The Bethe Way Volume II 2017

In This Issue - Breakthrough Telescope to be built in Chile - $23M NSF Grant Powers New Science, Technology Center - New Electron Microscope Sees More Than an Image

The Bethe Way 2017 Vol 2.indd 1 6/1/17 8:59 AM Letter From The Chair

Welcome to the second edition of the Cornell Other examples of Alumni Support this year physics department yearly newsletter, The include a scientific equipment donation by Bethe Way. We have had an exciting year of Bill and Michelle Green of Stanford Research faculty hires, research breakthroughs, staff Systems (SRS). Their commitment changes, teaching reform, faculty awards, is enabling us to update many of the and connecting with alumni. experimental set-ups in the graduate and undergraduate Advanced Lab. The lab’s Our new faculty members, Natasha Director, Nick Szabo Jr., and the course Holmes and Brad Ramshaw, have hit the lead, Paul McEuen identified and prioritized ground running since their arrival in January. items from SRS that will directly improve the Natasha’s field is physics education research, educational experience for our students in and she is leading a group of faculty in a the fall of ’17. Also of note was a donation several year project to reform how labs are by the Merrill Foundation whose generous taught in our introductory engineering and gift dedicated room 230 in Rockefeller Hall Eanna Flanagan honors physics sequences. Brad’s field is to Prof. Emeritus John Silcox of Applied and Department Chair low temperature condensed matter physics, Engineering Physics. and he was awarded the 2017 Lee Osheroff Richardson Science prize. We are extremely An event of note this year was Mrs. Rose pleased to have them both on our faculty. Bethe turning 100! This past March Rose Jared Maxson, an accelerator physicist, celebrated with family and friends and has also joined our faculty and will be many of us had the opportunity to briefly arriving in July. visit with Rose, share cake and fond memories of her husband Hans Bethe. Other faculty awards this year include the It was a beautiful celebration. We wish Rose 2017 Fritz London Memorial Prize in Low health and happiness! Temperature Physics which was awarded to Jeevak Parpia. Kurt Gottfried was Lawrence Gibbons, our Director of Graduate awarded the 2016 Scientific Freedom and Studies, successfully led another year of Responsibility Award from the American graduate admissions with a target of 30 Association for the Advancement of Science. students for the fall semester. I am happy to David Mermin was awarded the Dagmar report next year’s class will be 32. Thank you and Vaclav Havel Foundation VIZE 97 Prize to Lawrence, to our Graduate Field Assistant COVER IMAGE for 2017, which is awarded to people who Kacey Acquilano, and to the members of “cross the traditional framework of scientific the Admissions Committee for their time Cover attributed to Prof. Erich Mueller knowledge, contribute to the understanding and efforts in identifying this terrific group of Nematic spin textures in a rotating spin-1 of science as an integral part of general graduate students. Bose gas. Ellipsoids represent local spin culture, and in an unconventional way fluctuations, and color encodes degree of local order. Vorticity is concentrated at the eight deal with the fundamental questions of Beginning the summer of 2017, the dark regions which are “pi-disclinations” in knowledge, being and human existence.” department will also be piloting a new peer the nematic order. [Phys. Rev. A 69, 033606 advising program which will operate in (2004)] I would personally like to thank David parallel with faculty advising and whose goal Kupperman (’92) for reconnecting many is to better attract interested freshmen into CONTENT of our alumni with the department through the physics major and to augment our Many of the articles and images in this issue the newly created Physics Advisory Council. underclass advising. This program was of The Bethe Way originally appeared in the Still in the early stages of organization, this inspired by a very successful peer advising Cornell Chronicle. Council will be critical in facilitating future program operated by the Office of initiatives as well as connecting many of Undergraduate Biology. Undergraduates, our students to leaders in the commercial particularly freshmen and sophomores, are and academic professions. You will find an sometimes hesitant to contact their “Alumni Spotlight” on David in this issue. faculty advisors, but are more willing to

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The Bethe Way 2017 Vol 2.indd 2 6/1/17 8:59 AM Two with Cornell ties share 2016 Nobel Prize in physics BY TOM FLEISCHMAN

discuss academic questions and have More than 40 years ago, David J. John Reppy, the John L. Wetherill Professor regular contact with fellow undergraduates. Thouless, Ph.D. ’58, and J. Michael Emeritus of Physics, knows both Thouless We now have volunteer physics juniors Kosterlitz, a postdoctoral researcher at and Kosterlitz. He said Thouless was and seniors who will advise 5-6 incoming Cornell 1973-74, successfully challenged identified early on as having great promise. freshmen each. Peer advisors undergo conventional wisdom that superfluidity or “He was a Ph.D. student of Hans Bethe,” training and act as a complementary superconductivity could not occur in infinite Reppy said, referring to the 1967 Nobel resource to faculty advisors. An important two-dimensional systems. Prize winner, best known for his work on the goal of the peer advising program is to They also explained “phase transition” – the Manhattan Project, who taught at Cornell also encourage students from typically mechanism that makes superconductivity from 1935 until his retirement in 1975. “Bethe underrepresented groups to pursue the disappear at higher temperatures. In fact, that thought very highly of Thouless, mainly physics major, as we intend to match mechanism is known as the KT (Kosterlitz- because, when he came to Cornell as a peer advisors with advisees from similar Thouless) transition. novice graduate student, he asked Bethe backgrounds. This effort is being led by our for a thesis topic. Bethe gave him one, and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Kyle Due in part to that pioneering work from the Thouless disappeared. “And after some time, Shen and the Society of Physics Students. early ’70s, scientists are now on the hunt he returned and had completed the thesis for new and exotic phases of matter, with topic and was ready to graduate,” Reppy said. Nancy Searles, our department’s former applications in materials science “(Thouless) was really quite exceptional.” accounts representative retired in April. and electronics. She will be greatly missed and we wish Reppy’s interactions with Kosterlitz most her all the best in her retirement. In her For their revolutionary research, Thouless and often came on the side of a large rock, as place we are pleased to announce the Kosterlitz – along with Princeton University both are avid climbers. They first met in hiring of Laura Kipfer who is joining us physics professor F. Duncan M. Haldane – Birmingham in the early 1970s, when Reppy after previously working with the Cornell have been awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize was on sabbatical in Manchester, England, Law School and the College of Arts and in physics, the Royal Swedish Academy of and went to Birmingham to give a talk. They Sciences Business Service Center. Sciences announced Oct. 4 in Stockholm. later met at Stanage Edge, a well-known The Royal Swedish Academy announced the climbing area in England. “He’s not only a top- Special thanks to Betsy Wiggers for prize of approximately $930,000 is being notch physicist, but a world-class climber,” graciously donating many hours of her time split two ways: Thouless, emeritus physics Reppy said. in the creation, layout and design of The professor at the University of Washington, Bethe Way. This significant contribution Over the past decade, the Swedish will receive half of the prize because of his is greatly appreciated by the Department. Academy noted, the study of topological “crucial contributions” on multiple fronts. phases – not only in thin layers but also Kosterlitz, physics professor at Brown Finally, I would like to extend a personal in three-dimensional materials – has University, and Haldane will split invitation to all of you who may find their advanced front-line research in condensed- the remainder. way back to Ithaca through the year to matter physics. It is seen as pushing please stop in and visit. We are always “This year’s laureates opened the door on an science toward new generations of pleased to meet with former students and unknown world where matter can assume electronics and superconductors, as well friends of the department. strange states,” the Royal Swedish Academy as quantum computing. said in a statement announcing the winners. “Current research is revealing the secrets of Sincerely, “They have used advanced mathematical matter in the exotic worlds discovered by this Eanna Flanagan methods to study unusual phases, or year’s Nobel laureates,” the academy said in states, of matter, such as superconductors, its statement. superfluids or thin magnetic films. Thouless, 82, was born in Bearsden, “The three laureates’ use of topological Scotland, and received his undergraduate concepts in physics was decisive for their degree from the University of Cambridge in discoveries,” the statement said. Topology is 1952. Kosterlitz was born in 1942 in Aberdeen, the mathematical study of the properties that Scotland; he received his undergraduate are preserved through deformation, twisting degree from Cambridge in 1962, and his and stretching (but not tearing) of an object. doctorate from Oxford in 1969.

CORNELL UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES • DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS 3

The Bethe Way 2017 Vol 2.indd 3 6/1/17 8:59 AM Group works toward devising next-gen superconductor BY TOM FLEISCHMAN

“Instead of hoping for a new material that has the properties you want,” Kim said, “let’s go after it with insight and design principle.”

The experimental realization of ultrathin The group’s proposal: The TMDs’ Theoretically, housing a quantum computer graphene – which earned two scientists from unusual properties favor two topological powerful enough to justify the power needed the University of Manchester, U.K., the Nobel superconducting states, which, if to keep the superconductor at 1 Kelvin is not Prize in physics in 2010 – has ushered in a experimentally confirmed, will open up out of the question, Kim said. In fact, IBM new age in materials research. possibilities for manipulating topological already has a 7-qubit (quantum bit) computer, superconductors at temperatures near which operates at less than 1 Kelvin, available What started with graphene has evolved to absolute zero. to the public through its IBM Quantum include numerous related single-atom-thick Experience. materials, which have unusual properties due to their ultra-thinness. Among them are A quantum computer with approximately transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), six times more qubits would fundamentally materials that offer several key features not change computing, Kim said. available in graphene and are emerging as next-generation semiconductors. “If you get to 40 qubits, that computing power will exceed any classical computers TMDs could realize topological out there,” she said. “And to house a superconductivity and thus provide a platform 40-qubit [quantum computer] in cryogenic for quantum computing – the ultimate goal of temperature is not that big a deal. It will be a a Cornell research group led by Eun-Ah Kim, revolution.” associate professor of physics. Kim and her group are working with Debdeep “Our proposal is very realistic – that’s why it’s Jena and Grace Xing of electrical and exciting,” Kim said of her group’s research. computer engineering, and Katja Nowack “We have a theoretical strategy to materialize of physics, through an interdisciplinary a topological superconductor... and that Eun-Ah Kim research group seed grant from the Cornell will be a step toward building a quantum Professor Center for Materials Research. Each computer. The history of superconductivity group brings researchers from different over the last 100 years has been led by Kim identified hole-doped (positive departments together, with support from accidental discoveries. We have a proposal charge-enhanced) single-layer TMDs both the university and the National Science that’s sitting on firm principles. as a promising candidate for topological Foundation’s Materials Research Science and superconductivity, based on the known Engineering Centers program. “Instead of hoping for a new material that has special locking between spin state and the properties you want,” she said, “let’s go kinetic energy of electrons (spin-valley “We’re combining the engineering expertise after it with insight and design principle.” locking) of single-layer TMDs, as well as of DJ and Grace, and expertise Katja has in the recent observations of superconductivity mesoscopic systems and superconductors,” Yi-Ting Hsu, a doctoral student in the in electron-doped (negative charge- Kim said. “It requires different expertise to Kim Group, is lead author of “Topological enhanced) single-layer TMDs. come together to pursue this, and CCMR superconductivity in monolayer transition allows that.” metal dichalcogenides,” published April 11 The group’s goal is a superconductor that in Nature Communications. Other team operates at around 1 Kelvin (approximately This work was also supported in part by the members include Kim Group alumni Mark minus 457 degrees Fahrenheit), that could NSF’s PARADIM (Platform for the Accelerated Fischer, now at ETH Zurich in Switzerland, be cooled with liquid helium sufficiently to Realization, Analysis, and Discovery of and Abolhassan Vaezi, now at maintain quantum computing potential in a Interface Materials) program. Stanford University. superconducting state.

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The Bethe Way 2017 Vol 2.indd 4 6/1/17 8:59 AM Jeevak Parpia Wins low-temperature physics prize BY LINDA B. GLASER, AS COMMUNICATIONS

Professor of physics Jeevak Parpia, M.S. “This is one of the most prestigious prizes ’77, Ph.D. ’79, is one of three winners in condensed matter physics,” said Eanna of the 2017 Fritz London Memorial Prize. Flanagan, physics chair and the Edward L. The prize, administered by Duke University Nichols Professor of Physics and professor and awarded every three years, recognizes of astronomy, noting that 11 winners of the scientists who have made outstanding prize have gone on to receive the Nobel contributions to the field of low-temperature Prize in Physics. “We are delighted that physics. Jeevak’s groundbreaking work has been recognized in this way.” The prizes will be presented at the opening ceremony of the 28th International Low Parpia is the third Cornell faculty member Temperature Physics Conference, Aug. to win the prize: John Reppy, the John L. 9-16 in Göteborg, Sweden. Parpia and Wetherill Professor of Physics Emeritus, co-winners William Halperin, Ph.D. ’75, received it in 1981; and Seamus Davis, and James Sauls, both of Northwestern James Gilbert White Distinguished Professor Jeevak Parpia University, will be asked to deliver lectures in the Physical Sciences, in 2005. Professor at the conference. The prize includes an approximately $10,000 award.

3 Cornell faculty elected fellows Giving to Physics

of American Physical Society Gifts of all sizes are powerful investments in Cornell’s mission and BY TOM FLEISCHMAN our department’s future programming. Your philanthropy helps educate Three professors – representing the deserving students, strengthen departments of Astronomy, Physics, and research that leads to new knowledge Biological and Environmental Engineering – and solutions, prepare tomorrow’s have been elected fellows by the American leaders, and serve the public good. Physical Society (APS). We are very grateful to our Physics The criterion for election is exceptional Advisory Council for the generous contributions to the physics enterprise – support to our department. This year including outstanding physics research, alone, contributions have supported important applications of physics, leadership the creation of an undergraduate in or service to physics, or significant “Honors Lab” and the Undergraduate contributions to physics education. Teaching Assistant Initiative – both examples directly impact our Csaba Csáki, professor of physics, was cited department and students on a daily for wide-ranging contributions to theories basis and we could not have achieved this success without your support. for physics beyond the Standard Model, Csaba Csáki from cosmology to electroweak symmetry Professor breaking. His research is in the field of Mail your contribution to: elementary particle theory, aiming to gain graduate studies and Mingming Wu, Cornell University understanding of the deepest mysteries of associate professor of biological and Department of Physics particle physics, including the origin of mass environmental engineering. P.O. Box 25842 and the origin of different scales in physics. Lehigh Valley, PA 18003-9692

Also elected were Rachel Bean, associate Thank You! professor of astronomy and director of

CORNELL UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES • DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS 5

The Bethe Way 2017 Vol 2.indd 5 6/1/17 8:59 AM Breakthrough telescope to be built in Chile BY LINDA B. GLASER

Scientists announced this week that a CCAT-p is being constructed by Vertex for next-generation cosmic microwave consortium of U.S., German and Canadian Antennentechnik GmbH of Duisburg, background (CMB) experiments. “There academic institutions led by Cornell Germany. The CCAT corporation is has been a lot of excitement in the CMB University will begin construction of Cerro a partnership of Cornell, the German community about CCAT-prime,” said Michael Chajnantor Atacama Telescope-prime Universities of Cologne and Bonn, and Niemack, Cornell assistant professor of (CCAT-p), a unique and powerful telescope Canadian Atacama Telescope Consortium physics, who designed the telescope optics. capable of mapping the sky at submillimeter (CATC), a consortium of Canadian academic “The location appears to be the best-known and millimeter wavelengths. institutions. Faculty and staff at several site on Earth for millimeter and submillimeter other institutes in the U.S., Canada, Chile wavelengths, and with CCAT-prime we will The 6 meter aperture telescope, slated for and Germany are also involved in science be able to map the CMB roughly 10 times completion in 2021, will be located near the planning and instrumentation development. faster than current telescopes.” summit of Cerro Chajnantor in the Atacama Desert in Chile. It will give unprecedented CCAT-p Science The telescope will open the highest insights into how stars and galaxies form, frequency radio windows accessible from what lit up “cosmic dawn” – the first stars after The siting of the telescope at such a high the ground to study, among other things, the Big Bang -- and the formation and dark- elevation, in such a dry place, will prevent the detailed physics of star formation in the energy-driven expansion of the universe. The water molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere Milky Way and the local universe. Jürgen telescope’s novel optical design, high-precision from impeding the detection of submillimeter Stutzki of the University of Cologne noted: mirrors and high-altitude location (over 18,000 radiation, allowing routine observations at “The innovative design of the telescope, feet) will establish the CCAT-p telescope these wavelengths. The telescope location enabled by the high-tech capabilities of the as a premiere facility for astrophysics and and design will also allow observations of German company building the telescope cosmology research. about 80 percent of the sky through and its location at an extreme altitude, all seasons. enables breathtaking new science blocked at “The CCAT partnership has now spent more lower altitudes. CCAT-prime will also be an than a decade exploring the possibility – and Its highly efficient mapping capability essential platform to deploy new quantum challenges – of building a state-of-the-art positions the CCAT-p telescope as a platform detectors at the cutting edge of physics telescope at this amazing site. During that time, technology and submillimeter science have advanced at a very rapid pace, and we are now ready to move forward to build a truly exciting telescope,” said project director Martha Haynes, Cornell’s Goldwin Smith Professor of Astronomy. “The new telescope will be a game changer for Cornell in the field of cosmology, putting Cornell at the top of the field.”

“It is exciting to see this important project become a reality,” said Cornell Provost Michael Kotlikoff. “Our faculty have long championed the scientific significance of CCAT-prime, and it continues Cornell’s strong legacy of leadership in the field of astronomy.”

Gretchen Ritter, the Harold Tanner Dean of Arts Sciences, noted that “in addition to being a tremendous asset for research, CCAT- prime will be a boon for career development Left to right: Jim Blair, Michael Niemack, Riccardo Pavesi, Brian Koopman, Martha for young faculty, graduate students and Haynes (seated), Gordon Stacey, Thomas Nikola, Dominik Riechers (seated), Eve postdocs. We are thrilled at the opportunities Vavagiakis, Riccardo Giovanelli (seated), Nicholas Cothard. Credit: Robert Barker/ CCAT-p will offer our science community.” University Photography

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The Bethe Way 2017 Vol 2.indd 6 6/1/17 9:00 AM CCAT-prime telescope rendering. Through the large seven meter opening some of the primary mirror panels (right) and secondary mirror panels (left) are visible. Credit: Vertex Antennentechnik GmbH.

Young said: “CCAT-p is a world-class endeavor which will bring great value to the institutions involved in the forms of both doing important science and attracting quality faculty and students. The fact that Cornell is leading the project is a source of prestige for the university. It, its partners and the greater scientific community will benefit greatly from the CCAT-p work product in the years ahead.

developed at Cologne, which enable ultra- CATC have a wide range of science interests “Given that cosmology, arguably, is the sensitive observations.” that will be greatly facilitated by CCAT-p, ultimate context fo worked at r intellectual noted Michel Fich, University of Waterloo. endeavors, that CCAT-p will contribute to The innovative telescope design can “A particular area of interest for the CATC understanding aspects of the very beginning dramatically improve measurements team is in using CCAT-p to investigate the of the universe is an inspirational thought for of polarized signals that may contain nature of dark matter and dark energy which all involved,” he added. “fingerprints” from the time of inflation, will lead to advances in our understanding of a trillionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a fundamental physics,” he said. Young is the retired CEO and former owner second after the Big Bang. With CCAT-p, of Young Radiator Company. Having served scientists will be able to make direct “CCAT-p science will be an essential on a number of boards in the private and measurements of galaxy cluster motions complement to the possibilities offered public sectors and also Daimler-Benz in under the influence of dark matter and by large observatories like the Atacama Germany and Cummins Engine Co. in the dark energy; study how galaxies and Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile and U.S., he described his current pursuits as galaxy clusters first evolved; and study the the Stratospheric Airborne Observatory for “lifelong learning, limited political involvement properties of neutrinos, some of the lightest Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA),” said Stutzki. and independent investing.” In addition to known fundamental particles. his sponsorship of academic research in Generous Support astronomy, he also supports research in At Cornell, the Department of Astronomy economics and great ape conservation. is very active in conducting research As the founding at submillimeter wavelengths, such as project director, Science for Students the research groups led by Professor Gordon Riccardo Giovanelli, Stacey and Assistant Professor Cornell professor “One reason that so many important Dominik Riechers. emeritus of universities are involved in this project is astronomy, noted because we want to ensure that the next “CCAT-p will be a game changer in this the success of generation of observers and instrumentalists forefront area of research, in particular for the project, and get hands-on training in a real telescope studies of star formation throughout the Cornell’s leadership, project,” said Haynes. “CCAT-p will be history of the universe,” said Stacey, who is is largely the result at the forefront of original science and Lead Project Scientist for CCAT-p. of financial support students will be involved with every aspect, Fred Young ’64, from Fred Young including planning for and execution of the M.Eng. ’66, MBA ’66 “Perhaps the most exciting aspect of this ’64, M.Eng. ’66, telescope surveys. They won’t just be bolting project is that it will become possible to probe MBA ’66. “The project wouldn’t be going equipment together -- they will be building the evolution of galaxies and the cosmic web forward without Fred’s vision and intellectual instruments and doing everything necessary all the way back to the Epoch of Reionization passion,” said Giovanelli. In addition to the to prepare for using the telescope.” within the first billion years after the Big $5 million Young has contributed toward the Bang, when stars and galaxies first formed,” development of the CCAT concept, he has Numerous graduate students are already said Riechers. committed an additional $7.5 million working on technology development to CCAT-p. related to the project, including preparing The more than 40 researchers from 12 the detection devices that will be used in universities across Canada involved with conjunction with the telescope. CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

CORNELL UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES • DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS 7

The Bethe Way 2017 Vol 2.indd 7 6/1/17 9:00 AM Breakthrough telescope to be Emeritus built in Chile CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 BY LINDA B. GLASER physics professor Kurt Gottfried honored by AAAS BY TOM FLEISCHMAN

Optical layout of a crossed-Dragone telescope. Light from the sky is reflected first off a primary mirror, then off a nearly-flat secondary (almost as large as the primary), and finally off a smaller tertiary. The combination permits a high throughput of the light over a very wide field of view and delivers a flat focal plane that can accommodate hundreds of thousands to millions of detectors. Credit: Niemack

Eve Vavagiakis ’14, a physics graduate order of magnitude improvement in student in Niemack’s group, worked in existing telescopes. astronomy with Stacey as an undergraduate. “CCAT-prime is really going to be at the “The Cross-Dragone design had been used forefront of the field in a time scale that’s for smaller-scale telescopes and I pushed it relevant to our careers as grad students,” she into a new regime,” explained Niemack. Kurt Gottfried said. “It’s exciting to be a part of something Professor Emeritus Niemack explained that the telescope that’s going to have such an impact on the focuses light down onto instruments field as a whole.” Kurt Gottfried, professor emeritus which act as “cameras” to convert the light of physics and a recognized expert on For Brian Koopman , also a physics graduate into electrical signals that can be read by nuclear arms control, has been awarded student working with Niemack, being in at the computers. This instrumentation is designed the 2016 Scientific Freedom and start of a project is especially exciting – helping to be upgradeable as technology improves. Responsibility Award from the American to decide what kind of telescope to build is not “One of the instruments we’re studying will Association for the Advancement of a common graduate school opportunity. Science (AAAS). be about the size of a mini-van, 2.5 meters “You get to wake up every morning and go in in diameter and 2 meters tall,” said Niemack. Gottfried, who has been at Cornell for to the lab and try to answer one of the biggest Smaller prototypes for these instruments are 52 years, was honored by AAAS “for his questions human kind has ever asked,” added being tested by students in his lab, using a long and distinguished career as a ‘civic Vavagiakis. “Being able to study the universe vacuum insulated dilution refrigerator that scientist,’ through his advocacy for arms makes me feel lucky every day.” cools the instruments down to -273 degrees control, human rights and integrity in the Celsius, or 0.1 degrees above absolute zero. use of science in public policy making,” Telescope Design Nicholas Cothard, a graduate student in according to a statement from applied and engineering physics, spent the organization. Niemack’s research focuses on measuring the Cosmic Microwave Background, leftover months considering which research group he wanted to work with before deciding on Gottfried will receive the award, which light from the Big Bang, the oldest light we Niemack’s lab. “Building huge telescopes includes a $5,000 prize, at the 183rd can measure. He’s been studying optics since with microscopic tools to study the largest AAAS Annual Meeting, Feb. 16-20, he was a graduate student, and he helped scale physics in the universe was just mind in Boston. design the Atacama Cosmology Telescope. boggling to me,” he said. But it was clear that there needed to be an

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The Bethe Way 2017 Vol 2.indd 8 6/1/17 9:00 AM $23M NSF Grant Powers

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 New Science, Technology Center BY RICK RYAN - SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR FOR CLASSE

A collaboration of scientists, Answering the open scientific questions in led by Cornell University, has beam science requires a new approach. “Our vision is to develop the fundamental been awarded $23 million knowledge that is required to improve by the National Science the performance and lower the costs of Foundation to increase the accelerator technologies,” said Steven Sibener, one of the center’s leaders and intensity of beams of charged physical chemistry professor at the University particles while lowering of Chicago. “We will leverage the diverse the cost of key accelerator experience available at universities and national labs, and will transfer the knowledge technologies. and technology back to them.”

Roughly 10,000 U.S. researchers rely on This Science and Technology Center (STC) beams of electrons or photons for physics, will contribute to scientific advances in chemistry, materials science, biology and disciplines including chemistry and biology Ritchie Patterson medicine. By enhancing the capabilities of by enhancing accelerator capabilities. Particle Professor the accelerators essential to research in accelerators generate powerful X-ray and these fields, the Center for Bright Beams will electron beams that reveal the structure of particle accelerators: beam production, beam improve the performance of small laboratory biological molecules and materials, produce acceleration, and beam transport and storage. instruments and industrial tools as well as collisions that replicate conditions in the early large colliders and X-ray sources. universe or reveal the structure of the proton, This center’s overarching research goal is and serve critical functions in manufacturing. to increase the intensity (brightness) of The center’s industrial partners will charged particle beams by a factor of 100, incorporate their inventions into instruments “Beam science enables these devices, but thus enabling ultra-fast electron imaging for for manufacturing integrated circuits, questions in beam science require a new materials science and biology, extending the producing medical radioisotopes and approach,” said Ritchie Patterson, principal reach of particle colliders, and offering new developing new pharmaceuticals. CBB will investigator for the Center for Bright Beams tools to the semiconductor industry for the transfer their bright beam technology to (CBB) at Cornell. “To realize the full potential creation and inspection of integrated circuits. market leaders in accelerator components, of beams for science and industry, we need electron microscopy, photolithography and to combine the expertise of accelerator For many years, scientists at Cornell and semiconductor inspection. physicists with the knowledge and tools of elsewhere have increased beam brightness scientists and mathematicians from a wide through clever design of devices for beam Along with Patterson and Sibener, the range of disciplines.” production, acceleration and transport, and project funded by the STC Integrative through largely trial-and-error improvements Partnerships program includes researchers That is precisely what CBB proposes to do, in materials processing. This strategy has and collaborators at the University of with experts in physical chemistry, materials led to enormous advances, benefiting the California-Los Angeles, the University science, condensed matter physics, plasma Cornell Electron Storage Ring and many of Florida, the University of Maryland at physics and mathematics strengthening other accelerators, but it is now reaching its College Park, Brigham Young University, accelerator scientists from around the country. limits. As a result, scientists do not control Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University or even understand all of the factors that and Chicago State University. Scientists The new center, which includes leaders from contribute to surface resistance, which at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the Cornell Laboratory for Accelerator- drives both the length of an accelerator and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, the based Sciences and Education (CLASSE), its energy efficiency, and similar questions University of Toronto and TRIUMF will also will investigate three inseparable themes of remain for other key accelerator technologies. contribute their expertise. BRIGHT BEAMS CORNELL UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES • DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS 9

The Bethe Way 2017 Vol 2.indd 9 6/1/17 9:00 AM Alumni News ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT David Kupperman graduated concurrently David established one of the with a BA in Physics and MEng in Applied & first true multi-strategy hedge Engineering Physics from Cornell in 1992. He recalls many long nights of studying for funds in a mutual fund that exams and doing problem sets, thinking that received the Institutional perhaps he should have picked an easier major. His most memorable class was Investors’ Innovation Award classical mechanics with Professor David in 2015 Lee who always engaged his students with his interesting stories, at times going off on After receiving his PhD and spending several a tangent unrelated to physics. While on spectacular years at APL, David accepted campus for his 20th reunion, he attended a position at Goldman Sachs in New York a session demonstrating various physics City. Within a couple of months of joining experiments in Clark Hall with his family. Goldman, the Russian debt crisis occurred And there, amongst the captive audience, which certainly made for a stressful start on was Professor Lee enjoying the experiments Wall Street. David ended up working in the as much as the kids in the audience. David private equity group, unlike most physicists found such a genuine love of science on Wall Street who work in quantitative evident in so many of his physics professors analysis or technology, solidifying his early at Cornell. finance training. David then was recruited to The Carlyle Group in Washington, D.C., While at Cornell, David also met his future one of the largest private equity firms. He wife, Jin, in French class. David had had a unique position of working directly for complained to a friend that he never met one of the founders, who was an incredible women in his physics classes. So his friend mentor. David then spent some time at a suggested that he take French class as his large hedge fund and a small private asset father had done while he was an engineering management firm as a partner before moving student. After Cornell, David accepted a on to Neuberger Berman. position at the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) of the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Today, David is a managing director at in Maryland. APL is a defense research Neuberger Berman, a privately held asset facility that is managed by JHU. There he management firm. He co-heads the hedge was fortunate enough to end up in the space fund solutions group, developing custom department and work on the MSX satellite portfolios for predominantly institutional program. While he worked as a staff scientist investors. He established one of the at APL, he enrolled in the graduate physics first true multi-strategy hedge funds in a program at JHU. Luckily, his bosses were mutual fund that received the Institutional kind enough to let him attend classes in the Investors’ Innovation Award in 2015. His morning and then come to the lab for his full team evaluates and invests in a variety of day of work. In the evening, he would drive hedge fund strategies including distressed back to Hopkins to do his graduate work, and debt, asset backed securities, and equity long try to squeeze in Tae Kwon Do classes. He short, among others. David Kupperman earned his PhD in Physics and his black belt while working full time as a staff physicist at Besides his regular work, David is now trying attending Cornell Engineering in the fall. He APL. He also finally got married to Jin after to establish a Physics advisory committee to and his wife also have younger twins who 7 years! It was a fun few years of very hard help support the Physics department and its hope to be future Cornellians. His favorite work – of courting among other duties – and students at Cornell. You may see him visiting pastimes are hiking and skiing with his family putting lots of mileage on his car. us on campus as his oldest son, Avi will be and his dogs in the Adirondacks.

10 VOL II 2017 • THE BETHE WAY • physics.cornell.edu

The Bethe Way 2017 Vol 2.indd 10 6/1/17 9:00 AM Women in Physics holds 40-year reunion BY LINDA B. GLASER

Forty years ago, Cornell’s physics department had no female faculty or postdocs. Of the 150 or so graduate students, six were women, five of them only in their second year. The women formed the Women in Physics (WIP) which WIP contributed. At the time, about The current incarnation of WIP still hosts group, still going strong four decades later. 5% of physics graduate students in the U.S. lunches during the semester and when The changes—and similarities--since WIP were female; by 2008, that percentage had there’s a female physics speaker on campus, began will be reflected upon in an anniversary climbed to 20%. she’s invited to speak to WIP. Though topics celebration, the Cornell Women in Physics like work-life balance are often discussed, and Related Fields All-Class Reunion, to “WIP organizations can make an enormous Thom-Levy says that the WIP conversation be held Sat., Oct. 15. The keynote speaker difference in inspiring young women to is about science in general, and also will be Laura Greene MS ’80, PhD ‘84, continue in physics, and science obviously addresses practical questions like how to chief scientist of the National High Magnetic benefits enormously from realizing that find a research group. Field Laboratory, president-elect of the potential,” says Patterson. “Society continues American Physical Society and a founding to give messages to girls that they’re not as A few years ago, undergraduate students member of WIP. capable and brains are not their thing, so felt a need for their own group, says Thom- being in a group that’s encouraging can make Levy, so they could be mentored by other Greene says WIP was “really magical. I’m not a difference.” undergraduates who had made it through sure I would have gotten through graduate four years and who could answer questions school without this group. Grad school is When Patterson was chair of the physics about courses. The initiative was led by really trying and it’s important to have people department, she established a system of Brenna Mockler ’16. you can trust and rely on.” faculty mentors for female and minority students, appointing Teaching Support Kaiwen Zheng ’18, current president of the Patti Sparks, MS ’78, PhD ’83, a WIP Specialist Jenny Wurster and Associate undergraduate WIP, says encountering the founder, recalls that at every meeting of WIP Professor of Physics Julia Thom-Levy as group as a sophomore was one of the factors one person would practice giving a talk while work-life mentors. “Students need someone that convinced her to major in physics. It the others practiced asking questions and they can turn to for advice, or just someone enabled her to meet other women students in offering feedback. These meetings helped to listen,” she explains. As advocates for physics and gave her a sense of community, the women develop important skills, says women students and resources for help and and “made me feel more comfortable with Sparks. “Even now, a small fraction of the conversation, it was a natural extension of the major,” she says. questions at physics meetings are asked Wurster and Thom-Levy’s duties to support by women.” WIP by taking over its organizing functions. “We have a lot of work to do to raise awareness around inclusivity, but I really Although some of the faculty didn’t quite Today’s much larger group of WIP participants think there’s good will,” says Thom-Levy, understand why the women needed their has grown beyond graduate students adding that many men at Cornell have been own groups, says Sparks, the department to include female faculty, students, and important allies, such as Jeevak Parpia, was extremely supportive of WIP. “They gave staff from physics, astronomy, applied & professor of physics and former chair. “I us some money, but we never got a chance engineering physics, biophysics, as well as believe that we are on a trajectory to more to spend it,” she says with a laugh. “Every other related fields. “We do networking outside diverse STEM departments at Cornell.” time we came up with something the chair the department, because it’s important for (Douglas Fitchen) would say, ‘save your students to be exposed to people in other Other groups at Cornell also support women money, we’ll pay for it.’” fields; each person’s experience is so limited,” in STEM fields, such as the Graduate Women says Thom-Levy. This cross-department in Science Ithaca Chapter and the Society of Professor of Physics Ritchie Patterson outreach was more essential when WIP first Women Engineers @ Cornell. ‘81 applied to Cornell in 1979 partly, she started, because of the lack of female physics says, because of the physics department’s faculty and postdocs, “but it still has an For more information about the WIP reputation for being good for women, to important function.” reunion, see http://cornellwip.com/.

CORNELL UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES • DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS 11

The Bethe Way 2017 Vol 2.indd 11 6/1/17 9:00 AM I

Cook Awards honor those committed

to women’s issues | Jenny Wurster BY BILL STEELE

Several individuals and organizations received Constance E. Cook and Alice H. Cook Awards March 9. Cook Awards honor Cornell students, faculty and staff members for their commitment to women’s issues and for improving the climate for women at Cornell. The Cook Award Committee and the University Diversity Council select winners from nominations made by members of the Cornell community.

The awards honor the late Constance E. Cook, Cornell’s first female vice president, and the late Professor Emerita Alice H. Cook, founding member of Cornell’s Committee on the Status of Women. Wurster, center, pictured with Interim President Hunter Rawlings III on left and Craig Wiggers, Director of Administration for Physics Jenny Wurster, teaching support specialist on the right in physics, College of Arts Sciences. Wurster has been an integral part of outreach programs for girls in K-12 education including learn about careers involving mathematics, Expanding Your Horizons, Engaged Cornell science and engineering. She also supports and 4-H Club. The Expanding Your Horizons the Ithaca Community Childcare Center Conference provides a hands-on opportunity Annual Science Day promoting science for for girls in grades 7-9 and their parents to youth in our area.

Vince Kotmel | Recipient of the 2016 Individual Excellence Award

Vince Kotmel has had a lifelong interest in tinkering with gadgets — taking things apart, seeing how they work, putting them back together, and praying there were no parts left over. That love for tinkering, combined with a dedication to student learning and pride in helping others, has kept him at Cornell for 32 years. It has also earned him a 2016 Individual Excellence Award. Kotmel, right, with Interim President Vince began his career on campus in November 1984 as the assistant building manager Hunter R. Rawlings III at Rockefeller Hall, prior to moving into his current role as building manager. The facility is home to the physics department, and is the base for Vince’s work. His responsibilities include setting up the department’s undergraduate labs, as well as creating and repairing apparatus with professors; working alongside faculty members to innovate and update their spaces. As Vince describes it, “I get to do what I love and assist in creating learning opportunities for our students.”

12 VOL II 2017 • THE BETHE WAY • physics.cornell.edu

The Bethe Way 2017 Vol 2.indd 12 6/1/17 9:00 AM I

Cook Awards honor those committed New Electron “Combined with the to women’s issues | Jenny Wurster focused beam of the Microscope electron microscope, BY BILL STEELE specimen. Sees More the detector allows researchers to Than an Image build up a “four- BY BILL STEELE dimensional” map of both position

The electron microscope, a powerful tool for andmomentum of the science, just became even more powerful, electrons...” with an improvement developed by Cornell physicists. Their electron microscope pixel array detector (EMPAD) yields not just an The EMPAD that replaces the usual detector image, but a wealth of information about the Sol Gruner (L), Professor of Physics and David Muller (R), Professor of Applied electrons that create the image and, from and Engineering Physics that, more about the structure of the sample.

“We can extract local strains, tilts, rotations, is made up of a 128x128 array of electron- “The EMPAD records an image frame in less polarity and even electric and magnetic sensitive pixels, each 150 microns (millionths than a millisecond and can detect from one to fields,” explainedDavid Muller, professor of a meter) square,bonded to an integrated a million primary electrons per pixel, per image of applied and engineering physics, who circuit that reads out the signals – somewhat frame,” Muller explained. “This is 1,000 times developed the new device with Sol Gruner, like the array of light-sensitive pixels in the the dynamic range, and 100 times the speed professor of physics, and members of their sensor in a digital camera, but not to form of conventional electron image sensors. research groups. an image. Its purpose is to detect the angles at which electrons emerge, as each electron “Now we can get a better look at Cornell’s Center for Technology Licensing hits a different pixel. The EMPAD is a spinoff processes inside intact cells,” said Lena (CTL) has licensed the invention to of X-ray detectors the physicists have built Kourkoutis, assistant professor of applied FEI, a leading manufacturer of electron for X-ray crystallography work at the Cornell and engineering physics. The low dose of microscopes (a division of Thermo Fisher High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS), radiation allows multiple exposures, to take Scientific, which supplies products and and it can work in a similar way to reveal the time-lapse “movies” of cellular processes or services for the life sciences through several atomic structure of a sample. to view the same specimen from different brands). FEI expects to complete the angles to get a clearer 3-D image. Kourkoutis commercialization of the design and offer Combined with the focused beam of the plans to use these techniques in work with the detector for new and retrofitted electron electron microscope, the detector allows the new Cornell Center for the Physics of microscopes this year. researchers to build up a “four-dimensional” Cancer Metabolism, looking at how cancer map of both position andmomentum of the progresses from cell to cell. “It’s mind-boggling to contemplate what electrons as they pass through a sample researchers around the world will discover to reveal the atomic structure and forces The researchers tested their first EMPAD by through this match of Cornell’s deep inside. The EMPAD is unusual in its speed, installing it in spare port in a state-of-the- expertise in detector science with market sensitivity and wide range of intensities it art FEI microscope. The prototype is used leader Thermo Fisher Scientific,” saidPatrick can record – from detecting a single electron intensively for experiments in the Cornell Govang, technology licensing officer at CTL. to intense beams containing hundreds of Center for Materials Research. thousands or even a million electrons. The scientists described their work in “It would be like taking a photograph of a The work is supported by the U.S. the February 2016 issue of the journal sunset that showed both details on the Department of Energy. Support also came Microscopy and Microanalysis. In the usual surface of the sun and the details of darkest from the Cornell Center for Materials scanning transmission electron microscope shadows,” Muller explained. Research and CHESS, which are supported (STEM), a narrow beam of electrons is fired by the National Science Foundation. The down through a sample, scanning back The improvement is also exciting to life adaptation to the on-campus STEM was and forth to produce an image. A detector scientists because collecting all the scattered supported by the Kavli Institute at Cornell for underneath reads the varying intensity of electrons makes the instrument much more Nanoscale Science, also funded by NSF. electrons coming through and sends a signal sensitive, using a less intense exposure to that draws an image on a computer screen. get an image and limiting damage to a living

CORNELL UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES • DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS 13

The Bethe Way 2017 Vol 2.indd 13 6/1/17 9:00 AM $2.7 million grant Graduate and Undergraduate expands Arts Sciences Awardees The Yennie Prize in Physics, for Active Learning Initiative a senior student majoring in physics BY LINDA B. GLASER who shows unusual promise for future contributions to physics research and The College of Arts and Sciences has who intends to earn a doctorate, went to announced a $2.7 million expansion of its Wenrui Xu. Active Learning Initiative (ALI), which The Kieval Prize in Physics, began five years ago with the conversion of awarded to senior physics students who four large course sequences in physics and demonstrate unusual promise for future biology. Thanks to the generosity of Alex and contributions to physics research, went Laura Hanson, both Class of 1987, six new to Carissa Cesarotti. projects will be launched in the Departments of Music, Classics, Economics, Mathematics, The Hartman Prize in Physics and Physics, and Sociology. Applied Engineering and Physics, awarded to recognize outstanding “These new projects reflect the college’s work in experimental physics by an commitment to education innovation and undergraduate in either program, went to Natasha Holmes to partnering with departments and faculty Saquib Hassan. who have creative ideas about teaching and The Douglas Fitchen Memorial curriculum development,” said Gretchen Award, in support of student travel Ritter, the Harold Tanner Dean of Arts and abroad to study, pursue research, or Sciences. “This expansion of the Active Giving to Physics participate in international physics- Learning Initiative is going hand-in-hand related events held outside the United Gifts of all sizes are powerful with the College’s curriculum effort and I am States, went to graduate students investments in Cornell’s mission and excited about the great ideas emerging from Daniel Citron, Mehmet Demirtas, our department’s future programming. both efforts. We are deeply grateful to the Sam Kachuck, James Maniscalo, Your philanthropy helps educate Hansons for making these new Ryan Porter, Ofri Telem and Sam deserving students, strengthen projects possible.” Whitehead. research that leads to new knowledge and solutions, prepare tomorrow’s The physics project is a way to rethink The Albert Silverman Memorial leaders, and serve the public good. labs as vehicles for developing students’ Award, in support of travel by graduate scientific reasoning, critical thinking, and students in high energy physics, went We are very grateful to our Physics experimentation skills, according to project to graduate students Daniel Hall and Advisory Council for the generous lead Natasha Holmes, assistant professor Peter Koufalis. support to our department. This year of physics. “One of the biggest goals for The Stirling A. Colgate Award, alone, contributions have supported these redesigned courses is to get students in support of enhanced excellence in the creation of an undergraduate thinking critically about the data they collect, physics/astrophysics, went to graduate “Honors Lab” and the Undergraduate the models they develop and evaluate, and student Eve Vagagiakis. Teaching Assistant Initiative – the conclusions they draw,” she explained. both examples directly impact our “Critical thinking in this way is an important The Boochever Fellowship from department and students on a daily and broadly applicable skill, both in and the Boochever family went to Sina basis and we could not have achieved outside of science.” Bahrami for fall of 2016. this success without your support. Because the new courses will reach The Rao Fellowship, endowed by Mail your contribution to: thousands of students and dozens of Professor and Mrs. Vithala Rao in Cornell University graduate teaching assistants through six honor of his late brother, is given to an Department of Physics different courses, Holmes said, “We have an international student to help encourage P.O. Box 25842 opportunity to make a significant impact on study in the U.S. and to recognize their Lehigh Valley, PA 18003-9692 students’ education here at Cornell.” accomplishments. For the second consecutive year, the recipient is Thank You! graduate student Meera Ramaswamy.

14 VOL II 2017 • THE BETHE WAY • physics.cornell.edu

The Bethe Way 2017 Vol 2.indd 14 6/1/17 9:00 AM Catching the Research Bug BY SPENCER DEROOS, YVETTE NDLOVU AND KATHY HOVIS

“I’d been consulting with all kinds of experts all over the place to try to find a way to do this better, but then Arthur comes up with this new invention that is just remarkable.” Arthur Campello

As a precocious high school junior, so I am always very proud to get one that between Cornell, CERN (the European Arthur Campello ’20, wanted to get kind of works,” said Carl Franck, associate Organization for Nuclear Research), and some experience with his 3D modeling professor of physics. “I’d been consulting other universities to build a forward pixel and coding skills outside of the classroom. with all kinds of experts all over the place to detector to be used at CERN. The detector Graduating a year early from Lansing High try to find a way to do this better, but then is complicated for many reasons, including School, just outside of Ithaca, Campello Arthur comes up with this new invention that it needs to be super light and super contacted Cornell physics professor Jim that is just remarkable.” cold, Campello said. Alexander, who connected him to staff at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Franck turned out to be a professor who “Professor Alexander said we need Source (CHESS). They gave him a tour was using and planning for improvements someone who can help put the machine and Campello was lucky enough to get a in the early stage project Campello was together,” Campello said, adding that month-long internship there while still in working on: an inelastic x-ray spectrometer he was the only freshman at one of the high school. developed by Kenneth Finkelstein, staff meetings, which was mostly filled with scientist at the synchrotron. Franck is one postdoctoral students. “I’ve learned not to “I was in awe, thinking that people are of many researchers from Cornell, MIT, say I’m a freshman,” he said with a smile. playing soccer and they have no idea there’s Princeton and other schools that Campello “It discredits me a bit. But if someone asks, antimatter right under them, traveling at met during his time at the synchrotron. obviously, I’m not going to lie.” nearly the speed of light,” Campello said of “If you need to do something, you need Now, Campello works with both the his early days there. “I was given a desk and to be able to think about how a theoretical Alexander and Franck groups. He also has this new very early stage project to work on machine would work and then build the an interest in economics. for one month. But I just overstayed. I kept machine yourself,” Campello said. “I learned coming in.” a lot of machining.” There are risks when faculty involve students in research as freshmen or Campello is one of many Cornell students After being accepted to Cornell in the sophomores, Franck said. They might who latch on to research opportunities College of Arts Sciences, Campello joined neglect their studies if they find research early in their college career, or even before both of Franck’s research groups, which so compelling or fail to explore all of their college. Exposing undergraduates to study how cells behave in liquids and research options if they get pigeonholed research across the spectrum of fields — use a new form of X-ray spectroscopy to into one lab or group. But faculty keep a from sciences to social sciences to the arts study quantum matter. The biophysics close eye to make sure their students are and humanities — has long been a hallmark research could have applications for cancer balancing their priorities. of the university, and many faculty open treatments, among other possibilities, their doors to some students as early as Campello said. “The most important thing around here is they show interest. Arthur,” Franck said. “I sometimes wonder Later that first semester, he also set up who will get this brilliant young man: Will he “In my research, I’m trying to float these another meeting with Alexander, who be trying to solve humanity’s problems or ridiculously thin films off of substrates, told him about a collaborative project making wonderful discoveries in science?”

CORNELL UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES • DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS 15

The Bethe Way 2017 Vol 2.indd 15 6/1/17 9:00 AM 109 Clark Hall Ithaca, New York 14853-2501 Phone: (607) 255-6016 Fax: (607) 255-2643 General email: [email protected]

Physics professor to receive prestigious award in Prague BY YVETTE LISA NDLOVU

David Mermin, the Horace White professor of physics emeritus, has been named the recipient of this year’s Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation VIZE 97 Prize. Mermin learned that he is the 2017 recipient in a letter from the former Czech first lady, Dagmar Havlová. He is the 19th recipient of the award.

Mermin, whose research interests and work lay in theoretical condensed-matter physics and the foundations of quantum physics and special relativity, will be the first physicist to receive this award. He is best known for the Mermin-Wagner theorem, as a long-time columnist for David Mermin Physics Today, and as coauthor of “Solid State Physics” with Neil Ashcroft. The book has been translated into Japanese, German, French, Polish, Portuguese and Russian. Many of his general writings on the culture of science were published in 2016 as “Why Quark Rhymes with Pork, and Other Scientific Diversions.”

The VIZE 97 Prize is an international prize awarded to significant thinkers whose work “crosses the traditional framework of scientific knowledge” and “contributes to the David Mermin understanding of science as an integral part of general culture, and in an unconventional Professor way deals with the fundamental questions of knowledge, being and human existence.” The prize was started in 1991 by the Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation which offers grants for cultural and social objectives and aims to give long-term support to projects that are “forward-looking and pioneering” and which “seek to overturn conventions and foster what may be an inspiration for or have a major and beneficial influence in the future.”

Through giving, you can help us reach our goals for outstanding research and educational excellence Giving to by sponsoring colloquia, hosting conferences at Cornell, introducing technology to our classrooms, and modernizing the equipment in our teaching labs. Larger gifts can endow a Postdoctoral Prize or Graduate Cornell Physics Student Fellowship or support the department’s program to address the national shortage of high school physics.cornell.edu physics teachers. Whether your gift is large or small, a gift to Cornell Physics gives the gift of science to countless individuals. Please take a moment to consider making a gift now.

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