Events at Physics |
Events During the Week of April 3rd through April 10th, 2022
Monday, April 4th, 2022
- Astronomy Colloquium
- Pathways to Detecting and Characterizing Rocky Habitable Planets
- Time: 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
- Place: 4421 Sterling Hall, Coffee and Cookies at 3:30 pm, Talk starts at 3:45 pm
- Speaker: Gudmundur Stefansson, Princeton University
- Abstract: One of the foremost goals of exoplanet science is the detailed characterization of terrestrial planets that potentially could harbor life. I will discuss near-term projects and instruments that are allowing for rapid progress on the detection and characterization of small planets. (1) Beam-shaping optical diffusers allow us to approach the precision of space-based photometry with ground-based telescopes, thereby enhancing our ability to detect and study terrestrial planets. (2) Improvements in Doppler spectrographs—including HPF and NEID—will expand our knowledge of the compositions, architectures, and atmospheres of small planets. (3) The ongoing 5-year HPF survey will detect terrestrial planets in the habitable-zones around nearby mid-to-late M dwarfs, some of the most favorable systems for direct imaging with future flagship missions. (4) Synergy between M dwarf planet surveys and low-frequency radio surveys offer the possibility of opening the door to a new field within exoplanet science: star-planet magnetic interactions, which may affect planetary habitability.
If you can't make it in person, See link below:
- Host: Professor Christy Tremonti
Tuesday, April 5th, 2022
- Academic Calendar
- Election Day
- Time: 7:00 am - 8:00 pm
- Abstract: Election for School Board, County Supervisor, and Judges. Election for School Board, County Supervisor, and Judges. Go to MyVote.wi.gov to find your polling place, see what is on your ballot, and check your registration. If you are not registered at your current address, you can register at your polling place on Election Day. See vote.wisc.edu for information on registration and voter ID. CONTACT: malischke@wisc.edu URL:
- R. G. Herb Condensed Matter Seminar
- Quantum stochastic resonance of individual Fe atoms
- Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
- Place: 5310 Chamberlin
- Speaker: Sue Coppersmith, UNSW Sydney
- Abstract: Stochastic resonance, where noise synchronizes a system’s response to an external drive, is a phenomenon that occurs in a wide variety of noisy systems ranging from the dynamics of neurons to the periodicity of ice ages. This talk will present theory and experiments on a quantum system that exhibits stochastic resonance — the quantum tunneling of the magnetization of a single Fe atom measured using spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy. Stochastic resonance is shown deep in the quantum regime, where fluctuations are driven by tunneling of the magnetization, as well as in a semi-classical crossover region where thermal excitations set in. An analytic theory with no adjustable parameters agrees quantitatively with experiment, and provides a path towards probing dynamics on time scales shorter than can be resolved experimentally.
- Host: Mark Eriksson
Wednesday, April 6th, 2022
- Physics ∩ ML Seminar
- Formal Mathematics Statement Curriculum Learning
- Time: 11:00 am - 12:15 pm
- Place: Chamberlin 5280 (Zoom link also available for online participants who signed up on our mailing list)
- Speaker: Stanislas Polu, OpenAI
- Abstract: We explore the use of expert iteration in the context of language modeling applied to formal mathematics. We show that at same compute budget, expert iteration, by which we mean proof search interleaved with learning, dramatically outperforms proof search only. We also observe that when applied to a collection of formal statements of sufficiently varied difficulty, expert iteration is capable of finding and solving a curriculum of increasingly difficult problems, without the need for associated ground-truth proofs. Finally, by applying this expert iteration to a manually curated set of problem statements, we achieve state-of-the-art on the miniF2F benchmark, automatically solving multiple challenging problems drawn from high school olympiads.
- Careers for Physicists
- PGSC Professional Development Event
- Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
- Place: Chamberlain 4274
- Speaker: Ryan Roussell, SLAC
- Abstract: Join PGSC to learn about working at a national lab. We will be hosting Ryan Roussell, a SLAC associate scientist based in Chicago for a talk about his research titled “Bayesian Techniques for Optimization and Control of National Laboratory Scientific Facilities” and a discussion about careers at national labs followed by lunch provided by PGSC.
- Host: David Guevel
Thursday, April 7th, 2022
- R. G. Herb Condensed Matter Seminar
- Encoded Silicon Qubits: A High-Performance & Scalable Platform for Quantum Computing
- Time: 10:00 am
- Place: 5310 Chamberlin Hall
- Speaker: Dr. Nathan Holman
- Abstract: For quantum computers to achieve their promise, regardless of the qubit technology, significant improvements to both performance and scale are required. Quantum-dot-based qubits in silicon have recently enjoyed dramatic advances in fabrication and control techniques. The “exchange-only” modality is of particular interest, as it avoids control elements that are difficult to scale such as microwave fields, photonics, or ferromagnetic gradients. In this control scheme, the entirety of quantum computation may be performed using only asynchronous, baseband voltage pulses on straightforwardly tiled arrays of quantum dots. The pulses control only a single physical mechanism, the exchange interaction, which exhibits low control crosstalk and exceptionally high on/off ratios. Exchange enables universal logic within a qubit encoding that is robust against certain correlated errors. These aspects collectively provide a compelling path toward fault-tolerance. HRL Laboratories has recently demonstrated universal quantum logic of encoded exchange-only Si spin qubits, including two-qubit gates performed on arrays of six quantum dots. In this talk, we will introduce the fabrication and operation principles of these encoded Si qubit devices, and we will show recent experimental results.
- Host: Mark Eriksson
- Physics ∩ ML Seminar
- RED Talk: Data Science is on its Feet, Now Where is it Going?
- Time: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- Place: Virtual, please register at
- Speaker: Kyle Cranmer, AmFam Data Science Institute
- Abstract: Interested in learning about the intersection of computational methodologies and real world problems, and the future of data science? Join UW-Madison CDIS for a virtual RED Talk by Kyle Cranmer, incoming director of American Family Data Science Institute!
- Host: CDIS
Friday, April 8th, 2022
- Theory Seminar (High Energy/Cosmology)
- Hot Qubits on the Horizon
- Time: 1:00 pm
- Place: Chamberlin 5280
- Speaker: Greg Kaplanek, McMaster University, Perimeter Institute
- Abstract: Perturbation theory for gravitating quantum systems tends to fail at very late times (a type of perturbative breakdown known as secular growth). We argue that gravity is best treated as a medium/environment in such situations, where reliable late-time predictions can be made using tools borrowed from quantum optics. To show how this works, we study the explicit example of a qubit hovering just outside the event horizon of a Schwarzschild black hole (coupled to a real scalar field) and reliably extract the late-time behaviour for the qubit state. At very late times, the so-called Unruh-DeWitt detector is shown to asymptote to a thermal state at the Hawking temperature.
- Host: George Wojcik
- Physics Department Colloquium
- Exploring the Heart of Quantum Matter with Extreme Magnetic Fields
- Time: 3:30 pm
- Place: 2241 Chamberlin Hall
- Speaker: Gregory Boebinger, NHMFL-FSU
- Abstract: In the wide range of materials that are grouped under the heading of “Quantum Matter”, intrinsic electronic charges and spins conspire in weird and collective ways to create new materials properties. Magnetic fields are a valuable tool for probing the mysteries that remain at the heart of Quantum Matter, where Nature creates 1/3 fractional electric charges, “spin liquids” of fixed charges but mobile spins, and high-temperature superconductivity in which the very existence of electrons as distinct particles becomes uncertain.
- Host: Alex Levchenko
Saturday, April 9th, 2022
- Wonders of Physics
- The Physics Fair
- Time: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Place: Chamberlin Hall lobby
- Speaker: Various, UW–Madison Physics
- Abstract: The Physics Fair is an annual Department of Physics open house that typically includes laboratory tours, hands-on demonstrations, activities for kids and families, and informal conversations with scientists. It is presented alongside the Wonders of Physics annual show, and is held in Chamberlin Hall. No tickets or RSVP is required for the Physics Fair.
- Host: Department
- Wonders of Physics
- The Wonders of Physics annual show
- Time: 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm
- Place: 2103 Chamberlin Hall
- Speaker: Haddie McLean
- Abstract: The Wonders of Physics 39th annual show! We're excited to welcome you back to 2103 Chamberlin for our presentation. It's filled with exciting demonstrations, lasts a bit over an hour, and is suitable for all ages.
- Host: Haddie McLean
- Wonders of Physics
- The Wonders of Physics annual show
- Time: 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm
- Place: 2103 Chamberlin Hall
- Abstract: The Wonders of Physics 39th annual show! We're excited to welcome you back to 2103 Chamberlin for our presentation. It's filled with exciting demonstrations, lasts a bit over an hour, and is suitable for all ages.
- Host: Haddie McLean
Sunday, April 10th, 2022
- Wonders of Physics
- The Wonders of Physics annual show
- Time: 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm
- Place: 2103 Chamberlin Hall or watch virtually at
- Abstract: The Wonders of Physics 39th annual show! We're excited to welcome you back to 2103 Chamberlin for our presentation. It's filled with exciting demonstrations, lasts a bit over an hour, and is suitable for all ages. On Sunday, April 10, the annual shows will be livestreamed at
- Wonders of Physics
- The Wonders of Physics annual show
- Time: 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm
- Place: 2103 Chamberlin Hall or virtually at
- Abstract: The Wonders of Physics 39th annual show! We're excited to welcome you back to 2103 Chamberlin for our presentation. It's filled with exciting demonstrations, lasts a bit over an hour, and is suitable for all ages. On Sunday, April 10, the annual shows will be livestreamed at
- Host: Haddie McLean