Events at Physics |
Events During the Week of December 15th through December 22nd, 2024
Sunday, December 15th, 2024
- Academic Calendar
- Commencement
- Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
- Abstract: Doctoral, Law, Medical Professional, Master’s, and Bachelor’s Degree Candidate Ceremony URL:
Monday, December 16th, 2024
- Academic Calendar
- Exams
- Abstract: *Note: actual end time may vary.*
- Thesis Defense
- Building blocks of an integrated neutral atom quantum network
- Time: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
- Place: 5310 Chamberlin
- Speaker: Preston Huft, Physics PhD Graduate Student
- Abstract: Despite tremendous progress in quantum information processing towards prototypical devices and early attempts at showing quantum utility, there remain a number of outstanding technical challenges. State of the art quantum computers based on neutral atoms take up substantial space, harkening back to the vacuum tube era of classical computing. Reducing the spatial requirements of these machines by transitioning to more integrated architectures is an important goal as these technologies mature. Here we demonstrate two key steps in this direction. First, a quantum register of Cs single atom qubits is prepared using a 1225-site optical trap array formed with only passive optics, removing the need to use active electro-optic devices for trap pattern formation. The trap pattern is formed using an amplitude mask combined with a Fourier filtering setup, and can be adapted to create dark traps, bright traps, or both interleaved, using only a single trapping wavelength. Secondly, we show progress towards a rudimentary two-node quantum network of Rb atoms, which is a stepping stone towards the modularization of quantum processors. The network employs nodes with a novel fiber-coupled design and integrated optics, reducing the experimental footprint and leading to superior mechanical stability. We present design and construction techniques used for building the nodes as well as initial results with trapped single atoms.
- Host: Mark Saffman
- Preliminary Exam
- Search for a heavy scalar resonance decaying into a boosted pair of Higgs bosons in the four tau final state
- Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
- Place: B343 Sterling
- Speaker: Trevor Nelson, Physics PhD Graduate Student
- Abstract: In recent years there has been interest in using the Higgs boson to test the limits of the standard model and to probe for new physics beyond the standard model. One technique that is used in searches for physics beyond the standard model is to look for particles that directly decay into a pair of Higgs bosons. There is an ongoing search for a heavy scalar particle with a mass in the range of 1-5 TeV which decays into a pair of boosted Higgs bosons which then decay into four tau leptons. This analysis currently utilizes a portion of Run II data obtained from sqrt(s) = 13 TeV collisions of protons in the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment. I will present an overview of the progress that has been made on this analysis.
- Host: Tulika Bose
Tuesday, December 17th, 2024
- Academic Calendar
- Exams
- Abstract: *Note: actual end time may vary.*
- Preliminary Exam
- Odd Radio Circles and the Dynamics of Nonthermal Plasma
- Time: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
- Place: B343 Sterling
- Speaker: Yiting Wang, Physics PhD Graduate Student
- Abstract: Odd Radio Circles (ORCs) are a newly discovered class of ring-like radio sources, with diameters of ∼ 1 arcminute, steep spectral indices between 0.5 and 1.7, and estimated physical radii on the order of several hundred kiloparsecs. The physical nature and origins of ORCs remain unclear. In the first project, I present results from three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations that model ORCs as synchrotron-emitting vortex rings produced by Richtmyer-Meshkov instability during shock-bubble interactions. A planar shock wave encounters a low-density bubble, leading to the formation of torus-like structures whose predicted properties align with observations of ORCs. The second project explores an alternative hypothesis that ORCs are end-on projections of late-stage evolution of radio bubbles driven by active galactic nuclei (AGN) jets. We model AGN jets viewed along the line of sight to assess whether their emission profiles and morphologies can account for the characteristics of ORCs. In the final part of the presentation, I outline my ongoing work on radiation drag in relativistic jets. This project aims to understand how interactions with radiation fields affect the energy transfer and instability in jets dynamics.
- Host: Sebastian Heinz
- Wisconsin Quantum Institute
- Quantum Coffee Hour
- Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
- Place: Rm.5294, Chamberlin Hall
- Abstract: Please join us for the WQI Quantum Coffee today at 3PM in the Physics Faculty Lounge (Rm.5294 in Chamberlin Hall). This series, which takes place approximately every other Tuesday, aims to foster a casual and collaborative atmosphere where faculty, post-docs, students, and anyone with an interest in quantum information sciences can come together. There will be coffee and treats.
Wednesday, December 18th, 2024
- Academic Calendar
- Exams
- Abstract: *Note: actual end time may vary.*
- Thesis Defense
- Developing Josephson Junction Microwave Spectroscopy as a Modality Compatible with Scanned Probe Microscopy at LHe Temperatures
- Time: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
- Place: Chamberlin 5280
- Speaker: Margaret Fortman, Physics PhD Graduate Student
- Abstract: Developing new diagnostic tools to understand superconducting surface impurities is crucial for the future of quantum superconducting circuity as well as probing new emergent states in condensed matter. Josephson junction spectroscopy (JJS) in a scanned geometry offers a way to probe defects in superconductors directly, while also correlating their electronic and spatial properties. In this work we show advances towards implementing JJS in a scanning tunneling microscope (STM), where the Josephson junction is created between the superconducting tip and superconducting sample. We first present a way to perform this measurement in an STM by creating a new type of tip that leverages the HF filtering properties of a large tip-sample capacitance design. To demonstrate the benefit of this approach, we then show how a large cross junction capacitance improves performance at elevated temperatures using fabricated Nb-based Josephson junction devices. We also discuss the development of iron selenide as a promising superconducting surface on which to implement this technique. Lastly, we present promising results of our high capacitance STM tip showing its ability to decrease thermal noise and P(E)-broadening and discuss future possibilities of this tool.
- Host: Victor Brar
Thursday, December 19th, 2024
- Academic Calendar
- Exams
- Abstract: *Note: actual end time may vary.*
Friday, December 20th, 2024
- Academic Calendar
- Graduate School Fall 2024: Master's degree deadline
- Time: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- Abstract: CONTACT: 262-2433, gsacserv@grad.wisc.edu
Saturday, December 21st, 2024
- No events scheduled
Sunday, December 22nd, 2024
- Academic Calendar
- Fall Semester Grading deadline
- Abstract: *Note: actual end time may vary.*
- Academic Calendar
- Graduate School Fall 2024: Doctoral degree deadline
- Time: 11:55 pm - 12:55 am
- Abstract: CONTACT: 262-2433, gsacserv@grad.wisc.edu