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NEWS
| October 14, 2003
Research
Sandia laboratory: Regional branch
in Arlington a possibility
Representatives confirm the university’s
possible standing with the federal research lab.
By Jake
Davis
Contributor to The Shorthorn
The university’s developing a partnership with Sandia National
Laboratories could eventually include a regional branch of the nation’s
second-largest federal lab on campus.
Two Sandia representatives confirmed for the first time Monday that
the partnership could yield a satellite laboratory here that would
facilitate close interaction between the two institutions.
“From the beginning, it has been a point of exploration. A
regional facility has always been a possibility,” said Charles
Meyer, the lab’s science, technology and engineering business
manager.
Dr. Meyer said a regional branch has been discussed so far only
in concept and would depend on a relationship strengthened over
time between scientists at both places. Such a plan would involve
a myriad of details to be fleshed out as the university’s
research contributions are evaluated.
“If you say, ‘Let’s put a lab in’, you have
to answer a lot of questions. Who owns it? Who operates it? What
do they do?,” Meyer said.
The university has pursued a relationship with the lab since a preliminary
meeting with Sandia officials was held here Aug. 5. A university
delegation later traveled to Albuquerque, N.M., and a document outlining
possible areas of collaboration between the lab and the university
was drafted in the following weeks. The memorandum of understanding
is awaiting approval from UT System attorneys before being sent
to Sandia for final authorization.
While the memorandum of understanding awaits official approval,
another top Sandia official said scientists from the two institutions
are already exchanging ideas and data. He said he expects cooperation
to broaden beyond the limited areas of discussion under way now.
“We are already a participant in partnerships [with UTA],”
said Terry Michalske, the director of the lab’s Center for
Integrated Nanotechnologies. “Institutionally, there is definitely
an interest. At this point, we are in the ‘getting to know
each other’ stage.”
He said the seeds of cooperation could bear fruit in the form of
a regional laboratory.
“That is among the possible outcomes of a more developed relationship.
The likelihood or time frame of such a development is not well defined,”
Dr. Michalske said.
Phone calls made to at least a half-dozen administrators and researchers
were not returned, and a UT System spokesman has said he will not
discuss the memorandum.
But Michalske identified the work of one university scientist as
an example of a project of interest.
Alex Weiss, a physics professor, is doing research on surface analysis
that would allow an engineer to visualize objects at a sub-molecular
level. Dr. Weiss has developed a means of analysis that is more
accurate than most of the other methods in use, particularly the
use of electrons in devices like the scanning electron microscope
and the transmission electron microscope.
Weiss’ method uses positrons, which are the material opposite
of electrons (antimatter). Because of the abundance of electrons
in existence, positions are very difficult to track. When a positron
collides with an electron in a process called annihilation, however,
the signal is intense and creates a more accurate picture.
“The presentation given by Dr. Weiss stimulated much discussion
among technical staff,” Michalske said.
CORRECTION
The story should have stated physics professor Alex Weiss said electrons
were difficult to track.
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