June/July 1998
Volume 4, Number 2

Features

SQUID sensors penetrate new markets
Superconducting quantum interference devices have long served as extremely sensitive magnetometers and gradiometers in biomedical and research applications. Now these sensors are emerging in magnetocardiology, nondestructive evaluation, explosives detection, and geophysics – Jennifer Ouellette

Ion propulsion keeps satellites on track
Two commercial communications satellites were launched in 1997 equipped with an ion propulsion system that obviates the need for hundreds of kilograms of chemical propellant and thus achieves a tremendous savings in weight and cost – John R. Beattie

News

Failure analysis in a nanometer world
Propelled by the continuing drive for smaller features and the growing complexity of integrated circuits, researchers are devising new physical measurement methods to identify and localize the most critical faults and failures – Jennifer Ouellette

Briefs: Physics-business master's degree; infrared connections; updates on aerogels and Rosen Motors – David Pope

Departments

Editorial: Who are you? – Charles Harris

Letters

Technology: Lasers: The cutting edge in industry – Richard Walker

SPMs step from laboratory to industry – Lisa E. Benatar and Sung I. Park

Industry/Academia: Incubating technology-oriented start-ups – David Barbe, Herbert Rabin, and Edward M. Sybert

Careers Questions and answers – Lynne Wamon

Hidden Physicists: Physicists and engineers

Forum: Fellows turn physics into technology - Pat Young

Corporate Associates:Wireless and spacey – Angela Putney

New Products