No. 25 Fall 2011

SPECTRUM Department Moves to 21st Century Facilities PAGE 2

NO. 25 | FALL 2011 | UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA—LIN COLN| ANTHONY F. STARACE, EDITOR FOR THE ALUMNI & FRIENDS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY

To do 21st century science, in a single building. The recently built of the construction costs were researchers require 21st century Diocles Extreme Light Laboratory, provided in part by the University of facilities. With the Department’s move occupying the former atomic collisions Nebraska Foundation and in part by in May 2010 to a new building on laboratory located below ground the University. NIST is part of the U.S. 16th Street, opposite the Walter Scott between Richards Hall and Behlen Department of Commerce; its funding Engineering Center, faculty, postdocs, Lab, will remain, and the lower two comes from the American Recovery and and students will have excellent floors of Behlen will be renovated to Reinvestment Act of 2009. facilities for the Department’s growing accommodate the growing research The new 4-story, 124,000 sq. ft. research and teaching programs. The effort centered on that laboratory. building for the Department includes new $37 million building was funded In addition to the new building two lecture halls, four teaching labs, by the Nebraska Unicameral as part of for the Department, UNL has and eight classrooms, as well as modern the University’s request for building received Federal stimulus funding research space. Key features are atrium renovation funding. However, it was of $6.9 million from the National spaces extending from the first to found to be less expensive to construct Institute of Standards and Technology third floors and containing two major a new building than to renovate Brace (NIST) to help fund the $13.8 works of commissioned art by artist Lab (built in 1906), Ferguson Hall million construction cost for a new Ray King of Philadelphia (for a fly- (1948), and Behlen Lab (1965). This Nanoscience Metrology Facility located through, visit King’s web site [http:// move re-unites the Department’s adjacent to the new Department www.rayking.nu/#/Videos,2/] and select faculty, students, and teaching facilities facilities. The non-Federal portions Tetra/Chiral from the Videos drop

2 | SPECTRUM down menu). The building is UNL’s second LEED-certified building, i.e., having a sustainable, environmentally friendly design. Nationally-known Perkins and Will Architects designed the new building, with Bahr Vermeer Haecker of Lincoln as the locally-based architectural firm. The building was constructed by Sampson Construction. It is expected to obtain a “Silver” LEED rating. Jorgensen Hall was dedicated on October 29th, 2010. Alan Heeger (B.S. 1957), who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2000, was the keynote speaker. He recounted how the highlight of his undergraduate years was a course in modern physics taught by Ted Jorgensen that introduced him to quantum physics. Also, he related that he once asked Ted Jorgensen how Demolition of Ferguson Hall to succeed in physics. Jorgensen’s answer surprised him: Jorgensen by Cliff Bettis, Research Associate of experimental faculty grew to more inquired about Heeger’s grades in Professor and Lecture Demonstrations than half the Department’s faculty, English. Ted then went on to explain Manager, on October 27th. The creating each new laboratory out of that being able to communicate well, day after the dedication ceremony existing space became more and more both verbally and in writing, were was a home football game. So the difficult and expensive. In addition, essential to success as a scientist. Department organized an open house owing to good hiring decisions, the A highlight of the dedication was and tailgate party before the game, new faculty have been overwhelmingly the ribbon-cutting ceremony. A very with students giving tours and lab successful and thus have growing elaborate Rube Goldberg device was demonstrations and Professor Tim Gay groups of postdocs and graduate used to cut the ribbon. The device was giving his famous “Football Physics” students plus associated research the winning entry in a Department- lecture. faculty, all of whom have required new sponsored contest, open to the The 32,000 sq ft Nanoscience office space as well as expanded lab general public, for proposals on how Metrology Facilty will provide state- space. Furthermore, the success of the best to cut the ribbon. Jayme Cox, a of-the-art laboratories, shared research condensed matter faculty in building sophomore at Pius X High School in facilities, and administrative space for interdisciplinary collaborations in Lincoln, and her father, John, a high UNL’s growing nanoscience effort, new areas of nanotechnology has school physics teacher there, submitted in which Department faculty play a required a number of “core facilities,” the winning entry. Their device had significant role, as do faculty in several i.e., expensive equipment that is shared six steps, including a swinging bowling other departments and colleges. by many researchers. Owing to the ball, an auger, and, to finally cut the The facility is designed to make scarcity of space for such necessary ribbon, a large guillotine. Their device interdisciplinary collaboration possible facilities, they heretofore have had to be extended across much of the length by making core research facilities spread across the UNL campus. Finally, of the rather long new hallway on the available in a single location. It will the Department’s long-standing first floor of Jorgensen Hall. The six provide a low-vibration, temperature- successes in adopting new modes of pieces of the ribbon-cutting device controlled, low-electromagnetic field teaching have required technologically- were first assembled on the day of the environment as well as clean rooms for sophisticated space to accommodate dedication and needed fine-tuning. cutting edge research. more easily the interactive modes However, the device worked perfectly The Department has needed new of learning that have been shown to at the ceremony as well as after the facilities for at least a decade or two, for be most effective. For all of these ceremonies in an encore performance several reasons. In the late 1980s, for reasons, the Department and UNL in response to popular demand. example, the Department decided to nanotechnology researchers welcome The dedication activities actually increase the number of faculty involved the new facilities that address these extended over an entire week. They in forefront areas of experimental problems of success and growth. included a talk on “Comic Book physics, replacing its predominantly Physics 101” by Professor and EDITOR’S NOTE: th theoretical faculty as they retired. This article is based Chairman Dan Claes on October 26 However, this meant that each new in part on articles that appeared in The that explored physics topics inspired experimental faculty hire required new Scarlet by Troy Fedderson, University by iconic comic book heroes and a laboratory space that could only be Communications, (8 May 2008 and Oct wide-ranging selection of physics carved out of existing space in Behlen, 21, 2010), and by the UNL Office of demonstrations and experiments Brace, and Ferguson. As the number Research (14 January 2010).

SPECTRUM | 3 FROM THE CHAIR events (a month following Brace’s death and within a month of the new building’s dedication) Ted Jorgensen was born (13 November 1905). The new building is simply the most visible sign of big changes in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. As New the University of Nebraska enters the Big Ten, it is tempting to make comparisons with our new peers. We certainly can make no effort to compete in size. Currently, with 24 faculty, UNL will have the smallest Physics Department in the Big Ten, where the mean/median size is 49(50). We also offer the Building fewest number of research specialties. However, normalized to undergraduate enrollment, UNL would be expected to have 30 (32) Physics faculty, based on the Big Ten mean (median). This makes the Department’s current target of 29 Only One faculty about right. Big Ten physics departments average one specialty area for every 7 faculty. This makes our focus on 3 also seem about right. Past investments have proven key in placing all our areas competitively. Six Big Ten schools run MRSECs (OSU, NWU, Sign of Big Penn State, U-Minn, UW-M and Nebraska). Six operate Tier-2 computing centers: Indiana, Michigan, and MSU (as part of the Atlas experiment); and Purdue, Wisconsin, and Nebraska (CMS). Only Michigan and Nebraska can boast Changes in an ultrafast petawatt laser center. As the single institution with all three, Nebraska is well-positioned for both impact and funding. While below average in total research dollars ($11M compared to the $17.4M mean and $6.5M(NWU)- $36.595M(MSU) range) in research dollars/faculty ($469K) Department we rank above the $369K average, placing 4th overall in the Big Ten. With a (not yet fulfilled) target of 10 faculty, our AMOP After serving 12 years as Department Chair, Roger Kirby rd stepped down in August 2007 to turn more of his attention group will be tied for 3 in size within the Big Ten. Once it to research. (If you wish to drop him a note of appreciation reaches 14 faculty, CMMP will place just below the average and congratulations, he can most easily be reached through Big Ten group size. Our HEP group is by far the smallest of email: [email protected]) His years of service promoting the all the Big Ten schools (Northwestern’s 3 recent retirements Department, touting its accomplishments, and lobbying on will be filled). Like the Department, the HEP members behalf of its best interests have meant that the Department are tightly focused, in this case on a single CERN collider enjoys an enormous amount of good will and strong support experiment (CMS). from both the College of Arts & Sciences and the University’s For more evidence of our heady growth, consider: central administration. Now that I have assumed the chair’s While for over a decade the Department consistently position, I will try my best to fulfill the high expectations graduated 10-11 Bachelors annually, the year I arrived (1997) upon which that support is based. it was merely 3. This reflected a national trend, and for We began the move into Theodore Jorgensen Hall in the next several years we faced a slump with a fairly steady summer 2010. Fall 2010 classes were taught here, and a week graduation rate of 4-5. Our efforts to attract undergraduates of special activities (which we advertised widely as “Physics into our research teams may have helped to turn that around. Week”) culminated with a dedication and ribbon-cutting Over the past half dozen years the enrollment of Physics on October 29 that drew an estimated crowd of 350. A and Astronomy majors climbed to where we now have 70 Department tailgate with a hundred attendees followed the declared majors and are graduating 12-13 students a year. next day, a football Saturday. The entire Fall proved busy Since I joined, the Department has pretty much as we settled in and the construction crews worked down maintained a steady state of 60-65 graduate students. The the punch list of remaining issues, but I couldn’t help but external committee performing the Department’s 2006 think how historic those same months were 105 years earlier. Academic Program Review suggested the size and projected Then, as well, the Department had just started classes in the growth of our research demanded more like 80-90 graduate lecture hall of its brand new building while construction students. Although we felt constrained by rounds of budgets continued all around them. Early that October (2nd) DeWitt cuts that had reduced the number of college-funded TA lines, Bristol Brace, UNL Physics Department Chair, who had 80-90 became our expressed goal for the past couple years. proposed and designed the new building, died at age 46 (as As of this fall we have 80 graduate students! This growth inconceivable as it seems today, of complications from an may be attributed to new and continuing summer REU infected tooth). The building was completed and formally programs (offering Research Experiences for Undergraduates), transferred to the University by year’s end; that December, our annual WoPHYS Conference for Undergraduate Women the name “Brace Hall” was proposed to honor the physicist’s in Physics, a Big Red Visitors Day for the graduate school contributions to the University. Right in between those two applicants we make offers to, and the all-volunteer-run

4 | SPECTRUM 8-week Bridging Program we offer each summer to the A PROFILE OF DANIEL CLAES incoming class, as well as the establishment of a number of pipelines with specific undergraduate institutions. The Diocles Extreme Light Laboratory, where work is In Fall 2007 Dan Claes done with high energy, ultra fast pulses of laser light, has was named Department been undergoing an upgrade to a power of 1 petawatt (1015 Watt) – which will make Diocles one of the world’s Chair, succeeding most powerful lasers. A recent $1,825,345 grant Roger Kirby. Claes, an through the National Science Foundation’s Academic Research Infrastructure Program is funding renovations experimental high energy to the Behlen Laboratory basement and sub-basement, physicist, joined the converting the space into a state-of-the-art, collaborative laboratory, the High Power Laser Science Collaboratory. Department in August This 4,991-square-foot expansion to Diocles will include 1996. With students and five laboratories, collaborative research space for laser postdocs and the Department’s tightly-knit High scientists and a chamber for a second high-power laser, to be built by Donald Umstadter and his team, with funding Energy Physics group, he does research at both Fermi from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. National Laboratory (Chicago) and CERN (Geneva). UNL’s Tier-2 Computing Center, a collaborative effort with Computer Science and Engineering, is one of only He is also a Principal Investigator on the Cosmic Ray seven U.S. CMS Tier-2 sites in the Worldwide LHC Observatory Project (CROP), an ambitious outreach Computing Grid, the first truly worldwide grid computing infrastructure. This grid combines the computing power effort to involve Nebraska high school science of more than 140 independent computer centers in 34 teachers and students as contributing collaborators countries and supports the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments. Data has been transferred at peaks of 10 in a large scale study of cosmic ray showers. gigabytes per second, the equivalent of two full DVDs of data a second. Ken Bloom serves as Tier-2 coordinator for the US-CMS and is co-primary investigator on the UNL Claes received his B.S. degree with honors in physics part of the project with Aaron Dominguez and computer and mathematics at the University of Northern scientist David Swanson, Director of UNL’s Research Iowa and his Ph.D. from Northwestern University Computing Facility. Despite the continued noise and occasional (1991). His dissertation concerned the measurement interruption in services, we’re excited that the of the cross section for photoproduction of D*± construction boom continues. Federal stimulus funds of $6.9 million from the National Institute of Standards mesons at the Fermi National Laboratory (FNL) and Technology is providing half of the $13.8 million fixed target experiment (E687). As a postdoctoral total construction costs of a new Nanoscience Metrology Facility. The 32,000-square-foot Facility will house researcher for SUNY-Stony Brook, he worked on the shared research facilities and administrative space the FNL DZero experiment, developing software (currently located in several buildings across campus) of the Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience “trigger” codes (to make real time data selections immediately adjacent to Jorgensen Hall. Complementing with the aim of reducing the data collection rates this is the $6.3M Research Development, Testing & Evaluation congressional appropriation that NCMN to values manageable by the experiment’s storage Director David Sellmyer secured, some of which goes systems) and performing a search for the scalar top toward the purchase of new equipment for the facility. squark (a theoretical Supersymmetric partner to the As always we hope you’ll consider visiting sometime to see some of these changes first hand. top quark). Since joining UNL, he has overseen the upgrade to, and then led, DZero’s trigger effort. He Sincerely, continues conducting searches for exotic extensions to particle physics’ Standard Model, with the aim Daniel R. Claes of setting limits on the existence of a number Professor and Chair theoretically-predicted Supersymmetric particles.

CONTACT US Dan Claes, Chair, and Anthony Starace, Editor, encourage you to contact us with your news and comments. Our emails are: [email protected] and [email protected] Also, the Department Web page is: http://physics.unl.edu/ NEW FACULTY PROFILE Martin Centurion In academic year 2008-2009 the graduating in 2000 with Highest Office of Basic Energy Sciences through Department carried out a search for a Distinction and High Honors in Physics. the Atomic, Molecular, and Optical tenure-track assistant professor with He also won Michigan’s William L. Sciences program. In 2009 DOE received expertise in experimental atomic, Williams Award for Best Undergraduate 1,750 applications for Early Career molecular, optical, and plasma (AMOP) Thesis in Physics. He earned his Ph.D. Research grants and 69 awards were physics. Over 50 applications were in physics from California Institute made, giving a success rate of less than received, 5 were short-listed and of Technology in 2005. His doctoral 4%. interviewed, and Martin Centurion research, done under the supervision of The goal of Centurion’s project is to of the Max Professor Demetri Psaltis, concerned the measure the 3-dimensional structure Planck Institute nonlinear propagation of femtosecond and dynamics of isolated molecules in for Quantum laser pulses. Following graduation, the gas phase. The project will provide Optics (MPQ) he was awarded an Alexander von a means to observe ultrafast dynamics in Garching, Humboldt Foundation Postdoctoral in both space and time in previously Germany, was Research Fellowship, which he held inaccessible systems. A new method is offered the while working in the Laboratory for proposed to accomplish this. It involves position. He Attosecond and High-Field Physics at ultrafast electron diffraction and laser- accepted the offer the MPQ in Garching, Germany. induced alignment to target molecules and joined the Shortly after arriving at UNL, the and ultrafast reactions that cannot be Department in Department of Energy’s Office of imaged by other methods. If successful, Fall 2009. At UNL he plans to investigate Science announced in January 2010 that this method could be utilized for dynamical processes on an ultrafast Martin was awarded a $750,000 Early elucidating the structure of biomolecules timescale and with atomic resolution. Career Research Program grant for his that cannot be crystallized, and has the Martin Centurion was born and proposal entitled “Ultrafast Electron capability to produce images of fast raised in Paraguay. He earned his B.S. Diffraction from Aligned Molecules.” conformational changes in complex degree at the University of Michigan, Funding is being provided by the DOE molecules.

NEW FACULTY PROFILE Ilya Kravchenko

Dr. Ilya Kravchenko joined the positions before coming to UNL. Collider (LHC) and served as the Department faculty as an Assistant Ilya brings a broad range of talents project manager for MIT’s Tier 2 Professor in to the experimental High Energy computing facility for CMS. Ilya has August 2008. Physics (HEP) research group. His also been involved in the study of After receiving his Ph.D. research employed the CLEO ultra-high energy cosmic-ray neutrinos undergraduate (short for “Cleopatra”) detector at with the RICE (Radio Ice Cerenkov and masters the Cornell Electron Storage Ring Experiment) experiment located in degrees at the (CESR, pronounced “Caesar”) to Antarctica. Moscow Institute study properties of the tau lepton. As During his first year at UNL, Ilya of Physics and a postdoc at MIT, Ilya first joined the was successful in obtaining research Technology, Ilya CDF (Collider Detector at Fermilab) support from the National Science moved to the experiment at Fermilab’s Tevatron Foundation and the American Recovery U.S. to complete Collider where he became a leader and Reinvestment Act. He continues a Ph.D. degree studying the characteristics of B to work on CERN’s LHC experiment at the University of Kansas in 1999. mesons, which contain bottom quarks. as his primary research project while He then worked for the Massachusetts He then turned to the Compact Muon maintaining an active role in particle Institute of Technology (MIT) in Solenoid (CMS) experiment being astrophysics experiments. different postdoctoral research prepared for CERN’s Large Hadron — Gregory R. Snow

6 | SPECTRUM NEW FACULTY PROFILE Alexei Gruverman In Fall 2007, Alexei Gruverman polarization in ferroelectric thin films. of butterfly wings! joined the Department as Associate He pioneered a new form of Scanning Gruverman’s pioneering Professor of Physics. He brings Probe Microscopy called Piezoresponse development of the PFM technique his expertise in Scanning Probe Force Microscopy (PFM) that allowed and his continual advancement of Microscopy mapping the electric polarization its capabilities to enable their wider to both the and imaging the domain structure of use have kept him at the top of the Department’s ferroelectric materials on the nanoscale field, even as it grows rapidly due to Condensed in a nondestructive manner - a major increasing interest in applications Matter and advantage in comparison with electron to ferroic materials. He is in high Materials Physics microscopy. The PFM approach also demand as a collaborator, speaker, and (CMMP) group opened a possibility to manipulate conference organizer as his creativity and the Nebraska the domain structure at will, allowing and scholarly accomplishments Center for investigation of the switching dynamic continue to propel the field forward. Materials and properties as well. Gruverman In 2004, he was awarded the Ikeda Nanoscience continued this line of research when he Memorial Foundation Award (Japan) (NCMN). joined Sony Corporation in Yokohama “for significant contributions to Alexei studied physics in in 1997 as a member of the research nanoscale science and ferroelectric Yekaterinburg (formerly Sverdlovsk), project aimed at development of technology.” In 2010 he received an Russia, which lies in the eastern ferroelectric random access memory Outstanding Achievement Award foothills of the Ural Mountains. In (FeRAM). from the International Symposium on 1990 he completed his Ph.D. in solid Upon joining North Carolina Integrated Ferroelectrics. state physics at Ural State University, a State University in 2000, Gruverman At UNL, Alexei has built a new major center for the study of domains was among the first to apply PFM to PFM laboratory for investigations of in ferroelectric crystals. Following a wide range of biological systems, polarization domains and domain a postdoctoral appointment there, finding that piezoelectricity is pervasive dynamics in ferroelectric thin films he joined the National Institute for in biological materials. Although and nonvolatile memory devices, as Research in Inorganic Materials and it has been known for more than well as multiferroic (e.g, combined later the Joint Research Center for half a century that bone tissue is magnetic and ferroelectric) materials Atom Technology in Tsukuba, Japan. piezoelectric, using high-resolution and composites. In addition, he works Motivated by applications to the PFM Alexei was the first to localize the with most research groups investigating development of nonvolatile memory piezoresponse in the helical fibrils of ferroic materials. He is also developing technologies based on the bi-stable bone collagen. He has also imaged the research projects having medical and character of ferroelectric polarization, nanoscale piezoelectric activity in tooth biological interest in collaboration with Alexei recognized the need for dentin and other collagen-containing the UN Medical Center. nanoscale measurement and control of tissues such as, e.g., in the chitin fibers — Stephen P. Ducharme

INTERIOR VIEW OF JORGENSEN HALL

SPECTRUM | 7 NEW FACULTY PROFILE Axel Enders In Fall 2007, Axel Enders joined for magnetic imaging with atomic in ultra thin films.” From 1999 – the Condensed Matter and Materials resolution. 2007 he held postdoctoral and staff Physics (CMMP) Enders, a German citizen, obtained scientist positions at the Simon Fraser group. His his Diplomarbeit (diploma project) University, Burnaby, Canada and the background in surface science at Martin Luther Max-Planck Institute for Solid State in nanoscale University Halle in Wittenberg, Research in Stuttgart, Germany. At magnetism made Germany. He obtained his Ph.D. Simon Fraser University his research him the strongest in physics from the Max-Planck- was supported by an Alexander von candidate for Institute for Microstructure Physics Humboldt Foundation Postdoctoral the position and the Physics Department of the Research Fellowship focused on from amongst a Martin Luther University, Halle, experimental and theoretical research large number of Germany, in 1998 and received the on the magnetoresistance of metallic applicants. An highest Ph.D. student award. His multilayers. important reason doctoral research, done under the In 2008, soon after arriving at UNL, for the search was to attract a candidate supervision of Professor Jürgen the National Science Foundation who could bring to UNL expertise Kirschner, resulted in his thesis titled, awarded Enders a prestigious $400,000 in scanning tunneling microscopy “Mechanical stress and ferromagnetism Continued on page 9

NEW FACULTY PROFILE Bradley A. Shadwick Bradley A. Shadwick joined the Ontario in London, Ontario and his is to provide the requisite knowledge Atomic, Molecular, Optical, and M.Sc. in physics from the University base for the development of a variety Plasma (AMOP) physics group in Fall of Toronto. He obtained his Ph.D. in of advanced accelerator applications, 2007. He was the top candidate in a physics from The University of Texas the subject of the interaction of search carried at Austin. His doctoral thesis research short, intense laser pulses with an out the prior was titled, “On the Hamiltonian underdense plasma is rich with new academic year for Structure of the Linearized Maxwell- and fundamental plasma physics. a plasma theorist Vlasov System.” From 1996 – 2007 he In 2008 Shadwick was invited to whose interests held various postdoctoral and visiting speak at the 50th Annual Meeting of and experience scientist positions at the University of the APS Division of Plasma Physics in focused on the California at Berkeley and at Lawrence Dallas, TX, on “Nonlinear Depletion new area of Berkeley National Lab. In Berkeley and Dephasing in Laser Wakefield laser-plasma his research focused on intense laser- Accelerators.” Also in 2008, the DOE interactions. A plasma interactions in order to assist Office of Fusion Energy Sciences prime aim of this the development of advanced particle awarded Shadwick a three-year Plasma search was to accelerators. Physics Junior Faculty Award in the attract a candidate who could provide Shadwick’s research is a mixture amount of $561,840. This grant is a theoretical component to the laser- of analytical theory and computer- entitled “Wavebreaking and Particle plasma research carried out in the based investigation, exploring the Trapping in Collisionless Plasmas.” Diocles Extreme Light Laboratory. fundamental physical processes of Among Shadwick’s recent results is the Shadwick, a Canadian citizen, intense laser-plasma interactions, such development of a simple, nonlinear obtained his B.Sc. with honors in as wake generation, particle trapping, analytical expression for the rate applied mathematics and theoretical and particle acceleration. Although the of laser energy loss in laser-plasma physics at The University of Western principal motivation for this research accelerators.

8 | SPECTRUM NEW FACULTY PROFILE Xia Hong

In academic year 2009-2010 Xia City Excellent Graduate Award and the exploring properties of ferroelectric Hong was offered an Assistant Professor Peking University Excellent Graduate and multiferroic oxide materials at the position in the Department in the area Award. She received her Ph.D. in nanoscale. of experimental Condensed Matter applied physics from Yale University Hong’s expertise in complex oxide and Materials Physics (CMMP). Hong in 2006. Her doctoral research was heterostructures will broaden the was selected performed in Professor Charles CMMP group’s research activities. from about 120 Ahn’s group, which is one of the Her planned research in the fields applicants for world’s leading groups in the physics of interfacial magnetoelectric the position. Her of complex oxide heterostructures. phenomena and electronic transport research expertise Following graduation, she was a are complementary to research being lies in the areas postdoctoral research associate in performed by Christian Binek, Evgeny of transport physics at Penn State, where she Tsymbal, and Kirill Belashchenko. Her phenomena at the focused on the transport properties of interests in scanning probe microscopy nanoscale and in graphene, a material whose properties overlap nicely with the studies of Alexei low dimensional may potentially have broad implications Gruverman, Axel Enders, and systems (such for nanoelectronics. Sy-Hwang Liou. In addition, her as correlated At UNL Hong plans to fabricate and expertise in the physics of graphene oxides and graphene), epitaxial growth study complex oxide heterostructures may lead to collaborations with Peter of complex oxide thin films and in which the control of the oxide Dowben and Stephen Ducharme. heterostructures, nanofabrication, and phase (e.g., ferromagnetic or Hong’s scientific expertise is especially scanning probe microscopy. She joined antiferromagnetic, metallic or germane for the future development the Department in January 2011. insulating) may be achieved by of the Nebraska MRSEC, whose Xia Hong was born and raised in nanostructuring or through electric research will be broadened and further China. She earned her B.S. degree in field effects. Other research directions strengthened through her studies of electronics from Peking University in involve creating and imaging quantum complex oxide heterostructures and 1998, where she also won the Beijing confinement in graphene and electron transport.

Continued from page 8 arrangement or interactions with the substrate, molecular ligands, etc. Faculty Early Career Development Important aspects are the development We Can Do Award for research on “Self-Assembled of new nanostructure fabrication Magnetic Nanostructures.” This strategies and the development of research may have applications to instrumentation. He is a regular user Science! computer hard drives and other high- of synchrotron radiation at national density data storage devices. As part laboratories for his experiments on of the grant’s outreach component, nanomagnetism. Enders has organized in Fall 2009 a Enders was an invited speaker at national conference for undergraduate the 2008 American Physical Society women in physics UNL (WoPHY’09). Spring meeting. He is also a Co-PI The second and third such conferences in the NSF-funded Nebraska MRSEC took place here in Fall 2010 and Fall “Quantum and Spin Phenomena in 2011 (see the 2011 poster at right). Nanomagnetic Structures.” Among Ender’s research concerns surface- Ender’s recent outreach activities is supported nanostructures, from single a collaboration with teachers and atoms to complex hybrid network students from community colleges and structures. His focus is on the study local high schools on the development UNL DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY of the electronic properties and the of a scanning tunneling microscope for UNIVERSITY OF magnetism in such systems and how classrooms. WoPHY11 NEBRASKA–LINCOLN Oct. 20-22, 2011 these properties depend on the atomic — Terese M Janovec Women in Physics

SPECTRUM | 9 Joan Dreiling in her lab. Dreiling Selected to Attend 2010 Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting

In June 2010 Joan Dreiling, then a young researchers typically are from meeting. second year graduate student, made her more than 60 countries. Dreiling, a native “I feel very privileged that I was… first international trip. Her destination of Ellis, KS, applied at the university chosen to attend the meeting. In was Lindau, Germany, where Dreiling level, and her application was selected the mornings, we attended plenary interacted with 59 Nobel laureates and and forwarded to the National Science lectures, and in the afternoons we 670 young research students at the 60th Foundation (NSF) by Chancellor Harvey broke out into small groups where annual Lindau meeting, which in 2010 Perlman. The NSF chose a handful of we were able to have discussions with covered an interdisciplinary range of applicants and sent their paperwork on various Laureates. There were many science areas. The Lindau meetings to the conference committee in Germany. additional opportunities to interact involve both formal talks by Nobel The international applicant pool typically with the Laureates; for example, one laureates and social events, including is about 10,000. Dreiling is the first UNL evening I had dinner with Prof. Roy a boat trip to the Isle of Mainau. The student in recent history to attend the Continued on page 11

10 | SPECTRUM Continued from page 10

Glauber (2005 Nobel Prize “for his contribution to the quantum theory of optical coherence”) and the next evening with Prof. James Cronin (1980 Nobel Prize “for the discovery of violations of fundamental symmetry principles in the decay of neutral K-mesons”). I also made many contacts with fellow students from around the world, both within physics and other sciences. It was John D. Burton very enjoyable discussing not only their research but also their cultures and educational systems. This was an incredible experience that I am sure I will reflect upon many times Burton Receives UNL throughout my career.” Dreiling received her undergraduate degree in physics Postdoctoral Award from Ft. Hays State University, where two of the physics faculty John D. Burton (B.S. 2003, M.S. scientific journals, was invited to are UNL alums. Says Dreiling, 2006, Ph.D. 2008) was selected by the give talks at two major international “Ken Trantham (Ph.D. 1996) and UNL Office of Postdoctoral Studies to conferences, and taught in Spring Kayvan Aflatooni (B.S. 1992, M.S. receive the 2010 Outstanding Postdoc 2010 an advanced graduate level 1994, Ph.D. 1998) are very much Award at its first annual Postdoc and course (Physics 951, Advanced Topics responsible for me being both in Mentor Awards Luncheon. The event in Solid State Physics). According physics and here at UNL. When … was held April 7th, 2010, as part of to Tsymbal, one of Burton’s most I took Ken’s intro physics course…I the UNL Research Fair. Burton was important research contributions is his was hooked. Kayvan was also a nominated by his faculty mentor, prediction of a new magnetoelectric fantastic teacher …. When it came Evgeny Tsymbal, for his outstanding effect involving the possibility to time to apply for graduate schools, research accomplishments and change the magnetic order of a material both Kayvan and Ken highly innovation, his contributions to by applying an electric field. “The recommended that I apply to UNL. teaching and mentoring, and his service. importance of this result is hard to I’m very glad that I took their advice Three years ago, Burton was one overestimate because it may lead to and chose to come to graduate of only eight students to receive an a completely new way to manipulate school here.“ NU Presidential Graduate Fellowship magnetically-stored data,” said Tsymbal. At UNL, Dreiling is doing her for the 2007-8 academic year. These Burton has also been involved research under the supervision of prestigious Fellowships honor NU with research groups elsewhere. As Professor Timothy Gay. “I look graduate students – four students at the a graduate student, he did extensive at the scattering of spin-polarized University of Nebraska-Lincoln, two collaborative work with Seagate electrons from chiral targets,” she at the University of Nebraska Medical Technologies Corporation. More said. “A chiral target is one that has Center, and two at the University of recently, as a result of an invited a preferential handedness. There are Nebraska at Omaha – on the basis of seminar and visit to Oak Ridge right-handed molecules and left- high scholastic performance, personal National Laboratory (ONRL), he handed molecules….We are trying accomplishment and innovative has spearheaded a new collaboration to see if a spin-polarized electron research projects. The Fellowships between the Oak Ridge group and [scatters from] a chiral target of one carry an annual stipend of $24,000, Tsymbal’s group on new multiferroic handedness differently than from with funding provided through the materials and interfaces. one with the other handedness…. I University of Nebraska Foundation. Throughout his career at UNL, am hoping to find an asymmetry in Burton received his Ph.D. in Burton has played an active role in the these interactions….” May 2008. His dissertation, on life of the Department. As a graduate Dreiling is still a few years away “Magnetoresistive Phenomena in student, he served as the graduate from receiving her doctorate, but Nanoscale Magnetic Systems,” was student liaison to the external review she’s already fairly confident that she supervised by Professor Evgeny team that carried out the most recent would like to teach at a small college. Tsymbal. He is currently a postdoctoral Academic Program Review of the “I enjoyed the small university research associate in Tsymbal’s group Department. As a postdoc, Burton environment as an undergrad, but working on emerging phenomena in is mentoring graduate students in we’ll see,” she said. “I never thought oxide heterostructures using a new Tsymbal’s group. Burton’s ultimate that I would be here, so who knows computational technique. He has career goal is to continue basic research what will happen in a few years.” already published 16 articles in leading with technological applications.

SPECTRUM | 11 RETIREMENTS Roger D. Kirby

By S. Ducharme and A.F. Starace 2008 Kirby’s research leadership was outside the Department. He was an recognized by the Vice Chancellor for early adopter of Peer Instruction, Professor Roger D. Kirby retired Research, who honored Kirby with an an IE method of particular value in in May 2011. He served as Chair of Award for Outstanding Contributions large lecture classes, owing to its use the Department for the twelve years to the Development of Research at the of an electronic student response from 1995-2007, during which the University of Nebraska. system that provides instantaneous Department greatly changed the way we Kirby obtained his B.S. degree in feedback to the instructor. This teach physics and significantly increased physics from Michigan State University technique spread quickly among the its many research activities. Following in 1964, and his Ph.D. from Cornell Department’s introductory courses, his service as Chair, he represented University in 1969. Following a and throughout the University, as the Department on the committee postdoctoral research appointment at faculty from other disciplines began overseeing the design, construction, the University of Illinois in Urbana- adopting the technique. Most UNL and outfitting of Champaign, he joined UNL in 1971, classrooms are now equipped with the Jorgensen Hall. becoming full professor in 1981. student response technology. He also He continues His early research focus was on developed curricula for a course on the to serve as the the Raman spectroscopy of alkali physics of sound and for the advanced Associate Director halide crystals. After coming to physics laboratory courses. Finally, he of the University’s UNL, he turned his attention to supervised the thesis research of ten Materials combining Raman spectroscopy with M.S. and Ph.D. students and three B.S. Research Science electrical measurements of quasi-one- honors students. Kirby’s excellence in and Engineering dimensional conductors like tantalum teaching was recognized by the College Center (MRSEC) trisulfide. Since the late 1980s, he has of Arts and Sciences’ Distinguished and as Director focused on magnetization dynamics of Teaching Award in 1991. Kirby for Education and thin films, primarily by investigating the Kirby has also been an outstanding Outreach of the Nebraska Center for magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE), role model and mentor to new faculty, Materials and Nanoscience (NCMN). in which reflection from a magnetic largely because of his ability to balance Kirby’s twelve years as Department film rotates optical polarization. In teaching, research, and service while Chair, from 1995 to 2007, was a time of recent years, he has developed this seeking the best approach to each. He great change. Fourteen faculty members technique to the femtosecond time scale has served for a time as director of retired and fifteen were hired. It was using ultrafast lasers. To better interpret the highly successful Saturday Science also a period of building, as we executed the results of the MOKE studies, he program, which has been giving our strategic plan to raise our three developed two complementary models Lincoln elementary school students research concentrations – Condensed of spin dynamics. His research funding a hands-on introduction to physics Matter and Materials Physics (CMMP), has come from the National Science for nearly four decades. As co-PI of Atomic, Molecular, Optical, and Foundation, the Advanced Research Project Fulcrum, he helped place Plasma (AMOP) Physics, and High Projects Agency, the Army Research UNL STEM (Science, Technology, Energy and Particle Physics (HEP) – to Office, and the Office of Naval Research. Engineering and Mathematics) national and international prominence. In addition to his current leadership graduate students into K-12 classrooms Under his leadership, the Department roles in the MRSEC and NCMN as supplementary instructors. Besides became a successful model of a centers, during 2003-2007 he developed serving as Department Chair, he has research-centered Department, while the W.M. Keck Fast Dynamics Center also served in other leadership roles, continuing to develop the quality and as part of the W. M. Keck Center for most notably as Chair of the Graduate innovation of its teaching and service Mesospin and Quantum Information Committee and as Chair of the Building programs. At present each and every Systems. Committee overseeing the construction faculty member has a strong research Throughout his career, Kirby of Jorgensen Hall from the early program and the Department’s external demonstrated an abiding commitment planning stages in 2006 through the funding currently exceeds $10 million to excellence in physics instruction. He final installations and refinements after annually. As Chair, Kirby’s goal was to was among the first in the Department we moved in 2010. “convince the administrators to bet to adopt Interactive Engagement In retirement, Professor Emeritus on us.” They have, providing support (IE) instructional techniques, which Kirby plans to stay in Lincoln and in many cases for our ambitious focus on student learning through continue his research on magnetization initiatives and praising our strategic active interaction with the course dynamics as well as his activities in planning. Under Kirby’s leadership, materials, the instructor, and each improving STEM education and the Department’s successes have amply other. He also promoted IE innovations outreach. He will also do some justified those institutional bets. In among the faculty, both inside and traveling.

12 | SPECTRUM RETIREMENTS Edward G. Schmidt

By S. Ducharme and A.F. Starace variable stars. At UNL, Ed is known as an excellent Schmidt obtained his B.S. degree in teacher. He has taught astronomy at all Professor Edward G. Schmidt is physics from the University of Chicago levels and has mentored a number of retiring at the end of 2011 after a in 1965 and his Ph.D. in astronomy undergraduate and graduate astronomy long career serving the University of from the Australian National University students. He developed a successful Nebraska and in 1969. Following a postdoctoral new course called “Life in the Universe,” the international research position at the University of which brings together UNL experts in community of Arizona in Tucson and a Senior Research Astronomy, Geosciences and Biosciences astronomy and Fellow position at the Royal Greenwich to tell the story of how life might thrive astrophysics Observatory in Herstmonceux, England, on other worlds, and what the wide researchers. he joined the faculty at UNL in 1974, variety of life on Earth tells us. He From 1996 to becoming a full professor in 1982. was Co-Director of UNL’s Summer 2008 he served as His research focus has been on the High School Astronomy Camp from Associate Dean observational study of variable stars 2001 to 2006. In 1992 he was selected of the College of to better understand their physics and for the College of Arts and Sciences’ Arts and Sciences, to improve the distance scales used to Distinguished Teaching Award. where he was measure the expansion of the universe. He continues to serve as Director of known as “a great Associate Dean,” He has been awarded observational Behlen Observatory, a 30-inch research with a genial manner and a “profound time on many of the world’s major telescope located in Mead, Nebraska, knowledge” of the University. On the astronomical facilities such as, e.g., Kitt where he does his research and hosts national level, he served as Program Peak National Observatory (Arizona), highly popular monthly public nights. In Manager of the Stellar Astronomy and Cerro Tololo InterAmerican Observatory retirement, Professor Emeritus Schmidt Astrophysics Program of the National (Chile), Mt. Wilson Observatory plans to stay in Lincoln and continue Science Foundation (NSF) from 1992- (California), Wise Observatory (Israel), his research, but he will also do some 94. At UNL, he was funded by NSF from and the NASA International Ultraviolet traveling and teach an occasional course 1978 to 2005 for his research on Cepheid Explorer Observatory (Maryland). at UNL.

SEE ALSO In The News … EDITOR’S NOTE: Many articles about Department faculty, staff, and students have appeared on the Web. Below is a selection of recent ones that may be accessed by using the URL indicated.

“Nanotech project receives DOE grant,” Scarlet, 7 January 2010: http://scarlet.unl.edu/?p=5959 “Ultra-fast molecule research nets award,” Scarlet, 4 February 2010: http://scarlet.unl.edu/?p=6639 “Physicist aims to create magnetized electron source,” Scarlet, 4 March 2010: http://scarlet.unl.edu/?p=7313 “New exhibit celebrates emeriti projects,” Scarlet, 1 April 2010: http://scarlet.unl.edu/?p=7947 “Researchers document spintronics breakthrough,” Scarlet, 15 July 2010: http://scarlet.unl.edu/?p=9163 “$1.3M grant to enhance nanoscience research,” Scarlet, 15 July 2010: http://scarlet.unl.edu/?p=9185 “Nano Science Café features UNL physicists,” Scarlet, 15 July 2010: http://scarlet.unl.edu/?p=9187 “$2M grant to enhance laser research,” Scarlet, 21 October 2010: http://scarlet.unl.edu/?p=9512 “Research sends physics faculty to Chicago, Switzerland,” Scarlet, 16 December 2010: http://scarlet.unl.edu/?p=9750 “Physicists eye 4D imaging,” Scarlet, 27 January 2011: http://scarlet.unl.edu/?p=9803 “Tsymbal joins quest for new technologies,” Scarlet, 24 February 2011: http://scarlet.unl.edu/?p=9957

SPECTRUM | 1 3 BRIEFLY NOTED…

Donal Burns, corporation secretary for the NU Board of Regents and professor of Physics and Astronomy, has retired from the university after a 43-year career. His last day was April 5, 2011. Burns’ career has included award- winning teaching, research in atomic and molecular physics, and service as an administrator.

Peter A. Dowben, Charles Bessey Professor of Physics, was elected a Fellow of the American Vacuum Society (AVS) in 2007. The designation “Fellow of the Society” is intended to recognize members who have made sustained and outstanding technical contributions in areas of interest to AVS. Only 0.5% of the membership are Stephen Ducharme’s winning run (photo by He Xi). so designated annually. Prior to joining the Department in 1993, Dowben was a Stephen Ducharme, Professor and Vice Chairman of the Department, placed first faculty member at Syracuse University. in his class (E Stock) at the Nebraska Region Sports Car Club of America Solo 4 Dowben’s research focuses on the racing meet, held on 20 July 2008 at Lincoln South West High School. Second and changes in electronic (band) structure third place winners were 1.5 sec and 3.75 sec behind him. The Sports Car Club of across electronic phase transitions in America provides a means for automobile owners to race competitively. According reduced dimensionality. Of particular to the Nebraska Region’s club web site, the Solo races “emphasize a driver’s interest are ferromagnetism in local ability and [his] car’s handling characteristics. Speeds are no greater than those moment systems or spatially-restricted encountered on legal highways and city-streets. The combination of competition, systems, ferroelectricity, and the concentration, and car feedback creates an adrenaline rushing experience. The nonmetal to metal transition. The fasted single-run time wins!” More recently, Ducharme led the “Sunday with experimental techniques employed a Scientist” program on February 21st, 2010 at Morrill Hall. The topic on that include angle-resolved photoemission, Sunday was “Nanoscience Makes the Light Fantastic,” which examined science and resonant photoemission, inverse technology at the nanometer scale. photoemission and spin-polarized photoemission, characteristic energy loss, low-energy electron diffraction, angle-resolved thermal desorption spectroscopy, X-ray photoemission, and software and her willingness to share Magneto-optic Kerr effect. her knowledge and explain policies and procedures to others were also extolled. Beth Farleigh, Administrative Technician & Assistant to the Kam-Ching Leung, Emeritus Professor Department Chair, was selected to of Astronomy, was honored by the receive the College of Arts and Sciences’ Ministry of Science and Technology Applause Award in of Thailand at the 8th Pacific Rim September 2007. Conference on Stellar Astrophysics Her nominators held in Phuket, Thailand, 5-9 May uniformly noted 2008. The Minister of Science and how “extremely Technology of Thailand awarded knowledgeable” Leung a plaque with the inscription, she is about “National Astronomical Research university policies Institute of Thailand, Ministry of Science and procedures and Technology to Professor Kam-Ching and that when a Leung in recognition of his dedicated new issue arises roles and outstanding contributions to Farleigh she very quickly the development and advancement of researches the astronomy in Thailand.” Leung served matter, makes the right contracts, on the Scientific Organizing Committee Leung (left) receiving plaque from and finds the solution or answer. Her of this conference and was also a co- the Thai Minister of Science and deep knowledge of computers and editor of the conference proceedings. Technology.

14 | SPECTRUM BRIEFLY NOTED… Leslie Marquart, Student Shop Manager in the Department, received the James V. Griesen Award for Exemplary Service to Students at the All Marquart University Honors Convocation, held 18 April 2010. Group conference photo of WoPHY’10 participants.

Axel Enders, Assistant Professor, organized a very successful second Conference for Students in Physics (WoPHY’10) during 7-10 October 2010. The purpose of the conference was to encourage undergraduate women and other under-represented groups to pursue careers in physics. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the laser, the conference was billed as “Laserpalooza” and featured many talks on laser- related research and included a tour of UNL’s Diocles Extreme Light Laboratory. According to Enders, “We had approximately 80 participants, most of them women physicists from across the USA, participating in this 3-day event. Highlights of the conference were the talks given by invited students and plenary speakers, a session focusing on career paths for women in science, the combined social event with the annual Ruckman colloquium and dinner (to which area high school physics teachers are invited), which included dinner and a laser show, and a great barbecue in the Department. We received very positive feedback from the participating students and faculty. I believe that they left Lincoln both encouraged [regarding a career in physics] and with a positive impression about our Department, UNL, and Lincoln.” The third conference (WoPHY11) was held 20-22 October 2011; see http://wophy.unl.edu/

Ralph A. Skomski, Research Associate together with J.M.D. Coey he published of Oxford, United Kingdom, a research Professor, has published a book, Simple the monograph entitled Permanent fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Models of Magnetism (Oxford University Magnetism (Taylor and Francis). More Foundation at Press, 2008). recently, in 2006 David J. Sellmyer and the Research Skomski notes he published a monograph on Advanced Center-Jülich, that although it Magnetic Nanostructures (Springer). Germany, and a was originally Skomski’s expertise in magnetism research scientist anticipated to be a has been recognized by the American at the Kurchatov very introductory Physical Society (APS) Topical Group on Institute in Russia. book (though Magnetism, whose members nominated Tsymbal’s research not a popular Skomski for Fellowship in the APS. is focused on or outreach Skomski received this high honor in computational publication), it 2010. His citation reads as follows: “For materials has developed Tsymbal his significant contributions to our science aiming Skomski into a graduate understanding of magnetic materials, at understanding the fundamental textbook, including current research especially permanent magnets and properties of advanced ferromagnetic and even some controversial topics. magnetic nanostructures.” and ferroelectric nanostructures and According to a review by Stephen materials relevant to nanoelectronics and Blundell of Oxford University, “This Evgeny Y. Tsymbal, Charles Bessey spintronics. These relatively new research is a highly readable and thorough Professor of Physics, was named a fields promise to revolutionize the account of models of magnetism… Fellow of the American Physical Society electronic and data storage industries. that will be of great use to graduate (APS) “for significant contributions to Tsymbal is Director of the NSF Materials students and experts in the field alike. the understanding of spin-dependent Research Science and Engineering The appendices are very thorough and transport in magnetic nanostructures.” Center (MRSEC) on “Quantum and contain a lot of helpful information…” He was nominated in 2008 by the APS Spin Phenomena in Nanomagnetic A Kindle version of the book is Topical Group on Magnetism. Prior to Structures,” which involves over twenty available. Skomski has co-authored two joining the Department in 2002 he was faculty members from six departments other books on magnetism: In 1999 a senior research scientist at University of the University of Nebraska.

SPECTRUM | 1 5 Greene Awarded 2010 APS Davisson-Germer Prize Chris H. Greene (B.S. 1976) was under his advisor Ugo Fano. Following of the APS’s Division of AMO Physics awarded the American Physical Society’s a one-year postdoctoral stint in Richard in 2002-3, and as Chair of JILA during 2010 Davisson-Germer Prize in Atomic Zare’s group at Stanford, he joined the 2005-2006. Physics. The citation for this prize faculty at Louisiana State University in The University of Nebraska invited reads: “For seminal contributions to 1981. His theoretical research interests Greene back to campus in November theoretical AMO are extremely broad, covering much 2006 for Master’s Week, an annual event physics, including of atomic, molecular, and optical featuring five distinguished UNL alumni dissociative (AMO) physics, notably few-body who are invited back to campus to recombination, processes in ultracold gases, dissociative interact with current students through ultracold matter, recombination in electron collisions class visitations, campus tours, and and high-harmonic with molecular ions, photon-atom and meetings with clubs and organizations. generation, and photon-molecule interactions, and Most recently, the Omaha World-Herald for the prediction molecular Rydberg state behavior. ran a feature article on the remarkable of ‘trilobite’ long- Greene has many prior honors. careers of three boyhood friends who range molecules.” He was awarded an Alfred P. Sloan all grew up within a 10 mile radius of Chris Greene has Foundation Fellowship in 1984, an NSF Ashland, knew each other, and were Greene been a Fellow of Presidential Young Investigator Award graduates from the same high school JILA and Professor of Physics at the in 1985, and was elected a Fellow of the between 1972 and 1977 (“Putting University of Colorado at Boulder since American Physical Society in 1990. He Ashland on the Map,” 19 April 2010). 1989. was the first recipient of the APS’s The other two besides Chris are Jeff Greene’s 1976 undergraduate I. I. Rabi Prize in 1991. In 2007 he held Raikes, former President of Microsoft’s degree at UNL was awarded with High a Visiting Miller Professorship at the Business Division and currently CEO of Distinction in both math and physics, University of California-Berkeley, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with an honors thesis supervised received an Alexander von Humboldt and NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson, by Donal Burns. His doctorate in Award for Senior U.S. Scientists. who recently finished his second theoretical atomic physics was earned Among his professional service mission in the International Space in 1980 from the University of Chicago, accomplishments, he served as Chair Station.

Reed Receives Presidential Award Kennedy J. Reed (Ph.D. 1978) following an initial selection process research that benefits both LLNL and was honored by President Obama done at the state level. In announcing the universities. Reed also played a at a ceremony in the East Room of the awards, President Obama said, major role in establishing the National the White House on the afternoon “These awards represent a heartfelt Physical Science Consortium - a national of 6 January 2010. Reed received salute of appreciation to a remarkable coalition of corporations, national one of the Presidential Awards for group of individuals who have devoted laboratories and universities that provide Excellence in Science and Engineering their lives and careers to helping others graduate fellowships for women and Mentoring. The purpose of the award and in doing so have helped us all.” minorities in the physical sciences. is to recognize the crucial role that Reed, a theoretical atomic physicist Reed has been widely honored mentoring plays in the academic at Lawrence Livermore National for his work. He is a fellow of the and personal Laboratory (LLNL) whose research American Physical Society. He was the development of concerns atomic collisions in high 2003 recipient of the John Wheatley students studying temperature plasmas, has been a Award that cited his contributions science or leader in national efforts to increase to physics research and education in engineering and opportunities for minority students and Africa. The California Section of the who belong to professionals in the sciences. He has American Physical Society named an minorities that are been instrumental in the development of award in honor of Reed, and annually underrepresented programs that have had national impact. presents the Kennedy Reed Award in those fields. It Reed initiated and directed the LLNL’s for Best Theoretical Research by Reed includes an NSF Research Collaborations Program graduate students and/or post-doctoral grant of $10,000 for Historically Black Colleges and researchers. to advance the recipient’s mentoring Universities and Minority Institutions Editor’s Note: This article was efforts. The winners are selected by (HBCUs and MIs) - an innovative compiled from LLNL and White House a panel of distinguished scientists, program that links LLNL scientists with press releases and a report in The mathematicians, and educators professors and students in forefront Washington Post.

16 | SPECTRUM Hieggelke Receives APS Excellence in Education Award

Curtis J. Hieggelke (M.S. 1966, Ph.D. 1971), Emeritus Professor of Physics at Joliet Junior College, was part of a three-person Two-Year College (TYC) Team that was awarded the 2009 Award for Excellence in Education by the American Physical Society at its meeting in Denver, Colorado on 4 May 2009. This award is primarily intended to recognize a group, rather than an individual. In addition to Hieggelke, the Two-year College Workshop Team included David Maloney (Indiana-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, IN) and Tom O’Kuma (Lee College, Baytown, TX). The citation for the award reads: “For leadership in introducing physicists in two-year colleges to new instructional methods, in developing new materials based on physics education research, and in fostering faculty networking, particularly in Curtis J. Hieggelke (center) receiving the Excellence in two-year colleges.” In recommending the award, the selection Physics Education Award from Cherry Murray (right), committee noted that “physics faculty members in two-year President of the American Physical Society. Co-winner, colleges are frequently very isolated from their colleagues David Maloney, is at left. and are usually members of general science departments. Very often, there is only one physicist on the faculty of the activities of the Two Year Community College Workshop. institution. Approximately 25% of students who enroll in These included new microcomputer-based materials on the introductory physics do so at two-year institutions, and the topics of rotations, work and energy, sound, and magnetism; percentage is higher for those students who will become a conceptual survey of electricity and magnetism; and K-12 teachers. In addition, the TYCs are the portal to higher various tasks inspired by physics education research. education for minority students and currently constitute the Joliet Junior College, founded in 1901, is the nation’s fastest growing segment of higher education in the US. By first public community college, offering pre-baccalaureate reaching out to these faculty and building a network among programs for students planning to transfer to a four-year them, the Two Year College Workshop Team has had a critical university. Although retired from teaching, Hieggelke has impact in improving physics instruction.” continued his work there with support of an NSF grant. He Each of the three members of the team gave an invited talk has recently co-authored a book entitled “Newtonian Tasks at a special Excellence in Physics Education Award session. Inspired by Physics Education Research: nTIPERs,” which Hieggelke’s talk was titled “Revitalizing Introductory Physics was published in January 2011 by Addison-Wesley in its at Community Colleges and More,” which described the main Series in Educational Innovation.

Sorensen Awarded APS Valley Prize Paul Sorensen (B.S. 1996) was quark number scaling in the elliptic flow called quarks are important throughout awarded the George E. Valley, Jr. Prize at of hadrons in nucleus-nucleus collisions, the expansion of the matter created the 2009 meeting and its interpretation showing the in heavy ion collisions. The collisions of the American relevance of quark degrees of freedom in are generated by physicists as they Physical Society heavy ion interactions.” attempt to recreate the matter that (APS) in Denver, After earning a B.S. in physics from existed in the universe one millionth CO. The Valley UNL, Sorensen went on to earn an M.S. of a second after the Big Bang. They Prize recognizes and Ph.D. in physics, both from the do so by smashing together beams of one individual University of California, Los Angeles, heavy ions moving at nearly the speed biennially in the in 1999 and 2003, respectively. He was of light in Brookhaven’s world-class early stages of his a postdoctoral researcher at DOE’s accelerator, the Relativistic Heavy Ion or her career for Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Collider (RHIC). The matter that they an outstanding for two years before joining Brookhaven create behaves like a “perfect” liquid — Sorensen scientific National Laboratory (BNL) in 2005 having almost no viscosity or frictional contribution to physics that is deemed as a Maurice and Gertrude Goldhaber resistance to flow… Sorensen’s ongoing to have significant potential for a Distinguished Fellow. Sorensen recently experiments at RHIC will aim to dramatic impact on his or her field. became an associate physicist at better understand the properties of The prize consists of $20,000 and a Brookhaven. the “perfect” liquid, which may shed certificate citing the contribution made According to BNL, the Valley Prize light on the phase structure of nuclear by the recipient. Sorensen’s citation recognized Sorensen “for his role in matter, or how it changes from solid to reads: “For his role in the discovery of discovering that subatomic particles liquid or gas.”

SPECTRUM | 1 7 Day, Furtak, and Gao Awarded APS Fellowship In 2010 three Department alumni in the International Division of Shell Gao’s formulation of quantum defect were named Fellows of the American Oil Company. He has served as chair theory (QDT) provides a systematic Physical Society (APS): Michael A. of the Lebanon Valley College Physics understanding of highly-excited Day (M.S. 1978; Ph.D. 1983), Thomas Department for several years and in molecular rovibrational states, and a Furtak (B.S. 1971), and Bo Gao (M.S. 1999 received the Thomas Rhys Vickroy systematic understanding of atom- 1986, Ph.D. 1989). Each year, no more Award, the College’s highest award for atom collisions over a wide range of than one-half of one percent of the teaching. temperatures including the ultracold membership of each unit of the APS Thomas Furtak was cited For regime. In addition to the expected are honored by their contributions to the understanding of advantages of his QDT formulation peers by election to surface-enhanced Raman scattering. (such as its efficient parametrization the status of Fellow Furtak is an expert in the optical of atomic interactions and its ability of the APS. Day was properties of surfaces and interfaces. He to establish the relationship between nominated by the APS has worked to understand phenomena molecular spectra and ultracold Forum on the History that provide interface selectivity. In collisions), his formulation provides of Physics, Furtak particular, his group has made significant also a number of insights that were Day was nominated by contributions in the areas of surface- either unknown previously, difficult the APS Division of Condensed Matter enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and to understand, Physics, and Gao was nominated by the surface second harmonic generation or impossible to APS Division of Atomic, Molecular, and and is currently working with surface characterize using Optical Physics. In what follows, we vibrational sum-frequency generation other approaches, sketch briefly the work that won these and infrared polarimetry. He has such as, e.g., analytic alumni their honors and indicate also applied these and other techniques to descriptions of their career paths since leaving UNL. a wide variety of materials problems, ultracold shape Michael Day was cited For his including liquid, solid-state, and polymer Gao resonances and thoughtful research, publications, junction photovoltaics, fuel cells, organic Feshbach resonances. Related to his and public presentations on the views monolayers, polymeric formulation of QDT, Gao has also of Oppenheimer, Rabi, and Condon adhesives, and developed two new classes of special concerning science and society. Day’s plasmonic waveguides. functions corresponding to the solutions research over the last decade has One of his recent of the Schrödinger equation for 1/r6 resulted in four major publications: projects focuses and 1/r3 types of potentials, respectively. “Oppenheimer on the Nature of Science” on understanding According to a leading theorist who (Centaurus, 2001), “I. I. Rabi: The Two and controlling the supported his Fellowship nomination, Cultures and the Universal Culture of Furtak organic/inorganic “He has solved in a clear transparent way Science” (Physics in Perspective, 2004), interface in plastic solar cells in order what were once regarded as insoluble “E.U. Condon: Science, Religion and to optimize charge collection. Another problems.” the Politics of World Peace” (Physics in project concerns photoactive monolayers Gao came to UNL in 1984 as its first Perspective, 2008), and “American Cold that can be used to control liquid crystal CUSPEA student, the China-U.S. Physics War Physicists as Public Intellectuals,” a displays. All of his projects involve Examination and Application program chapter in the book The Atomic Bomb surface optical spectroscopy, in order to organized by Nobel Laureate Tsung-Dao and American Society (2009). The obtain vibrational fingerprints about the Lee. Following his graduate work in the publications explore, among other topics, molecular structure of an interface. His group of Professor Anthony Starace on how the three physicists addressed public goals are to understand basic phenomena the theory of multiphoton processes, Gao concerns regarding the revolutionary about these systems as well as to provide was a postdoctoral research associate at changes that World War II and the insight for practical applications. JILA and the University of Colorado- development of atomic weapons brought Tom is currently Professor and Head Boulder during 1990-1992, where to scientific activity and society as a of the Department of Physics at the he turned his interests to cold atom whole. Colorado School of Mines in Golden. collisions. He then joined the radiation Michael is currently Professor of After obtaining his undergraduate oncology physics program at William Physics at Lebanon Valley College physics degree at UNL, he entered the Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI (PA). He has a B.S. degree in physics graduate program in physics at Iowa for two years. In 1994 he took a faculty from the University of Idaho. Prior to State University, obtaining his Ph.D. position in the Physics Department at the his graduate work in physics at UNL, in 1975. He then took a postdoctoral University of Toledo, where he is now a Day received M.A. (1975) and Ph.D. position and then an associate physicist Professor of Physics. During 2001-3, Gao (1977) degrees in Philosophy from UNL. position at the DOE Ames Laboratory was a member of the Chinese Academy Day’s doctoral research in physics at until 1980 when he joined the faculty at of Sciences’ One Hundred Talent UNL focused on the thermodynamic the Colorado School of Mines. Program, under which he was recruited properties of anharmonic solids, carried Bo Gao was cited For contributions by the Quantum Optics Laboratory of out under the supervision of Professor to the quantum-defect theory of cold the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Robert Hardy. Before becoming a atom interactions and the analyses of the Mechanics for his expertise in cold atom physics professor, he was a geophysicist associated mathematical special functions. physics.

18 | SPECTRUM Donald Schneider Appointed Head of Penn State’s Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Donald P. Schneider (B.S. 1976), holes that are swallowing stars as they annually to faculty members and Distinguished Professor of Astronomy venture too close to the black hole. instructors in the Eberly College of and Astrophysics at Penn State He uses optical telescopes as time Science who demonstrate a record University, has been appointed as head machines to view the distant past, of excellence both in teaching and in of the Department of Astronomy and when the universe was only a small their interactions with students. For Astrophysics in Penn State’s Eberly fraction of its current size and age. the past several years, Schneider has College of For the past two decades, much of taught a year-long introductory course Science. his research effort has been devoted to for astronomy majors and has been Schneider, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, which is a active in placing students in research whose primary large international effort to produce a programs throughout the Department research interest comprehensive digital map of the sky. of Astronomy and Astrophysics. is observational Schneider has served as the chairman Schneider received a bachelor’s cosmology, of the quasar science group and as degree in physics and mathematics, perhaps is best the science publications coordinator with highest distinction, from the known for for the project. The first two phases University of Nebraska in 1976 and, three of his of the survey, completed in July 2008, in 2002, he received the University’s accomplishments: identified 100,000 quasars — the Alumni Achievement Award. Schneider He developed a most luminous objects known in the He received a doctoral degree in new technique to universe — and have measured the astronomy from the California measure distances to galaxies; he was distances to over a million galaxies. Institute of Technology in 1982 and the first to detect Comet Halley as it During the third phase of the survey, was a research fellow there from 1982 approached Earth in 1982, at a greater which is ongoing until May 2014, to 1985. From 1985 to 1994, he was a distance than any comet had ever been Schneider is serving two roles: as the member of the Institute for Advanced detected up to that time; and he has project’s survey coordinator and as a Study in Princeton, New Jersey. He broken his own and others’ records member of its Management Council. joined the faculty at Penn State in 1994 numerous times in the discovery of Since 2004, Schneider also has served as as an associate professor of astronomy the most-distant known object in the the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Scientist. and astrophysics, was promoted to universe. In 2006, Schneider received a C.I. professor in 1999, and was named a Schneider now is particularly Noll Award for Excellence in Teaching, Distinguished Professor in 2008. interested in finding and determining which is sponsored by the Eberly From an Eberly College of Science the properties of distant quasars, College of Science Student Council (Penn State) News Release of 1 August which are thought to be massive black and Alumni Society and is presented 2011

ADVICE TO GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM AN ALUMNUS

“When I arrived at Nebraska, I thought I was quite text cited, I obtained a copy and studied it. If someone intelligent and knowledgeable in physics. What I learned studied all day Sunday, I studied all day Sunday and half during my first year as a graduate student was that while a day Saturday to boot, often to my wife’s dismay, but her I may have been reasonably smart, virtually all of my support was paramount. fellow graduate students were at least as smart and the “Therefore, I would tell a student who might be strong majority had more (in some cases far more) native struggling or may be discouraged that hard work can intelligence than I did. After [a] warning letter … got make a huge difference. It wasn’t easy, but as I look back, I my attention, I decided that I had to alter my approach. am proud of what I was able to accomplish; it set the tone I surmised that the only way I could compete was to for my career. It can be that way for many students if they outwork everyone, so I dedicated myself to just that, i.e., will dedicate themselves to outwork everyone else.” ‘Some may be smarter, but none will outwork me.’ If the — Richard MacMillan (M.S. 1970) assignment was the odd numbered problems at the end Editor’s Note: For a brief account of MacMillan’s career, of the chapter, I did them all. If there was a reference see “We Heard That…” on page 23

SPECTRUM | 1 9 Bao, Stevenson, and Wang Speak at Recognition Luncheons Bao

Three Departmental alumni returned to Lincoln outside academe (with which students are already recently to speak to graduating students at the quite familiar). Typically the alumni reminisce annual Departmental Recognition Luncheons. about their student days, describe their career The distinguished alumni are usually chosen from paths, and then advise current students of the among those who have forged successful careers lessons they have learned along the way.

Minqi Bao (M.S. 1992, Ph.D. 1995) Theoretical Atomic and Molecular and intellectual property management, was the featured speaker at the May Physics (ITAMP), where he worked entrepreneurship, and the business 8th, 2008 Recognition Luncheon. Bao with Professor Roy Glauber (who won approach for reducing poverty and is a Senior IT Architect for Server the Nobel prize in 2005). income inequality. In 2007 he took a Farms at Cadence Design Systems, In 1996 he went to work for position as a Senior IT Architect with Inc., in San Jose, CA. His talk was Quantum Development Corp. in Cadence Design Systems, which is a titled, “From Lincoln to Silicon Wilmington, DE, where he applied leader in electronics design automation Valley.” He feels his education at UNL mathematical optimization procedures for semiconductor chips. He said his from 1990-95 was “excellent”: he to businesses such as NYNEX (a plans for the future include building obtained a solid foundation in physics, former telephone company), Texas bridges between Eastern and Western learned that different cultures have Instruments, and Ford. He learned cultures and perhaps starting his own different approaches to research, and there that optimization is important business. appreciated presenting his work as a in everyday life, that spoken English is Bao then gave a detailed grad student at four major national critical, and that in business teamwork presentation of the history, current physics meetings. Besides physics, is more important than independent status, and future outlook for the he had many friendships with both work. In 1997 he moved to Toronto electronic design and semiconductor faculty and fellow students, learned to work for Platform Computing, industries and the architecture of skills vital to leadership, and developed a leader in distributed, cluster, and their increasingly complex systems. skill in investing and a passion for grid computing systems. Over the He concluded with the following good food. His thesis research in the next decade he began as a consultant advice for students: “improve your group of Professor Anthony Starace for cluster/grid implementations verbal communication skills; find and involved theoretical and computational and then moved to sales in Silicon learn from a mentor; switch jobs if modeling of intense laser interactions Valley. While there, he obtained his advancement is not promising; expose with atoms. In Fall 1995 he began a MBA degree from the University of yourself to different cultures and brief postdoctoral appointment at the California-Berkeley during 2003-6, peoples; work hard, and play hard.” Harvard-Smithsonian Institute for where he learned about innovation Contact: [email protected]

20 | SPECTRUM presentation on the origins of the 2008 financial crisis. In order to help those he knew navigate the treacherous financial environment at that time, he founded the Coriolis Investment Group, LLC. He outlined the value-oriented investment approach he uses, making frequent analogies to physics principles. He gives monthly presentations for Group members on topics vital to investing. In addition, in 2006 he also founded the Gotham Soccer League LLC in order to create a much-desired soccer league. The group organizes soccer matches at prime locations throughout New York City. The implicit message to students of Stevenson’s presentation was to follow your passions and apply your skills to help others. Contact: [email protected]

Wang Dexin Wang (M.S. 1989, Ph.D. 1993) gave the Recognition Luncheon presentation on 6 May 2010. Following his doctoral work in David Sellmyer’s group at UNL, Wang did postdoctoral research on nonvolatile electronics in the Center for Materials for Information Technology at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. In 1995 he joined Stevenson NVE Corp. in Eden Prairie, MN, where he worked on novel sensors of magnetic fields requiring very small size and very Roger D. Stevenson II (B.S. 1998) was the keynote speaker high sensitivity. The sensors are based on spin-dependent th at the May 7 , 2009 Recognition Luncheon. Stevenson is tunneling of conduction electrons through a thin film of a Senior Physicist at New York University (NYU) Medical insulating material. In 2005 he joined Seagate Technologies Center and also the Founder of Coriolis Investment Group, in Bloomington, MN, a world-wide company with more than LLC. His talk was titled, “Life’s a Derivative, Not a Sum.” 50,000 employees that is one of the leading manufacturers Following his graduation at UNL with honors in physics of hard disk drives. These drives are key elements of the (and with minors in both mathematics and business infrastructure of our information age. administration), Stevenson worked as a project engineer Wang noted that over the past fifty years, there has been with Chromalloy Co., Inc. in Conshohocken, PA, which exponential growth in the areal density of information stored develops custom alloys for various industrial applications. on drives. However, the industry is facing fundamental In 2000 he enrolled in the M.S. program in medical physics challenges in increasing the density any further. Wang at the University of Pennsylvania. Upon graduation in 2002, outlined three conflicting requirements: high signal to noise he worked as a radiotherapy physicist at Memorial Sloan- ratio, write-ability, and thermal stability. His own research Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, moving to the focus is on the technology of read/write heads for the drives. NYU Medical Center in 2005. He noted for students that the Wang cited the influence of Professors Sellmyer and median salary for an M.S. graduate in medical physics (in Kirby on his research work. His discussion of the latest hard- 2009) was $162,000/annually. In his current position he is the drive technology was interspersed with many humorous primary physicist for prostate seed implants, for treatment observations about physics and being a physics student. In planning with various medical devices, for teaching a physics response to a question, he said that the most important course to medical residents, and for training dosimetrists in thing that he learned as a student at UNL was how to make their planning methods. friends; in industry, it is very important to make connections Besides his main career in medical physics, however, with people throughout the company. Dr. Wang encouraged Stevenson has also made good use of his education in our graduates to use physics as a guide to solving real-world mathematics and business. In his talk, he gave an insightful problems. Contact: [email protected]

SPECTRUM | 2 1 WE HEARD THAT ...

Scott Backhaus (B.S. 1990) is a advisory services concerning risk and project with my ELCA friends, and researcher in the Thermoacoustics return management to pension plans, Rotary meetings, I’m often at events group within Los Alamos National insurance companies, etc. related to the network of groups Laboratory (LANL)’s Materials Physics Email: [email protected] that provide for the disabled in the and Applications Division. Backhaus Twin Cities…For the last ten years, recently co-authored a paper analyzing Buckley, Bob B. (B.S. 2007 Engineering I’ve worked at Arrow Electronics as a the similarity between stabilizing a Physics) is a graduate research computer storage engineer. The ‘Arrow cryogenic thermoacoustic refrigerator assistant in the Center for Spintronics ECS Storage and Networking Group’ operating at high frequency and and Quantum Computation at is a distribution partner for EMC, stabilizing an inverted pendulum. This the University of California at Network Appliance, HDS… I have work was the subject of a “Physics Santa Barbara working with David a lab in our Eden Prairie office from Update” in Physics Today on November Awschalom. He recently published which I manage the EMC portion. It 12th, 2009 as well as a “Search and a News and Views article [Nature 461, is 15 racks of storage and servers Discovery” article on page 17 of the 1217 (2009)] with Awschalom on ways used for demonstrations to close January 2010 Physics Today. Editor’s to reduce decoherence in quantum sales opportunities and for partner note: For further information on LANL’s communication so that information is education. The engineers also teach thermoacoustics group, see the entry for preserved. the accreditation classes required for Gregory Swift below. resellers to actually sell many of the Camp, Howard Alan (B.S. 1999) products. We also have to maintain Balaz, Snjezana (M.S. 2001) obtained received his Ph.D. degree from Kansas our own certifications, so we are always a Ph.D. degree in 2007 in Engineering State University in 2005. His thesis on studying and visiting our local Pearson/ Physics at UNL working under the “Measurements of the time evolution VUE test centers.” supervision of Professor Jennifer Brand of coherent excitation” was done under in the UNL Department of Chemical the supervision of Brett D. DePaola. Finkler, Paul (Emeritus Associate and Biomolecular Engineering. She Following graduation, Camp joined Professor), 85 Hoyt St., Lakewood, CO then took a postdoctoral research the Institute for Defense Analyses in 80226-1070, writes that his new place is position at the University of California- Alexandria, VA. next door to his son and his family. Cell: Riverside and, most recently, another 720-480-9992 in the Department of Electrical Caprez, Adam (M.S. 2005, Ph.D. 2009) Engineering at Ohio State University. is a High Performance Computing Fritz, Shannon (M.S. Applications Specialist in the Holland 2008) is in the Ph.D. Bass, Robert (M.S. 1985) teaches Computing Center at UNL. E-mail: program in Medical physics, calculus, and computer science acaprez @cse.unl.edu Physics at Louisiana at Coeur D’Alene Charter Academy, a State University. She college preparatory school in northern Demmel, Paul R. (B.S. 2005) graduated passed her Ph.D. Idaho that was ranked by U.S. News and in 2006 with an M.S. degree in qualifier in January World Report in 2009 as one of the 100 Computational Finance from Carnegie 2008. Email: fritz@ best high schools in the U.S.A. Mellon University. He then spent six Fritz lsu.edu [www.cdacharter.org]. Bass writes, months traveling in Asia and Brazil and “I was a systems programmer for a subsequently began working for UBS Hellwig, Russell (M.S. 1964) visited Department of Defense contractor with in Stamford, Connecticut as an equities the Department recently. He obtained Tom Hall (class of ‘84) for 9 years, but derivatives trader. his Ph.D. in physics at the University of my desire to teach physics pulled me Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1973. From out and back into the classroom where Engelhardt , Michael (M.S. 1983, Ph.D. 1965-1998 he was a faculty member in I am much happier. I was pretty sick 5 1988) writes that he is currently living physics at the University of Wisconsin- years ago and had a kidney transplant, in Newport, MN, a small community Whitewater. Currently Russ leads which is a wonderful blessing! I finally in the Minneapolis-St.Paul metro weekly walks through the Wisconsin got married [in 2006] to a lovely lady I area. “I am married and have three countryside. His blogs about these had met a year before and we now have daughters and two step daughters from walks may be viewed here: a 3 year old baby boy – life is very busy, 21 to 26 years old. [2010 was] a busy http://walworthcountytoday.com/ but wonderful.” year as both step daughters decided weblogs/weekly-walk/ Email: [email protected] to get married…My wife Lesley is Tel.: 262-473-2187; Email: a marketing-fundraiser for a small [email protected] Borca, Bogdan (M.S. 1998, Ph.D. non-profit that operates 24 group 2001) is now a consultant with Ortec homes for people with developmental Liu, Chihray (Ph.D. 1988) is Professor Finance AG in Pfäffikon, Switzerland, disabilities. So in addition to doing and Chief Medical Physicist in the which provides technology and an occasional Habitat for Humanity Department of Radiation Oncology,

22 | SPECTRUM WE HEARD THAT ...

Shands Cancer Center, University of Laboratory, National Security 2007, he wrote Fuller Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0385. Technology Department, Operational to say, “You will be Web page: http://www.med.ufl.edu/ Assessments Group (STP), [443-778- pleased to know that radonc/faculty/physics/liu.shtml 2729 (o), 410-218-7653 (c)] writes I have made fruitful Email: [email protected] “I am no longer on active duty in the use of the physics Navy. I separated in November of 2005 and environmental MacMillan, Richard (M.S. 1970), after 7 years. I was a submarine officer engineering that retired in 2000 from his position as a stationed on the USS Pasadena in Pearl I studied under Project Manager with BP. Reflecting Harbor, and, later, on the headquarters Maurer [your direction on his career, MacMillan writes: “My staff there. Some highlights of my time during]… my twenty years with the entire professional career centered on included obtaining Naval Nuclear …Department of Ecology.” Email: computers and information technology. Engineer certification, and completing [email protected] Though I never made a great deal of an eight month deployment to the technically-specific use of my physics Persian Gulf on Pasadena in 2003. I McClelland, Robert (M.S. 1969), 2405 education, that knowledge enabled me started at JHU-APL in March 2006 on Grant St, Beatrice, NE 68310-3340, to communicate with engineers and the professional staff....My time here retired in May 2006 after 32 years of other technical people. As an adjunct is split about evenly between analysis teaching physics and mathematics to my primary career, I taught both and project management. Our group in the Beatrice Public Schools. He physics and computer–related courses specializes in military operations rejoined the School District in April at Plainfield (IL) High School, Joliet research, and my current projects focus 2007 as District Energy Manager. An Junior College…, and The University on submarine operations. This is a big article in the 17 February 2010 issue of St. Francis. I have worked for four and exciting place to work - between of the Beatrice Daily Sun (“Senators primary employers (Amoco for…21 our DOD programs and the ‘other tout building better schools” by staff years [which was taken over by BP in half’ that works for NASA there is writer Chris Dunker), concerning the 1997]) yet have never held a position always something fun going on. Part Nebraska Legislature’s consideration with ‘physicist’ anywhere in the title time I am pursuing an M.S. in Applied of a bill to help school districts make or job description. Instead, I migrated Physics from JHU…. So far, my UNL energy-saving improvements, reported into the computer field starting as a education has served me well. I hope that during the three years McClelland technical programmer, then becoming to continue my Physics education, has served as energy manager, the an engineering programmer, and have perhaps pursuing a Ph.D. in a year or Beatrice Public Schools (BPS) system been a ‘computer person’ ever since. two. Incidentally, I contacted Dr. Tim has achieved a 20% savings in its My physics education, though rarely Gay a while back to discuss returning energy budget of $350,000. According utilized explicitly in the workplace, has to academic physics and his advice has to the article, the focus in Beatrice provided a solid foundation of logical been most valuable. has been on reducing natural gas and thinking and analytical skills…. While electricity usage. The article quotes still with Amoco, I started a company Marinescu, Mircea (Former McClelland extensively on how these (CORAC Industries, Inc.) in 1997 to Postdoctoral Research Associate) is reductions were achieved: “The key is manufacture a product I patented. [It the Global Head of Commodities that it is people-centered,” McClelland was] on a device having nothing to do Modeling Group at Barclays Capital, said. “I have been working with all staff: with physics per se, yet I used those an investment bank. He worked maintenance, custodial, food service, skills in designing it. All in all, I have previously for the commodities group the teaching staff, the support staff enjoyed a very successful career in fields at Morgan Stanley. and administrators. The goal here is outside of my formal training. I thank Email: [email protected] getting everyone involved and making my training in physics for my ability everyone aware of things they can do to to attain that success!” MacMillan Mariyenko, Igor (Former Postdoctoral cut back.” This has been done by simple notes that in 2007 he won second place Research Associate) joined the staff measures, such as turning off lights in recognition in the “Nebraska” alumni of Physical Optic Corporation, classrooms, shutting down computers magazine writing competition in 20600 Gramercy Place, Building 100, when they are not in use, and operating the nostalgia category. His topic was Torrance, CA 90501-1821. machinery at its most efficient Frisbee Golf, which he says he and other level. “The key is that it has been a graduate physics students engaged in Maurer, Christopher (M.S. 1973), cooperative effort,” McClelland said…. during 1967-69 “as a diversion from our 205-N3 Carpenter Rd., SE, Lacey, “We’ve gotten everyone to realize that studies.” Email: richmacm@comcast. WA 98503, is a Site Manager for the we’ve got to pursue this. It’s not one net Washington State Department of person, it’s not me by any means,” Ecology, Toxics Cleanup Program McClelland said. “It helps people see Males, Jared R. (B.S. 1998) Johns in Olympia, WA. Upon learning of what we’re doing and how it makes Hopkins University Applied Physics Professor Robert Fuller’s retirement in a difference.” McClelland said saving

SPECTRUM | 2 3 WE HEARD THAT ... energy in the schools is a learning and the skill sets are easily transferable jobs were transferred to divisions in process, and, not unlike his teaching to other positions.” Canada and then India. While at UNL, days, information is not automatically Schlissel launched a music record label absorbed the first time. “It’s a matter Pearl, Donald M. (“-ismist Records”) of changing habits and becoming more (M.S. 1989, Ph.D. that focused on aware of what’s going on around them,” 1994) became Lincoln and Omaha he said. “We’ve had to work on this. Academic Vice bands. When he We’re all human and people forget, so President at Sauk moved from Lincoln it’s an ongoing process of reminding Valley Community to Minneapolis, people that we’ve done great, but not to College, Dixon, IL in however, he writes let down their guard.” July 2007. Tel. 815- that, “it was clear that Pearl 835-6311, Schlissel it was time to stop Morgan, Thomas (Emeritus Associate E-mail: [email protected]; Web page: doing music since I Professor), 11813 Runnymede street, http://svcc.edu/vice-president/ was so far removed from the scene and Unit 35, North Hollywood, CA 91605, the markets. I ran into Lewis Black writes: “I am living in Laguna Woods, Philson, Joshua (B.S. 2009) is an shortly after moving, and pitched a CD a gated retirement community next to Engineering Associate with the Dam idea to him. He accepted, and the rest Laguna beach in Orange County, CA. Safety Division of the Nebraska developed. When the job went away, I love the trees, mild climate and the Department of Natural Resources in it let me pursue the label more fully friendly people. It is not even expensive Lincoln. [as producer and president of Stand here. There is lots to do here and Email: [email protected] Up! Records, which is an independent people to do it with.” label in Minneapolis focused on Email: [email protected] Poulsen, Matthew (Ph.D. 2007) is stand up comedy]…. I parted from a Patent Law Clerk with the Omaha the hard science path, but learning Pareek, Prem office of Suiter Swantz PC LLO, an how to reason logically and think a (Ph.D. 1983) is intellectual property law firm with problem through has been invaluable.” Adjunct Professor of offices in Omaha and Beijing. Email: [email protected] A feature Medical Physics in article on Schlissel and Stand Up! the Department of Reece, Timothy (Ph.D. 2007) is now an Records by Matt Synders titled “Indie Radiation Oncology Assistant Professor in the Department comedy label Stand Up! has produced of the University of Physics and Physical Science at the the edgiest comedy in the country” of Alabama at University of Nebraska-Kearney. was published on May 21st, 2008 in Pareek Birmingham. Minneapolis’s citypages.com web site His interests concern applications Runge, Alan (M.S. 1994), President’s at this URL: http://www.citypages. of physics to external beam and Office, Concordia University Texas, com/content/printVersion/467482 brachytherapy, invivo and invitro 11400 Concordia University Drive, dosimetric measurements, and in Austin, TX 78726, has been the Provost Sorensen, Christopher M. (B.S. 1969) teaching radiation therapy physics. In of Concordia University since March, was named one of four “Professors of 2001 the Association of Residents of 2007. Prior to that he served as the the Year” from 300 candidates by the Radiation Oncology awarded him the Dean of Academic Affairs at DeVry Carnegie Foundation Teacher of the Year Award. Web page: University, Houston, TX. for the Advancement http://www.uab.edu/radonc/profiles/ Email: [email protected]; of Teaching prem_pareek.php Website: http://faculty.concordia.edu/ in November Email: [email protected] alan.runge 2007. Sorensen, a Distinguished Pawlowski, Luke (B.S. 2006) has been Schlissel, Daniel (B.S. 1993) writes Professor of Physics working for The Marex Group, Inc., that he is now a record producer by at Kansas State in Lincoln since graduation. The trade. In 2006 he produced Lewis Sorensen University, won company is involved with document Black’s fifth album, The Carnegie in the category of management system sales and Hall Performance, which won the doctoral and research universities. He development, conversion services, Best Comedy Album award at the 49th was cited for his innovative teaching consulting and integration. Luke annual Grammy Awards. Learning CD- methods, including his design of writes, “I’ve had to learn some new skill ROM burning software while working dramatic lab demonstrations for sets for my new job, [such as] company on Robert Fuller’s CD-ROM Toolkit small groups of students and for his software and Microsoft SQL, etc.,…. project at UNL led to Schlissel’s first replacement of about one third of the The pay is nice, there are business trips job with Adaptec, and then Roxio, the standard physics textbook readings all over the country (all expense paid), spun-off software division, until those with readings from the original works

24 | SPECTRUM WE HEARD THAT ... of Galileo, Newton, Faraday, and to the publisher, “Meylan and Teays am applying for a number of teaching Einstein. played an integral part in one of the positions in math and physics. Email: [email protected] most successful and longest-lasting Mathematics is by far the biggest astronomy satellite projects in NASA’s opportunity.” Email: [email protected] Stenberg, Donald B. (B.A. 1970) was history. Here, these scientists-turned- elected in 2010 as Nebraska State managers share how passionate Wang, Jin Treasurer. After attaining his B.A. dedication to quality, customer service, (Former Jorgensen in physics at UNL, Stenberg went to and the ideal of success helped a team Postdoctoral Fellow) Harvard and earned both law (J.D. cum of ordinary workers achieve sustained is now an Assistant laude 1974) and business (M.B.A.) growth, market penetration, customer Professor of Physics degrees there. From 1979-1983 he satisfaction, and production efficiency at the University of served as legal counsel to Governor to become the employer of choice Michigan-Dearborn. Charles Thone and from 1991-2003 within the industry. From hiring Her research involves he served as Nebraska State Attorney and delegation to communication Wang both experimental General. and rewards, Optimizing Luck lays and theoretical work in quantum out best practices for developing optics. Swift, Gregory W. (B.S. 1974 with luck-optimizing competencies across Email: [email protected] High Distinction) is the team leader of the entire workforce.” Teays has the Thermoacoustics group within Los been recognized with several NASA Webster, Gary L. (Ph.D. 1981) is an Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)’s Group Achievement Awards. He is an aerospace engineer whose career has Materials Physics and Applications Assistant Director of the Maryland focused on systems engineering and Division. This group includes another Space Grant Consortium, Bloomberg navigation and guidance of rockets alumnus, Scott Backhaus (B.S. 1990). Center for Physics & Astronomy, The and missiles. Following postdoctoral Swift and Backhaus recently wrote a Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North appointments in theoretical atomic paper analyzing the similarity between Charles Street, Rm. 206C, Baltimore, physics at the University of Chicago and stabilizing a cryogenic thermoacoustic MD 21218-2686, 410-516-7106 (W), at Kansas State University, Gary joined refrigerator operating at high 301-651-5112 (Cell), General Dynamics frequency and stabilizing an inverted Email: [email protected] (San Diego) in pendulum. This work was the subject 1987, working of a “Physics Update” in Physics Today Trantham, Kenneth W. (Ph.D. 1996) on cruise missile on November 12th, 2009 as well as a is now Associate Professor and Chair navigation and “Search and Discovery” article on page of the Department of Physics and guidance. Following 17 of the January 2010 Physics Today. Physical Science of the University the sale of General Two years earlier, on September 24th, of Nebraska-Kearney. Email: Dynamics’s Space Webster 2007 the Thermoacoustics group [email protected] Systems Division to won a Wall Street Journal Tech Award Martin Marietta in 1994 (followed by in the category of Energy for their Volz, Donald J. (M.S. 1965, Ph.D. the latter’s merger with Lockheed Corp development of a method to liquefy 1969), 27246 Delemos, Mission Viejo, in 1995 to form Lockheed Martin), natural gas through a thermoacoustic CA 92692, writes : “I have now moved Gary moved to Denver where he was process that cools the gas with through four careers … I completed a guidance engineer for Lockheed sound waves. The process differs a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Georgia Martin Astronautics, working on from traditional methods because Tech, taught physics at Voorhees flight software guidance and antenna it produces smaller quantities but College, moved into sales with Xerox, control algorithms for the Titan with much higher reliability and at and then started a 29 year career in rocket system. In 2006, Gary joined lower cost. The technology has been medical equipment. Early on I helped the United Launch Alliance (ULA), a licensed to Swift LNG Inc., of Denver. design Computer Tomography, then joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Although this company bears his designed x-ray equipment to perform Boeing whose mission is to provide name, Swift owns no interest in the vascular interventional procedures. spacecraft launch services for the U.S. company. I finished my career in medical Government. He developed flight equipment managing a small business software guidance, navigation, vehicle Teays, Terry (Ph.D. 1986) recently with about $80 million in revenues. steering, and antenna control programs published the book Optimizing Now I am interested in teaching. I for expendable launch vehicles (such Luck: What the Passion to Succeed in have been tutoring college and high as the Atlas rocket) that put satellites Space Can Teach Business Leaders on school students and get a great deal of into Earth orbits. Following a ULA Earth, by Thomas Meylan & Terry satisfaction addressing their concerns. downsizing in October 2009, Gary has Teays (Davies-Black Publishing, There are a number of community been pursuing various other interests. Mountain View, CA, 2007). According colleges near me in California, and I Email: [email protected]

SPECTRUM | 2 5 OBITUARIES John Richard Hardy (1935-2011) John Richard Hardy was born on 9 of his development of his famous Award for Outstanding Research and January 1935 in Hertfordshire, England Deformation Dipole Model for Creative Activity (ORCA) in 1989. to Marjorie and Cyril Hardy, formerly of calculating the vibrational properties He was cited for his pioneering work Derby, England. His father worked as a of insulators before he arrived in the on the lattice dynamics and statics of telecommunications engineer for British U.S. He had an outstanding record of crystalline materials, his development of Railways, and both grandfathers and a training graduate and postdoctoral the deformation dipole model, which is great-grandfather were also employed by students and collaborating with other used widely to calculate basic properties the railways, which certainly influenced scientists. His Ph.D. students have gone of both pure materials and materials his passion for model trains. John died on to distinguished careers in theoretical containing defects, his extensive work on at age 76 on 5 May 2011 in Lincoln, condensed matter physics at other the theory of shock propagation in solids, Nebraska. He received academic institutions, in industry, and and identification of the possible origins his B.S. degree in at national laboratories. He is also noted of high temperature superconductivity. 1956 and his Ph.D. for his highly effective collaboration The ORCA award is the highest in 1959, both from with experimentalists, maintaining a accolade the University can bestow Bristol University in long-term joint research program with in recognition of a faculty member’s England. After holding experimentalist Frank Ullman in the research. Finally, to honor John for his positions as a Research study of ferroelectric materials. In 1979, various accomplishments, the University Fellow at Reading John co-authored a book with Arnold of Nebraska named him George Holmes University and Senior Karo entitled “The Lattice Dynamics of Professor of Physics in 1993. John was a Hardy Scientific Officer Alkali Halide Crystals.” He served as a kind and caring person who dedicated at the U.K. Atomic Energy Research consultant to both Lawrence Livermore all his life to mentoring his students Establishment at Harwell, John arrived Laboratory and the Naval Research and postdoctoral fellows and working in the U.S. as a visiting faculty member Laboratory. His research was supported with his experimental and theoretical in the Department of Physics and by both the Army Research Office and colleagues. Those who knew him always Astronomy at the University of Nebraska the Office of Naval Research. John was a enjoyed his dry sense of humor which during 1966-67. He was promoted to Fellow of the American Physical Society, replaced his normal shyness after a few the rank of Professor of Physics with the major professional organization. beers. tenure in 1968, and he remained with the In 1982, he received the University John is survived by his sister Jane, who Department until his retirement in 2003. of Nebraska Chapter of Sigma Xi’s lives in the family home in England. John was an international authority Distinguished Scientist Award. John Reprinted with Permission of the in the field of lattice dynamics because received the 1989 University of Nebraska Lincoln Journal Star

Edward J. Zimmerman (1924-2010) Edward J. Zimmerman, a longtime enrollment surged and he hired more tried to make it very real for them.” UNL physics professor and former than a dozen faculty members. At the Zimmerman retired in 1988, but his department chair, died on 26 December time, the nation was pursuing a mission passion for science didn’t fade. 2010. He was 86. to put a man on the moon and there In the weeks before his death, Tilley He began his UNL career after was renewed emphasis on teaching and remembers seeing him watching a receiving his doctorate research in science and mathematics. DVD on physics and the universe. He from the University Those who knew Zimmerman are had ordered it for his grandchildren of Illinois, Urbana, quick to note his sense of humor. but wanted to make sure that it met his in 1951. His early “A student once told me that entering approval before he sent it to them, she research at UNL graduate students at first were afraid of said. Two of his three grandchildren are involved stopping him, perhaps because of his wry sense interested in becoming physicists, she powers of solids of humor; but not for long, as they added. and gases with realized that he knew them well and gave Zimmerman, a Waynetown, Ind., the scintillation of them plenty of attention,” said Edgar native, is survived by his wife, Dorothy, Zimmerman crystals. Later in his Pearlstein, emeritus professor of physics. of Lincoln; daughters, Ann Zimmerman career, he focused on the foundations of Zimmerman was funny, brilliant and Lucas of Paris, France, and Mary quantum mechanics. kind and valued his role as professor, Zimmerman, of Evanston, Ill.; and three While serving as chair of the physics said Gwen Tilley, Zimmerman’s sister- grandchildren, Marc, Alice, and Paul department from 1962-66, he oversaw in-law. Lucas of France, among other loved significant growth. Graduate student “He loved students,” she said. “He ones.

26 | SPECTRUM OBITUARIES Robert Katz (1917-2011) Dr. Robert Katz, 17 July 1917 to of “An Introduction to the Special Following retirement, he collaborated 12 March 2011, emeritus professor of Theory of Relativity” in 1964. He began with Francis A. Cucinotta at NASA to physics at the University of Nebraska, the study of cosmic ray tracks left in develop an application of his model died peacefully at his home Saturday photographic film retrieved from high now used to calculate cancer risks for its March 12th following a brief illness. altitude balloons. These tracks look astronauts. In retirement, he also enjoyed He and his sister Gladys were born something like meteors piercing the membership in Polemic Club and Torch to immigrant Russian Jewish parents night sky. It was while at Kansas State Club, where he gave a series of thought- in New York City, that he first developed a theoretical provoking presentations. Recently, he who operated a model correlating these images with witnessed a scholarly renaissance thanks delicatessen in the the effects of radiation on human cells to UNL’s on-line institutional repository, Bronx, not far from during cancer treatment. Digital Commons, where the works Yankee Stadium. He He had earned his B.A. from of active and emeritus professors are remembered Babe Brooklyn College in 1937, his M.A. in publically accessible. To his surprise Ruth stopping by for physics from Columbia University in and delight, he learned that his site hot dogs, a huge man 1938; and after working as a civilian was visited frequently and his articles Katz driving a little sports physicist at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio and texts downloaded. He was also car; and seeing the NY during WW II., he earned his Ph.D. featured in a UNL publication, The Giants’ Carl Hubbell pitching a 15 inning at the University of Illinois in 1949. Scarlet, in an article titled, “A Century shutout at the Polo Grounds where While at Wright Field, he addressed of Achievements,” a look back at sixteen double-headers cost $1. the problem of radio interference on outstanding University of Nebraska He came to the University of aircraft by designing “pigtails,” which professors. Nebraska in 1966 from Kansas State dissipated excess static electricity. He also He is survived by his special friend University where he had received their developed x-ray techniques to identify Harriet Turner; sons Steven Joseph Katz Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award fatigue fractures in airplane castings. and John Hewitt Katz; daughter-in-law for 1962-63 as an outstanding lecturer While at the University of Nebraska, Ileana Luisa Soto; nieces Joan Field Lakin and researcher. He had developed soft he turned his attention to the study of and Elaine Field; nephews Ken Field and x-ray techniques for assessing insect radiation effects and developed the Katz Richard Field. His former wife, Mildred infestations as well as methods for Theory, a computer model capable of Popov Katz and his sister, Gladys Field testing grain density; he co-authored predicting experimental results when predeceased him. a popular physics text, “Physics” with biological tissue was irradiated, especially Reprinted with Permission of the Henry Semat in 1962, and was author the implications for cancer treatment. Lincoln Journal Star

Everett W. Gross (1919-2008) Everett W. Gross (M.S. 1960) taught March 2008. In World War II he served traffic control. He was an enthusiastic physics at Doane College in Crete, NE during 1940-44 in the Army Air Corp, supporter of the ideas of Henry George, from 1960-1974 following receipt of attaining the rank of First Lieutenant. the writer and political economist, and his M.S. degree in physics from UNL. In addition to teaching physics, he wrote many essays for several Georgist He lived in Crete until his death on 5 also farmed and was involved with air organizations.

SPECTRUM | 2 7 OBITUARIES Byron L. Krauter (1954-2010) Byron Krauter (B.S. 1976) died from American-Statesman, published on clever ideas and ways to solve problems lung cancer on 22 June 2010. Byron June 27th, “His joys included ballroom that I had not seen on my own. was a member of the same graduating dancing and travel with his wife Barbara, After we graduated in spring 1976, class as Chris Greene, Fred Pinkerton, and the occasional glass of a fine red I left Lincoln for graduate study in and Don Schneider. He was born in wine.” Physics at the University of Chicago, Lincoln and raised nearby in Cortland. Upon learning of his classmate’s while Byron stayed at UNL to earn his He attended Norris Regional High death, Chris Greene (B.S. 1976) sent the M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering. School, which recently honored him as a following remembrances on 23 August We stayed in touch and continued Distinguished Alumnus. At UNL Byron 2010: I got to know Byron Krauter to get together occasionally over the earned B.S. degrees in both physics and during our undergraduate years years, for a time almost annually after mathematics and 1972-1976, when we were classmates he moved from Vermont’s IBM site to an M.S. degree in as physics and math majors at UNL. his position in Austin where he worked electrical engineering We took many classes together and for the rest of his life. At IBM, Byron (E.E.). He thereupon became great friends, and were lab was a specialist in understanding and joined the technical partners in Ed Pearlstein’s two-year controlling the electrical noise that was staff at IBM, first in advanced undergraduate laboratory generated in one part of a circuit but Vermont, then in course. Byron and I tackled many affected a different part. He always Austin. In 1995, he interesting labs in that sequence, stressed how differently his colleagues received his Ph.D. including measurements of the Hall at IBM, trained with a strictly Krauter in E.E. from the effect, the electrical resistance of thin engineering background, tended to University of Texas at Austin. Byron was films, atomic absorption spectroscopy, approach their problems. Largely our Recognition Luncheon speaker on and a mysterious nuclear resonance because of those experiences, he was May 8th, 1997, which both of his parents spectroscopy experiment with some a strong advocate of getting a degree attended. [For a report on Krauter’s unknown radioactive materials in physics for at least part of one’s remarks to graduates, see p. 12 of stashed in a box somewhere in training, even if one’s career ultimately Spectrum issue No. 18 (Fall 1997) on the Behlen Laboratory. We also talked a moves into an applied or engineering Department web site.] At the 2003 APS great deal about difficult points and direction. March Meeting in Austin, Professors challenging homework problems when Byron fought a long and difficult Roger Kirby and David Sellmyer dined we took courses together in the math battle with lung cancer, and he poured with both Byron and alum Rebecca and physics departments. Those his energy into understanding and Richards Kortum (B.S. 1985). Byron conversations and problem-solving trying to recover from that terrible retired from IBM on 1 June 2010. sessions were a vital part of my own disease in his final years. He was a According to the obituary in the Austin education, and Byron often showed me wonderful friend, who will be missed.

Edward J. Kobetich (1941-2007)

Edward J. Kobetich, 65, died 15 January 2007, at the University of Nebraska, and obtained an at his home in Hutchinson, KS. He was born 8 MBA degree from the University of Pennsylvania. October 1941, in Clay Center, the son of John He was an executive engineer managing research Edward and Hilda I. Ayres Kobetich. In 1959, he and development for Toyota Technical Center in graduated from Abilene High School. He received Ann Arbor, Michigan for most of his career. He is a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University, survived by his wife, Jane Ella Birney, and two sons Kobetich did his doctoral work in physics with Robert Katz and two daughters.

28 | SPECTRUM OBITUARIES Larry L. Smalley (1937-2010) Larry Lee Smalley (B.S. 1959, Gravitoelectromagnetic (Super G) Dr. Smalley put his academic M.S. 1964, Ph.D. 1967) passed away Science Laboratory in the 1990s. knowledge to practical use, working as on January 16, 2010. He was born in His research interests included fluid a part-time permanent astrophysicist at Grand Island, Nebraska, and served dynamics, general relativity as it relates NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy from to the subatomic gravitational forces as well as a consulting scientist for 1959-1962. His doctoral research in where space and time interact, and Teledyne-Brown Engineering and for theoretical high energy physics was experimental gravity modifications. He the United States Army. He was co- carried out under the supervision of mentored many in the field of physics, recipient of several patent grants, the Professor David Joseph. He spent directing to completion numerous most recent in 2008 based on work done 35 years of his professional career students’ doctoral dissertations, as well through NASA. Dr. Smalley’s interests as a faculty member in the Physics as providing an encouraging voice for were eclectic and always challenging, as Department at the University of both undergraduates and postgraduates. he enjoyed applying his many skills to Alabama at Huntsville. What follows He authored or coauthored more than everyday life. He built his own house, are excerpts from the lengthy obituary 80 articles published in peer reviewed acting as general contractor. He enjoyed published in The Huntsville Times on physics journals, as well as over 40 woodworking and furniture making. 31 January 2010: Reports and 50 critical reviews in The He was a gardener, even spending He served as Physics Department Mathematical Reviews…. He was [an several years growing his own grapes Chair from 1973 to 1985, during Alexander von] Humboldt Fellow at the and making wine. He was an avid which time [the department] grew Institut für Theoretische Physik at the connoisseur of classical music and opera, both in number of students as well University of Cologne, Germany on three and for more than 40 years attended the as sponsored research, and he helped separate occasions [and was an invited Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. Later lay the foundation for the present professor] at L’Université de Paris VI in life he spent many pleasurable hours specializations in optics, space (Pierre et Madame Curie) in 1993.… enjoying the game of golf at the Redstone physics and astrophysics …. He also He never lost the curiosity of a student, Arsenal officers’ club with his son-in-law served as Associate Director of the receiving his BA in French in 1987. and former students.

Sjur Refsdal (1935-2009) Norwegian astronomer Sjur Refsdal was on at the University of Oslo from 1991 and emeritus staff with a fellowship at the University of Nebraska professor after 2001. He is best known for his from 1967-1970 while he was working on his Ph.D. pioneering work in the field of gravitational lensing. in astronomy from the University of Oslo, which One of his former students and colleagues, Dr. he received in 1970. During the period 1970-2001 Håkon Dahle of the University of Oslo has written an he was a professor of astrophysics at Hamburg excellent remembrance of Refsdal at this URL: Refsdal Observatory, and he was also an adjunct professor http://cosmicdiary.org/blogs/hakon_dahle/?p=49

Margaret Keefe (1915-2008) Margaret Keefe worked in the 93. Her daughter, Patty, was married Freund died tragically as a result of a Department’s Business Office from to alum George Freund (M.S. 1976, bicycle accident in 2002 [see p. 26 of 1967-1978. She died Monday, 3 Ph.D. 1979), one of Professor Roger Spectrum Issue No. 23 (Fall 2004) on November 2008 in Lincoln at the age of Kirby’s former graduate students. the Department web site].

SPECTRUM | 2 9 OBITUARIES Menno Fast (1916-2008) Menno Fast, 91, of Hesston, Kan., degree in physics education. Then for died March 23, 2008. Fast was the one year he taught high school physics Menno Fast Memorial first full time lecture demonstration in Chicago. manager in the history of the During World War II he Fund Is Created Department, serving from 1968-1981. entered Civilian Public Service as a He completely conscientious objector. In June 1946, The Department of Physics changed students’ he left for Poland as assistant director and Astronomy has established experiences of of the tractor unit, a joint project the Menno Fast Memorial introductory of United Nations Recovery and Fund to honor Menno’s physics. His Rehabilitation Act and the Mennonite diligent service, Central Committee (MCC). This six- life and work. Income from caring, and month project to rebuild agricultural the endowment fund will helpful attitude technical ability destroyed by the war enable the Department to transformed put him in contact with local farmers continue to update its lecture the lecture and authorities, and he discovered demonstration equipment. Fast demonstrations many refugees who had lost their used by physics families. So the MCC asked him to Additional information and faculty to teach the large introductory continue in Poland to work with the contributions to the Fund physics classes. Thousands of students refugee relocation effort. He concluded can be made by using the link who took introductory physics courses this work in the summer of 1949. on the Department website, benefited from his outstanding service. He then taught physics at Bethel physics.unl.edu/memorials/ He was born April 16, 1916, to College and farmed with his father. In Isaac and Aganetha Unruh Fast on the 1954 he joined the physics department Menno_Fast.shtml. As of Unruh homestead east of Goessel, KS. at the University of Kentucky. In 1968 summer 2011 the fund is close He attended Bethel College in North he joined the Department at UNL to the $10,000 minimum Newton, KS for two years, which as its first lecture demonstrations needed before distributions can qualified him to teach all eight grades at manager until his retirement in 1981. be made. Alumni and friends Emmenthal School for three years. He From 1987 to 2001 he and his wife, then returned to Bethel and graduated Naomi, lived on the family farm near are urged to send contributions in 1942. In fall 1942, he began graduate Goessel, KS. In 2001 they relocated to that will take the fund over this school at the University of Kentucky in an assisted living facility in Hesston, threshold. Lexington, where he earned a master’s KS.

INTERIOR VIEW OF JORGENSEN HALL

30 | SPECTRUM Acknowledgments

The Department is very grateful to the individuals and corporations listed below for their new and continuing financial contributions during the period 1 November 2006 – 31 July 2011. These contributions have been made in support of major items of capital equipment, an endowed professorship, graduate fellowships, undergraduate scholarships, and invited lectures as well as for unrestricted purposes. Those who have not been contacted by one of the University of Nebraska Foundation’s telephone campaigns or who might be considering an additional tax-deductible gift to us should note that we have the following general accounts at the UN Foundation: 1) Physics & Astronomy Development Fund [for unrestricted gifts] (Account No. 2557.0) 2) Physics & Astronomy Lecture Endowment Fund [for Colloquia and Seminars] (Account No. 3321.0) 3) Physics & Astronomy Alumni Scholarship Endowment Fund (Account No. 3303.0) Alternatively, former students, friends, and/or colleagues of Professors Sitaram Jaswal, Ted Jorgensen, and David J. Sellmyer as well as of Lecture Demonstrations Manager Menno Fast may wish to contribute to the following endowment funds: 4) Banti & Mela Ram Jaswal Fund [for undergraduate scholarships] (Account No. 6843.0) 5) Ted Jorgensen Fund for Physics [for undergraduate scholarships] (Account No. 8846.0) 6) David J. & Catherine J. Sellmyer Fund [for support of condensed matter and materials science] (Account No. 6781.0) 7) Menno Fast Memorial Fund [for lecture demonstration equipment] (Account No. 10681.0) Contributions to any of these may be made conveniently using the contribution card and return envelope enclosed with the mailing of this newsletter, or through the NU Foundation website at: http://nufoundation.org. Checks should be made payable to the University of Nebraska Foundation and should indicate for which account the money is intended. Those contributors whose employers have a matching gift program should indicate this.

Adenwalla, Shireen Fuller, Robert G. & Margaret Males, Jared Robert (B.S. 1998) Agrawal, Bishan Swarup Gabbard, Fletcher McConnell, Henton (M.S. 1973, Ph.D. 1974) Galliardt, Donald Wayne McEllistrem, Marcus T. Aylesworth, Kevin Donald (M.S. 1975, Ph.D. 1983) McKnight, Ronald Hugh (M.S. 1986, Ph.D. 1975) Gay, Timothy J. & Chris (M.S. 1964, Ph.D. 1970) Bade, W. Christopher Goodrich Foundation Partners In Munson, Neil Lambert Bao, Minqi (M.S. 1992, Ph.D. 1995) Giving Plan Natarajan, Marappan (M.S. 1976) Barrett, William Avon Gray, David Michael (B.S. 1977) Nebraska Alumni Association (B.S. 1952, M.S. 1953) Hawthorne, Maurice Ray (B.S. 1964) Niva, Gordon David Beels, Elisabeth A. Heigele, Vernie (M.S. 1975, Ph.D. 1979) Benfer, John P. IBM Corporation Pearlstein, Edgar A. Bloom, Kenneth A. Iburg, Donald Edward Pilalis, Labros Evaggelos (B.S. 1978) Boyer, Larry Lee (M.S. 1968, Ph.D. 1970) Jacobs, Loyd Donald (M.S. 1958) Pinkerton, Frederick Eugene (B.S. 1976) Bryan, Blaine D. (B.S. 1960) Jaecks, Duane H. & Janet Polsky Architects Burrow, Paul D. & Mary Jaswal, Sitaram S. & Alice Polsky, Donald Perry Cadence Design Systems, Inc. Kaestner, Steven P. Ruckman, Jerry E. (B.S. 1962) Caplan, Louis James Kaufman, Delmer Rudd, M. Eugene (Ph.D. 1962) & Eileen (M.S. 1963, Ph.D. 1974) Keifer, David Warren (B.S. 1968) Schmidt, James Joseph Carlson, Alden Carl Kennedy, Neal Duncan (B.S. 1956, M.S. 1957) Carol Benfer Revocable Trust Kirby, Roger D. & Suzanne K. Sellmyer, David J. & Catherine J. Claes, Daniel R. Krauter, Byron Lee (B.S. 1976) Smith, Lawrence Charles Cronin, Jamie Renae Kruhmin, Larry (M.S. 1978) Spencer, Cary Ray (B.S. 1971) Dairiki, Setsuo (M.S. 1945) Lannan, William Joseph (M.A. 1956) Starace, Anthony F. & Katherine F. Davey, Paul Oliver (Ph.D. 1964) Lansdowne, Robert Stevenson, Roger Dean (B.S. 1998) Dilly, Virgil (M.S. 1976) Lehman, Byron Stoddard, Robert Hugh Duffey, James Roy Lewis, Michael Kevin (B.S. 1992) Teays, Terry John (Ph.D. 1986) (M.S. 1972, Ph.D 1978) Liphardt, Martin Michael The Boeing Company Dunn, Daniel Edward (B.S.Eng.Phys 1984) (M.S. 1992, Ph.D. 1997) Thomas, Sue Eddy, Stephan McChesney (B.S. 1978) Loose, Nathan Lawrence (B.A. 2003) Tveten, Alan Brian (M.S. 1959) Finkler, Paul Macek, Joseph H. And Ellen A. Valk, Henry S. Fmc Corporation Macmillan, Richard Douglas Weymouth, John W. & Laura Friedman, Stephen Jeffrey (M.S. 2004) (M.S. 1970) Xu, Yuanguang (M.S. 1997, Ph.D. 2001)

SPECTRUM | 3 1 THE RECORD

EDITED BY JENNIFER LYNN BECIC 2005-2006 Degree Recipients BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Nathan A. Chandler-Smith (May 2006) went to work full-time for Donald Umstadter in the Diocles Laser Laboratory at UNL. Paul R. Demmel (August 2005) entered the master’s degree program in Computational Finance at Carnegie Mellon University. William M. Griffel (May 2006). Peter A. Jacobson (May 2006) entered the graduate physics program at Tulane University in New Orleans. Jonathan L. Kauk (May 2006). Jason D. Keller (May 2006) enrolled in the graduate physics program at UNL working with Professor Gregory Snow. Masatoshi Shoji (May 2006) enrolled in the graduate astronomy program at the University of Texas at Austin. Benjamin H. Williams (December 2006) began working as a firmware engineer at Server Technologies (www.servertech.com) in Reno, Nevada.

MASTER OF SCIENCE Snjezana Balaz (August 2005) entered the doctoral program in Engineering Physics at UNL working under the supervision of Professor Jennifer Brand of the UNL College of Engineering. John D. Burton (May 2006) entered the doctoral program in physics at UNL working with Professor Evgeny Tsymbal. Adam P. Caprez (August 2005) entered the doctoral program in physics at UNL working with Professor Herman Batelaan. Andrei Y. Istomin (August 2005) entered the doctoral program in physics at UNL working with Professor Anthony Starace. Petru Lunca Popa (August 2005) entered the physics Ph.D. program at the Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg (IPCMS) [Insitute of Physics and Chemistry of Materials, University of Strasbourg], France. Jonathan P. Reyes (August 2005) entered the physics Ph.D. program at UNL. Ildar F. Sabirianov (December 2005) entered the Engineering Physics Ph.D. program at UNL working with Professor Jennifer Brand. Adam M. Scheer (May 2006) entered the chemistry Ph.D. program at the University of Colorado-Boulder working with Professor G. Barney Ellison. Jiawei Tan (May 2006) entered the Ph.D. program in physics at the University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign. David S. Wisbey (August 2005) entered the physics Ph.D. program at UNL working with Professor Peter Dowben.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Andrei Y. Istomin (August 2005) took a postdoctoral research associate position in computational biology and structural bioinformatics at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte. Brandon J. Jordan-Thaden (December 2005) took a postdoctoral position in the synchrotron lab of Andreas Wolf in Heidelberg, Germany. Christina M. Othon (December 2005) took a postdoctoral research position in the group of Nobel Laureate Ahmed Zewail at Caltech. Luis G. Rosa (December 2005) took a postdoctoral position in the Department of Chemistry at Princeton University. Ildar F. Sabirianov (December 2005) took a postdoctoral position in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at UNL working with Professor Jennifer Brand.

32 | SPECTRUM 2006-2007 Degree Recipients BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Bob Buckley (Engineering Physics, May 2007) enrolled in the graduate physics program at the University of California-Santa Barbara. Laurel Burk (May 2007) enrolled in the graduate physics program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Christopher Corder (May 2007) enrolled in the graduate physics program at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Stephanie Gilbert (May 2007) enrolled in the graduate physics program at Vanderbilt University. Ceceilia Hedrick (May 2007) enrolled in the graduate astronomy program at Penn State University. Dmitry Kolesnikov (May 2007) is enrolled in the M.S. degree program in Information Technology and Business Administration at Creighton University. Luke Pawlowski (December 2006) took a position with The Marex Group, Inc. in Lincoln. Timothy Scarborough (December 2006) enrolled in the graduate physics program at UNL working with Professor Cornelius Uiterwaal. Kathleen Wheeler (May 2007) began training for the US Olympic Trials in swimming, held in July 2008 in Omaha. Zachary Wolff (December 2006) entered the graduate program in Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education at UNL.

MASTER OF SCIENCE Mikhail Bragin (December 2006) entered the physics Ph.D. program at UNL working with Professor Ilya Fabrikant. Xumin Chen (August 2006) entered the physics Ph.D. program at UNL working with Professor Axel Enders. Shannon Fritz (August 2006) entered the medical physics graduate program at Louisiana State University. Thomas George (August 2006) entered the physics Ph.D. program at UNL working with Professor David Sellmyer. Shawn Hilbert (May 2007) entered the physics Ph.D. program at UNL working with Professor Herman Batelaan. Zhen Li (December 2006) entered the physics Ph.D. program at UNL working with Professor Roger Kirby. Yushun Lin (December 2006) entered the physics Ph.D. program at UNL working with Professor Sy-Hwang Liou. Jing Liu (December 2006) entered the physics Ph.D. program at UNL working with Professor Peter Dowben. Srinivas Polisetty (August 2006) entered the physics Ph.D. program at UNL working with Professor Christian Binek. Yi Wang (December 2006) entered the physics Ph.D. program at UNL working with Professor Stephen Ducharme. Xiaohui Wei (December 2006) entered the physics Ph.D. program at UNL working with Professor David Sellmyer. Jie Xiao (August 2006) entered the physics Ph.D. program at UNL working with Professor Peter Dowben. Yao Zhao (August 2006) entered the graduate program in materials science at Rice University.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Brett Barwick (May 2007) took a postdoctoral research associate position with Nobel Laureate Ahmed Zewail at Caltech. Glen Gronniger (December 2006) took a metrology engineer position at the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Kansas City Plant, operated by Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies. Lu Yuan (December 2006) took a postdoctoral research associate position at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder, Colorado. INTERIOR VIEW OF JORGENSEN HALL

SPECTRUM | 3 3 2007 – 2008 Degree Recipients BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Maya Fabrikant (December 2007) was a graduate research assistant in physics at UNL prior to enrolling in the graduate physics program at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Amanda Fricke (December 2007) enrolled in the graduate physics program at the University of Rochester. John Mullins (May 2008) enrolled in the graduate program in Biomedical Engineering at the Mayo Clinic Graduate School, College of Medicine in Rochester, MN. Robert Mumgaard (May 2008) enrolled in the graduate program in Nuclear Engineering at MIT. Levi Neukirch (December 2007) enrolled in the graduate physics program at the University of Rochester. Ryo Namba (December 2007) enrolled in the graduate physics program at the University of Minnesota. Daniel Williams (May 2008) enrolled in the graduate program at the Institute of Optics, University of Rochester.

MASTER OF SCIENCE Chad Petersen (May 2008) enrolled in the graduate physics program at UNL working with Professor Donald Umstadter. Yong Wang (December 2007) enrolled in the graduate physics program at UNL working with Professor Evgeny Tsymbal.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY John D. Burton (May 2008) took a postdoctoral research associate position at UNL working with Professor Evgeny Tsymbal. Danqin Feng (August 2007) took a postdoctoral research associate position in the Chemistry Department at the University of Chicago. Jihee Kim (May 2008) joined the order of the Carthusian Nuns, Monastère de l’Annonciation, 399 ChungBuk, Boeungun, sanoemyeon, Daewon-li 376-873, South Korea. Steven Michalski (December 2007) took a postdoctoral research associate position in the Department working with Professor David J. Sellmyer. Matthew Poulsen (December 2007) enrolled in the UNL College of Law. Timothy Reece (December 2007) took a postdoctoral research associate position in the Department working with Professor Stephen Ducharme. David Schmitter (August 2007) took an Adjunct Assistant Professor position with the Applied Physics Program at Providence College, Rhode Island. James Strohaber (May 2008) took a postdoctoral research associate position in the Physics Department at Texas A&M University. 2008 – 2009 Degree Recipients BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Evan Brunkow (May 2009) enrolled in the graduate physics program at UNL. Taylor Chonis (December 2008) enrolled in the graduate astronomy program at the University of Texas at Austin. Benjamin Hage (May 2009) enrolled in the graduate physics program at UNL. Nathaniel Hunt (May 2009) enrolled in the graduate program in bio-mechanics at UNO. Nicholas Johnson (December 2008). Jin Kwang Kim (May 2009) is an electrical/electronic manufacturing professional in Korea. Amanda Kruse (May 2009) enrolled in the graduate physics program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jia Fu Low (December 2008) worked for the UCSB HEP group at CERN for one year and then enrolled in the graduate physics program at Florida State University. Timothy Miller (May 2009). Eric Petersen (May 2009) enrolled in the graduate astronomy program at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Joshua Philson (May 2009) took an Engineering Associate position in the Dam Safety Division of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources in Lincoln. Aaron Watkins (May 2009). Noah Weiss (May 2009) enrolled in the applied mathematics graduate program at Northwestern University.

MASTER OF SCIENCE Geoffrey Rojas (August 2008) entered the doctoral program in physics at UNL working with Professor Axel Enders.

34 | SPECTRUM DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Andrew Baruth (May 2009) took a postdoctoral research associate position in the Physics Department at the University of Minnesota. Adam Caprez (May 2009) is an HPC Applications Specialist in the Holland Computing Center at UNL. Shawn Hilbert (May 2009) is an Assistant Professor of Physics at Texas Lutheran College. Carolina Ilie (August 2008) is an assistant Professor of Physics (tenure track) at the State University of New York at Oswego. David Wisbey (December 2008) took a postdoctoral research associate position at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder, CO. 2009 – 2010 Degree Recipients BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Maria Becker (May 2010) enrolled in the graduate physics program at UNL. Anas Bouzid (May 2010) enrolled in the graduate physics program at UNL. William Echthenkamp (May 2010) enrolled in the graduate physics program at UNL. Ashley Ernesti (May 2010) enrolled in the graduate physics program at the University of Rochester. Keith Jones (May 2010) entered a training program at Novartis in Lincoln. Estefania Larsen (December 2009), enrolled in the graduate program in Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education at UNL. Frank Lee (May 2010) enrolled in the graduate physics program at the University of Texas at Austin. Bradley Nordell (May 2010) enrolled in the graduate physics program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Eric Norrgard (May 2010) enrolled in the graduate physics program at Yale University. Benjamin Plowman (December 2009). Paul Prososki (May 2010) enrolled in the graduate program in geosciences at Texas Tech University. Nathan Schulz (December 2009) is President and CEO of Theatrical Media Services in Omaha. Timothy Struble (May 2010). Jeffery Thomas (May 2010) enrolled in the graduate program in physics and applied physics at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.

MASTER OF SCIENCE Joan Dreiling (May 2010) entered the doctoral program in physics at UNL working with Professor Timothy Gay. Keisuke Fukutani (May 2010) entered the doctoral program in physics at UNL working with Professor Peter Dowben. Jason Keller (December 2009) entered the doctoral program in physics at UNL working with Professor Daniel Claes. Tony Kelly (August 2009) entered the doctoral program in engineering physics at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Kettering, OH. Lingmei Kong (December 2009) entered the doctoral program in physics at UNL working with Professor Peter Dowben. Joshua Machacek (August 2009). Emily Petermann (May 2010). Liangwen Pi (December 2009) entered the doctoral program in physics at UNL working with Professor Anthony F. Starace. Pankaj Sharma (May 2010) entered the doctoral program in physics at UNL working with Professor Alexei Gruverman. Yang Sun (May 2010) entered the doctoral program in physics at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Zhengzheng Zhang (August 2009) entered the doctoral program in physics at UNL working with Professor Peter Dowben.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Dale Johnston (May 2010). Jack Maseberg (August 2009) is an Assistant Professor of Physics at Fort Hayes State University, KS. Srinivas Polisetty (December 2009) took a postdoctoral research associate position in the physics department at West Virginia University in Morgantown working in the group of Professor Mikel Holcomb. Ning Wu (August 2009) took a postdoctoral research associate position in physics at UNL working with Professor Peter Dowben. Aleksander Wysocki (December 2009) took a postdoctoral research associate position in physics at UNL working with Professor Kirill Belashchenko. Jie Xiao (August 2009) took a postdoctoral research associate position in the Department of Physical Chemistry of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg working with University Professor Dr. Hans-Peter Steinrück.

SPECTRUM | 3 5 2004-2005 Fellowships and Traineeships

Borrison Fellowship Chancellor’s Fellowship Othmer Fellowship Andrei Istomin Jack Maseberg John D. Burton Carolina Ilie Bucky Fellowship Larson Fellowship Kristin Kraemer Anthony N. Caruso Jonathan Reyes

2005-2006 Fellowships and Traineeships

Avery Fellowship Chancellor’s Fellowship Project Fulcrum Fellowship Abhijit Mardana Geoffrey Shelburne Krisin Kraemer Suman Mukherjee Geoffrey Shelburne Larson Fellowship Wheeler Fellowship Nitin Srivastava Aramis Buenrostro Danqin Feng

Centennial Fellowship Othmer Fellowship Abhijit Mardana Karolina Janicka Adam M. Scheer Yi Wang 2006-2007 Fellowships and Traineeships

Avery Fellowship GAANN Fellowship Pamela Jeppson John D. Burton Othmer Fellowship Tony Kelly James Gasbrenner Nathan Powers Shannon Fritz Fling Fellowship Jason Keller Danqin Feng Emily Petermann

2007-2008 Fellowships and Traineeships

Avery Fellowship Larson Fellowship Undergraduate Teaching Scot McGregor Juan Colon-Santana Fellowship Evan Brunkow GAAN Fellowship Othmer Fellowship Taylor Chonis James Glasbrenner Karolina Janicka Lucy Geisbrecht Potter Jason Keller Nathan Powers Brian Hemen Kristin Kraemer Amanda Kruse Emily Petermann Presidential Fellowship Timothy Miller Timothy Scarborough John D. Burton Danielle Rogalla Melissa Test Aaron E. Watkins

36 | SPECTRUM 2008-2009 Fellowships and Traineeships

Degering Fellowship Malcolm Tassi Danielle Rogalla Roger Bach Melissa Test Juan Colon-Santana Heppner Fellowship Aaron Watkins Joan Dreiling Karolina Janicka Taylor Chonis Malcolm Tassi Amanda Kruse Othmer Fellowship Tim Miller GAANN Fellowship Joan Dreiling Eric Petersen Roger Bach Evan Brunkow Joan Dreiling Undergraduate Teaching Estefania Larsen Tony Kelly Fellowship Frank Lee Scot McGregor Justin Nitz Ashley Ernesti

2009-2010 Fellowships and Traineeships

Bridging Program Fellowship NASA Nebraska Space Grant Undergraduate Teaching Oleksiy Golovin Fellowship Fellowship Benjamin Hage Maria Becker Cassandra Etmund Daniel Knowlton Estefania Larsen Alexander Stamm Othmer Fellowship Melissa Test Chun Yang Chun Yang Taylor Chonis Le Zhang Amanda Kruse Physics 151 Distance Education Tim Miller Chancellor’s Fellowship Fellowship Eric Petersen Daniel Knowlton Justin Nitz Matt Burke Ashley Ernesti GAANN Fellowship Undergraduate Research Timothy Struble Oleksiy Golovin Fellowship Benjamin Hage Justin Nitz Nathan Powers Alexander Stamm Chun Yang

SPECTRUM | 3 7 2005 – 2006 Scholarships

John E. Almy Scholarship Cheunjit Katkanant Memorial Stowell Fund Scholarship Ryo Namba Scholarship Charles Beer Masatoshi Shoji Daniel Williams Amanda Fricke Alicia Gilmore R.M., S.M., and A.M. Eddy Henry H. Marvin Scholarship Ananda Fife Griffith Scholarship Nathan Chandler-Smith Ceceilia Hedrick John Bowman Christopher Corder Dmitry Kolesnikov Stephanie Gilbert Levi Neukirch Edward J. Hirsch Scholarship Kyle Scheele Timothy Scarborough Laurel Burk Lauren Thacker-Lynn James Carraher Physics & Astronomy Alumni Daniel Williams Christopher Corder Scholarship Zachary Wolff Aaron Watkins Eric Petersen U.S. Harkson Scholarship Banti & Mela Ram Jaswal Joel Stebbins Fund Scholarship Nathan Chandler-Smith Scholarship Charles Beer Jason Keller Amanda Fricke John Bowman Ryo Namba Masatoshi Shoji

2006 – 2007 Scholarships

John E. Almy Scholarship Cheunjit Katkanant Memorial Joel Stebbins Fund Scholarship Jeremy Johnston Scholarship Ceceilia Hedrick Frank Lee Ryo Namba Dr. William L. Bade Scholarship Stephanie Gilbert Henry H. Marvin Scholarship Stowell Fund Scholarship James Carraher Laurel Burk R.M., S.M., and A.M. Eddy Aaron Watkins Taylor Chonis Scholarship Christopher Corder Estefania Larsen Physics & Astronomy Alumni Amanda Fricke Scholarship Dmitry Kolesnikov Banti & Mela Ram Jaswal Ashley Ernesti Levi Neukirch Scholarship Tucker Zeleny Eric Petersen Benjamin Hage Daniel Williams Zachary Wolff

38 | SPECTRUM 2007 – 2008 Scholarships

Dr. William L. Bade Scholarship Banti & Mella Ram Jaswal Physics & Astronomy Alumni Sarah Arthur Scholarship Scholarship Caleb Pickard Jordan Sis Eric Norrgard Caleb Pickard R.M., S.M. and A.M. Eddy Cheunjit Katkanant Memorial Noah Weiss Scholarship Scholarship Noah Weiss Corrine Hodges Joel Stebbins Fund Scholarship James Carraher Ed Hirsch Scholarship Henry H. Marvin Scholarship Jeremy Johnston Jeremy Johnston Stowell Fund Scholarship Frank Lee Tucker Zeleny Ashley Ernesti Eric Petersen Kurt Meyer Physics Scholarship Caleb Pickard Corrine Hodges

2008 – 2009 Scholarships

John E. Almy Scholarship Henry H. Marvin Scholarship Stowell Fund Scholarship Eric Petersen Benjamin Hage Taylor Chonis Noah Weiss Aaron Watkins Samuel Davis Kathryn DeJong Dr. William L. Bade Scholarship Kurt Meyer Physics Scholarship William Echtenkamp Maria Becker Maria Becker Ashley Ernesti Amanda Kruse David Foote R.M., S.M., and A.M. Eddy Maxwell Gregoire Scholarship Physics and Astronomy Alumni Corrine Hodges Noah Weiss Scholarship Ryan Hotovy Corrine Hodges Amanda Kruse Banti & Mella Ram Jaswal Shawn Roberts Frank Lee Scholarship Nathanael Spaulding Jia Fu Low Amanda Kruse Collin McAcy Joel Stebbins Fund Scholarship Eric Norrgard Cheunjit Katkanant Memorial Maxwell Gregoire Caleb Pickard Scholarship Aaron Watkins Noah Weiss Noah Weiss

SPECTRUM | 3 9 2009 – 2010 Scholarships John E. Almy Scholarship Henry H. Marvin Scholarship Stowell Fund Scholarship Derek Wietjes Kyle Bunkers Maria Becker Caleb Fangmeier Cameron Bravo Dr. William L. Bade Scholarship Peter Hansen Susan Cooper Eric Norrgard Ryan Hotovy Samuel Davis Collin McAcy David Foote R.M., S.M., and A.M. Eddy Maxwell Gregoire Scholarship Kurt Meyer Physics Scholarship Kevin Jerger Collin McAcy Peter Hansen Frank Lee Eric Norrgard Banti & Mela Ram Jaswal Physics & Astronomy Alumni Caleb Pickard Scholarship Scholarship Nathanael Spaulding Peter Hansen Kyle Bunkers Kyle Tobin Nathanael Spaulding Cheunjit Katkanant Memorial Scholarship Collin McAcy

2005 – 2006 Honors

Distinguished Graduate Teaching Excellence in Graduate Education UNL Parents Association Assistant Award Award (Graduate Studies) Certificate of Recognition for Aramis Buenrostro Peter A. Dowben Contribution to Students Aaron Dominguez College of Arts & Sciences Multidisciplinary Research Award C. Martin Gaskell Outstanding Graduate Research (College of Engineering) Carl Lundstedt Assistant Award Peter A. Dowben Gregory Snow Luis G. Rosa Outstanding Scientist Award, UNL 2005-2006 UNL Society of Physics Chapter of Sigma Xi Students Officers David J. Sellmyer President: Levi Neukirch Vice President & Treasurer: Amanda Promotion to Rank of Emeritus Fricke Professor Secretary: Maya Fabrikant Robert J. Hardy

INTERIOR VIEWS OF JORGENSEN HALL

40 | SPECTRUM 2006-2007 Honors

Arts & Sciences College Best Student Poster Award at the UNL Parent’s Association Outstanding Graduate Research 54th Midwest Solid State Conference Certificate of Recognition for Assistant Award John D. Burton Contributions to Students John D. Burton Jihee Kim Axel Enders Steven Michalski Timothy Gay Outstanding Graduate Teaching Srinivas Polisetty Assistant Award Alexsander Wysocki Fellow of the American Vacuum Jason Keller Society Tony Kelly II Outstanding Poster at the 2008 Peter Dowben UNL Research Fair Lowe R. and Mavis M. Folsom Andrew Baruth Named “Outstanding Referee” by Distinguished Doctorial Nina Hong the American Physical Society Dissertation Award Zhen Li Robert Hardy Lu Yuan Abhijit Mardana Anthony Starace Donald Umstadter 2007 Sigma Xi Outstanding Invited Talk at 2007 DAMOP Graduate Student Award Undergraduate Research Promotion to Rank of Full Danqin Feng Symposium Professor Maya Fabrikant Daniel Claes 2007 Sigma Xi Outstanding Poster Gregory Snow Award 2007 Gordon Research Conference Andrew Baruth Young Investigator Competition Granted Tenure as Associate John D. Burton Award Professor Carolina Ilie Carolina Ilie Shireen Adenwalla

Phi Beta Kappa 2007-2008 Society of Physics 2008 UNL Service Award Ryo Namba Students Officers Marisol Baquerizo-Birth Daniel Williams President: Levi Neukirch Vice President: Amanda Fricke Co-Authored Aung San Suu Kyi: Secretary: Maya Fabrikant Fearless Voice of Burma, Second Treasurer: Laila Gharzai Edition Robert Fuller

INTERIOR VIEWS OF JORGENSEN HALL

SPECTRUM | 4 1 2008-2009 Honors

Outstanding Graduate Teaching 2008-2009 Society of Physics Charles Bessey Professor of Physics Assistant Award Student Officers and Astronomy Joan Dreiling President: Josh Philson Evgeny Tsymbal Vice President: Frank Lee Outstanding Undergraduate Treasurer: Laila Gharzai UNL Parents Association/Teaching Teaching Assistant Award Council Certificate of Recognition Estefania Larsen Promoted to Associate Professor for Contributions to Students with Tenure Peter Dowben Undergraduate Merit Award for Christian Binek Academic Performance Kenneth Bloom Elected to the Division of Materials Eric Norrgard Aaron Dominguez Physics Executive Committee Cornelius Uiterwaal David Sellmyer Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Research Research Corporation Cottrell Named “Outstanding Referee” by Justin Nitz Scholarship Award the American Physical Society Kirill Belashchenko Ilya Fabrikant Phi Beta Kappa Timothy Gay Taylor Chonis Elected Fellow of the American Physical Society Evgeny Tsymbal

2009-2010 Honors

Selected to Attend the Lindau Nobel Undergraduate Award for Excellence University Continuing Education Laureate Meeting in Research Association (UCEA) Great Plains Joan Dreiling Frank Lee Regional Excellence in Teaching Award Kevin Lee Folsom Distinguished Doctoral 2009-2010 Society of Physics Students Dissertation Award Honorable Officers Outstanding Service Towards NCMN Mention President: Frank Lee Outreach Jia Xiao Vice President: Cameron Bravo Christian Binek Treasurer: Laila Gharzai Stephen Ducharme Distinguished Graduate Teaching Axel Enders Assistant Award Promoted to Full Professor Roger Kirby Liangwen Pi Herman Batelaan 40 Year UNL Employee Service Award Distinguished Undergraduate UNL Parents Association/Teaching Leslie Marquart Teaching Assistant Award Council Certificate of Recognition for Ashley Ernesti Contributions to Students Named “Outstanding Referee” by the Orhan Yenen American Physical Society Undergraduate Merit Award for Sitaram Jaswal Academic Performance 2010 James V. Griesen Chancellor’s Kyle Bunkers Exemplary Service to Students Award Distinguished Lecturer at the Ryan Hotovy Leslie Marquart University of Kentucky David Sellmyer

42 | SPECTRUM 2005 Fall Semester Colloquia

September 1 October 20 Dr. Chris Quigg, Fermilab Professor James Kakalios, University of Minnesota “The Coming Revolution in Particle Physics” “Conductance Fluctuations: From Amorphous Semiconductors to the Cerebral Cortex” September 8 Dr. Bill Louis, Los Alamos National Laboratory October 27 “Searching for Neutrino Oscillations: Early Results from the Dr. Dan Green, Head of the US-CMS Collaboration, Fermi National MiniBooNE Experiment at Fermilab” Accelerator Laboratory “The CMS Experiment at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider” September 15 Professor Stephen O’Brien, Columbia University November 10 “Scale Your Enthusiasm: Designing Nanomaterials” Professor Timothy Gay, University of Nebraska – Lincoln “A Molecule with One Atom Too Many: An Atomic Collision September 29 Physicist’s Attempt to Learn About Simple Homonuclear Diatomic Dr. Daniel Savin, Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory Molecules” “Cosmology in a Can: Atomic & Molecular Physics from High z to Low Z” December 8 Dr. Gail Glendinning, Lawrence Livermore National Lab October 13 “Experiments at Extreme State – X-Games Physics on the National Dr. Michelle Thaller, NASA JPL, Caltech Ignition Facility” “In the Heat of the Night: New Views of the Infrared Universe from the Spitzer Space Telescope” 2006 Spring Semester Colloquia

January 19 March 6 Dr. Erwin Poliakoff, Louisiana State University Dr. Arvinder Sandhu, JILA and the University of Colorado, “Vibrationally-Resolved Electron Spectroscopy of Polyatomic Boulder Molecules: Mode-Selective Behavior in Complex Systems” “Ultrafast Science – Exploring the Attosecond and Nanometer World” February 2 Dr. Martin Gaskell, University of Nebraska – Lincoln March 8 “The Solid-State Physics of Quasars: Dust & High-Energy Dr. Kiyong Kim, Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies Photons Near Supermassive Black Holes” “Ultrafast, High-Intensity Laser Interactions with Gases and Nanoscale Clusters” February 14 Dr. Deniz D. Yavuz, University of Wisconsin, Madison March 23 “Quantum Computing with Trapped Neutral Atoms” Dr. Andreas Ney, Universität Duisburg-Essen “Magnetic Moments and Semiconductors: Spintronics and February 16 Magnetologic” Dr. Wolfgang Kleemann, University of Duisburg-Essen “Universal Domain Wall Dynamics in Ferroic Materials with March 27 Disorder” Dr. Seok-Hwan Chung, Argonne National Laboratory “A Novel Approach to Biomagnetic Sensing” February 20 Dr. Irina Novikova, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for April 6 Astrophysics Dr. T. Mitch Wallis, National Institute of Standards and “Manipulation of Light with Atomic Ensembles (and vice- Technology (NIST) and Colorado State University versa)” “Sliding Atoms and Trembling Cantilevers: Nanoscience from the Bottom and the Top” February 23 Dr. Agapi Emmanouilidou, Georgia Tech April 13 “Multi-Electron Collision Dynamics: A Key to Exploring Dr. Enrique del Barco, University of Central Florida Ionization” “Quantum Dynamics of High-Spin States in Single Molecule Magnets” March 2 Dr. Manuel Hegelich, Los Alamos National Laboratory April 27 “Brighter than a Trillion Suns – Ultrahigh Intensity Laser Dr. Sergei V. Kalinin, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Research at Los Alamos National Laboratory” “A Biased View on the Nanoworld: Transport and Electromechanics on the Nanoscale”

SPECTRUM | 4 3 2006 Fall Semester Colloquia

August 24 October 5 Professor Dan Claes, University of Nebraska - Lincoln Dr. Terry Teays, Maryland Space Grant Consortium “Deep Space Messages, Deep Underground” “Student Balloon Payload Project: An Example of Engaging Students in Real-World Science and Engineering” August 31 Dr. George G. Malliaras, Cornell University November 2 “Ions: The Neglected Carriers in Organic Electronics” Dr. Chris Greene, JILA & University of Colorado “What Do Beam-Foil Spectroscopy, Bose-Einstein September 7 Condensation, and Hybrid Corn Genetics have in Common?” Dr. Indrin Chetty, University of Nebraska Medical Center “Applications of the Monte Carlo Method in Radiation November 9 Therapy Treatment Planning” Dr. Brenna Flaugher, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory “The Dark Energy Survey (or How to Find the Missing 70% September 18 of the Universe)” Dr. Axel Enders, Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research November 16 “Self-Assembled Magnetic Nanostructures” Dr. Antoine Rousse, Laboratoire d’Optique Appliquee (LOA), CNRS, ENSTA, Ecole Polytechnique September 28 “Generation of X-Ray Beams Using Lasers and Their Dr. B.A. Shadwick, LOASIS Program, Lawrence Berkeley Application in Ultrafast X-Ray Science” National Laboratory “Hamilton Models of Laser-Plasma Interactions” October 30 Dr. Thorsten Kampen, Fritz-Haber-Institute der Max- Planck-Gesellschaft, Germany “Organic Molecules – Self-Assembly and Chirality” 2007 Spring Semester Colloquia

January 18 “Ultrahigh Intensity Lasers and Nonlinear Optics: New Professor Anthony F. Starace, University of Nebraska – Frontiers in Technology and Applications” Lincoln “Novel Physics of Intense, Short Laser Pulses” March 22 Dr. Oren Cohen, JILA and University of Colorado at Boulder January 25 “Attosecond Nonlinear Optics” Dr. Robert Hilborn, University of Nebraska – Lincoln “How to Increase the Number of Undergraduate Science April 5 Majors” Dr. Harry Shipman, University of Delaware “Developing Physics Students’ Capabilities for Baloney February 15 Detection” Dr. Xiao Cheng Zeng, University of Nebraska – Lincoln “Computational Study of Nanostructured Matter” April 9 Dr. Casey Miller, University of California – San Diego February 21 “Contemporary Issues in Spin-Dependent Tunneling” Dr. Scott Sepke, University of Nebraska – Lincoln “High Field Science in the Diocles Laser Lab: Electron Beam April 12 Conditioning and the Roll of the Off-Polarization Field Dr. Debra Fischer, San Francisco State University Components” “Planet Formation and Evolution” February 22 April 16 Dr. Paul Mantsch, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Dr. Alexei Gruverman, North Carolina State University “The Pierre Auger Observatory – Capturing Messengers from “Polarization Phenomena at the Nanoscale: From the Extreme Universe” Ferroelectrics to Biocomposites” February 27 April 19 Dr. Bradley A. Shadwick, Institute for Advanced Physics Dr. Timothy Solberg, University of Nebraska Medical Center “Physics and Applications of Laser-Plasma Interactions” “Targeting Cancer with Radiation Technology for Focused Delivery and Image Guidance” March 1 Dr. Maxim Tsoi, University of Texas at Austin April 26 “Spintronics: From Ferromagnets to Antiferromagnets” Professor André D. Bandrauk, Université de Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada March 2 “Molecules in Intense Laser Fields: Femto- to Attosecond Dr. Igor Jovanovic, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Dynamics”

44 | SPECTRUM 2007 Fall Semester Colloquia

August 30 October 25 Dr. Brendan Casey, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Dr. Eric Fullerton, University of California-San Diego “Searching for New Physics and CP Violation in Beauty and “Resonant X-Ray Scattering from Nano-Structured Magnetic Charm Mixing and Decay” Materials” September 13 November 1 Dr. Christian Binek, University of Nebraska, Lincoln Dr. Paul Corkum, National Research Council, Ottawa, Canada “Electric and Magnetic Field Control of Exchange Bias” “Attosecond Science” September 20 November 8 Dr. Dennis P. McNabb, Lawrence Livermore National Dr. Leszek Frasinski, Imperial College London Laboratory “Models of the Quantum World: Probing Molecules with “Isotopic Imaging with Quasi-Monochromatic Photon Intense Lasers” Sources” November 15 September 27 Professor Don Madison, University of Missouri – Rolla Dr. Maxim Tsoi, University of Texas at Austin “Why Would Anyone be Interested in Charged Particles, “Spintronics: From Ferromagnets to Antiferromagnets” Ionizing Atoms and Molecules?” October 11 November 29 Dr. Susan Enders, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Dr. Hai-Jun Yang, University of Michigan “Get Attached! (Combining Biology and Materials Science)” “Search for Neutrino Oscillation with the MiniBooNE Detector” October 18 Professor Chii-Dong Lin, Kansas State University December 6 “Attosecond Physics: The Art of Harold Edgerton in This Professor R.J. Dwayne Miller, University of Toronto Century” “Femtosecond Electron Diffraction: Making the Molecular Movie” 2008 Spring Semester Colloquia

January 17 March 31 Professor Roger D. Kirby, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Dr. Kevin Lannon, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory “Nanoscale Magnetism: Physics and Applications” “Digging Up Top and Higgs at the Tevatron” January 31 April 3 Professor David Z. Besson, University of Kansas Dr. Ilya Kravchenko, Massachusetts Institute of Technology “Catching Neutrinos in the Antarctic Icecap” “B Physics at CDF: What It Takes to Make a Flagship Measurement at a Collider Experiment” February 7 Professor Michel Pleimling, Virginia Tech April 9 “Aging Phenomena in Magnetic Systems” Dr. Don Lincoln, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory “The Physics of Generations: The Next Layer in the Cosmic February 14 Onion” Professor Gregory Snow, University of Nebraska-Lincoln “We Know Where They’re Coming From!! Recent Physics April 10 Results from the Pierre Auger Cosmic Ray Observatory” Dr. Cliff Surko, University of California-San Diego “Physics with Low-Energy Antimatter” February 21 Professor Kathie Newman, University of Notre Dame April 14 “Lessons on Climate & Curriculum for Physics” Dr. Ben Brau, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory “Using Leptons and Bosons to Search for New Physics in February 28 Hadron Collisions” Dr. Carl B. Schroeder, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory “Laser-Plasma Accelerators with Applications to Coherent April 17 Radiation Sources” Dr. Olga A. Shenderova, Head, Nanodiamond Laboratory, International Technology Center, Raleigh, NC March 24 “Detonation Nanodiamond & Onion-like Carbon: Synthesis, Dr. Ronald Moore, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Properties & Applications” “Tevatron Run 2: Rise of the Machines” May 1 March 27 Professor Philip D. Mannheim, University of Connecticut Dr. Thomas Wright, University of Michigan & Fermi National “Dark Matter & Dark Energy – Fact or Fiction?” Accelerator Laboratory “Searching for Higgs Bosons at the Tevatron” SPECTRUM | 4 5 2008 Fall Semester Colloquia

September 4 November 6 Professor Cornelius Uiterwaal, Professor Justin Peatross, Brigham Young University University of Nebraska–Lincoln “Photo Emission by Individual Electron Wave Packets in “Intense-Field Ionization of Molecules: The Photodynamical Strong Laser Fields” Test Tube” November 13 October 16 Professor Brett Esry, Kansas State University Professor David Reitze, University of Florida, Gainesville “Ultracold Three-Body Collisions & Efimov Physics” “Chasing Gravitational Waves” November 20 October 23 Professor Giti Khodaparast, Virginia Tech Professor Jay Dittmann, Baylor University “Narrow Gap Semiconductors: Spin Splitting with No “Where Have All the Physicists Gone?” External Magnetic Field” October 30 Professor Patrick LeClair, University of Alabama “Electron Tunneling: From Quantum Weirdness to Your Hard Disk” 2009 Spring Semester Colloquia

January 15 March 2 Professor Aaron Dominguez, Dr. Martin Centurion, Max Planck Institute for Quantum University of Nebraska–Lincoln Optics “Using Silicon Trackers To Do High Energy Physics” “Ultrafast Imaging of Plasma and Molecular Dynamics Using Electron Pulses” February 5 Professor Terry D. Oswalt, Florida Institute of Technology March 5 “Digging in the Stellar Graveyard: What White Dwarf Stars Dr. Valery Milner, University of British Columbia Tell Us About the Age of the Universe” “Coherent Scattering with Incoherent Light: New Spectroscopy with Ultra-Short Laser Pulses” February 12 Dr. Xianglin Ke, Pennsylvania State University March 9 “Geometrically Frustrated Magnets: Dirty & Artificial Spin Dr. Gretchen K. Campbell, JILA and University of Colorado Ice” – Boulder “Probing Quantum Coherence and Ultracold Collisions with February 18 an 87 Strontium Optical Lattice Clock” Dr. Sergei Urazhdin, West Virginia University “Current-Induced Excitations in Magnetic Bilayers: Why does April 2 the Polarizer Behave Differently from the Free Layer?” Professor Beatriz Roldan Cuenya, University of Central Florida February 19 “Atomic Vibrations in Metal Nanostructures” Dr. Elizabeth McCormack, Bryn Mawr College “The Detection and Analysis of Long-Range States of April 9 Molecular Hydrogen” Professor Gordon Berry, University of Notre Dame “Science Literacy: Milton Meets Einstein” February 24 Dr. Hiromichi Niikura, National Research Council of April 16 Canada Dr. David Keavney, Argonne National Laboratory “Attosecond Re-Collision Dynamics” “Imaging of Magnetization Dynamics Using X-Ray Microscopy” February 26 Dr. Wen Li, JILA, University of Colorado & NIST “Probing Coupled Electronic and Nuclear Dynamics Using Coherent Electrons and X-Rays”

46 | SPECTRUM 2009 Fall Semester Colloquia

August 27 October 15 Professor Kenneth Bloom, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Professor Andreas Becker, JILA & University of Colorado “Gigabit, Teravolt, Petabyte” “Molecules in Intense Laser Fields” September 10 October 29 Professor David Asner, Carleton University Professor James Linnemann, Michigan State University “The CLEO Experiment” “Imaging the Universe in a Bucket of Water” September 17 November 5 Dr. Hans-Christian Kaestli, Paul Sherrer Institut Dr. Markus Guehr, Stanford PULSE Institute “Hybrid Pixel Detectors for Particle and X-Ray Detection” “New Perspectives for Time Resolved Chemistry, Using High Harmonic Generation and Free Electron Lasers” October 8 Professor Chong-Yu Ruan, Michigan State University November 12 “Towards Material Imaging at Space-Time Limit” Professor Meenakshi Narain, Brown University “Particle Physics at a Crossroads” 2010 Spring Semester Colloquia

January 14 February 22 Dr. Rush D. Robinett III, Sandia National Laboratory Dr. Sung Seok A. Seo, Oak Ridge National Laboratory “Renewable Energy Electric Grid Integration” “Atomic Scale Oxide Heterostructures That Work with Strongly Correlated Electrons” January 21 Professor Herman Batelaan, University of Nebraska–Lincoln April 8 “A Strong Future for a Weak Quantum” Dr. Anil Seth, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics “Nuclear Star Clusters and Black Holes” February 4 Dr. Sander Otte, National Institute of Standards and Technology April 29 “Spin Manipulation in Atomically Engineered Nanostructures” Professor Zhiwen Liu, Pennsylvania State University “Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Holography” February 15 Professor Tingyong Y. Chen, Johns Hopkins University May 6 “Ballistic Transport Via Point Contacts” Professor Federico Capasso, Harvard University “Sub-Wavelength Photonics: From Light Manipulation to February 18 Quantum Levitation at the Nanoscale” Dr. Xia Hong, Pennsylvania State University “Intrinsic and Extrinsic Scattering in Graphene” 2010 Fall Semester Colloquia

September 2 November 4 Drs. Sarah Michaels, Drew Tyre & Richard Rebarber, UNL Professor Christian Binek, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Public Policy Center “Isothermal Electric Switching of Interface Magnetization: A “Risk & Uncertainty Unplugged: Physics” Route to Voltage-Controlled Spintronics” September 16 November 11 Professor Qi Li, Pennsylvania State University Dr. Samuel A Werner, National Institute of Standards and “Multiferroic Tunnel Junctions: New Functional Spintronics” Technology “Observation of Aharonov-Bohm Effects by Neutron September 30 Interferometry” Dr. Eun-Joon Ahn, Fermilab “Recent Results from the Pierre Auger Observatory” November 18 Professor Allen Landers, Auburn University October 7 “The Tortoise and the Hare on an Atomic Scale” Professor Travis Rector, University of Alaska “Research-Based Science Education: Teaching Students December 2 Science by Having Them Do Science” Dr. Michael Eads, University of Nebraska-Lincoln “The Quest for the Higgs Boson at DZero” October 21 Dr. Wei Ku, Brookhaven National Laboratory “Ferro-Orbital Order & Rich Magnetic Structures of Iron- Based Superconductors” SPECTRUM | 4 7 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY

Dept. of Physics & Astronomy Theodore Jorgensen Hall, Rm 208 855 N 16th Street Lincoln, NE 68588-0299

Ray King at work