Colloquia - Fall 2015
August 25 - Peter Bernath, Old Dominion University
"Title: Molecular Astrophysics: Cool stars, brown dwarfs and exoplanets"
Abstract:The spectral energy distributions of "cool" astronomical objects such as low mass stars, brown dwarfs and exoplanets are dominated by molecular absorption features. Of particular interest are methane, water, ammonia and metal hydrides at high temperatures. An overview of this area of molecular astronomy will be presented from a spectroscopic perspective. The talk will concentrate on emission and absorption measurements of hot molecules by Fourier transform spectroscopy related to exoplanets.
September 1 - James Lee, Old Dominion University
"Title: Interdisciplinary Projects on Advanced Biochars, Biofuels and Bioenergetics"
Abstract: The Lee Group at ODU often employ interdisciplinary approaches in their energy and environmental sustainability-related research. They are currently (1) developing advanced hydrophilic biochars with physical chemistry techniques such as the applications of ozone and O2/CO2 plasma as a strategy to sequester carbon and retain soil nutrients and water for sustainability on Earth; (2) creating designer algae with synthetic biology and electroporation for genetic transformation to photobiologically produce advanced biofuels such as H2 and butanol directly from water and carbon dioxide; and (3) achieving better fundamental understanding of proton-coupling bioenergetics by testing a newly proposed proton-electrostatics localization hypothesis that would significantly modify Mitchell's classic Chemiosmotic theory that earned him the Nobel Prize of Chemistry 1978. This presentation will outline the progresses that Lee Lab Group recently made on these research areas. The focus of this presentation will be on the proton-electrostatics localization hypothesis, which employs the Gauss Law equation as a mathematic thought experiment in identifying the site of localized protons in biological systems. To demonstrate the fundamental behavior of localized protons, we have recently generated excess protons and excess hydroxyl anions by utilizing an "open-circuit" water-electrolysis system and their distributions were tested using a proton-sensing membrane. The experimental result showed that excess protons indeed localize at the water-membrane interface in a manner similar to the behavior of excess electrons in a conductor as predicted by the proton-electrostatics localization hypothesis. This finding has significance not only in the science of bioenergetics but also in the fundamental understanding for the importance of water to life in serving as a proton conductor for energy transduction in living organisms.
September 8 - Tom Kirchner, York University
"Title: Shedding Light on Few-Body Quantum Dynamics by Studying Atomic Collisions"
Abstract:The quantum-mechanical few-body problem has challenged physicists ever since the foundations of quantum theory were laid in the 1920ies. Collisions of atoms, molecules, and their ions are particularly interesting realizations of this problem, because the interaction potentials are well known and the question of how to deal with the few-body character of the collision system under study is the only fundamental difficulty for theory. Given the abundance of available experimental data and the importance of understanding them not just for fundamental but also for applied reasons, there is considerable motivation to address this difficulty.
In my talk, I will outline a time-dependent quantum-mechanical approach based on the concepts of density functional theory, which we have developed over the years to describe nonrelativistic heavy-particle collisions from atoms and molecules. Recent results for helium and lithium atom as well as for water and methane molecule targets will be presented.
Depending on the process under study the few-body problem presents itself as a more or less intricate one. I will discuss situations which reflect single-active-electron dynamics, independent-electron dynamics and more complicated, i.e., correlated, electron dynamics.
September 15 -
"Title: TBA"
Abstract:
September 22 -
"Title: TBA"
Abstract:
September 29 - Stephen Morris, Toronto University, Joined colloquium with the Math department
"Cracking the Giant's Causeway, or how to solve a 300 year old geology problems using kitchen materials"
Abstract:
Columnar joints are three-dimensional fracture networks that form in cooling lava flows. The network breaks the solid lava into an array of nearly hexagonal columns with an uncanny degree of order. Famous examples include the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, Fingal's cave in Scotland and The Devil's Postpile in California. The same pattern can be observed on a smaller scale in drying corn starch, and in some other materials. We have made the first three dimensional study of the evolution of the network in corn starch and relate these observations to the mature patterns observed in field studies of lava flows. Starch columns are 1000 times smaller than their lava counterparts. We have solved a 300 year old geology problem by figuring out what sets the scale of the columns in both cases.
October 6 -
"Title: TBA"
Abstract:
October 13 -
"Title: TBA"
Abstract:
October 20 -
"Title: TBA"
Abstract:
October 27 - Raphael Dupre, University of Paris-Saclay
"Toward a 3D map of the quarks in the atomic nucleus"
Abstract:
In the last two decades, an intense theoretical activity has build a solid framework in which the generalized parton distributions (GPDs) give a three dimensional picture of the quarks in the proton. These GPDs can be extracted from the Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DVCS), i.e. e + p -> e + p + g, which has been itself the focus of a very important experimental activity in the recent past.
After briefly reviewing these progresses, we will see how this framework can be applied to heavier nuclei and why it gives access to completely new information on the internal structure of the nucleus. Once this theoretical background established, I will describe the experimental aspect of the nuclear DVCS and in particular our measurement of the helium DVCS with the CLAS collaboration at the Jefferson laboratory (Virginia, USA). Finally, after discussing the impact of this pioneering measurement, I will conclude by presenting the perspectives in this field.
November 3 -
"Title: TBA"
Abstract:
November 10 -
"Title: TBA"
Abstract:
November 17 -
"Title: TBA"
Abstract:
November 24 - Peter Nellist, University of Oxford
"Title: TBA"
Abstract:
December 1 - Senior Thesis Presentations
Presentations
OCNPS, 0200 2:50 pm - 4:15 pm
Refreshments
OCNPS, 0200 Atrium 2:30 pm - 2:50 pm
Erik Johnson
Title: "Computation of Compton Scattered Energy Spectra in the Linear Regime".
Heather Hagood
Title: "Investigation of Maximum Drift Time as a function of Gas Mixture in a Drift Chamber".
Sterling Gordon
Title: "Mapping De-Icing Salt Deposition on Moore Drive Bridge, Rochester, New York".
Wesley Lacaze
Title: "Gamma Spectroscopy Analysis of an Unknown Photopeak".
Josh Monroe
Title: "Forward Tracking with the Jlab EIC Detector Concept".
August 25 - Peter Bernath, Old Dominion University
"Title: Molecular Astrophysics: Cool stars, brown dwarfs and exoplanets"
Abstract:The spectral energy distributions of "cool" astronomical objects such as low mass stars, brown dwarfs and exoplanets are dominated by molecular absorption features. Of particular interest are methane, water, ammonia and metal hydrides at high temperatures. An overview of this area of molecular astronomy will be presented from a spectroscopic perspective. The talk will concentrate on emission and absorption measurements of hot molecules by Fourier transform spectroscopy related to exoplanets.
September 1 - James Lee, Old Dominion University
"Title: Interdisciplinary Projects on Advanced Biochars, Biofuels and Bioenergetics"
Abstract: The Lee Group at ODU often employ interdisciplinary approaches in their energy and environmental sustainability-related research. They are currently (1) developing advanced hydrophilic biochars with physical chemistry techniques such as the applications of ozone and O2/CO2 plasma as a strategy to sequester carbon and retain soil nutrients and water for sustainability on Earth; (2) creating designer algae with synthetic biology and electroporation for genetic transformation to photobiologically produce advanced biofuels such as H2 and butanol directly from water and carbon dioxide; and (3) achieving better fundamental understanding of proton-coupling bioenergetics by testing a newly proposed proton-electrostatics localization hypothesis that would significantly modify Mitchell's classic Chemiosmotic theory that earned him the Nobel Prize of Chemistry 1978. This presentation will outline the progresses that Lee Lab Group recently made on these research areas. The focus of this presentation will be on the proton-electrostatics localization hypothesis, which employs the Gauss Law equation as a mathematic thought experiment in identifying the site of localized protons in biological systems. To demonstrate the fundamental behavior of localized protons, we have recently generated excess protons and excess hydroxyl anions by utilizing an "open-circuit" water-electrolysis system and their distributions were tested using a proton-sensing membrane. The experimental result showed that excess protons indeed localize at the water-membrane interface in a manner similar to the behavior of excess electrons in a conductor as predicted by the proton-electrostatics localization hypothesis. This finding has significance not only in the science of bioenergetics but also in the fundamental understanding for the importance of water to life in serving as a proton conductor for energy transduction in living organisms.
September 8 - Tom Kirchner, York University
"Title: Shedding Light on Few-Body Quantum Dynamics by Studying Atomic Collisions"
Abstract:The quantum-mechanical few-body problem has challenged physicists ever since the foundations of quantum theory were laid in the 1920ies. Collisions of atoms, molecules, and their ions are particularly interesting realizations of this problem, because the interaction potentials are well known and the question of how to deal with the few-body character of the collision system under study is the only fundamental difficulty for theory. Given the abundance of available experimental data and the importance of understanding them not just for fundamental but also for applied reasons, there is considerable motivation to address this difficulty.
In my talk, I will outline a time-dependent quantum-mechanical approach based on the concepts of density functional theory, which we have developed over the years to describe nonrelativistic heavy-particle collisions from atoms and molecules. Recent results for helium and lithium atom as well as for water and methane molecule targets will be presented.
Depending on the process under study the few-body problem presents itself as a more or less intricate one. I will discuss situations which reflect single-active-electron dynamics, independent-electron dynamics and more complicated, i.e., correlated, electron dynamics.
September 15 -
"Title: TBA"
Abstract:
September 22 -
"Title: TBA"
Abstract:
September 29 - Stephen Morris, Toronto University, Joined colloquium with the Math department
"Cracking the Giant's Causeway, or how to solve a 300 year old geology problems using kitchen materials"
Abstract:
Columnar joints are three-dimensional fracture networks that form in cooling lava flows. The network breaks the solid lava into an array of nearly hexagonal columns with an uncanny degree of order. Famous examples include the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, Fingal's cave in Scotland and The Devil's Postpile in California. The same pattern can be observed on a smaller scale in drying corn starch, and in some other materials. We have made the first three dimensional study of the evolution of the network in corn starch and relate these observations to the mature patterns observed in field studies of lava flows. Starch columns are 1000 times smaller than their lava counterparts. We have solved a 300 year old geology problem by figuring out what sets the scale of the columns in both cases.
October 6 -
"Title: TBA"
Abstract:
October 13 -
"Title: TBA"
Abstract:
October 20 -
"Title: TBA"
Abstract:
October 27 - Raphael Dupre, University of Paris-Saclay
"Toward a 3D map of the quarks in the atomic nucleus"
Abstract:
In the last two decades, an intense theoretical activity has build a solid framework in which the generalized parton distributions (GPDs) give a three dimensional picture of the quarks in the proton. These GPDs can be extracted from the Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DVCS), i.e. e + p -> e + p + g, which has been itself the focus of a very important experimental activity in the recent past.
After briefly reviewing these progresses, we will see how this framework can be applied to heavier nuclei and why it gives access to completely new information on the internal structure of the nucleus. Once this theoretical background established, I will describe the experimental aspect of the nuclear DVCS and in particular our measurement of the helium DVCS with the CLAS collaboration at the Jefferson laboratory (Virginia, USA). Finally, after discussing the impact of this pioneering measurement, I will conclude by presenting the perspectives in this field.
November 3 -
"Title: TBA"
Abstract:
November 10 -
"Title: TBA"
Abstract:
November 17 -
"Title: TBA"
Abstract:
November 24 - Peter Nellist, University of Oxford
"Title: TBA"
Abstract:
December 1 - Senior Thesis Presentations
Presentations
OCNPS, 0200 2:50 pm - 4:15 pm
Refreshments
OCNPS, 0200 Atrium 2:30 pm - 2:50 pm
Erik Johnson
Title: "Computation of Compton Scattered Energy Spectra in the Linear Regime".
Heather Hagood
Title: "Investigation of Maximum Drift Time as a function of Gas Mixture in a Drift Chamber".
Sterling Gordon
Title: "Mapping De-Icing Salt Deposition on Moore Drive Bridge, Rochester, New York".
Wesley Lacaze
Title: "Gamma Spectroscopy Analysis of an Unknown Photopeak".
Josh Monroe
Title: "Forward Tracking with the Jlab EIC Detector Concept".