March 2007 Volume 16, No. 3 www.aps.org/publications/apsnews APS NEWS Spring 2007 Prizes and Awards A PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY • WWW.apS.ORG/PUBLICATIONS/apSNEWS See insert inside “Woodstock of Physics,” Quantum Computing Meet the New Editor-In-Chief: Gene Sprouse Gene Sprouse is the new ing LINAC, and then succeeded Among Highlights of 2007 APS March Meeting APS Editor-in-Chief, replacing in transferring the atoms into a Martin Blume, who has retired. magneto-optical trap for further More than 7000 physi- tant. Named for its three Blume had served as Editor-in- careful study of the atom’s prop- cists will converge on Den- originators–John Bardeen, Chief since the beginning of erties. Francium is the heaviest ver, Colorado this month for Leon Cooper, and Robert 1997. alkali atom, and holds special the APS March Meeting, Schrieffer, who shared a The APS Editor-in-Chief, one interest because its atomic prop- usually the largest physics Nobel prize for their efforts of the Society’s three operating erties can be calculated with meeting of the year. The –the BCS theory explains officers, has responsibility for all high precision, says Sprouse. It meeting will take place at superconductivity as aris- APS research journals–the Phys- can be used to study fundamen- the Convention Center in ing from the pairing of elec- ical Review, Physical Review tal interactions, in particular the Denver, at the threshold of trons through the mediation Letters, and Reviews of Modern strength of the weak interaction the beautiful Rocky Moun- of subtle vibrations rippling Physics–and in addition oversees between electrons and quarks in tains, March 5-9, 2007. The through the material. Physi- the editorial staff and the journal the atom, and the effects of the principal topic areas will be cist Paul Grant calls the BCS came superconducting only at liq- production staff associated with weak interaction in the nucleus. condensed matter physics, indus- work “the most monumental theo- uid helium temperatures, the pros- them. Sprouse took over the po- These effects have already been trial applications, new materials, retical achievement of condensed pect of critical temperatures above sition on March 1. chemical and biological physics, matter physics in the 20th cen- 100 Kelvin electrified scientists After attending fluids, polymers, and computation. tury.” A special evening session at and the public alike. Speakers re- MIT as an under- A number of sessions will address the March Meeting will look at the porting fresh results on so-called graduate, Sprouse re- social issues. impact of this theory on the study high temperature superconductors ceived his PhD from Happy Anniversaries. Two of not only atoms and solids but (HTSC) went on until 3:15 am. Stanford in 1968, momentous occasions in the 20th also nuclei, quarks, and the cos- Now, 20 years later, another set of and joined the fac- century history of physics will be mos itself. (G1) talks (a few by the same practitio- ulty at Stony Brook celebrated at the Denver meeting. Latest Quantum Computer ners from 1987) will review what University in 1970. The first is the 20th anniversary of Hardware. Physicists are pursu- has been learned and what we can He became full pro- the so-called “Woodstock of Phys- ing several hardware options for look forward to when it comes to fessor in 1979, and ics”: a mammoth session at the making truly powerful quantum superconductivity (B1). served as department 1987 APS March Meeting devoted computers that would fulfill their chair from 1990 to While the HTSC anniversary Photo by Ken Cole to the new class of ceramic super- potential of performing ultra-fast might command more attention, 1996. Last year he was Martin Blume (on the left) and Gene Sprouse conductor discovered not so many database searches, rapidly crack- the anniversary of the highly suc- promoted to Distin- months before. After decades of ing secret encrypted codes, and cessful theory of low-temperature guished Professor. He served as observed in cesium, but in fran- poring over materials which be- greatly improving molecular-level superconductivity is also impor- director of the Nuclear Structure cium, they are much stronger MARCH MEETING cont. on page 3 Laboratory at Stony Brook from and should be easier to measure, Poll Finds Significant Interest in School Boards Among Physicists 1984 to 1987, and again from says Sprouse. The Stony Brook 1996 to the present. His research accelerator has recently shut An APS News poll conducted neers for America (SEA), thinks countries in science proficiency, interests include nuclear struc- down, so Sprouse’s collaborators in February has found that while that school boards are an area and because of that we’re los- ture, neutral atom trapping, and will carry on the francium work not many physicists have served where scientists can be valuable, ing our ability to compete in the laser spectroscopy of radioac- at TRIUMF, in Vancouver, while on their state or local school and it’s relatively easy to get in- global marketplace, said Brown. tive atoms. Sprouse was elected he turns his primary attention to boards, a significant number volved. “Scientists have a lot to Encouraging scientists to get in- an APS Fellow in 1984. the APS journals. have been involved with their offer school boards,” said Brown. volved with school boards is one Starting in 1995, Luis Orozco When he’s not investigating school boards at some level, and SEA is an organization formed step we can take to improve sci- (now at the University of Mary- the atomic properties of fran- many would consider running last September to promote good ence education, he said. land) and Sprouse led a team at cium, Sprouse might be found for election if they had some or- science in policy making. The APS News survey asked Stony Brook to study the element in his kitchen, baking bread–his ganizational support. Students in the United States participants to answer three sim- francium with laser trapping tech- specialty is baguettes. Michael Brown, Executive continue to do poorly in science. ple yes/no questions: niques. Francium has no stable Now, he’s starting a new en- Director of Scientists and Engi- The US is falling behind other SCHOOL BOARDS cont. on page 6 isotopes, and is extremely rare; deavor: leading the APS journals. “There’s only about an ounce of Sprouse says he views his new APS Gathers Postdoc Best Practices; Comments are Invited it on the Earth,” says Sprouse. position as a challenge. “There In January, APS Executive Offi- ceived, from which APS extracted deliberately chosen to be someone They produced the francium in are very interesting things go- cer Judy Franz asked physics depart- quotes describing what the depart- other than the postdoc’s research Stony Brook’s superconduct- SPROUSE cont. on page 7 ment chairs in research universities ments do for postdocs, and what supervisor, to provide an alternative for information about an important issues are considered to be most voice should a conflict arise. One Fellows Reign in Southern California but sometimes overlooked segment important. These were posted on the chair had a global solution to career of their community: postdocs. In her APS website under “Postdoc Best development: “Work to increase the letter, Franz pointed out that post- Practices.” They are grouped into number of tenure-track faculty po- docs often face problems both with various subjects, such as “Benefits”, sitions! Everything else is just win- their present working conditions, “Combating Isolation”, and “Career dow-dressing.” and as they plan for their future ca- Development”, with the hope that As reported by the chairs, post- reers. they will be useful to other depart- docs are often involved in teaching, “Physicists in their postdoc years ments in finding ways to help their which is viewed as a benefit both in are especially vulnerable–their fu- own postdocs. combating isolation and in career ture careers depend critically on Many departments offer full development. Opinions varied as the success of their research during benefits to postdocs. Others of- to whether postdocs should expect this rather brief period,” the letter fer everything but retirement; one travel funds, or whether that should said, “yet we hear of concerns from covers everything except maternity be left to the discretion of the princi- post-docs about their isolation, poor leave. To combat postdoc isola- pal investigators. health benefits and maternity leave tion, departments listed such items The full list of best practices policies, lack of travel funds, and as a postdoc handbook, an annual can be found at http://www.aps. Photo by Darlene Logan being tied too closely to one advi- social event, and an active seminar org/careers/guidance/postdoc-best- On January 16, a large turnout of APS Fellows assembled in the UCLA Fac- sor or one project. APS would like program in which postdocs were in- practices.cfm. Interested readers, ulty Center to socialize and to hear about some APS programs. The eve- ning was hosted by Barry Barish of Caltech, and was presided over by APS to learn how your department deals vited to participate. especially postdocs, are invited to President-elect Arthur Bienenstock of Stanford. In addition to Bienenstock, with such concerns, as well as any Career development is an im- provide their own comments in a attendees heard from APS Executive Officer Judy Franz, Director of Educa- other ideas you have that would help portant issue for postdocs. Many box at the bottom of the page. The tion and Diversity Ted Hodapp, and Director of Public Affairs Michael Lubell. post-docs be more productive.” departments stress mentoring, and most useful of these will be posted In the photo, Bienenstock (center), enjoys the company of Fellows King-Ning Tu (left) and Roberto Peccei, both of UCLA A variety of responses was re- at one department, the mentor is on the site.