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Overview

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 G1B30. 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!Ìý

To join our mailing list, please contact Veronica Lingo.

Fall 2024

Saturday SeptemberÌý28Ìý— "The Negative Triangularity Tokamak: Power Handling in a Fusion Power Plant"

• Presented by: Dr. Oak Nelson, Columbia University
• 2:30 p.m.
• ´¡²ú²õ³Ù°ù²¹³¦³Ù:ÌýThe 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 19Ìý— "Next Generation Photovoltaics"

• Presented by: Professor Joe Berry, NREL, University of Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder
• 2:30 p.m.
• ´¡²ú²õ³Ù°ù²¹³¦³Ù:Ìý

Saturday November 23Ìý— "The Physics of Vision and Perception"

• Presented by: Professor Bethany Wilcox
• 2:30 p.m.
• ´¡²ú²õ³Ù°ù²¹³¦³Ù:ÌýEver 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 DecemberÌý7Ìý— "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.Ìý

Getting to Campus

The University provides aÌýCampus Map.

For more information please contact Veronica Lingo.