MAY 2000 BROADSHEET - Visit to Cavendish Laboratory
Our April meeting really was a marvellous treat. We were immensely honoured by having the head of the Cavendish Laboratory as our lecturer and guide. Furthermore it was not just because we had one of his former research students amongst our party that we received such excellent treatment. Professor Malcolm Longair exuded such infectious enthusiasm we quickly succumbed to his charm and realised the reason for the high motivation of all involved with such intense research into the fundamental nature of matter. They have a tremendous reputation to live up to as it appeared that nearly all the basic discoveries of physics had been made here over the last 125 years.
The Professor referred to the Higgs particle, something that must be there for the theories of particle physics to work. Dr Higgs is a scientist from Edinburgh University, which is where Professor Longair hails from. A hundred years ago J J Thompson was looking for a particle that had to be there and he found it at the Cavendish. It was the electron. Now we find it everywhere! The apparatus he used seems so simple now, but Higgs needs much more complicated stuff with temperatures down to a fraction of a degree above absolute zero.
The range of research was enormous, all very fundamental, but some already being taken up for development by industry. Just three were polymer display technology, nanofabrication and single electron transistors. After the tour about half of the party spent the next hour very pleasantly at the Castle Inn in lieu of the traditional buffet.
The Club is very fortunate in benefiting from the sponsorship of the following organisations:-
There are also other companies who give us generous help with specific meetings and services.
Calendar
© 2004 - Cambridge Europe & Technology Club