GOAL: To gain a basic level of understanding of a current research area in modern physics.

TOPIC: Each student will be assigned a "default" topic in class. You can choose something else if you like, but they must be approved by Dr. Edis. You can exchange your "default" topic with someone else, but both parties must agree, and both parties must inform Dr. Edis.

YOUR GRADE: Will be based on how well you answer the following questions in your paper.

THE "OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS":

• What is the research problem?
  (What is the fundamental question that researchers are trying to answer?)
• Why is it considered important?
  (Why go to all the effort? Why spend so much money in trying to find an answer?)
• What is the experimental or theoretical approach being used to attack the problem?
  (How is different or innovative compared to previous efforts? Why wasn't it done before?)
• What is the current status? Have there been any recent advances or breakthroughs?
• How is it related to topics covered in this course?
  (Where would it fit into the topics covered in class?)

PART I. Due by the end of the day, Monday, April 12, via e-mail to edis@phys.subr.edu

Your e-mail should include:

1) The title of your research topic.

2) An abstract briefly summarizing the research topic. (in other words, provide enough information to show me that you've already done enough research to understand what the topic is about).

3) An outline of the major parts of your paper (describe briefly how you intend to answer the questions given above).

4) At least one reference to an article in a "popular" magazine or journal that discusses the research problem (such as might be found in Physics Today, Scientific American (http://www.sciam.com), Sky and Telescope (http://www.skypub.com), Astronomy, Discover, National Geographic, etc). Or, provide a reference to a recent popular book that discusses the research area.

5) At least one reference to a WWW site of a research group currently involved in this area. HINT: For astrophysics topics, try the AstroWeb site at: http://fits.cv.nrao.edu/fits/www/astronomy.html

6) Tell me if you interested in giving a 5-minute oral presentation to the class on your topic, for extra credit (see below).

PART II. Four-page paper due at the beginning of class on Friday, April 23

NOTE: Length is not the object of this exercise!
The point is to present a clear, concise explanation of the topic, and why it is considered important.

Your paper should include:

1) Answers to the "objective questions" given above (this is the main part of your grade).

2) Attach to your four-page text ONE "pretty picture" or graphic that either: illustrates the research problem, or describes the experimental apparatus or type of observation, or presents a significant recent result (it should be referenced and explained in your text).

3) At least one reference to a recent article in a professional or technical journal (e.g., Science, Nature, and there are many others) from a research group working in this area, and a brief summary of the paper's content and relevance to the topic (a paragraph or two is sufficient, as part of your four-page text). HINT: You could try the physics/astrophysics database at Los Alamos on the WWW at: http://xxx.lanl.gov/ or, the NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS) at: http://adswww.harvard.edu/

4) Of course, clear references, or a bibliography, to all sources of information that you use in writing your paper must be included.

EXTRA CREDIT:

Extra credit will be given to those who present a short 5-minute oral presentation to the class on their research topic. The goal, again, is to provide a brief, clear overview of a current research topic.

• The presentation should be prepared beforehand.
• There will be a two-viewgraph limit, plus one "pretty picture" or graph illustrating the approach, experimental apparatus, or a significant result.
• There will be a strict 5-minute limit for a presentation, with 2-3 minutes for questions afterwards.

Taner Edis