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Deadly rockfalls lead to research effort
Fatal rockfalls at Yosemite National Park this summer led to a research project by DOE's Lawrence Livermore National Lab aimed at better understanding potentially dangerous rock formations. The research, with the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service, aims to learn whether seismic monitoring equipment can detect and locate cracking or small rockfalls. From this effort, it may someday become possible to understand subtle seismic patterns that precede rockfalls. Rockfalls are natural and presently unpredictable events that help generate the Park's great beauty but can be deadly to climbers and hikers, notes Livermore seismologist Steve Myers.
Electron vibrations as binary bits
Quantum well state in a copper sample imaged at the Advanced Light Source
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Researchers working at the DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have taken a significant step towards dramatically reducing the size of magnetic data storage devices. Working at the Advanced Light Source, they have produced the first high quality images of a "quantum well" ? an energy state that confines electronic motion to a single dimension. Quantum wells are thought to be the basis for GMR (giant magnetic resistance) and other effects crucial to boosting disk storage density. Understanding the physics behind quantum wells starts with high quality images and should make it possible to engineer magnetic storage devices on a nanometer (electron wavelength) scale.
Neutron balm
An injection and a few minutes in a gentle beam of neutrons may someday ease the pain of severe rheumatoid arthritis. With support from DOE's Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Jacquelyn Yanch, a physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has devised a new way to kill the synovium, the lining that overgrows and ruins an arthritic joint. She injects a boron-10 compound into the lining and exposes the joint to neutrons. The boron-10 captures neutrons and quickly decays, producing radiation that kills the synovium. The technique, dubbed Boron Neutron Capture Synovectomy, promises to be more effective than surgery and safer than injections of radioisotopes. Yanch is testing it on rabbits.
Strong bones
Researchers at DOE's Los Alamos National Laboratory have discovered that enlarging the ends of small wires mixed into concrete substantially increases the material's overall strength and toughness. Extending the life of concrete will have important implications for the costs of the nation's infrastructure repair and replacement. Civil engineers and contractors use steel, fiberglass and similar materials to increase concrete's strength, but using those materials often requires costly construction techniques. Bone-shaped, wire- reinforced concrete should become a favorite technology since the process is compatible with standard construction processes and the steel used for the wires is relatively cheap.
'Probe' probes massive data management
Managing the enormous amounts of data generated by researchers worldwide is a huge challenge. DOE's Oak Ridge and Lawrence Berkley national laboratories together are developing a distributed high-performance storage system test bed called Probe to help meet that challenge. Probe uses award-winning technology to support the gigabyte-per-second and petabyte-scale capacity needed in global climate modeling, human genome mapping and high-energy physics. Probe, based at ORNL and Berkeley, will be used to study ways to contain the cost of large storage systems, reduce long-distance network traffic and help scientists understand complex relationships by improving the performance of visualization applications.
Recycling moves from curb to driveway
Automobile manufacturers looking to lighten the weight of cars by using more aluminum are scrambling trying to find better ways to recycle that aluminum. Researchers at DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are helping and have teamed with two companies to improve the separation process of aluminum from steel, plastics and other lightweight materials used in vehicles. Pacific Northwest has teamed with an Oregon firm to develop a technique to separate aluminum casting alloys from sheet alloys or other lightweight materials based on their difference in melting temperature. A second project, which is being led by Alcoa, focuses on creating an automated process to sort up to five aluminum alloy families at once.
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NREL scientist studies the surfaces of solar devices
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Alvin Czanderna
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Alvin Czanderna has spent his career studying surfaces, but he's not a superficial guy. An internationally recognized surface scientist, Dr. Czanderna examines the chemistry, physics and material science aspects of the interfaces between solids, liquids and gases.
During his 22-year career at DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Czanderna's research has focused on addressing surface science problems in multi-layered applied solar technologies, including photovoltaic (solar electric) modules, energy-saving electrochromic windows and solar reflectors used in electricity producing concentrating solar power systems.
He recently established a new subfield of surface science dealing with interactions at metal-organic interfaces.
"My greatest joy at NREL has been working with many extremely competent colleagues to solve challenging applied research and technology problems in six different solar technology areas and to perform related fundamental surface science," he said.
Czanderna has educated thousands through his teaching and writing. He is an adjunct professor of chemistry, physics and engineering at the University of Denver and the author or co-author of more than 250 technical publications. He also is the editor of several books and has written review chapters on surface compositional analysis.
"I first became interested in pursuing a career in surface science in the late 1950s when the field was just emerging," he said. "The research needs and opportunities presented by this new discipline, and its relevance to a large number of applied science problems, captivated my interest. I decided early on to dedicate my career to a number of topical areas of surface science by studying surfaces and surface processes." He earned a doctorate in physical chemistry from Purdue University in 1957.
In honor of his extensive contributions to the advancement of surface chemistry, the American Chemical Society recently selected him for the Arthur W. Adamson Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Surface Chemistry. Visit the Web page at http://www.nrel.gov/hot-stuff/press/4399award.html for more information.
Submitted by DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory |
