November 4, 1998
Contents
Nobel Prize Winner Lectures At NJIT
Multimedia Center Opens Production, Internet Delivery Studio
Dual Admissions Agreement Signed
Transportation Center Director Named
Faculty Find Help In The 'STARS'
Nominations Sought For USA Today Academic Team
Fall Open House Attracts Large Crowd
Blood Drive Seeks Donors
Faculty/Staff Campaign Update
Fiscal Chart Of Accounts Update
Surplus NJIT Vehicles For Sale
NJIT Community News Briefs
NJIT At Mount Laurel Campus Happenings
People
Classifieds
Benefits Supplement
Campus Events Calendar
Nobel Prize Winner Lectures At NJIT
Horst L. Stormer, one of three winners of the 1998 Nobel Prize for physics, will lecture on his breakthrough research in quantum physics, 3:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 6, in the theater.Stormer, a professor of physics and applied physics at Columbia University, and two other researchers were honored for the discovery of a bizarre, liquid-like behavior of electrons at extremely cold temperatures and high magnetic fields, known as the fractional quantum Hall effect.
Working with Princeton University professor Dan Tsui, Stormer discovered this effect in 1982, when they sandwiched together two dissimilar semiconductor wafers and cooled them to very low temperatures in the presence of a strong magnetic field. The two professors discovered that at certain magnetic field strengths, the electrons in the material bound together as particles to form a kind of "quantum liquid." These particles carried a fraction of the charge of one electron.
One year later, Robert B. Laughlin, of Stanford University, deduced that the magnetic field was creating microscopic vortices in the material's electrical field, and electrons were filling those vortices and forming a quantum liquid with unusual characteristics, including fractional charges. The movement of these vortices produced the effect that Stormer and Tsui had discovered.
Stormer, Tsui and Laughlin were colleagues at Bell Labs in 1982, the year the research took place. Together, the three scientists have brought new insight into the general structure and dynamics of matter, according to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which awards the Nobel Prize.
"It's an extremely important idea in theoretical physics, and something which was entirely unexpected," said John Hensel, distinguished research professor of physics at NJIT. "It created enormous excitement in the field, and has led to quite a flurry in research in both experimental and theoretical physics."
The Hall effect - which names the phenomena under which electrons are affected by magnetic fields - was discovered in 1879 by Edwin Hall, before electron particles had even been isolated by scientists. The effect can be used to determine the density of charge carriers, and has become a standard tool in physics laboratories.
In 1980, the German physicist Klaus von Klitzing discovered that the Hall effect did not vary in a linear fashion, but in a "stepwise" fashion that could be specifically calculated. Von Klitzing won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1985 for this discovery, known as "the integer quantum Hall effect."
Von Klitzing showed that electrons subjected to powerful magnetic fields move only in certain circular paths, the basic sizes of which could be measured in whole numbers, and were determined by the strength of the magnetic field.
In 1982, Stormer and Tsui found a new step in the Hall resistance, which was three times higher than that recorded by von Klitzing. They subsequently found more and new steps, all of which numbers, which are fractions, could express, rather than whole numbers.
One year later, Laughlin explained the phenomena in the following way: Low temperature and a very powerful magnetic field compel electron gas to condense and form a new type of "quantum fluid."
Since electrons are reluctant to condense, they first combine with energy to form a kind of composite particle. These "quasi-particles," which have no objection to condensing, are not particles in the traditional sense, but are a result of the common dance of electrons in the quantum fluid.
The new quantum fluid described by Laughlin is said to be incompressible, because it reacts to compression by forming more quasiparticles.
Stormer was born in 1949 in Frankfurt, Germany. He earned his Ph.D. in physics at Stuttgart University in 1977, and served as director of the Physical Research Laboratory at Bell Laboratories from 1992 to 1998. Among other awards, he has received the 1984 Oliver E. Buckley Prize from the American Physical Society, and the Medal of the Franklin Institute, 1998, for his work associated with the fractional quantum Hall effect.
Hensel has known Stormer since 1976, when he invited the German doctoral student to use the facilities at Bell Labs, where he was then engaged in low temperature research in semiconductors, to complete his thesis.
Stormer's thesis topic was electron-hole drops, another kind of quantum liquid that can exist in semiconductors at very low temperatures.
"I brought him over, opened the facilities at Bell Labs to him, and he completed his thesis using some of the theoretical calculations that I had done," said Hensel. "He had turned up some very interesting observations, but didn't have access to the means to analyze his experimental results."
The lecture is one in a series sponsored the NJIT/Rutgers-Newark federated physics department, headed by Anthony Johnson. The department has received national accolades for work in astrophysics. The department operates the Big Bear Solar Observatory in California, the nation's largest solar observatory.
Multimedia Center Opens
Close to 100 educators, small business entrepreneurs and research specialists gathered at NJIT for the opening of the Multimedia Production and Internet Delivery Studio (MPIDS), Wednesday, Oct. 28.
Production, Internet Delivery StudioMPIDS, administered by the New Jersey Center for Multimedia Research (NJCMR) at NJIT, works to develop and improve the communication systems of today by training and educating pre-schoolers through senior citizens and, in the process, make their life more productive and more efficient. The studio uses the vision and innovation of multimedia to form a connection with the future.
MPIDS, while still growing and updating, currently has the following state-of-the-art
equipment:MPIDS is designed to share this equipment for independent projects. The NJCMR team works in conjunction with individuals on multimedia projects by providing training and education.
- A complete DVD video authoring capability, using Scenarist for NT and Scenarist for SGI.
- A CD ROM-R and a DVD ROM-R.
- A Real Networks set-up for live webcasting.
- A SUN StorEdge A3000 to facilitate webcasting capabilities.
- 12 high-powered NT computers.
- Four Real/Audio real video encoders.
- An SGI Onyx2.
Dual Admissions Agreement Signed
Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) graduates interested in completing baccalaureate degrees can now enter NJIT with junior standing under a dual admissions agreement signed by NJIT President Saul K. Fenster and RVCC President Carey Israel, Oct. 30, 1998.Students who wish to participate in this agreement are admitted to RVCC and then apply to NJIT. Transcripts from RVCC are then sent on a regular basis to NJIT so both colleges are monitoring the student's progress.
Students currently enrolled in RVCC's business administration, computer science, mathematics, and engineering science programs who have 33 credits or less will be able to apply for dual admission to NJIT. Current RVCC students enrolled in the electronics technology program can apply for dual admission to NJIT up to their final semester at RVCC.
Transportation Center Director Named
A leader in NJIT's transportation research and education programs has been appointed director of the university's National Center for Transportation and Industrial Productivity (NCTIP).Lazar Spasovic, an associate professor of management and transportation at NJIT, will lead the center's educational, research and technology activities into the next millennium. Spasovic, who earned his Ph.D. in systems engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, joined the NJIT faculty in 1990. He has more than 10 years of corporate and academic transportation experience with a proven track record in funded research and scholarly activities. Spasovic has produced more than 45 refereed journal and research proceeding papers and professional presentations.
Faculty Find Help In The 'STARS'
A number of faculty members at NJIT are learning about new technological advances from an unlikely source -- their students.The Student Technology Advisors and Resources Services (STARS) program introduces NJIT faculty to the World Wide Web and the many educational applications available to them. Students with advanced computer skills assist professors in creating web pages. Under the program, professors put class notes on the web, making class information instantly accessible.
Last summer, 29 faculty members completed the STARS program and received an appropriately configured PC and advanced training in Windows 95, Office 97, and web page creation.
The fall 1998 STARS semester began in October with 36 faculty members and 11 STARS coaches. The semester is expected to run through Dec. 1, 1998.
INFO: Bill Reynolds, ext. 3005.
Nominations Sought For USA Today Academic Team
The Office of the Dean of Student Services is requesting the university community, particularly faculty, to identify and encourage NJIT's "best and brightest" undergraduate students to apply for the 1999 USA Today Academic Team. In the last two years, several NJIT students received honorable mention.Sixty students will be chosen to the team and will be featured in a two-page color section in the nationally distributed newspaper, in which six million readers will learn of their accomplishments. Twenty members of the first team will receive a trophy, $2,500 cash award, and will be guests at an awards luncheon, Feb. 25, 1999.
Any full-time undergraduate from a four-year institution in the United States or its territories is eligible. A full-time undergraduate is a student carrying at least 12 credits who anticipates earning a degree at the end of the current academic term.
Copies of the nomination form, to be completed by the nominating professor, and the application, to be completed by the nominee, are available in the Office of the Dean of Student Services, Eberhardt Hall 33, and at the Hazell Center Information Desk.
Completed nominations must be submitted to the Office of the Dean of Student Services by Nov. 16, 1998. All packets will be reviewed for completion and the required inclusion of the student's official transcript.
INFO: Office of the Dean of Student Services, ext. 3466, ext. 3470.
Fall Open House Attracts Large Crowd
A gorgeous day attracted close to 1,500 guests to campus, including about 540 prospective students and their families, Sunday, Oct. 25. This was the second-largest crowd ever at an open house."The admissions office thanks everyone in the university community who helped make the open house a resounding success," said Kathy Kelly, director of university admissions. "Faculty, students and staff contributed their time, enthusiasm and energy to ensure an enjoyable and informative day. We greatly appreciate their assistance in this major recruitment event."
Out of state guests came from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York. Campus tours, workshops and departmental presentations attracted capacity attendance.
Blood Drive Seeks Donors
The Sigma Psi Kappa sorority, Greek Life and the Hazell Center are sponsoring a blood drive, Wednesday, Nov.11, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., in the Hazell Center. Donors do not need an appointment, but do need a form of identification, such as a license or credit card. Blood should be donated after the donor has eaten.Why give Blood?
INFO: Employee Assistance Program, ext. 3293; or e-mail Conrad@admin.njit.edu.
- It's the only gift that truly comes from the heart.
- Three to five people will be helped by one donation.
- Your pint of blood has more nutrients than a multiple vitamin.
- You'll get to learn your blood type and cholesterol level.
- You get a free blood pressure check.
- You're providing a resource only you can offer.
- Blood donations save lives.
Faculty/Staff Campaign Update
The faculty and staff at NJIT have a unique opportunity to contribute to the department, college, scholarship or program of their choice through the Faculty and Staff Campaign."This is a great way to demonstrate your commitment to NJIT," said Cynthia Wos, of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Environmental Science. "I decided to contribute to the Faculty and Staff Campaign because I feel very positive about my experience here at NJIT. Besides, the campaign is all about helping the most important people on campus, our students."
The campaign, in its third week, hopes to receive 100 percent participation from faculty and staff. To make a pledge, call the Office of University Advancement, ext. 3400.
The Office of University Advancement thanks the following contributors, as of Oct. 28, to the Faculty and Staff Campaign: Amatullah Abdul-Baasit, Kim Akhtab, Robert Avery, Eida Berrio, Vijay Bhagavath, Joel Bloom, Judy Boyd, Patrick Brannigan, Patrick Breslin, Cecil Broadnax, Leon Buteau, Alnisa Bryan, Reggie Caudill, Alok Chakrabarti, Pamela Ciallella, Phyllis Denbo, Dennis Donahue, James Dyer, Saul Fenster, Kirstie Gentleman, Carie Hernandez, Tony Howell, Laura Kauper, Fred Kreisler, Peter Lederman, Gordon Lewandowski, Richard Magee, Betty Anne Manente, Henry Mauermeyer, Roxanne Meighan, Robert Mertz, Judy Myrtetus, Ginny Ozimek, Rose Pagan, Jacquie Rhodes, Spencer Scott, Dennis Siginer, Gale Tennen-Spak, Sabrina Stephenson, Barbara Tedesco, Thomas Terry, Nicholas Tworischuk, Judy Ann Valyo, Renee Watkins, Anne Wiley, and Cynthia Wos.
Each week, those who contribute to the campaign will be entered into a drawing for prizes, including dinners for two and tickets to a variety of events.
Fiscal Chart Of Accounts Update
Attached to this issue of NJIT this week - and next is a fiscal year 1999 University Chart of Accounts for processing and recording expenses using the Financial Resource System (FRS). Personnel involved with FRS should note that Expense Object Codes have recently been updated. Enhancements include a few new object codes, as well as expanded definitions and examples.New object codes include a series (3110-3115) to be used for equipment purchases costing less than $500, but with useful life greater than one year. In addition, object code 5102 has been created to separately reflect employee conference registration fees, which were previously included within other related travel expenses. Several new object codes within the contracted service range have been added based on departmental requests (i.e. MEP and Library). If there are any questions on appropriate object code usage, contact the General Accounting Office, ext.3162, Budget Office, ext.3125, or Grants and Contracts Office, ext. 2941.
INFO: See attached forms.
Surplus NJIT Vehicles For Sale
Submit sealed bids to Joe Myers, Purchasing Office, no later than Nov. 20, 1998. To see the vehicles, call Bill Freeman, ext. 3165.
- 1992 Chevrolet Caprice police car, 72,908+ miles, six cylinder, auto, PS, PW, PB, AM/FM cassette, dented left fender/door. Sold as is, where is, with no guarantee of operation. Minimum bid: $2,000.
- 1993 Buick Park Avenue, almond, fully loaded, six cylinder, 140,000+ miles, auto, AM/FM cassette, AC, climate control, PS, PB, PW, power lock, power trunk, leather seats. Sold as is, where is, with no guarantee of operation. Minimum bid: $3,500.
- 1995 Buick Park Avenue, almond, fully loaded, six cylinder, 94,000+ miles, auto, AM/FM cassette, AC, climate control, PS, PB, PW, power lock, power trunk, leather seats. Sold as is, where is, with no guarantee of operation. Minimum bid: $7,000.
People
Congratulations to Maxine Kahn, Office of Research and Development, who was named a 1998 Volunteer of the Year by the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse for her dedication to the Maplewood Municipal Alliance of Essex County and to the goals of the program in combating addiction in New Jersey communities.Peggy Schel, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Environmental Science, thanks OPEIU, for the beautiful bible given to her upon the death of her mother, and also the university community for its kindness and prayers.
Classifieds
Notice: All ads run for two issues, unless advertiser contacts the editor to cancel or review. Only NJIT faculty, staff and students can place ads.LOST: Gold tone bracelet w/ cubic zaconia stones, large sentimental value. Lost while entering Eberhardt Hall on Monday morning. If found, please return to Renee Watkins in the President's Office, ext. 3102...it would be deeply appreciated
FOR SALE: '89 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 limited edition, new tires and brakes. Asking $4,200 or best offer. Call (973) 743-9460.
ON SALE: Merlin II phone system with 12 incoming lines and 28 phones. Easily expandable to 56 lines and 120 telephones. The system contains a Merlin II control unit, feature module 2, three 408 term modules, Merlin BIS 10 telephone sets, Merlin BIS 22 telephone sets, Merlin BIS 22D telephone sets, and display consoles. Will sell as a whole or piece by piece. Best offer. Call (973) 316-8541.
FOR SALE:1988 black Ford Festiva, good condition. Asking $500. Call Angela, (973) 484-7076.
FOR RENT: First floor of two-family house, in Kearny, near NJIT. Includes indoor garage and backyard. Six rooms (three bedrooms). Nice, safe neighborhood. Modern home. Call (973) 472-4082.
FOR SALE: Beautiful eight-piece white lacquer bedroom set, trimmed with brass. Moved, must sell. Only 3-years-old and in excellent condition. Queen size mattress, box spring and triple dresser. Must see. Asking $800. Call Vinnie Ann or Nick, (973) 450-4516.
FOR SALE: Sharp VHS camcorder, model VL-L285U with carrying case, $100; Bell phone calling line identifier, model 77110, $10; Wen Wet Stone Machine, model 2900, $30; Soloflex exercise machine, complete with accessories, $300. All items seldom used. Call (973) 485-6040.
FOR SALE: 1993 Kawasaki FSXI 750 Wave Runner. One owner, adult owned. Excellent condition. Comes with trailer, life vests and wetsuit. Asking $3,000. Call (973) 759-2579.
HOUSE FOR SALE BY OWNER: Three-bedroom split level in Randolph on a 1/3-acre level plot. Beautifully landscaped and located on a quiet street. Siding with partial fieldstone façade, stained-glass entranceway, stone fireplace in family room, central air conditioning, renovated kitchen, refinished hardwood floors in all rooms, exposed beamed ceilings in living and dining rooms, skylights and wood-burning pellet stove. Hot water heater 2-years-old, two-level decks in rear. Wall-to-wall carpeting in family room, master bedroom, hallway and stairs. 2 1/2 bathrooms. $249,900. Call Tony Rosato, (973) 927-1571.
FOR SALE: '89 Subaru XT two-door coupe. Four cylinder, auto, air conditioning, power windows, 82,000 miles. Excellent condition inside and out. $2,000. Call (973) 808-1081.
FOR SALE: Refrigerator, dish washer, air conditioner, dryer and much more. Very low prices. Call (973) 808-1081.
FOR SALE: 18.5 Wahoo Offshore Center console. Boston Wahler type, Merc 150 V, full gages, fish finder, swim platform, bimini top, coolers and cushions. Never left in water or bottom painted. The boat has always been trailored and flushed after use. Purchased new in 1990. Excellent condition. New Loadrite trailer with brakes. Asking $9,800. Call Arthur Sutphen, (973) 759-2579.
FOR SALE: Jack LaLanne/Bally's Olympic Gold Membership, paid until August 1999. $650. Call Arthur Sutphen, (973) 759-2579.
FOR SALE: Five-month-old leather couch with two built-in recliners. Moving, must sell. Call Amy Milavsky, (908) 272-3072.
FOR RENT: By owner. Seeking mature, single, professional female to occupy third floor of a private home on a lovely, well-secured, residential block in Newark. Two rooms, shared use of kitchen, laundry room and bathroom. References required. Call (973) 374-3986.
FOR RENT: Apartment available in Belleville near Nutley border. Four rooms, one bedroom, on third floor of owner-occupied three-family house. Heat and hot water included. No pets. $725 per month plus one month security. Available Dec. 1, 1998. Call (973) 844-9344.
HOLIDAY CITRUS TREAT: Super-sweet Hamlin oranges or ruby red grapefruits, 20-pound box, $16; 40-pound box, $25. Proceeds go toward preserving historic Plume House, Newark's oldest home. Delivered in December to NJIT. Call Lucye to order, (973) 751-0721 or Millerand@admin.
FOR SALE: Refrigerator, Magic Chef, almond, 18 cubic inches, top and bottom, with ice maker. Brand new, only 2-months-old with two-year maintenance contract. Asking $500.
FOR SALE: 1987 Acura Integra LS, five door, five speed, hatchback. Ideal commuting car, great performance and 30 miles per gallon. Low milage for age, perfect working order. Three cars two dirvers, so this one needs a home. Blue Book trade-in value $1,900. All reasonable offers considered. E-mail "sebastian@admin.njit."