Events at Physics |
Events During the Week of March 26th through April 2nd, 2023
Monday, March 27th, 2023
- Academic Calendar
- Enrollment appointment times for Spring term assigned to students (throughout week)
- Abstract: *Note: actual end time may vary.* CONTACT: 262-3811, registrar@em.wisc.edu URL:
- Plasma Physics (Physics/ECE/NE 922) Seminar
- Overview of research highlights, growth, and diversification at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
- Time: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
- Place: 2241 Chamberlin Hall
- Speaker: Jonathan Menard, Deputy Director for Research and Chief Research Officer, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
- Abstract: The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) is pursuing three complementary research missions to support U.S. national science and technology priorities including: (1) Developing the scientific knowledge and advanced engineering to enable fusion to power the U.S. and the world, (2) Advancing the science of nanoscale fabrication and sustainable manufacturing for technologies of tomorrow, and (3) Furthering the development of the scientific understanding of the plasma universe, from laboratory to astrophysical scales. In support of Mission 1, PPPL is completing the recovery and preparation for operation of its user facility, NSTX Upgrade, is designing and fabricating diagnostics for the ITER burning plasma experiment, supporting domestic and international tokamak and stellarator research, and pursuing public-private partnerships in support of fusion pilot plant development. In support of Mission 2, PPPL is leading a collaborative research facility for low-temperature plasmas, advancing basic science in close collaboration with industrial partners in microelectronics and quantum materials and devices, and is increasing research utilizing plasmas for sustainable manufacturing. Lastly, in support of Mission 3, PPPL is completing a new collaborative experiment (FLARE) that will enable new studies of magnetic reconnection, is preparing for exascale simulations of ultra-relativistic plasmas at the heart of multi-messenger astronomy, and is carrying out novel measurements of high-energy-density plasma states. Highlights from these research topics and progress toward PPPL diversification and growth will be discussed.
Tuesday, March 28th, 2023
- Faculty Search Committee Meeting (closed)
- Time: 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
- Place: 3290A Chamberlin Hall
- Speaker: Paul Terry, UW-Madison
- Abstract: Closed meeting to discuss personnel matters—pursuant to Section 19.85(1)(c) of the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law
- Host: Paul Terry
- Network in Neutrinos, Nuclear Astrophysics, and Symmetries (N3AS) Seminar
- Dirac Neutrinos & Spectral Distortions to the Cosmic Neutrino Background
- Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
- Place: Meeting ID: 912 3071 4547 NOTE: All participants and hosts are now required to sign into a Zoom account prior to joining meetings hosted by UC Berkeley.
- Speaker: Evan Grohs, NCSU
- Abstract: The neutrino sector in particle physics and cosmology contains many unanswered questions. The mechanism which generates neutrino masses still remains a mystery, and as a result so does the nature of Dirac versus Majorana character. In addition, cosmological parameters estimate the energy density of the neutrino background and have little to say about the shape of the relic spectra. In this talk, I will focus on two applications of neutrino cosmology: populating Dirac states in the cosmological neutrino background via anomalous magnetic moments; and leveraging primordial abundances and cosmological parameters to infer neutrino spectral distortions. Although independent, both tracks offer paths forward to investigating the nature of neutrinos in cosmology and particle physics.
Meeting ID: 912 3071 4547
NOTE: All participants and hosts are now required to sign into a Zoom account prior to joining meetings hosted by UC Berkeley. - Host: Baha Balantekin
Wednesday, March 29th, 2023
- GREAT IDEAS DEI Reading Group
- GREAT IDEAS Coffee Hour
- Time: 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm
- Place: Chamberlin 4274 or online
- Abstract: Article TBD; check back soon!
GREAT IDEAS stands for Group for Reading, Educating, And Talking about Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Advocacy in Science. It is a multimedia reading group dedicated to amplifying the experiences of underrepresented groups in science and academia in order to become better advocates for our peers. GREAT IDEAS is open to everyone (students/ faculty/ staff/ etc), and all are welcome and encouraged to engage with the material and contribute to the discussions. To keep a welcoming and safe environment for everyone, we ask that everyone understand and adhere to our community guidelines for the discussions. If you would like to submit an article for a future GREAT IDEAS discussion, you can do so on this form. - Host: GMaWiP and Climate and Diversity Committee (contact Jessie Thwaites or R. Sassella with questions)
- Theory Seminar (High Energy/Cosmology)
- Axion assisted Schwinger effect
- Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
- Place: 5280 Chamberlin
- Speaker: Yohei Ema, University of Minnesota
- Abstract: Particle production in strong electromagnetic fields, the Schwinger effect, is a recurring theme in solid state physics, heavy ion collisions, early universe cosmology and formal quantum field theory. In this talk, after reviewing the standard Schwinger effect, we show that the pair production rate of charged fermions in a strong electric field is enhanced in the presence of time dependent classical axion-like background field, which we call axion assisted Schwinger effect. While the standard Schwinger production rate is proportional to $\exp(−\pi(m^2+p^2_T)/E)$, with $m$ and $p_T$ denoting the fermion mass and its momentum transverse to the electric field $E$, the axion assisted Schwinger effect can be enhanced at large momenta to $\exp(−\pi m^2/E)$. We interpret the origin of this enhancement as a coupling between the fermion spin and its momentum, induced by the axion velocity.
- Host: George Wojcik
Thursday, March 30th, 2023
- Faculty Search Committee Meeting (closed)
- Time: 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
- Place: 3290A Chamberlin Hall
- Speaker: Paul Terry, UW-Madison
- Abstract: Closed meeting to discuss personnel matters—pursuant to Section 19.85(1)(c) of the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law
- Host: Paul Terry
- Astronomy Colloquium
- Photochemical Processing in Protoplanetary Disks: Insights from Our Solar System
- Time: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
- Place: 4421 Sterling Hall
- Speaker: Fred Ciesla, University of Chicago
- Abstract: Protoplanetary disks are sites of active chemistry, where materials inherited from a natal molecular cloud are transformed into the building blocks of planets. Astronomical observations of such disks have shown how important photon-driven chemistry is to understanding this transformation, because young stars emit copious amounts of UV photons which can drive chemical reactions and because the regions we are able to characterize are those where these photons are readily absorbed. However, planet formation occurs deep inside these protoplanetary disks, around the disk midplane, where energetic photons are expected to be largely absent. While mixing between these layers will occur, it remains unclear how much the products of photochemical reactions contribute to setting the compositions of the planets that ultimately form. In this talk, I will describe modeling we have done to investigate proposed photochemical signatures seen in primitive meteorites and what this implies about the role the chemical evolution that shaped planetary building blocks in our own solar nebula.
- Host: Ke Zhang
Friday, March 31st, 2023
- Wisconsin Quantum Institute
- Quantum Recruiting Forum 2023
- Time: 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm
- Place: William Eckhardt Research Center, 5640 S Ellis Ave, Chicago, IL 60637
- Abstract: The 2023 Chicago Quantum Recruiting Forum will bring together current quantum leaders from both academia and industry with the rising generation of quantum scientists and engineers. This forum will be an outstanding opportunity for students to catalyze their careers and employers to recruit top talent.
Register here by March 10
- Faculty Search Committee Meeting (closed)
- Time: 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
- Place: 3290A Chamberlin Hall
- Speaker: Paul Terry, UW-Madison
- Abstract: Closed meeting to discuss personnel matters—pursuant to Section 19.85(1)(c) of the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law
- Host: Paul Terry
- Physics Department Colloquium
- UW Physics Graduate Students Research Presentations
- Time: 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
- Place: 2241 Chamberlin
- Speaker: UW Physics Graduate Students
- Abstract: This special colloquium will feature talks from UW-Madison Physics graduate students that showcase the phenomenal and exciting research of students happening throughout the department. The talks will be of introductory physics level and are open to all undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and staff in the Department of Physics as well as anyone interested in hearing about the amazing work happening throughout the department! This is a drop-in event, so come and go as you need. In addition to presentations by graduate student researchers in the department, refreshments will be provided—so take the opportunity to network with others from UW Physics—and if you’re an undergraduate student considering graduate school, make sure to check out the UW Physics Graduate Student Panel! Visit for presentation details.
- Host: Elizabeth Baldridge
- Undergraduate Program Event
- Graduate Student Panel
- Time: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
- Place: 2241 Chamberlin Hall
- Speaker: UW Physics Graduate Students
- Abstract: Join us to ask questions and learn from graduate students about their experiences in graduate school. We'll discuss the application process, grad school work, and grad student life. This event will begin after the Graduate Student Research Colloquium.
- Host: Evan Heintz