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