Urbana and students alike. and is a sought-after speaker and in the physics of music. The seeds other physics courses.” in 1950 from $700 worth of surplus “No one in our department consultant. for these offerings were planted in Errede said it was his own World War II supplies and is today is more deserving of this award Elliott is recipient of the the summer of 1996, when Errede “immensely beneficial” research on display at the Computer History than Celia for her many years of U. of I. Office of Public Affairs’s got back in to playing music after a experience as an undergraduate Museum in Mountain View, commitment to our educational ACME “Team Player” Award, Professional Award, 2002. hiatus of about 25 years: that sealed his enduring personal California. mission, helping faculty, staff, and 2010, the Civilian Research The Davis Award was created “I spent much time during commitment to providing high- Errede dedicates the award to his students at all levels,” said Van and Development Foundation and funded by Doug and Judy my childhood and teenage years quality undergraduate research parents and all of the exceptional Harlingen. “We particularly want Recognition Medal, 2005, the Davis to recognize faculty or playing classical violin and piano, experiences for Physics Illinois teachers (K–grad) who had a hand to recognize the extraordinary Physics Haiku Grand Champion, staff members who truly enhance then playing in various rock ’n roll students. in his own education. n contributions she has made and American Physical Society, 2004, undergraduate education at Physics and blues bands. That summer, Department Head and Professor continues to make to develop our and the Chancellor’s Academic Illinois. n 36 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 37 Alumni highlights many accomplishments.” “Once I realized the importance, Since there was not enough Drell said it is a responsibility I felt that it was an important call housing to accommodate the great of the scientific and technical to try to help in the areas of arms throngs of young scholars, Drell community to participate in the control and technologies related and his 299 roommates made the political dialogue with respect to to national defense. So that is how most of makeshift arrangements for applications of new technologies my life bifurcated into two parts, well over a year. for national defense or military basic research—the subject I loved “I have very fond memories of intelligence. best—and the opportunity to work the University of Illinois. Getting “Many scientists have felt this on national technical issues to a bed to sleep in was the hardest responsibility, and it’s been a great help us decide, based on what we part,” Drell remembers. “The first asset to our nation,” said Drell. “The were learning was the threat and 15 months of my life there were scientific and technical community what was the good science that we spent in half of a double-decker is creating innovations that affect could do, how to prevent a second bunk in a basketball court in the the conditions of life. There are holocaust.” Men’s Old Gym. To get a bed wasn’t great advances, as with medical easy, and I felt quite fortunate that technologies, but “Sid is a magnificent human being, a great scientist, I got a bed. Of there are also and a great patriot, who has made enormous course, when you’re young, dangers that come contributions to nuclear arms control.” with it. How do we these things best apply this for peace and for the Drell at Illinois don’t matter.” good of people?” Drell earned his master’s degree The rough accommodations Drell said as a young professor, and doctorate in physics from the notwithstanding, Drell describes he had imagined his career would University of Illinois at Urbana- his time at Illinois as four of the center on academics, but colleagues Champaign in 1947 and 1949, greatest years of his life. Drell said encouraged him also to contribute respectively. he enjoyed the rich culture that had Photo courtesy of the White House more broadly to issues of national After earning his bachelor’s grown up around the university. security. He in turn has encouraged degree from Princeton in Drell said he felt privileged to Physics Illinois alumnus Sidney Drell his own students to be mindful 1946, Drell set his sights on the play in the university orchestra of how new technologies will be Department of Physics in Urbana under guest conductors Igor receives National Medal of Science applied in the best interests of the for his graduate studies. He very Stravinsky and Aaron Copland. nation. nearly took the long way to campus. And it was during his time at the rms control expert Sidney and security and intelligence, matters. Since the 1960s, Drell Since the 1960s, Drell has been Drell, who had never traveled U. of I. that he met his wife, Harriet Drell, a theoretical high- and distinguised contributions has served on numerous advisory a key voice against nuclear arms west of the Delaware River, had Drell, who earned her master’s energy particle physicist as an advisor to the United States panels to Congress, the Department proliferation, and he helped to inadvertently booked a train ticket degree in German languages and Aand Physics Illinois alumnus, Government.” of Defense, the Department of develop the verification methods to Urbana, Ohio. A couple of weeks literature from the U. of I. in 1950. was awarded the nation’s highest “I am proud to honor these Energy, and the Central Intelligence for the world’s first nuclear arms later—before boarding the train— “Urbana was an exciting town. scientific prize in a ceremony at the inspiring American innovators,” Agency. He is currently a professor control treaty, among many other he noticed and corrected the error. The university created a fantastic White House on February 1, 2013. said President Obama. “They emeritus of physics at the Stanford important contributions. When he arrived at campus in culture,” he said. President Barack Obama presented represent the ingenuity and Linear Accelerator Center, having “I thought this would be the total 1946, it was teeming with new Drell grew to be fast friends with Drell and 11 other eminent imagination that has long made retired as its deputy director in focus of my life, the realization of a students, many of whom were two other young physicsts who researchers with the National this nation great—and they remind 1998, and is a senior fellow at dream to be a high-energy particle veterans who had taken advantage would become lifelong colleagues, Medal of Science; at the same us of the enormous impact a few Stanford’s Hoover Institution. physicist: to understand what of the educational benefits offered Charles Slichter and John Blair. ceremony, 11 inventors received the good ideas can have when these Longtime friend and colleague energy is made of, what are the under the 1944 G.I. Bill. Slichter remembers: “We were three National Medal of Technology and creative qualities are unleashed in Illinois physicist Charles Slichter building blocks of matter, and what “It was exciting—the G.I. Bill bachelors, though Sid and John had Innovation. an entrepreneurial environment.” said, “Sid is a magnificent human are the forces that bind them,” said was a great piece of legislation girlfriends at the time whom they Drell’s citation reads: “for Drell is a longstanding and still being, a great scientist, and a great Drell. “But I also had to realize how that brought millions to a college eventually married. The three of us contributions to quantum active member of JASON, an elite patriot, who has made enormous to deal with the potential nightmare education. The campuses in the were very good friends and we did field theory and quantum group of scientists that advises contributions to nuclear arms of a nuclear holocaust. In the 1960s, country were buzzing like they’d everything together. We went to chromodynamics, application of the government on technical and control. He deserves the National the world situation was one of great never buzzed before. They were all the football games, and at that science to inform national policies highly classified national security Medal of Science for any one of his tu r m oi l .” marvelous times,” said Drell. time, you couldn’t have alcoholic 38 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 39 Alumni highlights

Brand new faculty member Charlie Slichter, graduate student John Blair, and Sid Drell on the Quad on their way back from a U. of I. football game in 1951

Physics Illinois alumnus beverages at the stadium, so we had him. I give him enormous credit for Committee on Intelligence, and to smuggle in liquid refreshments. my achievements.” the Senior Review Board of Sergey Frolov shares “After the game, we would go to Drell has received numerous the Intelligence Community’s one of the pubs on Wright Street, awards, including the Enrico Technology Innovation Center. Newcomb Cleveland Prize and we would check to see which Fermi Award, a fellowship from He is a retired member of the Ivy League team had won that day. the MacArthur Foundation, the Board of Governors for both Since Sid had attended Princeton Heinz Award, the Rumford Medal Lawrence Livermore National as an undergraduate, John had from the American Academy of Security LLC (LLNS) and Los attended Yale, and I had been a Arts and Sciences, the National Alamos National Security LLC Harvard man, whichever team lost, Intelligence Distinguished (LANS), the managing contractors hysics Illinois alumnus In the article, the team presents The team’s results and approach that person would pick up the tab Service Medal, and the National for the Lawrence Livermore and Sergey Frolov, now an their observation of evidence of have generated numerous follow-on that night. I remember Harvard lost Nuclear Security Administration Los Alamos national laboratories. assistant professor of physics Majorana-like states. The long- experiments and work (including quite frequently in those days. Administrator’s Gold Medal of And he served as the founding Pat the University of Pittsburgh, sought Majorana fermion, a one at Physics Illinois; see page 6). “The three of us had a great time Excellence for Distinguished co-director of Stanford’s Center for was selected for the prestigious quasiparticle theorized to be its “We are humbled by the honor together. Sid is a wonderful, warm Service. He was honored by the International Security and Arms 2012 Newcomb Cleveland Prize own antiparticle, had only been of this prize,” said Frolov. “We will human being and he has a great US National Reconnaissance Control. n of the American Association predicted mathematically. The Delft continue exploring the field that sense of humor. He’s a sunbeam Office as one of the “founders of for the Advancement of Science group is the first research team to we started with this paper, and, wherever he is, warm, with a national reconnaissance as a space (AAAS). He shares the award with have found experimental evidence in my new laboratory at Pitt, we’ll magnetic smile. And he’s a brilliant discipline.” Drell was elected to his colleagues at Delft University in support of its existence. use Majorana particles to assemble The National Medal of Science theoretical physicist.” the National Academy of Sciences, was created by statute in 1959 of Technology Vincent Mourik, The team engineered a the building blocks of a quantum Drell said he found a great the American Academy of Arts and is administered for the White Kun Zuo, Sébastien R. Plissard, nanostructure of a superconductor computer.” mentor in Sidney Dancoff, an and Sciences, and the American House by the National Science Erik P. A. M. Bakkers, and Leo P. in contact with a semiconductor The AAAS’s oldest award, Illinois physicist whose career was Philosophical Society and was Foundation. Awarded annually, Kouwenhoven. wire that, when placed in a strong the Newcomb Cleveland Prize, cut short by lymphoma. president of the American Physical the medal recognizes individuals The Newcomb Cleveland Prize is magnetic field, showed several supported by The Fodor Family who have made outstanding “I had an excellent education,” Society in 1986. contributions to science and awarded annually to the author or features consistent with those Trust, was established in 1923 said Drell. “My thesis adviser, Drell has served on the engineering. A committee of authors of an outstanding research predicted for the elusive Majorana with funds donated by Newcomb Sidney Dancoff, was a brilliant President’s Foreign Intelligence Presidential appointees selects article or report published in the state. Cleveland of New York City and young theorist—a student of Advisory Board, the President’s nominees on the basis of their journal Science. Frolov and his The hybrid superconductor- was originally called the AAAS Robert Oppenheimer. I was his Science Advisory Committee, the extraordinary knowledge in colleagues won for their report semiconductor device could allow Thousand Dollar Prize. It is now and contributions to chemistry, only student because he died of Panel on Nuclear Weapons Safety engineering, computing, "Signatures of Majorana Fermions for the manipulation of Majorana known as the AAAS Newcomb cancer the next year. He was a of the House Armed Services mathematics, or the biological, in Hybrid Superconductor- states, which, if verified, could Cleveland Prize, and its value has wonderful person and a brilliant, Committee, the Technology behavioral/social and physical Semiconductor Nanowire Devices," lead to new types of quantum been raised to $25,000. n brilliant scientist. Everyone loved Review Panel of the Senate Select sciences. in the May 25, 2012, issue. computing and other applications. 40 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 41 Alumni highlights minent Physics Illinois Case Western Reserve University in whole scan can be completed in Award in 2008. alumnus William Edelstein Physics Illinois alumnus Cleveland. a few minutes—that’s counting He is a Fellow of the American (BS summa cum laude, 1965) William Edelstein receives Since 2007, Edelstein has everything, including injection of Physical Society, where he served Erevolutionized health care with his held an appointment as visiting contrasts. But with MRI, there are on the executive board for the numerous pioneering contributions Alumni Achievement Award distinguished professor of radiology so many different things we can do, New York State Section from to the technology behind the life- at The Johns Hopkins University so many different kinds of pulse 1990 to 1998, and is a Fellow of saving medical diagnostic tool, for lifetime of pioneering School of Medicine, where he is sequences and image sequencing. the Institute of Physics (UK). He high-resolution MRI. The holder of exploring methods for dramatically Doctors will generally ask for is also a Fellow of the ISMRM, 49 patents, Edelstein is extensively contributions to MRI shortening the duration of MRI several 4- to 5-minute scans that, where he is a charter member and published on the subject; he laid was first being developed and Corporate Research and scans and reducing high-level with adjustments in between, may served on the board of trustees the groundwork for the design of continuing through the period Development Center near acoustic noise. add up to 45 to 60 minutes. My from 1989 to 1992. He currently current and future medical MRI of its widespread application as a Schenectady, NY, as part of a team “The noise is brutally loud— thinking is that there is a lot of serves on the editorial board of apparatuses. diagnostic tool. Today he is still that developed and commercialized often well over 100 decibels,” overlap in what’s going on.” Magnetic Resonance Imaging (since working to refine and improve this MRI for GE Medical Systems. His explained Edelstein. “Right now, Edelstein said the answer to 1991), and Magnetic Resonance important, sometimes lifesaving contributions there allowed GE people have to wear ear defenders, this problem isn’t straightforward, Engineering (since 2001). piece of equipment. Bill is part of a to dominate the commercial MRI which is a problem. It puts people but with advances in technology The Alumni Achievement great legacy in MRI out of Physics industry for many years. In 1991, off and in some cases could possibly and clinical practices over the last Award was established in 1957 to Illinois: Paul Lauterbur and Sir he was named Coolidge Fellow, the pose a danger to their hearing. It’s decades, he believes a solution is on recognize alumni of the University Peter Mansfield, who shared the highest corporate scientific honor also a problem for functional MRI, the horizon. of Illinois who have attained Nobel Prize for inventing MRI, bestowed by GE. where the scan is used to try to find Edelstein has no immediate plans outstanding success and national worked here as professor and Edelstein’s pioneering activity in the brain, but the hearing to retire and plans to continue his or international distinction in their postdoc respectively. And Walter contributions to MRI technology part of the brain is already active. work on MRI as long as he is able chosen business, profession, or life’s Robb, who received this alumni are numerous, from pulse sequence It’s also a problem for functional to do it. work, and whose accomplishments achievement award in 2001, headed optimization, to rf-coil and MRI where a medical procedure is Edelstein has received numerous reflect admirably on or bring honor the team at GE that developed their gradient-coil design, to circuitry performed while imaging. And of honors for his work in MRI, to the institution. It is the highest commercial product.” improvements, high field imaging, course, the doctors have to wear including the Gold Medal Prize honor conferred on Illinois alumni, After completing his bachelor’s acoustic noise reduction, and the ear protection too—it’s really not from the International Society of awarded by the Illinois Alumni degree in physics here at Illinois, NMR phased array. He was part good.” Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Association on behalf of the Edelstein earned his master’s and of the team that produced the first “Our goal is to bring the noise (ISMRM) in 1990, Prize for University. doctoral degrees in physics at high-field head image, and of the down to 70 decibels or less, to a Industrial Applications of Physics Edelstein’s portrait will be Harvard University (1967, 1974). team that developed the famous conversational level. from the American Institute of mounted in the Illini Union among At Harvard, he completed his thesis “birdcage” coil, a mainstay of “To apply this in a clinical Physics in 2005, and the University those of other highly accomplished under Professor Robert V. Pound, MRI technology for decades now, setting, we would have to change of Illinois College of Liberal Arts Illinois degree holders who have co-discoverer of nuclear magnetic which made it possible to operate a various structural parts of the and Science’s Alumni Achievement received this honor. n resonance, for which the Nobel stable, predictable high-frequency scanner, which would have to be Prize was awarded in 1952. rf transmit/receive antenna large done at an engineering company. Edelstein then travelled to enough to enclose the human head Funding from a commercial source In recognition of his prodigious Scotland, where he completed two and torso. And he contributed to is an issue in moving forward, and contributions to the field of MRI, three-year postdoctoral research the small-imaging-coil technology I believe whichever company does The tremendous accomplishments and varied life paths of our Physics Illinois alumni never cease to amaze us. Edelstein was presented with the fellowships, the first at Glasgow that made it possible to take this first will have a big marketing University of Illinois 2013 Alumni University, the second at Aberdeen detailed pictures of small body advantage.” Where did your path take you after Physics Illinois? Achievement Award during University. At Aberdeen, he was parts, such as the eyeball. The second problem Edelstein is commencement ceremonies in part of the team that invented After retiring from GE, Edelstein working to solve is the duration of Let us know where you are and May. the first MRI machine to make founded MRScience LLC, through exams. what you are doing—we would love to hear from you! Professor Charlie Slichter, long- good whole-body images. It was which he continued to work on “We should limit ourselves to time friend and colleague, said, there he invented the “spin warp” MRI as an independent scientist a 10-minute scan, with 5 minutes Get our latest news. “Bill Edelstein has contributed imaging technique, still in use in all and consultant. He also served as to get the person in and out of Update your contact information. brilliant ideas to the design of the commercial MRI systems today. a visiting scientist at Rensselaer scanner. The reason the scans are http://go.physics.illinois.edu/alumni modern medical MRI machine, From 1980 to 2001, Edelstein Polytechnic Institute in New York so long is really a bit surprising. starting when MRI technology worked at the General Electric and a senior research associate at If a doctor orders a CT scan, the 42 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 43 Alumni highlights Student Highlights up an environmental behaviorist? Physics Illinois alumna Shahzeen Attari Attari said her physics background Physics Illinois students on global climate change is actually a great advantage in the work she is doing now. Byard and Brandt win and human behavior “A lot of behavioral scientists NSF Graduate Research Attari is an assistant professor would be the more expensive, have a physics background,” at Indiana University’s School of time-consuming, or inconvenient noted Attari. “Physics gives Fellowships Public and Environmental Affairs, alternatives—like replacing an understanding of risk and in Bloomington. As a behavioral windows in homes, trading in older uncertainty. It teaches discipline scientist, she asks what people appliances for more energy-efficient and perseverance on a problem. think it’s important to do and models, hanging the clothes to dry And interdisciplinary training how hard they think it is to do it. on a line, or carpooling to work. develops skills that allow you to see Through surveys of residents across But in fact, lowering the thermostat problems in a unique way.” the US, Attari and her colleagues by a few degrees in the winter Born in India, Attari grew have researched how Americans months is as effective as swapping up in Dubai in the United Arab would rank energy-conservation out the windows, washing our Emirates—a city, she points out, behaviors along those two lines. clothes at a lower temperature is as which has the largest ecological “The list of behaviors came from effective as replacing our washer footprint per capita in the world. Gardner and Stearns’s short list of with a high-efficiency model or She came to Illinois to study physics best changes homes can make for hanging out the clothes for several and discovered a great passion for graduate student alumna ost of us are aware that a the greatest impact,” Attari said. months, and having two tune- studying the environment. The Courtney Byard Stephanie Brandt smaller carbon footprint Attari and her colleagues have ups annually is as effective as seeds for her eventual career were per US household would discovered that most people slightly carpooling. planted while a student at Illinois, Mmean a healthier future for our overestimate the amount of energy Why do these misperceptions when Attari spent one of her spring ecent Physics Illinois they can, then this may have benefit planet. But where does that priority needed for low-energy uses and persist? Attari says too much breaks in Florida volunteering for graduate Stephanie Brandt in a wide class of applications.” rank and what would motivate dramatically underestimate the information is a problem. the Nature Conservancy, working (BS 2012) and graduate Byard is grateful for the freedom positive change? amount of energy consumed in “Attention is our most scarce on issues related to forest fires. Rstudent Courtney Byard were the research grant will afford Conserving energy use in our higher-energy uses. resource individually,” she stated. Attari said she remembers many each selected for a three-year her, both in her work and in homes, recycling, selecting modes “If you ask people how “To model how people address formative experiences from her National Science Foundation (NSF) community outreach efforts. of transportation that generate important it is to turn off the light problems like climate change, we time at Physics Illinois, working Graduate Research Fellowship. “Receiving the NSF fellowship lower emissions—the best practices when they leave the room, people apply the concept of bounded with Professor Steven Errede on Byard is working in Professor will allow me to be fully involved we could (and should) set into would rank that behavior as very rationality: individuals are limited solar-cell efficiency at different Paul Kwiat’s research group to in my research while having place—it all takes time and effort to significant. Yet, turning out the in the choices they make, not only temperatures, with Mike Weissman improve the precision of weak- the chance to reach out to non- plan out, implement, and maintain. lights is not considered an effective by knowledge, but also by the on statistics, uncertainty, and noise, value measurements. scientists without having to worry Meanwhile, residential energy energy-saving behavior,” Attari amount of attention and time we and with the late Professor Bob “Courtney Byard is bright about funding,” she said consumption accounts for more shared. “We should do it of course, have to focus. We keep searching Clegg on biological physics for her young physicist, working to extend “I’m excited to be able to work than 20 percent of total US carbon because every bit counts, but if we for solutions that immediately senior thesis. previous quantum-enhanced on my PhD here at Illinois,” added dioxide emissions, and the US is are going to get people to do just satisfy, but don’t optimize.” After completing her measurement schemes to achieve Byard. “The mix of excellent responsible for 21 percent of global one thing, we should go after one Changing people’s biases undergraduate studies at Illinois, an unprecedented improvement science and warm community that carbon dioxide emissions. that’s really effective. about best energy-conservation Attari went on to earn a doctoral in measurement sensitivity,” I’ve found here makes it the perfect Physics Illinois alumna Shahzeen “At the same time, people and -efficiency practices will be degree in civil and environmental commented Kwiat. “At the moment place to think, work, and live. And Attari (BS 2004) examines how severely underestimate by orders of challenging. Attari asserts that, engineering and engineering public her system rivals the best in the I’m grateful to all the teachers I’ve our shared perceptions about our magnitude how much power large given how busy American families policy from Carnegie Mellon world—she can detect the tilt angle had the opportunity to work with consumption of energy relate to our appliances use: dishwashers by generally are, an effective campaign University in 2009. She then of a beam of light to the level of who’ve helped me reach my goals.” behaviors. Her research seeks to to factor of 800 times,” she said. for residential energy conservation worked as a postdoctoral fellow a hair’s width on the other side Brandt will begin graduate define why, with today’s technology What’s more, their research would give due consideration at Columbia University’s Earth of the country! And there’s still studies in particle physics at and understanding of the factors reveals that many consumers to people’s perceptions and Institute & Center for Research on another potential factor of 10–20 the Massachusetts Institute of that lead to global climate change, erroneously believe the most misperceptions regarding their Environmental Decisions before to be gained. If the techniques can Technology (MIT) in Cambridge we aren’t collectively doing more to effective changes they could make energy consumption. her current appointment at IU. n be generalized to other types of starting in the fall. Ultimately, abate carbon dioxide emissions. to reduce energy consumption So how does a physics major end measurements, which we believe she plans to pursue a career in 44 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 45 Student Highlights physics at a university or national was also a regular Physics Van received honorable mentions: hysics Illinois junior laboratory. performer, travelling to elementary alumnus Matthew Feickert (BS David Schmid has been Brandt said she values the skills schools and special events to 2012) is a graduate student at awarded a prestigious Barry she learned through her research introduce children to the study of the University of Virginia; Kevin PM. Goldwater Scholarship for experiences at Illinois. physics through exciting, visually Sebesta graduated in May 2013 in the 2013/14 academic year for “Working in a lab group provides compelling demonstrations. engineering physics with plans to demonstrating leadership and a different learning experience Brandt said she is honored to be continue his physics studies in the academic promise in science or from regular schoolwork, where selected for the NSF fellowship and doctoral program at the University engineering. Schmid has been somebody has already figured out she plans to take full advantage of of Minnesota, specializing in working in the laboratory of the answer and is giving it to you. I the additional freedom the funding astrophysics; John Henry Hinnefeld Professor Paul Kwiat since Summer picked up some valuable computing will allow her to continue her is a graduate student working in 2010, before his freshman year. skills through my lab work. I also educational outreach efforts while a condensed matter physics as part of There he has studied optical really liked how the senior thesis graduate student. Professor Nadya Mason’s group. simulation, polarization-dependent class works here. In addition to Three Physics Illinois alumni The National Science focusing, and spectral filtering. research, you write about and who are now pursuing graduate Foundation’s Graduate Research In his research, Schmid present your work—these are studies at other institutions Fellowship Program helps ensure uses computer modeling and important capabilities to have going also received NSF fellowships: the vitality of the human resource simulations to design optical forward.” Callie Demay (BS 2009) studies base of science and engineering in setups that address current David Schmid receives Brandt worked in Professor mechanical engineering at the the United States and reinforces its problems in quantum information, Kevin Pitts’s research group during University of Colorado at Boulder; diversity. The program recognizes cryptography, and computation. Goldwater scholarship her undergraduate tenure, starting Nikhita Mansukhani, (BS 2011) is and supports outstanding graduate Schmid’s research has helped to her freshman year. Her work a graduate student at Northwestern students in NSF-supported science, expand various optical techniques on the boundaries between such scholarships possible. And involved searching for a currently University in the materials technology, engineering, and used in research. His work shows quantum and classical physics,” said he recognizes that many have had unobserved decay mode of the research—biomaterials program; mathematics disciplines who are promise in practical applications Schmid, “and I am looking forward a hand in his achievements as a heaviest meson, the Bc particle. Vernie Redmon (BS 2011) is pursuing research-based master’s as well, including in the use of to teaching university students. I physics major at Illinois. “Stephanie spent much of her studying condensed matter physics and doctoral degrees at accredited dual-focus beams for imaging value great teachers immensely, and “I owe a great deal to many of time analyzing data from the at Stanford University. US institutions. n or controlling tiny objects and I hope eventually I will be the one my friends and colleagues. My CDF experiment at Fermilab,” Three from Physics Illinois spectral filtering for optical fiber inspiring others.” sister Mara has given me courage, commented Pitts. “She performed communication networks. Schmid’s passion for the study of support, and a broader perspective a search for a very unique signature Schmid has been recognized physics is intrinsic to who he is. on life, for which I am ever grateful. of an extremely rare configuration many times for academic “I love physics because I think A special thanks to Professor Paul of quarks. Although we didn’t achievement. At Illinois, he that the universe is far more grand Kwiat for giving me a chance to see a signal, the tools Stephanie participates in the Campus Honors than any human could imagine,” do research even before I knew developed are continuing to aid in Program and is a National Merit explained Schmid. “Only through anything useful! His support and our research.” and Illinois State Scholar, is on the physics can we begin to see its wisdom have been invaluable, and Brandt has made arrangements Dean’s List, and is a winner of a beauty. Despite the complexity I’ve loved researching and learning to work at MIT with active Provost Scholarship for academic we see all around us, physics with his group.” members of the CMS experiment achievement. He is also the gives universal laws that govern The Barry M. Goldwater at the Large Hadron Collider at recipient of the Vincent O’Brien everything that can possibly exist. Excellence in Education Program CERN. And she is looking forward Iroquois County Scholarship. “The best thing about physics was established by Congress in to her first experience living outside Schmid has presented his research is that in all this complexity, there 1986 to honor Barry M. Goldwater, central Illinois. at the national Conference on are never paradoxes. There are no who served 30 years in the US “Stephanie is great to work with Lasers and Electro-Optics. He mistakes, no inconsistencies, in Senate. The program provides and has been an important member is the primary author of a paper nature—only in our attempts to a continuing source of highly of our team,” added Pitts. “She submitted to a peer-reviewed understand it. And we’re working qualified scientists, mathematicians, Stephanie Brandt performs with will do extremely well in graduate fellow Physics Van players during journal in optical physics. on that.” and engineers by awarding school at MIT, and I am quite sure Engineering Open House 2013 Schmid hopes to earn a Schmid said he is very thankful scholarships to sophomores and that we’ll be hearing more from doctorate in physics and then for the opportunities this juniors from the United States who Stephanie in the future.” pursue an academic career: scholarship will afford him and intend to pursue doctorates in these For several years, Brandt “Ultimately, I hope to do research thankful to everyone who makes fields.n 46 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 47 Student highlights TheRobert A. Stein Scholarship was endowed by TheRichard Cook Scholarship is presented in Physics Illinois commends its the family and friends of alumnus Robert A. Stein recognition of an outstanding undergraduate (BS 1955) after his death in 1998. Stein greatly valued engineering physics student at the end of his or her exceptional undergraduates the education he received at Illinois, and his family sophomore year. This award is named for alumnus thought the best tribute to his memory would be to Richard Cook (PhD 1935), who spent his entire provide that opportunity to other youths. The 2013 carreer at the National Bureau of Standards (now the recipients were Matthew Coon, Daniel Kumor, and National Instititute of Standards and Technology). Sanjay Narasiwodeyar. Cook specialized in ultrasonics and acoustics. The

James Antonaglia Isaac Carrasquillo Matthew Coon Anna Czerepak Rebecca Glaudell 2013 recipients were Donald Hane, Sean McLaughlin, TheExcellence in Physics Scholarship is awarded Not pictured: Cory Alford, and Brian Trundy. Ran Bi, Stephanie Brandt, to support outstanding incoming freshman physics George Jabbour, Daniel majors. If students remain in good standing, the TheLaura Eisenstein Award is presented in Kumor, Xin Liu, Stephanie Lona, Jack Meister, Anna awards are renewed each semester. The 2013 recipients recognition of an outstanding woman undergraduate Miller, Kevin Sebesta, and were Isaac Carrasquillo and Novarah Kazmi. student in physics. This award was established by Matthew Wraith Shannon Glavin Donald Hane Jeliazko Jeliazkov Novarah Kazmi Michelle Kelley the department in cooperation with the American TheUndergraduate Outreach Achievement Award Physical Society and the Committee on the Status of recognizes the work of an outstanding undergraduate Women in Physics to recognize exceptional woman student involved in the Physics Society and/or with the physics students. It honors the late Laura B. Eisenstein Physics Van. The 2013 recipient wasScott Luedtke. (1942–1985), a distinguished biological physicist who made important discoveries of the mechanism of light TheCommonwealth Edison Scholarship/Beryl Guannan Liu Scott Luedtke Sean McLaughlin Sanjay Natasha Sachdeva energy transduction by biomolecules, using a variety of Narasiwodeyar Bristow Endowed Scholarship is presented in techniques including time-resolved resonance Raman recognition of an outstanding woman physics major and x-ray absorption spectroscopies. Eisenstein served (freshman or sophomore). This award is named for the department and the biological physics community Beryl Love Bristow, the first woman to receive both a with distinction. The 2013 recipients wereShannon bachelor’s degree (1918) and a master’s degree (1919) Glavin, Mae Hwee Teo, and Michelle Kelley. in physics from Illinois. At that time, Illinois had only David Schmid Meredith Staub Ryan Swindeman Mae Hwee Teo Brian Trundy 5,000 students and 12 buildings, and tuition cost $11 TheErnest Lyman Prize is presented in recognition per semester. Beryl was inspired by her own mother, of the year’s outstanding senior in physics. This University Honors Bronze Tablet: The names of the Bauer Michelson Pizzo Russell Scholarship went to who graduated in 1883 from Illinois with a major in award is named after Professor Ernest M. Lyman, top performing students from each graduating class George Jabbour. mathematics, the first woman ever allowed to take a a distinguished researcher and teacher who served (highest 3 percent from each college) are inscribed math course at Urbana. After graduation, Beryl was on the department’s faculty for 36 years. In addition on this tablet mounted in the Main Library. From the American Physical Society Minority Scholarship employed by the Commonwealth Edison Company in to making seminal contributions to experimental class of 2013, James Antonaglia, Ran Bi, and Mae went to Stephanie Lona. Chicago as a mathematician in the science department. nulear physics, he was a world expert on electron Hwee Teo. To honor her pioneering spirit, Commonwealth scattering. Lyman maintained great interest in teaching The 2013Yee Seung Ng Award, established by Edison created this award to recognize women in undergraduate physics and was one of the early Phi Beta Kappa, Gamma of Illinois Chapter family and friends of alumnus Yee Ng (BS 1974) to physics. The 2013 recipients wereAnna Miller, proponents of computer-assisted physics education. 2012/2013 inductees were James Antonaglia and recognize an outstanding junior or senior international Meredith Staub, and Xin Liu. The 2013 recipients were James Antonaglia, Ryan Guannan Liu. engineering physics student, went to Guannan Liu. Swindeman, and Rebecca Glaudell. TheLewis C. Hack Scholar award is made possible by James Scholar Honors went to Ran Bi, John Hoffman, ThePeople’s Choice Undergraduate Research a bequest to the University of Illinois to honor Lewis Guannan Liu, and Mae Hwee Teo. Symposium Award is given in recognition of original C. Hack, by his wife, Lois E. Hack. Both the Hacks research presented at the Physics Undergraduate devoted their lives to teaching in the public schools. Engineering Excellence Scholarship went to Jack Research Symposium. The 2013 recipients were The 2013 recipients were David Schmid, Matthew Meister. (bronze) Anna Czerepak, (silver) James Antonaglia, Wraith and Jeliazko Jeliazkov. and (gold) Ryan Swindeman. Illinois Engineering Enhanced Scholarship went to Isaac Carrasquillo. The 2013Robert E. Hetrick Senior Thesis Award, presented in recognition of an outstanding senior Vincent E. O’Brien Iroquois County Scholarship thesis written by an undergraduate physics major, went went to David Schmid. to Cory Michael Alford and Natasha Sachdeva. 48 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 49 Student highlights TheJohn Bardeen Award is presented in recognition types of electronic orbitals to different degrees. He And applauds our extraordinary of an outstanding physics graduate student in discovered a wide variety of electronic transitions condensed matter physics or electronic devices. in solids and molecules and the optical, electrical, grad students, too This award is named for Professor John Bardeen, chemical, and magnetic consequences thereof. A the two-time Nobel laureate who was a professor of prolific and influential scientist, he published more physics and of electrical engineering from 1951 to than 450 original contributions to the scientific 1991. During his 60-year scientific career, he made literature. The 2013 recipient wasXiaoqian Chen. significant contributions to almost every aspect of condensed matter physics, from his early work on the TheL.S. Edelheit Biological Physics Fellowship is John Damasco Sylvester Joosten Zuanyi Li Yulia Maximenko John Nichol electronic behavior of metals, the surface properties of made possible by the generous gift of alumnus Lewis S. Not pictured: Courtney semiconductors, and the theory of diffusion of atoms “Lonnie” Edleheit (BS 1964, MS 1966, PhD 1970) and Byard, Xiaoqian Chen, his wife, Susan (BFA 1966, MA Art Education 1968). John Henry Hinnefeld, in crystals to his later work on quasi-one-dimensional Martin Leitgab, Ki Lie, and metals. He won his first Nobel Prize in 1956 for his In a professional career that spanned 33 years—all Philip Powell work leading to the invention of the transistor. He but 6 in various capacities with the General Electric won his second Nobel Prize in 1972 for the theory of Company—Edelheit championed the field of medical Seongjin Park Onkar Parrikar Garrett Vanacore Scott Wolin superconductivity. He was named by Life Magazine imaging. He served as the first project manager for as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th a computed tomography (CT) scanner and went on century. The 2013 recipient wasJohn Nichol. to oversee GE’s emergence in the medical electronics enterprises. Edelheit credits his three Illinois degrees The Scott Anderson Award for Outstanding with providing him important knowledge in the Recipients of the 2013 National Science Foundation TheFelix T. Adler Fellowship is presented in Teaching Assistants is presented in recognition of the broad nature of physics and the ability to think about Graduate Research Fellowship were Stephanie recognition of outstanding work by a graduate student year’s outstanding graduate assistants. The award is complex systems—electrical, mechanical, computer, Brandt and Courtney Byard. The 2013 Honorable in nuclear physics. This award is named for Professor named for alumnus Scott Anderson (MS 1937, PhD and mathematics. The 2013 recipient wasSeongjin Mention went to Kevin Sebesta, and John Henry Felix T. Adler, a theoretical nuclear physicist who 1940) who founded Anderson Physics Laboratories Park. Hinnefeld. served the department from 1958 to 1979. His work (APL) in Urbana in 1944. Dr. Anderson, a creative spanned the development of nuclear energy—reactor and prolific entrepreneur, developed metal halide TheVijay Pandharipande Prize in Nuclear Physics The Yee Memorial Fellowship, named for Illinois control theory, reactor kinetics and stability, neutron lighting systems. Until his death in 2006, Anderson is presented in recognition of the year’s outstanding alumnus Warren Yee, (PhD, Civil Engineering, transport theory, chemical physics, operational remained an active consultant to APL and was a nuclear physics graduate student. The award is 1943), is presented annually to recognize outstanding calculus in electrodynamics, accelerator physics, and tireless supporter of Physics Illinois. It was through named for Vijay Pandharipande (1940–2006), an research achievements by a Chinese graduate student theoretical plasma physics. He was an exceptional his initiative as president of our Physics Alumni internationally recognized nuclear theorist who played in the College of Engineering. The 2013 recipient was teacher, noted for his infectious enthusiasm for physics Association and his general philanthropy that the a leading role in the development of the nuclear many- Zuanyi Li. and his painstaking patience with students. The 2013 Anderson Award was endowed. The 2013 recipients body problem. Professor Pandharipande served with recipient was Scott Wolin. TheRenato Bobone Award is presented to an were John Jeff Damasco, Onkar Parrikar, Yulia great distinction on the department’s faculty for 34 years. The 2013 recipient was Phillip Powell. outstanding European graduate student in physics. TheGiulio Ascoli Award is presented in recognition Maximenko, and Garrett Vanacore. This award is named for Dr. Renato Bobone, a PhD of an outstanding physics graduate student in high TheDrickamer Research Award is presented in . alumnus of Physics Illinois, who spent his entire career energy physics. This award is named for Professor recognition of outstanding research by a physics (1960–1987) at General Electric in Schenectady, NY, Giulio Ascoli, who served the department with graduate student. This award is named for Professor at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, working on distinction from 1950 until his retirement in 1986. Harry G. Drickamer, a distinguished member of several aspects of naval reactor design. In 1985, when During his career in high energy physics, Ascoli the University who contributed extensively to the he endowed the award, Dr. Bobone wrote: “Interest participated in experiments at CERN, Argonne understanding of the physics and chemistry of matter in physics and the education I have been privileged to National Laboratory, and Fermi National Accelerator at high pressure. Drickamer’s work led to advances receive in Italy first, then in this country, have carried Laboratory. He was versatile and painstaking, both in the understanding of the molecular, atomic, and me over many obstacles and will be with me forever. in the design and fabrication of hardware and in the electronic properties of matter and provided the Having thoroughly abosorbed both the Italian and development of algorithms for data analysis. His peers tools to study these properties with greater detail and the American cultures, and feeling I belong to both, I described his contributions as “innovative, elegant, and precision. He was the first to use infrared and uv-vis look on the award as another bridge between countries thorough.” The 2013 recipient was Ki Lie. already joined by many ties of people, culture, and spectroscopy to study matter at high pressure, thereby friendship.” The 2013 recipient wasSylvester Joosten. discovering that high pressure perturbs different

50 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the Physics Illinois Bulletin Spring 2013 51 Department of Physics NON-PROFIT ORG University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign U.S. POSTAGE Loomis Laboratory of Physics PAID 1110 W. Green Street PERMIT NO. 453 Urbana, IL 61801-3080 CHAMPAIGN, IL

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