Calculating the Capacity of a Network
06-04-12
Michelle Effros, Professor of Electrical Engineering, and information theorist colleagues have begun to tackle the difficult problem of calculating capacities for large communication networks such as the internet and mobile phone networks. In two recent publications, they introduce techniques useful for improving the performance of current communication networks and for designing the networks of the future. By demonstrating where current technology falls short of what's possible, these techniques provide a new tool for strategically guiding research and development. [Read the Publications]
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EE
energy
research highlights
Michelle Effros
Plasmas Torn Apart
02-15-12
Using high-speed cameras to look at jets of plasma in the lab, Paul M. Bellan, Professor of Applied Physics, and colleagues have made a discovery that may be important in understanding phenomena like solar flares and in developing nuclear fusion as a future energy source. "Trying to understand nature by using engineering techniques is indeed a hallmark of the Division of Engineering and Applied Science at Caltech," says Ares Rosakis, Chair of the Engineering and Applied Science Division. [Caltech release] [Plasma movie]
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APhMS
energy
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Paul Bellan
Naturally Inspired
01-04-12
Morteza Gharib, Hans W. Liepmann Professor of Aeronautics and Professor of Bioinspired Engineering, and colleagues are studying the properties of the zebrafish embryonic heart to address problems as diverse as ringing in the ears and overheated electronics. They have also developed the first pump built entirely from biological building blocks. “We can actually be more clever than nature,” Gharib says. “We can get inspired by nature and use engineering to come up with better functions. Just look at 747s—they fly from LAX to La Guardia much more efficiently than any bird could.”
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energy
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GALCIT
MedE
health
Morteza Gharib
Bioinspired
An Incredible Shrinking Material
11-07-11
Graduate student, Chen Li, and colleagues including Brent Fultz, Professor of Materials Science and Applied Physics, have shown how scandium trifluoride (ScF3) contracts with heat. "A pure quartic oscillator is a lot of fun," Professor Fultz says. "Now that we've found a case that's very pure, I think we know where to look for it in many other materials." Understanding quartic oscillator behavior will help engineers design materials with unusual thermal properties. "In my opinion," Fultz says, "that will be the biggest long-term impact of this work." [Caltech Press Release] [Nature Article]
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APhMS
energy
research highlights
Brent Fultz
Chen Li
Fueling Fundamental Research
10-13-11
To strengthen fundamental science and technology and foster transformational advances in renewable energies, the Dow Chemical Company and Caltech have established a $10 million partnership. Under the partnership, Dow will provide ongoing support for graduate student research through endowed fellowships which include five in energy science. The Resnick Sustainability Institute is receiving a significant portion of the funding in the agreement. Through the new Dow Chemical Company Bridge/CI2 Innovation Program, financial support will be used to further promising graduate and postdoc research that has the possibility of creating licensable technologies and start-ups. The graduate research fellowships in energy—renewable for up to two years—will help advance clean-energy goals. [Caltech Press Release]
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APhMS
energy
Resnick
Dow
postdocs
![An argon plasma jet forms a rapidly growing corkscrew, known as a kink instability. [Credit: A. L. Moser and P. M. Bellan, Caltech ]](https://d39s7jey1vv9fu.cloudfront.net/eas_news/images/613/thumb/plasma-bellon-release.jpg?1329342520)
