Departmentofof
Department
Physicsand
andAstronomy
Astronomy
Physics
N
WINTER
SPRING
2004 2009
Message
M e s s from
a g e fthe
r o mChair
the Chair
The department already raised a significant amount toward
Inthis
this
issue...
endowing
prize
from colleagues and friends in advance of
Jim’s retirement party on January 27, 2004. However, the hopePage
is
Message from
Chair..................................................1
to raise sufficient
funds the
(at least
$12,500) so that the prize can be
elevated to become an endowed scholarship of $500 per annum.
Profiles.......................................................................2
We would
be delighted if those of you who were students of Jim
or who just want to support the training of new physicists would
Faculty
Awards...............................................................2
contribute
to this
endowment fund. Contributions are taxdeductible, and a tax receipt will be issued. Just to make things
Awards...............................................................3
easy, weStudent
have printed
a pledge form on the back of this newsletter.
The Itend
of 2003
is normal
for allmarked
of us tothe
hold
retirement
of
Jim
Waddington,
in our minds an image of awho
place
joined McMaster as a post-doc in
as it was when we were there.
1970, but was quickly moved onto
The connections
alumni
the faculty
where he that
roseour
through
have
with
the
Department
the ranks to professor. Jim has had of
Physicsresearch
and Astronomy
through
a stellar
career as
an
our sharednuclear
past arephysicist
valuable
experimental
studying
deformed
ones, highly
but they
are not nuclei.
the only
He ones.
was the
Thisleader
editionof ofthethe
NSERC-funded
8TC gamma-ray
Newsletter highlights
a number
spectrometer
of ways inproject,
which an
theinstrument
Department
which
started itsconnected
life at AECL
is currently
to youin
and
Chalk River, later migrated to
to the current events your read
Berkeley, California, and is now in
John Berlinsky
about,
of which
may notatbe
use by
Jim some
and his
collaborators
immediately
obvious.
For
the ISAC facility at TRIUMF. He is also a former Director of the
David
Venus
example,
while
many
of
you
will
McMaster Accelerator Laboratory. However Jim will likely be
know
thatnewsletter
the NRU
nuclear
remembered by many of the readers
of this
as one
of
reactor
at professors.
Chalk River is undergoing repairs that have interrupted
their best
Research
This third
issue ofNews...............................................................3
our newsletter continues the introduction of
Herschel
Observatory.......................................3
faculty, students
andSpace
post-docs
and the announcement of recent
National
Research
Universal interest
(NRU) are
Reactor
Repairs
major grants
and awards.
Of particular
the Polanyi
Prize awarded
to CecileBeam
Fradin
and the in
Tier
I Canada Research
and Neutron
Research
Canada......................4
Chair received
by Catherine
Kallin. The passing of Nobel
Momentum
and Impact.................................................4
Laureate and inventor of inelastic neutron scattering, Bertram
Brockhouse,
occurred one day before the announcement of the
Outreach.........................................................................5
International CFI Project on Neutron Scattering at the Spallation
NeutronRising
SourceYoung
at OakFaculty......................................................6
Ridge, Tennessee, led by Bruce Gaulin of
McMaster. Another large-scale CFI project, ALMA, involves
faculty member
Christine Class....................................................7
Wilson as Canadian Project Scientist.
2009 Graduating
Finally, there is a feature article about a new initiative in the
Faculty Donations........................................................................8
of Science, the Origins Institute, led by Ralph Pudritz of
our department. I hope you enjoy the issue.
the supply of medical isotopes, the legacy and continuing
In 2003 Jim’s
superb
teaching
recordresearch
led to his
receiving isthe
importance
of this
facility
for materials
at McMaster
less
President’s Award
for Excellence
in Instruction
which
recognized
well-known.
Similarly,
while the launch
of the new
Herschel
spacethe fact
that he made
had established
the have
best realized
teacher in
based
telescope
headlines, himself
you mayasnot
that
Physics & Astronomy over a period of 33 years. Jim has been an
astronomers at McMaster are playing a leading role in the telescope
inspiration to generations of students. He believes strongly in
instrumental
and scientific teams. Our high school physics outreach
involving undergraduate students in research, and many of the
programs
form
very
direct
students whom heanother
supervised
have
gone connection
on to pursuebetween
successfulthe
Department
and
your
community.
Look
up
what
we
have
careers in Physics. Jim continues his involvement to
inoffer
the at
http://www.science.mcmaster.ca/macsci/outreach/physics-astronomy.html,
department’s teaching through his participation in the new “Big
maybe
teachers
or students
thatheyouwill
know
like to get
Questions”
courses
for which
havewould
administrative
responsibility
over the
next few years.
He also plans to remain
involved
in creative
physics-based
activities.
With best wishes,
John Berlinsky
Professor andAlumni
Chair
- Where are they now?
chair@physics.mcmaster.ca
Kristen Woodley (PhD 2009) is a postdoctoral fellow at the
University of British Columbia in the area of Astronomy and
Astrophysics
In this issue.....
Asmahan Abu-Arish (PhD 2008) is a postdoctoral
Page fellow at
McGill University in the area of biophysics.
active in research.
Finally, this edition includes again profiles of departmental
In honour with
of Jim
Waddington’s
the department
members,
a focus
on two retirement,
recently appointed
facultyhas
who
decided
to
establish
a
prize
which
will
be
called
“The
Jim
have won major awards for their newly established
research
Waddington Prize in Physics & Astronomy.” This prize will be
programs -- congratulations to Duncan O'Dell and Laura Parker.
New Faculty ..........................................................2&3
Andrewand
Croll
(PhD 2009)
is a postdoctoral
Graduate
Undergraduate
Profiles
...................3 fellow at the
University of Massachusetts in the area of Polymer Science
and Engineering.
awarded each year to the student with the best performance in
Physics 1BA3 who then enters an Honours Program in Physics or
We
are always
connections
dofollows:
you have
any
Astronomy.
Theinterested
rationale in
forfurther
creating
this award is--as
One
suggestions
or
thoughts?
of Jim’s main teaching assignments in recent years was Physics
1BA3, the second semester of Physics for 1st year students who are
With
besttoward
wishes,
heading
the physical sciences. This course is a gateway into
Honours
Physics & Astronomy, and Jim has acted as a beacon,
David
Venus
The Origins Institute .............................................4
Special Events .......................................................4&5
Andrew
Regan
(PhD 2009)
is a postdoctoral fellow at the
In
Memorium
of Brockhouse
................................5
University of Freiburg, Germany, in the area of experimental
Awards/Honours
polymer physics.....................................................6
Science Career Services ........................................7
Jose Rodriguez (PhD 2009) is a postdoctoral fellow at the
Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland.
Professor and Chair
1
Felix Wong (PhD 2010) is doing a medical physics residency
at the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton, Ontario.
ev
se
A
di
th
at
of
on
th
of
A
ab
th
M
be
tw
de
A
V
re
am
pr
m
m
an
ex
re
as
fa
ha
re
T
w
an
si
ha
sl
H
Physics and Astronomy
Department of
met astronauts, a Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist, and attended
various colloquia featuring some of the world’s top scientists. I
Graduate Profile
I wish to support The Jim Waddington
Prize
in
Physics
&
Astronomy
will be returning to Goddard for my second 8-month work term in
As an undergraduate student at
May 2010. I strongly recommend the Co-op program to all
the University of Toronto, I
Physics
students. The program has provided me with unique
With my gift of $
enclosed
or
learned I had a passion for
experiences
and many of the skills I will need for a successful
physics and astronomy.
It
career.
McMaster
With my total pledge of $ wasn't until I came to over
years.
as a graduate student, however,
that I fell in love with scientific
Faculty Awards
research. I was incredibly
Office
Only that Dr. William
pleased to find a department full
The CASCA Board is pleased
to Use
announce
$
annually
$
semi-annually
of bright, enthusiastic people
Harris is this year's recipientAllocation:
of the 2010 S2572A
Carlyle S. Beals Award
who made pursuing a career in
Appeal:
made to a Canadian astronomer
in GY2
recognition of outstanding
$
quarterly
$ very appealing.
monthly
research look
achievement in research. Dr. Harris is being recognized for the
After completing my Master's
significant impact his research has had in many areas of
Please charge to my credit card:
[ ]working
MasterCard
[ ] Visaastrophysics ranging from our
degree
on stellar
understanding
of globular
Charitable
Registration
# clusters,
collisions under the supervision
globular cluster systems, galaxy
formation
and0001
evolution, and
11903
5988 RR
of Dr. Alison Sills, I decided to
ExpiryNathan
Date: Leigh
observational cosmology.
Nathan at a conference in Capri, continue my studies as a PhD
Italy supported by the Department
Please
make
cheques
payable
to
student. Time and time again, I
Laura Parker, Assistant
Professor
in the
Department
of Physics
Card #:
“McMaster
University”
and
make
have been surprised at the incredible level of support offered to me
& Astronomy, is a 2009 Polanyi Prize winner. Laura specializes in
reference
to emphasis
“The Jim towards
Waddington
by the department and university in pursuing my research goals. I
observational cosmology
with an
galactic
Signature:
Prize
in
Physics
&
Astronomy”.
have been provided with numerous opportunities to present my
structure and formation and the interaction between galaxies and
for Income
Taxnamed
purposes
work at conferences and workshops in the USA and Europe and
dark matter distribution.Receipts
The Polanyi
Prizes are
for John
For
more
information
please
contact
Mara
Esposto
at
(905)
525-9140
ext.
24569.
will
be
issued
to
all
donors.
have visited and worked with several international collaborators.
Polanyi, who received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1986. See
These experiences are invaluable for a developing scientist and
page 6 to read more.
Contributions
be sent aswhen
follows:
Esposto
provide
a majorcan
advantage
looking Mara
for employment.
Donald Sprung, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Physics
ABB 241
Working with Alison Sills and the rest of the McMaster
team has
& Astronomy, has been elected as a Fellow of the American
been a fun and rewarding experience in many
respects.
A
McMaster
University
particular highlight was having some of our work
in West Physical Society, at the recommendation of the Topical Group on
1280published
Main Street
Few-Body Systems. The citation will acknowledge Donald's many
popular science journals like Nature and National
Geographic
Hamilton,
ON L8S 4M1
important contributions to the understanding of nuclear dynamics,
News.
including the development of the first realistic soft-core twoContact
nucleonInformation:
interaction, and the identification of the role of long-range
Undergraduate
Profile
Department
and Astronomy,
interactionsofinPhysics
the deuteron.
Donald McMaster
is a very University
active Emeritus
Graduating Class of 2006
1280
Main
Street
West,
Hamilton,
Ontario
L8S of
4M1
I developed a sense of wonder
member of our department, and a former Chair
the Department,
Phone:
905-525-9140,
ext. 24559
about the universe at an early
and Dean
of the Faculty
of Science. He has the distinction of
Fax:
905-546-1252
age.
In high school, I
having
the longest time span of continuing publication in the
email:
physics@mcmaster.ca
discovered that physics was the
prestigious
Physical Review series of journals of anyone ever in
http://www.physics.mcmaster.ca/
best tool for understanding the
the department -- over half a century.
cosmos, and that I had a knack
for it. Now, as a 4th year
Duncan O’Dell, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics
Honours Physics Co-op student,
and Astronomy, won an Early Research Award by The Honourable
I am very grateful for the
John Milloy, Minister of Research and Innovation and Minister of
education I have received at
Training, Colleges and Universities. The Early Researcher Award
McMaster University and never
(ERA) program helps to attract and retain research talent by
would have predicted the
assisting new researchers with building their research teams.
amazing opportunities it would
Duncan's research involves the application of quantum mechanics
provide. In the summer of
to computing and communication in an effort to transfer photons
2008, I received an NSERC
over a computer network connected by optical fibres. See page 6
Evan Sinukoff
research award and worked as a
to read more.
research assistant for Dr. Christine Wilson, helping her in an
observational
studyApril
of nearby
galaxies.
I spent organized
my first 8-month
On Wednesday,
5, 2006,
the graduates
a special
Alumni - Where are they now?
Co-op
work
term
at
NASA’s
Goddard
Space
Center
in
celebration in the Great Hall of the University Flight
Club where
family,
Issei
Nakamura
(PhD 2010) is a postdoctoral fellow at the
Greenbelt,
Maryland.
This
experience
was
a
dream
come
true
for
friends, professors and staff all joined in the celebration of their
me.graduation.
I helped a team of NASA scientists develop new
California Institute of Technology.
interferometry technology to be used in future space telescopes. I
Payments to be made:
2
Physics and Astronomy
Department of
Physics & Astronomy professor and Origins Institute director,
been fixed), the two remaining instruments had to pick up the
Ralph Pudritz, will be inducted into the Johns Hopkins
slack. In response to the flood of data, scientists like Christine who
(JHU) Society
Scholars at Prize
the school's
next& Astronomy
University
were members of the instrument teams were called upon in
I wish to support
The JimofWaddington
in Physics
commencement ceremony. The Johns Hopkins University Society
September to help analyze much of the preliminary data from
ofWith
Scholars
inducts
junior ororvisiting
Herschel and they have been working hard ever since.
my gift
of $ post-doctoral fellows andenclosed
faculty who have gained distinction in the fields of physical,
biological, medical, social or engineering sciences, or in the
With my total pledge of $
over
years.
humanities.
Payments
to be made:
Alan
Chen, Associate
Professor in the Department of Physics &
Astronomy, has been awarded the McMaster Students Union
$
$ category. Alan
semi-annually
2008-2009
Teachingannually
Award in the Arts & Science
was also the 2008 recipient of the Petro-Canada Young Innovator
Award
given in recognition
$
quarterlyof outstanding work
$ by young faculty
monthly
researchers at post-secondary institutes in Canada.
Please charge to my credit card: [
Student Awards
Expiry Date:
] MasterCard
[
] Visa
Office Use Only
Allocation: S2572A
Appeal: GY2
Charitable Registration #
11903 5988 RR 0001
Congratulations to Clare Armstrong and Phillip Ashby as they
Please make cheques payable to
were
both
Card
#: awarded first place for their poster and oral presentation
“McMaster University” and make
respectively at the Canadian Association of Physicists Congress in
reference to “The Jim Waddington
Moncton. Clare, an MSc student working under the supervision of
Signature:
Prize in Physics & Astronomy”.
Professor Haugen, presented her work on “Selected Applications
Christine
is
involved
with
6 keyfor
projects
with
and is
Receipts
Income
TaxHerschel
purposes
of Ultrafast Terahertz Spectroscopy”. Phillip, a PhD student
leading
one
of
them.
Dubbed
“The
Very
Nearby
Galaxy
Survey”
For
more
information
please
contact
Mara
Esposto
at
(905)
525-9140
ext.
24569.
will
be
issued
to
all
donors.
working under the guidance of Professor Kallin, presented his
or VNGS, this program aims to obtain far-infrared images and
work on “Spontaneous Supercurrents in a Chiral p-wave
spectra of the closest example of each type of galaxy in the nearby
Contributions
can
be
sent
as
follows:
Mara
Esposto
Superconductor”.
universe with the aim of maximizing the sensitivity and equivalent
ABB 241
spatial resolution of these diffraction limited data. This sample of
Congratulations to Sarah Nickerson who, while
attending
the
McMaster
University
Canadian Astronomical Society (CASCA), won1280
the best
poster
as West galaxies, which Chris likes to call a “deliberately heterogeneous
Main
Street
sample” includes well-known local targets such as the Whirlpool
judged by the graduate student committee of CASCA
as wellON
as an L8S 4M1
Hamilton,
Galaxy (M51 or NGC 5194), which was the target of the first light
honourable mention by the CASCA board - the only student to be
images with Herschel in June 2009, as well as the giant elliptical
recognised by both bodies! Her poster was entitled "Stellar
galaxy Information:
Centaurus A, which hosts a massive black hole in the
Contact
Feedback in Cosmological Simulations of Galactic Substructure".
centre
and
appears
to have
swallowed McMaster
an entire spireal
galaxy.
Department
of Physics
and Astronomy,
University
Sarah is pursuing Graduating
her MSc with Professor
Class Couchman.
of 2006
1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1
Phone: 905-525-9140, ext. 24559
Research News:
Fax: 905-546-1252
email: physics@mcmaster.ca
http://www.physics.mcmaster.ca/
Herschel Space Observatory
by Christine Wilson
Christine Wilson has been spending most of her research time in
the last 6 months trying to understand new data from the Herschel
Space Observatory. At 3.5 m in diameter, Herschel is the largest
mirror ever launched into space. It was launched on May 14, 2009
and spent a few months travelling out the Earth-Sun L2 Lagrange
point. It began science observations in September, 2009.
The instruments on Herschel observe in the far-infrared and
submillimetre wavelength range from 60 to 600 microns. To do
this, they need to be kept cool by a large dewar of liquid Helium.
Thus, Herschel is a time limited mission, with an expected
On Wednesday, April 5, 2006, the graduates organized a special
liftetime of 3.5 years. As a result, there has been huge pressure on
celebration in the Great Hall of the University Club where family,
the friends,
science professors
and instrument
teams
commission
telescope
and staff
alltojoined
in the the
celebration
of and
their
begin
the
first
scientific
observations.
When
one
of
the
three
graduation.
instruments on Herschel suffered an unexpected fault (it has since
3
Data obtained so far from the VNGS include images in five
wavelength bands from 70 to 500 microns as well as complete
spectroscopy from 200 to 600 microns. The two pictures show
spectra from the first two galaxies observed for the VNGS as well
Physics and Astronomy
Department of
ambitious projects which would have been considered impossible
as Herschel imaging for the M82/M81 system. M82 is the closest
only a few years ago. The net effect is that neutron beam research
example of a starburst galaxy, one which is forming stars 10 times
will remain a cornerstone research capability in materials science
than
our
own
Milky
Way
galaxy.
In
addition,
all
the
activity
faster
I wish to support The Jim Waddington Prize in Physics & Astronomy
for the rest of your life (independent of how old you are!).
is confined to the central 2000 light years, while in our own
galaxy,
50,000 light
With star
my formation
gift of $ occurs over a diameter ofenclosed
or years
Our own McMaster Nuclear Reactor (MNR) is also seeing a
or more. Arp 220 is much more distant (200 million light years)
significant revival of neutron beam research. We’ve just
but is the closest example of an “ultra-luminous infrared galaxy”
With my total pledge of $
over
years.
completed construction of MAD (the McMaster Alignment
and is forming stars 250 times faster than our own galaxy. Both
Diffractometer) on beamport 6 of the MNR. It will be used for a
spectra show bright emission lines from CO (the most common
Payments
to be made:
host of exciting research and education purposes, including
molecule
in dense
gas regions after H2). Interestingly, Arp 220
assessing and aligning single crystals of exotic new materials in
shows clear emission and absorption lines from water, while these
Office Use Only
advance of experiments at NRU, the SNS and other neutron
$
annually
$
semi-annually
lines are relatively weaker (perhaps undetected) in M82.
Allocation: S2572A
sources worldwide (and hence its name).
Appeal: GY2
$ first papers showcasing
quarterlyscience results from
$ Herschel are due
monthly
The
NRU’s leaky calandria is undergoing repair, and hopefully NRU
at the end of March and scheduled to appear as preprints after
sometime this summer. It is
acceptance
sometime
in credit
May, 2010.
a very exciting and
Please charge
to my
card: This
[ ]isMasterCard
[ ] Visawill be back to scientific productivity
CharitabletheRegistration
#
important
to
keep
in
perspective
great scientific
and
busy time to be working with Herschel!
11903
5988over
RR its
0001
technological success that NRU
has been
more than 50
Expiry Date:
year lifetime. Neither sophisticated neutron beam research nor the
production of medical isotopes
the designers
Please were
makeenvisioned
cheques by
payable
to
National Research Universal (NRU) Reactor Repairs and
Card #:
of
NRU
–
these
were
later
developed
to
exploit
its
unique
power
“McMaster University” and make
Neutron Beam Research in Canada
and
flexibility.
It
has
had
tremendous
influence
on
both
Canada
reference to “The Jim Waddington
by Bruce Gaulin
and the international community
a number
important areas.
Signature:
Prize in inPhysics
& ofAstronomy”.
McMaster
faculty
and
students
have
been
at
the
forefront
of this
Receipts for Income Tax
purposes
The Canadian public is very familiar with the problems
vibrant
field
since
almost
its
inception,
and
that
tradition
continues
For more information
please
contact NRU
Marareactor,
Espostoprimarily
at (905) 525-9140 ext. 24569.
will be issued to all donors.
encountered
by Chalk River
Laboratory’s
and thrives today.
because of the “isotope crisis”. The NRU reactor was the source
forContributions
a large fractioncan
of the
world’s
supply of 99Tc,
which
decays to
be sent
as follows:
Mara
Esposto
99Mo and is used in a host of medical treatments.ABB
This241
production
Momentum and Impact
ground to a halt when NRU was shut down in
2009 after
the
McMaster
University
discovery of a heavy water leak from its calandria.
1280 Main Street West It is certainly not a trivial task to define measures for the success
Hamilton, ON L8S 4M1
of a university whose mission is education and training of the next
What is less well appreciated is that NRU has been the source of
generation of industrial and academic leaders, and cutting edge
many and sustained scientific advances in the area of neutron
research
at the same time. However, it is unquestionable that both
Contact Information:
beam research on materials. These go back to the seminal
aspects
inspire
each and
other.
For the McMaster
seventh consecutive
Department of Physics
Astronomy,
University year,
condensed matterGraduating
physics studiesClass
by BertofBrockhouse
2006 and his
McMaster
was
named
one
of
the
Top
100
universities
in the
1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1
contemporaries in the 1950s and 60s, which led to Brockhouse’s
recognized
list
published
by
the
Shanghai
Jiao
Tong
University.
Phone: 905-525-9140, ext. 24559
Nobel Prize in Physics in 1994. They continue to this day on a
The 905-546-1252
2009 Times Higher Education ranging places McMaster
Fax:
host of problems in new materials, such as superconductors,
among
the top 200 universities. McMaster was recognized as the
email: physics@mcmaster.ca
quantum magnets, biological membranes, as well as materials of
second
most research-intensive university in the country in the
http://www.physics.mcmaster.ca/
industrial importance.
Research InfoSource 2009 ranking.
The problems at NRU notwithstanding, neutron beam research is
thriving internationally, and McMaster faculty and students are
playing a leading role on this international stage. The $2B
Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) is now operational at Oak Ridge
National Laboratory, and a McMaster-led team has completed
building two of the (eventual) 25 instruments on it. Related
spallation neutron projects are also near completion in Japan
(JSNS), while the European Spallation Source (ESS), sited in
Lund, Sweden, is just now underway. Taken together, the reinvestment in neutron beam research worldwide is near the $7B
level, similar to that associated with the Large Hadron Collider at
CERN. These new facilities won’t simply maintain neutron
On Wednesday, April 5, 2006, the graduates organized a special
diffraction
andinspectroscopy
capabilities.
RatherClub
we where
are seeing
celebration
the Great Hall
of the University
family,
increases
in
figures-of-merit
for
such
experiments
by
factors
of their
50
friends, professors and staff all joined in the celebration of
to100.
These
advances
mean
that
scientists
can
contemplate
very
graduation.
The Department of Physics & Astronomy at McMaster has an
outstanding national and international reputation. This scientific
reputation is based on the high quality and productivity of its
graduate students, post-docs and faculty. Over the last decade, the
(current) members of the department produced 2,367 papers in
national and international scientific journals (as of January 2010).
This work was highly recognized by the national and international
research community and the published articles received the
impressive number of 15,993 citations. In this period, research in
the Physics Department at McMaster resulted in 7 Nature, 7
Science, one PNAS, and 59 contributions to Physical Review
Letters, which represent to the most prestigious journals in
science.
4
Physics and Astronomy
Department of
Outreach
Our lastest outreach activity is the annual Physics@Mac Online
Physics Competition in April which is designed to be inclusive,
wish to support
byI Caroline
Burgess The Jim Waddington Prize in Physics & Astronomy
fun, concept-based and collaborative. Students from grades 9
through 12 are encouraged to work in teams of two and compete
With my gift of $
enclosed or
for cash prizes. In the fist year of the contest, we had over 450
students from 9 school boards participate and we expect those
With my total pledge of $
over
years.
numbers to grow this year.
Payments to be made:
When we ask undegraduate students, graduate students and faculty
in the department what it is that drew them to Physics and
Use
Astronomy in the first place,Office
they will
sayOnly
that it was a facility for
$
annually
$
semi-annually
Allocation:
S2572A
problem-solving, a desire to understand concepts
at a fundamental
Appeal:
GY2 them to weird and
level,
and/or
a
role-model
that
introduced
$
quarterly
$
monthly
wonderful ideas. What often keeps them in the field is the sheer
fun of exploring an endless supply of fascinating problems in the
Please charge to my credit card: [ ] MasterCard
[ ] Visaquest to a better understanding
Charitable
Registration
of the physical
world. A#final goal
11903high
5988school
RR 0001
of our program is to proivide
students with
Expiry Date:
opportunities that might lead them to discover or affirm a love of
Physics and AstronomyPlease
for all make
of the above
reasons.
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recent
cheques
payable
Since I last wrote about Physics & Astronomy Outreach in the
Card #:
examples suggest that “McMaster
we are having
an
impact
in
this
regard.
University” and make
2006 newsletter, our program has expanded both in the number of
Feedback from teachersreference
whose classes
participated
in our online
to “The
Jim Waddington
outreach activities we offer and in the number of high school
physics competition, reported
that
at
least
some
of
the students
Signature:
Prize in Physics & Astronomy”.
physics teachers and students we reach. In September 2007, we
who really enjoyed theReceipts
contest had
never
before
entertained
for Income Tax purposes the
launched a new website at www.physics.mcmaster.ca, “Outreach”.
idea
that
they
might
be
good
at
physics.
teacher wrote, “What
For more
information
Maraand
Esposto
(905) 525-9140 ext. 24569.
will be issued toOne
all donors.
This
has allowed
us toplease
post contact
information
offer atonline
was different about this experience was the lack of the sense of
registration for each of our activities and has resulted in a steadily
frustration and futility that I have witnessed when students get
increasing
number
and studentsMara
from Esposto
a broader
Contributions
canofbe teachers
sent as follows:
"blown away" on other contests. This came across as being
geographical area participating in our outreach
program.
ABB
241 This
interesting, accessible and fun. Even students whose forte is not
year, we received an NSERC PromoScience
grant, which
McMaster
University physics felt comfortable giving it a try.” One young woman
recognizes the quality of the program and provides
funds
to West
1280 Main
Street
currently in her third year of Honours Physics remembers thinking
expand it further.
Hamilton, ON L8S 4M1
that the magnetic levitation model train demonstration she
attended in Grade 12 was the coolest thing she had ever seen. This
One of the primary goals of our program has been to build a
past summer
she was awarded an NSERC Undergraduate Student
Contact
Information:
community of physics teachers and to this end, each semester, we
Research
Award
and worked
under theMcMaster
supervisionUniversity
of Dr. Graeme
Department of Physics
and Astronomy,
host a meeting that
draws high school
physics
teachers from the
Graduating
Class
of
2006
Luke
whose
lab
is
involved
in
studying
the
properties
1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1 of materials
surrounding area. These meetings provide a forum for physics
including
superconductivity.
She plans to pursue a graduate degree
Phone:
905-525-9140,
ext. 24559
teachers and Level I Physics instructors to discuss best practices in
in
Physics.
Fax: 905-546-1252
teaching, transition issues and changes in the physics curriculum
email: physics@mcmaster.ca
at the high school and university level. Teachers share ideas on
We are looking forward to expanding our outreach program with
http://www.physics.mcmaster.ca/
resources and activities and faculty provide a link to current
new web-based materials to reach even more students and
research, emerging technologies and careers in the field. Students
teachers. We would love to hear from any alumni who have
in our program who are interested in a teaching career have
suggestions for possible activities or who would like to participate
benefited from our network of contacts at local high schools in
in outreach themselves. Please do not hesitate to contact me at
which they can gain valuable volunteer teaching experience.
burgcar@mcmaster.ca.
Another important goal of the program has been to give high
school physics classes the opportunity to experience first-hand
what pursuing an undergraduate degree in Physics or a graduate
degree in Physics or Astrophysics might be like. We offer Physical
Sciences@Mac Activities for two weeks each December and
April during our exam periods. High School Physics teachers can
book an entire day of activities for their classes that include a
hands on first-year physics lab, a series of demos given by physics
On Wednesday, April 5, 2006, the graduates organized a special
graduate
students highlighing various research areas, a
celebration in the Great Hall of the University Club where family,
planetarium
show given
an all
astrophyics
studentof and
friends, professors
and by
staff
joined in graduate
the celebration
their
tours
of
several
research
facilties.
This
past
December,
we saw
graduation.
over 700 students in the two-week period.
Alumni - Where are they now?
Jun Chen (PhD 2009) is a postdoctoral fellow at McMaster
University working on a nuclear data project.
5
Sara Haravifard (PhD 2010) is a postdoctoral fellow at the
University of Chicago in the X-Ray Science Division
Argonne National Laboratory.
Physics and Astronomy
Department of
Governor of Ontario, the Honourable David C. Onley, and the
Ontario
Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities and
Rising Young Faculty
Minister of Research and Innovation, Dr. John Milloy. The special
I wish to support The Jim Waddington Prize in Physics & Astronomy
guest at the ceremony was Dr. John Polanyi, who continues to
The Polanyi Prizes are awarded
inspire and carry out research at the University of Toronto. Dr.
With my gift of $
enclosed
or
each year by the Province of
Polanyi gave a speech highlighting the importance of supporting
Ontario in honour of John C.
young researchers and the seductive nature of discovery in
With my total pledge of $ Polanyi, recipient of over
years.
the 1986
science. The award recipients were presented with a certificate by
Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The
the Lieutenant Governor and were given the opportunity to see Dr.
Polanyi
prizes specifically
Payments to be made:
Polanyi’s Nobel Prize.
recognize the accomplishments
Office Use Only
of early researchers
(less than semi-annually
5
$
annually
$
Allocation: S2572A
years post-PhD). In 2009 three
The Early Research
of the five prizes were awarded
Appeal: GY2
Awards (ERA) are
$
quarterly
$
monthly
to McMaster researchers, and I
funded by the
was honoured to be the recipient
Government
of
Please charge to my credit card:
[
]
MasterCard
[
]
Visa
of the prize for physics. These
Charitable Registration
#
Ontario and in 2009
generous awards ($20 000 for
11903 5988 RR
0001
provided
$11.5
Expiry Date:
each recipient) are meant to
million
to
support
Laura Parker
encourage research excellence
82 payablerecently
Please make cheques
to
in the Province of Ontario. The
Card #:
appointed
Ontario
“McMaster University”
and make
department of Physics & Astronomy has also fared well in
researchers.
reference to “The Jim
Waddington The
previous
Polanyi competitions with Drs. Alison Sills and Cecile
Duncan O’Dell
Signature:
aim of the
Prize in Physics &ultimate
Astronomy”.
Fradin winning the physics prize in 2002 and 2003, respectively.
– center
to move
Receipts for IncomeERA
Tax is
purposes
Ontario
towards a knowledge-based
For
more
information
please
contact
Mara
Esposto
at
(905)
525-9140
ext.
24569.
will be issued to economy
all donors.by supporting
I joined the department of Physics & Astronomy in 2007 after
innovative research. The hope is that this research will either
completing my PhD at the University of Waterloo in 2005 and
directly contribute to the wealth of the Province by starting new
Contributions
can
be
sent
as
follows:
Mara
Esposto
spending two years as a post-doctoral fellow in Germany. My
high-tech industries, or indirectly contribute by training up
241on both
research is in observational astrophysics andABB
focuses
undergraduates, graduates and postdocs into highly qualified
McMaster
University
galaxy evolution and cosmology. Much of my research
to date
has
personnel, or “HQP”. I am a theoretical physicist who may be
used the tool of gravitational lensing to study
theMain
masses
of West
1280
Street
loosely described as working in the area of quantum optics and the
objects in the universe. It’s been known since
the 1970’s
that L8S 4M1
Hamilton,
ON
quantum mechanics of simple systems. My research papers have
much of the mass in galaxies, like our Milky Way, is in some
titles such as “Diffraction from imaginary potentials”;
unseen form of dark matter. With gravitational lensing (the
“Electromagnetically
Contact
Information: induced gravity” and “Vortex in a Bosedistorting of light by massive objects) we can determine the total
Einstein condensate
withAstronomy,
dipole-dipole
interactions”.
It was
Department
of Physics and
McMaster
University
masses of galaxies,
large collections
of galaxies
and the universe
Graduating
Class
of 2006
therefore
with
some
trepidation
that
I wroteL8S
a research
proposal for
1280
Main
Street
West,
Hamilton,
Ontario
4M1
as a whole.
an ERA
since there was
Phone:
905-525-9140,
ext. clearly
24559 an implication that the research
should
be applied or somehow directly useful. “Something
Fax:
905-546-1252
In addition to gravitational lensing I am also involved in a number
intended
for the engineers”, I thought. Now, please don’t get me
email:
physics@mcmaster.ca
of observational projects trying to understand how different types
wrong. I strongly believe that my research will one day be highly
http://www.physics.mcmaster.ca/
of galaxies form and evolve. My students and I use data from
applicable to the technology of the future, such as the much
ground- and space-based observatories to try and understand how
vaunted quantum computer. But that day may be 25 or 50 years
the different observed properties of galaxies depend on the
away. These circumstances always remind me of Maxwell, who
location in which the galaxies reside and the epoch in which they
laid down the theoretical foundations for electromagnetism in the
first assembled.
1860s. It was the forefront of fundamental research at that time,
the String theory of its day, but nowadays we couldn’t live without
I feel extremely fortunate to be working on such fundamental and
the electrical and optical communications which came directly out
fascinating questions. McMaster has one of the best astronomy
of his work. A previous recipient of an ERA in the Department of
research groups in the country and has a strong international
Physics and Astronomy is Dr James Wadsley, an astrophysicist
presence. We also have a truly outstanding crop of graduate
who works on star and galaxy formation. So I went to see James
students whose enthusiasm and curiosity make doing research
to ask how his research benefited the economy down here on Earth
exciting every day. This award really encourages one to strive for
and he explained that his computer simulations to describe stars
excellence in the image Dr. John Polanyi.
were also applicable to industrial processes involving gas and
On Wednesday, April 5, 2006, the graduates organized a special
liquid dynamics. Suitably heartened that I could be useful, I came
Thecelebration
Polanyi in
Prize
ceremony
a formal Club
eventwhere
heldfamily,
in
the Great
Hall ofwas
the University
up with a project entitled “The Quantum Internet”. The idea is that
friends, professors
staff all
joined on
in the
their
November,
2009 atand
Massey
College
thecelebration
campus ofof the
graduation.
University
of Toronto. In attendance were the Lieutenant
Continued on Page 7
6
Physics and Astronomy
Department of
2009 Graduating Class
I wish
to support
The
JimWednesday,
Waddington
in Physics
& Astronomy
2009
Graduating
Class
– On
AprilPrize
1, 2009,
the graduates
organized a special celebration in the Dining Room of the University
Club where friends, professors and staff all joined in the celebration of their graduation.
With my gift of $
enclosed or
With my total pledge of $
over
Payments to be made:
$
$
annually
quarterly
Please charge to my credit card: [
Expiry Date:
$
$
] MasterCard
years.
semi-annually
monthly
[
] Visa
Card #:
Signature:
For more information please contact Mara Esposto at (905) 525-9140 ext. 24569.
Contributions can be sent as follows:
Mara Esposto
ABB 241
McMaster University
1280 Main Street West
Hamilton, ON L8S 4M1
Office Use Only
Allocation: S2572A
Appeal: GY2
Charitable Registration #
11903 5988 RR 0001
Please make cheques payable to
“McMaster University” and make
reference to “The Jim Waddington
Prize in Physics & Astronomy”.
Receipts for Income Tax purposes
will be issued to all donors.
Contact Information:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, McMaster University
Graduating Class of 2006
1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1
Phone: 905-525-9140, ext. 24559
Front Row: Melissa Furukawa, *Lizzie Murray, Emily Closs, May Wheeler,
Sarah Selesnic, Emily Bell.
Fax: 905-546-1252
Middle Row: David Tran, Billeejean Abbey, Adam Atkinson, Nick Chisholm,
Kimberly Figueira
email: physics@mcmaster.ca
Back Row: *Daniel Baker, Martin Gerber, Corey Treen, Maxim Mitchell,
Graeme
Beattie, Jordan Anstey
http://www.physics.mcmaster.ca/
*Exchange students from England
Continued from Page 6
future communications technology based upon the laws of
quantum mechanics will need a way to distribute quantum
information across a network (i.e. the internet). At the nodes of the
network one would have a quantum computer, the architecture of
which is hotly debated between proponents of condensed matter
realizations (electrons in solids) and atomic/molecular realizations
(trapped atoms, ions and molecules): most likely the final
On Wednesday,
5, 2006,
the graduates
organized
a special
technology
will beApril
a hybrid
of both.
Either way,
the network
celebration
in
the
Great
Hall
of
the
University
Club
where
family,
connections between the nodes will undoubtedly utilize photons.
friends, professors and staff all joined in the celebration of their
Light is amazing stuff and the two polarizations states of a photon
graduation.
can be used to form “flying qubits”. My ERA research proposal
7
concerned methods for coherently and deterministically
transferring the quantum state of light along optical fibers
connecting the nodes. It turns out that this problem can be mapped
onto adiabatic quantum mechanics which makes use of my
expertise gained in more abstract settings. To my delight and
surprise the proposal was successful and over the next five years
will enable me to expand my nascent group and help make us
internationally competitive. As a theorist, my equipment costs are
modest and so almost all of the money will go into funding
graduate students and summer undergraduate researchers.
and Astronomy Physics and Astronomy
Department of
Physic
Those who wish to support undergraduate and graduate students in physics and astronomy at McMaster can designate their donations to
McMaster Physics & Astronomy, or to one of our funds:
I wish to support The Jim Waddington Prize in Physics & Astronomy
& Astronomy (see front page for more info).
The Martin Johns Fund – this fund is used to provide entrance scholarships to Honours Physics undergraduate students, and to send
Physics
undergraduates
With
my gift of $to the Canadian Undergraduate
enclosed
or Conference.
Themy
Jimtotal
Waddington
annual prize foryears.
the student with the highest achievement in Physics 1BA3 who is
With
pledge ofPrize
$ – this fund supports an
over
years.
entering an Honours Physics program.
Payments
to be made:
The McCallion
Planetarium Fund – this new initiative will allow a graduate student to be appointed part-time manager of the newly
renovated planetarium.
$
emi-annually
$
monthly
Office Use Only
$
Allocation: S2572A
quarterly Appeal: GY2$
annually
Message from
the
Office
UseChair
Only
semi-annually
monthly
Allocation: S2572A
The GY2
end of 2003 marked the
Appeal:
retirement of Jim Waddington, who
joined McMaster as a post-doc in
1970, but was quickly moved onto
Please charge to my credit card: [ ] MasterCard
[ ] Visa The McCallion Planetarium Fund - 0610A
Charitable
Registration #
] Visa
the faculty where he rose through
Charitable Registration #
11903
5988 toRR
0001 Jim has had
the ranks
professor.
11903 5988 RR 0001
Expiry Date:
a stellar research career as an
experimental
nuclear tophysicist
Please make
cheques payable
Please make cheques payable to
Card #:
studying
highly
deformed
“McMaster University” and
make nuclei.
“McMaster University” and make
He
was
the
leader
reference to “The Jim Waddington of the
reference to “The Jim Waddington
8TC gamma-ray
Signature:
Prize in NSERC-funded
Physics & Astronomy”.
Prize in Physics & Astronomy”.
spectrometer
project,
an instrument
Receipts for Income Tax purposes
Your personal information is treated in accordance with our privacy
Receipts
for
Income
Tax
purposes
which
started
its
life
at AECL in
policy
and
applicable
legislation.
For
further
information
on
privacy
For more information
please
contact Mara Esposto at (905) 525-9140 ext. 24569.
will be issued to all donors.
at: www.mcmaster.ca/ua/privacy.htm,
please visit our website
5) 525-9140 ext. 24569.
will
be issued to all donors.email
Chalk River, later migrated to
us at alumni@mcmaster.ca, or call us at 1-888-217-6003.
Berkeley, California, and is now in
John Berlinsky
Contributions can be sent as follows:
Mara Esposto
use by Jim and his collaborators at
ABB 241
the ISAC facility at TRIUMF. He is also a former Director of the
McMaster University
McMaster
Accelerator Laboratory. However Jim will likely be
AY2
ersity
remembered by many of the readers of this newsletter as one of
1280 Main Street West
et West
Hamilton, ON L8S 4M1 their best professors.
L8S 4M1
nt
on
to
The Jim Waddington Prize - 52572A
In 2003 Jim’s superb teaching record led to his receiving the
Contact
Information:
President’s
Award for Excellence in Instruction which recognized
Department
Physics
andestablished
Astronomy,himself
McMaster
the fact ofthat
he had
as University
the best teacher in
1280Physics
Main Street
West, Hamilton,
Ontarioof L8S
4M1 Jim has been an
& Astronomy
over a period
33 years.
Phone:
905-525-9140,
ext. 24559of students. He believes strongly in
inspiration
to generations
Fax:involving
905-546-1252
undergraduate students in research, and many of the
students
whom he supervised have gone on to pursue successful
email:
physics@mcmaster.ca
careers in Physics. Jim continues his involvement in the
http://www.physics.mcmaster.ca/
department’s teaching through his participation in the new “Big
Questions” courses for which he will have administrative
responsibility over the next few years. He also plans to remain
active in research.
Contact Information:
Graduating
ClassMcMaster
of 2006University
Department of Physics
and Astronomy,
1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1
Phone: 905-525-9140, ext. 24559
Fax: 905-546-1252
email: physics@mcmaster.ca
http://www.physics.mcmaster.ca/
On Wednesday, April 5, 2006, the graduates organized a special
celebration in the Great Hall of the University Club where family,
friends, professors and staff all joined in the celebration of their
graduation.
The Martin Johns Fund - 5415A
In honour of Jim Waddington’s retirement, the department has
decided to establish a prize which will be called “The Jim
Waddington Prize in Physics & Astronomy.” This prize will be
awarded each year to the student with the best performance in
Physics 1BA3 who then enters an Honours Program in Physics or
Astronomy. The rationale for creating this award is as follows: One
of Jim’s main teaching assignments in recent years was Physics
1BA3, the second semester of Physics for 1st year students who are
heading toward the physical sciences. This course is a gateway into
Honours Physics & Astronomy, and Jim has acted as a beacon,
8