Saturday Physics Series
The Saturday Physics Series consists of five to seven scheduled talks oriented toward adults and high school students. Lectures occur on specific Saturdays afternoons throughout the school year, typically in Duane G1B20. Unless otherwise noted, lectures begin at 2:30 p.m., and usually last about one hour. Material is aimed at the level of high school juniors and seniors. The series is free, open to the public, and no reservations are required. Simply show up and enjoy the show!
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Fall 2024
Saturday September 28 — "The Negative Triangularity Tokamak: Power Handling in a Fusion Power Plant"
- Presented by: Dr. Oak Nelson, Columbia University
- 2:30 p.m.
- Abstract: The pursuit of commercial fusion energy, which could provide a clean and effectively limitless power source for humanity, is often heralded as one of the most important and difficult scientific endeavors of our time. One of the leading approaches for fusion, the tokamak, uses magnetic fields to confine a hot and dense plasma inside a vacuum vessel, akin to holding a star in a magnetic bottle. Just like you might imagine, however, it is difficult to hold a star in place without creating tremendous heat fluxes that would melt the machine walls. Fortunately, fusion scientists have discovered a new way to control the shape of the plasma that may provide a robust solution to the power-handling problem in tokamaks. This special regime, called "negative triangularity," establishes a rapid path forward towards a commercial fusion energy system.
Saturday October 19 — "Metal Halide Photovoltaics for the Future"
- Presented by: Professor Joe Berry, NREL, University of Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder
- 2:30 p.m.
- Abstract: This talk will consider photovoltaic (PV) technologies and their role in the energy transition. To do this the basics of semiconductor materials, basic device physics of PVs and current materials used in existing deployed PV will be discussed along with their pros and cons. With this background new material poised to supercharge PV efficiency and the green energy transition will be discussed. Specifically metal halide perovskite (MHP) PV technologies potential and impact as photovoltaic deployment reaches the terawatt scale will be discussed. The requirements for significantly increasing PV deployment beyond current rates and what the implications are for technologies attempting to meet this challenge will be addressed. In particular how issues of CO2 impacts and sustainability inform near and longer term research development and deployment goals for MHP enabled PV will be discussed.
Saturday November 23 — "The Physics of Vision and Perception"
- Presented by: Professor Bethany Wilcox
- 2:30 p.m.
- Abstract: Ever wondered how we perceive the world around us? How do our eyes detect light and how does our brain interpret what our eyes see? In this discussion, we will investigate how human vision and perception works, as well as how it can be manipulated through visual illusions. We will also explore how human vision differs from the vision of other animals such as dogs, birds, and insects.
Saturday December 7 — "Rare earth and other critical elements - their physics, resources, and geopolitics"
- Presented by: Professor Markus Raschke, University of Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder
- 2:30 p.m.
- Abstract: The rare earth elements, hidden at the bottom of the periodic table and long neglected, have risen to prominence at the end of the 20th century. Their unique electronic configuration form the basis for a variety of lasers, photonic applications, strong and exotic magnetism, defining many modern technologies. I will tell a story connecting from the basic science of the geology of Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ and rare earth and other rare element mineralogy, to our technological and societal dependence and questions of strategic element security.
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For more information please contact Veronica Lingo.