From Galaxy Clusters to the Alcator Program
Bruno Coppi
Tue Jan 9, 02-03:15pm, 26-210
Single session event
Galaxy Clusters are in reality x-ray emitting plasma objects,the mass of the plasma ("bright matter") being considerably larger than that of galaxies. The relevant physics as well as phenomena that have a central role in high energy astrophysics, such as the transport of angular momentum by collective modes in accretion disks, can be interpreted on the basis of experiments funded for nuclear fusion research.The Alcator program at MIT, established originally to simulate the different kinds of radiation emission for the X-ray stars that were known at the time, has made breakthrough advancements in the confinement of high density plasmas in high magnetic fields. One consequence is the beginnig of construction of an experiment that can attain ignition by fusion reactions. The lecture will be followed by a visit to the Alcator facilities.
Contact: Bruno Coppi, 26-217, 253-2507, coppi@psfc.mit.edu
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Physics Lectures for the General MIT Community
Professor Edward Farhi
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
Contact: Professor Edward Farhi, 6-309, 253-4871, farhi@MIT.EDU
Inflationary Cosmology and the Accelerating Universe
Professor Alan Guth
Mon Jan 8, 01:30-02:30pm, 6-120
A Step beyond Molecular Orbital Calculations and the Academic World
Ofelia C. de Hodgins, S.M.'89
Ofelia deHodgins, a Six Sigma Master Black Belt at Sony Electronics, will talk about how important her physics background was in the development of her career - from the semiconductor industry to a high profile managerial position at Sony Electronics, where she translates advanced statistical concepts and Statistical Process Control "defects" into service/transaction "errors".
Six Sigma is a new approach adopted by business to improve profitability through reducing costs of poor quality, Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ). No longer able to reduce prices to increase market share, nor to raise prices to improve profit margins, companies implement Six Sigma to improve their gain margins.
Wed Jan 10, 01:30-02:30pm, 6-120
Physics at the Largest Accelerator in the World
Professor Peter Fisher
In its final year of operation, the Large Electron-Positron (LEP) collider may have detected Higgs bosons, which brings up the questions: What is the Higgs boson? Why is it so important?
In this lecture, I will attempt to answer both questions starting from sophomore level mechanics. I will then describe what was observed this year at LEP and conclude with what future experiments can observe.
Fri Jan 12, 01:30-02:30pm, 6-120
Fortunes of Physicists Who Go Astray
William Layson, PhD '63
What opportunities and rewards come to physicists who stray out of academic research and teaching to pursue careers in applied technology and management? After MIT, Bill Layson was an active researcher in Australia, CERN, Berkeley, Cape Kennedy, and two high technology startups before moving to management roles in the largest US employee owned technology company. He retired as a senior vice president of Science Applications International Corporation in 1999.
Wed Jan 17, 01:30-02:30pm, 6-120
Planets, Planets...
Professor Phil Morrison
Fri Jan 19, 01:30-02:30pm, 6-120
New Horizons in Particle Physics
Professor Jerome Friedman
Mon Jan 22, 01:30-02:30pm, 6-120
Every Physics Course I Ever Took Turned Out to Be Useful - Only Never in the Way I Expected
Sheldon Apsell, S.B.'65
After graduating from MIT, Sheldon Apsell went on to earn a PhD in Physics from Brandeis University. He then entered the super-secret community developing digital reconnaissance satellites. After that he went into the world of business.Nevertheless, he found his background in physics to be both relevant and of practical use, but never quite in the way he envisioned when taking these courses.
Wed Jan 24, 01:30-02:30pm, 6-120
What You Could Do with a Quantum Computer if You Had One
Professor Edward Farhi
Fri Jan 26, 01:30-02:30pm, 6-120
Free the Quarks
Professor Krishna Rajagopal
Tue Jan 30, 01:30-02:30pm, 6-120
Is There Law Beyond the Physical Laws?
Thomas Halket S.B., S.M. '71
Thomas D. Halket, a Partner at Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, will explore career opportunities in the law for physics graduates. Drawing on his own experience as a partner in a major corporate law firm, the issues he will cover include: patent law, litigation, technology law and the value of pre-law physics training. A brief overview on starting a high-technolgy company will also be presented.
Wed Jan 31, 01:30-02:30pm, 6-120
Seeking New Laws 2000
Professor Frank Wilczek
Fri Feb 2, 01:30-02:30pm, 6-120
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The Feynman Films
Markos Hankin
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
Prereq: None
This series of films by Richard Feynman is open to the MIT community.
Contact: Markos Hankin, 4-309, 253-4844, mhankin@mit.edu
"The Law of Gravitation"
Markos Hankin
Mon Jan 8, 12:15-01:15pm, 6-120
"The Best Mind Since Einstein"
Markos Hankin
Wed Jan 10, 12:15-01:15pm, 6-120
"The Relation of Mathematics to Physics"
Markos Hankin
Fri Jan 12, 12:15-01:15pm, 6-120
"The Great Conservation Principles"
Markos Hankin
Wed Jan 17, 12:15-01:15pm, 6-120
"Symmetry in Physical Law"
Markos Hankin
Fri Jan 19, 12:15-01:15pm, 6-120
"The Last Journey of a Genius"
Markos Hankin
Mon Jan 22, 12:15-01:15pm, 6-120
"Take the World from Another Point of View"
Markos Hankin
Wed Jan 24, 12:15-01:15pm, 6-120
"The Distinction of Past and Future"
Markos Hankin
Fri Jan 26, 12:15-01:15pm, 6-120
"Probability and Uncertainty"
Markos Hankin
Tue Jan 30, 12:15-01:15pm, 6-120
"Seeking New Laws"
Markos Hankin
Fri Feb 2, 12:15-01:15pm, 6-120
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