Events at Physics |
Events During the Week of February 22nd through March 1st, 2009
Monday, February 23rd, 2009
- Plasma Physics (Physics/ECE/NE 922) Seminar
- Beyond MHD in Astrophysics: Buoyancy Instabilities in Galaxy Clusters
- Time: 12:05 pm - 1:15 pm
- Place: 3345 Engineering Hall
- Speaker: Dr. Ian Parrish, Dept of Astronomy at University of California-Berkeley
- Plasma Theory Seminar
- Magnetic REconnection with Asymmetry in the Outflow Direction
- Time: 4:00 pm
- Place: 514 ERB
- Speaker: Nick Murphy, University of Wisconsin. Dept of Astronomy/Physics
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009
- Chaos & Complex Systems Seminar
- Studying Dynamical Systems with Computer Algebra Systems
- Time: 12:05 pm
- Place: 4274 Chamberlin
- Speaker: George Hrabovsky, Madison Area Science and Technology
- Abstract: Computer algebra systems are powerful programming platforms that allow a single programmer to complete, in a week, what would normally take a team of programmers months to do. In this talk I will demonstrate, through a variety of examples, how these tools can make mathematical explorations of dynamical systems much simpler and in many ways more powerfully than traditional, strictly numerical approaches.
- Astronomy Colloquium
- Structure and Generation of the Solar Transition Region
- Time: 3:30 pm
- Place: 6515 Sterling Hall
- Speaker: Hakeem Oluseyi, Florida Institute of Technology
- Abstract: The solar transition region is an important region of the Sun's atmosphere to understand since all the energy that is deposited into the corona must pass through this component. Yet, after over three decades of study, the morphology, generation and energy balance of the Sun's transition region atmosphere is poorly understood. Several classes of discrete plasma structures have been identified in the transition region but their various contributions to the solar luminosity and variability have not been determined nor have their relationships to the dynamics and interactions of magnetic flux distributions been clearly revealed. The connectivity between the transition region and the corona has been heavily debated but also remains unresolved. The large-scale structure of the transition region, including the disappearance of the "chromospheric" network at temperatures above 1 MK, also remains unexplained. We have undertaken the task of studying several classes of transition region structures to address the problems introduced above. I describe in this talk studies of discrete plasma structures (funnels, loops, and bright points) and their ensembles to determine the partitioning of energy between them. I test a statistical model of the generation, distribution and properties of upper transition region bright points as a consequence of the convection-driven recycling of solar magnetic fields. I present a new model of the upper transition region structure and implications for the physics of magnetic reconnection in plasmas at upper transition region temperatures and densities. I will also discuss how these results may be extrapolated to explore the detailed magnetohydrodynamic conditions on stellar surfaces and a recent technological advancement I have developed that may substantially improve the spatial resolution of solar observations.
- Host: Professor Andy Sheinis
Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
- Theory/Phenomenology Seminar
- Heavy-flavor Inclusive Production: Formalism and Applications
- Time: 2:30 pm
- Place: 5280 Chamberlin Hall
- Speaker: Bernd Kniehl, University of Hamburg
Thursday, February 26th, 2009
- NPAC (Nuclear/Particle/Astro/Cosmo) Forum
- Supersymmetric U(1)' Models
- Time: 4:00 pm
- Place: 4274 Chamberlin
- Speaker: Gil Paz, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton
- Abstract: Extension of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) that include a U(1)' gauge symmetry are motivated by top-down
constructions and offer an elegant solution to the MSSM mu problem.
In this talk I will describe some of the opportunities that such models offer, such as a new mechanism for mediation of supersymmetry breaking, as well as some of the challenges in constructing viable supersymmetric U(1)' models. - Host: Michael J. Ramsey-Musolf
Friday, February 27th, 2009
- Physics Department Colloquium
- Diatomic Molecules as Quantum Tools
- Time: 4:00 pm
- Place: 2241 Chamberlin Hall (coffee at 3:30 pm)
- Speaker: David DeMille, Yale University
- Abstract: Our group is applying the techniques of modern atomic physics--cooling, trapping, and ultra-precise control and measurement--to the more complex system of diatomic molecules. The vibrational and rotational degrees of freedom in molecules make these systems qualitatively different than atoms. Despite the apparent complexity, we have identified a variety of simple principles that make control of these "new" properties useful. This is enabling new and powerful ways to attack a broad range of problems, all the way from particle physics and cosmology to quantum information processing and chemical physics. This talk will give an overview of the field, along with some specific examples of our recent work.
- Host: Thad Walker