Events List for the Academic Year
Event Time:
Monday, December 4, 2023 | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Event Location:
HENN 318
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2023-12-04T16:00:00
2023-12-04T17:00:00
The chaotic lives of planetary systems
Event Information:
Abstract:
Not long after discovering the universal law of gravitation, Isaac Newton asked a troubling question. Is the solar system stable? It took over 300 years to arrive at an answer. Brute-force numerical integrations have demonstrated that it is possible that Mercury will collide with Venus or be lost into the Sun. Yet despite extensive effort on this thorny question, which led to the development of perturbation theory, the discovery of chaos, and the establishment of the field of non-linear dynamics, we still do not understand the physics driving these instabilities in a general context.
This problem has renewed relevance today, since we think such instabilities have shaped the orbital architectures of the thousands of exoplanet systems in the observed sample. I will present recent successes using machine learning techniques to make accurate predictions of long-term stability in compact exoplanetary systems, and discuss how we ultimately used our machine learning models to elucidate the underlying dynamics and arrive at an analytical understanding of the problem.
Event Location:
HENN 318
Event Time:
Thursday, November 30, 2023 | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Event Location:
HENN 202
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2023-11-30T16:00:00
2023-11-30T17:00:00
The Atomic Nucleus as a Window to New Physics
Event Information:
Abstract:
What is the mass of the neutrino? Why is there an abundance of matter over antimatter in our universe? And what is dark matter? Strangely enough, answers might very well lie, yet undiscovered, in impossibly rare nuclear decays, infinitely subtle wobblings of nuclei embedded in radioactive molecules, or the faintest recoils of nuclei colliding with dark matter.
As the role of atomic nuclei in unraveling such fundamental mysteries continues to deepen, first principles quantum simulations, starting from only underlying nuclear and weak forces, are currently undergoing nothing short of a revolution. In this talk I will outline this modern "ab initio" approach to nuclear theory and spotlight several recent milestones, including statistical predictions of the limits of existence and the neutron skin of 208Pb to constrain neutron star properties. Parallel advances also allow first predictions crucial for searches for physics beyond the standard model: neutrinoless double beta decay, dark matter scattering, and symmetry violating moments, with quantifiable uncertainties, for most nuclei relevant for such searches.
Bio:
My research is focused on first-principles calculations of atomic nuclei across all mass regions. I am particularly interested in linking ongoing developments of two and three-nucleon forces rooted in QCD with nuclear structure issues at and beyond the experimental frontiers, such as determining the limits of existence of matter and the evolution of magic numbers towards these limits. Furthermore this work has deep connections to some of the most compelling unanswered questions in beyond-standard-model physics. For instance neutrinoless double beta decay can provide a direct path to knowledge of neutrino masses, WIMP-nucleus scattering may lead to understanding the nature of dark matter, and particular nuclear transitions provide insights into physics at the electroweak scale and beyond. Since these methods are quite general, they can also be broadly extended to other many-body problems such as atomic systems.
Learn More:
See Jason's TRIUMF webpage here
Read his publications here
Event Location:
HENN 202
Event Time:
Thursday, November 30, 2023 | 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Event Location:
Henn 309
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2023-11-30T14:00:00
2023-11-30T16:30:00
Quantum Chaos in Conformal Field Theories
Event Information:
Understanding quantum chaos in conformal field theories is extremely important. Chaotic dynamics can explain why so many systems can be studied with statistical mechanics, and why systems reach ``typical’’ states so quickly. Outside of the simplest, highly symmetric systems, all systems are expected to be described by chaotic dynamics; whether and how these dynamics can appear in theories with conformal symmetry is thus essential to further our understanding of most CFTs. Moreover, the AdS/CFT correspondence suggests that chaotic CFTs are important for understanding black holes, which themselves are chaotic systems.
However, the highly symmetric structure of these systems can tend to hide the underlying chaotic behaviour; this unique structure requires us to find the right language and diagnostics for discussing chaotic phenomenon. In this thesis we make significant progress to this end: we demonstrate the part of the energy spectrum that is unconstrained by symmetry and displays chaotic behaviour; we study the link between quantum chaos and the strange properties of ``arithmetic chaos''; we create an effective field theory for analyzing chaotic behaviour and its link to standard CFT technology; and we analyze CFTs with a boundary and their AdS/CFT dual, which have been used to model chaotic black holes.
Event Location:
Henn 309
Event Time:
Thursday, November 30, 2023 | 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Event Location:
McLeod 3038
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2023-11-30T10:00:00
2023-11-30T11:00:00
Realization of magnetically frustrated Wigner crystals and a novel multiorbital model in transition metal dichalcogenide based moiré materials
Event Information:
Abstract: Moiré materials constructed using the transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) bilayers have been used to simulate the Hubbard model with long range Coulomb interactions procuring the lattice Wigner crystal states at fractional fillings like n=2/3, 1/2, and 1/3. We study the gamma-valley TMD homobilayers which can give rise to the effective moire honeycomb lattices, as shown by recent ab-initio studies. We discuss the effect of Coulomb interactions in these homobilayers unveiling the plethora of frustrated magnetic states on Wigner crystals at various fractional fillings, which suggests the latent potential of these materials to realize quantum spin liquids. Moreover, by performing Wannierization of the moiré bands we show that these materials can realize a more general moire Kanamori-Hubbard model, opening an avenue for physics beyond the extensively studied multiorbital Hubbard model.
Speaker Bio: Dr. Nitin Kaushal is a postdoctoral fellow at the Quantum Matter Institute working with Professor Marcel Franz's group. Prior to joining UBC, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (2020-2023. Nitin completed his PhD at the University of Tennessee in 2020, under the guidance of Prof. Elbio Dagotto. During his Ph.D., he investigated the effects of atomic spin-orbit coupling on the multi-orbital Hubbard models. In recent years, Nitin’s research has been centered on moiré materials.
Event Location:
McLeod 3038
Event Time:
Wednesday, November 29, 2023 | 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Event Location:
Hennings 318
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2023-11-29T15:00:00
2023-11-29T16:00:00
The Observational Quest for Transiting Exomoons
Event Information:
Abstract
With thousands of known transiting exoplanets, many as small as the Earth, our detection capabilities are beginning to border on that necessary to detect the largest moons found in our solar system. Exomoons would offer new opportunities to understand the origins of planetary systems, as well as potentially playing an important role in the search for life. I will discuss the various methods proposed to identify such objects, the state of our knowledge based on present observations, and the potential for new discoveries via upcoming observations (such as JWST), as well as new methodological developments. The exomoon candidates Kepler-1625b-i and 1708b-i will also be discussed, exploring their current status and follow-up potential. Going forward, it is suggested that the statistical validation of exomoons may enter the fray, akin to many of Kepler’s exoplanets, but JWST could present far more compelling detections should it be used for exomoon hunting.
Event Location:
Hennings 318
Event Time:
Monday, November 27, 2023 | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Event Location:
HENN 318
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2023-11-27T16:00:00
2023-11-27T17:00:00
CHIME is secretly an axion experiment
Event Information:
Abstract:In the presence of radiation from bright astrophysical sources at radio frequencies, axion dark matter can undergo stimulated decay to two nearly back-to-back photons, meaning that bright sources could have faint counterimages in other parts of the sky. The counterimages will be spectrally distinct from backgrounds, taking the form of a narrow radio line centered at half the axion mass with a spectral width determined by Doppler broadening in the dark matter halo. In essence, axions behave as an imperfect monochromatic mirror. The morphology of the induced images can be nontrivial, with blurring due to the geometry of the source and image as well as spatial smearing due to the galactic kinematics of axion dark matter. I will show that the axion decay-induced counterimages of galactic sources may be bright enough to be detectable with archival data from CHIME and other ongoing or planned radio surveys. CHIME therefore can run as a competitive axion experiment simultaneously with other science objectives, requiring no new hardware.
Bio:
I explore astrophysical manifestations of physics beyond the Standard Model.
My group research interests are at the intersection of astrophysics, particle physics and cosmology. Our main goal is to extract as much information as possible about what our Universe is made of by considering how astrophysical systems would be affected with the addition of undiscovered particles and interactions. A major focus of our research is understanding the composition and behavior of dark matter, but we are also interested in other extensions of the Standard Model. While primarily theorists, we do occasionally get into the data when it is available.
Learn More:
See Katelin's personal web page here: Katelin Schutz - Astroparticle, Cosmology, Particle Physics
See her on the Centre for Research in Astrophysics of Quebec (CRAQ) website
Event Location:
HENN 318
Event Time:
Friday, November 24, 2023 | 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Event Location:
HENN 301
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2023-11-24T14:30:00
2023-11-24T15:30:00
Holography, wormholes, and cosmology
Event Information:
Abstract:
In this talk, I'll describe how ordinary spacetime might arise from quantum physics (in what's known as the holographic approach to quantum gravity), how our universe might be related to a giant wormhole, and how this picture can lead to predictions for cosmology (such as decreasing dark energy and an eventual big crunch).
Bio:
I am a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of British Columbia, where I have worked since 2002. Before that, I was a postdoc at Stanford University from 2000 until 2002. I studied as a graduate student at Princeton University from 1995 until 2000 when I received my PhD. My supervisor was Washington Taylor. Before that, I did a combined math/physics undergraduate degree at UBC.
I am currently a Simons Investigator and a member of the Simons Foundation It From Qubit Collaboration.
In my research, I work towards a better theoretical understanding of elementary particle physics, classical and quantum gravity, and cosmology. Most of my research has focused on string theory, quantum field theory, and the remarkable equivalence between the two suggested by gauge theory/ gravity duality (a.k.a. the AdS/CFT correspondence). Currently, I am exploring connections between quantum information theory and quantum gravity.
Learn More:
Find out more about the UBC Astronomy Club
See Mark's research website here
Event Location:
HENN 301
Event Time:
Thursday, November 23, 2023 | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Event Location:
HENN 202
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2023-11-23T16:00:00
2023-11-23T17:00:00
A new concept to measure geometrically the expansion of the universe
Event Information:
Abstract:With several >~4 meter radio dishes in the outer solar system, it appears possible to measure the distances to fast radio bursts that originate hundreds of megaparsecs away and thereby measure the cosmic expansion history using a geometric method that is similar to the trilaterations of global satellite navigation systems (https://arxiv.org/abs/2210.07159). The sensitivity scales quadratically with dish separations such that distance measurements to bursts even on the other side of the observable universe may be possible. Not only could this technique potentially provide a much more precise geometric constraint on the cosmic expansion history, but such a mission could also provide interesting constraints on micro-Hertz gravitational waves, pulsars, the outer solar system, and dark matter. While this idea is ambitious, and there is certainly an argument that we do not need to measure the expansion better than we already have (which I will address), another reason to attend this talk is that this concept involves so much interesting physics related to GPS systems, very long baseline interferometry, plasma propagation effects, gravitational time delays, and the diffuse outer solar system.
Bio:
Matt is a theoretical astrophysicist and cosmologist. He works on testing models for the intergalactic medium, predicting the observational signatures of the first galaxies, and modeling the large-scale structure of the Universe.
2009 Ph.D. (Harvard) 2004 Bachelor (Stanford)
Learn More:
See his faculty webpage and the University of Washington
Browse his homepage
Event Location:
HENN 202
Event Time:
Thursday, November 23, 2023 | 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Event Location:
BRIM
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2023-11-23T10:00:00
2023-11-23T11:00:00
Muon Studies of Superconducting UTe2
Event Information:
CM Seminar: CM Seminar: Jeff Sonier – Simon Fraser UniversityTitle: Muon Studies of Superconducting UTe2
Abstract: Recently discovered UTe2 is believed to be a long-sought spin-triplet superconductor, but its magnetic properties and superconducting order parameter are matters of controversy. The observation of a nonzero polar Kerr effect in the superconducting state of UTe2 single crystals exhibiting two phase transitions in the specific heat has been taken as evidence of a time-reversal symmetry (TRS) breaking order parameter and chiral superconductivity. Yet a more recent study of the polar Kerr effect in single crystals exhibiting a single-phase transition found no evidence for TRS breaking. Zero-field muon spin relaxation (SR) is an ideal tool for independently determining whether TRS symmetry is spontaneously broken at the superconducting transition temperature, Tc, but until recently it has not been possible to investigate this in UTe2 due to the presence of slowly fluctuating spins. I will first explain what SR has revealed about the magnetic interactions in UTe2, which potentially play a role in the pairing mechanism that gives rise to spin-triplet superconductivity. I will then describe recent SR studies of a new generation of UTe2 single crystals, which shed light on the role disorder plays in the magnetic fluctuations and have provided an opportunity to look into whether TRS is broken.
Speaker bio: Jeff Sonier is a Professor at Simon Fraser University.
Event Location:
BRIM
Event Time:
Tuesday, November 21, 2023 | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Event Location:
Zoom:https://ubc.zoom.us/j/66771351287?pwd=YnJNUXJ3RHVrcHBEeXk3eEJWNFNDZz09 Passcode: 530425
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2023-11-21T10:00:00
2023-11-21T12:00:00
Four dimensional dose calculations and planning strategies for dynamic tumour tracking treatments
Event Location:
Zoom:https://ubc.zoom.us/j/66771351287?pwd=YnJNUXJ3RHVrcHBEeXk3eEJWNFNDZz09 Passcode: 530425
Event Time:
Monday, November 20, 2023 | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Event Location:
HENN 318
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2023-11-20T16:00:00
2023-11-20T17:00:00
Exoplanet Atmospheres Through the Eyes of JWST
Event Information:
Abstract:
JWST is now delivering ultra-precise spectra of exoplanet atmospheres over a significantly wider wavelength range than afforded by previous observations. This exceptional improvement in data quality has opened new areas of atmospheric science to observational study that were previously out of reach.
I will summarize how we infer atmospheric properties of exoplanets from remote spectra and the profound ways in which JWST is transforming our knowledge of exoplanets. Next, I will outline several new frontiers in exoplanet atmospheric analyses enabled by JWST data. Finally, I will highlight the most significant discoveries from the first year of exoplanet atmosphere science with JWST.
Bio:
I am an astrophysicist and NASA Sagan Fellow researching exoplanet atmospheres at the University of Michigan. My research merges observational astronomy and theoretical models, with a particular emphasis on atmospheric retrieval techniques.
I am currently using observations from the world’s newest space observatory, JWST, to characterise exoplanet atmospheres.
Learn More:
See Ryan's U of Michigan Faculty webpage here
Learn about Ryan's research and more on his website: DistantWorlds.space
Event Location:
HENN 318
Event Time:
Friday, November 17, 2023 | 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Event Location:
HENN 318
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2023-11-17T13:00:00
2023-11-17T14:00:00
UBC High Energy Seminar: Non-Supersymmetric Heterotic Branes
Event Information:
Abstract:
The common statement that any consistent quantum gravity theory contains dynamical objects with all possible charges suggests that there are still a number of hitherto-unidentified branes in string theory. In this talk I will discuss four of these new branes, focusing on heterotic string theories. The focus of the discussion will be on the relationship between these branes and the lower-dimensional vacua obtained by closed string tachyon condensation in the ten-dimensional, non-supersymmetric heterotic string theories.
Bio:
Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 2020
My research is broadly focused on string theory and quantum field theory. Recently I have been interested in symmetries and their generalization to "categorical" or "non-invertible" symmetries, as well as in revisiting subtle, topological issues in string theory. My previous work has explored string perturbation theory, its connections to number theory, and various topics in (super)conformal field theory.
Learn More:
View his faculty webpage at the University of Washington
Event Location:
HENN 318
Event Time:
Thursday, November 16, 2023 | 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Event Location:
BRIM 311
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2023-11-16T10:00:00
2023-11-16T11:00:00
Observation of Fractional Quantum Anomalous Hall Effect
Event Information:
CM Seminar: Xiaodong Xu – University of WashingtonTitle: Observation of Fractional Quantum Anomalous Hall Effect
Abstract: The interplay between spontaneous symmetry breaking and topology can result in exotic quantum states of matter. A celebrated example is the quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) state, which exhibits an integer quantum Hall effect at zero magnetic field due to topologically nontrivial bands and intrinsic magnetism. In the presence of strong electron-electron interactions, fractional-QAH (FQAH) states at zero magnetic field can emerge, which is a lattice analog of fractional quantum Hall effect without Landau level formation. In this talk, I will present experimental observation of FQAH states in twisted MoTe2 bilayer, using combined magneto-optical and -transport measurements. In addition to the Chern number -1 integer, and -2/3 and -3/5 fractional QAH states, we find an anomalous Hall state near the filling factor -1/2, whose behavior resembles that of the composite Fermi liquid in the half-filled lowest Landau level of a two-dimensional electron gas at high magnetic field. Direct observation of the FQAH and associated effects paves the way for researching charge fractionalization and anyonic statistics at zero magnetic field.
Speaker bio: Xiaodong Xu is a Boeing Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physics, and Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Washington. He obtained a PhD in Physics from the University of Michigan in 2008. After postdoc research at Cornell University, he joined the University of Washington in 2010. He is a Fellow of American Physical Society and Optical Society of America.
Event Location:
BRIM 311
Event Time:
Wednesday, November 15, 2023 | 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Event Location:
Hennings 318
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2023-11-15T15:00:00
2023-11-15T16:00:00
Analytical approaches to the relativistic two-body problem
Event Information:
Abstract:
I will give a basic introduction to the various analytical approaches to describe the dynamics of compact binaries in general relativity. These include including post-Newtonian, post-Minkowskian and gravitational self-force theories, as well as the use of effective field theory and scattering amplitudes. I will also comment on their role in generating waveforms templates for gravitational wave observatories, and challenges ahead.
Event Location:
Hennings 318
Event Time:
Thursday, November 9, 2023 | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Event Location:
HENN 202
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2023-11-09T16:00:00
0223-11-09T17:00:00
Molecular Simulations of Protein Structure and Dynamics
Event Information:
Abstract:Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations offer a powerful tool to investigate the structure and dynamics of proteins because they can provide an all-atom view of their complex conformational landscapes. Using simulations, we study biomolecular systems consisting of hundreds of thousands to millions of atoms on a nanosecond to microsecond timescale. These system sizes and timescales are relevant to functionally important processes, such as ligand binding, protein allostery, and protein aggregation. With recent advances in both simulation and experiment, it is now possible to make direct comparisons between data obtained in silico and in vitro. MD offers a useful tool to elucidate the molecular basis for effects observed using experimental methods, and to quantitatively describe differences in protein ensembles. I will present recent and ongoing simulation studies of proteins across the continuum of protein disorder, from ordered states of proteins in crystals to intrinsically disordered regions.
Bio:
Dr. Sarah Rauscher is a computational biophysicist whose research addresses the challenging problem of understanding the structure and dynamics of intrinsically disordered proteins. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Physics and Chemistry at the University of Toronto Mississauga.
Learn More:
View her faculty webpage from UofT
See what's happening at the Rauscher Lab at UofT
Event Location:
HENN 202
Event Time:
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 | 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Event Location:
Henning 318
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2023-11-08T15:00:00
2023-11-08T16:00:00
Gravitational-wave astrophysics
Event Information:
TALK RECORDING AVAILABLE AT: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KhUBNa57gTUUcqiO76yYEErsIPNuI9v5/view?usp=sharing
Abstract:
Eight years after the discovery of the first gravitational-wave signal, the ground-based gravitational-wave detectors LIGO and Virgo have observed more than 100 mergers of black holes and neutron stars. After describing what gravitational waves can reveal, both about individual sources and their underlying populations, I will summarize some of the results obtained with the most recent dataset. These include measurements of the mass and spin distribution of black holes in binaries and hints of how their astrophysical formation channels might have evolved with redshift.
Event Location:
Henning 318
Event Time:
Monday, November 6, 2023 | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Event Location:
HENN 318
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2023-11-06T16:00:00
2023-11-06T17:00:00
JWST’s Distant Universe as Seen by CANUCS
Event Information:
Abstract:The James Webb Space Telescope has been the most anticipated astronomical observatory of the first part of the 21st century. And it has not disappointed: since the beginning of Webb’s science operations just over a year ago, amazing new discoveries made by JWST have been shedding new light on our understanding of the Universe and its contents.Having built of Webb’s four science instruments, NIRISS, Canadians are fully engaged in this research, learning about the Universe from the era of Cosmic Dawn (when galaxies were first forming) through Cosmic Noon (when the Universe was bursting with star formation), through to the current cosmic epoch. Along the way so far we have observed young galaxies getting assembled from their building blocks, found some of the first star clusters to have formed after the Big Bang, and saved cosmology as we know it from premature reports of its demise.This talk will give an overview of how Canada came to be a key player in Webb and will describe some of the results to have come from CANUCS, which stands for “Canadian NIRISS Unbiased Cluster Survey” and which is — at 200 hours of Guaranteed Time Observations — the largest JWST program to observe the distant Universe behind massive, gravitationally-lensing galaxy clusters.
Bio:
I am Canada Research Chair (Tier I) and Professor in the Department of Astronomy and Physics at Saint Mary’s. I also serve as the (acting) Director of the Institute for Computational Astrophysics as reshape the Institute for coming decade.
After an undergrad at McMaster University, I did my graduate work at the University of Toronto where I did some of the first work on photometric redshifts and the seminal work on galaxy physical property estimation using broadband SED fitting.
Between grad school and coming to Saint Mary’s, I held an NSERC Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Caltech, was a Plaskett Fellow at NRC's Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics in Victoria, and Research Physicist at the University of California at Santa Barbara. I came to Halifax in 2007 to take up a faculty position at Saint Mary’s, was Chair of the Department in the mid-2010’s, and was appointed Canada Research Chair in 2017.
While permanently based in Halifax, I have also held visiting positions at Kyoto University (2006-07), Tohoku University in Sendai (2011-12), NRC-Herzberg in Victoria (2019-20), and Kyoto University again (2021)
Learn More:
Browse his Faculty website here
Read this news article on Marcin from CBC Nova Scotia
Event Location:
HENN 318
Event Time:
Thursday, November 2, 2023 | 5:15 pm - 6:15 pm
Event Location:
HENN 202
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2023-11-02T17:15:00
2023-11-02T18:15:00
Real-Time Biosensor Technology
Event Information:
Abstract:
A biosensor capable of continuously measuring specific molecules in vivo would provide a valuable window into patients’ health status and their response to therapeutics. Unfortunately, continuous, real-time molecular measurement is currently limited to a handful of analytes (i.e. glucose and oxygen) and these sensors cannot be generalized to measure other analytes. In this talk, we will present a biosensor technology that can be generalized to measure a wide range of biomolecules in living subjects. To achieve this, we develop novel reagents (molecular switches) that change its structure upon binding to its target analyte and emit light or produce an electrochemical signal. Our real-time biosensor requires no exogenous reagents and can be readily reconfigured to measure different target analytes by exchanging the molecular switches in a modular manner. Importantly, we will discuss methods for generating the molecular switches which are at the heart of this biosensor technology.
Bio:
Dr. H. Tom Soh is a Professor of Electrical Engineering and Radiology at Stanford University. He earned his B.S. with a double major in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science with Distinction from Cornell University and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. Between 1999 and 2003, he served as a technical manager of MEMS device research group at Bell Laboratories and Agere Systems. Between 2003 and 2015, he was the Ruth Garland Professor at UC-Santa Barbara (UCSB) in the department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials. His lab moved to Stanford in 2015. He is a recipient of numerous awards including MIT Technology Review’s “TR 100” Award, ONR Young Investigator Award, Beckman Young Investigator Award, ALA Innovator Award, NIH TR01 Award, Guggenheim Fellowship, Humboldt Fellowship, and was a Chan-Zuckerberg Biohub Investigator. He is a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) and member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).
Learn More:
See his faculty webpage here
Browse his CV here
Event Location:
HENN 202
Event Time:
Thursday, November 2, 2023 | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Event Location:
HENN 202
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2023-11-02T16:00:00
2023-11-02T17:00:00
Chirality and Kinetomagnetism
Event Information:
Abstract: Chirality, which arises from the breaking of mirror symmetries combined with any spatial rotations, plays a ubiquitous role in a wide range of phenomena, from the DNA functionality, vine climbing to the piezoelectricity of quartz crystals. It's important to note that chirality does not necessarily involve a screw-like twisting, and magnetic chirality means chirality in spin ordered states or mesoscopic spin textures. Despite being mathematically well-defined, the term "chirality" has been extensively used, often in confusing ways, in the physics community in recent years. In steady states, chirality (C) does not change with time-reversal operation, while chirality prime (C¢) denotes the breaking of time-reversal symmetry in addition to broken all mirror symmetries, combined with any spatial rotations. Various examples of magnetic chirality and chirality prime and their emergent phenomena, such as self-inductance, directional nonreciprocity in magnetic fields, current-induced magnetization, chirality-selective spin-polarized current, Schwinger scattering, magneto-optical Kerr effect, linear magnetoelectricity, and chiral tunneling will be discussed. Many of these phenomena can be understood with one hypothesis on kinetomagnetism that I will present. Some of these exotic phenomena have been recently observed, while many others require experimental confirmation in the future.
Bio:
Cheong has made ground-breaking contributions to the research field of enhanced physical functionalities in quantum materials originating from collective correlations and collective phase transitions such as colossal magnetoresistive and colossal magnetoelectric effects in complex oxides. He has also made pivotal contributions to topological self-organization in quantum solids, including the nanoscale charge stripe formation, mesoscopic electronic phase separation in mixed valent transition metal oxides, and the formation of topological vortex domains in multiferroics, which was found to be synergistically relevant to mathematics (graph theory) and even cosmology. His recent focus includes 2D materials, topological Weyl materials, magnetically-chiral solids, and functional low-symmetry materials. He has published >950 scientific papers, and the total citation is more than 63,000 (Web of Science: seven papers cited more than 1000 times, and his h-index is 114). His educational background includes mathematics in college, string theory (about three years) in graduate school, and solid state physics for his Ph. D. He has worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory and AT&T Bell Laboratories. He is currently the Director of the Keck Center for Quantum Magnetism, the Director of the Center for Quantum Materials Synthesis, the Director of Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials, a Henry Rutgers Professor and a Board of Governors Professor at Rutgers, a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Postech in S. Korea as well as in Nanjing University in China, and one of two Editors-in-Chief for npj Quantum Materials. His work on complex oxides has been recognized through various prizes, including the 2007 Hoam Prize sponsored by Samsung, the KBS 2009 Global Korean Award, and the 2010 James C. McGroddy Prize for New Materials sponsored by IBM.
From 1986-89 Cheong worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory before joining AT&T Bell Laboratories. He was appointed as a Professor at Rutgers University in 1997 and founded the Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials (RCEM) in 2005. He is currently the Director of RCEM, a Board of Governors Professor at Rutgers, and a Distinguished Professor at Postech, Korea.
His work on complex oxides has been recognized through various prizes, including the 2007 Ho-am Prize, the KBS 2009 Global Korean Award, and the 2010 James C. McGroddy Prize for New Materials.
He has published more than 600 scientific papers which have been cited more than 34,000 (six papers cited more than 1,000 times, and his h-index is 92). He was the 13th most cited physicist in the world in from 1993-2003. Honours/Awards: 2023 Global Fellowship, University of St. Andrews2014 Listed by Thomson-Reuters as among "The Most Influential Scientific Minds2012 Lee Hsun Research Fellowship on Materials Science, IMR, CAS2010 2010 James C. McGroddy Prize for New Materials, APS 2009 KBS Korean Global Award (해외동포상)2008-2011 Editorial Board of Physical Review Letters – Divisional Associated Editor2008- Distinguished Visiting Scholar, National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, Taiwan.2007 Ho-Am Prize in Science 2003 Board of Trustees Award for Excellence in Research at Rutgers University 2003 13th Most Cited Physicist in the world for the last decade 2000 Fellow, American Physical Society
Learn More:
See his faculty webpage from Rutgers - State University of New Jersey
Browse through his research areas
Event Location:
HENN 202
Event Time:
Thursday, November 2, 2023 | 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Event Location:
BRIM 311
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2023-11-02T10:00:00
2023-11-02T11:00:00
Natural Superlattice Design of Modulated Superconductors
Event Information:
Title: Natural Superlattice Design of Modulated Superconductors
Abstract: Connecting theoretical models for exotic quantum states to real materials is a key goal in quantum materials synthesis. Two-dimensional model systems have been proposed to host a wide variety of exotic phases- historically a number of techniques have been used to realize these including thin film growth and mechanical exfoliation. We describe here our recent progress in experimentally realizing 2D model systems using bulk crystal synthesis including modulated superconducting states. We discuss their structures and the new phenomena that they support. We comment on the perspective for realizing further 2D model systems in complex material structures and their connections to other methods for realizing 2D systems.
Bio: Research in Checkelsky lab at MIT focuses on the study of exotic electronic states of matter through the synthesis, measurement, and control of solid state materials. Of particular interest are studies of correlated behavior in topologically non-trivial materials, the role of geometrical phases in electronic systems, and novel types of geometric frustration. Professor Checkelsky joined the Department of Physics at MIT as an assistant professor in January 2014. He received his B.S. in Physics in 2004 from Harvey Mudd College and Ph.D. in Physics in 2010 from Princeton University. Before coming to MIT, Professor Checkelsky did postdoctoral work at Japan’s Institute for Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN) and held the position of lecturer at the University of Tokyo. He was promoted to associate professor in 2019 and in 2020 named a Mitsui Career Development Professor in Contemporary Technology, an appointment he will hold until 2023.
Event Location:
BRIM 311