Events at Physics |
Events on Tuesday, October 5th, 2010
- R. G. Herb Condensed Matter Seminar
- Probing non-Abelian statistics with quantum Hall interferometry
- Time: 10:00 am
- Place: 5310 Chamberlin
- Speaker: Kirill Shtengel, University of California-Riverside
- Abstract: States of matter are conventionally classified according to broken symmetries. Topologically ordered phases fall outside of this paradigm: with no local order parameter, they nevertheless have many peculiar properties setting them apart from disordered phases. In 2D, such phases may support anyons - quasiparticles that are neither bosons nor fermions. Moreover, anyons with non-Abelian statistics can occur, particularly in the fractional quantum Hall regime. In this talk, I will focus on solid state interferometers designed to detect such exotic statistics. I will discuss recent experiments in the the quantum Hall regime at 5/2 filling where the evidence for the existence of non-Abelian anyons may have in fact been observed for the first time. I will also mention potential applications of such interferometeric schemes for topological quantum computation.
- Host: Andrey Chubukov & Robert Joynt
- Chaos & Complex Systems Seminar
- Sustainability: The Lay of the Land for 2010
- Time: 12:05 pm
- Place: 4274 Chamberlin Hall
- Speaker: Tom Eggert, UW-Madison School of Business
- Abstract: Tom Eggert is the Co-Director of the Business, Environment & Social Responsibility Program at the WI School of Business, and also is the Executive Director of the WI Sustainable Business Council. His talk will focus on the adoption of "green" or sustainable practices by institutions throughout the state.
- Department of Physics
- Pizza Lunch with Jennifer Ouellette
- Time: 12:15 pm
- Place: 5310 Chamberlin
- Speaker: Jennifer Ouellette, UW “Science Writer in Residence” blogger at Cocktail Party Physics and author
- Abstract: Please come by to meet her and discuss the intersection of science and popular culture. Jennifer Ouellette is the UW "Science Writer in Residence" blogger at Cocktail Party Physics and author of popular science books, including "Black Bodies and Quantum Cats: Tales from the Annals of Physics" and "The Physics of the Buffyverse."
Cocktail Party Physics Website
http://twistedphysics.typepad.com
Jennife Ouellette's Website
http://www.jenniferouellette-writes.com