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New study provides understanding of astrophysical plasma dynamics
Stars, solar systems, and even entire galaxies form when astrophysical plasma — the flowing, molten mix of ions and electrons that makes up 99% of the universe — orbits around a dense object and attaches, …
October 20, 2020
Physics grad students share hands-on physics, art lessons with local fifth graders
UW–Madison physics grad student Aedan Gardill has been illustrating physics concepts with art for years, such as through his Instagram account, where he shares ink drawings. Earlier this year, he applied for a grant from …
October 16, 2020
Vernon Barger earns 2020 APS Sakurai Prize
University of Wisconsin–Madison Physics professor Vernon Barger has won the J.J. Sakurai Prize for Theoretical Particle Physics, the American Physical Society announced October 7. The J.J. Sakurai Prize is considered one of the most prestigious …
October 16, 2020
Robert McDermott elected Fellow of the American Physical Society
Congratulations to Prof. Robert McDermott, who was elected a 2020 Fellow of the American Physical Society! He was elected for seminal contributions to quantum computing with superconducting qubits, including elucidating the origins of decoherence mechanisms, …
September 29, 2020
Massive halo finally explains stream of gas swirling around the Milky Way
The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are satellite galaxies of the Milky Way. They are surrounded by a high-velocity gaseous structure called the Magellanic Stream, which consists of gas stripped from both clouds. So far, …
September 9, 2020
WQI team named winners in international quantum research competition
A WQI faculty team was one of 18 winners in the Innovare Advancement Center’s “Million Dollar International Quantum U Tech Accelerator” competition, which awarded a total of $1.35 million last week. The winning teams, including UW–Madison …
September 8, 2020
Prof. Brian Rebel promoted to Senior Scientist at Fermilab
Yesterday, Fermilab promoted Prof. Brian Rebel to Senior Scientist. He has a joint appointment there, and his new title at Fermilab is the closest equivalent to full professor for which scientific staff are eligible. Congrats, …
September 3, 2020
Q-NEXT collaboration awarded National Quantum Initiative funding
The University of Wisconsin–Madison solidified its standing as a leader in the field of quantum information science when the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the White House announced the Q-NEXT collaboration as a funded …
August 26, 2020
New study expands types of physics, engineering problems that can be solved by quantum computers
A well-known quantum algorithm that is useful in studying and solving problems in quantum physics can be applied to problems in classical physics, according to a new study in the journal Physical Review A from …
August 25, 2020
A somber remembrance marks the 50th anniversary of the Sterling Hall bombing
By Doug Erickson On an August afternoon 50 years ago, graduate student Bill Evans bumped into Robert Fassnacht, a postdoctoral researcher, in Sterling Hall at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The two didn’t know each other …
August 24, 2020
NSF Physics Frontier Center for neutron star modeling to include UW–Madison
A group of universities, including the University of Wisconsin–Madison, has been named the newest Physics Frontier Center, the National Science Foundation announced Aug. 17. The center expands the reach and depth of existing capabilities in …
August 20, 2020
Welcome, Assistant Professor Jeff Parker!
Have you heard the joke about the lawyer who became a physics professor? Jeff Parker has, but rather than be the punchline, he was always in on the joke. After earning his Ph.D. in plasma …
August 19, 2020
First-year physics grad student uses her disrupted summer – and her science training – to research N95 safety
Shortly after incoming physics graduate student Winnie Wang attended a UW–Madison campus visit weekend in February, her plans took an abrupt change due to COVID-19. The University of Massachusetts, where she was studying, closed right …
August 14, 2020
Dark Energy Survey census of the smallest galaxies hones the search for dark matter
This story is adapted from one originally published by Fermilab Today, scientists in the Dark Energy Survey — including UW–Madison assistant professor of physics Keith Bechtol and his research group — released results that have …
August 4, 2020
Kevin Black named co-coordinator of LHC Physics Center at Fermilab
Professor Kevin Black has been named one of the next co-coordinators of the LHC (Large Hadron Collider) Physics Center at Fermilab (LPC at FNAL), LPC announced recently. His initial appointment starts on September 1st, 2020 …
August 3, 2020
UW–Madison named member of new $25 million Midwest quantum science institute
As joint members of a Midwest quantum science collaboration, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and the University of Chicago have been named partners in a National Science Foundation Quantum Leap …
July 21, 2020
Chicago Quantum Exchange, including UW–Madison, welcomes seven new partners in tech, computing and finance, to advance research and training
The Chicago Quantum Exchange, a growing intellectual hub for the research and development of quantum technology, has added to its community seven new corporate partners in computing, technology and finance that are working to bring about …
July 7, 2020
Particle collider experiment CMS — and UW physicists who contribute — celebrate 1000th publication
In June 2020, The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) collaboration announced the submission of its 1000th scientific publication since the experiment began a decade ago. With multiple University of Wisconsin–Madison physics faculty involved in CMS over …
June 30, 2020Three undergraduate students awarded Hilldale Fellowships
Congratulations to the three physics undergraduate research students who earned Hilldale fellowships for 2020-21! They are: Owen Rafferty, in Robert McDermott’s group Yanlin Wu, in Peter Timbie’s group Yan Qian, in Sau Lan Wu’s group …
June 15, 2020
Vandenbroucke group plays instrumental role in proving viability of innovative gamma-ray telescope
Scientists in the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) consortium have detected gamma rays from the Crab Nebula using the prototype Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (pSCT), proving the viability of the novel telescope design for use in gamma-ray astrophysics. The announcement …
June 1, 2020- Physics News Archives