October 2019 - sps-list

by Morin, David

Posters needed! We're looking for people to partake in a poster session on Thursday morning, Nov 14. The attendees will be a group of visiting undergraduates. Please let me know (ideally by this coming Monday 10/28) if you would like to participate! Thank you! The details: On Thursday, Nov 14, we will be hosting 200 physics undergraduates who will be traveling here from the PhysCon (https://www.spsnational.org/events/physcon-2019) and National Society of Black Physicists' (https://www.nsbp.org/en/cev/76) conferences in Providence, RI. To make this day a welcoming event, we'll be offering lab tours and hosting a poster session (in the physics library). The timing is 9:00 am to noon, divided into four blocks. During each block, 50 students will be at the poster session. The four groups of 50 students will rotate through. We know that three hours is a long time, so feel free to tag-team with a labmate, or let me know if you want to have your poster available for just half the time. Thank you! David

4 years, 6 months

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sophomore concentration signup

by Morin, David

The email is for the sophomores among you who are interested in signing up for Physics or Chem/Phys. There are many (eight) links below. Please click through all of them to see what's there. A list of possible meeting times for signup (in my office, Lyman 238), starting this coming Wednesday, is located at the following link (I'll gradually add more times in later weeks). You can choose "Table" view or "Calendar" (weekly) view. https://doodle.com/poll/efunkday4pwv46hz Don't forget to (a) ENTER your name, (b) click SEND, and (c) make a NOTE of your time (in particular, the WEEK you chose) so that you don't forget. The deadline to sign up for a concentration is November 14, but please don't wait until the last minute! We'll use the 20-minute meeting to go over your plan of study, talk about the concentration, and take care of a few other logistics. It's a fairly harmless procedure. But a few things to do beforehand are: 1) Fill out the Registrar's declaration form. Instructions are here: https://harvard.service-now.com/ithelp?id=kb_article&sys_id=529e5ecadb6f4f0… 2) Look at the concentration requirements listed in the Handbook: https://handbook.fas.harvard.edu/book/fields-concentration and think about what courses you want to take that will satisfy the requirements. 3) Make a plan of study. I recommend using Excel (or something similar) to list out the 4 courses in each of your 8 semesters. When making a rough schedule of your remaining 5 semesters, you of course don't need to stick to it exactly, but it's good to have an existence proof of a plan that works. 4) Think about whom you want as your concentration advisor. Everyone has Prof. Georgi and me automatically, but we also pair you up with another faculty member. Make a list of a few possibilities, in case your first choice is overbooked. You can peruse the list of Physics faculty at: https://www.physics.harvard.edu/people/faculty PLEASE HAVE **THREE** NAMES IN MIND when we meet. If you have any questions beforehand, stop by my office hours: http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~djmorin/office_hours.htm or Prof Georgi's: http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~hgeorgi/ These hours are set up at the beginning of each week, but check them during the week for any changes that may come up. Frequently asked questions etc. are located in the left sidebar at: https://www.physics.harvard.edu/academics/undergrad Sample programs etc. are located at: http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~djmorin/conc_info.pdf We look forward to having you join the department! DJM

4 years, 6 months

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SAVE THE DATE: Karen Olsson & Melissa Franklin | Harvard Science Lecture on November 7th @ 6:00pm

by Gardner, Felice Ann

Harvard Science Book Talk: Thursday, November 7, 2019 [https://gallery.mailchimp.com/2a42f9e6c5264bb277175db04/_compresseds/d7e2d0…] CURIOSITY AS AN APPETITE OF THE MIND: Karen Olsson Discusses The Weil Conjectures With Melissa Franklin In The Weil Conjectures, Karen Olsson tells the story of the brilliant Weil siblings―Simone, a philosopher, mystic, and social activist, and André, an influential mathematician―while also recalling the years Olsson spent studying math at Harvard. A New York Times Book Review Editors' Pick and a Paris Review Staff Pick, The Weil Conjectures is an elegant blend of biography and memoir and a meditation on the creative life. Book Discussion @ 6:00 PM Lecture Hall C Book Signing @ 7:15 PM Cabot Library Harvard Science Center One Oxford Street Cambridge, MA To view previously recorded lectures or future talks, go to Harvard Science Book Talks<https://science.fas.harvard.edu/book-talks>. For more information and to be notified about future events, please contact: science_lectures(a)fas.harvard.edu<mailto:science_lectures@fas.harvard.edu>.

4 years, 6 months

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TODAY! S. James Gates | Harvard Science Lecture on October 30th @ 6:00pm

by Gardner, Felice Ann

Harvard Science Book Talk: Wednesday, October 30, 2019 [https://gallery.mailchimp.com/2a42f9e6c5264bb277175db04/images/9f0c1386-8f8…] S. James Gates & Cathie Pelletier PROVING EINSTEIN RIGHT The Daring Expeditions that Changed How We Look at the Universe People all over the world know of Albert Einstein. He’s a household name, synonymous with a brilliance and genius that extends far beyond scientific circles. But in 1916 he was a nearly unknown theoretical physicist who had developed a theory of relativity that he hadn’t yet been able to prove. To do that, he needed a photograph of starlight as it passed the sun during a total solar eclipse, and to get it, he would need the aid of some intrepid, determined astronomers. In this talk, theoretical physicist Sylvester James “Jim” Gates, Jr., and critically acclaimed author Cathie Pelletier will discuss their new book, Proving Einstein Right, which tells the incredible true story of seven determined astronomers, who traveled the world during five eclipses to determine if the stars’ light waves would follow Newton’s law of gravitation, or Einstein’s new theory of relativity. Lecture @ 6:00 PM Lecture Hall C Book Signing @ 7:15 PM Cabot Library Harvard Science Center One Oxford Street Cambridge, MA To view previously recorded lectures or future talks, go to Harvard Science Book Talks<https://science.fas.harvard.edu/book-talks>. For more information and to be notified about future events, please contact: science_lectures(a)fas.harvard.edu<mailto:science_lectures@fas.harvard.edu>.

4 years, 6 months

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LPPC Seminar: Wednesday, November 6 @ 4pm | Exploring the wild frontier of neutrino oscillation

by Gardner, Felice Ann

WHAT: LPPC SEMINAR WHERE: Palfrey House, 18 Hammond St. WHEN: Wednesday, November 6 @ 4:00pm TITLE: Exploring the wild frontier of neutrino oscillation Kendall Mahn<https://pa.msu.edu/profile/mahn/>, Assistant Professor, Michigan State University Abstract: Neutrino oscillation, that is, the conversion of one type of neutrino to another, is a surprising phenomenon under active study. The origin of neutrino mass is important for astrophysics, cosmology and particle physics, and many open questions surrounding neutrino oscillation exist. The Tokai-to-Kamioka (T2K) neutrino oscillation experiment sends a beam of muon flavor neutrinos or antineutrinos 295km across Japan. This seminar will discuss the state of the field of neutrino oscillation physics, recent results from T2K, and the rich physics program of the T2K experiment, including exotic physics searches and cross section measurements.

4 years, 6 months

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FW: WNRS tomorrow

by Morin, David

Dear All, Tomorrow (Oct 30) Profs. Cora Dvorkin and Mara Prentiss will present on "New Frontiers in Cosmology" and "Self-Assembly lessons from biology", respectively. Please join us for the seminar in J356 at 7:30. Best wishes, Eric Mazur Harvard University Area Chair of Applied Physics Balkanski Professor of Physics and of Applied Physics Past President, The Optical Society

4 years, 6 months

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NOTE THE TIME CHANGE - Loeb Lectures in Physics - Zhi-Xun Shen - November 4 - 4:30pm, 5 - 3:00pm, and 6 - 3:00pm

by Davis, Jolanta M.

Please note the time change – Tuesday and Wednesday lectures will be at 3:00pm! Morris Loeb Lectures in Physics 2019 Zhi-Xun Shen Paul Pigott professor of Physical Sciences, Professor of Physics and Applied Physics, Stanford University Professor of Photon Science, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory [cid:image001.jpg@01D5843B.599C2580] all lectures will be held at Harvard University, Department of Physics 17 Oxford Street, Lecture Hall Jefferson 250, Cambridge, MA “Angle-Resolved Photoemission – a Many-Body Spectroscopy for Quantum Materials” Monday, November 4, 4:30pm Complex phenomenon in quantum materials is a major theme of physics today. As better controlled model systems, a sophisticated understanding on the universality and diversity of these solids may lead to revelations well beyond themselves. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), formulated after Einstein’s photoelectric effect, has been a key tool to uncover the microscopic processes of the electrons that give raise to the rich physics in these solids. Over the last three decades, the improved resolution and carefully matched experiments have been the keys to turn this technique from a band mapping tool to a sophisticated many-body spectroscopy. In recent years, the availability of modern ultrafast UV laser and spin polarimetry makes photoemission capable of measuring all the important microscopic quantities of electrons – energy, momentum, spin and time dynamics – and thus great insights from such rich and high precision information. In the first Loeb lecture, I will describe the general concept, key milestone and ingredients of modern ARPES. After the introduction on the technique and its evolution, I will showcase four examples that illustrate the power of this many-body spectroscopy: i) the anisotropic superconducting gap in unconventional superconductors; ii) enhanced superconductivity of mono-layer FeSe grown on SrTiO3; iii) correlation enhanced electron-phonon interaction; iv) towards spin-orbit decomposition of electron wave-function. In the Loeb lectures II and III, I will discuss two science problems where ARPES has made the biggest impact – cuprate high temperature superconductors (Lecture II) and topological materials (lecture III). “Electronic Phase Diagram of Cuprate Superconductors – a Balancing Act” Tuesday, November 5, 3:00pm High-temperature superconductivity in cupper based materials, with critical temperature well above what was anticipated by the BCS theory, remains a major unsolved physics problem more than 30 years after its discovery. The problem is fascinating because it is simultaneously simple - being a single band and ½ spin system, yet extremely rich - boasting d-wave superconductivity, pseudogap, spin and charge orders, and strange metal phenomenology. For this reason, cuprates emerge as the most important model system for correlated electrons – stimulating conversations on the physics of Hubbard model, quantum critical point, Planckian metal and others. Heart of this challenge is the complex electronic phase diagram consisting of intertwined states with unusual properties. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy has emerged as the leading experimental tool to understand the electronic structure of these states and their relationships. In this talk, I will describe our results on band structures and Fermi surfaces; d-wave superconducting state; the birth of a metal from a Mott insulator; the two energy scales of the pseudogap; the temperature, doping and symmetry properties of the low energy pseudogap and its competition with superconductivity; the missing quasiparticle and the chemical potential puzzle, the interplay of electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions and the enhanced superconductivity; the incoherent metal sharply bounded by a critical doping and quantum critical point. The rich phenomenology suggests that a delicate balance between local Coulomb interaction and electron-phonon interaction holds the key to cuprate physics. “Electronic Structure of Topological Materials” Wednesday, November 6, 3:00pm Instead of classifying matters by broken symmetries, a new paradigm of topological classification emerged in the 1980s with the discovery Quantum Hall insulator. In such a system, there exists a novel surface state at the interface where the topological invariant changes, due to so-called bulk-surface correspondence. It is then recognized that in spin-orbit coupled system, a situation can occur where the spin-orbit interaction plays an analogous role as the external magnetic field in QHI. Extending to 3D system, this leads to topological insulators. Here, topological invariant can be defined using information encoded in the wave-function. In practice, however, it is easier to look for energy band inversion in systems where the spin-orbit interaction opens an energy gap and a non-trivial surface state appears. If the band gap closes to zero, the material becomes a Dirac semimetal. Symmetry breakings in topological insulators and Dirac semimetals lead to interesting physics such as topological superconductor, Majorana fermions, massive Dirac cone, quantum anomalous Hall, Weyl semimetal and surface Fermi arcs. Due to its surface sensitivity, ability to directly map the band structure with high momentum resolution, as well as spin-texture determination capability, ARPES has played a crucial role in the field of topological materials. It identified key early topological insulators, the massive Dirac-cone, the Dirac semimetals, and more recently Weyl semimetals and topological superconductors. I will describe these experimental progresses, the challenges, for example the complexity in interpreting spin texture data in spin-orbit coupled systems, as well as the practical utility in guiding the preparation of thin films that led to the first demonstration of quantum anomalous Hall effect. * * * Dr. Zhi-Xun Shen is the Paul Pigott professor of Physical Sciences, Stanford University; Professor of Physics and Applied Physics of Stanford University; and Professor of Photon Science, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. He is a member of the US National Academy of Science, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. His primary interest is the novel quantum phenomena in materials. His contributions have been recognized by the DOE E.O. Lawrence Award, the APS Oliver E. Buckley Prize, the International H. Kamerlingh Onnes Prize, and the Einstein Professorship Award of Chinese Academy of Sciences. He served as the Chief Scientist of SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, the Director of the Stanford Institute for Material and Energy Sciences and the Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials of Stanford University. * * * The lectures, sponsored by the Morris Loeb Lectureship Fund, are free and open to the public. _________ Jolanta M. Davis (pronounced yo-LAN-ta<https://forvo.com/word/jolanta/>) Administrator to the Chair | Harvard University | Department of Physics | 17 Oxford St., Jefferson 370 | Cambridge, MA 02138 | Tel.: 617-495-2866 | Fax: 617-495-0416 | https://www.physics.harvard.edu/

4 years, 6 months

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Pumpkin Drop - Monday, October 28th!! Please Come!!

by Davis, Carol S.

Annual Physics Department Pumpkin Drop [Image result for pumpkins] This year's pumpkin drop will take place on Monday, October 28th, 2019, during the Colloquium Tea at 3:45 p.m., in front of Jefferson Laboratory. At 3:30 p.m. come for pumpkin pie, cider, and other colloquium treats in the library. After the pumpkin drop, you may continue to enjoy our "pumpkiny" treats before the talk presented by our guest Colloquium Speaker at 4:30 p.m. This is an annual SPS (Society of Physics Students) classic! "Not to be missed!" In SPS's words: The undergraduate Society of Physics Students runs a pumpkin drop every year to celebrate the coming of fall and test that the laws of gravity still hold in this academic year. We vent our frustrations in the enthusiastic destruction of produce, and we indulge our curiosity by varying the temperature or internal composition of that doomed produce. If Newton had been born in the New World, a falling pumpkin would have inspired him. But even if we don't inspire the next Newton, we do have a smashing good time. [Description: Description: Description: Description: http://logonoid.com/images/harvard-logo.png] Carol Davis Undergraduate and Graduate Student Coordinator Department of Physics Harvard University 17 Oxford Street Cambridge, MA 02138 617-496-1041 (tel) 617-495-0416 (fax)

4 years, 6 months

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Colloquium Luncheon, Please RSVP by Friday, October 25th, 2019

by Davis, Carol S.

PLEASE RSVP!!! Thank you, Carol!! LOCATION: Jefferson 251 TIME: Monday (October 28, 2019), 12pm RSVP: By Friday, October 25, 2019, meat or vegetarian Dear SPS and Graduate Students, We are happy to announce that this coming Monday, Professor James Napolitano, Temple University (https://phys.cst.temple.edu/~napolj/<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__phys.cst.temple.edu_-7…>) will be our colloquium speaker and the title of his talk will be "Precision Electroweak Experiments at GeV Energies<https://www.physics.harvard.edu/uploads/files/colloquium/colloquium.pdf>". For our graduate students and those who are new to SPS, the Physics Department invites guest speakers and top scientists to give a colloquium talk every Monday afternoon, and you can find more details on the department website http://www.physics.harvard.edu/events/. You can get a sense of what the talk is about from the abstract below. We will continue in the tradition of inviting the colloquium guest speaker for a conversation with our undergrads and graduate students over lunch in our Undergrad Study on the 2nd floor of Jefferson, room 251, so please come and join in with our exciting guest! The date of the luncheon will be, Monday, October 28th, 2019 at 12:00 noon. SPS invites the speaker to meet up with a small group of undergrads and graduate students over lunch so that the speaker can learn something about the physics students here, and the students can get to know the speaker better, learn more about his/her research/life, and about physics programs at other universities. It's also a great way for fellow Physics students to hang out. We would like to show our guests that our students are very much interested in their research, so we would like to have at least 10 RSVP's for this last lunch on Monday. So, please send your RSVP to me and indicate your dietary preference (meat or vegetarian) by Friday, 12:00 noon. I look forward to hearing from you! Abstract: The Standard Model of Particle Physics is wildly successful. It has passed all experimental tests over a wide range of energy scales. Nevertheless, there are good reasons to keep testing it, particularly by probing the highest energies. On the other hand, at energies where it is well understood, we can use the Standard Model as a tool to study other fundamental phenomena. We will discuss parity violating elastic electron scattering with GeV electron beams. The focus will be on two precision experiments being carried out at Jefferson Lab. One experiment aims at the equation of state of neutron matter, necessary to understand neutron stars. The other experiment probes physics Beyond the Standard Model at TeV energy scales. Both experiments are technically challenging and push the state of the art, but I will hopefully convince you that the payoff is worth the effort. (His talk will be given in Jefferson 250, October 28th, 2019, 4:30p - 5:30pm, tea served in Jefferson 450 @ 3:45 pm) Please note time change for tea and colloquium!!! PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN MUG [Description: Description: Description: Description: http://logonoid.com/images/harvard-logo.png] Carol Davis Undergraduate and Graduate Student Coordinator Department of Physics Harvard University 17 Oxford Street Cambridge, MA 02138 617-496-1041 (tel) 617-495-0416 (fax) _______________________________________________ Grads mailing list - Contact Lisa Cacciabaudo for issues.

4 years, 6 months

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Harvard Physics Colloquium – 10/28/19 – James Napolitano, Temple University

by Clayman, Stephanie D

Harvard Physics Colloquium Monday, 10/28/19 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM in Jefferson 250 Tea served in Jefferson 450 @ 3:45 PM – Please bring your own mug if you have one JAMES NAPOLITANO TEMPLE UNIVERSITY Precision Electroweak Experiments at GeV Energies<https://www.physics.harvard.edu/uploads/files/colloquium/colloquium.pdf> The Standard Model of Particle Physics is wildly successful. It has passed all experimental tests over a wide range of energy scales. Nevertheless, there are good reasons to keep testing it, particularly by probing the highest energies. On the other hand, at energies where it is well understood, we can use the Standard Model as a tool to study other fundamental phenomena. We will discuss parity violating elastic electron scattering with GeV electron beams. The focus will be on two precision experiments being carried out at Jefferson Lab. One experiment aims at the equation of state of neutron matter, necessary to understand neutron stars. The other experiment probes physics Beyond the Standard Model at TeV energy scales. Both experiments are technically challenging and push the state of the art, but I will hopefully convince you that the payoff is worth the effort. Stephanie Clayman Reception Harvard University Physics Department Jefferson 360, 17 Oxford Street Cambridge, MA 02138 617-495-2872

4 years, 6 months

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sps-list October 2019