人妻少妇专区

NSF awards $13 million for multi-university initiative to explore 鈥榬evolutionary states of matter.鈥�

A new (NSF) Physics Frontier Center, hosted at the 人妻少妇专区鈥攊n collaboration with researchers at MIT, Princeton, the Universities of California at Berkeley and Davis, the University at Buffalo, and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory鈥攚ill focus on understanding the physics and astrophysical implications of matter under pressures so high that the structure of individual atoms is disrupted.

The Center for Matter at Atomic Pressures (CMAP) will be funded with a five-year, $12.96 million from the NSF.

The Physics Frontiers Centers (PFC) bring together some of the nation鈥檚 most highly regarded university-based centers funded by the NSF to enable transformational advances in the most promising research areas.

鈥淭he Physics Frontiers Centers program supports creative and interdisciplinary work at the frontiers of physics,鈥� says Jean Cottam Allen, the NSF program officer overseeing the centers. 鈥淩esearchers at the Center for Matter at Atomic Pressures are investigating a new frontier of matter at extreme pressures.鈥�

This is the first major initiative from NSF in the field of high-energy-density science and follows several recent smaller grants and awards, including a previous investment in establishing the for studies of matter under extreme pressures.

鈥淭his effort will help discover the nature of planets and stars throughout the universe, as well as the potential for new revolutionary states of matter here on Earth,鈥� says principal investigator , the Tracy Hyde Harris Professor of Mechanical Engineering, a professor of physics and astronomy, and associate director of science, technology, and academics at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) at Rochester.

Leading a 鈥榩aradigm shift鈥� in high-energy-density physics

Impetus for the project is two-fold, Collins says:

First is a recent 鈥減aradigm shift in how we think about extreme states of matter.鈥� It was previously believed, for example, that materials subjected to very high, atomic-scale pressure, would transition to simple, densely packed metals. 鈥淗owever, recent theoretical and experimental results now suggest such extreme matter can become increasingly more complicated, with extraordinarily exotic properties,鈥� Collins says. Aluminum, for example, may transform from a simple metal to a transparent insulator, hydrogen from a gas into a superconducting superfluid, and traditional hot conducting plasma to an insulating plasma.

Second is that thousands of planets, some of which may be platforms for life, have been discovered outside the solar system. To understand the nature of such massive bodies, researchers need to understand the planets鈥� deep interior states, which are under extreme pressures due to the crushing forces of gravity.

CMAP will lead discoveries at the confluence of two movements in science. Combining powerful lasers, pulsed-power, and X-ray beam technology with first-principles theory and astrophysical interpretation, the center will concentrate on four main areas of fundamental research:

• How hydrogen and helium behave at extraordinary densities in the so-called 鈥済as giant鈥� planets, including Jupiter and Saturn in our solar system. 鈥淭his plays a key role in our understanding of how our solar system evolved,鈥� Collins says.
• How other elements react at high densities, to understand the nature of terrestrial and water worlds in the universe, and how materials might be manipulated in laboratories on Earth to 鈥渉arness revolutionary properties.鈥�
• The pathways of energy transport that enable the dramatic change in properties and the energy balance of matter at extreme pressures. This will shed light on the evolution of planets and stars throughout the universe.
• The direct astrophysical implications of extreme matter properties鈥攍inking laboratory exploration of matter at atomic pressure with state-of-the-art models of astrophysical objects to better understand astronomical observations.

Project includes educational outreach in physics

The center also contains cutting-edge educational and outreach efforts.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to bring our scientific results to people in a lot of innovative ways, including radio and web stories as well as video content,鈥� says Adam Frank, a professor of physics and astronomy at Rochester who will lead outreach efforts. The educational outreach will focus on bringing high-energy-density science to students in a range of settings, from high schools to graduate schools.

鈥淭his effort will use modern computational and educational tools that teachers and student will also be able to leverage in other disciplines,鈥� says , an associate professor of physics at Rochester, a recent winner of the CAREER award from NSF, and leader of CMAP鈥檚 educational efforts.

Co-principal investigators are Sara Seager at MIT, Adam Burrows at Princeton, Raymond Jeanloz at Berkeley, and Sarah Stewart at Davis. Senior investigators in addition to Frank and Gourdain include Eva Zurek from Buffalo, Burkhard Militzer from Berkeley, Tom Duffy from Princeton, Jon Eggert, Rick Kraus, and Peter Cellers at Livermore, and at Rochester, Eric Blackman and Ryan Rygg of the Department of Physics and Astronomy; Suxing Hu, Mohamed Zaghoo, and Philip Nilson of the Laboratory for Laser Energetics; Jessica Shang and Hussein Aluie of the Department of Mechanical Engineering; and Miki Nakajima of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Collins, Hu, Rygg, and Zaghoo are also affiliated with the University’s Materials Science Program.

The University鈥檚 Institute for Matter at Extreme Energy Density (IMAXED), home to the High-Energy-Density (HED) Physics program, launched in 2017, has quickly become a leader in the field.

鈥淩ip has been a force on our campus in leading efforts in high-energy-density physics. He has worked as a bridge between the LLE, the rest of our campus, and other institutions, and has put tireless effort into bringing people together to do things previously not done,鈥� says Rob Clark, provost and senior vice president for research at Rochester. The CMAP project is an example. 鈥淚 congratulate him and the team that he assembled to successfully leverage resources to address this exciting area of fundamental science.鈥�

Congressional congratulations for new center

Members of the University鈥檚 Congressional delegation extended their congratulations as well.

鈥淭he NSF funding for the 人妻少妇专区鈥檚 Center for Matter at Atomic Pressures ensures Rochester will help lead the country in the field of high energy density science,鈥� US Senator Charles Schumer says. 鈥淓stablishing this new center in Rochester will support local jobs and enable UR researchers to make discoveries in cutting-edge physics while bolstering our nation鈥檚 scientific workforce to keep the US as a global leader in new scientific advances. I am proud to deliver this funding that will keep the 人妻少妇专区 at the forefront of cutting-edge scientific innovation. This is a great day for the 人妻少妇专区 and the scientific community.”

Congressman Joe Morelle says, 鈥淭he 人妻少妇专区 continues to lead the way in groundbreaking scientific research. This major award from the National Science Foundation is further proof of their excellence in innovation and world-class efforts in the in the field of high-energy-density physics. Congratulations to the entire 人妻少妇专区 team on this exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of pursuing a new scientific frontier.鈥�

鈥淭he world-class scientists at the 人妻少妇专区 produce ground-breaking discoveries that help advance our knowledge of the sciences, and this new federal funding will allow the university to continue that important work,鈥� says Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. 鈥淭he Center for Matter at Atomic Pressures is a pioneer institution that will prepare university students for their future as leaders in the scientific workforce. I鈥檓 proud to announce this funding for the 人妻少妇专区 and I will always fight for the resources that New York State鈥檚 universities need to succeed.鈥�

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