Speaker Series WN2023
Feb. 2ND, Prof. ERIC SPANTON
Physics
Title: Studying electron behavior in novel materials and devices
Mar. 22ND, PROF. Gus Evrard
Computational Physics
Title: Riding Moore's Law: From Computational Cosmology to Computing Education
Abstract: As part of our project, Assumptions of Physics, we developed a different approach to the foundations of physics called Reverse Physics. In Reverse Physics we want to start from laws or more specific results, and find the physical concepts and starting points that recover them. We want to understand what physical results are implied by which physical assumption. We will see how classical Hamiltonian mechanics can be characterized in seven different ways, we will find the root origin of the uncertainty principle and find a more conceptual characterization of the third law of thermodynamics. While these results span different branches of physics, the basic physical concepts used are the same, which demonstrates the advantage of studying the foundations of physics as a whole. These insights and techniques are critical to our overall project, which aims to identify a handful of physical starting points from which the laws of physics can be rigorously derived.
MAR. 30th, PROF. Wolfgang Lorenzon
Dark Matter and Proton Radius Puzzle
Title: A physics Journey: From Cosmic to Nuclear scales
APR. 13th, Prof. MACK KIRA
Quantum Light Information Theory (QLIT)
Title: Quantum Light Information Theory (QLIT)
Abstract: Information technology is entering an exciting era where counterintuitive quantum concepts could change the rules of computing, communications, and sensing. Yet, it is still unknown how quantum technology could become as omnipresent and versatile as its classical counterparts. For instance, quantum computers remain bulky, reminiscent of the vacuum-tube era before semiconductor integration and scaling started improving classical technologies exponentially for decades. I will overview the key integration and scaling challenges current quantum technologies must address to exit the ‘vacuum-tube-era’ and how this goal is intertwined with semiconductors becoming quantum ready. I will also present how to address these challenges with semiconductor quantum optics theory developed in my group. Light fields can accelerate electrons and holes (blue and orange spheres) through solids. When the charge carriers collide, light is emitted (light flashes on the bottom right). By measuring the process extremely precisely in time (illustrated by the stopwatch), conclusions can be drawn about many-body correlations in the crystal (blue and red field lines).