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Events at Physics

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Events During the Week of November 10th through November 16th, 2024

Monday, November 11th, 2024

Climate & Diversity
Climate and Diversity Committee Open Hours
Time: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Place: Chamberlin 5310
Speaker: Rachel Zizmann, UW-Madison Physics
Abstract: Open Hours are welcome for everyone in the department! During these sessions, we have the option to discuss the topic listed, that is not required or necessary for attending
Presentation: Climate and Diversity Committee.png
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Plasma Physics (Physics/ECE/NE 922) Seminar
The Physics of SPARC and ARC: Predictive Results and Open Questions
Time: 12:05 pm - 1:00 pm
Place: 1610 Engineering Hall
Speaker: Alex Creely, Common Wealth Fusion Systems
Abstract: Commonwealth Fusion Systems and its partners are in the late stages of building the SPARC tokamak, aiming for operation by the end of 2026, and are in the early stages of designing the ARC fusion power plant, aiming for operation in the early 2030s. As part of designing SPARC and preparing for operations, a large body of computational and empirical predictive work has been completed. This work, combined with SPARC’s new parameter space and robust early diagnostic set mean that early operation of SPARC will provide a wellspring of opportunity to validate predictions, both computational and empirical, ranging from gyrokinetic predictions of core performance, to H-mode power thresholds, to alpha particle dynamics, and many more. This talk will present some of the most impactful predictive work for SPARC and summarize the unique opportunities for validation. Simultaneously, CFS and its partners have begun predictive physics work as part of the ARC power plant design process, with the understanding that there remain significant uncertainties in these predictions. This talk will summarize a number of early results of the physics analysis of ARC, including core turbulence, vertical stability, and heat exhaust. In addition, the strategy for incorporating both confirmatory and exploratory physics results from SPARC into the ARC design will be presented.
Host: John Sarff
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Tuesday, November 12th, 2024

Council Meeting
Physics Council Meeting
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Place: 2314 Chamberlin Hall
Speaker: Kevin Black, UW - Madison
Host: Kevin Black
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Physics Education Innovation Seminar
Adapting Summer Term Physics 103 to an Online Format
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Place: B343 Sterling Hall
Speaker: Benjamin Spike, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Abstract:

Zoom Meeting ID: 302 365 8376

For the past two summers, Physics 103 has been taught in a semi-synchronous online format utilizing pre-recorded lectures and live discussions led by Teaching Assistants. The increased flexibility afforded by this format has resulted in a substantial increase in enrollment compared to previous summers, allowing greater access to the course for students who would otherwise have not been able to participate. In this talk I will describe the process of bringing Physics 103 online, highlight the innovative use of iOLab for remote laboratory activities, and discuss future directions for further enhancing the online course experience.


Speaker bio:

Ben received his Ph.D in physics from the University of Colorado-Boulder in 2014, having previously earned a B.S. in physics and mathematics from UW-Madison in 2007. He served as Academic Coordinator & Lecturer at the University of California-Berkeley before joining the UW-Madison physics department in 2017. Since then, he has overseen the implementation of active learning techniques in large-enrollment service courses including Physics 103 and 104.

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Network in Neutrinos, Nuclear Astrophysics, and Symmetries (N3AS) Seminar
Cosmology of Dark Energy Radiation
Time: 2:00 pm
Place: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 989 8774 9464 Passcode: 986897
Speaker: Dr. Kim Berghaus , Caltech
Abstract: If dark energy evolves in time its dynamical component could be dominated by a bath of dark radiation. Since dark energy was subdominant in the early universe, the dark energy radiation evades the usual stringent constraints on extra relativistic species from the cosmic microwave background, allowing for up to 9% of the energy density today to be dark radiation. In this talk, I will discuss how dark energy radiation can emerge from a fundamental theory, its predictions for cosmological observables, as well as discovery potential and constraints with existing and future precision cosmological datasets including measurements of the cosmic microwave background, baryon acoustic oscillations, and supernova data. Considering extensions that allow the dark radiation to populate neutrinos, axions, and dark photons, I will discuss the direct detection prospects of a thermal background comprised of these candidates consistent with cosmological constraints on dark energy radiation. A dark photon background is the most promising prospect for direct detection, and experimental programs such as the late dark energy radiation experiment (LADERA) will probe new parameter space.

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
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Worlds in the Making: Origins of Stars, Planets, and Life
Aging Worlds: Tracing the Evolution of Planetary Systems
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Place: Space Place
Speaker: Melinda Soares-Furtado, UW-Madison
Abstract: A series of talks by UW-Madison scientists from the Wisconsin Center for Origins Research (WiCOR), hosted by UW Space Place.
Host: Jim Lattis
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2024

Department Meeting
Time: 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm
Place: B343 Sterling Hall -
Speaker: Kevin Black, UW-Madison
Host: Kevin Black
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Thursday, November 14th, 2024

R. G. Herb Condensed Matter Seminar
Title to be announced
Time: 10:00 am
Place: 5310 Chamberlin
Speaker: Jukka Vayrynen, Purdue University
Host: Elio König
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Wisconsin Quantum Institute Colloquium
Engineering a topological quantum computer
Time: 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Place: Discovery Building, DeLuca Forum
Speaker: Brad Lackey, Microsoft
Abstract:

I will provide a high-level introduction to Majorana qubits and show some recent experimental results at Microsoft that realize these in nanowire devices. I will then present a potential computing stack for a topological quantum computer based on Majorana qubits and provide some estimates about the capabilities of such a machine on some applications of scientific and industrial value.

This event starts at 3:30pm with refreshments, followed at 3:45pm by a short presentation titled "Efficient implementation of qLDPC codes with neutral atom qubits", by Cody Poole (Saffman group). The invited presentation starts at 4pm.

Host: Mark Saffman
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Friday, November 15th, 2024

Physics Department Colloquium
TBD
Time: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Place: Chamberlin 2241
Speaker: Louis F. DiMauro, The Ohio State University
Host: Uwe Bergmann
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