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University Daily Kansan Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1965
Research Seen As Key
The key that will unlock the treasure house of industrialization for Kansas, citizens of the state have been told repeatedly, is university research.
"The availability of trained minds overshadows even such factors as the labor market, water supply, and power resources," said a Defense Department report.
where does Kansas stand in recruiting trained minds for its faculty and providing trained minds in the form of science graduates? What is the research capability of one of its major institutions of higher education. the University of Kansas?
Look at one department: physics.
Look at one department, physics. In KU laboratories physicists are bombarding atomic nuclei with a powerful Van de Graaff generator to learn more about the inner workings of the core of the atom. They are subjecting material to strong magnetic fields to learn more about its physical makeup. They are cooling atoms almost to freezing to study their structure and behavior. They are probing the abstract realm of theoretical physics.
MUCH OF THIS could be related to the basic knowledge industry needs. And yet the university, limited by funds and even more by the
(Second article in a series)
need for more scientific talent, is a considerable way from having one of the really outstanding physics departments in the United States, according to its own faculty members.
The emphasis, as in most physics departments, is on specialization in certain areas of research. But the need, say the faculty men, is for a few more imaginative physicists to add spark to this research.
Is this of any importance to the citizens of Kansas? The Atomic Energy Commission thinks so. So does the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation and many other scientific agencies. They support the research of physicists and other scientists at the university without any particular promise of applicable results.
THE KU PHYSICISTS are doing basic research, the "what makes grass green" kind of inquiry that is the foundation for all scientific knowledge. They never know until their research is finished whether it
Official Bulletin
KU Foreign Student Hospitality Program: Presidents and Scholarship Chairman of Organized Houses meet with Foreign Student Scholarship Committee Chairman and representative of Institute of Interior, University of Kansas. Foreign Student Hospitality Program: Mon., Feb. 15. Forum Room, Kansas Union, 4:00 p.m.
City Clerks School, All Day. Kansas Union.
William Allen White Lecture, 2.30
Jeffrey J. Johnson, UPI Forum Room,
Kansas, Union
German Department Forum, 4:30 p.m.
11th floor of the Munich University Theatre and Mr. Otto M. Sorenson of German Dept. will discuss "Mother Courage." Everyone invited.
Carillon Recital, 7:00 p.m. Albert
Gorken
Classical Film. "Metropolis." Dyche Hall.
Faculty Recital. 8:00 p.m. Karel Blas,
wist and violinist. Swartwhout R. cital
Hall.
University Theatre Major Production
6 p.m. "Mother Courage." Murphy Hall
Episcopal Evening Prayer, 9:30 p.m.
Danforth Chapel.
TOMORROW
Teaching Candidates: Interviews scheduled in Kansas City Public Schools. Elementary, secondary, and college. Missouri, St. Louis School District. Elementary and, secondary.
City Clerks School, All Day. Kansas Union.
Union
Episcopal Holy Communion. 11:35 a.m.
University Women's Club. 2:00 p.m.
Wetking Room, Kansas Union.
Mathematics Colloquium 3:30 p.m.
Prof. Robert D. Adams, A Remark on
The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
Wesley Foundation Feverson. 5:00 p.m.
Methodist Center, 1314 Oread.
Archaeological Institute of America
lecture, *Stone Age and illustrated picture*
by Pete
Edward Kidd, University of
historian, Yale University. "Origins and
development" by Yale University.
306. Kansas Union. All are welcome.
St. Lawrence Student Center Class Schedule:
Fundamentals of Catholic Faith
Fundamentals of Catholic Faith-Dell-
Willett-4:00 p.m. (begining) Fundamentals
of Catholic Faith-Father James-
5:00 p.m. (begining) Biographical
Thought-Father, Sullivan-7:00 p.m.
Freshman Basketball, 7:30 p.m. Kansas State. Allen Field House.
will have any practical value. Sometimes they don't know then.
University Theatre. 8:20 p.m. "Mother Courage." Murphy Hall.
Richard Sapp, associate professor of physics, for instance, studies how atoms behave when cooled to within a few thousandths of a degree of absolute zero, about minus 459 degrees Fahrenheit. He dips materia into liquid helium, which boils a 452 degrees below zero.
At this super-cold temperature, atomic particles move more slowly. Then Prof. Sapp cools the material even more by a process called adiabetic demagnetization, or magnetic cooling, which involves exposing a substance to extreme magnetic force fields in one of the university's powerful electromagnets.
The magnetic force produced by the most powerful of these, incidentally, is about 40,000 times that of the earth's magnetic field.
THE APPLICATION of the magnetic field imparts some heat which is carried away by the liquid helium. The magnetized material is then isolated from the helium and the magnetic field is removed. This "demagnetization" causes the material to cool to very near absolute zero.
Now the atom is almost frozen,
and it moves sluggishly. Now is when
physicist Sapp can make the most
careful study of the atom's structure.
One of the things he seeks is knowledge about how atoms within a substance are positioned when exposed to this extreme magnetic field of force and cold temperature.
Jack Culvahouse, professor of physics, has some related research interests. His research is in radio frequency spectroscopy—the measuring of radio and light waves with the aid of magnetism.
As in all aspects of modern physics, however, this is more complicated than it sounds. Prof. Culvahouse measures these waves by placing a magnetic field on a substance, then determining which radio-wave frequencies are absorbed.
Tinus, Prof. Culvahouse not only measures radio waves, but probes the deepest inner workings of the atom. From this kind of study, physicists hope to learn more about the basic structure of solids and liquids.
A MAGNETIZED SUBSTANCE can absorb energy from these waves when its magnetic dipoles—tiny structures within the atom—have become aligned by the force of the magnet.
Some of the research has a practical application. By learning more about the basic properties of magnetism, engineers have been able to produce better ferromagnetic materials, which in turn make possible better radio equipment. Some KU physics research also is related to
"Leading from Strength; LBJ in Action" by David Brinkley: President Johnson's vision of the Great Society, and the determination and political will that must be expected that in domestic affairs we shall climb the slopes with deliberate speed.
WHAT'S NEW IN THE FEBRUARY ATLANTIC?
"The Young Drug Addict: Can We Help Him?" by Jeremy Larner: In the last decade, drug addiction among teenagers has been of serious concern. This article is based on interviews with heroin addicts seeking help.
the production of Maser and Laser light beams used in industrial research.
PLUS AN ATLANTIC EXTRA "Foot-loose in Praise: A Marxist Bohemia" by Curtis Cate; An eye-witness report of visits to Czech writers, observations on night life, the sings, the Catholic Church and Iron Curtain life.
Month in, month out The Atlantic's editors seek out exciting expressions of new and provocative ideas. And whether these expressions take the form of prose or poetry, hard-earned always attain a remarkably high level of academic value and literary interest. Make room in your life for The Atlantic. Get a copy today.
Practical applications, however, are not the physicists' primary concern. Most of their work, and their first interest, is in basic research. Their findings may not have immediate practical value, but they are certain that basic facts about our universe are needed before any scientific advance can be made.
A B Γ Δ E Z H Θ I K A M
Fraternity and Sorority Jewelry
- Kings
* Pins
- Mugs
Ray Christian "THE COLLEGE JEWELER"
- Lavaliers
* Crests
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