Author Archive

From Physics Today, June 1, 2020: Fermilab’s Chris Quigg and University of Chicago’s Mel Shochet recount the extraordinary career of Fermilab physicist and National Medal of Technology recipient Alvin Tollestrup, who died on Feb. 9.

From WGN9, May 27, 2020: Fermilab scientist Jen Raaf is featured in this four-minute segment on the Mechanical Ventilator Milano, which arrived to Chicago’s Stroger Hospital last week from Italy. Physicists have been troubleshooting the design at the hospital.

From University of Cincinnati News, May 26, 2020: Fermilab physicist and UC alumna Jennifer Raaf is part of an international team of scientists and engineers who won federal regulatory approvals for a simple ventilator that could be produced quickly with common parts.

Fermilab is currently upgrading its accelerator complex to produce the world’s most powerful beam of high-energy neutrinos. To generate these particles, the accelerators will send an intense beam of protons traveling near the speed of light through a maze of particle accelerator components before passing through metallic “windows” and colliding with a stationary target. Researchers are testing the endurance of windows made of a titanium alloy, exposing samples to high-intensity proton beams to see how well the material will perform.

From Sanford Underground Research Facility, May 26, 2020: Unwilling to ignore flaws in the Standard Model, physicists are looking for a new, more perfect model of the subatomic universe. And many are hoping that the international Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, hosted by Fermilab, can put their theories to the test.

From DOE, May 20, 2020: Lee C. Teng is now 93 years old. The internship that bears his name was created jointly by Fermilab, Argonne National Laboratory and the U.S. Particle Accelerator School in 2007. He started work at Fermilab in 1967 and spent the next 22 years working in high-energy physics. After a two-year leave of absence that started in 1983, he picked up again at Fermilab, working until 2004, when he retired.

From Nature World News, May 20, 2020: Two studies have shown evidence of how a larger satellite galaxy can draw smaller ones into them as they get “trapped” into orbiting the Milky Way. Such an arrangement can inform astronomers and researchers about the nature of the formation of galaxies as well as insights into dark matter and its nature. Fermilab scientist Alex Drlica-Wagner is featured.

From Kane County Chronicle, May 19, 2020: Fermilab is hosting its annual STEM Career Expo online this year. The expo will allow high school students to learn more about science fields and what college courses are necessary for a STEM career.