Atomic spectroscopy is the study of atoms/ions through their interaction with electromagnetic radiation, in particular, interactions in which radiation is absorbed or emitted with an internal rearrangement of the atom's electrons. Discusses nature of this field, its status and future, and how it is applied to other areas of physics. (JN)

Although polymers are regarded as electrical insulators, it was discovered that they can be made to conduct electricity. This discovery has opened vast new practical and theoretical areas for exploration by physicists and chemists. Research studies with these conducting polymers and charge-transfer salts as well as possible applications are…

Presents 11 responses received from U.S. scientists who have won Nobel Prizes (physics or physics-related work) indicating what books, discoveries, people, or issues of the last 50 years have most decisively influenced them. (Author/JN)

Discusses the existence of matter in smaller groups known as clusters. Applications of the findings in scientific studies are presented as they relate to technology. (SA)

Discusses the extraordinary potential, the technical difficulties, and the financial problems that are associated with research and development of fusion power plants as a major source of energy. (GA)

Presents a ray-tracing procedure based on some ideas of Herzberger and the matrix approach to geometrical optics. This method, which can be implemented on a programmable pocket calculator, applies to any conic surface, including paraboloids, spheres, and planes. (Author/GA)

Examines the relationship between the molecular field theory of ferromagnetism and elementary catastrophe theory in order to provide an introduction to the ideas of catastrophe theory. (Author/GA)

Presents a discussion of the early developments in the field of quantum chemistry. (BB)

Discusses the renewed interest in superconductivity research and describes the differences between the two basic types of superconductivity. (MLH)

Discusses a new branch of optical spectroscopy that deals with the optical analogs of spin transients and provides ways to explore dynamic interactions in optically excited materials. (MLH)

Discusses how handedness at one level may give rise to handedness at another. Presents examples from plants and animals, molecules, atoms, to elementary particles. Examines the chiral symmetry in life and when it starts. (YP)

Summarizes the development of the Earth's age calculation including the work of Archbishop Ussher, James Hutton, Lord Kelvin, Ernest Rutherford, Bertram Boltwood, and Arthur Holmes. Describes the changes in radioisotope dating methods. (YP)

Discusses role of laboratory techniques in scientific investigations. Describes Rutherford's development of scattering techniques and von Wassermann's development of test for syphilis. States that discovering an effect requires a brilliant scientist, however, making it a technique requires that it be made usable by ordinary people. Uses Moseley's…

Describes method for analyzing the diffusion of scientific journals using the Rasch model as the measuring instrument. Explains why determining the information that underlies citations via diffusion variable is a powerful informetrics tool for uncovering regularities in information related processes when counts are used. Includes graphs and…

This paper conveys information about a Physics laboratory experiment for students with some theoretical knowledge about oscillatory motion. Students construct a simple pendulum that behaves as an ideal one, and analyze model assumption incidence on its period. The following aspects are quantitatively analyzed: vanishing friction, small amplitude,…