The Campaign for Physics Update Inside A P S N E W S JUNE 1997 THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY VOLUME 6, NO 6 APS NewsTry the enhanced APS News-online: [http://www.aps.org/apsnews]

Special Offer Physical Review Online Subscriptions Only $25 for APS Members eginning July 1, you may register online and select your views of Modern Physics in early 1998. For the latest journal subscription B 1997, APS personal username and password for As the APS continues research into the rates for all APS research journals and members may enter the online journals. We must have your latest and most effective online delivery other APS membership benefits, please an online-only one year subscription correct email address to proceed. mode to better serve the diverse needs see the 1997-98 Guide to Member Ser- to Physical Review Letters or any sec- Currently available online are Physi- of the physics community, new features vices enclosed with your renewal tion of the Physical Review for only $25 cal Review A, B-Rapid Communications, and delivery schedules will be incorporated package, or visit the APS home page at each. In addition, APS members who C, and D, as well as Physical Review Let- into all online journals. CD-ROM versions http://www.aps.org, or send an email have a paper subscription to Physical ters. The APS is aiming to release the of APS online journals are currently priced to [email protected]. Inquiries may Review Letters or any section of the online version of Physical Review B and at $25 per disk and will be announced as also be directed to phone: (301)209- Physical Review will get a free subscrip- Physical Review E in July 1997, and Re- they become available during the year. 3280 or fax: (301)209-0867. tion to the online version of the corresponding journal. APS members who have a paper Highlights from Kansas City March Meeting subscription to either part of Physical pproximately 4,400 physicists on Industrial and Applied Physics were physics, and a humorous series of lec- Review B (B1 or B15) will get a free converged on the Kansas City also represented. A tures exploring the “lighter” side of subscription to the online version of the Convention Center in Kansas City, Among the technical highlights were science, the third such session orga- entire Physical Review B (B1 and B15), Missouri, 17-21 March, for the Society’s numerous sessions on carbon nized by the APS Topical Group on as well as Physical Review B-Rapids annual March Meeting. Over 4,500 nanotubes, as well as the measurement Instrument and Measurement Science online. APS members who have a paper technical papers were presented, of atto-Newton forces using magnetic since 1994. The meeting also featured subscription to either part of Physical mostly on topics in condensed matter resonance microscopy, the latest on celebrations of the 100th anniversary Review D (D1 or D15) will get a free sub- and materials physics, as well as related switchable mirrors, the observance of of the discovery of the electron and scription to the online version of the fields. APS units represented at the self-organized criticality in mammalian the 50th anniversary of the transistor. entire Physical Review D (D1 and D15). meeting included the Divisions of brain cells, the development of x-ray Prizes and Awards. The traditional To take advantage of this offer, add Biological Physics, Chemical Physics, microprobes, and splitting DNA using ceremonial session for the bestowal of the online journals selected on your Condensed Matter Physics, Fluid optical tweezers. There was also a spe- prizes and awards was held Monday renewal invoice and remit the appro- Dynamics, High Polymer Physics, and cial session featuring lectures by this evening, followed by a reception priate payment. Please take the time to Materials Physics. Recently established year’s Nobel Prize winners. hosted by APS President D. Allan print your email address legibly in the Topical Groups on Statistical and Nontechnical highlights included a Bromley (Yale University). Ten APS space provided on the invoice so that Nonlinear Physics and Magnetisim and session on the challenges of handling we may notify you by email as to how its Applications as well as the Forum nuclear waste, a look at entrepreneurial (Continued on page 5) Career Task Force Makes Recommendations to APS Council he APS Task Force on Careers and reer-oriented programs with the AIP has been recognized by the APS and AIP Developing a workshop designed to TProfessional Development pre- Career Services Division; formulating through numerous programs, the task educate faculty about the changing job sented its final report and a long-term strategy to address career force found that these programs do not market, was another recommendation. recommendations to the APS Council and professional development issues, currently reach as many members as they Suggested contents for workshops, to in April. Chaired by Diandra Leslie- incorporating existing elements of the could, and called for a continuation of be presented at APS meetings, included Pelecky (University of Nebraska, APS as well as new ideas and programs; efforts to obtain outside funding for such (Continued on page 3) Lincoln), the task force was created last and identification and assistance in the activities. year in response to concerns over the implementation of new programs to changing situation for employment of effectively serve the physics commu- Four Corners Section Established by Council physicists. “The Task Force was asked nity in dealing with career issues. The Four Corners Section, the first ers, elected by an organizational group to take a long-range approach and First and foremost, the task force new APS regional section since 1976 was meeting in Albuquerque on March think of ways that the APS could stimu- determined that the APS must be con- established by unanimous vote of APS 22nd, are: Chair, Bill Evenson (BYU), late improved preparation and cerned with career and professional Council at its April 19 Meeting, subject Chair-elect, J.D. Garcia (U. Of Arizona), broadened career options for physi- development issues at all levels, includ- to ratification of its bylaws by the APS Vice-chair, David Wolfe (UNM), Secre- cists,” said Barrett Ripin, APS Associate ing not only PhDs, but also Master’s Constitution and Bylaws Committee. The tary-Treasurer, Eric Jones (Sandia), plus Executive Officer. “We are pleased that degree recipients, bachelor-level physi- Four Corners Section encompasses Ari- members-at-large of the Executive did just that,” he said. cists, and mid-career physicists faced zona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. Committee: Brenda Dingus (U. Of The charge to the task force included with career changes, voluntary or other- There are over 300 charter members to Utah), Mariet Hofstee (Colorado Sch. advising the APS on efficient and ef- wise. While acknowledging that the date. APS members living in the Four Of Mines), Andrea Palounek (LANL), fective mechanisms for coordinating need to increase the exposure of faculty Corners area are encouraged to join the Michael Petras (Motorola-Tempe). and integrating the existing Society ca- and students to different career options new section by writing it in on their APS Harry Lustig, APS Treasurer emeritus invoice returns. Note that Section mem- and now living in Santa Fe, played a berships are free to APS members. leading role in the new section’s for- IN THIS ISSUE Interim Four Corners Section Offic- mation.

APS Online Journals ...... 1 Highlights from Kansas City ...... 1 Members To Vote on Proposed Amendment to Career Task Force Makes Recommendations to APS Council ...... 1 APS Mission Statement Four Corners Section Established by Council ...... 1 Council Statements Endorsed ...... 2 At its April meeting, the APS Council approved a proposed amendment to the APS mission statement. The proposed revision will appear on the election ballot this NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program ...... 3 summer for APS members to vote on its adoption. The amendment — actually a Physics History on the Web...... 3 preamble — to the APS objective is motivated by a desire to articulate the IN BRIEF ...... 3 organization’s concern for science education and public affairs issues, and to ex- Opinion ...... 4 pand the objective to include activities in this area. The text of the proposed The Federation of Materials Societies ...... 7 amendment is below. DCMP and DMP Celebrate 50 Years...... 7 Nominations for 1998 APS Prizes and Awards...... 7 Article II - Objective. The Back Page ...... 8 In the firm belief that an understanding of the nature of the physical universe will APS Meeting News ...... Insert be of benefit to all humanity the objective of the Society shall be the advancement The Campaign for Physics Update ...... Insert and diffusion of the knowledge of physics. APS News June 1997 Council Statements Endorsed

May 1995. Ratification of the CTBT will not required to retain confidence in the Passage of Nuclear Test Ban Treaty mark an important advance in unit- safety and reliability of the remaining n April, the APS Council approved a now signed that treaty. Although the date ing the world in an effort to contain nuclear weapons in the United States’ Istatement endorsing the Comprehen- at which the CTBT will enter into force is and reduce the nuclear danger. stockpile, provided science and technol- sive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), drafted not yet certain, the treaty is of extraordi- Having been the first country to de- ogy programs necessary for stockpile by the APS Panel on Public Affairs nary importance to the United States and velop nuclear weapons, having been a stewardship are maintained. This con- (POPA). The statement was prompted to the future of all humankind. major participant in the nuclear arms clusion is supported by both the senior by concern that failure of the U.S. to The CTBT, the culmination of over race of the Cold War, and having civilian and military officials respon- ratify the treaty would tempt other na- 40 years of effort, ends the qualitative played a leadership role in the NPT ex- sible for U.S. national security. tions to begin testing nuclear weapons arms race among the nuclear states and tension and the CTBT negotiations, it The Council of the American Physi- again, and greatly weaken the political is central to future efforts to halt the is appropriate and imperative that the cal Society, representing 41,000 restraints on those states that do not further spread of nuclear weapons. The United States ratify the Comprehensive academic, industrial and laboratory currently have nuclear weapons. The promise to negotiate and put into force Test Ban Treaty at the earliest possible physicists, endorses the CTBT, includ- JASON Group, an independent group a CTBT was an essential pre-condition date. The Council notes that detailed, ing its extensive technical and of senior non-government scientists to achieving an indefinite extension of fully informed technical studies have procedural provisions to verify compli- that advises the U.S. Department of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in concluded continued nuclear testing is ance with treaty requirements. Energy on national security issues, has released a report concluding that nuclear testing will not be needed, pro- Open Flow of Scientific Information vided that a viable stockpile stewardship program is in place. t its April meeting, the APS Council would be especially damaging to sci- restrictive bill in the House of Repre- The CTBT has now been signed by Aapproved a statement in support ences concerned with international sentatives in May 1996. the five nuclear weapons states and 132 of the open exchange of scientific data, issues such as global change and the “Science is a cumulative process, and other nations, and is expected to in response to recently proposed environment, the prevention and treat- laws that inhibit the flow of science strengthen the nuclear Non-Prolifera- changes to laws that protect intellectual ment of disease, and biodiversity, each information by making it unaffordable tion Treaty, signed by more than 175 property, which could translate into of which requires the open exchange would force cutbacks in research as nations agreeing not to develop or ac- overly restrictive policies governing of globally compatible data among sci- well as significantly slow our progress quire nuclear weapons. According to “fair use” exceptions for the contents entists in both rich and poor nations. in science and technology,” said Berry. POPA Chair Robert White, the treaty of databases. Fair use exceptions Last year the World Intellectual Prop- “These laws are flawed from an eco- will also strengthen nuclear nonprolif- enable scientists and educators to use erty Organization (WIPO), an nomic point of view because of the eration by raising the technical and copyrighted materials, such as intergovernmental organization affiliated possibility that unrestricted monopo- political barriers for non-nuclear weap- published research papers, for free or with the United Nations that promotes lies may result, particularly by people ons states to develop nuclear weapons, at reduced costs, if the information is the protection of intellectual property, who have no direct concern for the and for the three primary nuclear weap- used for research, teaching or other introduced a draft treaty on databases public benefits of science.” ons states to develop more powerful specific purposes. and intellectual property at a diplomatic The full text of the statement fol- fission weapons. In addition, the CTBT Specifically, the proposed laws conference. Although the treaty was re- lows. will strengthen monitoring down to would enable database vendors to jected, WIPO may propose a new version The open flow of scientific data is one kiloton or lower in a growing num- charge scientists and educators at com- later this year without “fair use” excep- essential to the progress of science. The ber of locations. mercial rates for access and even, in tions for scientists and educators. American Physical Society is therefore The full text of the APS Council state- some cases, to maintain a monopoly If WIPO were to endorse such a greatly concerned by proposed legisla- ment follows. on publicly funded research data. Ac- treaty, it would establish new interna- tion and treaties which would impose, On September 10, 1996, the United cording to R. Stephen Berry, a professor tional norms that in turn would obligate through copyrighting of data bases, se- Nations overwhelmingly approved the of chemistry at the University of Chi- the U.S. and other signatory countries vere restrictions upon the fair use of Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), cago who chaired a National Research to amend their own intellectual prop- scientific data, the generation of which a treaty ending all nuclear testing, of Council committee appointed to report erty laws, the NRC committee reported. was supported by public funds. The So- any yield, at any location, for all time. on the issue, it is feared that such re- The Commission of the European Com- ciety supports a balanced approach to The United States, all other declared strictions could greatly inhibit munities (CEC), which sets economic copyright laws, which maintains the nuclear weapon states, and a growing collaborative scientific research projects policies for its member states, adopted traditional principles of fair use and of majority of the world’s nations have that depend on constantly updated in- an intellectual property directive that expiration of copyright after a reason- formation. Limiting access to data fails to provide adequate fair use ex- able period, while still protecting ceptions in February 1996. U.S. intellectual property rights of authors legislators introduced a similarly and publishers. APS COUNCIL 1997

President APS News D. Allan Bromley, Yale University President-Elect Neutron Scattering Facilities Andrew M. Sessler, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 Vice-President Series II, Vol. 6, No. 6 June 1997 Jerome Friedman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology t its April meeting, the APS Council national needs. © 1997 The American Physical Society Executive Officer Aapproved a statement calling for The critical need for modern neu- Judy R. Franz, University of Alabama, Huntsville (on leave) Editor: Barrett H. Ripin Treasurer the renewal and enhancement of U.S. tron scattering facilities has been well Thomas McIlrath, University of Maryland (on leave) Newswriter: Jennifer Ouellette Editor-in-Chief neutron scattering facilities by the U.S. documented and recommendations Production: Elizabeth Buchan-Higgins Martin Blume, Brookhaven National Laboratory government. According to Frank S. have been made to upgrade U.S. capa- Past-President Adrienne Vincent Bates, president of the Neutron Coordinator: Amy Halsted Robert Schrieffer, Florida State University bilities, but the needed developments General Councillors Scattering Society of America, the most have not come to fruition. If our neu- APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published 11X yearly, monthly, Daniel Auerbach, Virginia Brown, Jennifer Cohen, Charles Duke, pressing challenges facing the neutron tron scattering facilities are not except the August/September issue, by The American Physical Elsa Garmire, S. James Gates, Donald Hamann, William Happer, Society, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844, (301) Anthony M. Johnson, Zachary Levine, Paul Peercy, Susan Seestrom, scattering community are reactor enhanced soon, this field will suffer 209-3200. It contains news of the Society and of its Divisions, Virginia Trimble, Ronald Walsworth, Sau Lan Wu Topical Groups, Sections and Forums; advance information on upgrades at Brookhaven National damage to its research programs that meetings of the Society; and reports to the Society by its com- Chair, Nominating Committee Laboratory and Oak Ridge National mittees and task forces, as well as opinions. Gerard Crawley will take decades to rebuild. As U.S. Laboratory (ORNL), and construction of leadership is lost, important technolo- Chair, Panel on Public Affairs Letters to the editor are welcomed from the membership. Letters must be signed and should include an address and daytime tele- Robert M. White a short pulsed spallation source in the gies that depend upon the knowledge phone number. The APS reserves the right to select and to edit power range of one measurement. These gained from neutron scattering studies for length or clarity. All correspondence regarding APS News should Division and Forum Councillors be directed to: Editor, APS News, One Physics Ellipse, College Frank C. Jones (Astrophysics), Eric Heller, Gordon Dunn (Atomic, projects would provide neutron — including the development of new Park, MD 20749-3844, email: [email protected]. Molecular and Optical), Robert Callender (Biological), Stephen Leone (Chemical), Joe D. Thompson, David Aspnes, Lu J. Sham, scattering scientists and engineers in the polymers, superconductors and chemi- Zachary Fisk (Condensed Matter), Warren Pickett (Computa- Subscriptions: APS News is an on-membership publication de- tional), Guenter Ahlers (Fluid Dynamics), James Wynne (Fo- U.S. with capabilities approaching those cal catalysts, and the use of neutron livered by Periodical Mail. Members residing abroad may receive rum on Education), Albert Wattenberg (Forum on History of Phys- currently available in Europe. The full probes to study the stresses and impuri- airfreight delivery for a fee of $20. Nonmembers: Subscription ics), Matt Richter (Forum on Industrial & Applied Physics), Ernest rates are: domestic $160; Canada, Mexico, Central and South Henley (Forum on International Physics), Dietrich Schroeer (Fo- text of the Council statement follows. ties in materials that affect the America, and Caribbean $180; Air Freight Europe, Asia, Africa rum on Physics and Society), Andrew Lovinger (High Polymer), and Oceania $210. Daniel Grischkowsky (Laser Science), Howard Birnbaum (Ma- The American Physical Society rec- performance and safety of structures terials), John Schiffer, Peter Paul (Nuclear), Henry Frisch, George ognizes the scientific importance of such as bridges and aircraft — are in- Subscription orders, renewals and address changes should Trilling (Particles and Fields), Hermann Grunder (Physics of be addressed as follows: For APS Members—Membership De- Beams), Roy Gould, William Kruer (Plasma) neutron scattering science as a key area creasingly at risk. In addition, we are partment, The American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, of endeavor for physics, chemistry, no longer able to supply our growing College Park, MD 20740-3844, [email protected]. For Non- ADVISORS members—Circulation and Fulfillment Division, American In- materials and biomedical research. For needs for neutron-produced stitute of Physics, 500 Sunnyside Blvd., Woodbury, NY 11797. Sectional Representatives Allow at least 6 weeks advance notice. For address changes, John Pribram, New England; Peter Lesser, New York; Perry P. Yaney, many decades, the United States was radiopharmaceuticals. please send both the old and new addresses, and, if possible, Ohio; Joseph Hamilton, Southeastern; Stephen Baker, Texas preeminent in neutron scattering sci- include a mailing label from a recent issue. Requests from sub- The Council of the American Physi- scribers for missing issues will be honored without charge only Representatives from Other Societies ence with state-of-the-art reactor and cal Society stresses the critical important if received within 6 months of the issue’s actual date of publi- Ronald Edge, AAPT; Marc Brodsky, AIP cation. spallation neutron facilities. Today we of neutron scattering to a wide spec- Staff Representatives Barrett Ripin, Associate Executive Officer; Irving Lerch, Director of have lost that preeminence and could trum of scientific and technical fields Periodical Postage Paid at College Park, MD and at additional International Affairs; Robert L. Park, Director, Public Informa- mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to APS News, tion; Michael Lubell, Director, Public Affairs; Stanley Brown, Ad- well cease to be a major player in this and urges the U.S. government to pro- Membership Department, The American Physical Society, One ministrative Editor; Reid Terwilliger, Director of Editorial Office field — in spite of its centrality to fun- ceed rapidly with the renewal and Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844. Services; Michael Stephens, Controller and Assistant Treasurer damental scientific studies as well as development of national reactor and many areas of science important to spallation neutron facilities. 2 June 1997 APS News NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program IN BRIEF Proposals for FY98 are now being awardees supported by the CAREER considered for the Faculty Early Career program for the Presidential Early Ca- • Donald H. Weingarten of IBM/Yorktown Heights has been awarded the Development (CAREER) program spon- reer Awards for Scientists and Engineers APS 1997 Aneesur Rahman Prize for Computational Physics. His citation sored by the National Science (PECASE). PECASE awards recognize reads, “For his seminal work on lattice quantum chromodynamics, in- Foundation. CAREER is a Foundation- outstanding scientists and engineers cluding algorithmic innovations, massively parallel computer software wide activity that supports junior faculty show exceptional potential for leader- development and hardware implementation that led to calculations of within the context of their overall ca- ship at the frontiers of knowledge early hadron masses and the mass and decay couplings of the scalar glueball.” reer development. It combines in a single in their careers. It is the highest honor A native of Massachusetts, Weingarten received his PhD from Columbia program the support of research and bestowed by the U.S. Government on University in 1970 and subsequently held research positions at Fermilab, education of the highest quality and in scientists and engineers beginning their the University of Copenhagen, the University of Paris, and the University the broadest sense. The program empha- independent careers. of Rochester. In 1976 he joined the faculty of Indiana University, leaving sizes the importance that the NSF places The application deadline for the in 1983 to join the research division of IBM/Yorktown Heights, where he on the early development of academic CAREER program is July 22, 1997, sig- has worked ever since. The Rahman Prize was established in 1992 with careers dedicated to stimulating the dis- nificantly earlier than last year’s support from IBM and Argonne National Laboratory. It is intended to covery process in which the excitement deadline. Those interested in applying recognize and encourage outstanding achievement in computational phys- of research is enhanced by inspired may find additional information on the ics research. The Rahman Prize will be presented to Weingarten at the teaching and enthusiastic learning. NSF home page [http://www.nsf.gov] PC’97 Meeting to be held August 25-28, 1997 in Santa Cruz, CA. Furthermore, beginning in 1997, the or the Career Program Announcement • The APS Committee on the Status of Women in Physics and the Forum on NSF will select up to 20 nominees from [http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/1997/ History of Physics are co-sponsoring the creation of an historical archive, among the most meritorious first-year nsf9787/nsf9787.txt]. compiling an electronic collection of citations of women who have made original and important contributions to physics in the 20th century. The Physics History on the Web project is part of plans for the celebration of the 1999 Centenary of the APS. Nina Byers, UCLA, is directing the project. The APS Council’s Execu- The AIP Center for History of Physics announces two new science history tive Board has allocated funds to help pay for the project. UCLA, where exhibits on the World Wide Web: the web-site is located, has also provided funds. There turned out to be Discovery of the Electron. This year is the centennial of the experiments far more contributions than even the originators of the project realized. that led J.J. Thomson to announce the discovery of the first fundamental sub- So far 167 scientific biographies have been collected and 29 are ready for atomic particle. The history of this famous advance can be reviewed at the Web viewing on the project’s Website (http://www.physics.ucla.edu/~cwp). site below. A text based on recent historical studies is accompanied by photo- Citations include brief descriptions of the contributions documented with graphs, animated diagrams, quotes, and clips of Thomson’s voice. Science teachers references to published papers, as well as some biographical informa- and students in particular should profit from viewing the site. [http://www.aip.org/ tion. history/electron] • The recent energy study conducted by the APS Panel on Public Affairs, Online Einstein Museum. The Center for History of Physics also offers a which provided the background materials for the APS Council statement large Web site giving a guided tour through the life of Albert Einstein. Numerous on energy (“Energy: the Forgotten Crisis”), is now available on the World pictures along with quotes and voice clips illustrate an authoritative text by Wide Web [http://www.aps.org/public_affairs/popa]. Included are text historians. The viewer can click on menu items dealing with Einstein’s formative of background papers written by individual members of the POPA Sub- years, his revolutionary works such as relativity, his world fame (with period committee on Energy and Environment. At this point, they reflect the cartoons), the nuclear age, and many other subjects. It is organized with an views and perspectives of the authors and not necessarily those of POPA index of topics and features, a chronology of basic facts, and links to much or the APS. Topics include a summary of the current energy situation; a additional information on the Web about Einstein’s life and science. [http:// look at kinds of energy supplies, such as fossil energy, nuclear fission www.aip.org/history/einstein] energy and renewable energy; an overview of energy use trends, and transportation and energy issues; and other considerations, including cli- Career Task Force (Continued from page 1) mate change, DOE’s R&D priorities, pedagogic energy modeling, and energy units. The summary of the energy study is available at the same discussion of the skills necessary for into the best way to establish this com- site. different careers and how to provide mittee. The task force acknowledged • The National Science Foundation is instituting new merit review criteria students with opportunities to acquire the involvement of several APS forums for all grant proposals beginning October 1, 1997. The new criteria were them; mechanics of helping students in this area and emphasized that the drafted by a special task force formed by the NSF and the National Sci- find a non-academic job; and informa- committee assignment is not meant to ence Board to suggest changes to the review criteria, which have not tion on successful programs at other discourage forums from continuing to been revised since 1981. The task force presented draft criteria to the schools. While AIP currently presents participate; rather, it will help central- scientific and engineering community for public comment in November career workshops, the task force noted ize information for members and 1996, and the subsequent revised version was approved by the National that these are directed towards students provide coordination among interested Science Board in March. Specifically, the task force reduced the number and do not contain materials specific parties. Over the next year, the Task of criteria reviewers must consider from four to two: the intellectual merit to the needs of the faculty member’s Force will continue its work, but shift of the proposed activity, and its broader impacts. Each of the criteria has role as mentor. Sessions directed to- emphasis towards implementing its rec- a set of related questions to help reviewers evaluate the proposals. Re- ward faculty have instead generally ommendations. viewers are asked to provide separate comments for each criterion, a focused mostly on statistics. Strong in- The members of the task force are: single composite rating of the proposal, and a summary recommendation put from industrial scientists was also Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, Chair (Univer- that addresses both criteria. The task force believes that “adoption of the deemed critical to ensure the relevance sity of Nebraska), Tony Nero (Lawrence new criteria will facilitate, clarify, and simplify the proposal evaluation of the workshop material. Berkeley National Laboratory), Robert process.” In addition, the task force suggested Kwasnick (General Electric), Steven J. • Two APS fellows were among seven winners of the 1996 E.O. Lawrence that the APS offer short courses on Smith (NCAR), Glen Crawford (Stanford Award, established in 1959 to honor the memory of the late Dr. Ernest management skills, communication Linear Accelerator Center), Robert Orlando Lawrence, who invented the cyclotron and after whom two major skills, and other helpful skills which Bartolo (University of Maryland), Pe- DOE laboratories are named. The award is given in seven categories for might be of interest to APS members. ter Abbamonte (University of Illinois outstanding contributions in the field of atomic energy. The awards will The APS might also offer a short course and Argonne National Laboratory), and be presented at a ceremony in Washington, DC, this spring; winners will on pedagogy for physics faculty and Peter Wolff (MIT). The senior APS ad- each receive a god medal and $15,000. APS member Thomas H. Dun- graduate students who are teaching or visor to the task force is Barrett Ripin ning, Jr., a theoretical chemist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, is interested in pursuing a teaching ca- and Arlene Modeste is staff liason. Also being honored in the Chemistry category for his electronic structure cal- reer. The task force also suggested contributing to the discussions were Ed culations on molecules, which has been applied in laser technology, development of two short videotapes, Goldin of AIP’s Career Services, Roman combustion chemistry and environmental chemistry. Sunil K. Sinha, an one for undergraduate students and an- Czujko of AIP’s Employment and Sta- engineer at Argonne National Laboratory, will receive the award in the other for graduate students, to be tistics Division, APS Executive Officer Materials Research category for developing new techniques for using x provided to physics departments across Judy Franz, APS Treasurer Tom rays and neutron scattering to learn new details about the structure of the country. Finally, the task force McIlrath, AAPT Executive Officer Ber- many materials. called for continued efforts to compile nard Khoury, Kevin Aylesworth of the statistical information tracking APS Education Division and Sherrie postdoctoral fellows. This would hope- Preische of APS Special Projects. fully help answer questions about where they eventually find jobs. A full copy of the task force report may Prudence The task force also recommended be viewed through the APS home page by Robert Garisto that an APS committee be given the [aps.org] under the Career and Employ- There once was a prof lacking prudence primary responsibility for career issues ment button or a hard copy may be Who studied a black hole’s refusance and implementing its recommenda- obtained by contacting Arlene Modeste, To show hide or hair tions, preferably one drawing its APS, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, Of what he’d tossed there, members from academia, industry and MD 20740; phone: (301) 209-3232; Including the last of his students! government to ensure balanced repre- email: [email protected]. sentation. The APS is currently looking

3 APS News June 1997 OPINION APS VIEWS What Have You Done for Me Lately? LETTERS by Irving Lerch, APS Director of International Scientific Affairs Perspectives on the Job “Crunch”

It may be discomforting, but it’s sometimes necessary to It was a pleasure to see Peter final letter, written in the vernacular, take a critical look at our cherished beliefs and venerated Abbamonte show the best qualities of merely indicated that he was qualified relationships and ask, “What have you done for me lately?” a real physicist. I commend him for his to drive a truck, which did produce an Over the past few years, perhaps in response to the fal- analysis and his personal strength (“The employment offer. (I may have the de- tering public support for science, a great deal of Back Page,” APS News, April 1997). A tails wrong after a quarter of a century soul-searching has taken place as various panels have re- minor historical note, though: It is not or so, but this catches the tenor.) viewed the status and value of the international scientific true that the implications of exponen- So while our younger colleagues unions and the whole panoply of domestic and foreign or- tial growth of the number of physicists may not be standing on the shoulders ganizations which comprise the global scientific enterprise. went unrecognised for 80 years. There of giants in this regard, they should at And in these days of budgetary pain and uncertainty, it’s easy to sniff waste and may also have been earlier instances, least be aware that they can (and do) inefficiency, and to conclude that our institutions have failed us. So, but I know that in the job crunch that benefit from those that have gone be- disintermediation is in and soft-minded accommodation is out. To use the jar- occurred after the ’68-69 downturn in fore them. gon of our era, it’s time to hang tough and play a zero-sum game. funding, the propensity of systems to Terry Goldman Consider the opening paragraph of a report on a meeting on international change from exponential growth to an Los Alamos, New Mexico cooperation on research in science, engineering and medicine, held in Bellagio, “S”-curve as resource limits are ap- Italy in the fall of 1995, which commented, “The institutions designed to serve proached was noted and discussed in Please congratulate Peter global science since the end of World War II are not keeping pace with the Physics Today and elsewhere. Abbamonte for his delightfully funny changes sweeping science and technology.” In short, everyone is quite sure that I also recall a brief article (or per- Back Page article entitled “The Crunch.” our institutional mechanisms for international science are inadequate, but incre- haps letter) wherein a recent Ph.D. At first I was infuriated by his naive mental change and not revolution is preferred. presented a sequence of letters osten- attitude of self-importance, but once I In a review of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) a sibly seeking employment outside of realized it was an April Fool’s article, it few years ago, the APS Executive Board concluded that few physicists knew physics. The first indicated his full edu- made my afternoon! The very idea that anything about IUPAP, its purpose, or its value. A minority of physicists were cational background, followed by a someone could be that whiny and ig- aware that IUPAP sponsorship for conferences was essential if they were to use reply rejecting him on the grounds of norant was hilarious. I especially loved grant funds to attend. Some were aware that ICSU provisions for the free circu- being overqualified for the job. In the the “garbage can scene” and the idea lation of scientists were important to open conferences to attendees whose political second, third and fourth letters, he lim- that physicists breed exponentially like origins would other bar them. And a very tiny group actually participated in the ited his resume to M. Sc., B. Sc. and rabbits. What an imaginative gag! commissions of the Union. One wag suggested that this ignorance might be a high school diploma, in sequence, and Katherine Rawlins good thing, since it was proof that IUPAP was not disruptive and may actually with appropriately declining quality of University. of Wisconsin-Madison be contributing in some quiet way to the workings of international physics. language, with the same result. The But doing no harm is no longer sufficient justification for spending money. The Bellagio panel generated a long list of generic ills broadly applied to many The April 1997 issue of APS News been independent of the job market, or different kinds of international organizations: deficiencies in governance and contained a well-written “Back Page” not conscious of the facts of life, one of staffing, narrow participation and focus, lack of resources, institutional rigidity article on the employment crunch for which is a reliable source of money. and inefficiency. For example, the panel noted that, “Most institutions ... focus young PhDs. Not included was the Unfortunately the public, from their efforts on university and government scientific capacity. As an economic simple fact that the field of physics as which all new talent comes, was not sector, the private sector has not been recognized as a critical player in global one of productive employment did not made aware of the real joy found in science and rarely has a seat at the collaborative table.” exist before World War II. The reason creative activities of the technical sort, Only in the past few years has the APS itself acknowledged such deficiencies for this is obvious: no product that re- and many of us neglected to point them and sought to correct them. But APS is a membership organization whose valid- quired those skills for fabrication and/ out. Things that demand knowledge ity and viability derives from its grass roots. This is not true of the international or sales existed. The field is sufficiently and the ability to search nature with scientific unions, whose rigid structure and glacial pace of doing business makes difficult — requiring math as its language the tools provided by physics will al- it difficult to institute new programs and organizational change. Yet for three before a beginning can even be made ways be in demand. generations, when the world was cemented into the post-War political order, — that anyone who concentrated on it Carroll B. Mills this fixity was seen as a virture by many. as a field of learning in college must have Kenwood, California What other structures are open to us? The U.S. has increasingly turned to binational foundations to promote scientific collaborations. Establishments such as the U.S.-Korea Science and Technology Forum and the German-American We Need an Inclusive Definition for Physicists Academic Council Foundation were created at the highest political level and After reading them once, and with of Miletus to the present). Physics is then launched as private initiatives. Because of their lofty origins, they readily no reflection, I thought the APS goals (or ought to be) a fellowship of those promote collaborations across institutional and disciplinary divisions, bringing outlined by APS President Judy Franz who have the passion for, and a talent together a broad collection of government, industrial, policy, technical and ad- (APS VIEWS, April 1997) all reasonable sufficient to add to the knowledge of ministrative experts. Such fora are difficult to organize on a multinational scale, and worthwhile. I was especially our field. Defining the community of In fact, experience shows that as the international scope broadens, the depth of pleased to see phrases like “through- physicists by exclusion, especially in outcome becomes more shallow. out the world.” But Goal # 8 struck these days, is selfish, and like all self- Both the APS and the Korean Physical Society are sponsors of the U.S.-Korea me as especially important. I would ishness, stupid. forum. The membership society is an engine which can revitalize the interna- think it an important goal at any time Keran O’Brien tional physics enterprise. As grass-roots organizations charged with serving the of the world (from the time of Thales Northern Arizona University needs of their members, such societies are most sensitive to the prevailing winds which alter the course of science. This sense of change coupled with a firm commitment to science are the essential ingredients for all the organizations in the global physics enterprise. IUPAP, on the other hand, is insulated from the societies by the national academies and research councils of its members. While the APS has statutory positions on the U.S. Liaison Committee (USLC) for IUPAP, it must act through the National Research Council’s Board on Physics and Astronomy in its dealings with the Union. Nonetheless, the APS and other participating societies have moved to invigorate the USLC by taking a more active role in its deliberations. In return, the IUPAP Executive Committee is seeking tighter connections to na- tional and regional societies. To explore the growing list of critcal issues confronting the international scien- tific community, APS President Allan Bromley, Past President Robert Schrieffer, and President-Elect Andrew Sessler have called for a small consultative meeting this October of the largest membership societies (Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, China, and the U.S.), as well as the five regional societies (Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Russian Federation). While the focus of the meeting will shift among specific issues — such as electronic publishing, education, science policy, and capacity building — the underlying question will be how the interna- tional community can best organize itself to confront these and future concerns. We will soon confront the issue of whether to work for change from within or to throw over the existing order and start anew. What we eventually decide could resonate for another three generations, and it would be wise for all of us to be heard.

4 June 1997 APS News OPINION Safeguard that Retirement Account! by Darlene Logan, APS Development Director PS members attending the Society’s sources for potential charitable giving. Tax-free Accumulated Savings at Retirement Age AMarch meeting were provided an [from investing $10,000 per year earning 8% net yearly return] If, in this example, the person had opportunity to attend a newly offered named a charitable organization as the session on retirement account planning Investment Years 510152025beneficiary of the $1 million retirement which was led by two skilled and ex- account, neither estate taxes nor in- Outside Plan $34,607 $78,355 $133,661 $206,578 $291,964 perienced pension benefit and estate come taxes would have been incurred, planning advisors. The information they Inside Plan $38,016 $93,873 $175,946 $296,539 $473,726 and the cost to the family would have provided to the attendees was enlight- been only slightly over 27% of the value ening to say the least. For example, of the account. However, perhaps you many APS members did not realize that As one can see, substantial finan- accumulated savings depending upon want to use the retirement account to each year they may be able to use a cial returns are obtained by investing the size of the account and your age at provide an income interest for a child defined benefit pension plan to shelter inside the qualified plan. You can also death. What to do? Naming a spouse as over his/her lifetime with the charity up to 100% of self-employment earn- vary your tax deductible contributions the heir is a choice that makes tax sense then benefiting from the assets. If a ings including consulting, royalties from to the plan from year to year. Further, as a special rule permits the surviving charitable remainder trust is named as writing a book, fees for editing or re- even when you reach retirement age, spouse to defer tax by rolling over the the beneficiary of the retirement ac- viewing, sales from inventions, income you will not need to pay tax on the inherited distribution from the account count, a charitable deduction for estate from tutoring, honoraria, and other full amount of your accumulated sav- to an IRA. tax purposes can be a benefit so that 1099 earned income. And, almost all ings in your qualified savings plans as But what happens to the estate if a less federal estate tax is paid. Further APS members did not know that there you may “roll” your accumulated sav- child becomes the beneficiary? Ac- the payment of the entire retirement is a total maximum amount you can ings to an IRA. In effect, your savings knowledging that the following account to the charitable remainder save without penalty as assets in your continue to earn income on a tax de- example uses the maximum estate tax trust will not result in immediate in- retirement account (TIAA, Supplemen- ferred basis. When the distributions are and income tax rates, it still clearly il- come taxation. The effect is that more tal TIAA, IRAs and KEOGHs). With the eventually taken from the IRA, they will lustrates the point. Assume that there funds may be available in the chari- rise in the stock market, many physi- be treated as ordinary income for in- is $1 million in the retirement account table remainder trust to be invested for cists will easily surpass the limits and come tax purposes. which passes directly to a child. If the the benefit of the child during his or will be in the penalty region. Distribu- owner of the account is in the 55% fed- her lifetime which could actually pro- Dangers of Over Accumulation in tions have to be carefully planned eral estate tax bracket, the federal estate vide more income than if a bequest of Retirement Accounts and Options around estate tax rules which can claim tax consumes $550,000 of the account, the retirement account had been made 75-95% of the accumulations. In planning for distributions from leaving $450,000 to the beneficiary, directly to them. In addition, a worthy charity benefits from your generosity. Qualified Saving Plan qualified retirement plans and indi- before income taxes. Assuming that the vidual retirement accounts, be aware $450,000 would be subject to a maxi- The bottom line is that, in saving What are the advantages to using a that these distributions may be subject mum income tax rate of 39.6%, this for retirement and receiving retirement qualified savings plan to shelter earn- to a number of adverse tax rules. At results in federal income taxes of plan distributions, it is very important ings? First of all, the contributions to death, the benefits in such plans may $178,200. This combination of federal to do very careful planning to assure that the plan are tax deductible. Second, the be subject to the federal estate tax estate and income taxes means that the intended beneficiaries receive the fruits investment earnings on your contribu- which applies to estates exceeding beneficiary will receive $271,800 of of our labor…not the IRS. Handouts from tions are not currently taxable. Third, $600,000. Second, the benefits from the what started out as $1 million. This the March meeting session and informa- the eventual distributions may be taxed plans will also be subject to income example does not include state income tion on the speakers, as well as related at favorable rates. For example, if you tax when received by the beneficiary. or state estate taxes. Because of this articles on this subject, are available to were to contribute $10,000 per year to Third, excessively large amounts in combination of taxes (which can also APS members at no charge and may be a qualified savings plan earning 8% per qualified plans and IRAs, which the IRS include a 15% excise tax on certain helpful background if you decide to raise year (net of investment expenses) and deems as excess accumulations, may larger retirement account balances this subject with your own financial advi- if your marginal income tax rate is 40%, also be subject to an additional 15% which can be the case for many APS sor. Simply e-mail me at ([email protected]) then the accumulated savings at retire- excise tax. The combination of these members), qualified plan and retire- with your name and address requesting ment age would be as follows: taxes can be over 75% of the ment assets are particularly useful as the “retirement planning packet”.

Highlights from Kansas City (Continued from page 1) prizes and awards were presented, and plications, partly through a lack of suf- market now would benefit further from use of new high-purity crystal samples, the recipients gave lectures on their re- ficient control over the ER process. A the use of blue-light lasers in place of is direct evidence available. spective award-winning topics at notable exception is the no-fat ER red-light lasers. The data capacity of the Single Magnetic Atoms. Single various sessions throughout the week. chocolate bar described to the left on new DVD models, now about 4.7 magnetic atoms have been found to Citations and brief biographical sum- page 4. But this may change soon. At a gigabytes (GB)), could be increased to disrupt superconductivity on an atomic maries of the recipients appeared in the Friday morning session, Clark Radcliffe 15 GB with the use of blue lasers. But scale, according to researchers at IBM March 1997 issue of APS News. of Michigan State University announced because of the larger quantum energy Almaden. As part of their microscopic the development of a feedback con- gap that must be bridged, blue light is study of magnetism, Ali Yazdani and Technical Sessions. trol mechanism using laser light to harder to produce than red light in semi- his IBM colleagues deposit single man- Room-Temperature Mid-Infrared sense the amount of “chaining” among conductor lasers. Last year Nichia ganese (Mn) and gadolinium (Gd) Lasers. At two Thursday morning ses- molecules in the fluid. One byproduct developed a pulsed blue diode laser, atoms, each of which exerts magnetic sions, researchers described various of the precision control of the ER pro- based on gallium-nitride materials, which forces, onto a niobium metal, which is new designs for mid-infrared lasers, cess itself is a 30-fold increase in the are thought to possess better commer- a superconductor at low temperatures. devices that deliver light with a wave- ER response time. This should encour- cial prospects than GaAs-based lasers. By measuring the tunneling current that length of 2-6 microns. Since this light age the advent of ER-based Two Types of Superconductivity flows from the surface to the probe of is transparent in the atmosphere, mid- components for hydraulic valves, at the Same Time? Putting a direct cur- a scanning tunneling microscope, the infrared lasers would be ideal for clutches, and shock absorbers. More- rent (dc) through a metallic sample, researchers detected the loss of super- detecting pollutants, and serving as a over, one MSU researcher has indeed physicists can observe the onset of su- conductivity in the vicinity of the part of a collision-avoidance system in been studying how ER can be used in perconductivity as the resistance drops isolated magnetic atoms. This repre- automobiles. Although it has tradition- the manufacture of low-fat chocolate. to zero at the critical temperature. In sents the first time a local loss of the ally been difficult to produce laser light Compact Discs and Blue Lasers. alternating-current (ac) studies, one superconducting state at the atomic in this part of the spectrum, research- On Monday morning, Shuji Nakamura looks for peaks in a plot of the imped- scale has been detected. The research- ers in the past year have successfully of Nichia Chemical Industries in Japan ance (analogous to resistance) versus ers theorize that the atoms break up produced room-temperature versions. announced the development of a room- temperature. Performing ac microwave nearby electron pairs which constitute In addition, they are striving to improve temperature, continuous-operation, measurements of YBCO superconduc- supercurrents. the notorious inefficiency of these de- blue-light laser with a much longer life- tors, Srinivas Sridhar of Northeastern Novel Scanning Probes. When vices. Steven Pei of the University of time than previous devices. University has observed two peaks, one electrons trapped at the interface be- Houston reported details on a brand- Light-emitting diodes, already in use in at a temperature just below 93 K (the tween two semiconductors are new mid-infrared laser design based on display systems, are efficient produc- recognized critical temperature) and subjected to high magnetic fields and antimony. ers of light (red and blue) and will soon another at 65 K, which he interprets as are held at low temperature, they can Chocolate and Shock Absorbers. be used in automobile brake lights and a hint for the onset of a further kind of form into strange configurations, some An electrorheological (ER) fluid is one traffic lights. For optical storage appli- electron pairing. Signs of this second of which appear to have fractional whose stiffness can be controlled with cations, however, one needs diode type of superconductivity may have charges. Physicists naturally want to electric fields. Years of research in this lasers. For one thing, the digital versa- been present in previous experiments, map this “quantum Hall effect” with as area have yet to result in practical ap- tile discs (DVDs) appearing on the Sridhar said, but only now, with the much precision as possible. At a Mon- 5 APS News June 1997

Highlights from Kansas City (Continued from page 1) day morning session, Ray Ashoori of such a device, unlike centrifuges, which erations of devices, the suppression of during which it was not clear whether MIT announced the development of a must be started and stopped every time defects becomes even more essential cathode rays were particles of electric- scanning probe which, sitting outside new particles are added. for future devices, in which oxide thick- ity or waves. Nor was it suspected that the semiconductor structure in which 10 Megagauss Fields. For a variety ness and devise dimensions will shrink there might be particles of subatomic the 2-dimensional electron structures of condensed matter experiments (such still further and the effects of any re- size until J.J. Thomson’s classic experi- are forming, can nevertheless render as studies of the quantum Hall effect), maining defects will be magnified. ments on the mass-to-charge ratio for images of the structures with 40-nm physicists need strong magnetic fields. Advanced Memories and CMR. In- cathode rays. The discovery of the elec- spatial resolution. Answering some The highest steady fields attainable are formation technology is a rapidly tron led not only into investigations of questions, the images pose new chal- about 40 Tesla (T), or 40,000 gauss. evolving industry with a continually the subatomic world, but ultimately to lenges, in the form of unexplained Operating in a pulsed mode, magnets changing landscape, but one constant nuclear physics and quantum physics lateral oscillations of the electron at Los Alamos have reached 70 T, but factor is the ongoing need for more as well. clumps. Ashoori’s probe may be use- only for periods of 20 to 50 msec. With information storage for a broad range Furthermore, it was the particle that ful in electronic chip design and testing nested pulsed magnets, fields in excess of applications encompassing small showed the existence of intrinsic spin, since it can measure the local density of 100 T will be reached in the near portable digital cameras to huge data and also led the way in the develop- of electrons even hundreds of ang- future. By resorting to explosive com- warehouses used by global companies. ment of our understanding of the stroms inside a semiconductor. pression of the magnetic flux in a According to James Brug of Hewlett- properties of large collections of sub- New Liquid Crystal Phase Discov- magnet, even higher fields can be Packard Laboratories, who spoke at a atomic particles. More recently, the ered With DNA. While many scientists achieved. James Brooks of Florida State Wednesday morning session, storing study of systems of strongly interact- study DNA to unravel the mysteries of University reported on the attempt to information magnetically has long been ing electrons has led to the discovery life, others take advantage of the fact carry out condensed matter studies in the dominant technology, but this be- of unexpected new phenomena, such that DNA is an easily replicated and extremely high magnetic fields, albeit comes more difficult as areal densities as high temperature superconductivity, manipulated version of a polymer—a for a period of only a microsecond or increase. However, new understanding intermediate valences, and the frac- long, chainlike molecule—to discover so. By using 20 kg of explosives (the of the interaction of electrons with the tional quantum Hall effect. Although new intricacies in materials physics. skills of weapons engineers came in magnetization in thin films and these are not unique to electron sys- Helmet Strey and his colleagues at the handy at this stage), a solenoid mag- superlattices is enabling the possiblity tems, their discovery in those systems National Institute of Health have pre- net, made in Russia and consisting of a of storage architectures other than ro- “has changed the way we understand pared a dense array of DNA molecules mesh of thin copper wires was im- tating disks. Some alternatives being quantum mechanics and enriched our in solution to form a liquid crystal, a ploded, resulting in fields estimated to considered include new magneto-trans- understanding of how interactions can state of matter in which molecules are have been as high as 1000 T, or 10 port effects, such as colossal change physical systems,” said arranged to a degree of order that lies megagauss. magnetoresistance and spin tunneling, Evenson. between that of crystals (highly or- SQUIDs for Nondestructive Evalu- which might be utilized in advanced dered) and liquids (less highly ation of Aircraft. Superconducting memory applications. Additional highlights and session sum- ordered). Using x rays to observe their Quantum Interference Devices maries from the Kansas City meeting Nontechnical Sessions. samples, they have discovered a new (SQUIDs), the most sensitive magnetic are available for viewing or down load- configuration, or phase, of liquid crys- field sensors known to date, are now Entrepreneurial Physics. On Tues- ing in the online version of APS News tal never before observed in any of sufficient sensitivity and reliability day morning, the Forum on Industrial located under the APS News button on material. Known as the line hexatic to find practical use in biomagnetism, and Applied Physics held a session on the APS home page [www.aps.org]. phase, it was originally predicted by geomagnetism and nondestructive entrepreneurial physics organized by Ray John Toner of the University of Oregon evaluation of aircraft. The latter is the O’Neal. W.K. Warburton of X-Ray Instru- Special thanks to Philip F. Schewe and in the 1980s. The researchers hope that focus of a recent German research col- mentation Associates, a small company that Benjamin Stein of the American Insti- using DNA will allow them to find and laboration, led by Rohmann GmbH, develops specialized electronics to support tute of Physics’ Public Information to investigate more types of liquid crys- which has been in the nondestructive the detectors used at synchrotron radia- Office for contributing to the coverage talline arrangements. testing business for 20 years. Accord- tion facilities, reviewed the issues a small of technical sessions in this issue. Waste is a Terrible Thing to Mind. ing to Hans-Joachim Krause (Institute company must deal with in order to sur- As the Cold War recedes into history of Thin Film and Ion Technology, vive in the business world. His company and as weapons containing radioactive Juelich), SQUIDs are superior to con- is currently extending its expertise to 1997 MARCH MEETING warheads are dismantled, a vast amount ventional eddy current testing with the development of spectrometry in- of chemical and fissionable material coils because their high sensitivity at struments for specialized medical PROGRAM COMMITTEE must be inventoried and disposed of. low frequencies allow for larger pen- markets. Virgil Elings, president of Digi- Chair: David Lang, AT&T Bell Labs The cleanup at U.S. Department of etration depths. tal Instruments, also reviewed the Members: Robert Richardson, Energy labs alone — 120 sites in 36 Recently, aircraft wheel testing was history and development of what is Cornell University (Sorters Meeting states — will require many years and successfully demonstrated with a pro- now the world’s largest manufacturer Organizer); Denis Rousseau, AT&T billions of dollars. Speakers at a Tues- totype SQUID system in the Lufthansa of scanning probe microscopes, and Bell Laboratories (Division of Biologi- day afternoon session revealed the maintenance facility at Frankfurt’s air- offered suggestions for entrepreneur- cal Physics); James Langer, University extent to which this tremendous so- port. One challenge is to operate the ial-minded physicists interested in of California,Santa Barbara (Division cial/technical undertaking has turned SQUID sensor integrated into a starting a technology business. of Condensed Matter Physics); Rob- an important corner, just in the past handheld system during movement in Civic Science. Changing the in- ert Silbey, MIT (Division of Chemical year. For example, an emphasis on the strong ambient fields commonly creasingly negative perception of Physics); Marvin Kalos, Cornell Uni- paper studies and litigation has shifted found in aircraft maintenance facilities. science by the general public and leg- versity (Division of Computational to actual cleanup activities at specific Also, the SQUID must be equipped islature was the focus of a Tuesday Physics); James Riley, University of sites. Chaired by David L. Bodde of the with mobile cooling with a lightweight morning session on civic science. Wisconsin (Division of Fluid Dynam- University of Missouri at Kansas City, the nitrogen cryostat. In the near future, Speakers included Robert Greenler of ics); Ken Shull, Northwestern session speakers included Alvin L. Alm, an automated wheel testing unit will the University of Wisconsin, Milwau- University (Division of High Polymer DOE Assistant Secretary for Environmen- be development. For fuselage testing, kee, founder of a highly popular series Physics); G. Slade Cargill III, Colum- tal Management; Frank L. Parker of the SQUID will be integrated with an of science programs for the public bia University (Division of Materials Vanderbilt University; Thomas Winston industrial scanning system. The project called “The Science Bag,” now in its Physics); Paul Houston, Cornell Uni- of the Ohio Environmental Protection continues until the summer of 1998, 24th year. Since its inception, the pro- versity (Division of Laser Science); Agency; and Charles Powers of the En- after which Rohmann intends to intro- gram has drawn a cumulative audience Robert Soulen, Jr., Naval Research vironmental and Occupational Health duce the new SQUID device into the of well over 100,000. In addition, Carl Laboratory (Instrument and Measure- Sciences Institute. marketplace. M. Bender described how the physics ment Science Topical Group); David Separating Microscopic Particles Hydrogen and Deuterium in Sili- department of Washington University Jiles, Iowa State University (Topical by Exploiting Brownian Motion. At con Device Processing. Metal oxide in St. Louis has established a physics Group on Magnetism); Lalit a Tuesday afternoon session, Martin semiconductor (MOS) transistors are and society course as part of a con- Chhabildas (Shock Compression of Bier of the University of Chicago de- the basic building blocks of silicon in- tinuing effort to raise the level of Condensed Matter Topical Group); scribed efforts to build a machine that tegrated circuits. Their stability and science literacy among bright students Katepalli Sreenivasan, Yale University separates different-sized colloids (tiny, lifetime depend on the degree of per- who do not intend to take further (Statistical and Nonlinear Physics slightly charged particles in fluids) by fection of the interface between the courses in science or mathematics. The Topical Group); L. Craig Davis, Ford exposing them to fluctuating electric semiconductor, silicon and the oxide. course considers such issues as the Research Laboratory (Forum on Indus- fields and taking advantage of their The high quality is achieved by intro- availability of energy, nuclear weapons, trial and Applied Physics); John Brownian motion, the random move- ducing hydrogen atoms into the the greenhouse effect, the ozone hole, Ahearne, Sigma Xi (Forum on Physics ments that they experience when they process to passivate any defects, such risk analysis, the scientific method, and and Society); Rush Holt (Forum on collide with fluid molecules. Bier’s team as dangling bonds. However, recent claims of the paranormal. Education); John Rigden, American has demonstrated that it is possible to surface science experiments using a Centenary of the Electron. Institute of Physics (Forum on History design a device for separating differ- scanning tunneling microscope have Wednesday afternoon’s program featured of Physics); Roberto Merlin, University ent-sized colloids because particles of shown that incorporating deuterium a special symposium commemorating the of Michigan (Forum on International unlike sizes experience different lev- instead of hydrogen leads to significant centennial of the discovery of the electron Physics); Laurie McNeil, University of els of friction in a fluid and thereby improvement in the lifetime of MOS in 1897. According to William Evenson of North Carolina (Committee on Status undergo differing amounts of Brown- transistors, because it is even harder to Brigham Young University, who chaired of Women in Physics); Robert Perry, ian motion. One would be able to add desorb from silicon surfaces. In the session, the electron’s discovery cul- Ohio State University (Committee on particles for separation continuously to addition to its impact on current gen- minated an era of cathode ray physics, Minorities).

6 June 1997 APS News APS Role in the Federation of Materials Societies he APS joined the Federation of statements on enviornmental issues The FMS, founded more than 20 Policies, Priorities, Payoffs” (June 1996). TMaterials Societies (FMS) in 1995. (which can be found on the APS home years ago, represents 17 member pro- Most recently FMS held a workshop The FMS is an umbrella organization page under the Public Affairs and POPA fessional societies and three affiliate to document the current activities un- of societies and affiliates which are buttons) and meeting symposia. An ex- and two liaison members. These orga- derway in FMS member societies and involved with materials science, ample of the latter was the Waste is a nizations, in turn, have more than to provide an insight into innovative engineering, and technology. Its Terrible Thing to Mind session at the 700,000 members. The FMS has been a approaches to the environmental im- purpose is to aid the materials March Meeting (see page 6) leader in crystallizing policies in sub- provement field. community to obtain and exchang According to Gubser, the strength jects ranging from: materials and The FMS does several other things information with policies makers. of materials research and engineering resource conservation, materials pro- for the materials community. FMS mem- The APS is officially represented in lies in their interdisciplinarity and in cessing and synthesis, materials and bers participated in a “Science and the FMS by the Divisions of Condensed the fact that there is a continuity of ac- national competitiveness, and delinea- Technology Congressional Visits Day” Matter Physics and Materials Physics. tivities from fundamental science tion of unique features of materials where meetings with decision makers Donald Gubser, Naval Research Labora- through engineering, applications, pro- science and engineering. in congress and their staff took place. tory, is an APS liaison to the FMS as well cesses and commercial products. The The FMS sponsors periodic work- Similarly, the FMS joined with 45 other as Sectretary-Treasurer of the Division result, however, is that segments of the shops, a biennial meeting on matters scientific societies (including the APS) of Condensed Matter Physics. He re- materials community often find it diffi- of materials policy, and issues reports, in calling on the Federal government ported on APS environmental activities cult to discuss common problems, white papers, and recommendations for to reverse the decline in U.S. invest- at the last FMS workshop such as APS priorities and policies. actions. Recently completed reports in- ment in science. clude “Impact of the new Congress on Materials Policy” (March 1995), “Tech- For more information on the FMS, DCMP and DMP Celebrate 50 Years nology Policy Recommendations from contact Betsy Houston at he APS Division of Condensed over half an hour telling about the early the FMS” (January 1995), and “Materi- [email protected] or Donald T Matter Physics (DCMP) and the days of solid state physics and the for- als Agenda for the 21st Century: Gubser at [email protected]. Division of Material Physics (DMP) mation of the division. celebrated their 50th anniversary at the Although solid state physics was a 1997 March APS meeting in Kansas City, recognized scientific topic in the 1940’s, Nominations for 1998 APS Missouri. Almost 50 past and present the society was dominated by research officers of these divisions, as well as on nuclear physics. Dramatic break- special APS guests, participated in a throughs in solid state physics were only Prizes and Awards dinner and reminiscent discussions beginning to happen.(The transistor was The following prizes and awards will be bestowed at meetings of the Society in the Sunday evening prior to the beginning discovered the same year as the DSSP coming year. Members are invited to nominate candidates to the respective committees of the scientific sessions. was formed.) The group of six convinced charged with the privilege of recommending the winners. A brief description of each Originally called the Division of the APS that a division which specifi- prize and award is given below, along with the addresses of the selection committee Solid State Physics (DSSP), the unit was cally focused on solid state physics chairs to whom nominations should be sent. Please refer to the APS Membership Direc- formed in 1947, the third society divi- would highlight the importance of this tory, pages xxiii- xxxix, or the APS home page [http://aps.org] under the Prize and Award sion. (The Division of Atomic, Molecular, emerging discipline and better serve the button, for complete information regarding rules and eligibility requirements for indi- and Optical Physics was established in needs of this still small, but growing, vidual prizes and awards. 1943, and the Division of High Polymer community. They never suspected that tions made by the recipient. Physics was formed in 1944.) In 1978 condensed matter would grow to be- 1998 FLUID DYNAMICS PRIZE Send name of proposed candidate and the DSSP was renamed the Division of come almost half of all physics activity supporting information before 2 Sep- Condensed Matter Physics to recognize Neil Ashcroft, DCMP chairperson for Sponsored by the AIP Journal, Physics tember 1997 to: Frederick K. Browand, that disciplines covered in the division the 1987 March APS meeting in New of Fluids. Dept of Aerospace Engr, USC, Los An- included liquids (quantum fluids) as York City, spoke of the events leading Purpose: To recognize and encourage geles, CA 90089-1191, phone: (213) well as solids. Today the DCMP is the to the “Woodstock of Physics” meet- outstanding achievement in fluid dy- 740-5359, fax: (213) 740-7774. largest of all APS divisions. ing, following the discovery of high namics research. In 1984, the Topical Group on Ma- temperature superconductivity. This Nature: The prize consists of $5,000, a terials Physics was formed from a meeting clearly fell outside the normal certificate citing the contributions made by the recipient, and a travel 1998 THE DAVISSON-GERMER subset of DCMP scientists. This topical guidelines, with events unfolding long PRIZE group grew to become the Division of after the final organization and ses- allowance to the meeting at which Materials Physics (DMP) in 1990. The sion planning meeting which took the prize is bestowed. Correction from previous DMP, which is just seven years old, is place the previous Fall. Other discus- Send name of proposed candidate and announcements the fifth largest division today. sions related some of the conflicts supporting information before 2 Sep- tember 1997 to: James Martin Wallace, Sponsored by Lucent Technology. The chairpersons of the two divi- between groups of scientists which led Purpose: To recognize and encourage sions, David Lang (DCMP) and Slade to the formation of the DMP in the Dept of Mechanical Engr, Univ of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, outstanding work in atomic physics Cargill III (DMP), were the official hosts 1980s. Fortunately, these conflicts are or surface physics. The prize for 1998 of the celebration. The evening began historical events which are not present phone: (301) 405-5271, fax: (301) 314- 9477, email: [email protected]. will be awarded for work in the with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres fol- today and both the DCMP and the DMP area of atomic physics. lowed by a dinner at the Kansas City are now working amicably together to Nature: The Prize consists of $5,000 Marriott downtown hotel. A highlight of promote science in their largely over- 1998 OTTO LAPORTE AWARD and a certificate citing the contribu- the after dinner discussions was a con- lapping areas of interest. tions made by the recipient or ference call with two of the original Sponsored by the friends of Otto recipients. founders of the DSSP, members of the The 50 celebration was reported on by LaPorte and the APS Division of Fluid Send the name of candidates, biographi- so-called “group of six”: Sidney Siegel Donald Gubser, Sectretary-Treasurer of Dynamics. cal information and supporting letters and Fred Seitz. These individuals spent DCMP. Purpose: To recognize outstanding re- before 1 July, 1997 to: Andrew C Tam search accomplishments pertaining to (Chair), 21463 Continental Cir , Saratoga 1998 APS Prize and Award Nomination Deadlines the physics of fluids. CA 95070, phone (408) 927-1943, email Nature: The award consists of $2,000 [email protected]. The following are impending deadlines of APS Prizes and Awards. For complete infor- and a certificate citing the contribu- mation regarding the description of each prize, previous recipients and the chair of prize selection committees, please see the Prize, Awards and Fellowship Page of the APS home page [http://www.aps.org]; consult the front of the APS Membership Directory, email your request to [email protected], or call (301) 209-3268. CAUGHT IN THE WEB Prize NominationDeadline Frank Isakson Prize 07/01/97 Notable additions to the APS Web Server. The David Adler Lectureship Award 07/01/97 Joseph F. Keithley Award 07/01/97 Will Allis Prize 07/01/97 Otto Laporte Award 09/02/97 APS Web Server can be found at http://www.aps.org Apker Award 07/01/97 Lilienfeld Prize 07/01/97 Hans A. Bethe Prize 07/01/97 Maria Goeppert-Mayer Award 05/30/97 APS News Online latest edition •Conference of Physics Department Dissertation in Beam Physics 07/01/97 Dissert. in Nuclear Physics Award 07/01/97 • Physics News in 1996 (May) Chairs DAMOP Dissertation Award 11/18/97 Onsager Prize 07/01/97 • Campaign for Physics Update (June) Biological Physics Prize 07/01/97 George E. Pake Prize 07/01/97 Public Affairs Career/Employment Tom W. Bonner Prize 07/01/97 W. K. H. Panofsky Prize 07/01/97 • Speech by Dr. Mary Good • Summer Physics Jobs Edward A. Bouchet Award 07/01/97 Aneesur Rahman Prize 07/01/97 • Current Energy Situation • NRC Summer Internship Program Oliver E. Buckley Prize 07/01/97 Prize for Research in an Meetings • Career & Professional Development Davisson-Germer Prize 07/01/97 Undergraduate Institute 07/01/97 • PC’97 [DCOMP & FIAP Meeting] Task Force Report John H. Dillon Medal 07/01/97 Earl K. Plyler Prize 07/01/97 Fluid Dynamics Prize 09/02/97 J. J. Sakurai 07/01/97 The winner of the March Meeting drawing for Physical Joseph A. Burton Forum Award 07/01/97 Arthur Schawlow Prize 07/01/97 is: Dannie Heineman Prize 07/01/97 Leo Szilard Award 07/01/97 Review, The First Hundred Years High Polymer Prize 07/01/97 Robert R. Wilson Prize 07/01/97 Donald Waldo, student member

7 APS News June 1997 THE BACK PAGE Scientists will Build the Bridge to the 21st Century By Phil Gramm, United States Senator

resident Clinton has talked a lot Research Investment Act, which would credit, and will be forced to scale back Pabout building a bridge to the 21st double the amount spent by the fed- new long-term projects if they cannot Century and, our philosophical differ- eral government on basic research in be certain that the credit will continue. ences aside, I want to help him build science and medicine over 10 years We should permanently extend the R&D that bridge…with Bucky Balls. from $32.5 billion in 1997 to $65 bil- tax credit to permanently remove this “Bucky Ball” is the nickname for lion in 2007. The second, the National unnecessary barrier to long-term re- Buckminsterfullerene, a molecular form Research and Development Act, would search and development which has of carbon that was discovered by Pro- permanently extend the research and been created by the stop-and-go exten- fessors Robert F. Curl and Richard E. development tax credit. sion process. Smalley of Rice University in Houston. If we as a country do not restore the I should also point out that the R&D They won the 1996 Nobel Prize in high priority once afforded science and credit has a long history of bipartisan Chemistry for this discovery. technology in the federal budget and support. The president has signaled his Bucky Balls were named after R. increase federal investment in research, support for the credit, not only by sign- Buckminster Fuller, the architect famous it will be impossible to maintain the ing last year’s extension as a part of the for his geodesic domes, because this United States’ position as the techno- Small Business Job Protection Act, but new molecule closely resembles his logical leader of the world. Since 1970, also by proposing a further extension designs. The silly nickname notwith- Japan and Germany have spent a larger as a part of his 1998 Budget. Unfortu- standing, their discovery was a share of their national income on re- nately, his proposal follows the breakthrough that will have scientific search and development than we have. ill-advised precedent of merely tempo- and practical applications across a wide We can no longer afford to fall behind. rarily extending the credit. variety of fields, from electrical conduc- Expanding the nation’s commitment to I believe that if we want the 21st cen- tion to the delivery of medicine into research in basic science and medicine tury to be a place worth building a bridge the human body. is a critically important investment in to, and if we want to maintain the United Bucky Balls are impervious to radia- the future of our nation. It means say- States’ position as the leader of the free tion and chemical destruction, and can ing no to many programs with strong world, then we need to restore the be joined to form tubes 10,000 times political support, but by expanding re- prominence that basic research once had smaller than a human hair, yet 100 times search we are saying yes to jobs and in the federal budget. Our parents’ gen- In 1965, 5.7 percent stronger than steel. Use of the molecules prosperity in the future. eration fought two world wars, overcame is expected to establish a whole new The R&D tax credit was originally some of the worst economic conditions of the federal budget class of materials for the construction enacted as a part of President Reagan’s in the history our nation, and yet still was spent on non- of many products, from airplane wings Economic Recovery and Tax Act of 1981 managed to invest in America’s future. and automobile bodies to clothing and in order to encourage greater private We have an obligation to do at least an defense research and packaging material. sector investment in research and de- equal amount for our children and development. This is old news to those of you in- velopment, and its benefits have been grandchildren. Thirty-two years later in volved in molecular physics, but think enormous. Studies show that each dol- Over the past 30 years, we have not about it this way: Because we encour- lar of the credit yields up to two dollars lived up to this obligation, but it isn’t 1997, that figure has age the kind of thinking that leads to in additional private R&D spending. too late to change our minds. The dis- dropped by two-thirds. discoveries like Bucky Balls, the United Furthermore, the rate of return from covery of Bucky Balls is a testament to States stands as the economic, military, R&D spending to society as a whole is the resilience of the American scien- and intellectual leader of the world. We estimated to be as high as 60 percent. tific community. I believe that if we achieved this not by accident, but by a Since its creation in 1981, the credit has once again give scientists and research- common, unswerving conviction that been extended seven times, and it is ers the support that they deserve, if we America’s future was something to plan currently set to expire on May 31, 1997. make the same commitment to our for, invest in and celebrate. Using the Given that the ratio of R&D spend- children’s future that our parents made products of imagination and hard work, ing to output rose 40% in the 1980s to ours, then the 21st century promises from Winchester rifles and steam en- when the R&D credit was in effect for to be one of unlimited potential. If we as a country do gines to space shuttles, Americans built the longest period of time, it is not un- For those of you who want to help, a nation. We’re still building, but for reasonable to expect that the benefits you should contact your Senators and not restore the high what we need in the next century, we’re of the credit will only be enhanced if it urge them to cosponsor these impor- priority once afforded going have to turn to people like Curl is extended permanently. A permanent tant bills. The National Research and Smalley and you to give us materi- extension of the R&D credit would en- Investment Act is S. 124, and the Na- science and technology als like Bucky Balls, and the courage companies to take on tional Research and Development Act in the federal budget government has a role to play. additional research and development is S. 355. In the weeks since I intro- and increase federal Unfortunately, over the past 30 years, projects by guaranteeing that the credit duced S. 124, I have received dozens American government has set different will be in effect during these long-term of letters of support from universities investment in research, priorities. In 1965, 5.7 percent of the initiatives. In Texas alone, the average and organizations (including, of course, it will be impossible to federal budget was spent on non-de- high-tech job pays $47,019 a year — the American Physical Society), repre- fense research and development. almost $20,000 more per year than the senting hundreds of thousands of maintain the United Thirty-two years later in 1997, that fig- average private sector salary of $27,147. scientists and researchers from across States’ position as the ure has dropped by two-thirds. We The need to make the credit perma- the country. Let your elected officials technological leader of spend a lot more money than we did nent is only further highlighted by the know you believe it is vital we reverse in 1965, but we spend it on social pro- fact that in 1996, for the first time in its the disturbing trend toward shortchang- the world. grams, not science. We invest in the history, the R&D credit was allowed to ing critical investments in research. next elections, not the next generation. lapse between July 1, 1995 and July 1, America is a great and powerful The United States is under-investing 1996. Haphazard and unpredictable country for two reasons. First, we have in basic research. That’s right. The au- temporary extensions of the credit, com- had more freedom and opportunity than thor of the landmark deficit reduction bined with this recent lapse, have any other people who have ever lived legislation known today as Gramm- understandably left the research com- and with that freedom and opportunity Rudman supports the idea of the munity in a state of confusion and people like us have been able to achieve government spending more money on uncertainty. Do any of us doubt that extraordinary things. Secondly, we have something. new home sales would drop if prospec- invested more in science than any people Not only do I support the idea of tive buyers thought the mortgage in history. Science has given us the tools spending more on science and technol- interest deduction might disappear 5 and freedom has allowed us to put them ogy, I have introduced two pieces of years into their 20 year mortgage? to work. If we preserve freedom and in- legislation which would help achieve Businesses cannot and do not ignore vest in science, there is no limit on the that goal. The first bill is the National the possibility of future gaps in the R&D future of the American people.

The Back Page is intended as a forum to foster discussion on topics of interest to the scientific community. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the APS, its elected officers, or staff. APS News welcomes and encourages letters and submissions from its members responding to these and other issues.

8 June 1997 APS News

laboration with H.C. Liu of the National Researchers Research Council in Ottawa. Researchers Explore Applications Develop World’s “Even though the current operating temperature and output power are not for Carbon Nanotubes First Type II as high as other mid-infrared lasers developed recently at SVEC and in Buckytubes, nanometer-wide tubes conducting nanotube to a metallic Quantum Cascade other laboratories, the type-II QC de- of carbon atoms, are stronger than steel nanotube one gets a nano-diode. If, sign offers clear advantges over these and are now considered to constitute furthermore, the joint is angled, the Laser other lasers and may significantly ad- a fourth state of crystalline carbon. The composite tube can actually conduct A team of researchers from the Uni- vance the performance of these first three known forms of crystalline better in a bent state than straight up; versity of Houston Space Vacuum devices,” said Chih-Hsiang Thompson carbon are graphite, diamond, and sol- this property makes the structure into Epitaxy Center (SVEC) and Sandia Na- Lin, one of the team members. The ids of C-60 molecules, popularly known a possible nanoswitch or strain gauge. tional Laboratories has developed the SVEC researchers have already devel- as buckyballs. The many sessions de- Fischer reported that nanotubes world’s first type-II quantum cascade oped type-II quantum well lasers that voted to nanotubes at the 1997 APS have excellent mechanical strength (QC) laser. The laser has the potential oeprate from 2.7 to 4.5 microns at tem- March Meeting in Kansas City testify to along the direction of the tube axis, to operate at a higher temperature and peratures up to 170 degrees Fahrenheit. the rapid increase in interest in this re- since the carbon-carbon bond is one deliver more power at the 3 to 12 mi- A peak output of 0.27 watts at 3.2 mi- search. of the strongest known. Hence, cron wavelength than previous diode crons has been achieved when the Nanotubes, stiffer than steel, only a bundles of long nanotubes embedded laser technology. device is pumped with optical pulses nanometer wide but many microns in a matrix could be developed as high- The type-II QC laser combines the at room temperature. long, are essentially rolled-up sheets strength, light weight, electrically con- advantages of a cascade design and the Mid-infrared optical systems operat- of carbon hexagons that exist in three ducting composite materials for interband transitions of the conven- ing at 3 to 5 and 8 to 12 microns — varieties: multishell tubes consisting of structural applications. In addition, their tional diode laser. It is based on the two optical transmission windows in several nested concentric cynlinders; length is much greater than the diamter, type-II heterostructure, in which the the atmosphere — are in great demand isolated single-wall tubes; and orga- making them valuable as flexible probe conduction-band edge of one layer can for a number of military, space and nized bundles or “ropes” of hundreds tips in scanning probe microscopy, be lower in energy than the valence- commercial applications, including in- of single-wall nanotubes arranged in a since they can explore very deep holes, band edge of the adjacent layer. frared counter measures, covert two-dimensional triangular lattice. a useful property for process control According to Shin-Shem Steven Pei, as- illumination for night vision, free-space Nanotubes are electrically versatile; in the fabrication of integrated circuits. sociate director for research at SVEC, communication, collision avoidance doping can make them into metals, in- Finally, nanotubes are hollow inside this unique energy-band alignment al- and many medical procedues. The la- sulators, or semiconductors. They have and in some cases liquids flow into the lows a staircase arrangement of the ser can also monitor many industrial, served as the contacts in probe micro- tubes by capillary action. “One could laser’s active regions, such that every pollution, greenhouse, hazardous and scopes and have been used as field imagine using nanotubes as tiny time a carrier jumps down an energy toxic gases. In fact, the availability of emitters and single-electron transistors. hypoderic needles, to deliver chemi- step in the staircase as it crosses an low-cost light sources at mid-infrared According to John Fischer of the cals to a single cell,” said Fischer. active region, a photon is emitted. wavelengths may revolutionize remote University of Pennsylvania, nanotubes Steven Louie of Lawrence Berkeley The new QC laser emits mid-infra- chemical-sensing technology for pol- were first observed as a minority Laboratory studies nanotubes made red light around 4 microns at lution monitoring, engine combustion byproduct from the carbon arc process of boron and nitrogen, or of carbon temperatures up to -150 degrees Fahr- and emission diagnostics, industrial that yields fullerenes. Then scientists mixed with boron and nitrogen, enheit, under 100-nanosecond current process control, and the detection of discovered that large amounts of which have more consistent pulses at a repetition rate of 1,000 per explosives and illegal drugs. nanotubes were formed in the mate- semiconducting behavior and hence second. Room temperature operation Demonstration of the first type-II QC rial deposited on one of the electrodes, have greater potential nanodevice of a 4.2-micron light-emitting diode laser is the culmination of recent break- while the fullerenes were primarily in applications. In one configuration, a (LED) has also been demonstrated, throughs in narrow bandgap the soot which filled the chamber. ribbon of conducting carbon with a 50% duty cycle and a repetition semiconductor material growth and Single-wall tubes are formed if the hexagons forms a corkscrew pattern rate of 1,000 per second. The average device physics, and is an important graphite target is doped with small up the length of the tube. The current output power is 140 microwatts — over milestone in the development of mid- amounts of transition metals, which flow through such a tube is therefore 1,000 times more than that of the first infrared lasers. However, “This is only catalyze the growth of single-wall tubes helical; in effect this nanotube is the type-II QC LED reported by the same the first step toward the development at the expense of fullerene formation. world’s smallest solenoid magnet. group in 1996 — and is much brighter of a viable technology for practical ap- Multi-wall tubes exist in a large range Louie’s LBL colleague, Alex Zettl, has than the commercially available LEDs plications,” said Pei, adding that SVEC of diameters and concentric shells, developed a new random-marex at the same wavelength. In another ef- is committed to commecializing the making it difficult to determine the in- nanotube electron field emission source fort, the SVEC team has also technology for both space and terres- trinsic bulk properties. However, using arrays of carbon nantubes, which demonstrated an 8-micron LED in col- trial use. numerous experiments have been per- has demonstrated superior field emission formed on isolated multiwall tubes to characteristics, simplicity and versatility. determine electrical resistance and According to Zettl, the fabrication mechanical behavior, for example. method could be easily scaled up, and U-M Scientists Put the Squeeze on Atoms Richard Smalley of Rice University, two methods have been found that al- Using ultra-fast pulses of laser light, University of Michigan physicists have winner of the 1996 Nobel Prize in low reliable pixelation of the emission found a way to control the random oscillations of atoms in a crystal lattice: chemistry for his discovery of surface for display applications. making their study the first experimental modification of one of the most funda- buckyballs in 1985, reported that his The Berkeley group is also pursu- mental quantum states of solid matter. Approximately 10 years ago, scientists lab currently produces nanotubes at a ing the idea of using a random discovered how to create a “squeezed state” for quantum particles of light en- rate of grams per day, but that within 5 distribution of carbon nanotubes as ergy (photons). However, until the U-M experiment, no one had been able to do to 10 years this could be increased on an electronic computing machine. the same with phonons, which carry vibrational energy through a solid. a commercial basis to tons per day day. “Although in principle, one can make “We can calculate probabilities for an atom’s location within a specific area of Smalley showed pictures of nanotubes many device elements out of uncertainty, but we can never know precisely where the atom will be,” said that swallow their own tails, forming nanotubes, in practice it is not yet Roberto Merlin, U-M professor of physics. “It’s like hide-and-seek. With short- closed Bucky toruses, and diagrams of possible to syntheize them in a con- pulse, high-power lasers, we can reduce the size of the volume where the atom bundles of nanotubes in which one trolled way,” said Louie. However, an can hide.” He likens the atomic structure of a solid at the quantum level to a tube stuck out further than its neigh- “as-growth” sample of entangled cloud whose area is defined by the atom’s random motion within the solid, bors. Nested stages of such bundles, tubes will contain extremely high where points of higher density in the cloud represent points where the probabil- he said, could be used to fashion point- density of randomly arranged device ity of finding the atom is higher. ers — macroscopic at one end but elements, possibly orders of magni- The experiment was conducted using a titanium-sapphire laser system at the tapering down to a single carbon cell tude higher than the present state of U-M Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, firing 70-femtosecond laser pulses fo- at the other end — with which one the art silicon technology. Louie’s cused on a tiny spot on a potassium tantalate crystal. The laser beam was then could “write” patterns of molecules on idea is to attach leads to the sample, splut into two parts, and one beam is diverted along an alternate path, so the a substrate, like an artist dipping a and develop algorithms to make use secondary pulse arrived at the target a few picoseconds after the initial pump paintbrush into a palette of colors. of the functions that already exist in pulse. The stronger pump pulse hits the atoms in the crystal lattice like a ham- Electrically, these versatile the sample. Such a device is expected mer, producing a force which creates pairs of phonons and makes the atomic nanotubes can be insulators, semicon- to have exception speed and ther- lattice oscillate. The weaker probe pulse is scattered by these phonos as it passes ductors, or conductors, depending on mal dissipation characteristics. through the lattice later in time, and researchers then measured the amount of their symmetry, and are expected to Cees Dekker of Delft University is probe pulse energy that makes it through the crystal to determine the behavior exhibit magnetoresistance qualities. “If able to study the electron transport of the atoms inside. one could make a perfect joint between properties of single nanotubes by drap- “Our goal was to learn how to control matter — to tell the atoms what to do, different classes of tubes, one would ing them across a pair of electrodes; rather than just watch them do something,” said Merlin. While he cautions that it have the world’s smallest diode, one the current-versus-voltage plot is a se- is too early to speculate on potential applications for the squeezed state in mat- of the basic building blocks of elec- ries of steps, indicative of a “quantum ter, the U-M team is planning future experiments to replicate the squeezed state tronic devices,” said Fischer. In fact, wire.” In general one would expect this in other types of crystal. arrays of the pointy nanotubes have behavior when the movement of elec- already been used as field emitters in trons through a conductor is restricted flat panel displays. Attaching a semi- to one dimension.

9 APS News June 1997 Scientists Use AFM to Explore DNA Window ’97: The Latest on Fast Mechanisms While many people view DNA as a purely chemical creature, defined by the Switchable Mirrors sequence of its base pairs, scientists are now discovering how DNA acts as a mechanical object which performs important functions in the body. Important Certain metal hydrides, such as yt- induces in electronic states that alters processes in single DNA molecules have been observed for the first time by trium-dihydride and hydrides of rare the optical properties so quickly in hy- using the atomic force microscope (AFM), in which the deflections of a tiny earth films, are shiny and make excel- drides,” he said. Hydrogen can easily stylus over the contours of a surface can be turned into molecular-scale images. lent mirrors. Adding just a bit more diffuse in and out of a rare earth metal The ability to measure these forces with AFM and other techniques is allowing hydrogen, however, makes the mate- lattice with only a small change in the scientists to understand the physical basis of biochemical mechanisms respon- rial into a transparent window. Since crystal structure. However, once it sible for life. Ronald Griessen of Vrije University in moves in, a hydrogen atom binds an Using an AFM, Gil Lee of the Naval Research Laboratory found that a force of Amsterdam first announced this con- extra electron to form a negative ion, about 600 piconewtons was required to tear apart two complementary strands version process last year, much reducing the number of highly mobile of DNA, namely a 20-base-pair-long strand of polycytosine (a form of single- progress has been made in terms of conductive electrons. strand DNA) from single strands of polyinosine averaging 160 base-pairs long. improving the process and applying it According to Zhang, as the number The AFM can image surfaces both in air and under liquids at nanometer resolu- to solid state devices. First, the switch- of hydrogen atoms increases in the tion. NRL is using this techology to develop ultra-sensitive diagnostics to ing time (the mirror-to-window metal, the material changes from a understand the molecular mechanicsms responsible for biofouling, and to mea- conversion can go either way) has de- dihydride to a trihydride, at which sure the forces necessary for DNA replication. creased from tens of seconds to 40 point the mobile electrons become Living organisms are composed of cells built from macromolecules such as msec. Second, the contrast between the stringly bound to hydrogen atoms to DNA and proteins. According to Lee, these macromolecules make up both the optically “closed” and “open” states, as form highly localized states, such that scaffolding that holds the cells together and the motos responsible for motion. measured by the relative amount of no electron can move through the lat- Macromolecular function and structure are controlled by the forces between light transmitted, is now up to a factor tice. This leads to a transition of the individual units that make up macromolecules and their environment. “Previ- of 1000. optical properties from a highly reflect- ously, our knowledge of these forces has been gathered from indirect x-ray The unexpected discovery of these ing mirror to those of a transparent crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance measurements,” said Lee. “switchable mirrors” began in 1990, af- window. “Instead of bouncing off the This new ablity to measure inter- and intramolecular forces in macromol- ter the announcement of scattered, mobile electrons, light eas- ecules such as DNA could offer unique insight into how structure produces high-temperature superconductivity, ily passes through the material,” he function in these molecules. For example, the forces responsible for biological when Griessen’s team decided to said. Central to Zhang’s theory is the adhesion can now be directly studied at the molecular scale. Molecular adhe- search for other potential high-tempera- strong correlation between the elec- sion controls a diverse array of phenomena such as cell migration in cancer and ture superconductors, choosing to trons in a negative hydrogen ion: the the adhesion of barnacles to ship surfaces. focus on metallic hydrogen. However, only way both negatively charged par- Pulling apart a DNA molecule at forces of 60 piconewtons, a University of instead of making hydrogen metallic ticles can be bound to a single Oregon-Santa Barbara team has found that DNA undergoes a change in struc- under very high pressures, they chose positively charged proton. ture in which it exists at 1.7 times its original size. Such studies are important for to first dissolve hydrogen in a metal to Such metal hydrides offer clear ad- understanding the process of DNA recombination—for example, when DNA break the molecular bond, then com- vantages compared to other switchable molecules from two parents combine to make the DNA for their child—because press the sample under moderately optical systems, such as the transition proteins that attach to DNA during this process stretch it to 1.5 times its original high pressures to increase its metallic metal oxides or the electrochromic blue size. character. They chose yttrium as a start- bronzes, according to Griessen, includ- The technology has also enabled scientists to observe transcription — the ing material. ing a faster switching time than any first step in a process which converts the genetic information contained in the At the end of 1994, a PhD student other electrochromic material and a cell’s DNA into proteins — for the first time. Carlos Bustamante of the University in Griessen’s group observed that thin higher contrast between the metallic re- of Oregon and his colleagues presented movies showing the first stages of DNA films of yttrium and lanthanum coated flecting state and the transparent state. replication, in which a protein is seen to slide on DNA like a bead on a string to with palladium change from a shiny For example, hydrogen- intercalated find the exact site where it could attach and start the replication process. Bind- mirror to a yellow transparent window metal oxide films, upon the absorption ing DNA and RNA polymerase (the protein that mediates the transcription of when absorbing hydrogen, a spectacu- of hydrogen, showed lower electrical DNA into RNA) to a mica surface, Neil Thomson of UC-Santa Barbara and his lar and reversible change in optical resistivity at maximum doping, were colleagues produced 5-nm-resolution movies of the transcription process, in properties. The transition is simply in- only moderately conductive, and while which RNA polymerase pins down the middle of a single DNA strand and then duced at room temperature by the transparent sample changed to a pulls the strand through as it starts transcribing the DNA into RNA using RNA- changing the surrounding hydrogen dark blue color, it remained essentially building-blocks called NTPs. gas pressure or electrolytic cell poten- transparent. tial. “These films are unique in the Scientists at Philips Research Lab are sense that they can continuously, re- working on applying the transition pro- versibly and rapidly be switched cess to solid state devices, in particular X-Ray Microprobes Offer New Tool for between a low resistivity metallic state metal hydride switches. By selecting and a large gap semiconducting state,” appropriate alloys, the Philips team was Materials Science said Griessen. Furthermore, the fact that able to construct an optical device with In what is believed to be the small- sensitivity to crystallographic strain and the rare earth hydrides can make the three different optical states: a color est focused point of light at any trace element distributions, with their switch at room temperature is critical neutral transparent state; a black ab- wavelength, SUNY-Stony Brook re- ability to nondestructively probe deep to developing practical applications. sorbing non-transparent state; and a searchers have produced an x-ray beam into a sample, and is beginning to have A theoretical explanation of this dra- metallic reflecting non-transparent that is just 50 nanometers in diameter. an impact on a broad range of disci- matic optical switching phenomenon, state. Each can be used to optimize Using this beam, the researchers have plines, including device lacking until now, has been advanced current applictions of electrochemical mapped the distribution of DNA in bull engineering, materials science, biology, by Fu-Chun Zhang of the University of devices. For example, large area opti- sperm and are aiming to usher in the and environmental science. With Cincinnati. The key, he says, appears cal coatings with switchable properties field known as ”nanotomography,” in these beams, Lucent researchers are now to be the behavior of the tiny hydro- could be used to make transmission which 3-D images would be produced able to perform quality-control studies gen atoms inside a lattice of much larger variable architectural glass, such that of minuscule objects such as cells and of the ultrathin quantum wells in state- atoms. “We find it is the combination windows in buildings could be subcellular structures like nuclei and of-the-art telecommunications lasers. of the ease of the hydrogen motion in changed from transparent to reflective chromosomes. “In our highly technological society, the metal and the dramatic change it mode. Making such small useful beams re- particularly in communications in biol- quires a combination of very bright ogy, complex electronic circuits, x-ray sources and high-quality x-ray solid state lasers, and naturally occur- to look deep into bulk objects, making stepping stone to developing ways to optics, such as mirrors, lenses, and pin- ring membranes and other cellular them the dominant probe for determin- create three- dimensional images. “Our holes, which can now be fabricated materials are lithographically ing the three- dimensional atomic goal is to image flash-frozen using lithographic patterning tech- patterened, or naturally patterend, on structure of large single crystals, hydrated cells and subcellular struc- niques developed by the length scales of one millionth of a meter including organic compounds such as tures such as nuclei and semiconductor industry. And with the and smaller,” said Isaacs. “Imaging hemoglobin, insulin and DNA, as well chromosomes in three dimensions, advent of state-of-the art these patterned structures requires as simple inorganic compounds like without the need for fixation, synchrotron centers, such as the new small x-ray beams.” The ultimate spa- silicon and indium phosphide. sectioning, or staining,” he said. He also Advanced Photon Source at tial resolution of a probe is fixed by its Janos Kirz and Chris Jacobsen of hopes to obtain chemical information Argonne, researchers can now produce wavelength, which is why optical SUNY-Stony Brook reported that they with the spatial resolution set by the extremely intense versions of x- probes using visible light can observe had for the first time produced two- size of the microprobe, and to visual- ray beams only millionths of a meter features as small as a fraction of a mil- dimensional images showing the ize labels and markers which in diameter. These new sources have lionth of a meter. distribution of DNA and protein in biologists may wish to attach to struc- enabled the creation of a new tool for X-rays can make much smaller mea- sperm from bulls and other mammals. tures of particular interes. material characterization on micron and surements, comparable to the spaces Kirz reported that producing the im- In separate atom-scale investigations sub-micron length scales, called an x- between atoms in solid, because their ages in the temperature range of liquid employing x-ray beams with 5-10 mi- ray microprobe (XMP). wavelength is 10,000 times smaller than nitrogen can keep the tissues cron diameters, Columbia and IBM According to Eric Isaacs of Lucent that of visible light. In addition, x-rays from showing damage from the x-rays, researchers are determining how the Technologies, the XMP combines x-ray are very penetrating and can be used and predicted that his system will be a flow of electricity through pure 10 June 1997 APS News Manufacturing “Electronic Ink” from Self-Organized Criticality Modified Bacteriorhodopsin Observed in Brain Cells For the past 25 years, biochemists the cell membrane of the bacterium in In experiments which may provide new insight into how healthy brain cells and biophysicists have studied the response to illumination; these protons successfully communicate over long distances, scientists have found that a sys- mechanisms by which a protein known are then used to initiate metabolic tem of cultured rat brain cells produces spiral-shaped chemical waves of as bacteriohodopson acts as a “pump” chemical reactions. characteristic sizes which can be described by a mathematical model known for protons, upon which most biologi- Just as thin films of bacteriohodopsin as ”self-organized criticality.” cal life processes are heavily dependent produce electric fields when illumi- In the late 1980s, physicist Per Bak of Brookhaven National Laboratory intro- for the transport of ions, neurotrans- nated, they can be made to change their duced the idea of self-organized criticality, in which certain systems (e.g., a pile mitters, enzymes, wastes and other optical properties — in particular their of sand grains) can reach a critical state in which the system can exhibit a radical biomolecules. However, in recent color — when acted on by an electric change of behavior such as producing avalanches of all sizes by virtue of its years, bacteriohodopsin has attracted field, a property known as very nature (the internal reorganization of its grains) and not by adjusting an the attention of scientists interested in electrochromism. Normal external parameter. using biological materials to perform bacteriohodopsin exhibits a weak form In what is perhaps the first experimental evidence for a biological example of technological functions, such as of electrochromism. However, certain self-organized criticality, Ann Cornell-Bell of Viatech Imaging in Connecticut has expoiting the protein’s photoelectric mutant halobacteria produce found that a system of cultured rat brain cells with the proper level of noise — properties to manufacture photodetec- bacteriohodopsin which potentially ex- corresponding to random firings of nerve cells — produces spiral-shaped waves tors, or its optical properties to hibits very strong electrochromism, in (the propagation of a local chemical imbalance, observed by influxes of calcium manufacture “electronic ink” for com- which the color changes from blue to ions into the affected cells) of characteristic sizes. puter displays. pale yellow. “If this property can be Specifically, the Viatech researchers studied interactions between astrocytes, “Natural materials often perform very enhanced and generalized to other star-shaped cells that are closely associated with nerve cells, and can help regu- complex functions that cannot be eas- color combinations, this materials late the flow of chemical ions into and out of the cell. When a neurotransmitter ily obtained from manufactured couldbe used as an electrically addres- known as Kainate binds to an astrocyte, this can cause an influx of soduim atoms materials such as semiconductors,” said sable pigment, or ‘electronic ink,’” said into the cell. To compensate for thei imbalance, the cell draws in a flood of Paul Kolodner (Lucent Technologies), Kolodner. calcium atoms which are made to fluoresce and are detected by video camera. who spoke at a Wednesday afternoon The obvious potential use for “elec- This state of imbalance can spread to other cells, thereby causing neighboring session. “They have been optimized for tronic ink” is in computer displays. cells to draw in calcium ions of their own. The local imbalance propogates as these functions by billions of years of According to Kolodner, a a spiral wave, which are known to exist in many biological systems, such as evolution and often perform better than bacteriohodopsin is sandwiched be- contraction waves in heart muscles of rabbits and rats, and in growing bacterial any human-designed material could.” tween glass plates that contain arrays of colonies. And unlike devices such as integrated a large number of electrodes. A page of The waves follow the mathematical patterns which typify self-organized sys- circuits, which require many time-con- text or a color image is written electri- tems, and agrees with a recent theory developed by Peter Jung of Georgia Tech suming, high-precision and expensive cally on the protein film by applying the to establish the notion of spatiotemporal stochastic resonance. Originally con- manufacturing steps, organisms manu- corresponding array of voltages on the ceived as a simple model for an excitable medium in contact with a facture biological materials all by electrodes, similar to the technology noisy environment, the theory assumes a spatially distributed system with a rest themselves. used in liquid-crystal displays for laptop state and an excited state, such that local excitation can spread through the Bacteriohodopsin is an intensely- computers. The difference is that the medium, forming excitation waves. The theory’s agreement with the Viatech purple-colored protein molecule found electronic ink gets its color bym reflect- experiments suggests that self-organized criticality might play a role in brain in the cell membrane of halobacterium, ing ambient light, whereas the laptop functions, according to Jung. “It is not the firing of a single nerve cell, or the which grows in salt marshes. The pro- displays require an internal light sources chemical imbalance in an individual cell which is important,” he said. “It is the tein is photosynthetic and can be used which is a drain on the computer batter- collective properties of the complex system of cells which is important for its by the bacterium to produce matabolic ies. Thus, using computer displays based proper functioning.” energy. Bacteriohodopsin is produced on bacteriohodopsin “electronic ink” Interestingly, follow-up imaging experiments using cells from excised human when the cell senses that chemical may make an important contribution to epileptic tissue produced waves with significantly different behavior. Epilepsi is nutrients are scarce. Specifically, it the serious problem of battery lifetime a condition where there is a dramatic increase in nerve cell activity functions by “pumping” protons across in portable computing. and consequently often extremely high levels of neurotransmitter present, ac- cording to Cornell-Bell. Films from these experiments show extremely high activity where cells literally flash with calcium spikes.

size range of 1-100 angstroms, a range tons (7 x 10^-18N), the most sensitive Scientists Detect Atto-Newton Forces that encompasses biological molecules force measurement ever made with a Using MRFM and nanoscale electronic devices. probe microscope. With further refine- In the case of bio-medical research, ment the MRFM process will detect Force detection with atto-newton Magnetic Resonance Force Micros- modern techniques can render the mo- single spins, and Rugar hopes to map precision has been achieved by an IBM- copy (MRFM) brings together lecular sequences for many proteins, the spins of electrons in dispersed de- Stanford team of physicists led by probe-microscope (STM, AFM) technol- but full knowledge of the molecular fect sites in silica. Daniel Rugar of IBM. This work, re- ogy with magnetic resonance (MRI, structure is usually lacking. A prime Key to the achievement was the ported during a Monday morning NMR, ESR) technology. The goal here example is the HIV virus, which is development of ultra- sensitive canti- session, was carried out with a mag- is nothing less than the ability to make known to contain nine genes which levers, 1000 times thinner than a human netic resonance force microscope 3-dimensional, non-destructive, in-situ, encode at least 14 function proteins that hair and invisible to the naked eye. The (MRFM), a device that combines atomic-resolution images of atoms, fall withint the 1-100 angstrom size team statrted with an ultra-thin layer nuclear magnetic resonance technology molecules, defects in solids, dopants range. The proteins are readily pro- of silicon bonded onto a layer of sili- with probe microscope technology. in semiconductors, and binding sites duced in the laboratory, yet after more con oxide coating a silicon wafer. They This new instrument holds the prom- in viruses. According to John Sidles of than decade of stidy, the majority of then etched cantilever shapes onto the ise of revolutionizig the study of the University of Washington, who first HIV proteins still have unknown struc- ultra-thin layer and chemically removed biological processes at the molecular suggested the device in 1991, the sig- ture, and in many cases, unknown the underlying layers of oxide. Accord- level and adding an entire new dimen- nificance of MRFM research derives function. “This lack of knowledge re- ing to Rugar, silicon was selected to sion to the study of electronic materials mainly from the existence of a “gap” in flects the limited capacity of present minimize the mechanical damping that at the atomic level. imaging technology capabiities in the instruments to image objects in the 1- occurs when the cantilever vibrates, 100 angstrom range,” said Sidles. and because it is compatible with semi- “MRFM technology was conceived spe- conductor processing techniques. cifically to fill this imaging gap.” The manufacturing process is so In the IBM-Stanford setup, a thin sili- delicate that the researchers could not aluminum wires (highly similar to those in computer chips) can eventually break con cantilever, 230 microns long but use normal dying techniques after the the wires or cause them to malfunction. Using a 5-micron-diameter x-ray beam only 60 nm thick, is poised above a final fabrication step. “The surface ten- at the Brookhaven synchrotron, Slade Cargill at Columbia reported the first real- tiny sample. Under the additional in- sion of the water is strong enough so time measurements of the stresses that occur when electric current traveling fluence of fields from an RF coil, a that as it dries, it bends the cantilevers through an aluminum wire displaces atoms in the wire, and monitor the gaps magnetic particle mounted on the can- into ‘U’ shapes, causing them to reat- and bulges that develop. tilever interacts with tiny volumes of tach to the underlying material,” said The irregularities resulting from this “electromigration” effect are expected to magnetic atoms in the sample. Under Rugar. The team circumvented the be a problem in the ever-shrinking aluminum-based wires of future-generation just the right circumstances the particle problem by using an exituc biological computer chips, which are 40 times smaller today than they were 30 years ago. on the cantilever will begin to reso- techniques called critical point drying, In the past such problems were solved by using new combinations of metals, by nantly oscillate like a diver on a diving which uses liquid carbon dioxide at limiting the current levels and wire lengths, and by encapsulating the wires in board; the cantilever’s movement shifts high pressures. rigid insulating materials. These ”solutions can no longer be relied upon, ac- a laser interference pattern viewed Sidles emphasizes the possible medi- cording to Cargill, who maintains that better understanding, better materials through an optical fiber. Using this cal and biological research applications, and better device designs are needed for the next generation of microelectronic device, the group was able to measure observing that the structure of some devices. forces with a resolution of 7 atto-New- proteins can be worked out with nearly

11 APS News June 1997 atomic resolution by crystallizing a sample and then interpreting the pattern of x rays diffracted by the crystal. Other notable proteins, however, do not lend themselves to this process. Moreover, ordinary force microscopes cannot image interesting molecules residing in clefts of biological structures. MRFM, by con- trast, will supply 3D images of the hardest-to-get-at molecules, providing information for medical and drug-design research. A Los Alamos-Caltech group, represented by Chris Hammel of Los Alamos is applying MRFM to the study of multi-layer electronic devices, which could have important implications for magnetic information storage technology. Layers of magnetic material sandwiched with layers of non-magnetic layers such as cop- per or gold are used as variable resistors. The thickness and roughness of the interface between layers affects the performance of magnetic disks used in com- puters. MRFM will be able to reveal the irregularities between the layers and the related local magnetism and electrical properties, without having to cut or de- stroy the samples. Eventually Hammel’s probe will be able to map buried structures, such as defects in circuit elements. He uses a stiffer, faster-oscillating tip than the IBM version; this does not necessarily improve the force sensitivity but would greatly speed up data acquisition. Severl MRFM groups are presently working toward the detection and imaging of individual electron moments which, if successful, will take magnetic reso- nance imaging to its ultimate limit: one spin in one voxel. However, Sidles emphasized that instrument development is a slow process, and that none of the major biomedical technologies used today were fully developed in less than 25 years. In comparison, scanning probe microscopy at the atomic scale has only been around since 1982. “Based on historical precedent, it will likely be at least another decade before scanning probe technologies like MRFM achieve main- stream status in biomedical research,” he said.

Editor’s Note: Some MRFM figures are available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.aip.org/physnews/graphics/

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