Writing online Thursday, Dec. 15, in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters, a team led by University of Wisconsin–Madison physics Professor Pupa Gilbert describes studies of the physical attributes of nacre in modern and fossil shells showing that the biomineral provides an accurate record of temperature as the material is formed, layer upon layer, in a mollusk.
Year: 2016
Mark Eriksson grant lead on project to get UW getting electron beam lithography system for nanotech research
Research projects statewide, from electronics to optics and medicine, are set to benefit from a new system coming to UW–Madison that will use electron beam lithography (EBL), a specialized technique for creating extremely fine patterns — in some cases more than 5,000 times narrower than the diameter of a human hair.
Email list for undergraduates interested in physics
The Physics Department occasionally sends announcements to undergraduate physics majors about opportunities for those with an interest in physics. Now, those who have not declared a physics major can subscribe to receive such announcements. Those who have declared a major will continue to receive announcements and do not need to self-subscribe.
Construction of world’s most sensitive dark matter detector moves forward – Kim Palladino, Shaun Alsum
Assistant Professor Kim Palladino joined the department last year to bolster Wisconsin LZ experiment involvement last year. Prof. Palladino secured the support of the US DOE promptly last year, while she was on research leave at SLAC to lead the construction and commissioning of the LZ test system at SLAC laboratory, with graduate student Shaun Alsum. PSL engineer Jeff Cherwinka serves as the chief engineer of the LZ experiment. Professors Carlsmith and Dasu also participate in this unprecedented search for direct interactions of weakly interacting massive particles with Xenon atoms that make up the LZ.
Dan McCammon receives the 2016 NASA Exceptional Public Service Achievement Medal
Prof. Dan McCammon is being awarded a 2016 NASA Exceptional Public Service Achievement Medal in recognition for pioneering work in the study of the celestial diffuse x-ray background and the development of low temperature x-ray spectrometers that have enabled numerous NASA projects.
This award was presented to Dan at the Agency Honor Awards Ceremony, September 14, at the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center.
Zweibel wins 2016 Maxwell Prize for Plasma Physics
Ellen Gould Zweibel has won the American Physical Society’s 2016 James Clerk Maxwell Prize for Plasma Physics.
The prize citation recognizes Zweibel for “seminal research on the energetics, stability and dynamics of astrophysical plasmas, including those related to stars and galaxies, and for leadership in linking plasma and other astrophysical phenomena.”
Walt Wigglesworth has passed away
Walt Wigglesworth, former student/staff shop supervisor (02/20/1995-01/22/2002), and for whom our stockroom is named “Walt Mart,” has passed away.
Board of Visitors Examine Badgerloop Pod Prototype
Members of the Department of Physics Board of Visitors Robert Leach, Gregory Piefer, Thomas Dillinger, Lloyd Hackel, and Craig Heberer (left to right) on an imagined trip in the frame of the Badgerloop pod prototype under construction in Chamberlin Hall, 6 May 2016.
Photo credit: Badgerloop.com, contact
Claire Holesovsky
Life Sciences Communication Junior | University of Wisconsin – Madison
Research Assistant | BadgerLoop Project Manager | JUST Magazine Senior Editor
(608) 712-1941 | holesovsky@wisc.edu
Alexander Carver (BS ’06) is now an assistant professor
Alexander ‘AJ’ Carver, (BS ’06 physics and astronomy-physics), recently became an assistant professor at SolBridge International School of Business, Daejeon, South Korea where he teaches courses in quantitative methods and critical thinking.
Prototype of LUX-ZEPLIN Dark Matter Detector Tested at SLAC
Prototyping of a new, ultrasensitive “eye” for dark matter is making rapid progress at the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory: Researchers and engineers have installed a small-scale version of the future LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) detector to test, develop and troubleshoot various aspects of its technology.
Photo: Knut Skarpaas (left, SLAC) and Kimberly Palladino (SLAC/University of Wisconsin) during the assembly of the TPC prototype. (Photo Credit: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)