The passing of Dr. Garry Bent
Gary Dean Bent, 82, a former assistant head of the Physics Department at the University of Connecticut for 23 years, passed away on Friday, March 3, 2023. He was born on October 9, 1940, in Battle Creek, Michigan. Growing up in Florida, he studied at the Georgia Institute of Technology where he earned Bachelor’s and […]
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The Milky Way Laboratory Contributes to Art Exhibit at the University of Hartford
Prof. Cara Battersby’s research group, the Milky Way Laboratory, was invited to collaborate with Genevieve de Leon, the 2022-23 Koopman Distinguished Chair in the Painting Department at the University of Hartford, for an exhibition focused on the intersection between the Maya calendrical cycles and scientific studies of the cosmos. From the Milky Way Laboratory, H […]
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Prof. Jonathan Trump interviewed by The Conversation about JWST Discoveries
The Conversation interviewed Prof. Jonathan Trump about his recent work with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), with an article and podcast interview available at this link. The interview includes discussion of Prof. Trump’s recent journal paper that used spectroscopic observations from JWST to understand the chemical enrichment of galaxies in the early Universe.
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2023 HEAD Early-Career Prize is awarded to Prof. Mingarelli
The 2023 High Energy Astrophysics Division’s Early-Career Prize is awarded to Dr. Chiara Mingarelli for her leadership in the analysis of pulsar timing array data and her contributions to our understanding of the stochastic gravitational wave background.
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Prof. McCarron received a grant from Air Force Office of Scientific Research
Daniel McCarron, a physics professor, received a grant from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research for his work analyzing the quantum mechanical behavior of a simple hydrocarbon molecule: CH, or methylidyne. A highly reactive gas, methylidyne is abundant in the interstellar medium, and its simple composition promises to allow researchers to study the role […]
[Read More]Recent Events
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Zachary Harris, Department of Physics, University of Connecticut, "Resurgence in QED: Probing the Schwinger effect in inhomogeneous fields", CANCELLED: Particle, Astrophysics and Nuclear Physics Seminar2:00pm
3/20
Zachary Harris, Department of Physics, University of Connecticut, "Resurgence in QED: Probing the Schwinger effect in inhomogeneous fields", CANCELLED: Particle, Astrophysics and Nuclear Physics Seminar
Monday, March 20th, 2023
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Storrs Campus GS-119
Zachary Harris, Department of Physics, University of Connecticut
Resurgence in QED: Probing the Schwinger effect in inhomogeneous fields
The structure of the QED vacuum is a subject of great interest, especially as experiments begin to more directly probe the non-linear regime of the theory. One of the most striking features of the vacuum is its polarization in the presence of an electric field -- a non-perturbative phenomenon that leads to pair production. Detailed information about this non-perturbative structure is contained in the divergence of perturbation theory, which is more generally described by the theory of resurgence. We study the one-loop QED effective action for an exactly solvable, inhomogeneous background field configuration and use Borel summation to illustrate the connection between perturbative and non-perturbative regimes. Using only 15 terms in the weak magnetic field perturbative expansion, we extrapolate to both strong magnetic field and electric field configurations and obtain a pair-production rate that agrees with the exact effective action to remarkable precision. -
Dr. Norah Hoffmann, Columbia University, "Light-Matter Interactions: From Classical to Quantum ", Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics Seminar2:00pm
3/9
Dr. Norah Hoffmann, Columbia University, "Light-Matter Interactions: From Classical to Quantum ", Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics Seminar
Thursday, March 9th, 2023
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Storrs Campus GS-117
Dr. Norah Hoffmann, Columbia University
Light-Matter Interactions: From Classical to Quantum
The influence of light plays a paramount role in our everyday life, from fundamental biological mechanisms to sustainable energy applications. Therefore, controlling and optimizing the underlying processes is of great interest.
The use of (oriented) classical electric fields to modify chemical reactions is a promising, emerging technique. In this talk, I will discuss a non-empirical linear free energy relationship that microscopically relates field-induced changes in the activation energy to those in the reaction energy, providing a powerful new framework for the design and characterization of electrostatic catalysis. On the other hand, experimental developments in the emerging field of polaritonic chemistry opened up new possibilities for modifying and controlling chemical processes that depend on the interaction of quantized light fields with matter. I will give an overview of the strong light-matter interaction that arises when the matter is confined in optical cavities, its computational challenges, and potential solutions focusing on mixed quantum-classical methods for photons. -
Dr. Han Fu, University of Chicago, "Nonequilibrium dynamics in ultracold atomic systems ", Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics Seminar2:00pm
3/6
Dr. Han Fu, University of Chicago, "Nonequilibrium dynamics in ultracold atomic systems ", Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics Seminar
Monday, March 6th, 2023
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Storrs Campus GS-117
Dr. Han Fu, University of Chicago
Nonequilibrium dynamics in ultracold atomic systems
The experimental advances in preparing, controlling, and probing ultra-cold atomic systems provide powerful platforms for the study of non-equilibrium dynamics of quantum systems. When trapped particles are subjected to external driving or undergo quantum quenches, they display a rich variety of emergent phenomena not accessible in an equilibrium state.
In this talk, I will discuss my recent works on driven ultracold Bose atoms based on Gross-Pitaevskii numerical simulations. When applying an oscillating magnetic field to the system, interactions between Bose atoms will change periodically in time. We find that this leads to the formation of 'Bose fireworks', a fascinating physical phenomenon demonstrating driven-induced amplification of quantum fluctuations. When we modulate our trapping potentials, the energy spectrum of Bose atoms forms an effective band structure. In this case, we discover that Bose atoms can condense via a highly nontrivial process. These findings not only lead to our proposal of a new imaging method to probe ultracold Bose systems, but also reveal key aspects of thermalization in quantum many-body systems. -
Dr. John Sarrao Los Alamos National Laboratory, Opportunities in quantum science and advanced computing at National Laboratories, especially Los Alamos, Dr. John Sarrao, Los Alamos National Laboratory3:30pm
3/3
Dr. John Sarrao Los Alamos National Laboratory, Opportunities in quantum science and advanced computing at National Laboratories, especially Los Alamos, Dr. John Sarrao, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Friday, March 3rd, 2023
03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Storrs Campus GW-002
Dr. John Sarrao
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Opportunities in quantum science and advanced computing at National Laboratories, especially Los Alamos
Los Alamos has a rich history of cutting-edge science and technology, especially at the frontiers of correlated matter and computing research. The convergence of quantum information science, machine learning, and data science creates new opportunities and challenges. The Department of Energy (DOE) is actively investing in meeting these research needs.
Nevertheless, the DOE National Labs in general, and Los Alamos in particular, are relatively unknown to many students (and faculty) in academia. By highlighting LANL's strategic priorities, mission needs, and capability challenges, we hope to foster further collaborations and enhance pipeline opportunities between Los Alamos and the University of Connecticut. -
Dr. Yossef Zenati, Johns Hopkins University, "Thermonuclear Transient: The origins of Calcium-rich supernovae", Astronomy Seminar2:00pm
3/1
Dr. Yossef Zenati, Johns Hopkins University, "Thermonuclear Transient: The origins of Calcium-rich supernovae", Astronomy Seminar
Wednesday, March 1st, 2023
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Other Online
Dr. Yossef Zenati, Johns Hopkins University
Thermonuclear Transient: The origins of Calcium-rich supernovae
Calcium-rich explosions are very faint (MB ∼ −15.5), type I supernovae (SNe) showing strong Ca-lines, mostly observed in old stellar environments. Several models for such SNe had been explored and debated, but none were able to consistently reproduce the observed properties of Ca-rich SNe, nor their rates and host-galaxy distributions. Here we show that the disruptions of low-mass carbon-oxygen (CO) white dwarfs (WDs) by hybrid Helium-CO (HeCO) WDs during their merger could explain the origin and properties of such SNe. We make use of detailed multi-dimensional hydrodynamical-thermonuclear (FLASH) simulations to characterize such explosions. We find that the accretion of CO material onto a HeCO-WD heats its He-shell and eventually leads to its "weak" detonation and ejection and the production of a sub-energetic ∼ 1049erg Ca-rich SN, while leaving the CO core of the HeCO-WD intact as a hot remnant WD, possibly giving rise to X-ray emission as it cools down. We model the detailed light-curve and spectra of such explosions to find an excellent agreement with observations of Ia/c Ca-rich might potentially also Ib Ca-rich SNe. We thereby provide a viable, consistent model for the origins of Ca-rich. These findings can shed new light on the role of Ca-rich in the chemical evolution of galaxies and the intra-cluster medium, and their contribution to the observed 511 keV signal in the Galaxy originating from positrons produced from 44Ti decay. Finally, the origins of such SNe point to the key role of HeCO WDs as SN progenitors and their potential role as progenitors of other thermonuclear SNe including normal Ia.
URL: https://uconn-cmr.webex.com/uconn-cmr/j.php?MTID=m153210cf8a5dbd0dec15adb42e84ea45 -
Dr. Aishwarya Kumar, Stanford University, " Hybrid quantum science with neutral atoms in superconducting resonators", Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics Seminar2:00pm
3/1
Dr. Aishwarya Kumar, Stanford University, " Hybrid quantum science with neutral atoms in superconducting resonators", Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics Seminar
Wednesday, March 1st, 2023
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Storrs Campus GS-117
Dr. Aishwarya Kumar, Stanford University
Hybrid quantum science with neutral atoms in superconducting resonators
Understanding and manipulating interactions of atoms with light is central to a wide variety of quantum science, particularly analog simulations of quantum many-body physics, metrology, and more recently, quantum computing. When excited to Rydberg states, atoms can also interact strongly with millimeter-wave and microwave photons. In this talk, I will show how coupling atoms to superconducting resonators at these frequencies enables the engineering of novel, hybrid quantum devices, and opens the door to new opportunities in cavity quantum electrodynamics. In particular, I will describe a first-of-its-kind experiment where ultracold atoms interact simultaneously with optical and superconducting millimeter-wave (100 GHz) resonators. As a step towards networking of superconducting quantum information processors, we harness this platform to transduce individual millimeter-wave photons to optical photons, with state-of-the-art efficiency, bandwidth, and less than a single quantum of added noise. I will conclude by describing the exciting opportunities opened by this platform, including the generation of Heisenberg limited squeezing, photon-photon interactions, and even non-local gates for an error-corrected quantum computer. -
Dr. Alaina Green, Joint Quantum Institute, NIST and University of Maryland, "Novel Applications and Noise-enabled Control for a Trapped-ion Quantum Computer", Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics Seminar2:00pm
2/27
Dr. Alaina Green, Joint Quantum Institute, NIST and University of Maryland, "Novel Applications and Noise-enabled Control for a Trapped-ion Quantum Computer", Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics Seminar
Monday, February 27th, 2023
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Storrs Campus GS-117
Dr. Alaina Green, Joint Quantum Institute, NIST and University of Maryland
Novel Applications and Noise-enabled Control for a Trapped-ion Quantum Computer
Trapped atomic ions are a well-established and highly versatile platform for quantum computation and simulation. In this talk, I will first provide a brief overview of the quantum control which makes such a device operable both as a fully programmable, digital, quantum computer, and as an analog quantum simulator of various models in physics, chemistry and beyond. Next, I will share recent results from operating the same trapped-ion demonstrator device in both modes. In the first result, we executed a fully digital quantum algorithm to perform the first measurement of out-of-time-order correlators in a quantum system at a chosen temperature, demonstrating a missing ingredient in the application of quantum simulators to studying quantum scrambling in the context of diverse and interconnected fields such as many-body physics and quantum gravity. The second result is an analog quantum simulation of particles with exotic statistics in which the native interactions between qubits are used to mimic the dynamics of these para-particles. In the last part of my talk, I will use a brief comparison of the two results to highlight the need to harness yet un-used quantum states available in trapped ion quantum hardware and present my plan for using these extra resources to better understand the critical intersection between quantum devices and their environments. -
Prof. Elena Dormidontova, Department of Physics, University of Connecticut, "Soft Matter Physics: Computer modeling and Theory ", Graduate Student Seminar12:15pm
2/24
Prof. Elena Dormidontova, Department of Physics, University of Connecticut, "Soft Matter Physics: Computer modeling and Theory ", Graduate Student Seminar
Friday, February 24th, 2023
12:15 PM - 01:15 PM
Storrs Campus GS-119
Prof. Elena Dormidontova, Department of Physics, University of Connecticut
Soft Matter Physics: Computer modeling and Theory
Soft matter includes a broad range of structurally different materials ranging from small molecules such as lipids and liquid crystals to macromolecules, biopolymers, and colloids. Soft matter systems extend over large space and time scales from angstroms to micrometers and from picoseconds to days. Entropy plays an important role in these systems with the free energy landscape being complex and self-assembly prevalent. To be able to predict properties and create new functional materials for energy, photonics, nanoelectronics, nanomedicine, sensors, and other advanced applications, it is essential to understand the principles of self-assembly and the origins of experimentally observed effects. Computer simulations and theory play an increasingly important role in gaining these fundamental insights into the complex behavior of these systems, as it allows to achieve of atomistic-level details that are often inaccessible experimentally and guide experimental material development by predicting self-assembly pathways depending on structural properties of the building elements and external conditions. Several examples of ongoing and planned interdisciplinary research projects, some in collaboration with experimental groups, will be discussed in connection with corresponding computer modeling approaches and potential material applications.