Events on Thursday, February 15th, 2018
- NPAC (Nuclear/Particle/Astro/Cosmo) Forum
- Search for Dark Matter: CMS Strikes Back!
- Time: 3:30 pm
- Place: 4274 Chamberlin Hall
- Speaker: Zeynep Demeragli, MIT
- Abstract: The experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN are at the energy frontier of particle physics, searching for answers to fundamental questions of nature. In particular, dark matter (DM) presents strong evidence for physics beyond the standard model (SM). However, there is no experimental evidence of its non-gravitational interaction with SM particles. If DM has non-gravitational interactions with the SM particles, we could be producing the DM particles in the proton-proton collisions at the LHC. While the DM particles would not produce an observable signal in the detector, they may recoil with large transverse momentum against visible particles resulting in an overall transverse momentum imbalance in the collision event. In this talk, I will review the searches for DM particles in these missing momentum final states at the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment. I will also discuss the prospects for discovering dark matter at the High Luminosity-LHC and other future experiments.
- Host: Sridhara Dasu
- Astronomy Colloquium
- The Microphysics of AGN Feedback
- Time: 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
- Place: 4421 Sterling Hall, Coffee at 3:30 pm, Talk begins 3:45 pm
- Speaker: Karen Yang, University of Maryland
- Abstract: Feedback from active galactic nuclei (AGN) is one of the most important processes governing the formation and evolution of galaxies and galaxy clusters. It is believed to be responsible for inhibiting the formation of massive galaxies and for solving the long-standing "cooling-flow problem" in galaxy clusters. A lot of understanding of AGN feedback has been gained using hydrodynamic simulations; however, some of the relevant physical processes are unresolvable or not captured by pure hydrodynamics, such as plasma effects and cosmic-ray (CR) physics. In this talk, I will present how we use simulations that incorporate this "microphysics" to understand how AGN jets feedback on galactic and cluster scales. Specifically, I will discuss the roles of thermal conduction and CRs in addition to purely hydrodynamic models. I will also talk about how we could use multi-messenger observations of the Fermi bubbles as a nearby aboratory for studying AGN feedback. Finally, I will conclude with open questions and future prospects of applying simulations beyond hydrodynamics to various interesting astrophysical systems.
- Host: tba
- Careers for Physicists
- Women and Gender Minorities in Physics
- Communication and Negotiation Skills Seminar for Women
- Time: 5:00 pm
- Place: B343 Sterling Hall Conference room
- Speaker: Prof. Laura McCollough
- Abstract: With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), APS has trained women in physics to host professional skills seminars for students and postdocs at APS-sponsored meetings and at universities and institutions. Professional Skills Development Seminars are highly interactive workshops where participants will learn and practice communication and negotiation skills.
This 1.5-hour seminar will focus on professional skills that women need to effectively perform research and thrive in physics, including how to:
Negotiate a graduate, postdoc, or professional position in academia, industry, or at a national lab
Interact positively on teams and with a mentor or advisor
Think tactically
Enhance personal presence
Develop alliances
Achieve professional goals - Host: Society of Women and Gender Minorities in Physics'