A P S N E W S JULY 1997 THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY VOLUME 6, NO 7 APS NewsTry the enhanced APS News-online: [http://www.aps.org/apsnews] Highlights from Washington, DC Atom Laser, CEBAF Results Mark 1997 Spring Meeting pproximately 1,500 physicists out as tiny quantum disruptions or fluc- the recipients appeared in the April machine is on. Although these atoms Aassembled in Washington, DC, for tuations) that would later grow into the 1997 issue of APS News. (like those produced at the CERN lab the 1997 Joint Spring Meeting of the galaxy clusters observed in the present in Geneva) have not been captured, a APS and the American Association of universe. Finally, Mark Spano of the Technical Sessions plan has been formulated at Fermilab Physics Teachers (AAPT), 18-21 April. Naval Surface Warfare Center discussed for both increasing the production rate Search for Neutrino Oscillations The most varied of APS meetings progress in understanding, and even and for passing newly-made anti-H’s Two years ago at this meeting a because of the number of APS divisions controlling, chaos. These studies have through a strong magnet which will group of physicists from Los Alamos represented in the program, the Spring already been usefully applied to actual help to differentiate different excited- presented evidence for neutrino oscil- Meeting explored current topics in physical systems such as lasers, chemi- state species. At a later session, Walter lation, the transformation of neutrinos particle physics, astrophysics, fluids, cal reactions, combustion engines, Oelert of the Julich Institute of Nuclear from one type to another, in an experi- particle beams, physics of beams, hearts, and brain tissue. Physics, a participant in the CERN ex- ment in which a beam of neutrinos nuclear physics, applications, and On the Wednesday evening prior to periment, reported on further analysis strikes a target. The Los Alamos team, atomic, molecular and optical physics. the start of the meeting, the APS orga- of his data and discussed the future of represented by William Louis, and the Topics of technical sessions included nized an exhibit and reception featuring anti-hydrogen research at CERN, which collaboration at the Super-Kamiokande the first experimental results from the recent applications of fundamental phys- recently announced that it will build a neutrino detector, represented by Ken- Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator ics. Scientists from laboratories around new facility, the Antiproton Decelera- neth K. Young of the University of Facility, formerly CEBAF (see page 2); the nation presented information on glo- tor, partly for this purpose. Washington, recently concluded major the first detailed energy spectrum of bal positioning, medical instrumentation new data analyses. Kamiokande also Proton-Neutron Correlations an active galaxy nucleus (see page 4), and optical communications, as well as searches for neutrinos from the sun, It is a little-known fact that all nu- and the world’s first atom laser, using such future technologies as laser twee- from distant supernovas, and from the clei are superconductors, with protons a Bose-Einstein condensate as its cen- zers, Bose condensates, scanning decay of protons. Based on the first that pair up with other protons and ter (see page4). General interest tunneling microscopy, and 100 days of research in Japan, Young neutrons that form pairs with other sessions included such topics as the nanotechnologies. reported that there are hints that not neutrons. In nuclei with equal num- biological effects of low-dose radiation, The traditional ceremonial banquet only does the neutrino have mass and bers of neutrons and protons, physicists the future of science and technology for the bestowal of prizes and awards can change its form (“flavor”), but it believe that neutron-proton pairs can in North America (see page 4), trends was held Saturday evening, preceded may also be more abundant at night form to create a new kind of super- in federal support of science education, by a reception hosted by APS Presi- than during the day, and more plenti- conductivity. According to Stuart Pittel, and highlights of the 100-year anniver- dent D. Allan Bromley (Yale ful during certain times of the year. If who spoke at a Saturday morning ses- sary of the discovery of the electron. In University). Fourteen APS prizes and the neutrino is found to have mass, it sion, these superconducting effects are addition, the AAPT organized several ses- awards were presented, and the recipi- could constitute part of the dark mat- believed to influence the mass of nuclei sions devoted to issues in education, some ents gave lectures on their respective ter that is believed to comprise as much such as Chromium-48 or Tin-100 (with in conjunction with APS committees or award-winning topics at various ses- as 90% of the universe. equal numbers of protons and neutrons) units, including a Monday morning ses- sions throughout and affect the rate at which proton-neu- sion devoted to national science education the week. Cita- Anti-Hydrogen Atoms tron pairs flow between nuclei which standards, co-sponsored with the APS Fo- tions and brief David Christian of Fermilab reported are close together. The proton-neutron rum on Education (FED). biographies of on an experiment in which anti-hydro- correlations are also expected to be im- Another prominent feature was a gen atoms are produced when a gas portant for single- and double-beta special plenary session on Sunday af- jet is passed through an antiproton decays, radioactive processes in which ternoon. The session was led off by a Margaret Mary Murnane beam. Anti-atoms are produced at a rate received the Maria stirring memorial of C.S. Wu by col- Goeppert-Mayer Award of about one atom a day when the (continued on page 8) league T.D. Lee. This was followed by an address by APS Past President Rob- ert Schrieffer of the National High Magnetic Field Lab in Florida, review- APS Spring Meeting Incorporates CAM’97 ing the many ways in which high-temperature superconductivity is eginning in 1994, the APS, the nadian-American-Mexican physical so- more complicated than its colder coun- BSociedad Mexicana de Fisica (SMF) cieties) represents the third in a series of terpart. Michael Turner of the University and the Canadian Association of Physi- these joint meetings. The first was held in of Chicago and Fermilab addressed cists (CAP) agreed to hold periodic joint Cancun in September 1994, followed by a what he calls the two most pressing meetings for the purpose of bringing second meeting, held in Quebec City, June issues in cosmology today: the nature together the North American physics 1995, in conjunction with the 50th anni- of dark matter and the origin of the community. Held concurrently with the versary congress of CAP. tiny inhomogeneities (perhaps starting usual program of the Joint APS/AAPT At CAM97, physicists from the three April Meeting in 1997, CAM97 (for Ca- North American Societies participated in a variety of sessions and forums on science and society. A special plenary IN THIS ISSUE session honoring these cooperative CAM session speakers Beverly Robertson, ventures was held on the first day of Mary Good, D. Allan Bromley, and Carmen Highlights from Washington, DC ..................................................................... 1 the meeting (see page 8). Entitled “The Cisneros (at microphone). APS Spring Meeting Incorporates CAM’97 .................................................... 1 Future of Science and Technology in Scientists Report First Experimental Results from Jefferson Lab ................. 2 North America,” the session’s keynote for initiating and strengthening partner- APS Units Have Option of Holding Electronic Elections ................................ 2 speaker was Dr. Mary L. Good, under ships among the public and private Inside the Beltway .......................................................................................... 3 secretary for technology of the U.S. sectors and academia as a means of In Brief ............................................................................................................ 3 Department of Commerce’s Technology enhancing US participation in the rapid Researchers Report on New Results for BEC Experiments ........................... 4 Administration. Good stressed the need (continued on page 2) DPB/FIAP Session Explores Industrial Applications of Neutrons ................... 4 Gamma Rays Provide Detailed Energy Spectrum of AGN ............................. 4 Carl E. Anderson Distinguished Academic-Industrial Fellowship .................... 5 President Announces 1997 Medal of Science Winners .................................. 5 APS Matching Memberships Aid Physicists in Developing Countries ............ 5 Opinion ........................................................................................................... 6 1998 General Election Preview ...................................................................... 9 Announcements ........................................................................................... 11 The Back Page ............................................................................................. 12 About 1,000 APS Spring Meeting attendees going to the CAM reception at the Smithsonian Institution. APS News July 1997 Scientists Report First Experimental Results from Jefferson Lab ertain to be one of the most arrays of electronic data-gathering exist. According to Gao, C important new experimental