March 2020 - sps-list

by Morin, David

For the SENIOR Physics and Chem/Phys concentrators among you (but also for non-seniors, for future reference): I checked through all of the seniors' records and emailed you of any remaining concentration requirements. But just as a double check, in case I missed anyone, here are some general comments and caveats: 1. Even though I checked through things, you should also check through the requirements listed in the Handbook. 2. Ignore the "Advising Report" in my.harvard, as far as the Physics concentration reqs go. It may very well say that some requirements aren't satisfied when in fact they are. The information I emailed to you supersedes the Advising Report. (However, the Gen Ed part of the Advising Report is probably correct, so you _should_ pay attention to that.) 3. Students who skipped 15b and/or 15c (and took an approved substitute instead) are still required to do the labs, on a pass/fail basis. (But no need to do the 15b lab if you took AP50b or PS12b.) 4. The secondary-field information isn't recorded in the system, so I didn't take that into account in my assessment of any remaining requirements. If you are doing a secondary, be aware that only one course can double count for concentration and secondary. (In contrast, there is unlimited double counting in joint concentrations.) 5. Similarly, for the very few students doing the AB/AM program, the system sometimes doesn't show which courses are bracketed. Be aware that bracketed courses can't count for the undergrad part of the degree.

1 year, 4 months

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15b, 15c lab requirement

by Morin, David

This email is a reminder about the Physics Department's rule for the 15b and 15c labs. This rule applies to Physics concentrators, Chem/Phys concentrators, and students completing a Physics secondary: If you skip 15b and/or 15c and satisfy the E&M and/or waves requirement by taking an alternative course (approved by Prof. Georgi or me), then you must still complete the 15b and/or 15c labs at some point, on a pass/fail basis. (However, you don't need to do the 15b lab if you took AP50b or PS12b.) You can complete the labs in a future semester if you wish, but my recommendation is that you do them at the same time you take the alternative course. (Students in 15b and 15c must of course do the lab when taking the course.) To schedule your lab time, please email, as soon as possible: 15b: Dr. Carey Witkov (witkov(a)fas.harvard.edu) 15c: TF Kristine Rezai (kristinerezai(a)gmail.com) Please let me know if you have any questions.

1 year, 9 months

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TODAY! LPPC Seminar: Wednesday, March 4 @ 4pm | Justin Evans: The NEMO-3 and SuperNEMO experiments

by Gardner, Felice Ann

WHAT: LPPC SEMINAR WHERE: Palfrey House, 18 Hammond St. WHEN: Wednesday, March 4th @ 4:00pm TITLE: The NEMO-3 and SuperNEMO experiments Justin Evans, University of Manchester<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.research.mancheste…> Abstract: The observation of neutrinoless double-beta decay (0νββ) would be evidence both for lepton-number violation and the Majorana nature of the neutrino. In the search for 0νββ, the elimination of radiological backgrounds is critical. The NEMO-3 and SuperNEMO experiments address this challenge with a unique technological approach that allows full topological reconstruction of double-β decay events. A gaseous tracker provides the reconstruction and identification of the β-decay electrons and elimination of non-ββ backgrounds; a plastic-scintillator calorimeter provides the electron energy measurement that identifies events at the ββ-decay end-point. I will give an overview of the results of the NEMO-3 experiment, and describe the SuperNEMO Demonstrator Module, currently under construction at the Modane Underground Laboratory with a goal of demonstrating an almost-zero-background measurement in the ββ-decay end-point region of selenium-82.

3 years, 3 months

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Phys, Chem/Phys Advising

by Morin, David

I hope everyone had a fun and relaxing break. A new semester is almost upon us, so here we go... This email is relevant to the Physics and Chem/Phys concentrators among you (especially the sophomores, since this may be your first time receiving this info). It's a long email, but please pay special attention to the "YOUR TASK" item below. THE SHORT VERSION: Email your concentration advisor before classes start, to set up a meeting sometime during the first week of classes. Your advisor will electronically sign your crimson cart (sometimes called "study card"). THE LONG VERSION: (1) A picture of your Individual Concentrator Advisor should show up in your my.harvard list of advisors. If it doesn't, or if there are any issues (you want to change advisors, etc.), please let me know right away. (2) All of you automatically have Prof. Georgi (Head Tutor) and me (Co-Head Tutor) as academic advisors. You can talk with us about anything at any time, ranging from course selection, to future plans, to lab work, to concentration requirements. Our office hours are posted at: www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~hgeorgi<http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~hgeorgi> www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~djmorin/office_hours.htm<http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~djmorin/office_hours.htm> We encourage you to drop by, but email also works. (3) In addition, we give all of you another faculty advisor. The purpose of this Individual Concentration Advisor is to act as a mentor, and to help you down the Physics or Chem/Phys path. However, concerning concentration requirements, Prof. Georgi and I have seen all the ins and outs and variations on these, so we encourage you to save such questions for us. In short, when talking with your faculty advisor, you can pretend that there are no course numbers or requirements to worry about. Just get some real physics advice about what subjects are good to know, what lab experience is good to have, etc. You can view your faculty advisor in my.harvard. (4) YOUR TASK: Email your faculty advisor to set up a meeting to discuss your classes and future plans and such. You should send this email sometime before the first day of classes, in case there's a delay in setting up a time. In addition to providing you with advice, your advisor will also provide you with the necessary electronic signature on your crimson cart. If you'd like to also meet with Prof. Georgi and/or me at the beginning of the semester, by all means stop by, but please do so in addition to (not instead of!) seeing your individual advisor. NOTE: Occasionally more than one email is needed to set up a meeting with your advisor. All of us let an email slip away now and then. So don't hesitate to send a second email after a day or two if you haven't heard back. Also, ***PLEASE CC THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT** for your advisor on your FIRST email, unless you're sure that your advisor will get back to you right away (and definitely cc if a second email is required). This person can be identified by clicking on your advisor on the page: www.physics.harvard.edu/people/faculty<http://www.physics.harvard.edu/people/faculty> The administrative assistant is listed below the advisor's photo. If you have trouble getting a response from your advisor, let me know, and we can always switch advisors. (5) The Physics FAQ page is: https://www.physics.harvard.edu/undergrad/faqs-concentrators Please let me know if there's a topic you would like added. Enjoy the last few days of your break! DJM

3 years, 9 months

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Office hours

by Morin, David

My Zoom office hours are now back to being listed on my usual office-hour page: http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~djmorin/office_hours.htm Just use my meeting ID: 832-180-2791. I’ll update the hours at the beginning of each week, but check again on any given day in case there are last-minute changes. Hope everyone is doing well!

4 years, 1 month

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Board Elections (Statements Due Friday March 13th, Midnight)

by Harvard SPS

Hi everyone! We (Maya, Abi, Sambuddha, and Rajath) have had a great time serving as your SPS board this year and getting to know you all! We hope you have been able to attend and enjoy SPS events. But we have to keep things fresh, and the time has come for us to say goodbye. That means... *You could run SPS!* *Board election statements due Friday, March 13 by midnight.* (If you are interested, make sure you read all the way to the bottom of this email.) Yes, that's right! We're holding board elections for the upcoming year 2020-2021. Would you like to organize events for prospective students? (Visitas is around the corner... yes, that means liquid nitrogen ice-cream!) Fun socials throughout the year? (We're talking pizza, Thai food, cookies, town-halls, post-graduation panels, frozen-pumpkin-smashing, anything you come up with!). Then run for the SPS board! Anyone is welcome to apply. *Board Positions*: * *Co-Presidents (x2)* - The co-presidents organize and lead meetings, plan events for the semester, coordinate with other organizations (like the MIT SPS), and serve as the public face of the club. Our current co-presidents are Maya Burhanpurkar and Abijith Krishnan. *Secretary* - The secretary handles emails, publicizes events, takes meeting notes and organizes an agenda. *Event Coordinator* - The event coordinator, well, coordinates events. The duties include purchasing food and drinks, handling room reservations, and generally making sure that events happen smoothly. Our current events coordinator is Sambuddha Chattopadhyay. *Webmaster* - The webmaster handles the website and all technical matters. Our current webmaster is Rajath Salegame. *If you are interested *in running for any of these board positions* please send a brief statement on why you would like to serve on the board to abijith_krishnan(a)college.harvard.edu and burhanpurkar(a)college.harvard.edu ( Abijith and Maya) by *Friday, March 13 at midnight*. We will then send these over the SPS list, and all SPS members will be able to cast their votes via a Google form throughout and after spring break. You can also vote in person on *Tuesday, March 24th, at 5:30 pm* in the undergraduate lounge. We will then announce the new board! As always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns! If you would like to learn more about any of the board positions, feel free to contact the current officer(s) (all our email addresses are cc'ed). Looking forward to a new exciting year for SPS! - Your 2019-2020 SPS Board. * You can run for multiple positions if you would like -- if you are not elected for one, you will be considered for the next you applied to, following the order listed above.

4 years, 1 month

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Harvard Physics Colloquium – 4/6/20 – Efthimios Kaxiras, Harvard University

by Clayman, Stephanie D

Harvard Physics Colloquium Monday, 4/6/20 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM via zoom Virtual ‘tea’ via zoom, 4:00 PM EFHIMIOS KAXIRAS HARVARD UNIVERSITY “Twistronics: manipulating electronic behavior in two-dimensional materials” The discovery of graphene, a single sheet of carbon atoms, ushered in an era of two-dimensional materials that make it possible to manipulate electronic behavior in novel ways. Recently, experimenters have managed to control the stacking of two or more layers of graphene and other 2D materials with remarkable precision. Simple theoretical models, as well as accurate electronic structure calculations predict that the electronic properties in stacked 2D layers depend sensitively on the relative orientation (the “twist angle”) between successive layers; the term “twistronics” was introduced to describe this effect. For special twist-angle values, electron localization and high density of states can be achieved, producing remarkable effects that include superconductivity at a relative high temperature. In this talk I will discuss the origin of the single-electron behavior from a microscopic, theoretical point of view in representative 2D materials. I will attempt to highlight what we understand well and what still remains a mystery about the behavior of electrons confined by twisted multi-layered materials. Join Zoom meeting https://harvard.zoom.us/j/211610333 Join by telephone (use any number to dial in) +1 929 436 2866 +1 312 626 6799 +1 669 900 6833 +1 253 215 8782 +1 301 715 8592 +1 346 248 7799 International numbers available: https://harvard.zoom.us/u/ab5EzEPSTk One tap mobile: +19294362866,,211610333# US (New York) Join by SIP conference room system Meeting ID: 211 610 333 211610333(a)zoomcrc.com Stephanie Clayman (she/her) Reception Harvard University Physics Department Jefferson 360, 17 Oxford Street Cambridge, MA 02138 617-495-2872

4 years, 1 month

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Reminder! Physics Colloquium tea begins at 4:00, lecture begins at 4:30

by Clayman, Stephanie D

Harvard Physics Colloquium Monday, 3/30/20 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM via Zoom Colloquium tea at 4:00 PM via Zoom - Use the log in below beginning at 4:00pm to visit with your friends and colleagues. Remember to bring your own tea! MATTEO MITRANO HARVARD UNIVERSITY Controlling Quantum Materials with Light Modern condensed matter physics is increasingly focused on materials exhibiting macroscopic quantum-mechanical effects ("quantum materials") and on ways to manipulate their electronic properties. Ultrafast optical excitation, especially when resonant to specific lattice modes, has recently emerged as a powerful mean to induce new functionalities in quantum materials and to control their properties. A most ambitious goal is to selectively drive structural or electronic degrees of freedom to bring about nonequilibrium superconductivity at temperatures far above the thermodynamic critical temperature Tc. In this talk, I will discuss how midinfrared optical excitation led to transient superconductivity above the equilibrium Tc in cuprates and molecular solids. I will then show how time-resolved x-ray scattering methods can provide new insights into the charge, spin and lattice response of these light-driven states of matter. ZOOM LOG IN INFORMATION Topic: Harvard Physics Colloquium - Mitrano Time: Mar 30, 2020 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom meeting https://harvard.zoom.us/j/284339257 Join by telephone (use any number to dial in) +1 929 436 2866 +1 312 626 6799 +1 669 900 6833 +1 253 215 8782 +1 301 715 8592 +1 346 248 7799 International numbers available: https://harvard.zoom.us/u/ab5EzEPSTk One tap mobile: +19294362866,,284339257# US (New York) Join by SIP conference room system Meeting ID: 284 339 257 284339257(a)zoomcrc.com<mailto:284339257@zoomcrc.com> Stephanie Clayman (she/her) Reception Harvard University Physics Department Jefferson 360, 17 Oxford Street Cambridge, MA 02138 617-495-2872

4 years, 1 month

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Re: [SPS] Office hours

by Morin, David

Forgot to mention: these are all “open” office hours, so come and go as you please. If you’d like to set up a private Zoom meeting, just email me. It should be easy to find a time, since time is pretty flexible these days… From: <sps-list-bounces(a)lists.fas.harvard.edu> on behalf of "Morin, David" <djmorin(a)fas.harvard.edu> Date: Monday, March 30, 2020 at 11:27 AM To: "sps-list(a)lists.fas.harvard.edu" <sps-list(a)lists.fas.harvard.edu> Subject: [SPS] Office hours My Zoom office hours are now back to being listed on my usual office-hour page: http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~djmorin/office_hours.htm Just use my meeting ID: 832-180-2791. I’ll update the hours at the beginning of each week, but check again on any given day in case there are last-minute changes. Hope everyone is doing well!

4 years, 1 month

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Harvard Physics Colloquium – 3/30/20 – Matteo Mitrano, Harvard University

by Clayman, Stephanie D

Harvard Physics Colloquium Monday, 3/30/20 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM via Zoom Colloquium tea at 4:00 PM via Zoom – Use the log in below beginning at 4:00pm to visit with your friends and colleagues. Remember to bring your own tea! MATTEO MITRANO HARVARD UNIVERSITY Controlling Quantum Materials with Light Modern condensed matter physics is increasingly focused on materials exhibiting macroscopic quantum-mechanical effects (“quantum materials”) and on ways to manipulate their electronic properties. Ultrafast optical excitation, especially when resonant to specific lattice modes, has recently emerged as a powerful mean to induce new functionalities in quantum materials and to control their properties. A most ambitious goal is to selectively drive structural or electronic degrees of freedom to bring about nonequilibrium superconductivity at temperatures far above the thermodynamic critical temperature Tc. In this talk, I will discuss how midinfrared optical excitation led to transient superconductivity above the equilibrium Tc in cuprates and molecular solids. I will then show how time-resolved x-ray scattering methods can provide new insights into the charge, spin and lattice response of these light-driven states of matter. ZOOM LOG IN INFORMATION Topic: Harvard Physics Colloquium - Mitrano Time: Mar 30, 2020 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom meeting https://harvard.zoom.us/j/284339257 Join by telephone (use any number to dial in) +1 929 436 2866 +1 312 626 6799 +1 669 900 6833 +1 253 215 8782 +1 301 715 8592 +1 346 248 7799 International numbers available: https://harvard.zoom.us/u/ab5EzEPSTk One tap mobile: +19294362866,,284339257# US (New York) Join by SIP conference room system Meeting ID: 284 339 257 284339257(a)zoomcrc.com<mailto:284339257@zoomcrc.com> Stephanie Clayman (she/her) Reception Harvard University Physics Department Jefferson 360, 17 Oxford Street Cambridge, MA 02138 617-495-2872

4 years, 1 month

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sps-list March 2020