Events at Physics |
Events During the Week of September 11th through September 18th, 2011
Monday, September 12th, 2011
- Plasma Physics (Physics/ECE/NE 922) Seminar
- On the inner machinery of collisionless magnetic reconnection
- Time: 12:05 pm
- Place: 2317 Engineering Hall
- Speaker: Michael Hesse, NASA
Tuesday, September 13th, 2011
- Chaos & Complex Systems Seminar
- Systems Virology: Models and measures of virus growth and infection spread
- Time: 12:05 pm
- Place: 4274 Chamberlin
- Speaker: John Yin, WI Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering Systems Biology Theme, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery
- Abstract: Viruses infect humans and cause diseases such as AIDS, hepatitis, cancer, and influenza, annually impacting the health of a major fraction of the world's population. Basic science has revealed the molecular functions encoded by many viruses of biomedical importance, but relatively little progress has been made toward understanding how the individual functions of a virus contribute to the integrated processes of virus growth and infection spread. We have begun to address this deficiency by developing quantitative experiments and mathematical models to describe the growth and spread of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), a rabies-like virus that can be readily cultured in the laboratory. This talk will highlight our recent progress toward coupling the roles of both biological amplification and physical movement in the growth and spread of virus infections. Advances from the work have applications toward the development of more potent vaccines, anti-viral therapies, as well as virus-based therapies to treat cancer.<br><br>
- Host: Clint Sprott
Wednesday, September 14th, 2011
- No events scheduled
Thursday, September 15th, 2011
- R. G. Herb Condensed Matter Seminar
- How d-wave pair fluctuations arise from strong electronic correlations
- Time: 10:00 am
- Place: 5310 Chamberlin
- Speaker: William Putikka, Ohio State University
- Abstract: Superfluid behavior is relatively common in strongly correlated fermion systems, suggesting there is a common reason for this behavior rooted in the strong correlations. In previous calculations I found d-wave pair fluctuations in the 2D t-J model on a square lattice. Having pair fluctuations in a well-defined strongly correlated model allows for a detailed examination of the model's properties for the model parameters where the pair fluctuations are strongest. From this analysis I propose a robust process for producing pair fluctuations by strong correlations. As part of the analysis I find that d-wave pair fluctuations are not due to antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations, instead the AF fluctuations compete with the pair fluctuations. I will also discuss how these ideas may generalize across a broader range of strongly correlated systems.
- Host: Robert Joynt
- Atomic Physics Seminar
- Reusable Neutral Atom Qubits for Quantum Information Applications
- Time: 2:00 pm
- Place: 5310 Chamberlin
- Speaker: Michael Gibbons, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Abstract: Most neutral atom quantum computing experiments rely on destructive state detection techniques that eject the detected qubits from the trap. These techniques limit the repetition rate of these experiments due to the necessity of reloading a new quantum register for each operation.
We address this problem by developing reusable neutral atom qubits. Individual 87Rb atoms are trapped in an optical lattice and are held for upwards of 300 s. Each atom is prepared in an initial quantum state and the state is subsequently detected with 95% accuracy and with less than a 1% probability of losing it from the trap. The combination of long storage times and lossless state detection could help facilitate the development of faster and more complex quantum operations that will enable future advancements in the field of neutral atom quantum information. - Host: Saffman
- Astronomy Colloquium
- Reconnection Diffusion: Changing the Star Formation Paradigm
- Time: 3:30 pm - 5:00 am
- Place: 4421 Sterling Hall
- Speaker: Professor Alexander Lazarian
- Abstract: For decades the idea that star formation is regulated by ambipolar diffusion dominated theories of star formation. Recent observational data shows that the traditional textbook paradigm has serious problems. At the same time recent progress in understanding th magnetic reconnection in realistically turbulent environments provides a different scenario of star formation, which is based on a new concept termed reconnection diffusion. I shall discuss the idea of fast reconnection in turbulent media, which is the basis of reconnection diffusion, problems with explaining the existing observational data and the theoretical predictions that the reconnection diffusion entails.
- Host: Astronomy Department
- Graduate Introductory Seminar
- Theoretical Nuclear, Particle, Astrophysics, and Cosmology Seminar
- Time: 5:30 pm
- Place: 2223 Chamberlin Hall
- Speaker: Ramsey-Musolf
Friday, September 16th, 2011
- Cosmology Journal Club
- An Informal discussion about a broad variety of arXiv papers related to Cosmology
- Time: 12:00 pm
- Place: 5242 Chamberlin Hall
- Abstract: This week we'll discuss...
Results from 730 kg days of the CRESST-II Dark Matter Search
Intensity Mapping with Carbon Monoxide Emission Lines and the Redshifted 21 cm Line
Please feel free to bring your lunch!
If you have questions or comments about this journal club, would like to propose a topic or volunteer to introduce a paper, please email Le Zhang (lzhang263@wisc.edu). - Host: Peter Timbie
- Physics Department Colloquium
- The Quantum and Fluid Mechanics of Global Warming
- Time: 3:30 pm
- Place: 2241 Chamberlin Hall (coffee at 4:30 pm)
- Speaker: Brad Marston, Brown University
- Abstract: Quantum mechanics plays a crucial, albeit often overlooked, role in our understanding of the Earth's climate. In this talk three well known aspects of quantum mechanics are invoked to present a simple physical picture of what will happen as the concentrations of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide continue to increase. Historical and paleoclimatic records are interpreted with some basic astronomy, fluid mechanics, and the use of fundamental laws of physics such as the conservation of angular momentum. Live simulations will illustrate the basic physical principles governing large scale atmospheric circulation. I conclude by discussing some possible ways that physics might be able to contribute to a deeper understanding of climate change.
See Physics Trends, "Looking for new problems to solve? Consider the climate" at http://physics.aps.org/articles/v4/20
- Host: Chubukov