Events at Physics |
Events During the Week of September 24th through October 1st, 2023
Monday, September 25th, 2023
- Plasma Physics (Physics/ECE/NE 922) Seminar
- "The high-field, compact mirror path to fusion"
- Time: 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm
- Place: 1610 Engineering Hall
- Speaker: Prof. Cary Forest, UW-Madison Physics/ Realta
- Abstract: In this talk I will provide a brief introduction to the compact magnetic mirror path to building a fusion energy system based on the tandem mirror. This approach relies on recent game changing physics results from axisymmetric mirror experiments [1] and the revolution in engineering high field magnets using high temperature superconductor materials. Our Wisconsin centric development path was started through ARPA-E sponsorship at the UW of WHAM (the Wisconsin HTS Axisymmetric Mirror) — I will begin a status report of the construction of WHAM including magnets (first successful tests of the 17 T magnets at CFS) and preparation of WHAM's heating systems (ECH, NBI and RF) and MHD stabilization systems. I will then review the theoretical physics basis for the fusion performance of WHAM that has relied on CQL3D Fokker Plank solutions for the fast ions injected by neutral beams and then heated by rf reported in a recent paper by Endrizzi [2]. The next phase along the development path will be carried out by a public-private partnership lead by an early stage startup, Realta Fusion. Realta is now beginning the engineering design activity of BEAM (a Break Even Axisymmetric Mirror) that will be a several MW DT device with Q approaching 1. Its purpose is two-fold, first it will provide the physics validation needed predict the performance of tandem mirror end plugs and second it will be well-suited to operate as a Fusion Volumetric Neutron Source (FVNS) for demonstrating heat removal and tritium breeding technology and described in Forest et al [3].
1 Simonen, T. C. et al, Three Game Changing Discoveries: A Simpler Fusion Concept? J Fusion Energ 35, 63–68 (2016).
2 Endrizzi, D. et al, Physics Basis for the Wisconsin HTS Axisymmetric Mirror Experiment, accepted in J Plasma Physics, (2023).
3 Forest, C.B et al, Prospects for a Break Even Axisymmetric Mirror (BEAM) and Applications, submitted to J Plasma Physics (2023). - Host: Prof. Steffi Diem
Tuesday, September 26th, 2023
- Mathematica
- Coding Just Got Easier with Wolfram's New AI-Powered Chat Notebooks
- Time: 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
- Place: Chamberlin Hall 5310
- Speaker: Jeff Weidenaar, Wolfram
- Abstract: Mathematica now has built-in AI, enabling you to interact in plain English and generate quality code. You will leave this session knowing how to use new Chat Notebooks in Mathematica. You'll also learn about some new Physics functionality.
- Host: Dan Bradley
Wednesday, September 27th, 2023
- Theory Seminar (High Energy/Cosmology)
- Problems with de Sitter in string theory
- Time: 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm
- Place: Chamberlin 5280 (Zoom link also available for online participants who signed up on our mailing list)
- Speaker: Daniel Junghans, Institute for Theoretical Physics, TU Wien
- Abstract: The simplest explanation for the observed accelerating expansion of our universe is that we live in an approximate de Sitter space. On the other hand, there is growing evidence that various popular proposals for realizing de Sitter space in string theory do not self-consistently control neglected string corrections. In this talk, we show such a control problem in two rather different proposals: the large-volume scenario and the supercritical scenario.
- Host: Gary Shiu
Thursday, September 28th, 2023
- Astronomy Colloquium
- The Census of Supermassive Black Holes over Cosmic Time
- Time: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
- Place: 4421 Sterling Hall
- Speaker: Jonathan Trump, University of Connecticut
- Abstract: Supermassive black holes are a critical ingredient in our Universe. They are the most luminous persistent sources in the sky, in both photons and gravitational waves, and they play an essential role in the formation and growth of galaxies. My research seeks a comprehensive census of black holes using two complementary approaches. First, I will show how pioneering new SDSS time-domain spectroscopy enables a census of black hole mass, growth rate, and spin over most of cosmic time. I will also present the forecast for Rubin/LSST discovery of binary black holes: the electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational echoes seen in pulsar timing and (eventually) LISA. Meanwhile the first year of JWST observations has revealed a surprisingly active early Universe, with a large number of massive black holes identified in z>5 galaxies. This implies a significant population of heavy black hole seeds and suggests that accreting black hole play a significant role in reionizing the Universe. The next generation of time-domain, space-telescope, and multi-messenger experiments make it a truly bright time for understanding the dark nature of black hole astrophysics.
- Host: Ke Zhang
Friday, September 29th, 2023
- Physics Department Colloquium
- tbd
- Time: 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
- Place: Chamberlin 2241
- Speaker: Andrew Geraci, Northwestern
- Host: Mark Saffman
- Physics Department Colloquium
- tbd
- Time: 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
- Place: Chamberlin 2241