Past Events

Abstract: Two Nobel prizes were just awarded on machine learning topics, reflecting the broad enthusiasm for data-driven methodologies in the physical sciences. The public facing view on machine learning—and also what is taught in the classroom—emphasizes the powerful algorithms that enable learning through deep neural networks and related models. In contrast, I will present my view on the less visible counterpart to the algorithm: the data, upon which all machine learning models stand or fall.

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Abstract: Highlights from research done on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) laser through the Discovery Science program will be presented. Plasma nuclear reactions relevant to stellar nucleosynthesis and nuclear reactions in high energy astrophysical scenarios are being studied. [1] Equations of state (EOS) at very high pressures (0.1-100 TPa or 1-1000 Mbar) relevant to planetary cores, brown dwarf interiors, and white dwarf envelopes are being measured on NIF, and show that the level of ionization can significantly affect the compressibility of the sample.

Free food will be provided at this talk!

The advent of X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) has enabled the generation of intense, ultrafast x-ray pulses, unlocking new possibilities for studying nonlinear light-matter interactions in the x-ray regime. The sub-femtosecond duration of XFEL pulses allows tracking ultrafast molecular dynamics with atomic resolution via pump-probe techniques, capturing events on their natural timescales.

Abstract: Localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) have a broad technology potential as an attractive platform for surface-enhanced spectroscopies, refractive index sensing, hyperthermal cancer therapy, plasmon-enhanced catalysis, and so on. One of the newest metals for plasmonics is magnesium. It is earth-abundant, biocompatible, and has a higher plasmonic quality factor than aluminum across the visible (and than gold and copper in the blue).

Abstract: Fault tolerance is required to run useful quantum computations at scale.

Abstract: Optical tweezer arrays of neutral atoms have emerged as a
promising platform for quantum science. Their geometries are highly
configurable, and excitation to Rydberg states allows the atoms to
interact. When driven by a laser, the system supports a rich phase
diagram containing both a paramagnetic and antiferromagnetic phase.
The critical point between these phases belongs to the Ising
universality class, allowing our simulator to provide direct
measurements of the universal scaling dimensions of the Ising

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Abstract: Recent experiments at SLAC demonstrated beam-driven plasma acceleration with accelerating gradients in excess of 150 GeV/m. That’s nearly 10,000 times the accelerating gradient produced by RF cavities in the SLAC linac! Plasma accelerators are a promising technology for future ultra-high energy colliders and were identified by the P5 Panel as a path toward 10 TeV collisions. In this talk, I’ll review the physics of nonlinear plasma wakefield acceleration. What makes the plasma bubble nearly-ideal for electron acceleration?

Forthcoming

Abstract: Advances in optical spectroscopy and microscopy have revolutionized our understanding of biological functions at the sub-cellular levels. In this seminar, I will present our recent efforts in developing and applying next-generation bond-selective spectro-microscopy for retrieving functional chemical information in live cells and neurons.