Princeton’s Nathaniel Fisch Page 2 Number 169 October 18, 2004 Research HIV dementia mechanism Theory offers new view of the discovered nucleus Highlights . A brain-imaging study at DOE's Scientists have known for more than 30 Brookhaven Lab shows that human years that protons and neutrons are immunodeficiency virus (HIV) damages built of quarks and gluons. But they dopamine-associated brain cells in interpret data from experiments on the patients with HIV dementia—a type of nucleus with "effective theories" which cognitive decline in the later stages of ignore this internal structure for the sake HIV infection. The brain images, of simplicity. Now a new study from obtained with positron emission DOE's Jefferson Lab, together with the tomography (PET) at Brookhaven’s CEA in France, proposes a theory that Center for Translational Neuroimaging, for the first time incorporates the reveal that patients with HIV dementia dynamical changes in the quark-gluon have fewer dopamine transporters— structure of protons and neutrons in the proteins that help to recycle the nucleus. Published Sept. 23 in Physical neurotransmitter dopamine—than HIV- Review Letters, it is a first step towards a negative subjects or HIV-positive patients truly fundamental theory of nuclear without dementia. These findings may structure. lead to new, more effective therapies. [Kandice Carter, 757/269-7263; Future studies will also look at whether [email protected]] treatments to suppress HIV lead to recovery of the dopamine system. [Karen McNulty Walsh, 631/344-8350; [email protected]] Ames research a boon to bioanalysis Studies of individual enzyme molecules New method for medical by Edward S. Yeung, director of the implants, chemical detection Chemical and Biological Sciences In research that may lead to revolutions Program at DOE's Ames Laboratory, in bio-sensing and biomedical implants, define the most sensitive level of scientists at DOE's Argonne National DOE Pulse highlights work detection of biomolecules and reveal Laboratory have pioneered a process to being done at the Department that the catalytic activity of the same affix organic molecules to the surface of of Energy’s national laborato- enzymes differs. The work has inspired a thin layer of diamond. Biomolecules ries. DOE’s laboratories house many single-molecule studies in other can be harnessed for a broad range of world-class facilities where research groups and promises to impact uses from detecting anthrax spores to more than 30,000 scientists molecular modeling, drug design and helping diabetics monitor their blood and engineers perform cutting- catalytic studies. Testimony to Yeung's sugar. Argonne researchers have edge research spanning DOE’s prolific record of scientific accomplish- developed an innovative way to science, energy, national ments fundamental to the field of construct hybrid organic-inorganic security and environmental bioanalysis, is his selection as the first interfaces based on conducting diamond quality missions. DOE Pulse recipient of the newly created Ralph N. thin films, allowing biomolecules such as (www.ornl.gov/news/pulse/) is Adams Award in Bioanalytical Chemistry, proteins to be anchored to the surface distributed every two weeks. which will be presented to him at the while preserving their functionality. For more information, please 2005 Pittsburgh Conference on Research funding was provided by DOE's contact Jeff Sherwood Analytical Chemistry and Applied Office of Science. ([email protected], Spectroscopy. [Catherine Foster, 630/252-5580; 202-586-5806). [Saren Johnston, 515/294-3474; [email protected]] [email protected]] Fermilab QCD Contributions PRINCETON’S FISCH PROVIDES extend back three decades NEEDED FUSION INSIGHT Nathaniel Fisch, a he foundation for the 2004 Nobel Prize in Physics Princeton University that went to David Gross, David Politzer and Frank professor and theoretical TWilczek extends back to their own work 1973. But it physicist at the U.S. also extends to many researchers and experiments working to Department of Energy's build the field of quantum chromodynamics, including Princeton Plasma Physics significant contributions from DOE’s Fermilab. Laboratory (PPPL), has Arie Bodek of the University of Rochester won the persevered in finding prestigious 2004 Panofsky Prize in experimental physics "for novel ways to use Nathaniel Fisch his broad, sustained, and insightful contributions to plasma waves to elucidating the structure of the nucleon, using a wide variety produce electric current. Plasma is a hot, of probes, tools and methods at many laboratories" including ionized gas that serves as the fuel for nuclear Fermilab. fusion. Fisch’s patient efforts led to his Fermilab muon scattering discovery of new ways of driving current by experiment E26, running from 1970 injecting radio waves into the plasma. These to 1974, was an original observer of wave-induced currents can enable fusion the "scaling patterns" predicted by reactors, called tokamaks, to operate QCD. Fermilab theorist Bill Bardeen continuously, which is necessary for an was among those who "established economical and practical fusion reactor. the standard framework for PPPL Director Rob Goldston said, describing the data," as cited by "Professor Fisch's analyses of techniques to colleague Chris Quigg. use radio waves to drive electrical currents in Fermilab theorist Keith Ellis co- plasmas are as elegant and insightful as they authored "QCD and Collider are practical. His theoretical work and close Physics" in 1996 with Bryan Webber “QCD and Collider collaboration with the experimentalists of Cavendish Laboratory, University Physics,” co-authored opened the way for a wide range of of Cambridge, and James Stirling, by Fermilab’s Keith experiments and further analyses, and led to University of Durham. The book is Ellis a substantial field of research on current- both a graduate-level textbook and drive in toroidal plasmas. Indeed, a standard reference across particle physics. sustainment of currents using radio waves The 2004 Nobel citation is "for the discovery of may prove to be an essential ingredient in asymptotic freedom in the theory of the strong interaction." the steady-state operation of fusion power Gross, Polizter and Wilczek reached the counter-intuitive systems." realization that the strong force actually increases with Fisch specializes in theoretical plasma distance, the opposite of other forces. Thus, the harder we try physics with applications to controlled to pull quarks apart, the tighter the strong force binds them. nuclear fusion, plasma devices, lasers, and The strong force ebbs only at small distances, such as those astrophysics. In addition to his contributions within the proton. to the field of plasma physics, he has played One of the papers listed in the Nobel citation was a an influential role in shaping graduate Fermilab publication submitted with Wilczek in July 1973 education in plasma physics. At Princeton while Gross was visiting Fermilab (which at the time was still University, he is Director of the Program in called the National Accelerator Laboratory). The paper was Plasma Physics, which is widely recognized subsequently published in Physical Review D. as one of the world's premier graduate "It is important to note that this work was done 30 years programs in plasma physics. At PPPL, he is ago, which means we have to make investments now for 30 Associate Director for Academic Affairs and years hence," said Fermilab’s Ellis. "This is the reason that Head of the Laboratory's Hall Thruster funding for the sciences should be beefed up." Experiment. On November 8, Fisch will receive one Submitted by DOE’s Fermilab of seven 2004 E. O. Lawrence Awards for his discovery of ways to use plasma waves to produce electric current. Submitted by DOE's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.