Research Update: A Phonon Floodgate in Monolayer Carbon
The first scanning tunneling spectroscopy of graphene flakes equipped with a “gate” electrode, performed by a group led by Michael Crommie of the Materials Sciences Division, a professor of physics at UC Berkeley, uncovered surprising behavior in the unique, two-dimensional crystal form of carbon. An unexpected gap-like feature in the energy spectrum of electrons tunneling into graphene’s single layer of atoms occurs when the electrons interact with phonons, vibrations of the 2-D crystal; the discovery could lead to novel applications for future graphene nanodevices. More>
Special Event: Summer Lecture Tomorrow at Noon in Bldg. 50 Auditorium
Tomorrow NERSC Director Kathy Yelick will present “Multicore: Fallout from a computing revolution,” the fifth in the 2008 series of summer lectures. Although today even laptops and hand-helds use parallel processors, the software hasn’t kept pace. The computing community is racing to develop exciting applications that take advantage of tens or hundreds of processors on a single chip. Join us Tuesday at noon in the Bldg. 50 Auditorium. Full lecture schedule>
In the News: Dark Energy and Raindrop Tracking on QUEST Tomorrow
Watch QUEST Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. on KQED TV, Channel 9, and KQED HD, Comcast 709, as Saul Perlmutter and other members of the Supernova Cosmology Project including Hannah Swift describe the efforts now underway to understand dark energy — including SNAP, the SuperNova/Acceleration Probe. Then Inez Fung of the Earth Sciences Division and her colleagues at UC Berkeley explain a new project to understand how global warming is affecting our fresh water supply — by tracking individual raindrops in Northern California. Full QUEST program>
Special Event Coming Soon: Women Scientists' Council Luncheon
The Berkeley Lab Women Scientists' Council will host a luncheon seminar on Monday July 28, at 12:00 noon in Perseverance Hall. Inez Fung of the Earth Sciences Division, a professor of atmospheric science at UC Berkeley, will discuss "The Physics of the Climate System." She'll review the formulation and validation of climate models and describe the challenges of projections of future climate change, with discussion and networking to follow. Lunch is available to those who preregister: contact Veronica Nero, x7443.
Blood Drive Reminder: Bloodmobile at Cafeteria on Tuesday
The Bloodmobile comes to the Cafeteria parking lot from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. tomorrow. Register for an appointment online here, using sponsor code "LBL." If you have a question, please call Heather Pinto, x4181. Your blood could save a life.