2016 EAPS Lecture Series: LIfe in the Ocean
Michael Follows, Associate Professor of Oceanography
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
Scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution reveal the extreme diversity of living organisms in the ocean. We will discuss recent advances in marine biology and ecology using modern tools from gene sequencing to the latest in underwater vehicles.
Individual lectures in the series will be given in 54-915, noon to 1pm. Please check individual session listing for descriptions of each topic and the day it will be offered.
Since there is a delay in information posted to the IAP website please see <eapsweb.mit.edu/events/2016/iap-lecture-series> for up-to-date schedule information.
Sponsor(s): Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences
Contact: Vicki McKenna, 54-910, 617 253-3380, VSM@MIT.EDU
| Jan/21 | Thu | 12:00PM-01:00PM | 54-925 |
Predators in the plankton: the menagerie.
Matt Johnson - Associate Scientist
| Jan/22 | Fri | 12:00PM-01:00PM | 54-914 |
The role of science and technology in the conservation of North Atlantic right whales
Mark Baumgartner - Associate Professor of Oceanography
| Jan/25 | Mon | 12:00PM-01:00PM | 54-915 |
Life in the deep: hot topics in hydrothermal vent biology.
Lauren Mullineaux - Senior Scientist
Astronomers Hack IAP
Lia Corrales, Postdoctoral Associate
| Jan/14 | Thu | 11:00AM-04:00PM | Marlar Lounge 37-252 |
Enrollment: Advanced sign up required by 3pm 1/13/2016 by completing google form above
Sign-up by 01/13
Limited to 40 participants
Prereq: C++, python, php, or web design
We've rescheduled the hack day to accommodate for the fact that many people are still returning from vacation. It will now be Thursday, Jan 14 from 11 am - 4 pm in Marlar Lounge 37-252.
This is the perfect time to work on a small project that you've been meaning to get to, or to learn new coding tools and tricks!
Nothing says "hacking" like throwing together a last minute group coding session! Inspired by the American Astronomical Society (AAS) Hack Day, taking place as part of their annual winter meeting, Code Coffee will host a hack day at the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research. What is a hack day, you ask? It's about getting together to write code or work on some other project, *fast*. It could be for science or just for fun! You don't need to bring an idea to participate, and a range of expertise is appreciated (be it C++, python, php, or web design). So grab a friend and come to Marlar for some snacks and coding!
Maximum: 40 people
To attend, please sign up (by 3pm Jan 13) using the Google form
(https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1lEZ6wh82_3Ln5inDOxB1cks1fl6vDs9wBSoTP0Xdx5U/viewform)
For more about the AAS Hack Day session (http://astrobetter.com/wiki/AASHackDay)
Some examples of hacks:
http://dotastronomy.com/blog/2014/12/astro-6-live-blog-day-3/
https://arxiver.wordpress.com/
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics & Space Research
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
Determining iron abundances in cool stars: The role of hydrogen collisions
Dr. Rana Ezzeddine, Postdoctoral Associate
| Jan/20 | Wed | 02:30PM-03:00PM | Marlar Lounge 37-252 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: none
Determination of high precision abundances is an important goal of all spectroscopic studies. Accurate modelling of stellar spectra is therefore essential to determine these abundances and stellar parameters. I will explain in this talk the non-Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (non-LTE) approach to modelling stellar spectra of cool stars, highlighting the important role that Hydrogen collisions play.
View a complete listing of MKI's IAP 2016 offerings here.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics & Space Research
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
Doctoral Research Seminar on Water Treatment and Purification Technologies
Renee Robins, Executive Director, J-WAFS
| Jan/29 | Fri | 12:00PM-01:30PM | E51-145, Brown bag lunch, snacks provided |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Join us for three doctoral student research presentations and discussion:
Xiao Su, Hatton Lab in ChemE: A principal challenge for water remediation is to target dilute contaminants that are highly toxic, such as pesticides. Many of these pollutants are present in remote agricultural locations, where large-scale purification systems cannot be implemented. Xiao will talk about developing electrochemical separation methods employing redox-mediated separation chemistry. These techniques are particularly attractive due to their modularity, fast kinetics, and integration with renewable energy sources.
Emily Tow, Lienhard Research Group, MechE: Emily conducts research on heat and mass transfer processes in desalination with the goal of reducing energy consumption and improving sustainability. She will discuss the thermodynamics of energy consumption in desalination processes and her research on membrane fouling, a significant operational and energy consumption challenge in desalination plants.
Shreya Dave and Brendan Smith, Grossman Group, DMSE: This combined talk will cover nanoporous membranes as a paradigm shift in filtration technology. Thin film materials are broadly used as desalination membranes for water purification. Brendan will talk about his work on nanoscale membrane innovation. Shreya will address system-level implications using manufacturing and plant-scale models that she is developing to understand the design space for novel materials in reverse osmosis membranes.
Sponsor(s): Abdul Latif Jameel World Water and Food Sec Lab
Contact: Renee Robins, E70-1279, 617 324-6726, RROBINS@MIT.EDU
Exploring the Universe from Near to Far with the Chandra X-ray Observatory (talk + 2 tours)
Dr. Michael Nowak, Research Scientist
| Jan/26 | Tue | 02:00PM-02:30PM | Marlar Lounge 37-252 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: attend 2pm talk to take two tours that follow
In the summer of 1999, NASA launched the third of its great observatories--the Chandra X-ray telescope. Like the Hubble Space telescope which preceded it, Chandra is designed to have an unprecedented ability to create images and spectra of astrophysical objects, except working with high energy X-rays instead of optical light. This means that Chandra views some of the universe's most exotic and energetic phenomena: supernovae, neutron stars, black holes, jets traveling at nearly the speed of light emanating from near the center of clusters of galaxies. In this talk, we'll take a tour of the discoveries made by the Chandra X-ray telescope, starting with studies of our own solar system, moving outward to nearby stars, to the center of our own Galaxy where a black hole 40 millions times the mass of our Sun lurks, to distant clusters of Galaxies where the most massive black holes, billions of times the mass of our Sun, reside.
Two tours will follow this talk. See separate listing for each tour and visit the MKI website for complete details.
Tour #1: Operations Control Center, Chandra X-ray Observatory (Dr. Schulz, 2:45 - 3:30pm; Tour departs 37-252 @ 2:30pm). Signup deadline: 12noon Thurs, Jan 21. Email meinbres@mit.edu your first & last name (as it appears on your ID) & the country of your citizenship.
Tour #2: Tour of the X-ray Polarimetry Lab (Drs. Schulz and Marshall, 3:45 - 4:15pm)
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics & Space Research
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
(CANCELED) Gravitational Mirages
Paul Schechter, William A M Burden Professor of Astrophysics
| Jan/25 | Mon | 01:30PM-02:00PM | Marlar Lounge 37-252 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: none
According to Einstein's theory, gravity produces what is, in effect, an index of refraction. Light passing in the vicinity of an astronomical object will be delayed, deflected and distorted by the variations in this index of refraction, in a manner exactly analogous to terrestrial mirages. Such cosmic mirages are a major tool for the study of dark matter in galaxies and clusters of galaxies.
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up.
A listing of all IAP activities being offered by MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research is available here.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics & Space Research
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
Health and Safety Issues of Nanomaterials
Marilyn Hallock, Susan Leite
| Jan/27 | Wed | 02:00PM-03:00PM | 46-3310 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
The exciting field of nanotechnology is creating the next industrial revolution in engineering. It is also creating the new field of nanotoxicology. Are nanoparticles more toxic than dust particles we normally work with? Could carbon nanotubes possibly be the next asbestos? Come find out what we know and don't know and how to work safely in your laboratory with nanomaterials. No prerequisite.
Sponsor(s): Environment, Health and Safety Office
Contact: Marilyn Hallock, N52-496, x3-0344, hallock@mit.edu
High-resolution x-ray optics at the Space Nanotechnology Laboratory: From nanometers to gigaparsecs
Dr. Ralf Heilmann, Principal Research Scientist, MIT Kavli Institute
| Jan/05 | Tue | 02:30PM-03:15PM | 37-252 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: none
The Space Nanotechnology Laboratory (SNL) develops advanced lithography and nano-fabrication technology for high performance space instrumentation, as well as nanometer-accuracy metrology and assembly technology. Two current efforts are the development of nanofabricated soft x-ray gratings, the so-called critical-angle transmission (CAT) gratings, and the development of high-precision focusing X-ray mirrors. CAT gratings require the fabrication of sub-micron structures with extreme geometries and sub-nanometer precision, while x-ray mirrors are formed at 600 deg C while floating on porous air bearings and shaped further using ion implantation. These efforts are aimed at instruments that can help find the missing baryons in the Cosmic Web and reveal the secrets of dark matter.
PLEASE NOTE: There will be a tour of the Space Nanotechnology Laboratory (SNL) from 3:15-4:15pm. The pre-requisite for going on the SNL tour is attending this talk. The tour is limited to SIX people; advance sign-up required starting at 2:25 pm in 37-252. You must attend this talk to take the tour.
A complete listing of IAP activities being offered by MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research will be posted on the MKI website by January 4.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics & Space Research
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
IAP 2016 Physics Lecture Series
Professor Nergis Mavalvala, Curtis and Kathleen Marble Professor of Astrophysics
Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
Physics Lecture Series IAP 2016
Sponsor(s): Physics
Contact: Denise Wahkor, 4-315, 617 253-4855, DENISEW@MIT.EDU
| Jan/11 | Mon | 01:30PM-02:30PM | 6-120 |
"Hunting Ghosts: Neutrinos and the Slowest Process in the Universe"
Neutrinos are the most mysterious of the know fundamental particle. They can move through light years of lead,but when a lot get together they can cause a star to supernova. My group is searching for a nuclear process called neutrinoless double-beta decay which will confirm this theory.When observed it will be the slowest process in the Universe.
Professor Lindley Winslow - Professor of Physics
| Jan/13 | Wed | 01:30PM-02:30PM | 2-105* |
"First science run of Advanced LIGO: sensitivity and goals"
Laser interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) was designed to directly detect gravitational waves from astrophysical sources in the frequency range 10Hz-10kHz. In this talk, I will describe operation principles of Advanced LIGO on the sensitivity and goals of the first oberservational run.
(note room change)
Dr. Denis Martynov - Postdoctoral Fellow
| Jan/15 | Fri | 01:30PM-02:30PM | 6-120 |
"How one black hole can shape galaxy formation on million light years scales"
In this talk, I will present recent results that suggest black holes can prevent catastrophic cooling in galaxy clusters, acting as themostats for a volume 27 orders of magnitude larger than that of the black hole.
Professor Michael McDonald - Professor of Physics
| Jan/19 | Tue | 01:30PM-02:30PM | 6-120 |
"Studying Electronic Topology and Symmetry in Exotic Quantum Materials"
I will present an overview of my research group's experimental efforts to design new quantum materials and measure their emergent electronic properties.
Professor Joseph Checkelsky - Professor of Physics
| Jan/21 | Thu | 01:30PM-02:30PM | 6-120 |
"Music, Machine, MIT, Mathcad, Measurement"
The title is my five word resume for 50 years of technical pursuits. This talk will be about mentors, moments of insight and cool things I learned along the way.
Mr. Allen Razdow, '75 PH - MIT Alumnus
| Jan/22 | Fri | 01:30PM-02:30PM | 6-120 |
"Symmetry and its breaking in many-body physics"
There are many things we can learn just by looking at the symmetry of the problem, even without solving tedious equations.
Dr. Haruki Watnabe - Postdoctoral Fellow
| Jan/25 | Mon | 01:30PM-02:30PM | 6-120 |
"Our First Chance to Study the Atmosphere of a Rocky Exoplanet"
Learn about the Earth-size planet we discovered around a nearby red dwarf and what it means for the search for life outside the Solar System.
Dr. Zach Berta-Thompson - Postdoctoral Fellow
| Jan/27 | Wed | 01:30PM-02:30PM | 6-120 |
"Non-equalibrium phase transitions in actomyosin cortices"
Biological systems rely on ordered structures and intricately controlled dynamics for their functions. In this talk, I will show in vitro actomyosin cortices display phases of distinct order and dynamic behavior when crosslink density is varied.
Professor Nikta Fakhri - Professor of Physics
| Jan/29 | Fri | 01:30PM-02:30PM | 6-120 |
"Crash, Boom, Bang: Impacts & the Formation of Planets at home and abroad".
Observations by the Kepler space telescope have led to the discovery of more than 4000 exoplanets. I will present recent results concerning their formation.
Professor Hilke Schlichting - Professor of Physics
IAP 2016- The Feynman Films
Andy Neely, Manager of the Technical Services Group
Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
The Feynman Films
Sponsor(s): Physics
Contact: Denise Wahkor, 4-315, 617 253-4855, DENISEW@MIT.EDU
| Jan/11 | Mon | 12:00PM-01:00PM | 6-120 |
The Law of Gravitation
Andy Neely - Manager of the Technical Services Group
| Jan/13 | Wed | 12:00PM-01:00PM | 2-105* |
The Great Conservation Principles
(note room change)
Andy Neely - Manager of the Technical Services Group
| Jan/15 | Fri | 12:00PM-01:00PM | 6-120 |
The Last Journey of a Genius
Andy Neely - Manager of the Technical Services Group
| Jan/19 | Tue | 12:00PM-01:00PM | 6-120 |
The Great Conservation Principles
Andy Neely - Manager of the Technical Services Group
| Jan/21 | Thu | 12:00PM-01:00PM | 6-120 |
Symmetry in Physical Law
Andy Neely - Manager of the Technical Services Group
| Jan/22 | Fri | 12:00PM-01:00PM | 6-120 |
Take the World from Another Point of View
Andy Neely - Manager of the Technical Services Group
| Jan/25 | Mon | 12:00PM-01:00PM | 6-120 |
The Best Mind Since Einstein
Andy Neely - Manager of the Technical Services Group
| Jan/27 | Wed | 12:00PM-01:00PM | 6-120 |
The Relations of Mathematics to Physics
Andy Neely - Manager of the Technical Services Group
| Jan/29 | Fri | 12:00PM-01:00PM | 6-120 |
The Distinction of Past and Future
Andy Neely - Manager of the Technical Services Group
Illuminating the Dark Ages and the Cosmic Dawn with Radio Interferometers
Aaron Ewall-Wice, MKI Graduate Student
| Jan/20 | Wed | 02:00PM-02:30PM | Marlar Lounge 37-252 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: none
A critical chapter in the Universe’s history, known as the Dark Ages, remains nearly entirely unobserved. During this time period, our universe underwent a dramatic transformation from a relatively uniform mixture of hydrogen, helium, and dark matter filaments, into the luminescent and chemically complex realm of stars and galaxies that we live in today. The time period over which the first luminous sources turned on is known as the cosmic dawn.
In this talk, I will discuss how the observational technique known as 21cm tomography which will allow us to observe the dark ages and the cosmic dawn, allowing for us to learn about the formation and evolution of the first galaxies.
To see all of MKI's IAP 2016 listings, view the website.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics & Space Research
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
Introduction to TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy)
Yong Zhang
| Jan/25 | Mon | 02:00PM-03:30PM | 13-2137 von Hippel |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
The lecture provides an introduction to the fundamental principles of transmission electron microscopy. Topics covered include the illumination system, electron lenses and their aberrations, image formation and resolution. A variety of imaging and analysis techniques and their roles specific to inorganic materials, such as crystallography, diffraction patterns and high resolution imaging are to be present with practical demonstration. This presentation will also introduce TEM sample preparation techniques for a wide range of materials, including metals, semiconductors, powders and thin films.
Contact: Yong Zhang, 13-1034, 617 253-5092, YZHANG05@MIT.EDU
Links of Arctic Change to Midlatitude Weather
Judah Cohen, Research Affiliate
| Jan/08 | Fri | 11:00AM-02:00PM | 48-316 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Polar vortex, snow-mageddon, arctic amplification of global warming, extreme weather, melting ice-caps and permafrost - these may be the first signs of a changing global climate. The arctic is particularly vulnerable to variability and change. And these changes are remarkably linked to our mid-latitude winter weather. Come learn about the physics and ways to enhance long-range climate forecasts.
Contact: Dara Entekhabi, 48-216C, 617 253-9698, DARAE@MIT.EDU
Making Sense of Scent
Andreas Mershin, Research Scientist
| Jan/27 | Wed | 01:00PM-04:00PM | E14-633, don't wear a lot of perfume/cologne/aftershave |
Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/25
Limited to 100 participants
Prereq: none
In 1914, Alexander Graham Bell said: "If you are ambitious to find a new science, measure a smell".
This activity is designed to give you the knowledge and practical experience necessary to understand why it's 2016 and we still haven't "measured a smell" and why it's more important than ever to do so.
During the lecture part of this activity you will learn how biological and machine noses work. We will cover emerging applications ranging from diagnostics to drug discovery and how new experimental methods are challenging old theoretical models of olfaction.
You will be equipped to critically dissect ongoing scientific controversies such as: "humans can discriminate over one trillion/no more than 5000 odors", "shape or vibration?", "analytical or synthetic?", "chemical or spectral?", "combinatorial or emergent?", "classical or quantum?".
During the practical session you will be trained on methods to enhance your olfactory intelligence while participating in a blindfolded perfume discrimination exercise. Most perfume novices will be surprised to discover how sensitive their noses become. Perfume aficionados may actually be able to beat a GC-MS. Anosmics please join us as controls! (we'll teach you fun tricks to confuse Sommeliers or how to cause olfactory hallucinations).
By the end of the course you will be able to answer Shakespeare's own question better than he did:
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet"
Contact: Andreas Mershin, E15-401G, 617 515-4192, MERSHIN@MIT.EDU
Michelson Interferometer Demonstration
Maggie Tse, Clare Boothe Luce Graduate Fellow
| Jan/27 | Wed | 01:30PM-02:30PM | NW22-258 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: none
How do you measure distances smaller than one-thousandth the diameter of a proton? Why do we care? Come find out in this hands-on interactive demo, where you will learn about Michelson interferometery, the basic principle behind how LIGO measures explosions in outer space using giant lasers. Real lasers included!
If you stay with us after 2:30pm, you can apply your new knowledge and operate a real suspended interferometer with Dr. Kontos in the LIGO lab! (For a description of this activity, see TOUR: Lock a Suspended Interferometer)
Directions to NW22-258: Enter through the loading dock entrance in the parking lot between NW22 and NW17. The door will be propped open for the event. Once inside, follow the signs and take the elevator to the second floor.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics & Space Research
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
Multiscale Porous Materials - Marseille Winterschool
Franz-Josef Ulm, Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Roland Pellenq, Senior Research Scientist, John R. Williams, Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Porous Materials are ubiquitous in many engineering applications, and specifically in energy and environment related engineering applications. The Marseille Winterschool organized through the MIT-CNRS joined lab with the support of MITEI, brings together scientists and engineers to provide a one-week educational training for graduate students and postdocs in all facets of multiscale porous materials, ranging from advanced microscopy and spectroscopy techniques to nanomechanical testing of stiffness, strength and fracture properties of porous materials. The Marseille Winterschool will take place in Marseille, France; in the week January 25-29, 2016. It brings together instructors from MIT, Marseille and Paris University, Georgetown University, and many more. The 2016 edition will develop around the topical issue of porous materials in Nuclear Engineering applications, and will include a one-day visit to ITER. The topic thus far, and the teaching content should be of interest for graduate students in several engineering disciplines (materials science, mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering) and the school of sciences, particularly physics. The Winterschool is open to the entire MIT community. There are no costs associated with the school; except for Flight and Accomodation in Marseille.
Sponsor(s): MIT Energy Initiative, MIT France Program
Contact: Franz-Josef Ulm, 1-263, 617 253-3544, ULM@MIT.EDU
| Jan/25 | Mon | 08:30AM-06:30PM | Marseille/France |
8h30-9h30: Registration. Opening remarks
09h30-11h00: Multi-scale porous materials for energy and Environment
11h30-13h00: Statistical physics and computer simulation techniques (Part I)
14h30-16h30: Soft Matter physics; glass physics, jamming transition and arrested dynamics, relevance for multi-scale materials insights from numerical simulations (Part I)
17h00-18h30: Electron microscopy for multi-scale porous materials
| Jan/26 | Tue | 08:30AM-06:00PM | Marseille/France |
08h30-10h30: Mechanics of multi-scale porous materials, from elasticity to fracture: modeling & experiment (Part I)
11h00-12h30: Soft Matter Physics; glass Physics, jamming transition, arrested dynamics, numerical simulations (Part II)
14h00-16h00: Multi-scale porous and colloidal materials, texture and transport properties (Part I)
16h30-18h00: Electron microscopy for multi-scale porous materials: clay, cement, shale-gas
| Jan/27 | Wed | 08:30AM-06:30PM | Marseille/France |
08h30-10h00: Bus from Marseille Old Harbor, to the ITER reactor site, Cadarache
10h00-15h00: Visit of ITER / Lecture on material science for nuclear energy (fusion / fission)
15h00-16h30: Bus to the Jardins du Pharo, Aix-Marseille University head quarter
17h00-18h30: Invited conferences on the challenges of Nuclear fusion, the ITER project and The energy landscape in France, Present and Future
| Jan/28 | Thu | 08:30AM-06:30PM | Marseille/France |
08h30-10h30: Mechanics of multi-scale porous materials, from elasticity to fracture: modeling & experiment (Part II)
11h00-13h00: Statistical physics, computer simulation techniques over time and length scales (Part II)
14h30-16h30: Mesoscale modeling of particles, from bulk to flow in confined geometry (Part I)
17h00-18h30: Tomography with Synchrotron light and the texture of multiscale porous materials
| Jan/29 | Fri | 08:30AM-02:00PM | Marseille/France |
08h30-10h30: Multi-scale Porous and colloidal materials, texture and transport properties (Part II)
11h00-12h30: Transport properties of confined fluids from NMR relaxometry
12h30-12h45: Closing Remarks
NICER to the Space Station in 2016: Astrophysics of Neutron Stars and Black Holes via X-ray Astronomy
Ronald Remillard, Principal Research Scientist
| Jan/25 | Mon | 02:00PM-02:30PM | Marlar Lounge 37-252 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: none
NASA's Neutron star Interior Composition ExploreR ("NICER"), will be launched to the International Space Station in August 2016. The NICER detector team at the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics has delivered Si drift detectors and signal processing electronics for the 56 cameras that constitute the Instrument. The cameras are sensitive to X-ray photons in the range 0.2-12 keV, and each event will be time-tagged with an instrument clock that ticks at 40 ns. This talk will review the science goals, the instrument technology, and the calibration equipment that allows us to accomplish requirements, including the achievement of timing accuracy to 100 ns in the Solar System barycenter.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics & Space Research
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
Plasma Science and Fusion Center IAP Series
Paul Rivenberg, Communications and Outreach Coordinator, Abhay Ram, Principal Research Scientist, Martin Greenwald, Deputy Director, PSFC, Ted Golfinopoulos, Postdoctoral Associate
Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
This series introduces plasma physics research and areas of related interest at the Plasma Science and Fusion Center. See URL below. http://www.psfc.mit.edu/
Sponsor(s): Plasma Science and Fusion Center
Contact: Paul Rivenberg, NW16-284, 617 253-8101, RIVENBERG@PSFC.MIT.EDU
| Jan/11 | Mon | 11:00AM-12:00PM | 1-190 |
Magnetic Fusion Energy: A Vision for Getting there Sooner
Beginning with the basics of plasma confinement and heating, and reprising some scientific history, we will turn to recent potentially game-changing technology developments in high-field, high-temperature superconducting magnets, which promise a new path for faster and less costly development of fusion, a virtually inexhaustible, carbon-free energy supply.
Earl Marmar - Head, Senior Research Scientist
| Jan/12 | Tue | 11:00AM-12:00PM | 6-120 |
Turbulence in Fusion Plasmas
Turbulence represents the principal heat loss mechanism in magnetically confined plasmas: understanding it is critical to achieving practical fusion energy. While similar in many ways to ordinary fluid turbulence, in plasmas turbulence has characteristics that make it a unique and important physical phenomenon.
Anne White - Professor, Nuclear Science and Engineering
| Jan/14 | Thu | 11:00AM-12:00PM | NW17-218 |
SPARC: A small tokamak for changing climate
This talk will introduce SPARC concept- a minimally-sized, viable tokamak designed to rapidly advance fusion energy by combining non-traditional funding, innovation strategies borrowed from modern high-tech ventures, and recent advances in high-temperature high-field superconductors
Brandon Sorbom - Graduate Student, Zach Hartwig - Postdoctoral Fellow, Bob Mumgaard - Postdoctoral Associate, Daniel Brunner - Postdoctoral Associate
| Jan/14 | Thu | 12:45PM-01:45PM | NW17-218 |
Visit the Alcator C-Mod tokamak, a major fusion energy experiment being carried out on the MIT campus. Alcator C- Mod is the third in a series of tokamak devices at MIT that use very high magnetic fields to confine plasmas operating near 100,000,000 degrees.
Ted Golfinopoulos - Postdoctoral Associate, Adam Kuang
| Jan/19 | Tue | 11:00AM-12:00PM | NW17-218 |
Surfaces, Interfaces, Spins: Control it all, from Exchange Interaction to Quantum T ransport to Molecular Spintronics
Get a glimpse of various phenomena involving superconductors, ferromagnets and topological insulators, using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) to create ultra thin films, heterostructures and their nano devices. Along the way unexpected physics can be expected.
Jagadeesh Moodera - Senior Research Scientist
| Jan/21 | Thu | 02:00PM-03:00PM | NW17-218 |
Structural Biology at the Francis Bitter Magnet Lab
Focusing on the development and application of solid-state NMR spectroscopy can elucidate the structure and dynamics of biological macromolecules, especially membrane proteins. FBML research has applications to biology, pharmacology, and biomaterials, including studies of biomedically important viral membrane proteins and energy-rich plant cell walls.
Mei Hong - Professor, Department of Chemistry
| Jan/22 | Fri | 11:00AM-12:00PM | NW17-218 |
Creating and controlling high-energy-density matter with the National Ignition Facility (NIF)
This talk summarizes recent progress on the NIF, including the status of and future directions in inertial confinement fusion research, highlights from the Discovery Science program, and new capabilities coming on line, such as the Advanced Radiographic Capability.
Mark Hermann - Director, National Ignition Facility
| Jan/22 | Fri | 02:00PM-03:00PM | NW17-218 |
Exploring inertial confinement fusion and high-energy-density science at NIF, OMEGA and Z
This talk will provide an overview of Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) and High Energy Density (HED) science, highlighting MIT¿s HED Division work at the three major US ICF facilities NIF, Omega and Z. MIT¿s work at NIF, Omega and Z is based on our design and implementation of novel diagnostics, platforms, and analyses, develope
Maria Gatu Johnson - Research Scientist
| Jan/22 | Fri | 03:00PM-04:00PM | NW17-218 |
This tour showcases Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) research at MIT. The PSFC High-Energy-Density Physics group has developed and/or calibrated a number of nuclear diagnostics installed on the OMEGA laser at the University of Rochester, NY, and on the National Ignition Facility in Livermore, CA, to study nuclear products generated in fusion reactions.
Andrew Birkel - Research Specialist
| Jan/26 | Tue | 02:00PM-04:00PM | NW17-218, Bring your laptop |
| Jan/27 | Wed | 02:00PM-04:00PM | NW17-218, Bring your laptop |
| Jan/28 | Thu | 02:00PM-04:00PM | NW17-218, Bring your laptop |
MDSplus Survival Camp: Street-Fighting Secrets for Success
A three-day workshop devoted to MDSplus. We'll share some helpful tricks for how to navigate, populate, and manipulate MDSplus data structures with discussion and hands-on activities. A basic knowledge of Python or Matlab is recommended, as it will make lab-practical activities more valuable. Please bring a laptop.
Ted Golfinopoulos - Postdoctoral Associate, Ian Faust, Eric Edlund - Research Scientist, Josh Stillerman - Data System Manager
Quaternion Gravity: Theory and Experiment
Douglas Sweetser '84
| Jan/21 | Thu | 03:00PM-05:00PM | 54-100 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
A new proposal for explaining gravity will be detailed (the URLs below). A prediction we will try to confirm is that measuring the Poynting vector (ExB) in the Green building should be the same in 54-100 as near the top.
http://bit.ly/qg_sketch
http://bit.ly/vp-qg
http://bit.ly/vp-qg_talk
http://bit.ly/qg_paper
http://quaternions.com
Doug Sweetser '84
Course 7 and Course 10
Sponsor(s): Alumni Association, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Contact: Elena Byrne, W98-206C, 617 252-1143, EBYRNE@MIT.EDU
(CANCELED) Reproducibility in Synthetic Organic Chemistry
Rick Danheiser, A C Cope Professor of Chemistry
| Jan/28 | Thu | 04:00PM-05:30PM | 6-120 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
A fundamental principle in the field of synthetic organic chemistry states that a synthetic chemist skilled in the art should be able to repeat a synthetic transformation with the same results as those described in published work from another laboratory. Unfortunately, all too often this is not the case. Why do many procedures prove not to be reproducible? Why do even experienced researchers encounter problems when attempting to repeat reactions described in the literature? This talk will focus on the most common causes of problems involving reproducibility in organic synthesis. The specific examples discussed will be based on experiences from my own laboratory, examples taken from the literature, and examples from procedures submitted to Organic Syntheses that I am familiar with from my service as Editor in Chief of that journal.
Sponsor(s): Chemistry
Contact: Rick Danheiser, 18-298, 617 253-1842, danheisr@mit.edu
Searching for Gravitational Waves with LIGO
Dr. Adam Libson, Postdoctoral Associate
| Jan/12 | Tue | 02:00PM-02:30PM | Marlar Lounge 37-252 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: No enrollment limit, no advance sign up.
Einstein's theory of general relativity predicts the existence of gravitational radiation. Since gravity is a weak force, it takes extreme masses and energies to produce a detectable gravitational wave signature. Indirect evidence for the existence of this radiation has been collected using pulsar measurements. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is an experiment designed to directly detect this radiation, and use it to study exotic astrophysical phenomena. To do this, LIGO must measure length changes with a precision of 10-19 meters, less than a thousandth of a proton diameter. In this talk, I will briefly discuss gravitational radiation and its sources, and I will also describe the LIGO detectors and the physics involved in their operation. Finally, I will discuss some of the quantum limits on making this type of precision measurement, and the ways in which LIGO hopes to beat these limits.
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up for this talk.
Please Note: A tour of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) Lab will follow this talk. To take the tour (2:45-4:00pm), you must register for the tour and attend both talks preceding the tour.
See MKI event website and the MKI IAP website for additional information.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics & Space Research
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
Seeing a World in a Point of Light
Dr. Zachory Berta-Thompson, Torres Postdoctoral Fellow
| Jan/20 | Wed | 03:00PM-03:30PM | Marlar Lounge 37-252 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: none
Astronomers can observe the sizes, orbits, masses, and atmospheres of planet orbiting distant stars, without ever seeing the planets directly. Come learn how we do this and the worlds we hope to discover soon, with the help of the TESS mission, now being built at MIT.
Click here to see a complete listing of IAP 2016 activities being offered by MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research (MKI).
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics & Space Research
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
Tour of the Operations Control Center for the Chandra Space Telescope, One of NASA's Great Observatories
Dr. Norbert Schulz, Research Scientist
| Jan/26 | Tue | 02:30PM-03:30PM | tour departs 37-252 |
Enrollment: Max 20 people, advance sign-up required by 12noon JAN 21
Sign-up by 01/21
Limited to 20 participants
Prereq: You must attend talk preceding tour: 2-2:30pm in 37-252
The Chandra X-ray Observatory is the world's most powerful X-ray telescope, allowing scientists to study the origin, structure and evolution of our universe in greater detail than ever before. The spacecraft and science instruments are controlled from the Operations Control Center (OCC) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. We will take our visitors on a tour of the OCC and show where scientists and engineers direct the flight and execute the observing plan of Chandra, and where they receive the scientific data from the observatory. during the tour the visitors will learn about the basics of X-ray astronomy and about the latest, exciting discoveries made by MIT scientists with data acquired with Chandra.
Max 20 people, advance sign-up required by 12noon on THURSDAY, JANUARY 21 by submitting full name and country of citizenship to meinbres@mit.edu
Prerequisites: Attend talk preceding the tour (2-2:30 talk "Exploring the Universe from Near to Far with the Chandra X-ray Observatory" in 37-252). Tour will depart from 37-252.
Following the tour of the Chandra Observations Control Center, the group will also take a tour of the Tour of the X-ray Polarimetry Lab from 3:45-4:15pm.
For a complete listing of IAP Activites offered by MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, please visit our IAP website.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics & Space Research
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
Tour of the Space Nanotechnology Lab
Ralf Heilmann, Associate Director, Space Nanotechnology Laboratory
| Jan/05 | Tue | 03:15PM-04:15PM | Marlar Lounge 37-252 |
Enrollment: tour limited to 6 people who attend talk preceding tour & sign up in person
Sign-up by 01/05
Limited to 6 participants
Prereq: Attendance of talk (2:30-3:15pm) preceding tour
During the tour of the SNL's three clean rooms visitors will see sophisticated optical (interference lithography stations for the fabrication of submicron period gratings, high power UV laser, metrology station for optics shape measurements, sub-nanometer resolution interferometers, etc.) and mechanical systems (XY-air-bearing stage, sub-micron accuracy alignment system, environmental enclosure, active vibration isolation, etc.) that support the development of thin-foil x-ray optics and gratings.
Max 6 people, advance sign-up required starting at 2:25 pm in 37-252.
***PLEASE NOTE***
The prequisite for taking the tour is attending the 2:30-3:15pm talk preceding the tour.
For additional information, please see the MKI website.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics & Space Research
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
Tour of the X-ray Polarimetry Lab
Dr. Norbert S. Schulz, Research Scientist, Dr. Herman Marshall, Principal Research Scientist
| Jan/26 | Tue | 03:45PM-04:15PM | tour departs 37-252 |
Enrollment: advance sign-up required by 12noon JAN 21 (email meinbres@mit.edu)
Sign-up by 01/21
Limited to 20 participants
Prereq: attend 2pm talk to take two tours that follow
Tour of MIT’s X-ray Polarimetry Lab, where new X-ray instrumentation is currently being developed.
Prerequisite: Attendance of 2:00-2:30pm talk by Dr. Michael Nowak (Marlar Lounge, 37-252) preceding the tour. Following Dr. Nowak's talk, the group (20 individuals who have signed up in advance) will leave from 37-252 to take 2 tours. The Chandra's Operation Control Center from 2:45-3:30, followed by the X-ray Polarimetry Lab from 3:45-4:15.
NOTE: The two tours will take place in building NE-80 and NE-83, which are restricted areas. We will walk over as a group from Building 37, immediately following Dr. Nowak’s talk. Building NE-80 is about an 8 minute walk away, near the Cambridge Brewing Company. To take the tour, you must sign up by 1/21/2016 (email your full name and country of citizenship to meinbres@mit.edu). Be sure to bring your ID with you (driver’s license, state issued identification card, or passport) on the day of the event!
Here is a complete listing of MKI's IAP 2016 events
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics & Space Research
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
Tour: Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) Lab
Dr. Adam Libson, Postdoctoral Associate
| Jan/12 | Tue | 02:30PM-04:00PM | tour departs 37-252 |
Enrollment: Max 10 people, advance sign-up required starting at 1:55 pm in 37-252
Sign-up by 01/12
Limited to 10 participants
Prereq: MUST ATTEND TWO TALKS PRECEDING TOUR
Visitors will be taken on a tour of the LIGO prototyping facilities at MIT. These include a full-scale prototype of the LIGO vacuum chambers, laser, isolation and suspension systems, and laboratories for thermal and optical noise measurements.
Max 10 people, advance sign-up required starting at 1:05 pm in 37-252
Prerequisites: Attendance of talks preceding the tour
Please see all IAP offerings by MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics & Space Research
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
TOUR: Lock a Suspended Interferometer
Antonios Kontos, Postdoctoral Associate
| Jan/27 | Wed | 02:30PM-04:00PM | leaves from NW22-258 |
Enrollment: tour limited to 6 people who attend talk preceding tour & sign up in person
Sign-up by 01/27
Limited to 6 participants
Prereq: attending 1:30pm talk by Maggie Tse in NW22-258
Work with LIGO scientists to lock a suspended Michelson-style interferometer using real-time automated control systems.
Please note:
6 people max for tour. Advance sign-up required starting at 1:25pm in NW22-258 immediately before Ms. Tse's talk (see activity description for Michelson Interferometer Demonstration). Attendance of Ms. Tse's talk is required of tour participants.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics & Space Research
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
Using X-ray Spectroscopy to Measure a Binary's Relativistic Outflow
Dr. Herman Marshall, Principal Research Scientist, MIT Kavli Institute
| Jan/21 | Thu | 02:45PM-03:30PM | Marlar Lounge 37-252 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: none
The stellar binary SS 433 was once featured on Saturday Night Live as the "comin' and a-goin' star". By means that are still somewhat mysterious, the system ejects blobs of plasma in opposite directions at a speed of about a quarter of the speed of light. The compact object that is responsible for providing the impetus for this plasma is probably a black hole about 10 times the mass of the Sun. I show what we've come to understand about the system and its jets such as how their directions trace out twin cones on the sky. X-ray spectroscopy, using the Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer that were built here at MIT, shows that the plasma temperature reaches at least 100 billion degrees and can be used to measure the density and location of the outflows we call jets.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics & Space Research
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
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