Events

Dr. Marcus Noack, Research Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
Next-Generation Gaussian Processes for Function Approximation, Uncertainty Quantification, and Decision-Making
Gaussian processes (GPs) and Gaussian-related stochastic processes are powerful tools for function approximation, uncertainty quantification, global optimization, and autonomous data acquisition due to their robustness, analytical tractability, and natural inclusion of Bayesian uncertainty estimates. Even so, Gaussian processes are often criticized for poor approximation performance and neck-breaking computational costs in real-life applications. The reason for this gap, however, is not the methodology itself but rather a user-caused lack of flexibility and domain awareness of the underlying prior probability distribution.

Joel Nowitzke, PhD Candidate, UW-Milwaukee
Modeling and Measurements of Network Formation and Viscoelastic Behavior of Folded Protein-Based Hydrogels
Proteins are vital for various daily functions and are even used in creating biocompatible materials through chemical crosslinking. However, predicting the mechanical properties of these materials is challenging due to the random orientation of constituent molecules within the network. Bridging the gap between nanoscopic and macroscopic scales is essential for formulating predictable biomaterials.

Rob Pisarski, Distinguished Scientist, Department of Physics, Brookhaven National Laboratory

The Ugly Duckling and the Swan: The Quark-Gluon Plasma and Heavy Ion Collision

I give a pedagogical and historical overview of the search for the Quark-Gluon plasma (QGP) in the collisions of heavy ions. I begin with a brief review of why we expect a QGP to be formed at high temperature. In this, numerical simulations in lattice Quantum ChromoDynamics (QCD) form the bedrock of the field. In particular, they demonstrate the relationship between deconfinement and the restoration of chiral symmetry.

Segev BenZvi, Assoc. Professor, Department of Physics, University of Rochester

Measuring Cosmic Expansion with the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument

Since the first observations of the accelerating expansion of the universe at the end of the 1990s, astronomers and physicists have struggled to understand dark energy, a mysterious repulsive force that drives the acceleration. A number of models of dark energy exist. The simplest (the cosmological constant), assumes dark energy is non-interacting and is the same everywhere in space and time. Different models predict subtely different features in the large-scale structure of the universe. We are now entering an era of new photometric and spectroscopic surveys which can discriminate different models of dark energy with unprecedented precision.

Hongbin Li, Professor, Department of Chemistry, The University of British Columbia

Rational Engineering of Protein-based Biomaterials: from single molecule traits to functional material properties

In their biological settings, elastomeric proteins function as molecular springs, thereby establishing elastic connections, plus providing mechanical strength and elasticity. With an ability to change their shape (evolving from simple, random coil-like structures to a more sophisticated beads-on-a string formation), they fulfill their biological function. These complex protein polymers exhibit distinct mechanical properties.

The development of single molecule force spectroscopy techniques has made it possible to directly probe these properties, at the single molecule level, allowing us to understand their molecular design principles. This knowledge has enabled us to engineer novel elastomeric proteins to achieve tailored and well-defined nanomechanical properties.

Catalin Picu, Dept. of Mechanical, Aerospace & Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Soft Network Materials: Structure-Properties Relations

Many materials have a stochastic network of filaments as their main structural component and are referred to collectively as ‘network materials.’ This class includes all biological connective tissue, the extracellular matrix, the intra-cellular cytoskeleton, paper and cellulose-based products, nonwovens, as well as various molecular networks such as rubber, gels and thermosets.

Dr. Joshua "Shua" Sanchez, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Physics, MIT

Quantum Criticality and Magnetic Field-Induced Superconductivity

When electrons have strong interactions with each other, new quantum phases of matter emerge, such as magnetism, nematicity, charge order, and superconductivity. In these “Quantum Materials”, the microscopic interactions can be very difficult to probe and understand, yet they give rise to macroscopic properties that are easier to study and can be harnessed for new technologies.

Professor Scott A. Hughes, Dept. of Physics & the Kavli Institute, MIT

High-precision Waveforms with the Small-mass-ratio Limit

Current gravitational-wave detectors are being upgraded, and plans are developing for future detectors with greater sensitivity over broader frequency bands. As instruments improve and develop, more cycles of sources’ gravitational waveforms will be measured with greater signal to noise ratio. Such higher fidelity measurements promise to teach us more about their sources and the nature of strong-field gravity — but only if theoretical modeling of these waves is able to match advances in the detectors. As we measure waveforms with better precision, the likelihood increases that systematic modeling errors will affect inferences about what we measure.

In this talk, I will survey recent progress modeling waveforms from small-mass binaries. Such binaries, which exactly describe important low-frequency gravitational wave sources, also serve as a limit of the more general binary problem that can be modeled with very high precision. I will discuss the outstanding progress that has been made on this problem in recent years, and how what we learn in this limit can be combined with other binary modeling techniques to advance modeling for relativistic binaries in general.

Scott Hertel, Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Physics, University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Recent Progress Towards the Detection of Dark Matter

As you read this, you are immersed in a bath of particles beyond the Standard Model, so-called ‘dark matter’ particles which are noticed only through their gravitational effects at astrophysical scales. Discovering the properties of these unseen particles (their mass, interactions with other particles, etc.) is one of the great challenges of 21st century physics.

I will describe two complementary efforts which search for individual dark matter particles in a laboratory setting here on earth: LZ and TESSERACT. Each effort search Centeres for the individual scatters of galactic dark matter particles with atoms here on earth, and each effort requires the development of novel and interesting technologies. I will update you on our progress towards unraveling this great mystery of physics.

Geoffrey Bower, Chief Scientist for Hawaii Operations, Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Imaging Black Holes with the Event Horizon Telescope

The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) is a global submillimeter-wavelength very long baseline array that produces the highest angular resolution images of black holes. The EHT Collaboration has produced images of two black holes, the supermassive black hole in the elliptical galaxy M87 and the Galactic Center black hole, Sgr A*.

In this talk, I will describe the techniques and technology behind these measurements, give updates on the latest results, and plans for future observations. Images of both sources have a ring-like morphology consistent with predictions of general relativity and the Kerr metric.

The event flyer is available here.