CONTENTS MARCH 1999
PhysicsWorld
3 EDITORIAL
Ideas for a new era
5 POST-DEADLINE
Bose condensates take a spin, nanotubes tackle isotope separation, why do sin-faces
stick together?
7NEWS
UK faces teacher shortage, Germany revisits reactor decision, good news and bad
in the US budget, Megascience Forum reports on nuclear physics, work begins on
Europe's largest laser, cold fusion ten years on
15 FORUM
Learning lessons about ethics Marshall Thomseit
17 LETTERS
Rebuilding Russian science, the perils of the financial markets, responsible scientists
needed, lectures through old and new eyes
19 PHYSICS IN ACTION
High-spin surprise in heavy nuclei, secrets of stability in sonoluminescence,
quantum ratchets, long-distance spin transport in semiconductors, universal
freeze-out in the nucleus
25 MOLECULAR MATERIALS
27 Organic displays
The global market for electronic displays is booming and devices based on the
light-emitting properties of polymers and small molecules are starting to challenge
the dominance of liquid-crystal and inorganic displays, os
JunjilCldo reports
31 Plastic electronics
Polymers are cheap, flexible, easy-to-process and, when suitably doped, capable
of conducting electricity. Dago deLeeuw explains how companies are exploiting these
properties in electronic devices
35 Magnets, molecules and quantum mechanics
The discovery of spin clusters - nanomolecules with magnetic moments - has
revolutionized studies of quantum tunnelling of magnetization. Bernard Barbara
and L
ean Gunther report on progress
41 REVIEWS
Werner Heisenberg and the war-time years, drifting with time through the ages,
James Clerk Maxwell and the beginnings of theoretical physics
45 PHYSICS COMMUNITY NEWS
Wolf prize honours quasicrystal pioneer Christian Janot
49 INSTITUTE MATTERS
Congress preview
52 NEW PRODUCTS
Software, microscopy and surface analysis
54 RECRUITMENT
Jobs and courses
64 LATERAL THOUGHTS
Physics on sale - Brazilian style Eduardo de Campos Valadares
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PHYSICS WORLD
VOL. 12, NO. 5, MAY 1999
3 EDITORIAL
Patents versus patience, the spice of life
5 POST-DEADLINE
Lasers go nuclear, new light on gamma-ray bursts, sonoluminescence is solved,
the first continuous atom laser
7 NEWS
JET bargains with staff for three-year extension, international partners sign up
for cosmic-ray detector, US and Europe join forces on millimetre-array project,
US neutron project feels the heat, quantum information: are patents worthwhile?
15 FORUM
Climate change: the global view Andre lebeau
17 LETTERS
Giving Russia a helloing hand, second thoughts on violins, lookingat lasers
19 PHYSICS IN ACTION
leasers unlock nuclear gamma rays, gravity-wave researchers recycle light, electrons
escape negative-ion barrier, nuclear polymers, getting to the bottom of spin glasses
FEATURES
25 How are galaxies made?
Recent observations of galaxies at large redshifts and computer simulations of
structure formation in the universe confirm that galaxy formation is an ongoing
process rather than a one-ofT event, as Carlton Baugh and CarlosFrenk explain
31 Quantum Glyptography takes to the air
As secure communications between satellites and the ground become increasingly
important, Richard Hughes and JaneNordholt describe how quantum bits can be
transmitted through the Earth's atmosphere with absolute secrecy
37 CP and T violations: new results leave open questions
A wealth of new results from accelerators lias shed light on the subtle differences
between matter and antimatter but, as Helen (hann and JoAnne Hewelt report, there
are still many puzzles for the next generation of experiments to explain
45 REVIEWS
American scientists and the anticommunist scare, the search for life beyond Earth
in the 20th century, accelerator mass spectrometry gets a date with the past
49 PHYSICS COMMUNITY NEWS
11 000 physicists converge on Atlanta Peter Rodgers
Obituaries: Baron Phillips of Ellesmere, Glenn Seaborg, Bjorn Wiik
54 INSTITUTE MATTERS
The many faces of physics go on display at congress
Teaching as a career, Max Born medal and prize, nominations for Council
60 NEW PRODUCTS
Test and measurement
62 RECRUITMENT
Jobs and courses
72 LATERAL THOUGHTS
Tyred law Peter Wright
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PHYSICS WORLD
VOL. 12, NO. 4, APRIL 1999
3 EDITORIAL
Science and societies, zero-sum games
5 POST-DEADLINE
Fundamental physics tested on nanotubes, making lasers from superconductors,
statistical physics branches into family trees
7 NEWS
Particle-physics labs lay claim to direct CP violation, UK boosts dark-matter
research, string theory tops the charts, physicists find new ways to knot a tie,
dispute blocks Middle East prize, juggling physics and a family
13 FORUM
Neutron scattering: strategic necessity or expensive luxury? Bob Cywinski
15 LETTERS
How to get more graduates into schoolteaching, the Braggs' family affair
17 PHYSICS IN ACTION
New phosphor sets quantum efficiency record, DNA molecules measure up,
single-photon turnstile, weak ferromagnet rekindles quantum debate
FEATURES
21 Flutter and tumble in fluids
The complicated motion of falling feathers and autumn leaves has puzzled
physicists for centuries and remains to be understood in theoretical terms, as
Andrew Belmonte and Elisha Moses explain
27 Magnetoelectronics
The semiconductors and magnetic-recording media of the future may work by
exploiting the spin of the electron rather than the charge. Jo de Boeck and
Gustaaffforghs report on the latest advances that may lead to a new breed of devices
33 Quantum phase transitions
The study of phase transitions has been one of the most fertile branches of
theoretical physics. Subir Sachdev describes how a new kind of phase transition
driven solely by quantum effects is shedding light on a wide range of systems in
condensed-matter physics
39 REVIEWS
Ludwig Boltzmann and his restless life in science, mixing the history and science of
materials, conflict and contradiction in physics, Einstein's private papers
41 PHYSICS COMMUNITY NEWS
Where science meets diplomacy Keith Gardner
Obituaries: Andrew Keller, Alan Owen
46 INSTITUTE MATTERS
1999 teachers awards
51 NEW PRODUCTS
Vacuum, semiconductors and thin film
54 RECRUITMENT
Jobs and courses
64 LATERAL THOUGHTS
A bluffer's guide to lab demonstration Gareth Leyshon
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PHYSICS WORLD
VOL. 12, NO. 2, FEBRUARY 1999
3 EDITORIAL
Physics at work, physics versus the law
5 POST-DEADLINE
Neighbouring atoms shape beta decay, juggling caesium fountain, electrons behave
in textbook way
7 NEWS
US sets up interdisciplinary research institutes, has element 1 14 been discovered?,
the Earth's magnetic field may flip, physics and the law
13 FORUM
Book your busman's holiday William Marshall
15 LETTERS
Weinberg faces a question of truth, more thoughts on the science wars, Christmas
crossword solution
17 PHYSICS IN ACTION
Hydrogen is first in the 2D-quantum-gas race, magnetic surprises in exotic
superconductors, leaky waveguides fight war against drugs, hydrogen clusters show
critical behaviour
FIGURES______________________________
21 Quantum solitons
The remarkable properties of quantum solitons in optical fibres colild herald a new
age in communications and computation, as Izo Abram reports
27 Colluding over colloids
When researchers in academia and industry have different agendas, can meaningful
resultsreallybeachievedbyworkingtogether?Athene Donald describesthehighsand
lows of industrial collaboration in colloid research
33 Colossalmanagementorsistance
The remarkable behaviour of certain manganese oxide compounds in magnetic
fields is leveling to a better understanding of solid-state physics according to josep
39 REVIEWS
Getting to the bottom of the biosphere, who to trust about technology, showing
students how to speak and write
42 PHYSICS COMMUNITY NEWS
New opportunities for EU researchers Edwin Cartlidge
Obituaries: Nicholas Kurti, Geoffrey Bryant
46 INSTITUTE MATTERS
125 celebrations - Science Museum physics trail
New Year's honours
51 NEW PRODUCTS
Lasers and optics
53 RECRUITMENT
Jobs and courses
60 LATERAL-THOUGHTS
Physics, economics and Hollywood John Rodenburg
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PHYSICS WORLD
VOL. 12 , NO. 1 , JANUARY 1999
3 EDITORIAL
Reasons to be cheerful, hold the Front page
5 POST-DEADLINE
Zeolites promise improved microlasers, particle decays reveal CP violation, how to
silence a violin
7 NEWS
Europe agrees on prototype high-field magnet, physics takes to the stage, sex divides
physicists, US Faces tritium shortage
14 FORUIVI
How to rebuild Russian science valdilen letokhov
16 LETTERS
New ideas for student lectures, early CERN successes, Fred Reines and the race for
the neutrino
19 PHYSICSINACTION
Thin films squeeze out magnetic domains, gravity tested by spacecraft anomalies,
alternative dielectric grown on silicon, ways to manipulate quantum entanglement
FEATURES
25 Mutual attractions: physics and finance
Ideas from theoretical and statistical physics are now being used to understand the
ups and downs of international financial markets. Physicists at Science & Finance,
a financial consultancy in France, explain the parallels between physics and the
movement of share prices, interest rates and more complex financial products
31 Ultrashort light pulses: life in the fast lane
Researchers can now routinely use lasers to generate femtosecond light pulses in
the lab, making it possible to study processes ranging from photosynthesis to the
switching of electronic circuits. Henry Kapteyn and Margaret Murnane describe liow
the latest advances could lead to the generation of even shorter pulses
37 REVIEWS
Maxwell's demon and the story of heal, complexity slraighlened out,
new applications for superconductors
41 PHYSICS COMMUNITY NEWS
Trieste: bridging the scientific divide Daniel Schajfer
Obituary: Nicholas Kernmer
44 INSTITUTE MATTERS
1999 Institute of Physics awards
Celebrating 125 years of the Institute
48 RECRUITMENT
Jobs and courses
56 LATERAL THOUGHTS
Falling hurts lan Horsewell
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PHYSICS WORLD
VOL. 12 , NO. 6 , 1999
3 EDITORIAL
'Rocket science': the facts
5 POST-DEADLINE
Flipping atoms in a flash, lasers reach new levels of precision, irlicromachines
measure snpercondlicting vortices
7 NEWS
UK invests in infrastructure, US backs the search for extraterrestrial intelligence,
world's largest nuclear-physics experiment kicks off, Europe decides space priorities
15 FORUM
Helping-physics to help itself Ray Mackintosh, Re^so 1mm and HenvigSchopper
17 LETTERS
Unpredictable view of climate change, Heisenberg's role in the Second World War
19 PHYSICS IN ACTION
New-look tennis balls measure up, quantum mechanics with metals,
extra dimensions roll up, caesium puts pressure on the Standard Model,
how strong are chemical bonds?
25 LASERS AND OPTICS
27 Quantum cascade lasers
Advances in quantum engineering have led to a new type of semiconductor
laser that has many advantages over existing lasers at many wavelengths, as
Fedenco Capasso, Claire Gmachl, Deborah L Sivco and Alfred YCho report
35 Polymer diodes
Research into semiconducting polymers has made rapid progress in recent years
and it will not be long before polymer-based displays, lighting and solar cells reach
the market-place, as Richard Friend, Jeremy Burroughes and Tatmya Shimoda explain
41 Biomedical optics
leasers are increasingly being used by the biomedical profession to detect changes in
tissue and reveal details of working processes inside organs. Paul French highlights the
advances in optics that will revolutionize medicine in the 21 st century
47 REVIEWS
Careers come under the spotlight, Richard Feynman and his contributions to
computation, Brookhaven: a look back at the early years
51 PHYSICS COMMUNITY NEWS
EPS conference comes to London Arnold Wolfendale
Obituaries: Gerhard Herzberg, Richard Whorlow
54 INSTITUTE MATTERS
Sixth-formers rise to teaching challenge Liz Parvin
Master-classes: a student's view, new forum for 'twenty-somethings'
58 NEW PRODUCTS
Spectroscopy
64 RECRUITMENT
Jobs and courses
72 LATERAL THOUGHTS
The accountant's delusion Tom Wheldon
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