Fermilab's CDF observes Omega-sub-b baryon

The CDF collaboration has observed 16 Omega-sub-b candidates in the data collected through October 2008. Scientists measured the mass of the Omega-sub-b to be 6054.4 ± 6.8 MeV/c².

At a recent physics seminar at the Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Fermilab physicist Pat Lukens of the CDF experiment announced the observation of a new particle, the Omega-sub-b (Ω_b). The particle contains three quarks, two strange quarks and a bottom quark (s-s-b). It is an exotic relative of the much more common proton and has about six times the proton's mass.

The observation of this "doubly strange" particle, predicted by the Standard Model, is significant because it strengthens physicists' confidence in their understanding of how quarks form matter. In addition, it conflicts with a 2008 result announced by CDF's sister experiment, DZero.

The Omega-sub-b is the latest entry in the "periodic table of baryons." Baryons are particles formed of three quarks, the most common examples being the proton and neutron. The Tevatron particle accelerator at Fermilab is unique in its ability to produce baryons containing the b quark, and the large data samples now available after many years of successful running enable experimenters to find and study these rare particles. The observation opens a new window for scientists to investigate its properties and better understand this rare object.

Read more

ES&H Safety Fair today
offers tips and cool stuff

By dropping your name into the lime green coffee cans throughout the Safety Fair during lunch today, you can win one of 13 prizes, some of which are pictured here.

Psst! Do you want free summer stuff such as a grill, rain barrel and severe weather alert radio?

All you have to do is stop by the inaugural Environment, Safety and Health Fair today at lunch time in the Wilson Hall atrium to try your hand at winning one of 13 items raffled off by ES&H.

As you peruse information about the laboratory's summer exercise program, Accelerate to a Healthy Lifestyle: Exercise (pdf), and Take Five safety initiative as well as common summer hazards such as road trip accidents, sun burns and lightning, you will find lime green coffee cans to put your name in for prize drawings. Most information tables also will offer miniature-sized freebies such as sunscreen, sanitizers, peanuts and snack bars.

You can also brush up on your safety knowledge and listen to three speakers: Shawna Coronado, an environmental and health columnist and author of "Gardening Nude"; Jim Allsopp, warning coordination meteorologist for the Chicago National Weather Service Forecast Office and an annual participant at Tom Skilling's Tornado Seminar; and Dennis Anderson from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Anderson will discuss how to stay safe on family road trips or when riding a motorcycle. He'll also have "drunk" goggles, which simulate vision impairment caused by drinking alcohol, to demonstrate slowed reaction time.

Many of Fermilab's Senior Safety and Environmental Officers will be on hand to introduce themselves.

ES&H staff hopes to make the fair an annual event.

"We thought the fair was a better way of communicating with people than just putting up a poster," said ES&H's Minnie Koch. "We want everyone to be safe today and learn to be aware of their surroundings so that they remain safe everyday whether at work or at home."

ES&H will post most of the information from the event on its Web page so you don't have to lug pamphlets back to your office with all your free stuff.

-- Tona Kunz

Invent, invent, invent

From New York Times column,
June 27, 2009

I was at a conference in St. Petersburg, Russia, a few weeks ago and interviewed Craig Barrett, the former chairman of Intel, about how America should get out of its current economic crisis. His first proposal was this: Any American kid who wants to get a driver's license has to finish high school. No diploma - no license. Hey, why would we want to put a kid who can barely add, read or write behind the wheel of a car?

Now what does that have to do with pulling us out of the Great Recession? A lot. Historically, recessions have been a time when new companies, like Microsoft, get born, and good companies separate themselves from their competition. It makes sense. When times are tight, people look for new, less expensive ways to do old things. Necessity breeds invention.

Read more