Events on Thursday, October 20th, 2016
- R. G. Herb Condensed Matter Seminar
- Building a quantum annealing processor
- Time: 10:00 am
- Place: 5310 Chamberlin Hall
- Speaker: Dr. Emile Hoskinson , D-Wave Systems
- Abstract: I will introduce and motivate quantum annealing as a technique for harnessing quantum mechanics to solve hard problems. I will outline the design and operating principles of a quantum annealing processor based on superconducting flux qubits, and describe some of the many challenges we have encountered in constructing such a device. Finally, I will describe how the processor can be used, and give evidence that quantum mechanics is indeed playing an important role in the results.
- Host: McDermott
- Cosmology Journal Club
- An Informal discussion about a broad variety of arXiv papers related to Cosmology
- Time: 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm
- Place: 5242 Chamberlin Hall
- Abstract: Please visit the following link for more details:
http://cmb.physics.wisc.edu/journal/index.html
Please feel free to bring your lunch!
If you have questions or comments about this journal club, would like to propose a topic or volunteer to introduce a paper, please email Amol Upadhye (aupadhye@wisc.edu). - Host: Amol Upadhye
- Astronomy Colloquium
- A Connection Between Stellar Coronae and Black-Hole Accretion-Disk Coronae
- Time: 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
- Place: 4421 Sterling Hall, Coffee and cookies 3:30 PM, Talk at 3:45 PM
- Speaker: Prof. Ehud Behar, Department of Physics and Asher Space Research Institute Technion, Visiting Professor Department of Astronomy University of Maryland, College Park
- Abstract: Stellar coronae are known for their million degree plasma that is magnetically energized and emits bright X-rays.
The X-ray source in black hole accretion disks is also referred to as a corona, although its observed properties, e.g., spectra, luminosity, temperature, and variability are remarkably different from those of stellar coronae.
In fact, the physical mechanisms controlling accretion disk coronae remain largely unknown.
The colloquium will show that radio and mm observations of active galaxies (AGN) could be key to understanding the X-ray coronae of super-massive black holes. These suggest that perhaps stellar and accretion-disk coronae have more in common than meets the eye (or the telescope). - Host: Professor Marina Orio