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Seminars
TCU Box 298840
Fort Worth, TX 76129
Phone: (817) 257-7375
Fax: (817) 257-7742
Email:physics@tcu.edu
This page maintained
by Kaoru Yoshida
Spring 2002 Seminar Information
Thursday February 7 at 1.30 p.m. in SWR 357
Pre-Dissertation:
Cristian Pantea
Department of Physics and Astronomy
TCU
Diamond-Silicon Reaction under High-Pressure Hig-Temperature Conditions
Sponsor: Dr. Zerda
Tuesday March 19 at 4:00 p.m. in WSH 145
(Physics/Math seminar)
Refreshments at 3:30 p.m. in WSH 171
Dr. Victoria Rayskin
Department of Mathematics
UCLAHomoclinic Intersections in Chaotic Systems (abstract (PDF))
Sponsor: Dr. Miller
Thursday April 11 at 3:00 p.m. in WSH 145
(Physics/Math seminar)
Dr. Marek Rychlik
Department of Mathematics
University of Arizona
Invariant Manifold Theory with an Algebraic Twist
Abstract: Invariant Manifold Theory started with the classical works of Hadamard and Perron and its development has continued to this day. It is considered a fundamental tool in Dynamical Systems theory. We will provide a survey of theorems and examples best illustrating its applications, starting from the classical ones and ending with the not yet well known theory of invariant manifolds for algebraic systems. We will describe the application of this new theory to solving the classical Equichordal Point Problem of Fujiwara, Blaschke, et. al.
Cecil and Ida Green Honors Chair in Physics, 2002
CANCELLED!!
To be rescheduled
Thursday April 11 at 4:00 p.m.
Lecture Hall 4, Sid Richardson Building
(Map for locating the Sid Richardson
Building)
Refreshments at 3:30 p.m. in SWR 313
Dr.
Pat Richard
Cortelyou-Rust Distinguished Professor
Director, J R Macdonald Laboratory
Physics Department, KSU
Electron Emission in Ionic and Photonic Interactions with Matter - What Can We Learn?
Note: This talk has been cancelled
To be rescheduled
Abstract: I will review a part of the field of electron emission in Ionic and Photonic Interactions with matter beginning with the work in Ion-Atom collisions. Single and differential cross sections for electron emission are the building blocks of this field. Recent studies of projectile electron emission have lead the field to new heights. An ion colliding with an atom experiences the field of the electron cloud and the nucleus. In some systems it is possible to separate the two interactions through observed structures in electron emission spectra. High resolution spectra contain information about e-ion elastic scattering including resonances. It has been demonstrated that e-ion inelastic scattering can be measured, and for the first time superelastic scattering of electrons from highly charged metastable ions. The level of information has been kicked up a notch in recent complete kinematics experiments using cold targets and 4p geometry spectrometers. These techniques developed in ion-atom collisions recently have been used in the study of photo-ionization of atoms and molecules. Molecules have been studied from the inside looking out, by electron emission from inner shell vacancies. The most recent development has been the study of electron motion in the interaction of atoms in ultra-short pulse, ultra-high intensity lasers.
Sponsor: Dr. Quarles
Friday April 12 at 2:00 p.m. in SWR 357
Refreshments at 3:00 p.m. in SWR 313
Dr. Marek Rychlik
Department of Mathematics
University of Arizona
Decay of Correlations in Computer-Simulated Systems of Colliding Particles
Abstract: Mechanical systems of billiard type, like Boltzmann Gas or one-dimensional systems with linear potentials and elastic collisions, are suspected of having strong statistical properties, including laws of large numbers (Boltzmann Hypothesis) and the central limit theorem. However, currently we lack theoretical results in this area. One of the desirable features of a mechanical system is the exponential rate of decay of correlations. In the talk we will present real-time computer simulations of several colliding particle systems and carry out measurements of the rate of decay of correlations. The software is available for download at http://alamos.math.arizona.edu.
The Seventh Annual
Joseph Morgan Lecture
Wednesday April 17, 2002 at 7:30 p.m.
Lecture Hall 2, Sid Richardson Building
(Map for locating the Sid Richardson
Building)
Refreshments following the talk
Samuel T. and Fern Yanagisawa Regents Professor of Astronomy
Department of Astronomy
The University of Texas at AustinSupernovae, Life, and the Universe
Abstract: Exploding stars produce the seeds of new planets and life. One type of explosion, like an overgrown thermonuclear bomb, has been used to map distant space and show that the Universe may be in the grip of a "Dark Energy" giving it a counter-intuitive acceleration. Another type of explosion, triggered by collapse to form neutron stars or black holes, has been connected with cosmic gamma-ray bursts, explosions that may reveal when stars first formed in the early Universe, expelling the gloom of the "Dark Ages." New information shows that both of these types of explosion are out of round and provides new clues to the explosion mechanisms.
Dr. Wheeler will also give an afternoon lecture on April 17 entitled:
Jet Induced Supernovae
Wednesday April 17, 2002 at 3:00 p.m.
Sid W. Richardson Building, Room 357
Refreshments at 2:30 p.m. in SWR 313
Abstract: A plethora of evidence suggests that supernovae, especially those driven by core collapse are not spherical and that many are distinctly bi-polar. Principle evidence for this comes from studies of spectropolarimetry that have established that core-collapse supernovae are more polarized if they have smaller outer envelopes and that the polarization grows as the supernova ages and greater depths are seen. This
suggests that the "machine" of the explosion itself is strongly asymmetric. Numerical calculations have shown that sufficiently strong jets can account for the asymmetry and can, by themselves, explode a star with no boost from the inevitable neutrino flux. The outstanding physical problem is to understand the origin of the jets that are implied to attend common core collapse events to form neutron stars. Various mechanisms for forming jets will be summarized, especially the central role of the magnetorotational instability that will naturally generate strong fields in shearing environments.
For directions to the Sid W. Richardson Building see map, or contact the Department of Physics and Astronomy at 817-257-7375.
Contact person: Dr. Marcum
Monday April 22 at 2:00 p.m. in SWR LH3
(Map for locating the Sid Richardson Building)
Refreshments at 1:30 p.m. in SWR 313
Dr. Hal Puthoff (short Bio (PDF))
Institute for Advanced Studies at Austin
Austin, TexasThe Sea of Quantum Energy in which We Live:
The "Holy Grail" of 21st Century Science and Technology?
Abstract: Classically, empty space (the vacuum) can be considered to be a void. Quantum theory tells us that empty space is not truly empty, however. Rather, it is a vast ocean of random, fluctuating quantum processes, resulting in an underlying sea of energy that undergirds all phenomena, known as zero-point energy, or ZPE. The adjective "zero-point" signifies that such energetic activity exists even at a temperature of absolute zero where thermal effects disappear.
Originally it was thought that ZPE concepts were of significance only for such esoteric concerns as small perturbations to atomic emission processes (e.g., the Lamb Shift). It is now known, however, that the all-pervasive, energetic ZPE fields play a central role in large-scale phenomena of interest to technologists as well. These include the enhancement or inhibition of spontaneous emission, the generation of short-range attractive forces between closely spaced materials, and the possibility of modifying inertial and gravitational forces.
The ZPE topics I will cover range from fundamental issues (why don't atoms collapse? Where does inertia come from?), through laboratory attempts to extract useful energy from vacuum fluctuations (can the ZPE be "mined" for practical use?), to scientifically grounded extrapolations concerning "engineering the vacuum" (is "warp-drive" space propulsion a scientific possibility?).
See this link for a related article in Scientific AmericanSponsor: Dr. Miller
Friday April 26 at 3:00 p.m. in SWR 357
Refreshments at 2:30 p.m. in SWR 313
Dr. Jacqueline van Gorkom
Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory
Columbia University
The Fate of Gas in Merger Remnants: an HI perspective
Abstract: In this talk I will first review what observations and simulations tell us about the fate of gas in interactions and mergers of galaxies. One of the more generic results seems to be that in a merger about 50% of the gas is thrown out of the systems. Although this gas can be ejected to large distances it usually remains bound to the system. I will discuss the possible fates of this gas around merger remnants based on a variety of observations.
Sponsor: Dr. Marcum
Friday May 3 at 9:00 a.m. in SWR 327
Dr. Peter Fredericks
Director of Centre for Instrumental & Developmental Chemistry
School of Physical and Chemical Sciences
Queensland University of Technology, AustraliaVibrational spectroscopic imaging of polymer surfaces
Sponsor: Dr. Zerda
Copyright © 2002-06 Magnus Rittby / Kaoru Yoshida; Last Updated: Saturday, August 18, 2007