Events During the Week of September 29th through October 6th, 2024
Monday, September 30th, 2024
- Climate & Diversity
- Climate and Diversity Committee Open Hours
- Time: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
- Place: Chamberlin 5310
- Speaker: Rachel Zizmann, UW-Madison Physics
- Abstract: Open Hours are welcome for everyone in the department! During these sessions, we have the option to discuss the topic listed, that is not required or necessary for attending
Article Discussion: Chronicles of a Queer Relationship with Science
In person and Zoom: - Host: Rachel Zizmann
- Plasma Physics (Physics/ECE/NE 922) Seminar
- High-Fidelity Multiphysics for Nuclear Engineering
- Time: 12:05 pm - 1:00 pm
- Place: 1610 Engineering Hall
- Speaker: April Novak, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Abstract: Multiphysics interactions between radiation transport and thermal-fluids play an important role in fission and fusion reactor design and safety analysis. This talk will cover the historical challenges, and recent developments, in high-fidelity multiphysics couplings between Monte Carlo radiation transport and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools. Cardinal is an open-source multiphysics integration of the OpenMC Monte Carlo code and the NekRS spectral element CFD code with the MOOSE finite element framework that enables first-of-a-kind multiphysics simulation by leveraging scalable solvers, advancements in GPU computing, and innovative coupling algorithms. Applications to high temperature gas reactors, molten salt reactors, and fusion components will be used to showcase some recent research in this area. Finally, the talk will conclude with discussion on some future directions and current needs in the high-fidelity multiphysics space. Bio: April Novak is an Assistant Professor in the Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological (NPRE) Department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), where she leads research programs in computational methods for nuclear engineering with emphasis on thermal-hydraulics, Monte Carlo methods, multiphysics, high performance computing, and open source software development. Dr. Novak is a recipient of the DOE-Nuclear Energy Early Career Award. Prior to joining UIUC, she was a Fellow in the Computational Sciences Division at Argonne from 2020-2023. She has a PhD in Nuclear Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley (2020).
- Host: John Sarff and Paul Wilson (NEEP)
Tuesday, October 1st, 2024
- Network in Neutrinos, Nuclear Astrophysics, and Symmetries (N3AS) Seminar
- Magnetar Giant Flares: A New Site of R-Process Nucleosynthesis
- Time: 2:00 pm
- Place: Join Zoom Meeting: Meeting ID: 912 3071 4547
- Speaker: Brian Metzger , Columbia University
- Abstract: Although much progress has been made in recent years, the astrophysical origin(s) of the rapid neutron capture (r-process) remain elusive. Thanks to observations of several kilonovae (one being associated with a gravitational wave source), neutron star mergers are now confirmed sites of the r-process; however, other sources may contribute, particularly at low metallicity. I will discuss a new r-process source that occurs from the ejection of neutron star crust material following a magnetar giant flare, such as that which occurred from SGR 1806-20 in December 2004. Radioactive decay of these ejecta gives rise to an extremely brief (~minutes long) optical/UV transient akin to a scaled-down kilonova, which may be detectable with rapidly slewing UV space satellites such as ULTRASAT. Additional motivation for sizable baryonic ejection from magnetar giant flares comes from their observed radio afterglows and the known magneto-ionic environments of some fast radio bursts (speculated to be powered by exceptionally active magnetars).
- Host: Baha Balantekin
Wednesday, October 2nd, 2024
- No events scheduled
Thursday, October 3rd, 2024
- R. G. Herb Condensed Matter Seminar
- Experiments with Strontium Rydberg States: Spatial Correlations and Synthetic Dimensions
- Time: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Place: 5310 Chamberlin
- Speaker: Yi Lu, Rice
- Abstract: Rydberg states provide wonderful platforms for studying dynamics and correlations in quantum systems with ultracold atoms. Our experiments with strontium ultralong-range Rydberg molecules (ULRRM) have demonstrated that the photo-association rate of ULRRMs can be used to probe non-local spatial correlations in a quantum gas, such as bunching and antibunching of bosonic and fermionic isotopes of strontium gases [1]. More recently, we also resolved rotational states of ULRRMs and used them to observe the s-wave suppression of the 86Sr-86Sr pair (with scattering length as=823a0). [2] I will also share in this talk our efforts and results of constructing synthetic dimensions with Rydberg atomic states. We realized the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model used six 3S1 Rydberg levels with microwave frequencies resonantly connecting adjacent pairs. Edge-to-edge long-range tunneling and bulk-population oscillations, characteristic behaviors of the topological phase, were observed in the measured population evolution [3]. The strong/weak tunneling ratio is also scanned to probe the topological-trivial phase transition in the SSH model through measurements of the band structure and the winding number [4]. [1] Whalen, et al., Phys. Rev. A 100, 011402(R) (2019) [2] Lu, et al., Phys. Rev. A 106, 022809 (2022) [3] Lu, et al., Phys. Rev. A 109, 032801 (2024) [4] Lu, et al., Phys. Rev. A 110, 023318 (2024)
- Host: Mark Saffman
- NPAC (Nuclear/Particle/Astro/Cosmo) Forum
- Mapping cosmic star formation with the CO Mapping Array Project
- Time: 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
- Place: Chamberlin Hall Room 5280
- Speaker: Patrick Breysse, Southern Methodist University
- Abstract: The process of star formation is key to our understanding of galaxies, as well as the use of galaxies to probe fundamental physics. Measuring star formation at high-redshift, however, is often difficult and expensive. In this talk, I will discuss the results of the second observing season of the CO Mapping Array Project (COMAP), which uses the new observational technique of line intensity mapping to explore cosmic star formation from a new angle. COMAP has reported the deepest ever intensity mapping observation of the dense-gas tracing CO(1-0) emission line near cosmic noon. I will provide an overview of the COMAP results, and discuss how results from it and other early intensity mapping measurements may hint at excess star formation beyond which is predicted by current galaxy models. I will close by discussing exciting future extensions to COMAP happening in the next few years.
- Host: Peter Timbie
- Astronomy Colloquium
- The Massive Ancient Galaxies At z>3 NEar-infrared Survey -- Hunting Monster Galaxies in the Early Universe
- Time: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
- Place: 4421 Sterling Hall
- Speaker: Ian McConachie, UW-Madison
- Abstract: One of the most important mysteries in the field of galaxy evolution is when, where, and how the most massive galaxies formed and assembled their mass in the early Universe. Early ultra-massive galaxies (UMGs) place strong constraints on models for galaxy formation and evolution. Large near-infrared photometric surveys have revealed numerous UMG candidates at increasingly high redshifts through the past decade, but spectroscopic followup is necessary to confirm their nature. In this talk I will first provide an overview of the MAGAZ3NE spectroscopic survey, which targeted UMG candidates to characterize their stellar populations and their environments. I will then discuss the three protoclusters we discovered around UMGs and the insights they give to UMG evolution. Finally, I will present results from MAGAZ3NE’s spectroscopic campaign searching for the reddest, most massive UMG candidates and the subsequent implications for the extremely high-mass end of the stellar mass function.
- Host: Melinda Soares-Furtado
Friday, October 4th, 2024
- Physics Department Colloquium
- Blanchard Lecture: Physics of Climate and Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Reduction (CDR)
- Time: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
- Place: Chamberlin 2241
- Speaker: Washington Taylor, MIT
- Abstract: Human activity, particularly the combustion of fossil fuels to provide energy, has led to a continued and well-measured increase in levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide over the last century, with increasing effects in recent decades. Many approaches have been proposed for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, including chemical direct air capture (DAC), ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), enhanced rock weathering (ERW), and biology-based approaches. Even with rapid emissions reductions, atmospheric carbon dioxide reduction (CDR) may be desirable to avoid excessive changes in Earth's surface temperature and climate. Fundamental physical constraints, however, indicate that such efforts will require extensive energy and/or material inputs. This colloquium addresses these considerations from a physical science perspective.
- Host: Gary Shiu