The week in physics: NSF’s Arecibo strategy; early universe in a quantum gas; First observations test JWST capabilities

NSF's Arecibo strategy; early universe in a quantum gas; First observations test JWST capabilities Forward this email  View in your browser THE WEEK IN PHYSICS: 14–18 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 <6x10-6 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. NSF's Arecibo strategy puts future research into question Although unsurprised that the giant telescope at the Puerto Rican observatory won't be rebuilt, many astronomers are disappointed with the agency's plans for an education and research center there. Alex Lopatka The early universe in a quantum gas With a Bose–Einstein condensate in a magnetic field, researchers can see hints of particle production in expanding space—and they can run the experiment more than once. Johanna L. Miller Webinar Live Webinar: Hands-On Superconducting Qubit Characterization This webinar will introduce essential methods used in superconducting qubit characterization, including qubit spectroscopy, single-shot readout, and Rabi oscillation measurements. Through tutorials and demonstrations, we will lead you from theory to practical, experimental measurements that are carried out on real qubits in a dilution refrigerator. Register now. FROM THE VAULT: March 2020 Space weather on the Moon Apollo missions placed astronauts outside Earth's protective magnetosphere for days at a time. Future missions risk exposing them to solar and cosmic radiation for months. Larry Townsend Advertisement Call for Submissions: NASA StarShade Undergraduate Challenge NASA's Hybrid Observatory for Earth-like Exoplanets team is seeking undergraduate students to design and construct an orbiting starshade that could help examine extreme exoplanets from an Earth-stationed observatory. Students are encouraged to form teams from their local departments or universities. The deadline for phase 1 submissions is 1/20/23. Learn more. First observations test JWST capabilities Although the telescope's early science results have exceeded expectations, even the most seasoned observers must use caution until calibrations are complete. Rachel Berkowitz Cuprate superconductivity mechanism may be coming into focus Theory and experiment have pinpointed factors that determine the magnetic attraction between electron pairs. Daniel Garisto Webinar Live Webinar: The Role of Materials Research in the Development of Emerging Quantum Technologies In this webinar, we will provide an overview of the state of the art for solid-state quantum hardware and the requirements to transition the field into the regime of "quantum advantage," in which quantum computers demonstrably solve certain real-world problems faster than classical computers. We will then discuss multiple strategies to break through the existing scaling bottlenecks. Register now. FROM THE NOVEMBER MAGAZINE Paul Langevin, U-boats, and ultrasonics Created in 1917 to detect German U-boats, Paul Langevin's piezoelectric quartz transducer remains the foundation of all modern ultrasonic techniques. Francis Duck Get notified about our webinars and whitepapers Sign up Get Physics Today delivered for just $25 per year Subscribe FEATURED JOBS > POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS IN CONDENSED MATTER THEORY, UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE  |  University of Tennessee > Teaching Assistant or Associate Professor in 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 © 2022 American Institute of Physics. Unsubscribe  |  Email Preferences  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us