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News & Events

New Physics Exhibit Opening featuring Physics Alumnus & Nobel Prize Winner, John Hasbrouck Van Vleck
September 8, 2009
Friday, September 18 will mark the opening of a new, permanent exhibit in the Physics Library, Room 4220 Chamberlin Hall. This new three-part exhibit features the life story of John H. Van Vleck, who is known as the "founder of the modern theory of magnetism." From the development of the laser beam to the tape recorder, from the creation of exotic gadgetry in modern electronics to new industrial uses of glass, much credit rests in Van Vleck's theory of solid-state physics. This exhibit covers his childhood years in Madison, his research achievements, and his Nobel Prize and other awards. For more information click here.

Greetings from Antarctica: The UW leads 'Big Science' Projects to Discover Clues to the Cosmos
September 4, 2009
UW-Madison is the host institution for the project. And UW physics Prof. Francis Halzen, whose proposal secured the National Science Foundation grant, is the principal investigator. " For more information click here

EPS Prize to Gargamelle Collaboration for the Weak Neutral Current
July 21, 2009
The prestigious EPS High Energy and Particle Physics Prize is this year awarded to the Gargamelle collaboration, for the "observation of the weak neutral current interaction" in 1973. The award ceremony takes place at the EPS-HEP conference in Krakow, July 20. Ugo Camerini, UW-Madison professor emeritus, was a member of the group at the time of the experiment. " For more information click here

Scientists Daniel Den Hartog and Gennady Fiksel named Research Professors
July 1, 2009
Drs. Den Hartog and Fiksel, Senior Scientists in the plasma physics group, have been named Research Professors, the first such appointments in the Physics Department. While the Research Professor title is honorary, this is an important achievement that recognizes their outstanding scientific accomplishment and leadership. Den Hartog and Fiksel are co-principal investigators on the Madison Symmetric Torus project and are known internationally for their work on magnetic confinement, laboratory plasma physics connections to astrophysics, and the creative development of diagnostics for high temperature plasmas.

The Honorable Gregory B. Jaczko was designated Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission by President Barack Obama
May 13, 2009
As Chairman, Dr. Jaczko is the principal executive officer of the NRC and its official spokesperson. He is responsible for conducting administrative, organizational, long-range planning, budgetary, and certain personnel functions of the agency. He also has authority for all NRC functions pertaining to a potential emergency involving an NRC licensee. Dr. Jaczko earned a doctorate in physics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison under Prof. Emeritus Rand Durand. For more information click here

Prof. Susan Coopersmith elected to the National Academy of Sciences
April 28, 2009
Prof. Susan Coppersmith of Physics Department has been elected to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences in "recognition of her distinguished and continuing achievements in original research." The National Academy of Sciences is a private organization of scientists and engineers dedicated to the furtherance of science and its use for the general welfare. It was established in 1863 by a congressional act of incorporation signed by Abraham Lincoln that calls on the Academy to act as an official adviser to the federal government, upon request, in any matter of science or technology. For more information National Academy of Science press release click here, University of Wisconsin Press Release click here, and for more information about the Academy of Science click here

Thomas Wise, Researcher, Department of Physics Wins Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research, Critical Research Support
April 9, 2009
The 2009 Academic Staff Excellence Awards recognize nine dedicated university professionals for their exemplary achievements in leadership, public service, research, teaching and career service. During the past 30 years, Wise has compiled a record of excellence in research and service, having been recognized nationally and internationally. For more information click here

The University of Wisconsin Angels & Demons Lecture Night
April 7, 2009
Physics Professor Wesley Smith will discuss the science behind the upcoming movie Angels & Demons, the CERN Large Hadron Collider and the excitement of particle physics in a lecture on May 4, 2009 at 7:30 PM in 2103 Chamberlin Hall. Free tickets and more information are available at http://www.physics.wisc.edu/aad/

Exquisitely Tipped Teeth Let Sea Urchin Carve a Home From Stone
March 30, 2009
An international team of researchers, including the department of Physics Professor Pupa Gilbert, has used high-resolution X-ray analytical techniques to discover the secret on how the teeth of sea urchins can grind limestone. The teeth consist of calcite crystals (including a small amount of magnesium) in the shapes of needles and plates, and a polycrystalline calcite matrix that contains a higher concentration of magnesium. More information click here

Prof. Karsten Heeger receives a 2009 Sloan Research Fellowship
February 17, 2009
Prof. Karsten Heeger of Physics Department received a 2009 Sloan Research Fellowship. The Sloan Research Fellowships seek to stimulate fundamental research by early-career scientists and scholars of outstanding promise. These two-year fellowships are awarded yearly to a small number of researchers in all areas in recognition of distinguished performance and a unique potential to make substantial contributions to their field. More information click here

Chinese Premier commends US-China collaboration
January 12, 2009
The University of Wisconsin is making the single largest university contribution to the Daya Bay project in a collaboration of some dozen US institutions and two national labs. It involves Professor Heeger and Chair Balantekin and a group of scientists from the Physics Department. As US manager for the Daya Bay antineutrino detectors, Assistant Professor Heeger is responsible for the design, construction, and commissioning of the eight 100-ton antineutrino detectors, Much of the design of the antineutrino detectors is done at the UW Physical Sciences Laboratory. Heeger is coordinating a team of scientists and engineers in Madison and collaborating with colleagues in China, Taiwan, and Europe for this international neutrino project. The Daya Bay experiment is a joint effort between the US and China funded in the US by the Department of Energy. It has received support from the University of Wisconsin Graduate School and the University of Wisconsin Foundation. More information click here

Physics Department Second Annual Physics Fair
January 9, 2009
The department will be hosting the second annual Physics Fair on February 14, 2009, 11 am - 4 pm. We hope that you can attend! This will be an open house in which members of the public can come to learn about the research and teaching that are a part of our department. The Physics Fair will include laboratory tours, hands-on demonstrations, activities for kids and families, and informal conversations with scientists. More information click here

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