IAP 2016 Activities by Sponsor : Physics

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

Hunting Ghosts: Neutrinos and the...

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

First science run of Advanced LIGO:....

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

How one black hole can shape galaxy...

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

Studying Electronic Topology & Symmetry

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

Music, Machines, MIT, Mathcad...

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

Symmetry and its breaking in many-body

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

Our First Chance to Study Atmosphere...

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

Non-equilibrium phase transitions in....

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

Crash, Boom, Bang: Giant Impacts & the F

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