BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Physics & Astronomy - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Physics & Astronomy X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://uwm.edu/physics X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Physics & Astronomy REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Chicago BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20240310T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20241103T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20250309T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20251102T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20260308T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20261101T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20270314T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20271107T070000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260522T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260522T170000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20260219T153653Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260401T154020Z UID:10435393-1779463800-1779469200@uwm.edu SUMMARY:Physics Colloquium - Jorge Alegre-Cebollada DESCRIPTION:Titin-based Molecular Underpinnings of Skeletal and Cardiac Muscle Function\nJorge Alegre-Cebollada\, PhD\nAssociate Professor & Group Leader\, CNIC (Spanish National Center for Cardiovascular Research) \nTitin is the largest protein in the human body. The function of the protein is not any smaller: it is critical for the contractile activity of muscles in the skeletal system and in the heart. In my presentation\, I will introduce fundamental concepts that link titin nanomechanics with the macroscopic mechanical function of muscle. I will focus on our recent data demonstrating dysregulation of titin nanomechanics that can contribute to increased risk of heart failure in diabetic patients. \nTowards the end of my presentation\, I will describe how to harness titin mechanics to develop hydrogels with tailored viscoelasticity for applications in cell mechanobiology. Time permitting\, I will discuss about new models to study titin mechanics in living matter. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/physics-colloquium-jorge-alegre-cebollada/ LOCATION:Chemistry 108\, 2050 E Kenwood Blvd\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53201\, United States CATEGORIES:Physics Colloquia X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260508T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260508T170000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20260212T194745Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260403T160023Z UID:10435392-1778254200-1778259600@uwm.edu SUMMARY:Physics Colloquium - Kyuil Cho DESCRIPTION:Superconductors Investigated by High-Energy Particle Irradiation\nDr. Kyuil Cho\, Assistant Professor\nDepartment of Physics\, Hope College \nSuperconductor is a material that shows zero resistivity and Meissner effect below its critical temperature. This material has been used for various applications such as superconducting wires\, medical device MRI\, superconducting magnets for particle accelerators\, quantum computing circuits\, and many more. The superconductivity research group at Hope College conducts unique research on novel superconductors by using high energy particles. High energy particle irradiation is a useful method to generate homogeneous artificial defects on superconductors. By investigating how the defects affect the properties of superconductors\, one can uncover the fundamental mechanism of superconductivity. \nIn this talk\, recent investigations on YBCO (0.6 and 1.7 MeV proton) and NbSe2 (2.5 MeV electron) will be presented. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/physics-colloquium-kyuil-cho/ LOCATION:Chemistry 108\, 2050 E Kenwood Blvd\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53201\, United States CATEGORIES:Physics Colloquia X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260501T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260501T170000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20260212T194613Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T143321Z UID:10435391-1777649400-1777654800@uwm.edu SUMMARY:Physics Colloquium - Cancelled DESCRIPTION:This week’s Physics Colloquium has been cancelled. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/physics-colloquium-justin-goodrich-2/ LOCATION:Chemistry 108\, 2050 E Kenwood Blvd\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53201\, United States CATEGORIES:Physics Colloquia X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260501T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260501T140000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20260219T154346Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260219T154346Z UID:10435394-1777640400-1777644000@uwm.edu SUMMARY:CGCA Seminar - Shanika Galaudage DESCRIPTION:Title and abstract to be determined\nShanika Galaudage\nNorthwestern University \nThe abstract for this talk will be added as soon as it is made available. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/cgca-seminar-shanika-galaudage/ LOCATION:Kenwood IRC 2175\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53211\, United States CATEGORIES:CGCA Seminars X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260424T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260424T140000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20260130T141303Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260424T132235Z UID:10435385-1777035600-1777039200@uwm.edu SUMMARY:CGCA Seminar - Matt Miles DESCRIPTION:Galaxy-Scale Gravitational Wave Detection: The MPTA and the Road Ahead\nDr. Matt Miles\nVanderbilt University \nGravitational waves are emitted across a vast spectrum of frequencies. Ground-based detectors such as LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA observe relatively high-frequency waves from compact object mergers\, while at the other end of the spectrum\, the inspirals of supermassive black hole binaries produce a low-frequency rumble detectable only with a galaxy-scale instrument. By monitoring the pulses emitted by millisecond pulsars distributed across the Milky Way\, pulsar timing arrays construct such a detector\, spanning thousands of light-years. In recent years\, multiple pulsar timing array collaborations have reported mounting evidence for a gravitational wave background permeating the galaxy\, and the international effort to combine data across these experiments is well underway. In this talk\, I will describe how pulsar timing arrays operate\, what we have found so far — with a focus on the MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array\, which exploits one of the world’s most sensitive radio telescopes — and the road ahead. I will also discuss new tools and techniques being developed to push the frontiers of pulsar timing\, including faster and more accessible timing software\, methods that exploit the full information content of pulse profiles rather than collapsing them to single arrival times\, and novel approaches to measuring pulsar distances using gravitational wave signals themselves. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/cgca-seminar-matt-miles/ LOCATION:Kenwood IRC 2175\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53211\, United States CATEGORIES:CGCA Seminars X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260421T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260421T173000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20260413T201616Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T201616Z UID:10435396-1776787200-1776792600@uwm.edu SUMMARY:Physics Colloquium - Thomas D. Killeen DESCRIPTION:Novel Imaging Techniques for Studying Interactions of Membrane Receptors Among Themselves and with Downstream Signaling Partners\nThomas D. Killeen\, PhD Candidate\nUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Department of Physics & Astronomy \nCells rely on complex signaling networks to sense and respond to environmental stimuli\, but the bigger picture of how molecular assembly leads to robust cellular signaling is only beginning to emerge. A major challenge in characterizing cellular signaling is the ability to directly observe the dynamic interactions between membrane receptors and intracellular signaling partners in living cells. To address this challenge\, this work presents the development of advanced fluorescence imaging and computational analysis tools designed to improve the precision and quantitative power of live-cell micro-spectroscopy for studying protein dynamics in real time. \nI will show how these tools can be used to investigate the interactions between the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M2 (M2R) and two intracellular signaling partners\, arrestin-2 and arrestin-3\, in living cells. Quantitative imaging revealed distinct differences in arrestin recruitment and membrane association following receptor activation\, providing new insight into receptor regulation and signaling behavior. \nOverall\, this work demonstrates how innovations in fluorescence microscopy and data analysis can expand our ability to probe molecular signaling networks in living systems. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/physics-colloquium-thomas-d-killeen/ LOCATION:Kenwood IRC 2175\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53211\, United States CATEGORIES:Physics Colloquia X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260417T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260417T170000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20260212T194448Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T143551Z UID:10435390-1776439800-1776445200@uwm.edu SUMMARY:Physics Colloquium - Nicholas Stone DESCRIPTION:Gravitational Waves from Galactic Nuclei\nNicholas Stone\, Assistant Professor\nDepartment of Astronomy\, University of Wisconsin-Madison \nThe discovery of GW150914 inaugurated the era of gravitational wave (GW) astronomy\, opening a new window to study our Universe’s compact objects and through which to test general relativity. Now\, a decade later\, the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) collaboration has seen hundreds of GW signals\, overwhelmingly from mergers of binary stellar mass black holes. Despite the many successes of GW astronomy\, a zeroth-order astrophysical question remains unanswered: what astrophysical environments produce the LVK binary black holes\, and by what process are they assembled? Although many formation channels have been proposed\, one uniquely testable solution is the “AGN channel:” a scenario in which individual black holes pair up and merge in the dissipative gaseous environment of an active galactic nucleus. I will review recent progress in understanding the ecology of stars and black holes embedded in the massive gas disks of AGN\, an astrophysics problem not unlike that describing planet formation in protoplanetary gas disks. I will then describe the unique predictions of the AGN channel for the LVK population of binary black hole mergers\, focusing both on GW signatures as well as electromagnetic counterparts\, both direct (transient) and indirect (statistical). Finally\, I will briefly discuss the implications of the AGN channel for a future class of GW sources: the extreme mass ratio inspirals visible to future mHz space-based interferometers such as LISA\, which are produced when stellar mass black holes inspiral into the supermassive ones at the very centers of active or quiescent galactic nuclei. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/physics-colloquium-nick-stone/ LOCATION:Chemistry 108\, 2050 E Kenwood Blvd\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53201\, United States CATEGORIES:Physics Colloquia X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260417T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260417T140000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20260130T141202Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260130T141202Z UID:10435384-1776430800-1776434400@uwm.edu SUMMARY:CGCA Seminar - Janeth Valverde DESCRIPTION:Title and abstract to be determined\nJaneth Valverde\nMarquette University \nThe abstract for this talk will be added as soon as it is made available. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/cgca-seminar-janeth-valverde/ LOCATION:Kenwood IRC 2175\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53211\, United States CATEGORIES:CGCA Seminars X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260410T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260410T170000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20260212T194326Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T212116Z UID:10435389-1775835000-1775840400@uwm.edu SUMMARY:Physics Colloquium - Sarah Villanova Borges DESCRIPTION:Constraining Common Envelope Evolution Simulations with Observations\nSarah Villanova Borges\, PhD Candidate\nUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee \nCommon Envelope Evolution (CEE) remains one of the biggest unresolved problems in binary stellar evolution\, despite being the primary pathway for the formation of close binary systems. One of the main challenges in understanding CEE is its intrinsically multiscale and multiphysics nature\, which makes it difficult to model with analytical or 1D models. 3D hydrodynamical simulations have therefore become essential tools for studying this phase. However\, validating these simulations requires observational constraints\, which are scarce. This lack of direct observations is another major obstacle in modeling CEE. One exception is luminous red novae\, which is believed to correspond to CEE events that culminate in stellar mergers. In contrast\, there are no confirmed direct detections of ongoing CEE events that result in the survival of a close binary. As a result\, studies must rely on observations of post-CEE systems\, such as close binaries\, planetary nebulae (PNe) and water fountains (WFs)\, to constrain both numerical simulations and analytical models. Close binaries primarily provide constraints on the final orbital separation between the stellar core and its companion\, while PNe and WFs offer insight into the morphology of the ejected envelope. \nDuring my PhD\, I focused on constraining CEE hydrodynamical simulations using observations of those post-CEE systems (close binaries\, WFs\, and PNe). In this colloquium\, I will discuss the key insights I have got into the understanding of CEE during my PhD years. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/physics-colloquium-jean-creighton/ LOCATION:Chemistry 108\, 2050 E Kenwood Blvd\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53201\, United States CATEGORIES:Physics Colloquia X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260410T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260410T140000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20260130T141047Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260408T175232Z UID:10435383-1775826000-1775829600@uwm.edu SUMMARY:CGCA Seminar - Reshma Anna Thomas DESCRIPTION:Low-Frequency Radio Transients\nReshma Anna Thomas\nNetherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy\, University of Amsterdam \nThe low-frequency radio sky (<300 MHz) remains comparatively underexplored for fast and slow transients (~ microseconds to minutes)\, primarily due to strong propagation effects as well as instrumental challenges. However\, this regime provides unique leverage on plasma environments and emission physics that are inaccessible at GHz frequencies. Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are extragalactic coherent transients with millisecond durations\, often exhibiting sub-millisecond temporal structure. I will present detections of two FRBs at 150 MHz using beamformed searches with LOFAR\, which place some of the most stringent constraints to date on free–free absorption in their local environments. In parallel\, a new class of Galactic sources\, long-period transients (LPTs)\, has recently emerged\, characterized by emission on second-to-minute durations and periodicities spanning minutes to hours. I will discuss two LPTs discovered with LOFAR interferometric imaging searches\, highlighting their phenomenology and implications for coherent emission mechanisms in their sources. These results motivate a systematic exploration of the low-frequency transient phase space. Therefore\, I will present EuroFlash\, a commensal\, real-time transient detection system for LOFAR 2.0. Operating on a dedicated compute cluster\, EuroFlash performs parallel beamforming and imaging with low latency\, enabling both discovery and localization of FRBs\, LPTs and previously unrecognized classes of radio transients across a wide range of timescales. I will summarize commissioning progress and discuss how this system opens a new region of parameter space for low-frequency radio transients. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/cgca-seminar-reshma-anna-thomas/ LOCATION:Kenwood IRC 2175\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53211\, United States CATEGORIES:CGCA Seminars X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260403T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260403T170000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20260212T194213Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260401T153813Z UID:10435388-1775230200-1775235600@uwm.edu SUMMARY:Physics Colloquium - Jong-Woo Kim DESCRIPTION:Studying Magnetism with Resonant X-ray Scattering at Advanced Photon Source\nJong-Woo Kim\, Physicists\nMagnetic Material Group/Advanced Photon Source\, Argonne National Laboratory \nX-ray scattering at synchrotron facilities such as the Advanced Photon Source provides a powerful platform for investigating magnetic order with element and orbital specificity. In this colloquium\, I will introduce the fundamentals of single-crystal X-ray diffraction and the principles of resonant elastic X-ray scattering (REXS)\, emphasizing how tuning to absorption edges enhances sensitivity to electronic and magnetic structures. \nI will then discuss the microscopic origin of X-ray magnetic scattering and its unique ability to probe spin\, orbital\, and multipolar order. Finally\, selected examples from complex oxides and correlated materials will illustrate how these techniques reveal emergent magnetic phenomena that are difficult to access with conventional probes. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/physics-colloquium-jong-woo-kim-2/ LOCATION:Chemistry 108\, 2050 E Kenwood Blvd\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53201\, United States CATEGORIES:Physics Colloquia X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260403T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260403T140000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20260130T140830Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260401T152507Z UID:10435382-1775221200-1775224800@uwm.edu SUMMARY:CGCA Seminar - Tyler Trent DESCRIPTION:Ohana Kilo Hoku: Hawaiian Culture Based Astronomy Outreach\nTyler Trent\nUniversity of Maryland \nAstronomy in Hawaii has become highly controversial in recent years\, with construction of new telescopes on Mauna Kea drawing large protests from the local communities\, especially Native Hawaiians. As someone who was born and raised on the island of Oahu in Hawaii\, and has Native Hawaiian ancestry\, I share my perspective on the conflict and present on the work of Ohana Kilo Hoku\, a Native Hawaiian non-profit organization I am a member of. Drawing inspiration from ancient Native Hawaiian’s who used the night sky to navigate the Pacific Ocean\, we work to cultivate relationships between the youth and the science of the sky above. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/cgca-seminar-tyler-trent/ LOCATION:Kenwood IRC 2175\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53211\, United States CATEGORIES:CGCA Seminars X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260318T143000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260318T163000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20260317T150132Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T150132Z UID:10435395-1773844200-1773851400@uwm.edu SUMMARY:Physics Colloquium - Adam Opperman DESCRIPTION:Manifold-based Machine Learning for Scattering Data\nAdam Opperman\, PhD Candidate\nUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Department of Physics & Astronomy \nSmall Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) is a technique used to capture X-ray diffraction images of proteins in solution\, mimicking biological conditions. These images provide insight into the overall shape and structure of the protein. By imaging the protein system at various times during a reaction\, dubbed time-resolved SAXS (TR-SAXS)\, the evolution of the protein structure is observed. These measurements are commonly taken at X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) facilities which generate X-rays with precision and high flux. The Compact X-ray Light Source (CXLS) and accompanying Compact X-ray Free Electron Laser (CXFEL) are under construction at Arizona State University. Due to the compact nature of the source in combination with the yet incomplete development\, CXFEL has a reduced level of photon flux available compared to other XFELs. Due to this constraint\, new analytical methods are needed to process TR-SAXS data. \nWe propose an application of a manifold-based machine learning technique called Non-linear Laplacian Spectral Analysis (NLSA) to address this issue. This graph-theoretic algorithm maps data into an intrinsic subspace in which dynamic information can be extracted with high fidelity. To verify the applicability of NLSA\, we simulated TR-SAXS data from two different protein systems: Calmodulin and Photoactive Yellow Protein. The simulations were done within the bounds of the expected capabilities of the CXFEL. Then\, we applied NLSA to each dataset to extract kinetic and spatial information. We compared the results to those from Singular Value Decomposition (SVD)\, the current standard method of analysis. We find that NLSA provides significantly more accurate and consistent structural kinetics information compared to that of SVD. Further\, NLSA is more capable of identifying temporal trends in cases of extreme timing uncertainty. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/physics-colloquium-adam-opperman/ LOCATION:Kenwood IRC 2035\, 3135 N Maryland Ave\, Milwaukee\, 53211\, United States CATEGORIES:Physics Colloquia X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260313T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260313T140000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20260130T140719Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260312T152211Z UID:10435381-1773406800-1773410400@uwm.edu SUMMARY:CGCA Seminar - León Salas DESCRIPTION:Black Holes: Bridging Simulations and Observations\nLeón Salas\nUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee \nIn recent years\, General Relativistic Magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) simulations\, combined with multiwavelength observations have provided critical insights into the nature of radiation from accreting black holes. These simulations have revealed a particularly interesting magnetically arrested disk (MAD) regime whereby the accretion is choked by strong magnetic fields. The higher magnetic flux characteristic of the MAD regime leads to new dynamics\, including interchange-type accretion modes and flux eruptions. Polarization measurements by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) from the supermassive black holes M87* and Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) favor MAD states. However\, nearly all MAD models exhibit greater 230 GHz flux variability than seen in historical observations of Sgr A*. \nIn this talk\, I will present my investigation on the dynamics of MAD GRMHD simulations and the (sub)millimeter variability of Sgr A* focusing on the poorly understood electron thermodynamics. In addition\, I will talk about the multiwavelength signatures of a black hole X-ray binary outburst simulation to understand how synchrotron emission from the accretion disc and jet contribute to the X-ray emission and potentially influence observables such as polarization. Finally\, I will show a library of polarized images that will be used for training PRIMO\, a machine learning–based image reconstruction code. PRIMO has enabled higher-resolution imaging of M87* using EHT data acquired in 2017\, even in the presence of sparse data coverage. We aim to extend these results by imaging polarized data from 2017 to 2025\, which are characterized by progressively improved baseline coverage\, and to provide essential groundwork for the first multi-month EHT movie campaign of M87*\, which has already started this week. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/cgca-seminar-leon-salas/ LOCATION:Kenwood IRC 2175\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53211\, United States CATEGORIES:CGCA Seminars X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260306T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260306T170000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20260212T194044Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260219T154625Z UID:10435387-1772811000-1772816400@uwm.edu SUMMARY:Physics Colloquium - Eitan Geva DESCRIPTION:Combining Quantum Master Equations with Linearized Semiclassical Methods to Simulate Electronic Energy & Charge Transfer Dynamics in Complex Molecular Systems\nProfessor Eitan Geva\, Department of Chemistry\nUniversity of Michigan – Ann Arbor \nPhoto-induced electronic energy and charge transfer plays a key role in a variety of chemical\, biological and technologically-important molecular systems. The simulation of the\nunderlying electronic dynamics is challenging due to its intrinsically quantum mechanical nature and the large number of coupled electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom involved. Quantum master equations provide a flexible and general-purpose framework for addressing this challenge. \nIn this talk\, I will overview computational approaches for simulating photo-induced electronic energy and charge transfer dynamics in complex molecular systems that were developed and explored by my group\, which combine various types of quantum master equations with linearized semiclassical methods. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/physics-colloquium-eitan-geva/ LOCATION:Chemistry 108\, 2050 E Kenwood Blvd\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53201\, United States CATEGORIES:Physics Colloquia X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260227T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260227T170000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20260212T193825Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260212T193825Z UID:10435386-1772206200-1772211600@uwm.edu SUMMARY:Physics Colloquium - Ronan Humphrey DESCRIPTION:Physics Colloquium – Ronan Humphrey\, UWM Physics\nPresentation title and abstract will be announced when they are available. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/physics-colloquium-ronan-humphrey/ LOCATION:Chemistry 108\, 2050 E Kenwood Blvd\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53201\, United States CATEGORIES:Physics Colloquia X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260227T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260227T140000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20260130T140616Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T202715Z UID:10435380-1772197200-1772200800@uwm.edu SUMMARY:CGCA Seminar - Kenzie Nimmo DESCRIPTION:Unraveling the origins of fast radio bursts and using them as probes of extreme plasmas\nKenzie Nimmo\nNorthwestern University \nFast radio bursts (FRBs) are millisecond-duration flashes of coherent radio emission originating from extragalactic distances\, offering a unique view into the physics of compact objects and their surrounding environments. Despite their brief and unpredictable nature\, precise localizations of a small number of FRBs have already revealed a striking diversity in host galaxies\, local environments\, and burst properties – suggesting multiple progenitor channels linked to extreme compact objects. However\, the nature of FRB sources remains one of the most exciting mysteries in astrophysics. \nIn this talk\, I will show how combining high-precision localizations with detailed studies of FRB radio properties can disentangle their origins and probe the extreme plasma environments in which they reside. I will present new results from the now science-operational CHIME/FRB Outriggers project\, which is transforming the world’s most prolific FRB discovery instrument into a very long baseline interferometric array. The Outriggers have already approximately doubled the number of FRB host galaxies\, with many more expected in the near future. Beyond localizations\, the radio properties themselves encode key physical insights: scintillation measurements constrain the emission region to magnetospheric scales\, directly informing the emission mechanism\, while a declining electron column density over time observed in a repeating FRB points to an origin within an expanding supernova remnant. We are now entering a regime where large samples of FRBs have both detailed radio diagnostics and secure host-galaxy identifications\, enabling a far more complete understanding of the extreme astrophysical systems that power FRBs. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/cgca-seminar-kenzie-nimmo/ LOCATION:Kenwood IRC 2175\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53211\, United States CATEGORIES:CGCA Seminars X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260220T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260220T140000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20260130T140441Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260219T153957Z UID:10435379-1771592400-1771596000@uwm.edu SUMMARY:CGCA Seminar - Debatri Chattopadhyay DESCRIPTION:Neutron Star–Black Hole Binaries: Predictions and Observations\nDebatri Chattopadhyay\nNorthwestern University \nNeutron star–black hole (NS–BH) binaries have emerged as key targets for multi-messenger astrophysics following the first gravitational wave detections of such systems. In this talk\, I present population synthesis predictions for the Galactic NS–BH population\, models that interpret the first observed mergers\, and forecasts for future radio\, gravitational-wave\, and electromagnetic discoveries. Using binary evolution simulations\, we predict tens – hundreds of NS–BH systems in the Milky Way\, albeit very few of which should be detectable as pulsar–black hole binaries with next-generation radio facilities and as low-frequency gravitational-wave sources. Modelling of the first NS–BH merger events indicates consistency with low-metallicity progenitors and low black hole natal spins\, implying that most mergers may produce weak or absent electromagnetic counterparts. I further show how upcoming surveys and detectors will enable joint radio and gravitational wave observations\, and how kilonova searches can constrain neutron star structure in a subset of systems. These results place NS–BH binaries in a broader context of neutron star binary evolution and highlight their role as laboratories for testing compact object formation\, binary evolution\, and multi-messenger astrophysics in the coming decade. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/cgca-seminar-debatri-chattopadhyay/ LOCATION:Kenwood IRC 2175\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53211\, United States CATEGORIES:CGCA Seminars X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260213T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260213T140000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20260130T140204Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260130T140204Z UID:10435378-1770987600-1770991200@uwm.edu SUMMARY:CGCA Seminar - Shio Sakon DESCRIPTION:Detecting Gravitational Wave Signals – Methods\, Challenges\, and Opportunities\nShio Sakon\nPennsylvania State University \nThe LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration’s fourth observing run (O4) produced a remarkable expansion of the gravitational-wave transient catalog\, with nearly three times as many significant detections as were known at the start of the run. Among these were several first-of-their-kind events that challenged existing theories\, and the increased rate of detections reflected the improvement in detector sensitivity and analysis capabilities over the past decade. \nThis seminar will focus on the development and operation of the GstLAL matched-filter search pipeline\, which identified over 240 significant gravitational-wave candidates during O4. I will discuss the new method for constructing template banks\, sets of simulated gravitational-wave signals that form the foundation of matched-filter searches\, which improves the computational efficiency of bank generation. This approach was deployed in all O4 GstLAL production analyses\, including the subsolar-mass search\, which targets potential signatures of new physics and represents an additional area of my work. \nGravitational-wave astronomy has an exciting future ahead. With upcoming observing runs starting in mid to late this year\, future observing runs in the planning\, and next-generation detectors on the horizon\, the opportunities for discovery are rapidly expanding. Multi-messenger observations\, deeper searches\, and computationally efficient pipelines will play a central role in revealing new aspects of our Universe. I will outline the research I envision in the future observing runs with an emphasis on enabling future discoveries. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/cgca-seminar-shio-sakon/ LOCATION:Kenwood IRC 2175\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53211\, United States CATEGORIES:CGCA Seminars X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260206T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260206T170000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20250919T155024Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250919T155024Z UID:10435357-1770391800-1770397200@uwm.edu SUMMARY:Physics Colloquium - Lulu Agazie DESCRIPTION:Physics Colloquium – Lulu Agazie\, UWM Physics\nPresentation title and abstract will be announced when they are available. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/physics-colloquium-lulu-agazie/ LOCATION:Chemistry 108\, 2050 E Kenwood Blvd\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53201\, United States CATEGORIES:Physics Colloquia X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260206T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260206T140000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20260130T135908Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260130T135908Z UID:10435377-1770382800-1770386400@uwm.edu SUMMARY:CGCA Seminar - Abygail Waggoner DESCRIPTION:What’s Feeding Terrestrial Planets? JWST Observations of Protoplanetary Disk\nDr. Abygail Waggoner\nUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison \nThe formation of terrestrial\, or earth-like\, planets is thought to occur in the inner few au of protoplanetary disks\, but what is the composition of the dust and gas that forming-planets may inherit? In this talk\, we’ll discuss how the James Webb Space Telescope can be used to measure the chemical composition of protoplanetary disk gas and how models can be used to understand the evolution of material throughout planet formation. We will focus specifically on results from the ALMA/JWST survey of Gas Evolution in PROtoplanetary disks (AGE-PRO) large collaboration (PI: Ke Zhang). AGE-PRO uses a combination of ALMA observations\, JWST observations\, and chemical disk models of thirty protoplanetary disks spanning the planet formation process (~0.5 to 6 Myr old) to gain a (relatively) comprehensive picture of gas and dust evolution of planet formation. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/cgca-seminar-abygail-waggoner/ LOCATION:KIRC KEN 2175\, 3135 N. Maryland Ave.\, Milwaukee\, 53211 CATEGORIES:CGCA Seminars X-TRIBE-STATUS: GEO:43.0754962;-87.8839451 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=KIRC KEN 2175 3135 N. Maryland Ave. Milwaukee 53211;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=3135 N. Maryland Ave.:geo:-87.8839451,43.0754962 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260130T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260130T170000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20250919T154927Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260120T151427Z UID:10435356-1769787000-1769792400@uwm.edu SUMMARY:Physics Colloquium - Chris Fragile DESCRIPTION:What Are We Learning About Super-Eddington Accretion Disks From Simulations?\nProfessor Chris Fragile\nDepartment of Physics & Astronomy\, College of Charleston \nAccretion of gas onto black holes is one of the most important processes shaping our Universe. Understanding extremely high rates of accretion (dubbed ‘super-Eddington’) is vital to explaining the challenging observation that supermassive black holes (SMBHs) are fully formed at redshifts >7. It is also important to understanding astrophysical objects such as tidal disruption events (TDEs) and ultra-luminous X-ray sources (ULXs). \nIn this talk\, I will present the results of some recent super-Eddington disk simulations and discuss some of the interesting things we are learning. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/physics-colloquium-chris-fragile/ LOCATION:Chemistry 108\, 2050 E Kenwood Blvd\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53201\, United States CATEGORIES:Physics Colloquia X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251212T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251212T170000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20251002T142428Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T222245Z UID:10435374-1765553400-1765558800@uwm.edu SUMMARY:Physics Colloquium - Moritz Münchmeyer DESCRIPTION:AI Reasoning in Theoretical Physics with the TPBench Project\nAssistant Professor Moritz Münchmeyer\nUW-Madison Department of Physics \nLarge-language models are becoming powerful enough to assist physicists with mathematical reasoning at the research level. In this talk\, I will first present our dataset TPBench (tpbench.org)\, which was constructed to benchmark and improve AI models specifically for theoretical physics. I will then discuss how test-time scaling and symbolic verification can be used to improve their performance and reliability. \nI will also show preliminary results from two new projects. In the first\, we apply reinforcement learning to fine-tune models on QFT problems. In the second\, we apply LLM-based code evolution (similar to Google’s AlphaEvolve) to algorithmic problems in cosmology. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/physics-colloquium-moritz-munchmeyer/ LOCATION:Chemistry 108\, 2050 E Kenwood Blvd\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53201\, United States CATEGORIES:Physics Colloquia X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251212T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251212T140000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20251205T203033Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251205T203033Z UID:10435376-1765544400-1765548000@uwm.edu SUMMARY:CGCA Seminar - Samuel E. Gralla DESCRIPTION:Can black holes evaporate past extremality?\nProfessor Samuel E. Gralla\nUniversity of Arizona \nBlack holes with sufficiently large initial charge and mass will Hawking-evaporate towards the extremal limit. The emission slows as the temperature approaches zero\, but still reaches the point where a single Hawking quantum would make the object superextremal\, removing the horizon. We take this semiclassical prediction at face value and ask: When the emission occurs\, what is revealed? Using a simple thin-shell model for the matter originally forming the black hole\, we find that this matter re-emerges after the horizon is removed and subsequently expands back to large radius. This expanding remnant has been bathed in the ingoing Hawking quanta during evaporation and presumably carries correlations with the outgoing quanta\, offering the attractive possibility of studying information paradox issues in a setup where spacetime curvatures are globally small\, so that quantum gravity is not required. Even for ordinary black holes that evaporate down to the Planck size\, we propose a radical new scenario for the interior: rather than forming a singularity\, the collapsing matter settles onto an outgoing null trajectory inside the horizon for the entirety of evaporation. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/cgca-seminar-samuel-e-gralla/ LOCATION:Kenwood IRC 2175\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53211\, United States CATEGORIES:CGCA Seminars X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251206T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251206T150000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20250925T155951Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250925T182810Z UID:10435370-1765026000-1765033200@uwm.edu SUMMARY:Coffeeshop Astrophysics - What You Probably Don't Know About AI DESCRIPTION:What You Probably Don’t Know About AI\nSpeakers: Ronan Humphrey\, Adam Opperman\, Pratyusava Baral \nOver the last century\, computing in science has changed from human computers doing calculations by hand to supercomputers that can perform over 1018 (that’s 1\,000\,000\,000\,000\,000\,000!) operations per second. This exponential growth in computing power has enabled the development of sophisticated machine learning algorithms (often referred to as artificial intelligence) capable of analyzing data\, recognizing patterns\, and making predictions in ways that were unimaginable just a few decades ago. But what even is AI\, and how do scientists utilize these evolving technologies? From computing history\, to modern environmental and ethical concerns\, join us to learn “What You Probably Don’t Know About AI”! \nMore information is available on the Coffeeshop Astrophysics website. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/coffeeshop-astrophysics-what-you-probably-dont-know-about-ai/ LOCATION:Anodyne Coffee Shop\, 224 W Bruce Street\, Milwaukee\, WI\, United States CATEGORIES:Public Event X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251205T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251205T170000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20250922T163020Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251201T162156Z UID:10435359-1764948600-1764954000@uwm.edu SUMMARY:Physics Colloquium - Dr. Qiuyan Chen DESCRIPTION:Effect of Phosphorylation Barcodes on Arrestin Binding to a Chemokine Receptor\nDr. Qiuyan Chen\nAssistant Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology\nIndiana University School of Medicine \nCells often fine-tune their responses to signals through chemical tags called phosphorylation ‘barcodes’ placed on receptors at the cell surface. Different G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) kinases (GRKs) add these barcodes at different sites\, but how these patterns influence arrestins — key proteins that control receptor signaling and trafficking — has been unclear. \nIn this study\, we developed a new molecular tool (Fab7) that helps visualize how arrestin2 and arrestin3 interact with a chemokine receptor called ACKR3 when tagged by either GRK2 or GRK5. We found that GRK2 creates more flexible receptor–arrestin assemblies\, whereas GRK5 produces more stable ones. Surprisingly\, the arrestins interacted more with the surrounding membrane-like environment than with the usual docking pocket of the receptor\, and arrestin3 was more dynamic due to a missing membrane anchoring feature. These findings show that both the “barcode pattern” and the arrestin subtype can shape how GPCRs are regulated\, which may help explain differences in cellular outcomes such as how efficiently ACKR3 clears chemokines. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/physics-colloquium-dr-qiuyan-chen/ LOCATION:Chemistry 108\, 2050 E Kenwood Blvd\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53201\, United States CATEGORIES:Physics Colloquia X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251205T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251205T140000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20251201T200607Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251201T200607Z UID:10435375-1764939600-1764943200@uwm.edu SUMMARY:CGCA Seminar - Dr. Logan Prust DESCRIPTION:Frame-Dragging Reveals Central Engine of a Superluminous Supernova\nDr. Logan Prust\nCenter for Computational Astrophysics – Simons Foundation \nType I superluminous supernovae (SLSNe-I) are an order of magnitude brighter than standard supernovae\, with the internal power source for their luminosity still unknown. The central engines of SLSNe-I are hypothesized to be magnetars\, but many SLSNe-I light curves exhibit multiple bumps or peaks that are unexplained by the standard magnetar model. Systematic surveys of the limited sample of SLSNe-I light curves find no compelling evidence favoring either scenario\, leaving both the nature of the light-curve fluctuations and the applicability of the magnetar model unresolved. In this talk\, I report high-cadence multiband observations of an SLSN-I with clear “chirped” light-curve bumps that can be directly linked to the properties of the magnetar central engine. Our observations are consistent with a tilted\, infalling accretion disk undergoing Lense-Thirring precession around a magnetar centrally located within the expanding supernova ejecta. Our model demonstrates that the overall light curve and bump frequency independently and self-consistently constrain the spin period and magnetic field strength of the magnetar. Our results provide the first observational evidence of frame-dragging in the environment of a magnetar and confirm the magnetar spin-down model as an explanation for the extreme luminosity observed in SLSNe-I. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/cgca-seminar-dr-logan-prust/ LOCATION:Kenwood IRC 2175\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53211\, United States CATEGORIES:CGCA Seminars X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251121T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251121T170000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20250919T154830Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250919T154830Z UID:10435355-1763739000-1763744400@uwm.edu SUMMARY:Physics Colloquium - Julian May Mann DESCRIPTION:Physics Colloquium – Julian May Mann\, Stanford University\nPresentation title and abstract will be announced when they are available. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/physics-colloquium-julian-may-mann/ LOCATION:Chemistry 108\, 2050 E Kenwood Blvd\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53201\, United States CATEGORIES:Physics Colloquia X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251121T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251121T140000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20250925T154902Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T211706Z UID:10435366-1763730000-1763733600@uwm.edu SUMMARY:CGCA Seminar - Prof. Sharon Morsink DESCRIPTION:The masses and radii of the neutron stars observed by NICER\nProf. Sharon Morsink\nUniversity of Alberta \nNeutron stars are the densest known gravitationally-stable objects in the Universe. Their strong gravitational fields\, rapid rotation rates\, and supra-nuclear central densities allow for a fascinating interplay between general relativistic effects and nuclear physics theory. Pulse-profile modeling is a technique that uses the gravitationally-lensed X-ray flux emitted from hot spots on the neutron star’s surface to infer its mass and radius. General relativity is a crucial ingredient in this analysis. The Neutron Star Interior Composition ExploreR (NICER) is a NASA X-ray telescope mounted on the International Space Station. NICER is a timing instrument designed to make the measurements required to implement pulse-profile modelling. In this talk\, I will give an overview of how NICER data is used to infer a neutron star’s radius (and its mass)\, along with the latest results and future observations of other pulsars. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/cgca-seminar-dr-sharon-morsink/ LOCATION:Kenwood IRC 2175\, Milwaukee\, WI\, 53211\, United States CATEGORIES:CGCA Seminars X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251115T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251115T150000 DTSTAMP:20260527T194626 CREATED:20250925T155723Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250925T182823Z UID:10435369-1763211600-1763218800@uwm.edu SUMMARY:Coffeeshop Astrophysics - Space Rocks and Stardust DESCRIPTION:Space Rocks and Stardust\nSpeakers: Pratyasha Gitika\, Tamal RoyChowdhury\, Laila Vleeschower \nAre shooting stars really stars falling from the sky? Spoiler alert: they’re not! Those quick flashes of light are actually tiny bits of space dust and rock burning up in our atmosphere. In this talk\, we’ll take a journey through the leftovers of the formation of our Solar System: asteroids\, meteorites\, and comets. We’ll talk about how these cosmic “crumbs” sometimes light up our skies as meteor showers\, how a rock you could hold in your hand might be older than the Earth itself\, and how one very big space rock may have changed the path of life’s evolution on Earth by wiping out the dinosaurs. \nMore information is available on the Coffeeshop Astrophysics website. URL:https://uwm.edu/physics/event/coffeeshop-astrophysics-space-rocks-and-stardust/ LOCATION:Anodyne Coffee Shop\, 224 W Bruce Street\, Milwaukee\, WI\, United States CATEGORIES:Public Event X-TRIBE-STATUS: END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR