Department Of Physics & Astronomy.
REACH BEYOND THE STARS
YOUNG SCIENTISTS & ROGUE ‘PLANET 9’
Image courtesy of Antonio González/IAC.
#INFINITELYCURIOUS
NEWSLETTER | AUTUMN 2017
CONT GRADUATION 2017 to the class ENTS Congratulations of 2017! We are so proud of
Fiddes Prize in Physics: Matthew Jones Hicks Prize: Emma Daffern-Powell
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COVER STORY: Telescope Launch
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Rogue ‘Planet 9’?
the achievements of all our graduates, and we look forward to watching your future careers as our alumni with interest.
Here are a few pictures from this year’s graduation, including our Physics prize winners: Ann Woodham Memorial Prize in Physics: Rachel Kilbride Ifor Austin Prize in Physics: Ayomide Andre Bamidele & Ronan Swift
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COVER STORY: Young Scientists
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Alumni Focus: Rolls Royce
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Thai National Telescope
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COVER STORY: Nobel prize: Neutrinos
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£65m DUNE Research Project with U.S.
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Low Dimensional
2 Structures
Clarke Prize in Experimental Physics: Jessica Forsyth & Samuel Greenhalgh
Milner Prize in Theoretical Physics: Yuen San Lo Sheffield Association of University Women Winifred Moulds Prize: Suzanna Freer The Tessella Prize: Ciaran Allen and Owen Huxley Trowbridge Prize: Madelaine Thorniley
Award for Outstanding Graphical Presentation in Physics & Astronomy: Level 2 - Ayomide Andre Bamidele (2nd prizeDistinction) Joshua Waters (3rd prize- Merit) Level 4 - George Gillard (1st prize- High Distinction) Robert Gregorio (3rd prizeMerit) Tim Richardson Memorial Prize: Joseph Bell & Michael Cullen
GRAVITATIONAL WAVES TELESCOPE LAUNCH The Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO) has been inaugurated at the astronomical observing facility in La Palma, Canary Islands. Scientists at the University of Sheffield are part of an international research team which has built a state-of-theart telescope for detecting optical signatures of gravitational waves. Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of space-time, created when massive bodies – particularly black holes and neutron stars – orbit each other and merge at very high speeds. GOTO was designed and built by a consortium of institutions composed of the Universities of Warwick, Monash, Sheffield, Leicester, Armagh Observatory and the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT).
“THIS NEW TELESCOPE IS A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH IN HELPING US TO ADVANCE OUR RESEARCH INTO DETECTING OPTICAL SIGNATURES OF GRAVITATIONAL WAVES.” Professor Vik Dhillon
La Palma is one of the world’s premier astronomical observing sites, owing to the fact that it has an altitude of approximately 2400m and has very little light pollution – giving researchers clear views of the sky.
Read more: www.sheffield.ac.uk/physics/news
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ROGUE ‘PLANET 9’? Astronomers at Sheffield University have shown that ‘Planet 9’ - an unseen planet on the edge of our Solar System - probably formed closer to home than previously thought.
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The outskirts of the Solar System have always been something of an enigma, with astronomers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries searching for a giant planet that wasn’t there, and the
subsequent discovery of Pluto in 1930. Pluto was downgraded in status to a ‘dwarf planet’ because astronomers discovered many other small objects (socalled Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt objects) at similar distances from the Sun. However, in 2016 astronomers working in the USA postulated the presence of ‘Planet 9’ to explain the strange orbital properties of some Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt objects. It isn’t possible to directly observe Planet 9, but that hasn’t stopped theorists from trying to work out how it got there. Planet 9 is at least ten times as massive as Earth, making it unlikely that it formed at such a large distance from the Sun. Instead, it must have either moved there from the inner regions of the Solar System, or it could have been
captured when the Sun was still in its birth star cluster. A team led by Dr Richard Parker from the Department of Physics and Astronomy have shown that the capture scenario is extremely unlikely. They simulated the Sun’s stellar nursery where interactions are common and found that even in conditions optimised to capture freefloating planets, only 5 - 10 out of 10 000 planets are captured onto an orbit like Planet 9’s. Dr Parker and his colleagues also calculated the chances of the Sun
“We’re not ruling out the idea of Planet 9, but instead we’re saying that it must have formed around the Sun, rather than being captured from another planetary system.” Dr Richard Parker capturing a planet and being close to a massive star that exploded as a supernova - thought to be essential for enriching the Sun in radioactive elements that heat the interior of Earth - and found the combined probability of these events to be close to zero. The research is currently in press in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Read more: www.sheffield.ac.uk/physics/news
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YOUNG SCIENTISTS Getting your first chance to work amongst professional scientists is an exciting prospect for any A-Level student. Each summer, our physics department helps a lucky few students to gain this invaluable experience through the Nuffield Research Placement scheme.
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Ellie from Forge Valley School, Sheffield (pictured right) was one of our Nuffield students this year, and found the whole experience helped to turn an interest for science into a future career path. Ellie said: “I wanted to do a Nuffield Research Placement in Physics because that is the subject I want to do at university, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to work under the instruction of professional scientists.�
A Nuffield Research Placement is a project which you work on set by an expert in a STEM subject for 4-6 weeks in the summer holidays. Ellie said: “On my placement, I worked with Dr Cartwright and included using an MX-10 particle camera and programming for data science. This has given me skills in working with data that will be useful for doing A2 physics next year and for when I am in university. “I would recommend it to anyone that is in year 12 and thinking about a career in a STEM subject, because it provides the opportunity to see if you enjoy the subject and the kind of experiments and work you would be doing after university.”
“The Nuffield placement has been a fantastic opportunity to do real hands-on physics. Practical experience is essential in developing the key investigative skills of young scientists.” Lee Warren, Head of Physics Forge Valley School
Lee Warren, Head of Physics at Forge Valley School agrees: “Ellie has had the opportunity to use specialist equipment and materials beyond the limited budgets of secondary schools to expand her knowledge and understanding as well as experience life as a career scientist. Experience of this nature is invaluable in supporting a student’s learning, developing their ambition and enhancing their enjoyment of physics at A-level and beyond.”
If you have been inspired by Ellie’s story, visit: www.nuffieldfoundation.org/nuffield-research-placements and you could find yourself getting an early taste of what a career in Physics has to offer here at The University of Sheffield.
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ROLLS ROYCE: RESEARCH ENGINEER Name: Ed Williamson Course: MPhys Physics with Medical Physics Year of graduation: 2015
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I currently work at Rolls-Royce Civil Nuclear as a Research Engineer. My role involves research and development of novel nuclear concepts. I am also part of an Engineering Doctorate (EngD) programme with the University of Surrey. I enjoyed the research aspect of my MPhys degree and the EngD programme allows me to carry out industrially relevant research for Rolls-Royce and the wider nuclear industry.
ALUMNI FOCUS During the summer of 2014 I gained work experience developing the second year physics laboratory at the University of Sheffield. Following graduation in 2015 I travelled to China on behalf of the University to promote physics to prospective students. This demonstrated my passion for science at an international level. After accepting my current job, I was later told that these experiences made my CV really stand out from other applicants. My degree from the University of Sheffield provided me with excellent communication and research skills to exceed in this role. The regular oral assessments helped me gain experience in passionately promoting science and research. This is particularly applicable in my current job role as I will be travelling internationally presenting the latest research innovations in the nuclear industry.
“My degree from the University of Sheffield provided me with excellent communication and research skills to exceed in this role.� Ed Williamson
The careers service at the University of Sheffield helped significantly improve my CV through proof reading and tailoring it to job specifications. With their help I received offers for multiple jobs within weeks of returning from my postgraduation trip to China. The student experience and internal job opportunities definitely set the University of Sheffield apart from other Universities. Ed will be representing Rolls-Royce at the 2017 Physics Careers Fair so he can share his experiences with current student physicists.
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THAI NATIONAL TELESCOPE The Thai National Observatory is the main facility of the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand.
ULTRASPEC is a rapid imaging 1K x 1K EMCCD camera used for observations of fast stellar variability such as eclipses, pulsations, flares and occultations.
ULTRASPEC has been codeveloped by Professor Vik Dhillon in collaboration with Warwick University and the UK Astronomy Technology Centre in Edinburgh. Here is a photostory of the camera being installed by Vik and his research group at the Thai National 10 Observatory this year.
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NOBEL PRIZE: NEUTRINOS On the 1st June 2017, we were delighted to host a talk by Nobel Prize winner Professor Takaaki Kajita, who won the 2015 Nobel prize in Physics for his research, which led to the discovery of neutrino oscillations. 12
Neutrinos are “nature’s ghosts” and are the lightest subatomic particles. There are more of these elusive particles in the universe than any other known type of matter, yet they will almost never interact. Over one trillion neutrinos per second pass through your body, yet none will ever hit you.
Photographs: Opposite top (L-R): Dr Malek, Professor Kajita, & Professor Clarke. Top & Opposite bottom: Professor Takaaki Kajita.
Professor Takaaki Kajita is the Director of the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research (ICRR) at The University of Tokyo. Dr Matthew Malek, from the University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, hosted Professor Kajita during his visit to Sheffield. “Professor Kajita is one of the world’s greatest experimental physicists and his talk was an amazing opportunity for everyone who has an interest in physics, the big bang and the Universe. There was something of interest in his talk for everyone from school children to senior academics.
“It was both a great honour and a pleasure to host Professor Kajita and to have him speak at The University of Sheffield.” Dr Matthew Malek
Proving the existence of neutrinos was a massive challenge for physicists due to them having almost no mass and no charge. However, Professor Kajita’s research eventually led to major breakthroughs in our understanding of the subatomic world, and we now have the chance to unlock one of the major unsolved mysteries of physics: why is there any matter in the Universe today? Professor Nigel Clarke, Vice-President and Head of the Faculty of Science at the University of Sheffield, said: “I hope that Professor Kajita’s talk inspired a number of our students and in the future I will be welcoming some of them back to the university as Nobel Prize winners in the years to come.”
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£65M DUNE RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP WITH U.S. Scientists in the Department of Physics and Astronomy are set to play a leading role in a new £65 million research partnership between the UK and the US, which could change our understanding of the universe. The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), based at the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) 14 14 in South Dakota in the United States,
will study the properties of mysterious particles called neutrinos, which could help explain more about how the universe works and why matter exists at all. Physicists from the Faculty of Science are set to play a key role in developing the detector that will be critical in the experiment’s study of neutrinos. Professor Neil Spooner, Head of the University of Sheffield’s Particle Physics Group and leader of the Sheffield DUNE Research Group, said: “This is a huge development for UK science and for the new relationship developing between the UK and US on science cooperation. Neutrinos are the new wild frontier in physics, their properties are not
. explained by our current understanding of physics. The DUNE project, which will comprise eventually of a huge 40,000 tonne detector of liquid argon a mile underground, is set to tackle this issue head-on but also conduct a new form of astrophysics by detecting neutrinos from exploding supernovae. “The final detector will need hundreds of specialist readout planes mounted inside the liquid argon at -184 degree Celsius, each built around precision fabricated stainless steel frames of 6.085m x 2.3m. Sheffield has been part-responsible for building the first three test devices using a local expert company, Portobello Ltd.
“This is a huge development for UK science and for the new relationship developing between the UK and US on science cooperation. Neutrinos are the new wild frontier in physics” Professor Neil Spooner “The possibility of now proceeding with a huge scale-up for the full detector, right at the centre of this massive experiment, could be a boost to industries in Sheffield as well as the University. Much of the UK’s expertise in the key liquid argon technology was started in Sheffield many years ago, so it is great to know that the UK is involved in such a breathtakingly large experiment using this technology.”
Read more: www.sheffield.ac.uk/physics/news
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BEYOND GRAPHENE Researchers from Sheffield and Manchester are leading in the exploration of two-dimensional materials for use in photonics, following a new ÂŁ1.2m grant from Research Councils UK. Nowadays we increasingly rely on ultra-compact devices, such as mobile phones or laptops. Inside these phones and laptops there are billions of miniature electronic devices called transistors. They are tiny, a few tens of a billionth of a metre (or nanometre) - this is why they fit well inside a phone. They are extremely hard to make, as they literally have to be carved on the nanometre-scale out of special materials called semiconductors 16such as silicon and germanium.
Recently, a new class of materials have been discovered, where individual sheets of only 1, 2, 3, etc atoms thick can be easily extracted. They are already less than a nanometre thick, but are surprisingly strong and hold together as atomic planes. The ability to make such nanometre-thick planes will simplify enormously the fabrication of nano-devices, that are necessary for future electronics. These atomically thin materials are flexible and transparent, and exhibit new unusual properties with a prospect for breakthroughs in electronics and sensors that we use every day. In this project the researchers will push the frontiers both in nano-fabrication by building nanometre thick opto-electronic devices composed of several different atomically thin materials and in photonics by creating a new generation of compact devices suitable for ultra-fast optical telecommunications.
Timelapse building an Optics Laboratory for studies of 2D materials. In December 2016, the Low Dimensional Structures and Devices group started setting up their lab within the Physics department to investigate optical and electronic properties of a new class of two dimensional (2D) materials. The forefather of these materials is graphene, discovered in 2004 (Nobel Prize 2010). Since then a host of other 2D crystals have been isolated and are now being investigated in research centres around the world.
Search ‘QUANTUM LIGHT UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD’ to watch these videos and more from our Low Dimensional Structures and Devices research group.
‘TIMELAPSE BUILDING AN OPTICS LAB FOR STUDIES OF 2D MATERIALS’
The 2D materials are crystalline structures only a few atoms thick and combine exceptional optical and electronic properties. They hold the potential for new flexible opto-electronic devices, for example solar cells, etc. Key features of these novel materials are their extreme few-atom thickness, mechanical strength, and a wide range of properties from semi- and superconductors to electrical insulators, making them promising for future technologies.
‘2D MATERIALS BEYOND GRAPHENE’
The new state-of-the-art laboratory enables various optical experiments essential for development of the fundamental understanding of novel 2D materials, as well as the development of the new type of nano-devices.
Read more: www.sheffield.ac.uk/physics/news
https://ldsd.group.shef.ac.uk
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IOP CAMPUS AMBASSADOR The IOP launched the pilot Campus Ambassador last academic year (2016/17) at 12 universities across the UK and Ireland. The IOP are pleased to announce that they have been able to extend the scheme to a further 11 universities, including the University of Sheffield. The ambassadors will help to organise and advertise IOP careers events, including giving lecture shout-outs, create displays about IOP membership and work with key societies and groups to highlight the support that students receive through membership of the IOP. The IOP are delighted to welcome Anna as the Campus Ambassador at Sheffield. Anna said: “I started my Masters in Physics at Sheffield last September. I really enjoyed my first year – particularly the Thermodynamics and Frontiers of Physics modules. The course content was extremely interesting and challenging, and the social life was fantastic! “I’m excited to be returning to Sheffield for my second year and meeting up with my friends. As well as looking forward to the socialising side of University, I’m also excited to start the second-year syllabus, and my new role as an IOP Ambassador.
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“I was really pleased to get the role, as it will present a brilliant opportunity to get to know more people in the Physics Department. Having attended several interesting and helpful ANNA SHEARD IOP events prior to IOP CAMPUS starting university, I’m AMBASSADOR really looking forward to encouraging students to join up and become involved with the IOP so they can really benefit from the opportunities the Institute offers. “On a personal note, I see the role as a great way to develop my transferable and employability skills and get some excellent experience for my CV.”
ANNUAL PHYSICS FAIR
WED 11TH OCTOBER 2017 12PM - 3.30PM THE OCTAGON CENTRE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
4TH PHYSICS INDUSTRY RECRUITMENT AND PLACEMENT FAIR 19
FOOTNOTE
SUMMER IS ALWAYS A SPECIAL TIME AS WE PROUDLY CELEBRATE THE SUCCESSES OF OUR GRADUATING STUDENTS At the same time, we open our doors to future students at our open days. We hope you have all enjoyed visiting Sheffield and meeting our staff and current undergraduates. In this newsletter you can find out more about the latest telescope helping to detect the optical signatures of gravitational waves, form your own opinion on rogue ‘Planet 9’, and hear the latest on neutrinos research, installing new equipment at the Thai National telescope, and beyond graphene. Our past, present and future students are taking centre stage in this issue once again to tell us about Nuffield placement schemes, the Institute of Physics Campus Ambassador scheme, and what it’s like to be a Research Engineer at Rolls-Royce. In September, we welcomed all our new students as they started a very exciting chapter in their lives, and we look forward to supporting their journey to becoming scientists. You can contact us at any time and keep up to date with all the latest news through the channels below. Professor David Mowbray Head of Department
IMAGE CREDITS 01 & 03 – Antonio González/IAC.
FOLLOW US: @PhysicsShef www.facebook.com/PhysicsShef www.instagram.com/PhysicsShef
CONTACT US www.sheffield.ac.uk/physics physics.ucas@sheffield.ac.uk Editor: Christina Metcalfe
04 & 05 – NASA/California Institute of Technology 06 & 07 – Ellie 08 – Ed Williamson 10 & 11 – Vik Dhillon 18 – Anna Sheard