Events at Physics |
Events on Wednesday, February 7th, 2024
- Preliminary Exam
- Neutral Beam Injection on WHAM
- Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
- Place: B343 Sterling
- Speaker: Kunal Sanwalka, Physics Graduate Student
- Abstract: WHAM is an experiment to study the axisymmetric mirror as a candidate plasma confinement scheme for fusion energy. In order to make a fusion plasma in WHAM, a beam of neutral particles at high energy is fired on a cold background plasma which will create a non-thermal population of fast ions. It is these fast ions which will perform the majority of the fusion in WHAM. In this presentation, I will talk about the current status of the neutral beam injector and planned future experimental campaigns. These include studying the fast ion confinement and effects of fast ions on plasma stability via finite larmor radius effects. These will be measured with an array of diagnostics such as the beam shine-thru array, interferometer, fusion proton detector etc.
- Host: Cary Forest
- Atomic Physics Seminar
- Quantum Science with Ultracold Atoms: from Quantum Simulation to Quantum Networking
- Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
- Place: 5310 Chamberlin Hall
- Speaker: Elmer Guardado-Sanchez, Harvard University
- Abstract: The field of ultracold atoms is undergoing a significant transformation, evolving from primarily Analog quantum simulation to systems featuring comprehensive Digital control over all components. This advancement has enabled full coherent control over hundreds of individual atoms, opening pathways to prepare novel states of matter and positioning these systems as a credible platform for Quantum Information Processing. In this talk, I will present some of the developments in my field, illustrated through my own research. First on the Analog side, I will delve into the exciting science that a Fermionic Quantum Gas Microscope opens up to explore. This programmable quantum simulator gives unprecedented access into the microscopics of condensed matter systems. Then on the Digital side, I will talk about recent work coupling two individual atoms to a high-cooperativity cavity, highlighting how, beyond communication, optical networking nodes can also be used as mediators of entanglement. The talk will conclude with two future research directions, one focusing on a platform for next-generation quantum simulation and a second potential avenue for a scalable quantum internet using a novel atomic species.
- Host: Thad Walker