Physics and Astronomy News

Physics and Astronomy News http://www.physics.umn.edu/rss/ en-us Physics and Astronomy Logo http://www.physics.umn.edu/images/BrokenbarIT3.jpg http://www.physics.umn.edu CMS observes First Collisions at LHC http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/630/ <img src="http://www.physics.umn.edu/imagedb/get.html?type=thumbnail&id=456" align="left" hspace=10 vspace=10 />After 15 years of design and construction, the first proton-proton collisions were produced in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) today. Collision observations were made in all four detectors located around the accelerator ring, including the CMS detector. The image attached to this article shows the flows of particles produced by one of the first collisions, as measured by CMS. <div class="wikitext">The University of Minnesota group is one of the leading groups on the CMS detector, with crucial development and leadership roles in the detectors designed to measure the energies of electrons, photons, and hadrons. Professor Roger Rusack, the project manager for the electomagnetic calorimeter, is present at CERN for the first collisions along with a number of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Professors Jeremiah Mans and Yuichi Kubota have been following the action from Minnesota. The atmosphere in the group office has been one of great excitement, with impromptu discussions of beam physics and the expected results of the first collisions breaking out among the graduate and undergraduate students as well as the professors. The leader of the CMS collaboration, a joint effort of more than 2000 physicists and engineers, was overjoyed. “The events so far mark the start of the second half of this incredible voyage of discovery of the secrets of nature,” said CMS spokesperson Tejinder Virdee. The Director-General of CERN, Rolf Heuer, hailed the achievement but reminded all of the challenges ahead: “It’s a great achievement to have come this far in so short a time. But we need to keep a sense of perspective – there’s still much to do before we can start the LHC physics program.” The LHC was built to reproduce the conditions just after the Big Bang and to understand the nature of mass and perhaps produce dark matter. The first collisions have been achieved with beam energies of 450 GeV, a small fraction of the 7000 GeV design goal for the collider. Next on the schedule is an intense commissioning phase aimed at increasing the beam intensity and accelerating the beams. If all continues well, by Christmas the LHC should reach 1200 GeV (1.2 TeV) per beam, and have provided good quantities of collision data for the experiments’ calibrations and initial physics studies. Further updates will surely follow soon. For more information, one can consult: <a href="http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/breaking/category/lhc-updates/">http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/breaking/category/lhc-updates/</a> <a href="http://cms.web.cern.ch/cms/index.html">http://cms.web.cern.ch/cms/index.html</a> </div> More information: <a href="http://cmsdoc.cern.ch/cms/performance/FirstBeam/pictures221109/CollisionEvent.png">http://cmsdoc.cern.ch/cms/performance/FirstBeam/pictures221109/CollisionEvent.png</a> http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/630/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST Physics Force at Northrop http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/628/ <img src="http://www.physics.umn.edu/imagedb/get.html?type=thumbnail&id=454" align="left" hspace=10 vspace=10 />The Physics Force will return to Northrop Auditorium for its popular series of January shows. There will be two public performances this year, Thursday, January 7th at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday January 10th at 2:00 p.m., which are free and open to the public with no reservations needed. <div class="wikitext">All Physics Force performances are approximately one hour long. It is recommended that you arrive early to get a seat since it is first come first serve. Parking information for Northrop can be found <a href="http://northrop.umn.edu/visit">here.</a> In addition to the public shows, Physics Force will perform for thousands of school children bussed in for shows on January 6-12, 2010. </div> More information: <a href="https://www.physics.umn.edu/calendar/pf.all/future/">https://www.physics.umn.edu/calendar/pf.all/future/</a> http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/628/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST Be a geek and a nerd: Jim Kakalios at Convocation 2009 http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/627/ <img src="http://www.physics.umn.edu/imagedb/get.html?type=thumbnail&id=452" align="left" hspace=10 vspace=10 />Professor James Kakalios delivered a speech to the freshman Class of 2013 at Convocation 2009. He described the secret of making the most of one's eduction as learning to be simultaneously a geek and a nerd. You can watch the speech on [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72XAXiyXf-k|Youtube]. <div class="wikitext"></div> http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/627/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST Documentary highlights positive impact of NOvA on northern Minnesota http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/626/ The NOvA collaboration is a University of Minnesota physics project. A short documentary put out by Fermilab and the Department of Energy highlights the positive impact that the NOvA project has had on the small community of Orr in northern Minnesota. <div class="wikitext">You can view the video on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsCFgrIGhMA&feature=player_embedded">Youtube.</a> </div> More information: <a href="http://www-nova.fnal.gov/">http://www-nova.fnal.gov/</a> http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/626/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST Physics Fall Picnic http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/607/ The Physics picnic will take place at Boom Island Park on Sunday, September 27st, 1-5pm. <div class="wikitext">Please fill out the picnic form in your e-mail or mail box and return it to <a href="mailto:peters@physics.umn.edu">Joffrey Peters</a>, or <a href="mailto:namba@physics.umn.edu">Ryo Namba</a>, both of whom are in office 79 in the basement. Our mail boxes can also be used to turn in the form. The form is due by Friday, September 25th. Directions to Boom Island Park can be found <a href="http://www.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=boom+island+park,+minneapolis&daddr=116+Church+St+SE,+Minneapolis,+MN+55455&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=44.976016,-93.234444&sspn=0.007635,0.018175&g=116+Church+St+SE,+Minneapolis,+MN+55455&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=14">here</a>. </div> http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/607/ Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 CST Kakalios video wins regional Emmy award http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/606/ <img src="http://www.physics.umn.edu/imagedb/get.html?type=thumbnail&id=433" align="left" hspace=10 vspace=10 />The University News Service video "The Science of Watchmen" featuring Professor James Kakalios, which has received more than 1.5 million views on YouTube, received a regional Emmy Award in the "Advanced Media: Arts/Entertainment" category. <div class="wikitext">Kakalios was tapped by Warner Bros. as a science consultant for the popular comic book movie, “Watchmen.” “The Science of Watchmen” looks at his involvement with the film and the physics behind its extraordinary characters. The video enjoyed enormous success, garnering over 1.5 million views on YouTube, making it one of the most widely viewed videos ever in higher education. "If anyone had asked me back in grad school if I could imagine winning an Emmy for a YouTube video -- I would have answered, 'what's a YouTube?'” said Kakalios. "This award is a testament to the University News Service who conceived and created the video." Recognized by his colleagues for his research in condensed matter physics, most students know Kakalios for his popular freshman seminar “Everything I Know About Physics I Learned By Reading Comic Books.” A professor in the Institute of Technology’s School of Astronomy and Physics since 1988, he is also the author of the science book “The Physics of Superheroes.” The video was produced by the University News Service team, under Elizabeth Giorgi, managing editor, and was nominated by the Midwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The nominated clip can be viewed <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmj1rpzDRZ0">here.</a> Award winners from the News Service include, Daniel Wolter, Justin Ware, Elizabeth Giorgi and Drew Swain. The Upper Midwest Emmys is an awards event celebrating regional excellence in television production. The Emmy Awards are put on by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) and recognize a variety of categories including news, sports and documentary programming, as well as individual talent. The Upper Midwest region includes Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, western Wisconsin and most of Iowa. </div> More information: <a href="http://midwestemmys.org/2009/08/21/emmy-nominations-2009/">http://midwestemmys.org/2009/08/21/emmy-nominations-2009/</a> http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/606/ Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00 CST LIGO results set new limits on gravitational waves http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/604/ <img src="http://www.physics.umn.edu/imagedb/get.html?type=thumbnail&id=432" align="left" hspace=10 vspace=10 />Results from LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) Scientific Collaboration and the Virgo Collaboration have set the most stringent limits yet on gravitational waves. Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of space and time predicted by Einstein's theory of General Relativity. <div class="wikitext">In a <a href="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v460/n7258/full/nature08278.html">recent article</a> published in the journal Nature, physicists announced the results of data taken by LIGO from 2005-2007 showing that the stochastic gravitational wave background expected to arise as a result of the Big Bang has not yet been observed. By not observing evidence of gravitational waves physicists can rule out some of the models of the early universe that predict relatively strong stochastic background gravitational waves. "We can start learning what the universe is not like. This is a major milestone in this field." said Vuk Mandic, of the University of Minnesota, cochair of LIGO's Stochastic Working Group. Mandic said that this is the first time that a direct search for gravitational waves has reached a sensitivity such that physicists can begin making statements about the evolution of the early universe. Professor Vuk Mandic participated in a <a href="http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_videos.jsp?cntn_id=115460&media_id=65535&org=NSF">webcast</a> to help explain the results for the news media. Further explorations of the LIGO and gravitational waves can be found at: <a href="http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090819/full/news.2009.844.html">Nature.com</a> <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32482651/ns/technology_and_science-space/">msnbc.com </a> <a href="http://blogs.usatoday.com/sciencefair/2009/08/mirrors-two-miles-apart-measure-microscopic-movements.html">The USA Today</a> <a href="http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/53700557.html">Sky and Telescope</a> <a href="http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/2938/gravitational-waves-study-yields-early-results">COSMOS Magazine</a> <a href="http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/gravitational-wave-observatory-listens-echoes-universes-birth-24251.html">Science Blog</a> <a href="http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1740047/gravitational_echoes_of_the_birth_of_the_universe/">Red Orbit</a> <a href="http://www.sciencecentric.com/news/article.php?q=09082020-ligo-listens-gravitational-echoes-the-birth-the-universe">Science Centric</a> <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/2009/08/19/new-limits-on-gravitational-waves-from-the-big-bang/">Universe Today</a> <a href="http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/UK_Technology_To_Boost_Search_For_Gravitational_Waves_999.html">Space Daily</a> <a href="http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2009/08/cosmic-gravity-wave-background-glimpses-the-early-universe.ars">Ars Technica</a> <a href="http://www.littleabout.com/news/29905,scientists-major-advance-understanding-evolution-universe.html">Little About</a> <a href="http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/08/19/gravitational.wave.observatory.listens.echoes.universes.birth">e! Science News</a> </div> More information: <a href="https://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/340/Gravitational_waves.html">https://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/340/Gravitational_waves.html</a> http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/604/ Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:00:00 CST Neutrinos on Display http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/601/ <img src="http://www.physics.umn.edu/imagedb/get.html?type=thumbnail&id=429" align="left" hspace=10 vspace=10 />While a particle physicist may tell you that neutrinos are fiendishly difficult to observe, the public visibility of neutrinos in Minnesota has changed dramatically with the approval of more than $40M of stimulus funding for the NOvA project. <div class="wikitext">The early-May <a href="https://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/459/University_to_receive_40_1_million_for_NO_A_experiment.html?">groundbreaking</a> for the NOvA Far Detector Laboratory construction project in Ash River, Minnesota was just the beginning. Construction work at the site is now well under way and <a href="http://vms-db-srv.fnal.gov/fmi/xsl/VMS_Site_2/000Return/photography/r_online_mrdetail.xsl?-db=VMS_Frames&-lay=WWWBrowse&-recid=171980&-find=">northern Minnesota is abuzz</a> with the excitement of being the center of neutrino physics in the United States, as well as being the site of the country's major deep underground science laboratory. On Saturday, August 15th , Senator Al Franken and members of his staff visited the Soudan underground laboratory as the guests of the School of Physics and Astronomy, Fermilab and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources <a href="http://www.soudan.umn.edu/Album/Senator_Franken_visit_8_2009/">(Photo Gallery)</a>. Guided by physicists Ken Heller, Ron Poling and Angela Reisetter, Fermilab communications director Judy Jackson, and Soudan lab staff members Jim Beaty and Jerry Meier, the senator toured the MINOS and CDMS experimental halls and received an introduction to neutrinos and the more mysterious and yet-to-be-detected dark matter particles. While weather conditions precluded a planned tour of the the Ash River NOvA site, Senator Franken learned about the physics of NOvA, as well as the impact of the project on the northern part of our state. The approval of funding for NOvA has brought new visibility on the national scene to neutrinos and the role of the University of Minnesota in the major U.S. projects of the field. The science section of the Monday, August 17 edition of the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/16/AR2009081601835.html?hpid=moreheadlines">Washington Post</a> has an article about MINOS and NOvA that prominently features comments from Minnesota physicist Marvin Marshak, who is the principal investigator of the cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy under which the University is building the Far Detector Lab. </div> http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/601/ Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 CST CLEO collaboration submits 500th paper http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/603/ The CLEO collaboration has recently submitted its 500th publication to a peer-reviewed journal. This is the largest number of papers of any collaboration in the history of elementary particle physics. <div class="wikitext">CLEO papers have garnered more than 23,000 citations (as compiled by the SPIRES high energy physics database), and there have been countless uses of CLEO measurements tabulated in the Particle Data Group's "Review of Particle Physics." CLEO has investigated the production and decay of the heavy bottom and charm quarks, filling in many of the details of the Standard Model of particle physics. The experiment ran from late 1979 until early 2008 at the electron-positron collider CESR at Cornell University. The University of Minnesota has been part of the project since 1988, when Professor Ron Poling, one of the original CLEO collaborators, joined our faculty. He and Professors Dan Cronin-Hennessy, Yuichi Kubota, and Jon Urheim (now at Indiana University) have supervised 15 University of Minnesota graduate students on CLEO Ph.D. projects. The 500th CLEO paper is titled "Improved Measurements of Semileptonic Decays of D Mesons to pi and K Mesons," and will be published in Physical Review D. It describes precise measurements that are key to understanding fundamental parameters in elementary particle theory. Although this research at CLEO is now complete, Cronin-Hennessy and Poling are pursuing these Standard Model tests to even greater precision with the BESIII experiment in Beijing, China. Experiments like CLEO and BESIII are an important complement to investigations of the high-energy frontier at the Fermilab Tevatron and, soon, the LHC. For example, CLEO measurements have provided precision information that helps give confidence that the Higgs boson will be found and that it will be within the energy reach of the LHC. Similarly, studies of mixing and measurements of CP violation in quark decays that were begun by CLEO are the prototype for investigations of neutrino oscillations with the MINOS and NOvA experiments. In addition to CLEO and BESIII, the University of Minnesota high energy physics group plays leading roles in MINOS, NOvA and the CMS experiment at the LHC. No one knows where the next great discoveries will emerge, but these projects provide the best hope for major progress in unraveling deep mysteries in the nature of matter and the universe. </div> http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/603/ Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 CST Graduate Student Orientation http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/494/ The School of Physics and Astronomy will hold orientation from August 24 to September 4, 2009. Students will receive a copy of the orientation schedule when they arrive. Please contact <a href="mailto:grad@physics.umn.edu">Judy Soine</a> if you have any questions. <div class="wikitext"></div> http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/494/ Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 CST Poling New Head of School of Physics and Astronomy http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/487/ <img src="http://www.physics.umn.edu/imagedb/get.html?type=thumbnail&id=386" align="left" hspace=10 vspace=10 />We are pleased to announce that Professor Ron Poling has been named Head of the School of Physics and Astronomy. He will replace Allen Goldman who has held the post since 1996. Poling will officially begin his job as Head on July 1, 2009. <div class="wikitext">Poling says “Allen Goldman has provided the School of Physics and Astronomy with steady leadership as Head for thirteen years, and we are all deeply grateful for his exceptional service. Every day's news reminds us that the challenges of the coming years will be great, but that there are also opportunities. With Allen's help and with the energy and creativity of a vibrant community of faculty, students, staff, and alumni, I hope to be a part of finding and realizing those opportunities." Professor Poling received his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Rochester, and his B.S. (Physics) from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He joined the University of Minnesota School of Physics and Astronomy as an Assistant Professor in 1987. He became an Associate Professor in 1991 and has been a full Professor since 1996. Ron was an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow (1988-92). He was the recipient of the Clifford C. Furnas Memorial Award of the University at Buffalo (1998). He was elected an APS Fellow in 1998. </div> http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/487/ Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST EBEX Balloon launched http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/486/ <img src="http://www.physics.umn.edu/imagedb/get.html?type=thumbnail&id=409" align="left" hspace=10 vspace=10 />Observational cosmologists at the University of Minnesota successfully launched the E and B Experiment Balloon (EBEX) payload on Thursday, June 11th in Fort Sumner, New Mexico at 8:01 a.m.. EBEX is a balloon-borne polarimeter designed to measure the intensity and polarization of the cosmic microwave background radiation. <div class="wikitext">School of Physics and Astronomy professor Shaul Hanany is the principal investigator of the EBEX collaboration which includes cosmologists from 13 other universities and laboratories. The flight terminated at 9:40 p.m. Mountain Time in Arizona. The balloon was spotted in Prescott, Arizona and reported as <a href="http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=69120">an unidentified bright object</a> around 8:00 p.m. in the evening. You can see a video of the launch and read about the daily lives of the EBEX crew at <a href="http://ebexinflight.blogspot.com/">Asad Aboobaker's blog.</a> </div> More information: <a href="http://groups.physics.umn.edu/cosmology/ebex/">http://groups.physics.umn.edu/cosmology/ebex/</a> http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/486/ Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST