November 2004 NEWS Volume 13, No. 10 A Publication of The American Physical Society http://www.aps.org/apsnews

APS Members Elect Hopfield as New Quinn Holds Summit Meeting Vice President in 2004 General Election With President of Vietnam

APS members elected request them. The per- him when they were both gradu- John Hopfield, the Howard centage of APS members ate students in physics at Berkeley. A. Prior Professor of voting was 22.8%, slightly “The culture of the household was Molecular Biology at higher than in 2003, but that anything physical could and Princeton University, as below the all-time high of should be observed, measured, the new APS vice presi- 24.9% in 2002. Before the taken apart into its components, dent in the 2004 general online voting option was understood (if necessary even election. Hopfield will take offered, the percentage of repaired) and that joy, deep satis- office January 1, 2005. In members voting hovered faction, and new technologies 2006 he will become presi- between 18% and 20%. could all come with successes in dent-elect, assuming the mantle of this process,” he said. APS president in 2007. The APS VICE PRESIDENT Hopfield received his PhD from president for 2005 will be Marvin Hopfield was born into a phys- Cornell in 1958. He joined the theo- Cohen of the University of Califor- ics household in the midst of the retical group at Bell Laboratories for The President of Vietnam is 5th from the left, and Helen Quinn is 6th from the left, nia, Berkeley. Depression. His father had taken a two years, and began his teaching in the front row. In other election results, the one-year position helping set up career in the physics department at University of Chicago’s Thomas the physics exhibit at the Chicago Berkeley in 1961. In 1964 he re- By Ernie Tretkoff in Hanoi. While she was there, she Rosenbaum was elected chair-elect World’s Fair. His mother had met See ELECTION on page 6 APS President Helen Quinn visited with the leadership of the of the APS Nominating Committee, traveled in early August to Viet- Vietnam Physical Society, and which is responsible for propos- APS Establishes M. Hildred Blewett nam, where she attended a talked about the relationship ing a slate of candidates each year scientific conference and met between the societies. for the Society’s general election. Scholarship for Women in Physics the President of Vietnam. Some of the conference attend- Ann Orel of University of The APS has been designated Quinn attended the 5th ees were invited to meet with the California, Davis, and Lucent Tech- the primary beneficiary of a Rencontres du Vietnam, a particle President of Vietnam, Tran Duc nologies/Bell Laboratories’ Richart bequest of over $1 million from M. physics and astrophysics meeting See QUINN on page 3 Slusher were elected as general Hildred Blewett, an accelerator councilors. Also approved was an physicist who died in June. Blewett amendment to the APS Constitu- left nearly everything she had to Quinn Receives State Department tion, slightly modifying the APS for a scholarship for women Response on Improved Visa Process mechanisms for the formation and in physics. APS President Helen Quinn termination of topical groups. The scholarship will be known Despite reported improve- received a letter in September from Kenneth Cole, Special Assistant as the M. Hildred Blewett Annual ments, the APS continues to Maura Harty, Assistant Secretary of to the Executive Officer, described Scholarship for Women in Physics. encourage all visa applicants to the 2004 election as “the easiest and Eligible candidates will be women State for Consular Affairs, in apply at least 3-4 months ahead smoothest in the four years since we who have had to give up doing Hildred Blewett, in the days when a com- response to her signing a joint of time. If an applicant has not have been offering online voting.” research for a time but would like puter was a person, not a machine. statement on the need to stream- received a visa within 30 days In addition to saving the Society a to resume their careers, women line the visa process. since the visa application, the great deal of money in mailing costs, who wish to change the area of 2005 when APS solicits applica- Harty indicated that new pro- applicant should visit the the online voting option has proven their work, and recent postgradu- tions for the first scholarship. cedures arranged with the National Academy of Sciences overwhelmingly popular with mem- ates who are in their first academic While signing the will shortly Department of Homeland Security visa website at http://www. nationalacademies.org/visas/ bers: 91% of all those who voted did position and need financial support before she died, Blewett said, and other Federal agencies have now reduced visa processing time. Fill out the “Visa Question- so online. Those few remaining mem- to establish themselves. Additional “Everything I have came from naire” (4th link down in the list “As of September 2, 98% of all bers who prefer paper ballots can information will be available in physics, so everything has to go on the right hand side of the Visas Mantis cases are being back to physics,” recalled Frank page). Once the questionnaire Malinka, Blewett’s financial advisor. cleared in less than 30 days,” she is completed, NAS staff review Blewett was born in Ontario on wrote. “More than 2000 on-going the information each week to Apker Award Finalists May 28, 1911. She began her cases were just cleared.” The State identify visa applications that career in physics working at Gen- Department has also recently are still pending 30 days past eral Electric in Schenectady, New begun posting visa appointment the initial application date. York, in the 1940s, where she de- wait times on the Internet. See http: This is quite helpful, since veloped a method of controlling //www.travel.state.gov. once each week every case that has been pending over 30 days the pollution from smoke from fac- In May, the APS joined more than 20 other science, higher is now reported by the NAS to tory chimneys. In 1947 she and her the State Department. If the education and engineering orga- then husband, John Blewett, were case is not resolved the follow- nizations in developing a joint among the original team members ing week, the NAS continues at Brookhaven National Labora- statement urging the federal gov- to report it again each week tory. Hildred Blewett later worked ernment to adopt six practical until the case is resolved one at Argonne National Laboratory, recommendations for improving way or another. The State and then at CERN. She retired from the current visa processing crisis Department also communi- See BLEWETT on page 4 by removing unnecessary barriers cates each week to the NAS to multinational collaborations. regarding which cases they (See APS News, July 2004. Full text have resolved. Photo Credit: Shelly Johnston of the statement is available at: This system helps make sure HHighlights that the State Department is The Apker Award is given annually to two students for outstanding research as an HH http://www.aps.org/statements/ aware of those cases that have undergraduate. One award is for a student at an institution granting a PhD 03_1.cfm degree; the other goes to a student at an institution that does not grant a PhD. The been significantly delayed, and Taken together, the group recipients are chosen from six finalists, three in each category, who assemble in 7 Zero Gravity also helps to make sure they Washington in September for a day of interviews with the selection committee. Haiku winners represented 95% of the US don’t “fall through the cracks.” Shown here after the long day of interviews had ended are: (l to r): Nathan Hodas The Back Page research community. It was the first While this process doesn’t guar- (Williams College); Joseph Checkelsky (Harvey Mudd College); Yuk-yan Lam Rembering Oppen- time that US science and academic antee US Government action, 8 heimer: The Teacher, (MIT); Ibrahim Cisse (North Carolina Central University); Matthew Pysher leaders have endorsed a compre- it guarantees visibility to pend- The Man (Colgate University); and Jonathan Heckman (Princeton University). By Edward Gerjuoy See VISA on page 6 ing applications. 2 November 2004 NEWS

This Month in Physics History “If Los Alamos really was a “Science was never a career to November 25, 1975: Patent for Full-body CAT Scan bunch of arrogant… cowboys, they me, but a way of life. If you can give would appear to have a safety that to kids, it’s a wonderful gift.” record and incidents safety viola- ✶✶✶ When British physicist in the field caused the Royal College of tions twice as high as anyplace else “I wondered why hasn’t anyone Wilhelm Roentgen accidentally him to devote more Science and, later, or, you know, way out of the statis- written a book about the science discovered x-rays cast by his sub-stantial efforts to the Cranwell Radar tical clouds, and that wasn’t the of football. It seemed to me that cathode ray tube in 1895, the that area. Cormack School. And he also case.” was odd because there’s every bit phenomenon quickly found understood that it built a large-screen —Brad Holian, Los Alamos National as much physics in football as in practical application in medical was basically a matter oscilloscope and Laboratory, on safety and security at baseball.” imaging and diagnostics. It of finding a two- demonstration LANL, National Public Radio (NPR), —Timothy Gay, University of would be another 80 or so years dimensional math- equipment as September 20, 2004 Nebraska-Lincoln, on the physics of before x-rays were harnessed in ematical function to instruction aids. ✶✶✶ football, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a new, improved form of diag- relate the observed After the war, he “Usually when people cite a October 4, 2004 nostic imaging: computer -assisted transmission to the earned a bona fide work, it’s because they found it use- ✶✶✶ tomography, or CAT scanning. varying absorbtion as degree from the Allan Cormack ful. I’d say that this is something that “For people like me that choose In a CAT scan, the x-ray tube the x-rays pass Faraday House Elec- I’d want to list among my major to work in this field, enhancing our and detector rotate around the through a cross- trical Engineering achievements.” knowledge is the payoff. And these patient, capturing images of section. Although College in London. He —John Perdew, Tulane University, on scientific breakthroughs are really each cross-section of the body others before joined the research having written the world’s most cited our payoff, and everybody that or organ under examination. him had staff of EMI in 1951, physics paper, Times-Picayune (New does basic research does it because A CAT scan uses crystal detec- deduced working on radar Orleans), September 20, 2004 it’s a lot of fun.” tors that emit signals when similar and guided weaponry, ✶✶✶ —Deborah Jin, NIST, National Pub- struck by x-rays, which are methods of calcula- and on computers, “I’m sitting in my kitchen look- lic Radio (NPR), September 28, 2004 stored and analyzed in a com- tion, Cormack was which were then ing at this large collection of cells ✶✶✶ puter. The result is a 3-D image the first to state the in their infancy. put together into this amazing thing “The theorists will be surprised, of the body part. basic principles for After trans- called a cat. What is the difference but they do not exclude such a pos- The two men credited with reconstructing a ferring to EMI’s the CAT-scan’s invention are cross-section of Central Research between a cat and a crystal of salt, sibility.” Patent drawing for Ledley’s which also is the product of self- — Moses H. W. Chan, Penn State, on Allan Cormack and Godfrey organ tissue. He also full-body machine. Laboratories, assembly?” having produced supersolid helium, The Hounsfield, who shared the foresaw that solving Hounsfield proposed —George Whitesides, Harvard New York Times, September 21, 4004 1979 Nobel Prize in Physics for this problem would a project on University, on self-assembly, Dallas ✶✶✶ the discovery. open up radio- automatic pattern Morning News, September 5, 2004 “I have written at least one A native of South Africa, therapy and imaging recognition. This ✶✶✶ paper in the remote past about the Cormack became interested in diagnostic applica- work led, in 1967, to “The Telescope Array experi- possibility of supersolid behavior. I astronomy as a teenager, and tions in medicine. the idea that became ment is meant to help solve the would have bet at least 100 to 1 chose to study math and phys- Building a practi- known as computer- puzzle of the origins of ultra-high- against it.” ics because they were essential cal machine became assisted tomography. energy cosmic radiation. We don’t —Anthony Leggett, University of Il- to a career in astronomy. the purview of In his Nobel Prize know where they are coming from. linois, on supersolid helium, The New Career prospects for Hounsfield. He grew autobiography, he We don’t know why they are here.” York Times, September 21, 2004 astronomers weren’t good, so he up in the English recalled the many —Pierre Sokolsky, University of Utah, ✶✶✶ studied electrical engineering in- countryside on a frustrations and Salt Lake City, on cosmic rays, Knight Quotes about the 2004 Nobel stead at the University of Cape farm, the youngest of technical hurdles he Godfrey Hounsfield Ridder Newspapers, August 30, 2004 Prize in Physics: Town. Within two years his five children, and had to overcome to ✶✶✶ “I was in the shower. I hadn’t interests had reverted to math early on evinced a produce the first “There was a big pit in my stom- slept all night because I was just too and physics; he eventually fascination with all things clinical brain-scanner—includ- ach. This just wasn’t supposed to nervous. And my wife answered the earned bachelor’s and master’s mechanical on the farm: the ing traveling across London by happen. We’re going to have a lot phone. I stepped out of the shower degrees in physics. threshing machines, the binders, public transport carrying of work picking up the pieces.” soaking wet, and I started listening He worked at Cambridge and generators. bullock’s brains for use in an —Roger Wiens, Los Alamos National to the people congratulating me. It University’s famed Cavendish During his teenage years he experimental scanner in the lab. Laboratory, on the crash of the Gen- was lovely. Then I called up my par- Laboratory before returning to his started doing his own experiments, Computer tomography was esis space capsule, Associated Press, ents right away.” alma mater as a faculty member. building electrical recording first used to take images of the September 8, 2004 —Frank Wilczek, MIT, on receiving the Much of his research was in machines, and investigating the skull, for study of diseases of the ✶✶✶ phone call informing him he’d won the nuclear physics; he became principles of flight by launching brain. A whole-body version of “The science fiction aspect ... is Nobel Prize, NPR, October 5, 2004 interested in what is now known himself from the tops of haystacks the CAT scan was invented by not enough to justify doing this, but ✶✶✶ as CAT-scanning in 1956. with a homemade glider. And he Robert Ledley, a professor of it doesn’t hurt.” “One of my colleagues at the time Cormack provided the theo- very nearly blew himself up while physiology and biophysics at —Jeffrey Hangst, CERN, on produc- said, ‘David, this is a great thing retical framework for CAT scans, experimenting with water-filled tar Georgetown University. ing anti-atoms, The Dallas Morning you’ve come up with, and a great analyzing the conditions for barrels and acetylene to see how Ledley received a patent for News, September 19, 2004 theory, but it will never be proven.’” demonstrating a correct radio- high he could propel the waterjet. that device in November, 1975. ✶✶✶ —David Gross, University of Califor- graphic cross-section in a In school, he excelled primarily Since then, CAT scans have Two quotes from Russell Hulse in nia, Santa Barbara, Washington Post, biological system, which was in math and physics. When World become a mainstay of the medi- the Dallas Morning News, September October 6, 2004 published in two papers in 1963 War II broke out, he joined the cal profession, and not just for 19, 2004: ✶✶✶ and 1964, respectively. His Royal Air Force, driven by his love imaging the brain or specific “My first reaction was not “What they provided us was a results didn’t initially garner of aeronautics. He eventually organs. It has also been used to ‘Eureka!,’ but rather ‘Nuts, what’s lovely insight, and a surprising one, much attention; it wasn’t until passed a City and Guilds examina- monitor effects of radioactive wrong?’ ” into the fundamental nature of 1970 that other developments tion in radio communications at treatment of cancerous tumors. (on his discovery of a pair of pul- matter.” sars orbiting each other) —Sylvester James Gates, University of ✶✶✶ Maryland, USA Today, October 6, 2004 See MEDIA on page 7

Series II, Vol. 13, No. 10 College Park, MD 20740-3844, [email protected]. Past-President Physics and Society), J. H. Eberly (Laser Science), G. November 2004 For Nonmembers—Circulation and Fulfillment Division, Myriam P. Sarachik*, City College of New York - CUNY Slade Cargill*, III (Materials), Bunny C. Clark* ©2004 The American Physical Society American Institute of Physics, Suite 1NO1, 2 Huntington (Nuclear), John Jaros (Particles & Fields), Stephen NEWS Quadrangle, Melville, NY 11747-4502. Allow at least 6 weeks General Councillors Holmes (Physics of Beams), James Drake (Plasma), advance notice. For address changes, please send both the old Jonathan A. Bagger*, Janet Conrad, Frances Houle*, Evelyn Timothy P. Lodge, (Polymer Physics), Gian Vidali, (New Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 and new addresses, and, if possible, include a mailing label Hu, Gerald Mahan, Cherry Ann Murray*, Arthur Ramirez, York Section), Joe Hamilton (Southeast Section) from a recent issue. Requests from subscribers for missing Laura Smoliar Editor ...... Alan Chodos issues will be honored without charge only if received within ADVISORS Associate Editor ...... Jennifer Ouellette 6 months of the issue’s actual date of publication. Periodical International Councillor Representatives from Other Societies Special Publications Manager ...... Patti Mascone Postage Paid at College Park, MD and at additional mailing Sukekatsu Ushioda Jim Nelson, AAPT; Marc Brodsky, AIP Design and Production ...... Stephanie Jankowski offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to APS News, Forefronts Editor ...... Craig Davis Membership Department, American Physical Society, One Chair, Nominating Committee International Advisors Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844. John Peoples Michael R. Morrow, Canadian Association of Physicists Proofreader ...... Edward Lee APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published 11X yearly, clarity. All correspondence regarding APS News should be APS COUNCIL 2004 Chair, Panel on Public Affairs Staff Representatives monthly, except the August/September issue, by the directed to: Editor, APS News, One Physics Ellipse, College President Arthur Bienenstock Alan Chodos, Associate Executive Officer; Amy Flatten, American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844, E-mail: [email protected]. Helen R. Quinn*, Stanford University (SLAC) Director of International Affairs; Theodore Hodapp, Park, MD 20740-3844, (301) 209-3200. It contains President-Elect Division, Forum and Section Councillors Director of Education and Outreach; Robert L. Park, news of the Society and of its Divisions, Topical Groups, Subscriptions: APS News is an on-membership publication Marvin L. Cohen*, University of California, Berkeley Edward “Rocky” Kolb (Astrophysics), Kate Kirby (Atomic, Director, Public Information; Michael Lubell, Director, Sections and Forums; advance information on meetings delivered by Periodical Mail. Members residing abroad Vice-President Molecular & Optical Physics), Robert Eisenberg* Public Affairs; Stanley Brown, Editorial Director; Charles of the Society; and reports to the Society by its committees may receive airfreight delivery for a fee of $15. John Bahcall*, Institute for Advanced Studies, Princeton (Biological), Sylvia Ceyer (Chemical), Moses H. Chan Muller, Director, Journal Operations; Michael Stephens, and task forces, as well as opinions. Nonmembers: Subscription rates are available at http:// Executive Officer (Condensed Matter Physics), Richard Martin Controller and Assistant Treasurer librarians.aps.org/institutional.html. Judy R. Franz*, University of Alabama, Huntsville (on leave) (Computational), Harry Swinney (Fluid Dynamics), Peter Letters to the editor are welcomed from the Treasurer Zimmerman (Forum on Education), Gloria Lubkin (Forum Council Administrator membership. Letters must be signed and should include Subscription orders, renewals and address changes should Thomas McIlrath*, University of Maryland (emeritus) on History of Physics), Patricia Mooney (Forum on Ken Cole an address and daytime telephone number. The APS be addressed as follows: For APS Members—Membership Editor-in-Chief Industrial and Applied Physics), James Vary* (Forum on * Members of the APS Executive Board reserves the right to select and to edit for length or Department, American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, Martin Blume*, Brookhaven National Laboratory (emeritus) International Physics), Philip “Bo” Hammer (Forum on NEWS November 2004 3 Science and Art Flow Together In Upcoming Conference

By Ernie Tretkoff Editor’s Note: Please send ethical questions for Jordan Moiers or Many scientists recognize the will be the fourth meeting in the He found that he could con- comments to: [email protected], or by mail to Jordan Moiers, c/o APS News, artistic quality of their images, and ScArt series, and is the first time the verse with artists, and “within this One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740. Contributors should identify many artists are inspired by sci- ScArt conference has been held in certain group, there was a very themselves, but their names and addresses will be held strictly confidential ence. As part of a growing the United States. Zabusky hopes the strong rapport, and now it’s a unless they request otherwise. The opinions expressed in this column are not movement to bring those two conference will especially attract whole movement.” There are now necessarily those of either the APS or APS News. groups together, the fourth young people whose interests lie many conferences, in addition to ✶✶✶ Science and Art symposium somewhere between art and ScArt, that bring together scien- In the past year, a colleague posed the following ethical question to (ScArt4) will be held June 9-12, science. tists and artists, said Zabusky. me. We discussed it at length but never felt that we reached a 2005 in New Brunswick, NJ. In addition to talks, there will be Zabusky believes that scientific satisfactory conclusion. Perhaps you can help. The ScArt4 meeting will focus an exhibition room, where contribu- images can be considered art, but When a student takes a course and part of the requirements for the on fluids and waves, including tors’ works will be displayed. All that the motivation for creating course is to write a paper, I think that most people would agree that the waves in engineering, geophysics, forms of visual art, including paint- them is usually different from that paper written by the student for the course belongs to the student. If a astrophysics, and biology. Artists ing, sculpture, photographs, of an artist. “Usually when an art- faculty member wanted to keep the paper or use it for some purpose, will present creations that use or animations, and installations may be ist creates art, he’s not doing it to they would need to obtain the student’s permission. were motivated by fluid and wave exhibited. try to understand nature, whereas When research is supported by a grant from the federal government science. “It turns out that aside In association with the World when a scientist is creating an im- or a foundation to an institution, it is typical for the institution to have from fractals, fluid dynamics Year of Physics, there will also be a age, he’s trying to understand some rights to the results from the work. Typically a faculty member will ac- makes the nicest pictures—that visual art contest, with monetary phenomenon, and trying to bring knowledge funding for the project but the rights to the work will remain and astronomy,” said conference prizes. The year 2005, in addition to out the essence of that phenom- with the faculty member (unless the foundation has specifically stated organizer and fluid physicist being the anniversary of Einstein’s enon in the image. The question is, that they own the work). Norman Zabusky. miraculous year, is also the 50th ‘is that art?’ The motivation is com- So, the conundrum arises when a student performs research FOR Engineers and scientists will anniversary of Fermi, Pasta, and pletely different, but the end result CREDIT, not for pay, and writes a paper for the course that he or she got emphasize the imagery of their Ulam’s study of nonlinear oscillators. could be beautiful, could be strik- credit for, to whom does the paper belong? In one sense, it belongs to the work, and try to answer ques- Works submitted for the visual art ing, or could be absorbing, and student, who paid for the course he or she enrolled in and completed. In tions such as how they visualize contest must be associated with therefore I think it qualifies as art.” another sense, if any of the research was funded by a grant, it belongs to their discoveries, and how they some aspect of the Einstein or FPU As an example, Zabusky men- the faculty member in whose lab the results were obtained, even if the produce “art” from visualizations, anniversaries. “It would be nice to tioned the pictures taken by the student was not paid from the grant to do the research. A corollary to the observations and numerical simu- get people to submit artworks that Hubble space telescope. “Some of question posed above is, who has the rights to the results obtained by the lations. Visual artists will discuss symbolize the essence of 2005,” said the pictures are so striking that student? That is, could the student publish the results without the per- how they use aspects of fluid and Zabusky. you might want to hang them on mission of the faculty member or could the faculty member publish the wave motion in their creative Zabusky is a computational fluid your wall. Is that art? Well, nobody results without the permission of the student? work, and how science and tech- physicist who became interested in painted it, but it has an uncanny Thanks, N nology motivated and aided them. the imagery of his work. “As I was beauty, a mystery,” he said. The scheduled keynote speak- working, I noticed that the things I He points out that there is a Jordan Moiers replies: ers include artists Ned Kahn, was making had a certain kind of whole range from science to art. Dear N, Donna Cox, and June Wayne, beauty, so I started asking, “what is For many artists, said Zabusky, Intellectual property policies vary from university to university. Most astrophysicist Michael Norman, art?” I decided after many years that science is an important part of schools consider the results of a student’s academic efforts to be the and historian Peter Galison. what I was doing was art, if I extended how they create their images. property of the student, and any results of work paid for by the univer- This interdisciplinary meeting it a little bit.” See ART FLOW on page 7 sity to be university property. (Although I’ve read a few intellectual property policy statements that are framed so broadly that a university could claim copyrights to anything produced with the aid of university President Bush Names Arden Bement resources such as laboratory equipment, buildings, furniture, and black- boards. This suggests a love poem penned in a dormitory stairway is to be Director of the NSF potentially university property, Help on Ethics Needed although I imagine few universi- The recent APS Task Force on Profes- The White House announced Science Committee Chairman ties are going to attempt to enforce sional Ethics recommended that APS on September 17 that President Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) stated, their policies that strictly.) work with physics departments to George Bush intends to nominate “I’m delighted that the President Students buy their educations improve education on ethical Arden Bement Jr. to be the direc- has nominated Arden Bement to from universities, and they should issues that affect the physics commu- tor of the National Science be the Director of the National nity. If you have experience or interest own the rights to the work they Foundation. Science Foundation. Arden knows in developing materials to help produce. The academic credit a Bement became Acting Director the agency well and brings a wealth students understand and confront such student earns is not payment to of the NSF on February 22 following of experience in industry, govern- issues and would be willing to help the student because the student the unexpected resignation of Rita ment and academia to the job. His with this task, please contact Ken Cole, pays for the credit. A student who Special Assistant to the Executive Colwell. Bement is also the calm, soft-spoken, steady, open- performs research for credit Officer, at [email protected]. director of the National Institute of minded and firm leadership has deserves to share in the rights to Standards and Technology (NIST). already left its mark on NSF. With the resulting paper. An unpaid stu- Bement’s nomination will come a permanent appointment, he will dent becomes part of the research collaboration and should be included before the Senate Health, Education, be able to be an even more force- as a full-fledged coauthor on published works, and has the same rights Labor and Pensions Committee. This ful, effective and inventive and obligations as every other coauthor. The student also could poten- committee is chaired by Judd Gregg director.” Arden Bement tially own a portion of any patent rights associated with the research. (R-NH); Edward Kennedy (D-MA) is “Dr. Bement has had a long and As I see it, you have three, basic options: pay the student in addition the Ranking Democratic Member. distinguished career in industry staff following the White House to giving credit, have them sign over all rights in advance, or be prepared There is an outside chance that the and academia, and as Director of announcement, praising the to share rights to publications and patents with them. It’s probably worth committee might consider the nomi- NIST,” said Bart Gordon (D-TN), foundation’s “rich history of strong talking to your university’s lawyers, whichever option you choose. nation before this Congress the Ranking Democratic Member and independent Directors,” and adjourns. If this does not occur, the of the Science Committee. “The emphasizing the staff’s importance committee will consider it early next NSF, by culture and constituency, to realizing NSF’s goals and objec- QUINN from page 1 year. is very different from NIST, but I tives. “Although NSF faces Luong. He told the group that he or study in the US is also helpful to Bement came to Washington in am confident that he will excel in significant challenges in the near understands the importance of science scientists in developing countries like November 2001, after being nomi- his leadership of this important future due to Federal budget issues, and is committed to dedicating a Vietnam. Quinn said she and the nated by President Bush to be NIST research agency.” I am committed to the policies and portion of his budget for research group discussed visa problems of Director. Before then, Bement was Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) also operations that have stood the test and development, said Quinn. students and researchers who want the David A. Ross Distinguished Pro- commented on the expected nomi- of time and have helped make NSF Physics in Vietnam is developing, to study or work in the US. The Viet- fessor of Nuclear Engineering and nation, pronouncing Bement an extraordinary agency,” he said. said Quinn, but scientists need bet- namese also expressed the concern the head of Purdue University’s “an excellent choice for the Direc- “Our pursuit of research and ter access to information about that when they send people over- School of Nuclear Engineering. He tor of the National Science education at the frontiers of sci- current research, such as APS jour- seas for training, those people don’t holds a PhD in metallurgical engi- Foundation. Arden is a respected ence and engineering, our nals. “One of the things that becomes often return to Vietnam. Korean and neering from the University of scientist with a wealth of manage- commitment to broadening par- clear is it’s very difficult for people in Taiwanese physicists at the meeting Michigan, and is a member of the ment experiences in academia, ticipation both within and countries like Vietnam to know said that their countries had been in National Academy of Engineering. industry and government—an without the Foundation, and our what’s available to them,” said Quinn. similar situations recently, but that He also served on the National unusual combination that will desire to ensure that we have the “They’re always looking for what- as their countries’ science and tech- Science Board for six years. enable him to lead NSF with resources to carry out this vision ever help they can get. Information nology developed, more scientists First reactions to the announce- strength and vision.” will be among my top priorities.” is their biggest deficit.” began choosing to return home ment were quite positive. House Bement sent a message to NSF —Audrey Leath The opportunity to come work after receiving education abroad. 4 November 2004 NEWS Physicists Honored at November Division Meetings LETTERS Eleven physicists will receive six APS prizes and awards at two division meetings in November. The Excellence in Plasma Physics Award, the James Clerk Maxwell Prize, and the Marshall Rosenbluth Award will be presented at the Field Equations are a Metaphor for Film’s Purpose fall meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics, to be held November 15-19 in Savannah, Georgia. The Fluid Dynamics Prize, the Lars Onsager Prize, and the Andreas Acrivos Award will be presented at the meeting of the APS My father is a member of the The effects of gravity on space-time Division of Fluid Dynamics, November 21-23 in Seattle, Washington. American Physical Society and are parallel with the effects of the forwarded me the July 2004 issue film’s message on the viewers and so James Clerk Maxwell Prize relativistic electron accelerators, in 1966, and is currently director of of APS News which featured a short affects the level awareness in reality. Valery Godyak particularly on field emission and the Center for Plasma-Aided Manu- article about Les Triplettes de The film itself also includes Osram Sylvania electron optics. He returned to facturing (C-PAM), which provides Belleville. I am a graduate student many details and references from Noah Hershkowitz MSU’s physics department in 1972, important input to US industry. He at NYU and recently wrote a paper great icons of world history and University of Wisconsin-Madison but was expelled eight years later also heads the Phaedrus Laboratory on the animated film for a Visual culture such as classical music and forbidden to hold a profes- for Plasma Science, which investi- Literacy class and may be able to (Bach) and fine art (Salvador Dali). CitationCitation: “For fundamental contribu- sional job, working as an electrician gates plasma applications. provide an answer to why Einstein’s Perhaps the simpler answer is just tions to the physics of low-temperature in a Moscow hospital. He emigrated field equations of general relativ- that Einstein is the appropriate icon plasmas, including radio frequency to the US in 1984 and joined GTE Excellence in Plasma ity are featured at the beginning of for science. wave heating, sheath physics, poten- Corporation, now Osram Sylvania. Physics Award the film. Cheryl S Hark tial profiles, diagnostic probes, and the Godyak has made many contribu- Liu Chen It may not be immediately New York, NY industrial applications of plasmas.” tions to rf discharge physics and University of California, Irvine apparent to the general public, but revolutionary products, including Chio Z. Cheng Les Triplettes de Belleville is much Who’s the Youngest of Godyak is a corporate scientist long life and compact rf lamps. Princeton University more than a cartoon about a Them All? at Osram Sylvania. He received his William Heidbrink grandmother’s adventure to save PhD degree in plasma physics from Hershkowitz is an experimental University of California, Irvine her grandson. Instead, it is an Please permit me to make two Moscow State University in 1968. plasma physicist with current Edward Strait expression of Sylvain Chomet’s comments on your article on C. D. He joined the Laboratory of research interests in plasma-aided General Atomics ideas about many topics, particu- Anderson in your APS News of Fusion Engineering at the Institute manufacturing, plasma physics, King-Lap Wong larly American consumerism and August/September 2004. of Electro-Physical Apparatus in plasma diagnostics, and in fusion Princeton University corporate domination taking over The parents of Carl David St. Petersburg, where he con- plasmas. He received his PhD in phys- the world and crushing the small Anderson were Swedes, not Swiss. ducted research on high-current ics from Johns Hopkins University See DIVISION MEETINGS on page 7 and individual. When Anderson (born 3 Septem- In the film, that dominance is over- ber 1905) shared the Nobel prize BLEWETT from page 1 thrown and Chomet’s opinions are with Victor Hess in 1936 he was not APS effectively expressed through visual the youngest so honored. William CERN in 1977 and moved to En- parallels and many tiny visual details. Lawrence Bragg (born 31 March gland and then, in 1990, to ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF Einstein’s field equations of 1890) who when he shared with his Vancouver, British Columbia. She BEQUEST SOCIETY general relativity are amongst those father, William Henry Bragg, the died June 13, 2004, at age 93. details and can be seen as a meta- 1915 physics Nobel prize was only Blewett had always been good phor for the purpose of the film itself. twenty-five years old. Heisenberg at mathematics and physics, said Over the years, many APS members have thoughtfully included the American Physical Society in their bequest intentions. These generous gifts help provide The effects of gravity on space-time (born 5 December 1901) was about her brother, Talmage Hunt. Her fa- needed funding for key Society programs and initiatives that our physics commu- can be interpreted as a parallel for three months younger than Ander- ther, an engineer who became a nity has launched and strengthened since the Society’s founding in 1899. the effects of the film on the view- son, when he won (alone) the 1932 minister, supported her interests. In recognition of individuals and families remembering the Society in their ers. Gravity can be seen as a Nobel prize in Physics. Few women went into physics charitable estate plans, APS is pleased to announce the formation of a Bequest representation of the film’s message Ibrahim Adawi at the time, and those who did of- Society. The development of this Society is intended to thank past and current donors and encourage others to consider making such a gift through their will. while space-time represents reality. Rolla, Missouri ten faced discrimination, but With the permission of donors, APS will honor these individuals in publications of Blewett was a strong woman who the Society and through other Development office means. Moon/Mars Offers Physics Opportunities always did what she wanted to do, Gifts from one’s estate can be made in an unrestricted manner, for use by the The August/September APS direction, called for an end (by 2010) said Hunt. But she felt she was be- Society as it deems appropriate, or designated to a particular program or ing kept down in her career activity. These gifts may take the form of a percentage of the estate or a fixed News highlighted a June resolution to the wasteful space shuttle, and dollar amount. As APS is a 501(c) (3) organization, these gifts can provide of the APS Executive Board, urg- thereafter a phasing out of space because she was a woman, and this significant estate tax savings. ing review of the Moon/Mars station commitments as well. This will feeling may have been one of the The American Physical Society invites those who have made arrangements for proposal and NASA’s recent redi- both protect the substantial continu- reasons she wanted to set up a a contribution to APS through their will to become charter members of the Bequest rection. Calling the 10-15 year ing science programs at NASA, and scholarship specifically for women, Society by contacting Darlene LoganLogan, Director of Development, using the contact said Hunt. information below. In addition, individuals considering a designated gift are timeline for a return to the Moon a leave room for the new program as encouraged to discuss the terms and wording of the gift with the Development “rapid pace”, the statement indi- well. Whatever your views on our Another factor that may have office to assure that their future intentions can be carried out exactly as they wish. cated concern about the impact on president, it’s a logical way to influenced her decision was that The American Physical Society is extremely grateful to past and future donors science and budgets. proceed. at one point she had to take a year who remember the Society in their legacy plans and we look forward to being able Given that the most immediate The reason we need humans in off from college because she didn’t to provide appropriate tribute to them through this new Bequest Society. have enough money, said Malinka. scientific impact of the new “vision” space is not for science. It is to For further information, please contact: is a termination of physical science learn how to do things better in “She didn’t have any money to keep Darlene Logan research on the space station, there space. Robots don’t have the intel- going to school, and she had to dis- Director of Development is certainly reason for this concern. ligence and insight that humans continue her studies, which was American Physical Society But coming from APS the new bring. The problems are basic: in her absolute passion. So she would One Physics Ellipse like to see that that doesn’t happen College Park, MD 20740-3844 statement is ironic in light of the our laboratories on Earth we take (301)209-3224 still unrevoked 1991 APS Council for granted simple things—shelter to women these days,” said “Statement on the Manned Space from the outside world, a steady Malinka. Station”: “The United States needs internal climate, access to substan- Having grown up with little divorced in the 1960s, and Hildred Blewett also left about $20,000 to a vigorous space science program, tial electric power, and of course money, Blewett always accounted Blewett never remarried or had the Vancouver Public Library Out- but such a program can be imple- an abundance of graduate students for her every penny, and lived mod- children. reach Service, which delivered mented for the foreseeable future to put the equipment together, estly throughout her life. “Until the Aside from physics, she loved boxes of books to her home each without the proposed manned twiddle the knobs, and fix it when time she died she could tell you traveling, opera, and reading. “She month. space station.” it breaks. Fixing things in low grav- exactly how much change she had was an avid reader, even after los- Blewett left the rest of her Science was never a good justi- ity isn’t so simple—even soldering in her purse,” said Hunt. ing most of her eyesight. She had money to APS. “She really felt that fication for the space station. doesn’t work. Small-scale bench- Though she was married for to read large print books. She what she had should go back to Former APS Public Affairs direc- top science that could bring great some time to John Blewett, another would read a couple dozen books physics. It was really important to tor Robert Park is widely known See LETTERS on page 7 accelerator physicist, the pair a month,” said Hunt. In her will, her,” said Malinka. as an outspoken critic of human space flight. Park is absolutely cor- rect that human spaceflight is still NIH to Attack Cancer Using Nanotechnology far too expensive to justify any sci- By Ernie Tretkoff entific returns. So far. With a limited budget, hard The National Cancer Insti- medicine. “This is a comprehensive designed to integrate nanotechn- cancer detection and treatment. choices have to be made on which tute of the National Institutes of and multisector initiative that is ology development into basic and Richard Smalley, professor of programs will benefit society more. Health announced in September designed to really develop and applied cancer research. The chemistry, physics, and astronomy The money spent to make the aging a $144 million dollar, five-year ensure the application of the best initiative will also support at Rice University, and winner of space shuttles safer, since the initiative for developing and of nanotechnology to cancer.” said multidisciplinary research teams and the 1996 Nobel Prize in chemis- Columbia accident, is taking away applying nanotechnology to Anna Barker, NCI Deputy a nanotech-nology characterization try for the discovery of fullerenes, from science programs at NASA right improve the detection, diagno- Director. laboratory that will develop said, “What’s new is the notion that now. The space station still has bil- sis, and treatment of cancer. As part of the initiative, NCI plans standards for nanoscale devices. we can actually build new lions of dollars worth of committed The new initiative is a to fund about five “centers of can- At the announcement on nanoobjects that have never funding before it can be declared multidisciplinary effort that cer nanotechnology excellence,” September 13, several scientists existed before.” These objects even minimally complete. Bush, in combines physical science, en- which will be collaborations of labo- spoke about the potential for could be coated with antibodies announcing the new Moon/Mars gineering, chemistry, and ratories and research centers nanotech to dramatically improve See NIH on page 6 NEWS November 2004 5

Magnetorheological Materials John M. Ginder Magnetorheological (MR) mate- dynamics of structure formation, compares quite favorably with mea- observed by Frank Filisko, rials comprise magnetizable particles and characterizing the resulting surements made on 50 volume Georges Bossis, and oth- dispersed in a nonmagnetic host. In field-induced mechanical properties. percent MR fluids, (Figure 2.) The ers. Dan Klingenberg and MR fluids, the particles are usually While the interparticle magnetic model reveals that the stress varies coworkers have devel- micrometer-sized carbonyl iron interactions are approximately dipo- as B2— the behavior expected from oped a continuum model powders in a host medium such as lar, multipole and many-particle a dipole model —only at very low of stripe formation that natural or synthetic oil; in magnetic effects, as well as magnetic fields. At applied fields sufficient to qualitatively predicts the powders, the fluid medium is air. nonlinearity and saturation, are saturate the particle locally, the stress geometry of these features These materials transform from important. Analytical solutions that increases roughly as B3/2, as con- and their dependence on freely flowing to weakly solid under account for nonlinearity and satu- firmed by many experiments. The shear rate. an applied magnetic field, a dramatic ration are difficult, so my coworkers numerical model predicts a slight The short range of phenomenon that is the basis for a and I used a finite-element numeri- peak in the stress followed by a pla- the magnetic force domi- variety of commercial applications cal approach to solve for the spatial teau signifying complete and uniform nates both the Figure 3: Cross-section of a MR elastomer bushing, of these controllable or ‘smart’ variation of the magnetic field H and saturation of the particles. The maxi- microscopic and macro- showing the wire coil that produces a magnetic field, materials. In MR elastomers, the par- flux density B in a uniform chain of mum stress attainable at saturation scopic mechanics of the low-carbon steel magnetic circuit that delivers the field, and the MR elastomer material that responds to ticles are locked into viscoelastic magnetically saturable particles. varies as M 2. magnetized MR materi- s the field. The flux path is shown schematically in red. solids, but these composites exhibit The particles were assumed to be Indeed, yield stresses of 100-200 als, which act as brittle substantial magnetostriction. While continuous, since each micrometer- kPa are routinely achieved in real viscoelastic solids under MR fluids are similar to ferrofluids, sized particle can contain ~103 or MR materials, with a consistency of dynamic mechanical loading, earity inherent in filled elastomers nanometer-sized colloidal disper- more magnetic domains. Using sym- stiff putty. While they are much softer exhibiting mechanical nonlinearity and exacerbated by the short-range sions of single-domain magnetic metries appropriate to an isolated than most solids, MR fluids and mag- even at very small strains ~10-3. magnetic interactions has so particles, the two materials possess chain to reduce the problem size, netic powders are useful in a number Rongjia Tao and coworkers have far prohibited successful commer- rather different behaviors: ferrofluids we demonstrated that magnetic satu- of applications because the zero- compressed magnetized MR fluids, cial applications of these materials. display only small increases in viscosity ration controls the local fields and field stresses they support are orders enhancing the shear yield stress— Applications of MR materials with field, unlike MR fluids, because the forces even in applied fields well be- of magnitude smaller. Even higher reaching almost 1 MPa—perhaps are enabled by a number of tech- magnetic forces in ferrofluids are orders low Ms/3 (Ms is the saturation stresses can be achieved by using by inducing both structural nologies, including additive of magnitude smaller. magnetization of the particle and is particles with higher Ms, like iron- changes and enhanced frictional chemistries to stabilize the sus- roughly 1.7 x 106 A/m for iron), the cobalt alloys. Other routes to forces between particles. pended particles against Background field at which isolated spherical par- high-stress materials include using a irreversible settling or agglomera- The development of MR applica- ticles saturate. The high relative bimodal distribution of magnetizable Applications tion, modify viscosity and lubricity, tions has had an intriguing and permeability of the particles causes particles, as implemented by Robert MR fluids are ideally suited to and inhibit oxidation and wear. instructive history, undergoing sev- magnetic flux to be channeled into Foister and coworkers. One may applications in which damping Delivery and control of magnetic eral cycles of scientific discovery, their polar regions, (Figure 1.) regard the larger particles as embed- force must be controlled rapidly fields is obviously required in MR technological ‘hype,’ waning interest, Because the material comprising the ded in a magnetic fluid comprising and over a wide dynamic range. components; wire-coil electromag- rediscovery and, finally, commercial particle is magnetically nonlinear, the the smaller particles. Because the The first commercially available nets are often used. The design of utilization in the late 1990s. magnetization at the poles saturates effective permeability of the sus- MR fluid linear damper was devel- an efficient magnetic circuit that Developments in MR materials at relatively low fields; the saturated pending fluid is enhanced, the oped by Lord Corporation to does not add excess weight is have often paralleled those in zone grows in size as the field is interparticle forces and resulting improve vehicle seat dynamics for essential. Required flux densities electrorheological (ER) fluids, disper- stresses increase. long-haul and off-road driving. are of the order of 1 T—compa- sions of electrically polarizable Delphi’s MagnerideTM, an automo- rable to that utilized in most electric particles that exhibit field-induced Structure and Mechanics tive shock absorber, can be machines like motors. Control solidification under high electric The evolution and modulated electrically to control algorithms designed to minimize fields. These were extensively inves- dynamics of the structures damping force on a several milli- vibration amplitude have been tigated by Willis Winslow in his in MR materials have been second time scale necessary to developed for various MR devices basement laboratory in the 1930s. of great interest. One key improve vehicle ride. MR damp- and applications. Winslow inspired Jacob Rabinow question is the response ers have also been used to of the National Bureau of Standards time required to form minimize vibrations in cable-stay Opportunities to develop their magnetic analogs in chains or agglomerates in Figure 1: Left: electron micrograph of particle chains bridges and to produce a more A few groups have used the late 1940s, demonstrating formed by solidifying carbonyl iron particles in a natural quiescent conditions. natural gait for amputees in nanoparticles as a primary or sec- proofs-of-concept for many MR rubber matrix in a flux density of 5 kG. Right: spatial Mark Jolly and coworkers above-the-knee prostheses. QED ondary particulate in MR fluids. devices that would finally become variation of magnetic flux density (color contours) and used a magnetic induction Technologies uses the magnetically Nonetheless, the growing availabil- feasible to produce and use five flux lines (lines) in an idealized particle chain as technique to detect the tunable rheological properties of ity of nanoscale particulates has decades later, enabled by develop- obtained by finite-element analysis. formation of chains on abrasive-doped magnetic disper- yet to be manifest in vastly ments in chemistry, physics, materials time scales of the order of sions to enable a computer- improved MR materials; they may science, and mechanical and elec- increased, eventually engulfing the milliseconds. If the magnetic field controlled optical polishing system. enable more stable, less abrasive trical engineering. entire particle. can be introduced rapidly, the MR fluids and magnetic pow- MR fluids or MR elastomers with The remarkable field-induced From these solutions and the stresses generated by MR materials ders are also used in enhanced mechanical properties. changes in MR materials are driven Maxwell stress approach, we also appear on this time scale. torque-transfer clutches and Opportunities also exist to explore by dipolar magnetic attractive forces estimated the mechanical stress Except in highly viscous host brakes. Magnetic powder clutches the effects of magnetic domain which form “pearl chains” of particles required to deform the chains by a materials, the ubiquitous chains of controlled the torque transfer be- structure, which is particularly rel- aligned with the field. These chains given tilt or shear angle. We particles eventually aggregate into tween the engine and the evant as the particle size shrinks. store magnetostatic energy and multichain columns or transmission on several 1950s-era The deformation and flow behav- resist mechanical deformations that stripes. Groups led by minicars, and were also used to ior of MR fluids and their coupling would reduce the energy. Particle Alice Gast, Jing Liu, and control main engine attitude on the to applied field and other external chaining is relevant in a remarkable others have used opti- Apollo Service Module in the factors has not been definitively variety of systems, from magnetic cal microscopy and 1960s. Potential automotive ap- modeled or explained. For toys and animated displays to natu- light scattering to study plications include clutches to example, little is known about ral “compasses” formed from the evolution of these control engine accessories like the instabilities in MR fluid flows. The nanoscale ferrite particles in chains in quiescent con- air conditioner and cooling fan. behavior of MR fluids at short magnetotactic bacteria. While real ditions. The aggregates Magnetostriction in MR length scales, such as in structures are often complicated due typically grow in a elastomers is manifest both in field- microfluidic channels, has not been to the broad particle size distribu- power-law fashion with dependent length changes and widely studied. While the past tion and high volume fraction f in time. These observa- viscoelastic moduli. Mark Nichols, decade has seen much progress in practical MR materials, our under- tions are consistent with myself, and coworkers explored understanding MR materials and in standing of magnetorheology has Figure 2: Increase in shear yield stress with applied models of coarsening automotive suspension bushings using them in commercial prod- been greatly enhanced by studying flux density in iron-based MR fluids with volume developed by Thomas using these materials for controlling ucts, the field is still laden with fraction ø=0.5 and comparison to a FEA magneto- particle chains. Halsey and coworkers, the ride and handling of automotive opportunities and challenges for static model. in which lateral chain vehicles. Several groups have devel- interested physicists. Magnetic Forces focused on the magnetically-con- aggregation is driven by thermal fluc- oped MR-elastomer-based tuned Much of the scientific research trolled portion of the yield stress, tuations and chain defects. In vibration absorbers—mass-spring John M. Ginder is the technical in magnetorheology has focused on defined as the maximum stress sheared ER and MR fluids, large-scale systems—to absorb vibrations at me- leader of the Physical and Environ- quantifying the interparticle mag- encountered as the shear angle is oriented aggregates or “stripes” chanical frequencies that change mental Sciences department of Ford netic interactions, understanding the increased; the modeled yield stress emerge over seconds or minutes, as over time. The mechanical non-lin- Research and Advanced Engineering. 6 November 2004 NEWS

ELECTION from page 1 INSIDE THE BELTWAY: turned east to Princeton as a profes- ics and dynamics leads to a new class what is physics constantly changes,” Washington Analysis and Opinion sor of physics. His research interests of phase transitions and to states with Orel said in her candidate’s state- having turned toward the interface unusual excitation spectra. ment. She herself holds degrees in between physics and biology, he Rosenbaum conducted research at chemistry, is a professor in an resigned his Higgins Professorship Bell Laboratories and at IBM Watson applied science department, yet she in 1980 to go to Caltech as the Research Center before he joined the identifies herself as a physicist. “This Science in the Aftermath Dickinson Professor of Chemistry Chicago faculty in 1983. He directed is not unique, but now becoming the By Michael S. Lubell, APS Director of Public Affairs and Biology in order to help build the NSF Materials Research Labora- norm for physics, multidisciplinary the multidisciplinary interface. In tory from 1991 to 1994 and the and multi- application. Yet the core How would the outlook his track record on the issue 1996, he returned to Princeton James Franck Institute, an interdis- of physics is the same. We are for American science be might have suggested other- Hopfield’s PhD thesis formulated ciplinary research institute focused engaged in the search for truth, no altered if voters had chosen wise. a field-theoretic description of the on problems at the intersection of matter if we are looking in different differently? If you believe Looking ahead, each interaction of light with physical chemistry and condensed places.” the published answers to candidate agreed that fund- excitons in solids. He continued matter physics, from 1995 to 2001. Slusher is director of the Quan- questions posed to both ing for the physical research on the interaction of light Rosenbaum received his PhD in tum Information and Optics candidates by Physics Today, sciences, mathematics and with solids, and the interpretation of physics from Princeton University in Department at Lucent Technolo- Science, and Nature, probably engineering had shriveled absorption and emission spectra, 1982. gies, Bell Laboratories. He received not much—with a few notable as the NIH budget thrived. They receiving (with experimental chem- In his candidate’s statement, his PhD in physics from the exceptions: stem cell research and agreed that more spending was ist co-worker D. G. Thomas) the Rosenbaum identified three major University of California at Berke- the Moon-Mars Program. Kerry needed. Buckley Prize from the APS in 1969 challenges confronting the APS: ley in 1965. His present research made Bush’s opposition to the first But between Iraq, the war on for this work. In 1970 his 1. Reestablishing balanced fund- interests include nonlinear photo- a centerpiece of his campaign, and terrorism and tax cuts, the Bush interests turned toward understand- ing for basic research in nic crystals, nonlinear optical he pledged not to pursue the sec- folks said the cupboard was bare. ing biology. His researches in the physical sciences, with an waveguides and fibers, quantum ond, which he said had “no clear And with Kerry committed to molecular biology described emphasis on the benefits of inter- optics and quantum computation. objectives or cost estimates.” spending more money on home- “kinetic proofreading” which greatly disciplinary endeavors; During the mid-1970s and early But even here, the differences land security, expanding health care enhances the selectivity of biochemi- 2. Educating policy leaders and 1980s he worked at Princeton and were starting to narrow in the run- coverage, enlarging the army and nd cal reactions by proofreading at the the general public to think quanti- MIT using CO2 laser light scatter- up to November 2 . With public keeping Social Security reform off molecular level. In 1980 his interests tatively and critically so that public ing from Tokamak plasmas to study support for stem cell research deep the national agenda, even his in biology began to focus on how a policy decisions can be technically turbulence near their edges and and widespread, Republican insid- staunchest supporters couldn’t nervous system carries out its “com- informed; and radio frequency heating processes. ers predicted privately—a few make the numbers work. Rolling putations”. He received the APS 3. Communicating the excite- He and his collaborators were the months before the election—that back the tax breaks for the wealthy Biophysics Prize in 1985. ment of physics to our students so first to observe squeezed light in Bush’s opposition would have to wouldn’t provide enough revenue “I’m looking forward to the that physics can continue to attract 1985, a new quantum state of light soften. As for Moon-Mars, early in to cover all the expenditures. opportunity to put something back to our profession the brightest men with uncertainties in one field com- the summer Congress had already In the first two years of his into an institution so important to and women from all backgrounds. ponent below the standard begun to balk at the apparent mega presidency, Bush portrayed him- the healthy state of American phys- quantum limit. price tag, and by September the self as the great reformer: on taxes, ics, and an institution that behind the GENERAL COUNCILLORS In the early 1990s he and his Administration’s own Office of on trade, on prescription drugs, scenes has helped me to have a Orel attended the University of collaborators demonstrated Management and Budget was also on regulations, on education, on fulfilling professional life,” Hopfield California, Berkeley, receiving her microdisk lasers in semiconduc- beginning to question whether the global projection of American said of his successful bid. “The PhD in chemistry in 1981. She tors as well as nonlinear optics and program was at all realistic, given interests. You might not have liked institutions essential for physics to worked in the Laser Program at lasing in organic materials. He the river of federal red ink. them or agreed with them, but prosper do not function well Lawrence Livermore National received the 1995 APS Arthur On other issues—missile defense, they represented significant unless serious scientists are enthusi- Laboratory as a staff scientist from Schawlow Prize in laser spectros- climate change, energy policy and reforms of American policy. Kerry, astic about taking leadership roles.” 1981 to 1985. She was then copy. support for science research and by contrast, throughout his Sen- employed at the Aerospace Corpo- In his candidate’s statement, education—you would have been ate service was more wedded to CHAIR-ELECT, NOMINATING ration as a member of the Slusher identified increased fund- hard pressed to find more than a the status quo, acting more like a COMMITTEE Technical Staff. In 1988 she ing for physics, public awareness nuanced difference. Whether either “New Deal” or “Great Society” Rosenbaum is the James Franck accepted a position in Berkeley’s of the tremendous value of phys- campaign was being honest is quite Democrat” than a Clintonian Professor of Physics and the Vice Department of Applied Science. ics education and physics another matter. When needed, “New Democrat.” President for Research and for She currently chairs the depart- applications in our daily lives, and skilled spinmeisters—and both sides Morton Kondracke, for whom I Argonne National Laboratory at the ment and is the Edward Teller enhanced interdisciplinary activi- had plenty of them—can carefully have great admiration as a political University of Chicago. His research Professor of Applied Science. Her ties and cooperation among craft wording that masks the true analyst—and, incidentally, as a interests center on the quantum research interests are in the area physicists around the globe as top positions of a candidate. staunch supporter of science—had mechanical nature of materials at low of theoretical molecular physics, priorities for the APS. So Bush was an advocate for this to say in his September 27 temperature, where the mix of stat- particularly the study of low- Furthermore, “Applications of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Roll Call column, as he pondered his energy collisions between elec- physics for long-range advances in and Kerry was a supporter of missile choices on November 2nd, “So whom trons and molecules and energy, homeland security and re- defense. Bush’s handlers also said to vote for? A would-be reformer VISA from page 1 molecular ions. She is particularly storing the environment should be that he opposed developing new who can’t pay, or a willing payer who interested in systems where there highlighted and encouraged by the nuclear weapons, in spite of well- can’t reform? It’s a hard one.” Time hensive plan to address the visa-pro- is a strong interplay between the society in imaginative ways,” he known White House pressure on will tell in the next few years if we cessing quagmire in the wake of electronic and nuclear degrees of said. “All of this is based on a foun- congressional appropriators to fund chose wisely. heightened security concerns follow- freedom, for example dissociative dation of fundamental physics development of the Robust Nuclear About the only prediction that I ing the 9/11 terrorist attacks. recombination and attachment. research and the inspiration we all Earth Penetrator. And Kerry’s spokes- will make is that the federal budget The statement received much “The face of physics is always find in the study of physics. We men said that their candidate will remain a mess for quite some attention, including front page cov- changing. Even the definition of must preserve these values.” supported nuclear power, although See INSIDE THE BELTWAY on page 7 erage by the Financial Times, and articles in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Science. NIH from page 4 Since then, the Departments of or other targeting agents that will Other technologies are being Samuel Wickline, professor of nanoparticles. She said that the State and Homeland Security have find cancerous cells, and could carry developed. For instance, nanowires medicine, physics and biomedical surface of the particle, more than reportedly taken action on a drugs to kill those cells. could detect cancer markers in engineering at Washington Univer- its composition, determines how number of the statement’s recom- Smalley also envisioned that in 10 samples flowing through sity, said that one of the advantages it interacts with a biological envi- mendations. According to informal to 20 years, nanotechnology will microfluidic channels. Similarly, of the NCI initiative is that it facili- ronment, so the key to making reports from State and DHS make possible blood tests that will nanoscale cantilevers could be tates the interaction of scientists safe nanoparticles is controlling officials, additional steps are also be able to determine the concentra- coated with molecules that attract who work in different disciplines. their surfaces. Colvin added that being considered to extend the tion of 30,000 different proteins and bind specific cancer markers, “This is essentially a multi-disciplin- testing the structures early on in duration of the Visa Mantis secu- within half an hour, significantly im- and could be used as part of a di- ary activity. You have to understand the process is essential. “A lot of rity clearance, although the timing proving the detection and diagnosis agnostic device that could quickly the language of chemists, physi- nanostructures behave in ways we of this change also remains unclear. of disease. and sensitively detect cancer- cists, biologists, immunologists, and have predicted. Some don’t.” she While the State Department’s Mauro Ferrari, a special advisor related molecules. Also being de- going further, you have to under- said. response indicates some positive to the NCI and professor of biomedi- veloped are nanoparticles that stand the regulatory language that Janet Woodcock, Acting Direc- changes, many scientists remain cal engineering at Ohio State would enter the body and attach is required to get something done.” tor Commissioner for Operations skeptical about the reported University, discussed several to cancerous cells, making it pos- Though nanomaterials show of the FDA, said, “We’ll have to be improvements. As Quinn said in a examples of nanotechnology being sible to image malignant cells that promise in detecting and treating vigilant because there might be response to Harty, “A considerable applied to cancer. He pointed out could not be detected through diseases, some people worry about novel or unanticipated reactions.” number of our colleagues have had, that some nanotech applications, conventional imaging. Similar possible unpredicted heath or en- The FDA will work to assess the or know others who have had, bad including liposomes, tiny capsules nanodevices could also deliver vironmental effects. Vicki Colvin, a safety and effectiveness of new experiences with visa applications that deliver drugs, are already clini- drugs directly to cancer cells while chemist and director of the Center nanodevices. Nomenclature and and it will take some time period of cally available. “As exciting as those sparing healthy cells, thus reduc- for Biological and Environmental classification of the devices will better results before many have faith developments have been, they are ing the side effects of treatment and Nanotechnology at Rice University, also have to be worked out, said that the system is working well.” the tip of the iceberg,” he said. improving quality of life. has investigated the safety of some Woodcock. NEWS November 2004 7

DIVISION MEETINGS from page 4 Citation: “For the theoretical discovery ions in magnetic fusion experiments, the physics of fluids, including and experimental identification of as well as diagnostic development multiphase flows, porous media; thin Ed. Note: In the May issue of APS News, we announced a physics haiku toroidicity Induced Alfven Eigenmodes.” and measurements of fast-ion con- films; viscoelastic flows; and most re- contest, with a deadline for submissions of October 1. We received a large finement. cently chaotic advection. number of entries, most of them either just after the announcement in May Chen received his PhD from the or just before the deadline in October. We are now proud to announce the University of California, Berkeley, in Strait bio not available at press Marshall Rosenbluth Award results. Every entry was considered on an equal basis, except for those that 1972, and is presently a professor of time. Kiyong Kim had nothing to do with physics or that didn’t scan properly (three lines of 5, physics and astronomy at the University of Maryland 7, and 5 syllables respectively). University of California, Irvine. His Wong received his PhD from Our overall winner is Celia Elliott of the University of Illinois. We CitationCitation: “For his development and reprint two of her entries below. She will receive a copy of the coveted main research interest is in the area the University of Wisconsin, Madi- coffee-table book “Physics in the Twentieth Century” and a World Year of of instabilities excited by energetic son in 1975, and after one year as application of intense laser pulses with Physics t-shirt. particles in magnetically confined a research associate at Columbia novel plasmas, including those pro- In addition to the winning entries, we reprint several more that qualify plasmas. These instabilities could University, he joined the Princeton duced in nanoscale clusters.” as “honorable mentions.” These were selected by our dedicated haiku-evalu- explain not only observed electro- Plasma Physics Laboratory. His ation team. Each of the authors will receive a World Year of Physics t-shirt. magnetic wave perturbations, but research involves linear and non- Kim received his B.S. in 1995 We regret that we don’t have room for even more of the excellent contribu- could also lead to enhanced trans- linear wave physics associated with from Korea University, and his PhD tions that we received. In due course, we intend to post all the entries on our port coefficients, which could impact plasmas, and their effects on in physics from the University of APS News online web site. fusion ignition conditions. He is cur- plasma current generation, heat- Maryland, College Park, in 2003. His Hubris Quantum paradoxes rently developing particle simulation ing and transport. Most recently, dissertation detailed the develop- Theoretical I’ve had it to here techniques to describe self-consistent he has investigated MHD activity ment of ultrafast optical diagnostics Physicist am I. Mortals With quantum paradoxes; nonlinear wave-particle interactions. and density modification by high- and their application to the measure- Tremble before me. My wave functions ache. power electron cyclotron waves, ment of ultrafast dynamics in the — Edward O. Stejskal Cheng received his PhD in phys- and current density profile modi- interaction of intense laser pulses Irresistible Force ✶✶✶ ics from the University of Iowa in fication due to redistribution of with gases, atomic and molecular Tripped. Fell on my ass. Quantum Uncertainty 1975, and has been at Princeton energetic ions induced by Alfven clusters, and plasmas. He is currently Awesome demonstration of Schroedinger’s cat is University’s Plasma Physics Labora- instabilities in the DIII-D tokamak. a postdoctoral fellow at Los Alamos F = ma. Dead or alive, they tell us tory ever since. He is currently the National Laboratory, pursuing the —Celia Elliott I can’t bear to look! head of energetic particle physics and Fluid Dynamics Prize study of coherent Terahertz radia- ✶✶✶ —J. D. Jackson space plasma physics research areas. George M. Homsy tion from intense laser-produced Newton’s Laws of Motion ✶✶✶ He has made significant contribu- University of California, Santa Barbara plasmas. 1. A body maintains Tell me, did the sun tions to fast ion physics, Alfven waves, Andreas Acrivos Its rest, or straight-line motion Just burn out? I guess we’ll know ballooning modes, trapped electron CitationCitation: “For many important con- Dissertation Award Unless net force acts. Eight minutes from now. modes, and disruption in tokamaks. tributions in multiphase flows, —Jed Brody In particular, he discovered the interfacial phenomena, polymeric Jacqueline Ashmore Harvard University 2. F equals p-dot. ✶✶✶ theory of Toroidicity-Induced Alfven flows, and convection, including the That is all you need to know. Wither dynamics? Eigenmode (TAE) in toroidal plasmas. stability of fluidized beds, viscous fin- Use it with wisdom. There is chaos in my soul. He has also studied solar flares and gering in porous media, and thin film Citation: “For elegant theoretical Poincaré is proud. magnetosphere substorms. behavior.” and numerical analyses of coating and free-surface flows’’ 3. To ev’ry action —Mason Porter There’s an equal reaction ✶✶✶ After receiving his bachelor’s de- Homsy received his PhD in phys- Counter-directed. Leptons have needs, too… gree from the University of ics from the University of Ashmore received her PhD in A lonely muon California, San Diego, Heidbrink Illinois in 1969 and spent one year Applied Mathematics from E is m c-squared! meets SUSY at the H Bar, spent two years performing indus- as a postdoctoral fellow at Imperial Harvard in 2003, working with Mass, energy – the same stuff! leaves as a slepton. trial research in pulsed power at College in London, England, before Howard Stone. She is currently a One makes the other! Maxwell Laboratories before pursu- joining the faculty of Stanford Uni- postdoctoral associate in the In the dark ing graduate studies at Princeton versity, where he remained for much Department of Applied Mathemat- Quarks Behold the cosmos: University. He received his PhD in of his career. In 2001 he joined the ics and Theoretical Physics at the A quark is a quark— dark matter and energy, physics in 1984, and worked at faculty of the University of Califor- University of Cambridge, working There are no smaller pieces; playing hide and seek Princeton’s TFTR tokamak and at the nia, Santa Barbara, as a professor of on the analysis of transport in Or so I believe. DIII-D tokamak at General Atomics mechanical and environmental directional solidification of multi- Kids these days… ! before joining the physics depart- engineering. His research has component fluids, and cavitation Two ups and a down— Like grumpy old men, ment at the University of California, spanned numerous areas related to in lubrication flows. (What other virtual quarks?)— Inductors tend to oppose Irvine in 1988. He studies energetic Dwell in a proton. Any current change —Frank R. Paolini LETTERS from page 4 ANNOUNCEMENTS ✶✶✶ Pivotal moment breakthroughs in space requires all Teaching r x F of these, and we don’t know how to APS CONGRESSIONAL SCIENCE Puzzled class does not know what do any of them cost-effectively I’m torquing about yet—and we’ll never learn by just —C. J. Chiara sitting in our armchairs and think- THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY is currently accepting applica- ing about it. tions for the Congressional Science Fellowship Program. Fellows serve one year on the staff of a senator, representative or congressional com- MEDIA from page 2 If the APS is interested in having mittee. They are afforded an opportunity to learn the legislative process any real impact on NASA’s future, it and explore science policy issues from the lawmakers’ perspective. In “It sorted out our ideas on how anything you want to mention.” should make an effort to under- turn, Fellows have the opportunity to lend scientific and technical expertise all of the nuclear matter is held —James Bjorken, Stanford Univer- stand the changes under way. Is it a to public policy issues. together and how the protons and sity, (NPR), October 5, 2004 good idea to turn NASA centers into neutrons are built. And it’s as beau- ✶✶✶ QUALIFICATIONS include a PhD or equivalent in physics or a closely independent research centers more related field, a strong interest in science and technology policy, and, ideally, tiful a theory as exists, and that “The history of understanding like the DOE labs? Are there physi- some experience in applying scientific knowledge toward the solution of includes electrodynamics, gravity, matter is taking things apart. How cal science areas that can societal problems. Fellows are required to be US citizens and members of could it be that they are made of contribute significantly to the new the APS. ART FLOW from page 3 quarks and you can’t get them out? program, and should receive new It was a deep conundrum.” TERM OF APPOINTMENT is one year, beginning in September of “What they do is they draw their funding? 2005 with participation in a two-week orientation sponsored by AAAS. —Michael Turner, NSF, Los Angeles inspiration from something scien- Can we imagine any science we Fellows have considerable choice in congressional assignments. Times, October 6, 2004 tific, but the final product may not would like to do if the more robust ✶✶✶ A STIPEND of $50,000 is offered in addition to allowances for be very close to science. There’s a and inexpensive private and federal “How often do you get to relocation, in-service travel, and health insurance premiums. whole spectrum.” space infrastructure expected actu- explain one of the four fundamen- For more information on the ally comes to pass? APPLICATION should consist of a letter of intent of approximately two tal forces of nature?’’ ScArt4 conference and the visual The Moon/Mars decision doesn’t pages, a list of key publications, a two-page resume, and three letters of — Lawrence Krauss, CWRU, New art competition, visit http:// have much to do with science—and reference. Please see the APS website (http://www.aps.org/ York Times, October 6, 2004 public_affairs.fellows.html) for detailed information on materials required. mechanical.rutgers.edu/scart4 despite its political origin, has an in- evitable logic that a new INSIDE THE BELTWAY from page 6 administration would be hard- ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE pressed to reverse. NASA people are POSTMARKED BY JANUARY 17, 2005 AND SHOULD time. The increasing demands on ing up into such knots that it could energetically tackling the new chal- BE SENT TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: scant federal resources will cause turn the “do-nothing” 108th Con- lenges they’ve been given - there are APS Congressional Science Fellowship Program Congress to miss budgetary dead- gress into a fashion trendsetter. real opportunities here for physicists c/o Jackie Beamon-Kiene lines more often than not. (This year, If I had a solution, I would have and physics research, if we are will- APS Executive Office we could well be stuck with a Con- run for the White House this year. ing to be a part of it. One Physics Ellipse tinuing Resolution through After all, if Ralph Nader had the Arthur Smith February.) And it will tie policy mak- chutzpah to do it, why shouldn’t I? Selden, NY 8 November 2004 NEWS The Back Page Remembering Oppenheimer: The Teacher, The Man By Edward Gerjuoy I was enrolled as a graduate bore any grudges against students lent of a course, which said associ- to shrivel. I had been exposed to student in the UC-Berkeley physics who momentarily had taxed his ate would speak on in a continuing Julian’s talents during my under- department from August 1938 to patience. fashion whenever no other speak- graduate years at City College in January 1942. When I arrived, I knew Perhaps the most distinctive ers were available. New York. practically nothing about J. Robert feature of his lectures was his chain Tossing questions at the speaker Julian’s first seminar went Oppenheimer beyond his name. But smoking. When one cigarette was Oppie’s preferred seminar role exactly as I expected. Julian started I immediately became well burned down to a fragment, he with visiting and homegrown speak- talking and very soon Oppie asked acquainted with him via the courses extinguished it and lit another ers alike. If a question was not Julian a question, which Julian he taught. In each, he manifested the almost in a single motion. I still can answered to Oppie’s satisfaction he answered. Another question same distinctive teaching style. see him in his characteristic black- would furnish his own answer, and followed, and Julian answered. Oppenheimer gave no final board pose, one hand grasping a he was not averse to brushing the More questions came; more ques- exams or any other tests. He did piece of chalk, the other hand speaker aside and going up to the tions were answered. After about assign numerous homework prob- dangling a cigarette, and his head blackboard if he felt the occasion a dozen questions, answered by

lems, many of which were highly wreathed in a cloud of smoke. Photo Credit: Los Alamos National Laboratory warranted the intrusion. Julian with no visible sign of dis- instructive and non-routine. He did Although his primary interest J. Robert Oppenheimer Unfortunately, his answers tress whatsoever, Oppie stopped not designate a textbook for any of was research, he nevertheless often did not always clarify the firing questions and let him finish his courses. If we students desired took his classroom teaching issues at hand. I well remember the his seminar without further inter- alternative or otherwise clarifying duties very seriously. He deserves allowed his students to drop into his many occasions when, after one of ruption. Nor did he ever again presentations, we had to locate them credit for his painstaking efforts office at any time to consult physics Oppie’s answers, the cry “But unduly interrupt during any suc- on our own. to construct unhackneyed courses books in his personal library. His Oppenheimer!” uttered in a ceeding seminar of Julian’s. Oppie His reluctance to designate text- that would lead students into pro- office was deep, moderately wide, German accent, welled up from stopped asking questions because books was rational. In his electro- ductive physics research as rapidly and quite bare, except for the book- Stanford Professor Felix Bloch who it became apparent that Julian magnetic theory course, for as their native talents would allow. shelves and a blackboard running the approximately once a month drove always knew what he was talking example, much of the material he Even more vivid are my recol- length of the room. He did not have to the seminar from Palo Alto. We about and would sufficiently presented was intended to serve as lections stemming from my time regular office hours. He could be students reveled in Bloch’s discom- discuss any subtleties inherent in an introduction to the newly formu- in his group of PhD students. I moody; if I found him alone, his fiture and were fond of saying that his seminar subject without lated, and still developing, quantum joined in the spring of 1939. He demeanor instantly made it apparent Bloch was Oppie’s most advanced having to be prodded. theory of radiation; such hyper- didn’t immediately give me a whether or not I should dare speak student. It was not until after the With the bulk of his students, modern material simply could not research problem; I had been at to him. But if he was willing to talk, war that I realized Bloch was a dis- Oppie was closely involved with their be found in any of the then available Berkeley less than two semesters. there was no need for an appoint- tinguished physicist; he won a PhD researches. He was interested electromagnetic theory textbooks. I just showed up at the weekly ment. Assuming one did catch him Nobel Prize in 1952. in many of the problems they were Similarly at the time, barely a theoretical physics seminar he ran. willing to be disturbed, this didn’t Oppie’s seminar performances working on, and in not a few decade after Schrodinger’s formula- Although Oppenheimer could be mean that a graduate student would avoided disconcerting any of his instances himself worked on the tion of his wave equation, there fearsome, he did not put on airs. toss physics questions at him with- visiting speakers; he was a polite problems alongside his students. weren’t any English language texts He didn’t mind being called Oppie, out forethought. His reaction to a man. But with his students, his ques- Even if he wasn’t terribly inter- for him to assign in his quantum and I have done so ever since. question he deemed stupid tended tioning was fierce, often cruelly so. ested in the outcomes of some of mechanics course. Quantum mechanics was devel- to be very caustic; one was likely to I do not believe Oppie was in any those researches, the problems all Each class hour was a lecture, oped in Europe and remained depart his company quite depressed. way sadistic; he legitimately could be were nontrivial and fully involved delivered at high speed, accompa- essentially arcane until 1926, when The seminar was Oppie’s domain, termed kindhearted. And I feel con- modern physics; any student who nied by numerous equations written Schrödinger’s formulation of his his fiefdom. He selected the speak- fident that the questions Oppie put completed one of those assigned on the board at correspondingly famous equation made quantum ers; except on rare occasions he to his student speakers were research problems was trans- high speed, along with rapidly theoretical research accessible to totally dominated its proceedings. In designed not to embarrass but to formed thereby, into a significantly performed, rarely erroneous calcu- non-geniuses like myself. complete contrast to his classroom elucidate, more often for the benefit more competent theoretical physi- lations. The only way I possibly could Oppie was one of the very few practices, Oppie almost never of the audience than for himself. I cist than when he had begun the grasp the material was to take hast- American theoretical physicists who allowed himself to be the seminar wouldn’t be surprised if Oppie’s work. ily scribbled notes as he spoke. From was both lucky enough to have speaker. He preferred instead to sit persistent questioning was nothing Of course, I would expect that in these scribblings I would prepare learned quantum mechanics in in the front row and interrupt the more than an automatic attempt to discussing their mentors my words more complete notes as soon as pos- Europe right around 1926, and speaker with questions. Unless he remedy the discomfort he clearly felt would be echoed by the students of sible after the lecture, while it still talented enough to usably bring this formally had scheduled a speaker when hearing any theoretical phys- any of our great modern theoretical was fresh in my mind. I am quite cer- learning back to the United States. from outside his group, Oppie’s first ics statements he thought wrong or physicists, e.g., by Oppie himself as tain that every other serious student He received his PhD in 1927 choice for speaker always was whom- even imprecise; it could have been a Max Born student. did the same. There were numerous from the University of Göttingen, ever prominent theoretical physicist like scratching an itch. Oppie did his physics, talked occasions when several of us would having studied with Max Born; he momentarily happened to be visiting Sadly, Oppie lacked the empathy about his physics, lived his physics, argue at a blackboard about pre- joined the Berkeley physics depart- the Berkeley physics department; a that would cause him to draw back, with a rarely duplicated passion, cisely what he had imparted. Each ment only two years later. scheduled talk by any member of once his previous questions had which had to inspire his students; he of Oppenheimer’s courses required In the years between 1929 and Oppie’s group obviously could be reshaped the student speaker into a certainly inspired me. far more of my time, but taught me 1935, before so many great Euro- and would be postponed. quivering hulk incapable of profit- Despite his sometimes overly far more physics, than any of the pean physicists fled Hitler and began In those years the Berkeley cyclo- ing from, much less answering, any ferocious questioning, despite the other non-Oppenheimer courses I to establish their own modern theo- tron was one of the seven physics further questions. sarcasms that Oppie really should took in graduate school. retical physics research groups in wonders of the world. Famous physi- Nor, when Oppie’s research have suppressed, we his students I have no memory of him ever this country, students who wanted cists flocked to Berkeley from all associate Leonard Schiff gave a semi- respected him and felt indebted to initiating any sort of Socratic dia- to do research at the forefront of corners of the globe. Enrico Fermi nar, did Oppie treat Leonard any him; knowing that Oppie so obvi- logue with the class, nor do I recall theoretical physics without going gave an extended series of lectures more kindly than he treated his stu- ously passionately loved doing him pausing in any calculation to ask abroad enrolled in the Berkeley in 1940, and Wolfgang Pauli visited dent speakers. On more than a few physics, that he so obviously always the class for suggestions on what to physics department to work with in 1941. Oppie managed to convince occasions Oppie had Schiff visibly had physics in the forefront of his do next. If there was something a Oppie, because there really were such visiting theorists to speak in his on the verge of tears. As with Bloch, mind, helped us believe that becom- student didn’t understand, said stu- very few other professors in the US seminar. We were able to hear about Oppie’s treatment of Schiff left his ing a competent theoretical physicist dent could feel free to interrupt with actively engaged in such research. research at the forefront of theoreti- students with no real appreciation was worth the fairly enormous a question. Oppenheimer would Oppie was tall and absurdly thin. cal physics right from the horse’s of Schiff’s talents. Certainly we would effort required, especially in those answer patiently unless the question He rarely was motionless; if nothing mouth. not have predicted that Schiff would prewar economically depressed was manifestly stupid; then his else he would be puffing on his Mostly, students would speak on have a distinguished career. days when the word physics had no response was likely to be quite cut- cigarette or waving it around as he research they had completed and I cannot refrain from contrast- popular resonance and jobs for theo- ting. Unfortunately his patient talked. He was well educated and were about to write up; occasionally ing Oppie’s treatment of Schiff with rists were very hard to come by. And, answers often were not illuminating; well read; we all have heard of his Oppie would assign someone to talk his treatment of Julian Schwinger, for imbuing me with this belief, I Oppenheimer did not have the gift ability to quote from the original on a published paper he thought who in 1940 replaced Schiff as respect and feel indebted to him still. of putting himself in a student’s place Sanskrit. His face was mobile; how worth discussing. When student Oppie’s research associate. We were and recognizing that what was he was reacting was no secret. When speakers in such categories could not eagerly anticipating Julian’s first semi- Edward Gerjuoy is professor of evident to him might not be evident I knew him he was between 35 and be mustered, the duty of speaking nar. But whereas the other students physics emeritus at the University of to the student. A student who per- 40, and doubtless still at the peak of would fall back on Oppie’s research were wondering how long it would Pittsburgh. This article is adapted from sisted with questioning could expect his physical and mental powers. associate. It was Oppie’s practice each take Julian to shrivel under Oppie’s a talk presented at a Los Alamos to find himself on the receiving end His relations with his students year to assign his research associate questioning, I was wondering how symposium on “Oppenheimer and the of sarcasm. But Oppenheimer never were surprisingly informal. He a broad subject, almost the equiva- Oppie would react to Julian’s refusal Manhattan Project”, June 26, 2004.

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