Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

New Results From The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search Experiment, D. S. Akerib, J. Alvaro-Dean, M. S. Armel, M. J. Attisha, L. Baudis, D. A. Bauer, A. I. Bolozdynya, P. L. Brink, R. Bunker, Blas Cabrera, D. O. Caldwell, J. P. Castle, C. L. Chang, R. M. Clarke, M. B. Crisler, P. Crushman, A. K. Davies, R. Dixon, D. D. Driscoll, L. Duong, J. Emes, R. Ferril, R. J. Gaitskell, S. R. Golwala, M. Haldeman, J. Hellmig, M. Hennessey, D. Holmgren, M. E. Huber, S. Kamat, M. Kurylowicz, A. Lu, R. Mahapatra, V. Mandic, J. M. Martinis, P. Meunier, N. Mirabolfathi, S. W. Nam, H. Nelson, R. Nelson, R. W. Ogburn, J. Perales, T. A. Perera, M. C. Perillo Isaac, W. Rau, A. Reisetter, R. R. Ross, T. Saab, B. Sadoulet, J. Sander, C. Savage, R. W. Schnee, D. N. Seitz, T. A. Shutt, G. Smith, A. L. Spadafora, J.-P. F. Thompson, A. Tomada, G. Wang, S. Yellin, Betty A. Young

Physics

Using improved Ge and Si detectors, better neutron shielding, and increased counting time, the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS) experiment has obtained stricter limits on the cross section of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) elastically scattering from nuclei. Increased discrimination against electromagnetic backgrounds and reduction of the neutron flux confirm WIMP-candidate events previously detected by CDMS were consistent with neutrons and give limits on spin-independent WIMP interactions which are >2× lower than previous CDMS results for high WIMP mass, and which exclude new parameter space for WIMPs with mass between 8 and 20 GeV/c² .

Resistive Transitions In Quench-Condensed Bi Films Near A Normal-Metal Ground Plane, Richard P. Barber Jr., Ben Kain

Physics

We report observations of the zero-field resistive transitions of superconducting quench-condensed Bi0.97Tl0.03 films both near electrically isolated normal-metal ground planes and on clean fire-polished glass. Transition temperatures, obtained by fitting the data with the two-dimensional Aslamazov-Larkin theory of fluctuation conductance, were found to be significantly enhanced for films deposited over ground planes versus those deposited onto insulating substrates. Conductivity enhancement due to superconducting fluctuations was found to be much less than expected for the thinnest samples. This suppression was coincident with broadened superconductor transitions that are consistent with nonuniform sample thickness. Sufficiently thick films showed reasonable agreement with both the …

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 45 Number 2, Fall 2003, Santa Clara University

Santa Clara Magazine

12 - 'A FAVORITE ABODE OF SCIENCE' By Elizabeth Kelley Gillogly '93. A new exhibit of Santa Clara University's scientific equipment from 1851-1900 reveals the Jesuits' early dedication to scientific inquiry, and the ways in which the University contributed to the history of science.

14 - COMING HOME By Mitch Finley '73. More than 60 million Americans are Catholic, but millions of them are estranged from the Church. More often than you might think, however, "lapsed Catholics" decide to come home to the Church. Why did they leave? And what brings them back?

18 - STUDENTS TO THE RESCUE By …

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 45 Number 1, Summer 2003, Santa Clara University

Santa Clara Magazine

8 - MASS APPEAL By Erin Ryan. Each week hundreds of students close their books for the night and crowd into Mission Santa Clara for an informal 10 p.m. Mass. The service has drawn students and the community to church for more than 30 years.

10 - BREAKING THROUGH By Francisco Jimenez. An excerpt from the autobiography of Jimenez, who faced many challenges since he and his family entered the United States from Mexico when he was 4. Through work in the fields, to deportation, to struggles in English class, he persevered. And now he's a professor at SCU.

16 …

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 44 Number 4, Spring 2003, Santa Clara University

Santa Clara Magazine

8 - DREAMS REFLECT OUR WAKING WORLD By Kelly Bulkeley. A teacher of religious studies at SCU argues that dreams are much more than just personal - they reflect larger issues in culture, politics, and society.

12 - SCHOOL WORK By Jean Merl. High school students in South Central L.A. are gaining valuable job skills while they help pay for their private education. And SCU alumni are helping to make it all work.

18 - BELIEVING IN HEALTH By Thomas G. Plante. Research shows that religion may be good for your health, but that does not mean that doctors will …

A First Course In Computer Science: Languages And Goals, Dennis C. Smolarski

Mathematics and Computer Science

The College Board Advanced Placement exam in computer science will use the language Java starting in fall 2003. The language chosen for this exam is based on the language commonly taught in introductory computer science courses at the university level. This article reviews the purpose of an introductory course and the various suggestions for the curriculum of introductory courses published by the Association for Computing Machinery. It then proposes that such a course stress foundational concepts over specific language syntax, and then provides a list of such foundational concepts and related topics. Based on this fundamental curriculum, the article recommends …

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 45 Number 3, Winter 2003, Santa Clara University

Santa Clara Magazine

10 - ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AT SCU By Paul Locatelli, S.J. ln an adaptation of his convocation address, SCU 's president describes the University's goal to educate "the whole person."

12 - 'BECKHAM' BOOSTS SCU SOCCER By Victoria Hendel De La O. References to SCU in the hit movie have brought international attention to the women's soccer program.

14 - SEEKING SOLUTIONS Experts vi sit campus to discuss the issue of clergy abuse and work on a book about the topic.

18 - UNEARTHING THE PAST By Connie Skipitares. SCU archaeologists, anthropologists, and students probe a site near campus to learn …