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ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES •
JANUARY 2014
9
netic behavior that could speed up computer develop-
ment. One of the eventual goals, for example, is to de-
velop new materials that superconduct at room
temperature, rather than only in extreme cold.
“This will help everything, because nowadays you
have to cool the materials down, which is very expen-
sive,” she says. “If we don’t have to cool them down,
everything that uses superconductivity can be made
much less expensively.”
Rey is also developing a comprehensive theoretical
framework for an optical-lattice quantum computer
based on alkaline earth metals, and she has proposed so-
lutions for problems associated with storing, addressing,
and transporting qubits, the quantum equivalent of tra-
ditional computing bits. Among other things, she hopes
to resolve long-standing obstacles to large-scale entan-
glement between atoms, which quantum computers re-
quire for both communication and calculations. Such
research could produce smaller and faster computers
with capabilities that classical computers do not now
have.
For more information: Ana Maria Rey, 303/492-
7801,
arey@jilau1.colorado.edu,
www.colorado.edu.
Brits use blimp to study clouds
A team of British scientists recently traveled
across the U.S. in the world’s largest blimp—Sky-
ship 600—as part of a BBC expedition team to
study clouds as well as biological activity in the
air. Microscopes from Carl Zeiss Microscopy
LLC, Germany, were used in the research activities. Researchers traveled
from Florida to California, stopping at 13 different air fields along their
route. Carl Zeiss Microscopy loaned an inverted, compound microscope
(Axio Vert.A1) and a stereo microscope (Stemi 2000) to the temporary
labs set up at the air fields.
The main goal was to ex-
plain changes in weather
and its effects. Also, data
was correlated to current
weather, migratory, and
wildlife patterns. The
Cloud Lab will be seen on
BBC Two television later
this year.
www.zeiss.com,
www.airshipsonline.com/ airships/ss600.EWI,
Columbus, Ohio, developed a new tool
called EWI SpotSight to reduce the need for
destructive testing of spot welds in manu-
facturing. The tool employs matrix-phased
array-based ultrasonic imaging technology
to accurately evaluate the effectiveness of
component joints by visualizing weld images
with real-time feedback. Originally devel-
oped for the automotive industry, SpotSight
can be used in many applications for struc-
tural inspection of metal, plastic, braze, and
composite joints.
www.ewi.org.