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SFU scientists study atomic fingerprint

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By Sam Reynolds

CERN scientists make inroads on studying trapped antimatter

In a groundbreaking experiment at Europe’s CERN laboratory, a Canadian-led team directed by an SFU researcher has trapped anti-matter particles of hydrogen for long enough to study them in hopes to finally discover the secrets of the mysterious atoms.

“This is the first time that anyone has ever interacted with an antimatter atom,” wrote Mike Hayden, an SFU physics professor and lead in the project, in the journal Nature.

The team was able to observe the “atomic fingerprint” of an antimatter particle, a major breakthrough as scientists previously struggled to explain why it existed at all with the data that they had.

“We’ve performed a measurement. We’ve tried to look for what you might call a sign of a fingerprint of this atom,” Hayden told CBC News. “You could think of it like trying to communicate with this atom, or manipulate it.”

Other Canadian researchers involved with the project are from the universities of Calgary, Victoria, York University, and TRIUMF, Canada’s national particle physics lab based at UBC.

While antimatter may be familiar to most as science fiction lore, researchers have long attempted to produce it in a laboratory and hold it steady enough for observation. First discussed in the 1880s by British physicist William Mitchinson Hicks, the term was coined in 1898 in the journal Nature. A formalized paper was published in 1928 by Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, and antimatter was first discovered in a laboratory, as anti-electrons, or positrons, four years later.

Antimatter is made up of particles that have an opposite charge from matter, with the remaining characteristics remaining the same. When matter and antimatter collide, both particles are destroyed by the energy reaction that occurs as a result.

This destruction makes antimatter particularly challenging to observe, as matter — which annihilates it on contact — makes up the majority of the Universe.  In order to prevent the contact of matter and antimatter to allow observation, Hayden and his team used a device that suspended antimatter in a magnetic trap, keeping it away from the sides of the containing unit which is made of matter.

This device was the product of a CERN based group called the ALPHA collaboration, of which SFU researchers were also involved.

To trap and observe antimatter researchers combined anti-protons with anti-electrons to form a cloud of anti-hydrogen atoms. Last year, the team managed to trap antimatter for an unprecedented 16 minutes.
According to the paper published in Nature, the team then exposed these anti-hydrogens to high frequency radio waves while changing the strength of the magnetic trap to try and force them to escape, tracking their movement and patterns as they did.

“We end up getting images of tracks left by these particles, and we can lay these tracks all out and figure out where the common origin is, where did this little explosion occur,” Hayden said in an interview with the National Post. “What we see, of course, is that sure enough it comes right from the outside edge of our trap, where we expect them to come from.”

Scientific literature suggests that after the big bang, matter and antimatter were being rapidly created at a frenzied space as the universe expanded and cooled. Thus, having an outline of the “atomic fingerprint” as well as observations of an antimatter particle would give scientists new clues to the genesis of the universe.

“One of the reasons we want to study the spectrum of the antihydrogen atom is to look for clues that might shed light on a baffling mystery,” Hayden said to The Peak. “Everything we know about physics suggests that large quantities of matter and antimatter should have been created in the aftermath of the big bang”.

“So what happened? Where did the antimatter go? Trying to get to the bottom of this mystery is enormously important in physics and astronomy.”

“If we can see any small difference (between hydrogen and anti-hydrogen), maybe we can get some idea of why there is this preference for matter in the universe,” Tim Friesen, another Canadian researcher involved with the project said to the Calgary Herald.

“This experiment opens the door to precision comparisons of matter and antimatter,” said SFU PhD candidate Mohammad Ashkezar in a press release. “Eventually measurements like this will reveal clues that may help solve one of the deepest mysteries in particle physics.”

University Briefs

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By Ariane Maddena

UBC students launch photo dating site

Two students at the University of British Columbia launched a different kind of dating website last week, garnering both support and privacy concerns over its execution. The site, called “Peeked Interest” invites university students to take a snap shot of their love interest and post them in the hopes of breaking the ice online. “Peeked” students have the option of initiating contact or deleting the unsolicited photograph upon discovery.

UBC to consider grade 11 marks for admission

Months of teacher strikes in British Columbia has caused chaos with grade 12 report cards, so the University of British Columbia has opted to include grade 11 marks towards admission of B.C. students. The university will permit submission of the grades for initial first-year admissions but will make a second round of admission offers once final grades become available in May.

U. Windsor student charged in campus pub stabbings

A student at the University of Windsor, Ontario turned himself in to police following an altercation at the campus pub, which saw three students hospitalized with stab wounds. Police reported that a fight broke out near the entrance to The Thirsty Scholar pub around closing time, when the young man allegedly stabbed two men before running to a nearby parking lot where he stabbed a third victim. All victims are expected to recover.

Former New Jersey student convicted of “bias intimidation”

A former Rutgers University student has been convicted of “bias intimidation” ­— a form of hate crime — stemming from the anti-gay bullying he imposed on his university residence roommate by filming his roommate’s sexual behaviours and bullying him. The roommate later committed suicide. The accused will likely go to jail for between five and 10 years or could be deported to his native India for the crime.

McGill arts and Concordia commerce students defy protest strikes

Students in the Faculty of Arts at McGill University and commerce and administration students at Concordia University in Quebec have voted to continue attending classes amongst student strikes over tuition hikes. The two faculties represent approximately 14,000 Quebec students who are in the midst of controversial government talks to increase tuition over the next five years.

— Ariane Madden

LipDub hits SFU

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By Graham Cook

Project films main shoot after two years of thought and $25,000 worth of fundraising efforts

SFU’s version of the popular LipDub video trend was filmed last Wednesday and drew the participation of up to 700 students.  The video, which features the music of Panic! at the Disco and These Kids Wear Crowns, is the product of two years of thought and planning, according to producer Arry Dhillon.

Dhillon, who spoke with The Peak on the night of the filming, said that the main reason for making the LipDub was to build a sense of community on campus.  He added that UBC’s version increased the motivation to get the project moved along.

Lorenz Yeung, another producer, also added that this video is “history in the making for SFU. I am really excited that this day is finally here.”

Among the participants were various departmental student unions, athletics teams and clubs such as SASS, LASSU, the lacrosse team, the Magic Club, and the Chamber Orchestra, among others. The theme of the video was ‘end of the world’ and saw students decorated in zombie make-up and terrorizing the Burnaby campus set to music. The LipDub proceeded throughout the school, ending in Convocation Mall at just after midnight Thursday morning where pyrotechnic explosions highlighted the finale.
Despite setbacks, including camera troubles and a student who was reportedly not a part of the video requiring an ambulance on the set, around 200 of the original volunteers were still present when filming wrapped up.  These delays led to visible frustration on the part of organizers and participants, which in some cases resulted in verbal confrontation.

However, participants Amanda Smith and Ruth Clemens told The Peak that they felt that, while the project could have been organized better, it was an overall positive experience. Clemens added that what set SFU’s take on the LipDub apart from others is the fact that it contains a storyline.

“The final project is going to be the determinant, but I think whereas all the other LipDubs are happy . . . ours is like zombies. It’s a little bit more morbid and more exciting and it has a theme to it.”

The production did not come free of charge however.  Arry Dhillon estimated that it cost approximately $25,000 for the filming.  $6,000 of this came from the profits of pub nights while the other $19,000 came from departments within the university. While corporate sponsors did contribute donations, the LipDub crew did not accept monetary support from external sources in order to maintain creative control.

The video is also acting as a fundraising effort for the food bank, with the group running a can drive.  In addition, they have set-up a ‘click sponsorship’ deal where every view the video receives will result in a penny donation.

Ode to a Bennett Library Cubicle

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By Denise Wong

Oh Cubicle,

Thy murky yellow walls enclose me in a
monotonous fortress
of euphoric productivity.
Surrounded by nothingness and books written in French:
alas I am free of distractions.
Your solitary confinement that bores me to tears:
no one to talk to,
no where to go —
except the washroom.
No food allowed —
I guess I can’t binge eat now.
Nothing to do
but actually read.

Oh Cubicle,

I rejoice when we are reunited amidst this
academic craze.
But now that you’ve helped me complete this essay
I must resign from your company
and return to civilization.
Though fear not,
for I shall return when midterms strike
and indeed, strike they shall

theWAREHOUSE: Social Media

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By Carl Huber at theWAREHOUSE Comic

Fashions of the world wars’ intermission

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By Daryn Wright

‘Golden age thinking’: the belief that a time before our own was better, more progressive, and in this case — more chic

Serving as a reminder of a time before our own, mannequins stand sentinel in the Museum of Vancouver, donned in garments from the early ‘20s to late ‘30s, an era of shifting trends and irrefutable allure, as part of the “Art Deco Chic” exhibit, which stays on display until September. Almost all of the 66 pieces are picked from the collections of Ivan Sayers and Claus Jahnke. Sayers started collecting vintage and antique pieces when he was 15 years old, in part so that the pieces wouldn’t go to waste. Parts of his collection date back to the 1700s.

The exhibit is organized chronologically, and so the first few pieces you’ll encounter are date back to the early ‘20s, and reflects a rising fixation on Egypt and the ethnic east, fueled by the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922. Aluminum sunbursts are embroidered on a shift the colour of desert sand, and a sheer lilac dress has pyramids and palm trees extensively embroidered along the top and bottom hem. Dresses have a drapey shape and are almost childlike in their form, with the emphasis on surface design, all characteristic of then-emergent flapper style. “The ‘20s were a time for women’s liberation, not only of mind, but also shape; they were fighting for the right to vote, and to be considered more for their intellect than their figures,” said Amanda McCuaig, an organizer of the exhibit.

The straight shapes and geometric prints of the time’s apparel indicate the heavy influence of art deco, an artistic movement that, like its name implies, was very decorative and ornate and embraced modernism, while maintaining a certain elegance as well. Think the Chrysler building in New York City, or the German expressionist film Metropolis.

In the ‘30s section, you’ll find a jewel case of accessories displaying leather oxfords, hats with tiny brims, a clutch shaped like a Volkswagen Beetle, and a small, headless velvet teddy bear, which reveals itself to be a perfume bottle. Many people tend to associate this decade’s fashions with the Great Depression, said McCuaig, and are often surprised that their preconceived notions of ‘20s and ‘30s garments are usually quite off the mark.

In this era, an emphasis on shape becomes fashionable again, with the waist coming back up and in quite literally. The focus turns to cut outs in the actual form itself, rather than surface design. Many dresses have intricately detailed and open backs, so they are the focus when dancing with a partner.

The drastic change in design from the ‘20s can be explained by the fact that fashion is an industry: by changing what is fashionable, designers are able to continue to sell new pieces during the grim economic state, which in itself also contributed to the drastic change: modesty grew in value, and liberation movements were put on hold.

Perhaps one of the most interesting things about the exhibit is the sense of nostalgia one gets from the garments. Much of the art deco details are making their way back into designs today. Some of the exhibit’s pieces, such as a short cream flapper dress, could easily be worn to a cocktail party today, while others are transferable from the ‘30s to the context of the ‘80s: the angular shoulders, kitschy pins, and black and white leather gloves.

“If you take it out of the ‘80s context and into the ‘30s context, then it becomes glamorous. Maybe men with big hair and tight pants will come back too,” McCuaig laughed.

Old styles have shifted forward to the present, reflecting the changing ideals of the people in the clothes. Nostalgia for the decades past now rules the fashion world. “People just don’t dress like this anymore. Any chance I get to recreate it, I take it,” said one elderly woman at the opening night exhibit, glamorously dressed in clothing of the exhibit’s era.

B.C. budget calls for cuts to post-secondary institutions

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By Arshy Mann

Provincial government asks universities and colleges to find $70 million in administrative savings

VANCOUVER (CUP) — In the pursuit of a balanced budget, B.C. is asking universities and colleges to tighten their belts.

The provincial government, in its budget tabled February 21, is calling for post-secondary institutions to cut $70 million from their collective budgets over the next three years.

According to finance minister Kevin Falcon, the government expects this money to come from administrative savings.

“The province will work with universities, colleges, and other institutions to help ensure that front-line programs are not affected,” he said in his budget announcement. “And we believe a one per cent cost reduction is very achievable.”

Funding will stay stable for the next year, with the cuts coming between 2013 and 2015.

The budget document asserts that savings can be found by combined purchases of equipment by institutions, cutting travel costs and through a reduction in support services.

A statement from the Ministry of Advanced Education emphasized that the budget also included a $9-million increase for “additional medical, health and other priority seats”, and that $462 million had been set aside for capital projects over the next few years.

UBC declined to comment about how the university would deal with budget cuts.

Michelle Mungall, the NDP critic for advanced education, said that despite the government’s promises, the cuts are likely to affect students.

“We’re seeing colleges report projected deficits, and that would be before the budget was released. And now with this budget, we’re going to see program cuts.”

She argued that institutions have been cutting back on administration for years and that there remains little left to cut.

“They’ve become very lean machines,” she said. “And they have no choice but to go back to students. No surprise here, when you look at the budget book, the only thing increasing in post-secondary education is revenue from tuition.”

Mungall said that colleges will be hit harder by the budget cuts than universities.

“They don’t have the ability to seek out research grants to top up in the same way that universities do.”

Mungall also pointed to the special challenges of northern and rural institutions. She argued that schools that have multiple campuses spread over large regions, such as Okanagan College and Northwest Community College, must pay more for travel and often replicate classes at various campuses.

She went on to say that the budget also falls short on financial aid for students, and that an NDP government would reinstate a needs-based grant program that was axed in 2005.

Rober Clift, the executive director of the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of B.C., said that post-secondary institutions face greater inflationary pressures than other sectors of the economy.

“Prices for things like journals, scientific equipment, laboratory supplies . . . the inflation rates for those types of goods and services increases at a faster rate than the general price index,” he said.

Clift found the government’s claim that funding cuts won’t affect students to be suspect.

“They said that the cuts can’t come at the expense of services to students, which is laudable, but impossible,” he said. “Students are going to feel this one way or another.”

Clift went on to say that while lay-offs are unlikely at universities, one way that savings may be found is by departments not rehiring for vacancies.

“So it’s not that a faculty member gets laid off, but a department that was maybe looking to hire somebody won’t do that hiring now. When we can’t reduce services to students, we can’t cut the number of sections, so what we do [is] we try to hire sessional instructors to do that job.”

What’s your sign? Part 2

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You’re in a bar after promising not to spend another Friday night drinking and watching Doctor Who.  You spot someone eyeing you from across the bar, you sidle up to them and ask them a question, the first question, the oldest in the universe.  Hidden in plain sight: Hey baby, what’s your sign?

Spotlight on GSS elections

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By Kai Yang Shiao

Elections for the Graduate Student Society (GSS) are just around the corner. The positions up for election, which will take place online from March 22 to March 29, are the coordinating and elections officer (CERO), the academic and internal relations officer (AIRO), and the operations and finance officer (OFO). However, since there was only one candidate running for the AIRO, Logan Ansell has won by acclamation.

Julia Lane, Maryam Dehghani Estarki, and Ikechukwu Udevi-Aruevoru are the candiates for the position of CERO. In her platform, Lane shows her history of involvement in the GSS by emphasizing that she is the current AIRO and previously served on three of its committees: social, environmental, and social justice, as well as collective advocacy and campaigns. According to her, such experience has increased her awareness of current challenges, including the expansion of graduate student space at all SFU campuses, cooperation with the SFSS, and the proposed creation of a provincial scholarship for master’s students.

Franclin Verla, a candidate running for OFO, is currently pursuing his master’s degree in risk management. He emphasizes his previous work as a financial analyst, which he believes will serve him well when managing the budget of the Graduate Student Society. He pledges that, upon election to this position, a thorough spending review will be conducted and that any improvements to ensure the efficient use of financial resources will be made accordingly.

Zest Zhang is also running for the position of OFO. He believes that international students should have a greater say as the number of international students is increasing and pledges to represent their interests.

Dissatisfaction in rez highest among international students

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By Benedict Reiners

Lack of “diverse interactions“ with other residence students, despite increase of international students over the past six years

For the past six years, SFU’s residence management has been collecting survey data on student satisfaction in residences on the Burnaby campus. They’ve been using the Educational Benchmark Institute (EBI) standards, which collects data every two years.

Now that three sets of surveys have been completed, the data is reaching the point at which it can be put together to determine if there are any existing trends in attitudes towards residence.

At this juncture, the statistics themselves remain unavailable to the public. However, sources working with the data have suggested some of the potential implications.
Perhaps the most notable are the alleged responses indicating that dissatisfaction with both the campus and residence is highest with international students. Both the Fraser International College (FIC) students living in SFU residence, as well as registered SFU international students living on campus were surveyed, and were categorized accordingly.

However, sources indicate that although the dissatisfaction seems higher for the FIC students, the trend of the relative international student dissatisfaction remains true for SFU students as well.

This is particularly notable on two fronts, the first being the rising proportion of SFU residence students coming from abroad.

Although 2006 was reported to have seen a spike in rez students from the Fraser Valley, the subsequent years are reported to have seen a drop in such numbers, as international students coming from numerous foreign communities have replaced them.

Further adding to the issue is the fact that diverse interactions have been reported to have been on the decline over the past six years, despite the increase in international students. “This really confused us,” said Chris Rogerson, associate director of residence life, at a student services ‘Lunch and Learn’ last Tuesday. “Our international population was going up, our number of FIC students was going up, but our diverse interactions were going down.”

However, Rogerson continued to attribute the drop to the nature of the Louis Riel building, which contains apartment style housing for grad students and families, an environment in which residents are reportedly more inclined to “stay to yourself, and do your own thing.”

Currently, sources could not yet indicate the time at which the full data set will be released to the public. However, the presentation of much of the information to student services staff last week would suggest that the time at which more conclusive answers become available may be approaching.

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Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

Contact us: [email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society 1965-2024

Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

Contact us:
[email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society 1965-2024