Jammed States of Matter

Almost any system composed of discrete pieces large enough that thermal fluctuations can be ignored can have a jamming transition: a point at which fluid flow is impeded by a change of state into a stable amorphous solid.  The behavior is general enough to explain a pile of sand, a jar of candies, or cars in a traffic jam.  Professor Andrea Liu was involved in recent theoretical breakthroughs in the study of this phenomenon.

 

Singh Center for Nanotechnology

The newly-opened (Oct. 4, 2013) 78,000 square-foot Krishna P. Singh Center for Nanotechnology serves as Penn's focal point for nanoscience research and technology-development.  P&A's Prof. Jay Kikkawa was instrumental in the planning and provision of vital services for the new facility.

Outreach Effort for Penn Physics and Astronomy

At the Penn Summer Science Academy (PSSA) students listen to a lecture, delivered from CERN by Professor Elliot Lipeles, on the discovery of a Higgs-like particle the day after the international announcement.

 

Large Synoptic Survey Telescope at Night

A simulated night sky provides a background for the LSST facilities building on Cerro Pachón. The LSST will carry out a deep, 10 year imaging survey in six broad optical bands over the main survey area of 18,000 square degrees. Penn physicists play important roles in the leadership and anticipated dark energy science that will come from LSST.

 

High-Bay Space at DRL

This cube-shaped building sits just east of DRL.  The high-bay provides faculty and students a facility for research, fabrication, and telescope display.  The building has a 42 foot high ceiling, exposed structural steel framing, and a crane beam and glass sliding doors for moving large telescopes in and out.  It was completed in January 2012.

 

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