- Grads kick off the new 2021-2 year with a hike to Wolf Rock in Storrs
Awardees at Physics Department annual
research poster exhibit, April 24, 2019.
Prof. Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell,
Discovery of Binary Pulsars
23rd Annual Katzenstein Lecture
University of Connecticut
November 8, 2019
- Prof. Bell Burnell with UConn Women in Physics, November 2019
- Annual awards event honoring outstanding teaching assistants
- Introductory Physics applies hands-on approach to learning
UConn Celebrates National Academies Members
On August 27, 2024, scholars, trustees, and friends of UConn gathered at the University of Connecticut School of Law to honor members of the university community elected to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Established by an Act of Congress in 1863, the National Academy of Sciences was followed by the National Academy […]
[Read More]Department Head greeting
Dear Friends of UConn Physics, Last year, I wrote to you as a new Interim Head of Physics and only barely a month into my appointment. During the past year, we conducted a search for a permanent head and I was selected. For this, I am very grateful for the trust and support I received […]
[Read More]UConn Physics Department Hosting January 2025 CU*iP.
Every year, the American Physical Society (APS) sponsors CU*IP – Conference for Undergraduate Women and Gender Minorities in Physics – at several locations around the country. This year, led by Prof. Nora Berrah, UConn Physics applied to host this national conference in Storrs and our proposal was accepted for January 24-26, 2025! The purpose of […]
[Read More]In Memoriam: Lawrence “Larry” Kappers
Lawrence “Larry” Kappers, passed away on Friday, August 2, 2024. Professor Lawrence (Larry) Kappers (aka “Kap”) retired in 2009, having joined the UConn Physics Department in 1973. After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia and completing postdoctoral appointments at the University of Minnesota and Oklahoma State University, he developed an active research program […]
[Read More]UConn STARs visits Hartford Public High School
The UConn STARs group visited Hartford Public High School (HPHS) to teach physics for a total of eight class periods from May 6th-9th, 2024. UConn brought 16 undergraduate students from the STARs program to HPHS for our annual outreach program, during which we interacted with about 100 high school students. We collaborated with physics teacher […]
[Read More]Upcoming events
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Nov
22
Graduate Student Seminar 12:15pm
Graduate Student Seminar
Friday, November 22nd, 2024
12:15 PM - 01:15 PM
Gant South Building
Prof. Vernon Cormier, Department of Physics, University of Connecticut
Physics of Earth’s Core
Among the terrestrial planets, Earth has the largest magnetic field, driven by convective motion in an electrically conducing iron rich liquid outer core. This field has been sustained since nearly the time of Earth’s formation, preventing loss of water and atmospheric erosion by the solar wind. Research to understand the evolution and dynamics of the core includes measurements and modeling of its gravitational and magnetic fields, the propagation of elastic waves sampling its interior, and the theories of condensed matter physics. Outstanding problems include the unknown light element composition of the outer and inner cores, the crystalline lattice structure of the solid inner core and that of iron at 360 GPa and 6000 deg. K, gravitational and electromagnetic coupling between Earth’s mantle and solid inner core, the low shear modulus and Poisson’s ratio of the inner core, and the possibility of the inner core being in a superionic state.
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Nov
22
UConn Physics Colloquium 3:30pm
UConn Physics Colloquium
Friday, November 22nd, 2024
03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Gant West Building
Prof. Lina Necib, Department of Physics, MIT
Mapping out the Dark Matter in the Milky Way
In this talk, I will explore the interfacing of simulations, observations, and machine learning techniques to construct a detailed map of Dark Matter in the Milky Way, focusing on the Galactic Center/Halo and dwarf galaxies. For the Galactic Halo, I will present a recent work that reveals a decline in the stellar circular velocity, inducing tensions with established estimates of the Milky Way’s mass and Dark Matter content. I will discuss how the underestimated systematic errors in such a common methodology necessitates a revised approach that combines theory, observations, and machine learning. In dwarf galaxies, I will present a novel Graph Neural Network methodology that facilitates the accurate extraction of Dark Matter density profiles, validated against realistic simulations. I will conclude with a discussion on the future trajectory of astroparticle physics, emphasizing the need for the integration of astrophysical probes with experimental Dark Matter research, potentially leading to a better understanding of the nature of Dark Matter.