The week in physics: College during COVID; Tin-100; The Moon's ancient magnetic field

Undergraduate physics in the age of COVID-19 Forward this email  View in your browser THE WEEK IN PHYSICS: 1–5 NOVEMBER Advertisement It's Always Safer to have Backup Get the added safety of a backup system when handling hazardous and/or expensive gases and vapors. KNF LeakTight pumps offer ultra-low leak rates of <6×10-6 mbar L/sec and a safety back-up diaphragm, plus safeguards against intrusion contamination. Flow rates from 15 – 290 L/min. Options include explosion-proof motors and material choices. Learn more. Undergraduate physics in the age of COVID-19 New and returning students, particularly those from underrepresented groups, have faced pandemic-related challenges. Departments can take steps to support them during this academic year. Brad R. Conrad, Rachel Ivie, Patrick Mulvey, and Starr Nicholson A neighboring nuclide narrows down tin-100's mass With a precise measurement of indium-100's mass in hand, researchers are one step closer to establishing a value for its elusive parent nuclide. Christine Middleton Advertisement Fused Quartz "Quartz, a durable, transparent material" Quartz is a versatile glass type material that exhibits high hardness (MOHs 7) and thermal shock resistance and low thermal conductivity and expansion. Intricate features can be machined by diamond grinding and polishing. For extreme hardness and wear resistance, industrial sapphire can be considered including optical polish. Learn more. FROM THE VAULT: August 2003 Quantum physics under control Thanks to the increasing ability to coherently control quantum systems, designer Hamiltonians can be created to explore new physics and to yield a better understanding of complex phenomena. Ian Walmsley and Herschel Rabitz What was the shape of the Moon's ancient magnetic field? To capture the field's direction, researchers reexamined in situ photographs of rock sampled during the Apollo 17 mission. R. Mark Wilson Webinar LIVE WEBINAR: Laser performance for Raman spectroscopy Ever wondered what the critical performance parameters are when you are choosing a laser for your Raman spectroscopy experiment? We will discuss these parameters, from the selection of the laser wavelength to the impact of laser linewidth. Register now. Making plastic more degradable Adding functional groups to inert polyethylene preserves its crystalline structure and could help minimize environmental pollution. Alex Lopatka Behind the Cover: November 2021 A familiar phenomenon that's rich in physics appears on the cover of this month's issue. Charles Day Webinar LIVE WEBINAR: New Standard in Single Photon Detection Single Quantum develops the world's fastest and most sensitive single photon detectors limited only by the laws of physics. In this webinar, we will introduce the operation principle of SNSPDs (superconducting nanowire single photon detectors) and present the newest developments of their technology. Register now. FROM THE NOVEMBER MAGAZINE The demons haunting thermodynamics The contradictory implications of statistical mechanics have worried physicists and philosophers for centuries. Does our present-day knowledge allow us to exorcize those philosophical demons? Katie Robertson Get notified about our webinars and whitepapers Sign up Get Physics Today delivered for just $25 per year Subscribe FEATURED JOBS > Application Scientist Optics - USA  |  Zurich Instruments > Director, Marketing  |  Optica > Tenure-track assistant professor position in experimental Condensed Matter Physics  |  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Are you hiring? Do you want your job to appear here? Post with Physics Today and select the "Publication" enhancement to easily showcase your job to 66 000 physicists and engineers. Physics Today is published by the American Institute of Physics 1 Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740 USA +1 301 209 3100 © 2021 American Institute of Physics. Unsubscribe  |  Email Preferences  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us