Events at Physics |
Events During the Week of August 7th through August 14th, 2022
Monday, August 8th, 2022
- Thesis Defense
- Random Entanglement and History-Dependent Random Sequences
- Time: 1:00 pm
- Place: 4272 Chamberlin Hall
- Speaker: Gage Bonner, Physics PhD Graduate Student
- Abstract: This thesis is comprised of two main parts, each concerned with a different stochastic process. In the first section, we consider a two-dimensional reflecting Brownian motion in a bounded region divided into two halves by a wall with three or more small windows. In the limit of small windows, we appeal to the narrow escape problem to construct a Markov chain on the fundamental groupoid of the region. Taking the transition probabilities between windows as inputs, our Markov chain can be cast as a random walk on a regular language. We obtain a law of large numbers as well as a central limit theorem for this process in which the constants appearing in the limit theorems are expressed in terms of a coupled system of quadratic equations. Our result requires the solution of a simpler problem than those seen previously in the literature, and requires less assumptions.
In the second section, we consider several history-dependent sequences which have attracted recent interest. We primarily study the Ulam-Kac adder, a sequence for which very little is known explicitly except for its first two moments, which have been computed in some generality. Our main contribution is to compute the asymptotic behavior of all moments and obtain bounds on their size. We also provide a semi-analytic formulation of the moment problem which allows them to be computed directly. We discuss many combinatorial interpretations of this sequence and others which, in particular, lead to a novel formula for the first passage times of a related sequence. Connections of these sequences to other areas of mathematics and physics are explored. - Host: Jean-Luc Thiffeault and Lisa Everett
Tuesday, August 9th, 2022
- Academic Calendar
- Election Day
- Time: 7:00 am - 8:00 pm
- Abstract: Primary election includes Governor, Congress, State Legislature. Primary election includes Governor, Congress, State Legislature, Attorney General, Lt. Gov, Sec of State, Treasurer, Clerk of Circuit Court, and Sheriff. 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. (The final election for these contests will be November 8.) CONTACT: malischke@wisc.edu URL:
Wednesday, August 10th, 2022
- Physics Summer Fun
- Weekly Recess
- Time: 12:30 pm - 1:00 pm
- Place: Bascom Hill or 5310 Chamberlin Hall
- Speaker: Sharon Kahn
- Abstract: We hope you’ll take a 20-30 minute break on (some/all) Wednesdays this summer (12:30-1pm) to come play together! For nice days, we’ve arranged to borrow some lawn games from the L&S dean’s office and will likely bring along a frisbee and/or a hackeysack, too. Meet us on Bascom Hill (between Birge/South Hall).
In case of rain, we’ll meet indoors (5310 CH) for board games. Feel free to come play or just hang out! Thursday, August 11th, 2022
- Thesis Defense
- On the Measurement of Graphene Systems using Scanned Probe Techniques
- Time: 9:00 am
- Place: Chamberlin 5280
- Speaker: Wyatt Behn , Physics PhD Graduate Student
- Host: Victor Brar
Friday, August 12th, 2022
- Physics Town Hall
- Physics Town Hall - Reporting
- Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
- Place: 2241 Chamberlin Hall or
- Speaker: various speakers
- Abstract: As a result of the 2021-22 climate study, a number of people in our department have been exploring campus reporting systems with a variety of colleagues across campus. In an effort to share and discuss what was learned, we’d like to invite our Physics Department community to a Town Hall event on this subject on Friday, August 12, 2022, at 10am in 2241 Chamberlin. We will share information and discuss the reporting process at UW-Madison and within the Department of Physics.
Joining us for this discussion will be:
• Laura Fisk, HR Associate Director, College of Letters and Science
• Jennifer Horace, Assistant Director – Bias Reponse, Office of the Dean of Students
• Lauren Hasselbacher, Assistant Director of Civil Rights Compliance and Title IX Coordinator
• Lea Aune-Johnson, HR Director, College of Letters and Science
We invite you to join us for this Town Hall, ask questions, and give us any input that you may have. Hope to see you on Friday, August 12, 2022, 10-11am, in 2241 Chamberlin.
Tulika Bose, Professor and Chair, Climate and Diversity Committee
Sharon Kahn, Graduate Program Coordinator
Kevin Black, Professor and Associate Chair for the Graduate Program
Mark Eriksson, Professor and Chair
NOTE: We invite you to join us for this Physics Town Hall in person – 2241 Chamberlin, 10-11am on Friday, 8/12. If you can’t join us in person, feel free to join via zoom here: We will not be recording this session, but we will take and share notes broadly. - Host: Sharon Kahn