F
University Daily Kansan/Friday; December 2, 1988
Important investment Harnessing antimatter could lead to faster spacecraft, cancer treatments
5B
The Associated Press
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — A $400 million investment could help scientists harness antimatter, perhaps leading to faster spacecraft and better ways to treat cancer and detect flaws in complex machines, a Rand Corp. study
"We are on the threshold of important advances in the basic science of antimatter and its practical applications. But as tantalizingly near as that may be, the rewards cannot be realized without a program such as we are advocating," said Bruno Augenstein, a physicist at the tank.
The Rand report stems from a 1987 meeting of 80 experts on antimatter. They detailed experiments needed if they were to harness antimatter. Augenstein and colleagues' research would cost about $460 million during to years.
Recognizing federal budget deficits, the Air Force sponsored report stopped short of urging the expenditure, and it did not. The government resisted.
Rand said the government, universities and industry should spend $30 million jointly during three years to modify an atom smasher to produce one quadrillion antimatter particles annually and to develop devices that could store the particles, called antiprotons, for practical uses.
Antimatter composition
"Antimatter has a very buzzywool, gosh-gee-willy impact upon the general public. People immediately think of 'Star Trek,' but the exotic substance really works in New Mexico, of Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.
For each type of particle in matter, there is a corresponding particle of antimatter that has the same mass but an opposite electric charge. Protons are positively charged particles in atoms of matter. Antiprotons are their negatively charged antimatter counterparts.
"in you had a twin brother made out of antimatter, you would literally annihilate each other in a big explosion of light and energy if you came into contact," said Nieto, who co-edited a book of technical papers from the 1890s.
Such explosions could be harnessed as rocket fuel, although that would be the most difficult practical application to develop. Augenstein and Nieto said. Artimeters uses.
Antimatter uses
Antimatter is a promising rocket fuel because a tiny amount can produce as much energy as a huge tank of chemical rocket fuel. "so you only have to carry a small amount of antimatter into orbit to carry you to Mars,"
Nemo said.
Antimatter-powered spacecraft would be lighter, faster and able to carry heavier payloads further than existing rockets, Augenstein said.
If the $400 million is spent, antiprotons could be available in a decade for radiation therapy for cancer patients, he said. Unlike existing methods, antiproton beams could be targeted so precisely that the particles would destroy only a tumor with minimal damage to intervening tissue, Augenstein said.
Compared with X-rays, CAT scans and magnetic resonance imaging, antiprotons should produce more accurate, easier-to-interpret pictures of the inside of the human body to help doctors diagnose cancers and other diseases. Augenstein said. Nieto said antiprotons also would expose patients to much less radiation.
Pictures made using antiprotons instead of X-rays also should make it 1,000 times faster to detect and weld cracks or other flaws in industrial materials and turbine blades, rocket nozzles and airplane blades. Augmenter said.
Nieto said a reliable source of antiprotons also would help physicists "study the fundamental properties of matter and antimatter, and the fundamental forces which act upon them."
The report said antiprotons could be mass-produced by modifying an existing proton accelerator, either at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Illinois, or at Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island. N. Y
Three existing atom smashers, or particle accelerators, now create antiprotons, but each yields trillions of neutrons. The next generation of these accelerators
Storing ammeter requires keeping it from contact with matter. Augenstein said magnetic fields could be used to hold them in "ion traps" or keep them circulating in storage rings.
Schools ignore asbestos management rules
survey sponsored by Kaselaan & D'Angelo Associates of Haddon Heights, N.J.
In the other states, local authorities in charge of about 40 percent of the schools have requested permission to delay submission of management plans for a year, the architectural and engineering firm said.
WASHINGTON — More than a fifth of the nation's schools appear to be disregarding federal asbestos management requirements, a company that prepares asbestos plans said this week.
The Associated Press
Asbestos fibers, if in breathable form from crumbling asbestos insulation or other material, can cause lung cancer and other diseases as long as 40 years after exposure. In 1984 the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that 30,000 school buildings, roughly a third of the nation's total, could contain breathable asbestos.
Laura Husar/KANSAN
Federal law required all public and private school districts to inspect their buildings and submit to state governors, by Oct. 12, plans to manage asbestos in the buildings of public schools. A new law to permit school authorities to seek a year's delay.
Twenty-four states are unable to say what proportion of their schools are complying with the law, according to a
During a game of football, Christopher Hazlett, Topeka sophomore, and Jason Lohmeyer, Great Bend freshman, leap for the ball while Mike Remmert, Olathe junior, watches.
Aim high
MUSEUM GIFT SHOP
Museum of Anthropology Univ. of Kansas
Mon.-Sat. Sun.
9 a.m.-5 p.m. 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
One Stop for "Round the World" Shopping.
HOLIDAY SPECIALS from:
STRICK'S RESTAURANT
732 North 2nd
DINNER
SPECIAL
Fri. & Sat. Night...$4.99
Spaghetti with
Meatsauce
Served with Salad
& Texas Toast
NEW HOURS:
M-Th...6am-10pm
F-S...6am-11:30pm
Sun...8am-10pm
Christmas Trees
For Sale
2 1/2" - 15" Trees
Roping & Wreaths
Launch your Holiday Festivities with items from Blomgren & Johnson
- Large selection of Holiday Decanters
- 4 Differen beer gift boxes
- Owned by KU student
1410 Kasold, Suite 21
What's the "MORE" ?
- party decorating service
- ribbon shredders
- BeverlyHills Confections
- shiny gift bags
- stocking stuffers
- cuddly creatures
- gift baskets
- party tinsel
- cards BALLOONS
We deliver balloon bouquets!
The University of Kansas Printing Service Announces MEDIA CONVERSION SERVICES
The Missing Link . . . . . . for more than 700 systems!
Have you recently changed personal computers or
Has your department changed word processors?
If so, our comprehensive disk conversion system may have the solutions to your conversion needs.
If you wish to eliminate costly re-keyboarding or eliminate the resulting errors that can occur in re-keyboarding documents, we can offer you an alternative service.
Please Call Our Customer Service Coordinators
KU Printing Service
864-4341 2425 West 15th
ROUNDTOWN Mall
10 Specialty Shops
Deck the Halls (Lawrence's only Christmas shop)
Cameo Lingerie
Flickering Light (Candles, brass, many gift items)
Plant Factory (baskets, silk plants)
2499 furnished Dr.
(West of Auto Plaza) 842-6454
---
Apple Seasonings
Microsoft Works - Word processor, spreadsheet
and data base manager! all in one.
Microsoft Excel - The ultimate in spreadsheets with outstanding graphics
Dollars & Sense - Home accounting system for money management and checkbook maintenance
Panasonic printer for the Mac - Panasonic 1080
with tractor and friction feed, excellent quality with Mac
interface and 24 month warranty. all $399
Great prices on disks, paper supplies (including postcard, labels, Rollidex), games, WordPerfect.
KU's connection for Apple enhancements from the professionals at:
ConnectingPoint COMPUTER CENTER
Downtown Lawrence
804 New Hampshire St.
843-7584