Events During the Week of March 30th through April 6th, 2025
Sunday, March 30th, 2025
- Academic Calendar
- Spring recess
- Abstract: *Note: actual end time may vary.*
Monday, March 31st, 2025
- Academic Calendar
- Spring Semester classes resume
- Abstract: *Note: actual end time may vary.*
- Plasma Physics (Physics/ECE/NE 922) Seminar
- Effects of magnetic geometry and neutrals in gyrokinetic simulations of magnetized boundary plasmas
- Time: 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm
- Place: 1227 Engineering Hall
- Speaker: Tess Bernard, General Atomics
- Abstract: Successful fusion pilot plant (FPP) design hinges upon the ability to predict and control exhaust conditions, to maximize the lifetime of plasma-facing components. This work describes a pathway toward high-fidelity, first-principles simulations with predictive capabilities for plasma particle fueling and detachment. It presents the coupling of a continuum full-f gyrokinetic turbulence model with a 6D continuum model for kinetic neutrals, carried out using the Gkeyll code, which has been extended to include general geometry capabilities using a canonical Poisson Bracket formalism. A successful exhaust design will rely on both neutral interactions and plasma shaping in order to reduce the flux of heat and particles to the divertor without degrading core plasma conditions. We explore these effects through simulations of DIII-D inner-wall-limited (IWL) plasmas. For example, negative triangularity plasmas exhibit good confinement properties without the presence of disruptive edge localized modes (ELMs). We present the differences in profiles and turbulence dynamics in negative and positive triangularity geometries. Results demonstrate good agreement with experimental data.
- Host: Prof. Adelle Wright
- Theory Seminar (High Energy/Cosmology)
- Generalized symmetry constraints on deformed 4d (S)CFTs
- Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
- Place: Chamberlin 5280
- Speaker: Craig Lawrie, DESY, Hamburg
- Abstract: I explore the consequence of generalized symmetries in four-dimensional N=1 superconformal field theories. First, we classify all possible supersymmetric gauge theories with a simple gauge group that have a nontrivial one-form symmetry and flows to a superconformal field theory. Upon identifying unbroken discrete zero-form symmetries from the ABJ anomaly, we find that many of these theories have mixed zero-form/one-form 't Hooft anomalies. Then we classify the relevant deformations of these SCFTs that preserve the anomaly. From this mixed anomaly together with the anomalies of the discrete zero-form symmetries, we find obstructions for the relevant deformations of these SCFTs to flow to a trivially gapped phase. I will also study non-Lagrangian SCFTs formed by gauging copies of Argyres-Douglas theories and constrain their deformations. In particular, I highlight a new duality between the diagonal gauging of two D3(SU(N)) theories and SU(N) gauge theory with two adjoints. I conclude with some comments on non-supersymmetric deformations of our work. Event recording:
- Host: Gary Shiu
- NPAC (Nuclear/Particle/Astro/Cosmo) Forum
- Astrophysical Neutrinos Uncover Neutrino Properties and Decode New Physics
- Time: 3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
- Place: 5280 Chamberlin
- Speaker: Anna Suliga , New York University
- Abstract: Even with only Standard Model interactions, neutrinos play a critical role in core-collapse supernovae, cooling the proto-neutron star, setting the conditions for nucleosynthesis, and likely powering the explosion. Their effects could be immensely more profound in the presence of new physics, often poorly constrained by laboratory experiments alone. In this talk, I will discuss the effects of the strong lepton number violating neutrino self-interactions (LNV νSI) on the infall phase of the core-collapse supernova evolution. Strong LNV νSI processes equilibrate all neutrino seas; hence, all neutrino species share a common temperature and chemical potential. The new lowered electron neutrino chemical potential renders increased electron captures. I will show how strong LNV vSI could alter the standard supernova collapse scenario. Unlike many existing studies focusing on the late evolution effects, this study simulated the impact of LNV vSI on the infall phase with a full analytic treatment. The rapid neutrino-antineutrino equilibration leads to entropy generation and enhanced electron capture that may impact star evolution and the emitted neutrino signal. Timely DUNE neutrino detectors can also independently probe this new physics.
- Host: Baha Balantekin
Tuesday, April 1st, 2025
- Physics Education Innovation Seminar
- Promoting Student Learning and Success through Interactive Web-Based Tutorials
- Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
- Place: B343 Sterling Hall and Zoom:
- Speaker: Kathy Koenig, Department of Physics, University of Cincinnati
- Abstract: Meeting the diverse learning needs of students poses significant challenges, particularly in large enrollment courses or those involving a wide range of abilities. Over the past decade, we have implemented various research-based teaching strategies and developed learning tools to enhance student success across multi-section courses with common exams. This presentation will highlight one such tool: a suite of over 30 web-based interactive video-enhanced tutorials (IVETs), developed under NSF funding, designed to promote expert-like approaches to problem-solving. IVETs incorporate multimedia learning principles, featuring live-instructor video narration, branching multiple-choice questions, and adaptive feedback that simulates office hours with an instructor. Research findings on the effectiveness of the IVETs will be shared, along with what we have learned regarding best practices for developing and implementing online learning tools. IVETs and the software for creating custom interactive video tutorials are freely available at compadre.org/IVET, where they can be embedded into Learning Management Systems (LMS) via SCORM packages for automatic grading. Requiring minimal instructor effort, IVETs support student learning across remote, hybrid, and face-to-face course formats. This work is supported by NSF DUE-1821396 and DUE-2416548.
- Host: Abdollah Mohammadi
- Network in Neutrinos, Nuclear Astrophysics, and Symmetries (N3AS) Seminar
- EFT at Neutrino Experiments
- Time: 2:00 pm
- Place: Join Zoom Meeting: Meeting ID: 965 9696 7335
- Speaker: Dr. Zahra Tabrizi , University of Pittsburgh
- Abstract: We will discuss how to systematically study physics beyond the standard model (BSM) in the neutrino experiments within the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT) framework. In this way, the analysis of the data can capture large classes of models, where the new degrees of freedom have masses well above the relevant energy of the experiment. Moreover, it allows us to compare several experiments in a unified framework and in a systematic way. Our proposed approach could be applied to several short- and long baseline neutrino experiments. We will show the results of this approach at the FASERv experiment, which will be soon installed 480 m downstream of the ATLAS interaction point, as well as the medium baseline reactor experiments Daya Bay and RENO. For some coupling structures, we find that these neutrino detectors will be able to constrain interactions that are almost three orders of magnitude weaker than the Standard Model weak interactions, implying that they will be indirectly probing new physics at the 10 TeV scale.
Topic: N3AS Online Seminar Series - Spring 2025
Time: Apr 1, 2025, 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
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, April 2nd, 2025
- No events scheduled
Thursday, April 3rd, 2025
- Graduate Program Event
- PhD Handbook Q&A session
- Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
- Place: B343 Sterling
- Speaker: Keith Bechtol, Sharon Kahn, PhD program
- Abstract: Do you have questions about the updated PhD student handbook? Do you have inquiries about how how the Satisfactory Progress policy will be implemented?
Students are invited to join Keith Bechtol, Associate Chair for Grad Studies, and Sharon Kahn, Graduate Program Manager, for an informal Q&A session on Thursday, 3 April 2025 @ 3pm in Sterling B343.
During the session, we will also preview the new process for annual written progress reports.
We welcome questions in advance of the session. Questions can be posted anonymously on this spreadsheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MhVpG4qlzRo5Dn6g1teWDkxtOcK0lpXbojcASLx-ytE/edit?usp=sharing ), or can be sent directly to Keith and Sharon.
- Host: Keith Bechtol
- Astronomy Colloquium
- New Phenomena Around Supermassive Black Holes: Dynamics and Chemistry
- Time: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
- Place: 4421 Sterling Hall
- Speaker: Mark Gorski, CIERA Postdoctoral Fellow
- Abstract: In 1982 Blandford and Payne predicted that magnetic fields are fundamental for accretion onto supermassive black holes (SMBHs). Magnetic field lines anchored in the disk accelerate a wind via the centrifugal force, allowing for the angular momentum to be transferred out of the system and gas to accrete onto the central compact object generating an active galactic nucleus (AGN). The wind can form a few Schwarzschild radii from the SMBH up to the nuclear torus. Almost a half century later, the detailed mechanisms of SMBH growth are still a passionate area of research. Astronomers currently debate whether winds are fuelled by jets, mechanical winds, or radiation, with magnetic processes being the least accepted explanation. Here, I present detailed ALMA observations of the most compact and opaque galactic nuclei in the universe, appropriately named compact obscure nuclei (CONs). CONs represent a significant phase of galactic nuclear growth, with opaque and compact centers (r <100 pc), that conceal growing SMBHs. The analysis of these observations reveal a wind that exceeds theoretical maximum momentum for an AGN feedback powered galactic wind. The extreme momentum implies the existence of a magneto hydrodynamic (MHD) wind. The wind is highly collimated and rotates out to 100pc above the galactic nucleus. Furthermore, abundances of complex organic molecules rival Sgr B2 and Galactic hot cores in the nucleus. These results imply that growth of SMBHs is very similar to the growth of hot cores or protostars, and feedback from an AGN is not necessary to drive a galactic wind.
- Host: Melinda Soares-Furtado
- Graduate Program Event
- International Student Tax Session
- Time: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- Place: B343 Sterling
- Abstract: We're quickly approaching the most exciting time of the year – tax season! Ameya has organized a tax session to review existing tax obligations for international students and discuss any tax questions we might have.
Hope to see you all at the session!
- Host: Ameya Thete
Friday, April 4th, 2025
- Climate & Diversity
- Diversity Forum Fridays! The Math Ain’t Mathing: Professionals of Color Working Twice as Hard to Get Half as Far
- Time: 9:00 am - 10:30 am
- Place: Chamberlin 5310 & Zoom
- Speaker: Rachel Zizmann
- Abstract: The purpose of this session is to explore the common refrain heard by professionals of color (working twice as hard to get half as far) and the impact that it has on job satisfaction, emotional and physical wellbeing, and burnout. This session will delve into the invisible labor and added pressure of being a person of color in the workspace, and how internal and external messages about competence, productivity, and expectations affect self-concept. This interactive session will help participants reflect on the messages they’ve received throughout their journey to becoming professionals and aid them in identifying strategies to unlearn unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. This presentation will incorporate concepts from Hershey’s Rest is Resistance model, Black feminist theory, and cognitive behavioral theory.
- Physics Department Colloquium
- The Future of Quantum Supremacy Experiments
- Time: 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
- Place: 2241 CH
- Speaker: Scott Aaronson, University of Texas Austin
- Abstract: I'll advocate a research agenda for designing quantum computations that are
(1) feasible on near-term, non-error-corrected, "NISQ" devices,
(2) hard to simulate classically, and
(3) easy to verify classically,
where right now we only have any two of the three. The agenda involves understanding the structure of otherwise-random quantum circuits that have been postselected to have the behavior that we want (such as producing verifiable outputs), and includes concrete open problems on which progress seems feasible. I'll also discuss potential applications to generating cryptographically certified random bits -- a proposal of mine from 2018 that was just experimentally demonstrated this year, albeit without efficient classical verification. - Host: Deniz Yavuz
Saturday, April 5th, 2025
- Wonders of Physics
- The Wonders of Physics encore performance
- Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
- Place: 2103 Chamberlin
- Abstract: Encore performance of The Wonders of Physics for Science Expeditions. No tickets needed!
- Wonders of Physics
- The Wonders of Physics encore performance
- Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
- Place: 2103 Chamberlin
- Abstract: Encore performance of The Wonders of Physics for Science Expeditions. No tickets needed!
