Category Archives: APS Physics

Monitoring Volcanic Eruptions Using Lightning

Posted on March 27, 2020 by rberkowitz

Volcanologist Alexa Van Eaton explains the origins of electrical activity in volcanic ash plumes and why it sometimes leads to detectable lightning. Continue reading →

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Some Granular Columns Weigh Too Much

Posted on March 27, 2020 by rberkowitz

Particles packed inside a cylinder can experience a downward force from the walls, resulting in an apparent weight increase.  Continue reading →

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Spin Transport in Nonmagnetic Materials

Posted on March 22, 2020 by rberkowitz

Interactions between electron spins and acoustic lattice vibrations in a nonmagnetic material could generate a spin current over a long distance.  Continue reading →

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Tracking Forces with Sound

Posted on February 27, 2020 by rberkowitz

Acoustic emission from a ruptured liquid film reveals the forces that drive the liquid’s flow. Continue reading →

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A Time Crystal Without a Driver

Posted on December 13, 2019 by rberkowitz

A calculation shows that an elusive, isolated quantum time crystal may not be far from reality. Continue reading →

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Physical Model of Skull Growth

Posted on June 16, 2017 by rberkowitz

A model predicts skull growth patterns based on mechanical effects, rather than biology, and could help surgeons treating patients with head growth problems. Continue reading →

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Making Shear Waves for Ultrasonic Imaging

Posted on May 19, 2017 by rberkowitz

New filter allows shear waves to be produced efficiently, which could lead to higher resolution ultrasound images. Read more in Continue reading →

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