A team led by Prof Mike Green has developed a neat device designed to bring practical particle physics into the classroom. The EC kitemark scheme draws attention to the best practices in physics teaching in schools with the aim of raising standards and improving scientific literacy at all levels. The general area is the study of helium in two and one dimensions.
Particles are either bosons or fermions.
At sufficiently high densities and low temperatures, matter consisting of fermions behaves in a completely different way from bosons. So helium is particularly useful, as both can be observed. The present liquefier is now nearly 15 years old and has served the group well during that time. Its replacement will provide a larger volume of liquid helium with greater reliability to support the increasing size of the condensed matter group. Two new lecturers appointed in Physics Tania McMahon and Hywel Phillips will join us this September based in the Centre for Particle Physics .