Novel dark matter searches, identifying muzzle flashes, and more at 2014 APS DAMOP annual meeting
The 2014 DAMOP annual meeting takes place June 2 to June 6 at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, Wisconsin. A full schedule of meeting talks and posters is available at http://meeting.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP14/APS_epitome
Here is a sampling of presentations at this year's DAMOP meeting
SEARCHING FOR DARK MATTER WITH MAGNETOMETERS AND ATOMIC CLOCKS
A worldwide network of sensitive magnetic field detectors could soon solve a vexing dark matter puzzle. No experiment has convincingly detected particles of dark matter, but we may be able to see signs of it by searching for the passage of enormous structures in space with distinct and differing characteristics. Although the structures, known as domains, are not directly detectable, the walls between them may be. Derek Kimball (California State University - East Bay) will describe a prototype magnetometer (Thursday, June 5, http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP14/Session/M6.4), constructed by a team consisting entirely of undergraduate students, that will be the basis for the planned Global Network of Optical Magnetometers to search for Exotic physics (GNOME). Andrei Derevianko (University of Nevada, Reno) will present a similar project that instead relies on a network of atomic clocks to detect the passage of dark matter domain walls (Wednesday, June 4, http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP14/Session/H6.9).
THEORETICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF MUZZLE FLASHES
With properly formulated propellant mixtures, it could be possible to minimize the visibility of muzzle flashes that come from firing weapons. Potentially, that would make soldiers less vulnerable on the field of battle. David Kashinski (United States Military Academy) and colleagues are working to develop theoretical models to predict the spectrum emitted by weapon muzzle flashes, which may lead to stealthier weapons, or perhaps characteristic flashes that could distinguish between friendly and enemy fire. (Wednesday, June 4, http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP14/Session/K1.121)
HIGH-VOLTAGE, HIGH-POWER GASEOUS ELECTRONICS SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC GRID POWER CONVERSION
Direct current (DC) is more efficient when it comes to high voltage, long distance power transmission, but alternating current (AC) is typically produced in large generators and is better for converting from high voltages to reasonable levels at the point of use. The lack of convenient converters from AC to DC and back has meant that today's power grids are exclusively AC. Timothy J. Sommerer (General Electric Research, Niskayuna, New York) will discuss progress towards a high-power gas switch that could solve the conversion problems and allow grids to combine high voltage DC transmission with lower voltage AC circuitry, improving efficiency without sacrificing practicality. (Wednesday, June 4, http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP14/Session/H8.3)
Other intriguing talks at the 2014 DAMOP annual meeting:
FORCE DETECTION WITH AN OPTICALLY LEVITATED MICROSPHERE IN VACUUM
Thursday, June 5
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP14/Session/N4.2
THE DEVELOPMENT OF ATOM-INTERFEROMETRY-BASED INSTRUMENTS FOR SPACE MISSIONS
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP14/Session/P6.4
ATOM INTERFEROMETERY ON GROUND AND IN SPACE
Thursday, June 5
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP14/Session/P6.5
TOWARDS A CAVITY ELECTROMAGNETICALLY INDUCED TRANSPARENCY BASED QUANTUM GATE
Thursday, June 5
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP14/Session/P4.8
OPTIMIZATION OF A QUANTUM MEMORY WITH TELECOM-WAVELENGTH CONVERSION
Tuesday, June 3
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP14/Session/C6.9
A WIDE-FIELD NV DIAMOND MAGNETIC IMAGER FOR HIGHLY PARALLEL DETECTION OF RARE BIOLOGICAL TARGETS
Tuesday, June 3
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP14/Session/D1.82
A QUANTUM NETWORK OF CLOCKS
Wednesday, June 4
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP14/Session/K1.81
ULTRAFAST GENERATION OF LARGE SCHRODINGER CAT STATES
Wednesday, June 4
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP14/Session/G6.1
Provided by American Physical Society
