Past Events

Solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are powered by the sudden release of magnetic energy stored in the Sun’s low corona as a result of magnetic reconnection. Understanding these explosive events requires tracking how magnetic fields evolve—not only during, but also before the eruptions. Yet direct measurements of the 3D coronal magnetic field remain a major challenge. In this talk, I will overview what we currently know about the structure of the pre-eruption magnetic field and the physical mechanisms that trigger eruptions.

We live in a world where everything spins! Join CU Wizards on an exciting adventure to discover what that means, how it feels, and why things get weird when they spin! 

Gwen Eccles, CU Physics Demonstration Coordinator, presents the first show of the CU Wizards season that will include hands-on activities for the audience.

Abstract: Achieving ballistic, coherent charge and energy flow in materials at room temperature is a long-standing goal that could unlock ultrafast, lossless energy and information technologies. The key obstacle to overcome is short-range scattering between electronic particles and lattice vibrations (phonons). I will describe two promising avenues for realizing ballistic transport in two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors by harnessing hybridization between electronic particles and long-wavelength excitations.

Abstract: Magnetic reconnection in asymmetric environments such as the solar corona and Earth’s magnetosphere exhibits distinct particle acceleration behavior compared to symmetric cases, due to differences in plasma density and magnetic field across the current sheet. Using 3D hybrid and particle-in-cell simulations, we explore how this asymmetry influences particle acceleration. We find that increasing asymmetry leads to a systematic reduction in particle acceleration efficiency.

Crystallographic defects are always present in solid state materials. Their impact on the fluctuating spin states of magnetic insulators can be significant but is not well understood.  I will present our recent results showing two interesting effects of lattice defects on spin systems. In the triangular lattice magnet KCSO, magneto-transmission measurements of the 1/3 magnetization plateau and spin supersolid phases found unusual satellite lines. We show that though these lines are sharp, they arise from disorder and enable its detailed characterization, here as dilute vacancies.

Abstract: Quantum processors have the potential to significantly advance our understanding of quantum systems. In particular, the programmability of digital quantum devices can enable access to highly tunable quantum dynamics and observables. The central challenge, however, is suppressing errors, making quantum error correction essential for large-scale algorithms.

Host: Mihaly Horanyi

Abstract: TBA

Host: Dylan Taatjes

Abstract: The launch and commissioning of the James Webb Space Telescope is ushering in a new era in our understanding of our cosmic origins. Galaxies are a fundamental building block of the universe, yet how they formed has remained enigmatic owing to our inability to observe them at early cosmic times. In just its first three years of operation, JWST has already upended our understanding of galaxy and black hole growth in the early universe.

Abstract: TBA

Abstract: Optical tweezer arrays of laser-cooled molecules are an emerging platform for quantum science, combining the rich internal structure of molecules with the versatile microscopic control and detection capabilities of optical tweezers. In recent years, our lab has helped push the frontier of quantum control in this platform, demonstrating high-fidelity single-molecule imaging and state preparation, coherent control at both the single and two molecule level, and deterministic entanglement between individually prepared molecules.

Host: Ana Maria Rey

There is a long-standing history of instrument makers grilling bratwursts for the whole building every summer. We will be continuing the tradition outside by the tower Thursday July 31st at noon. Remember to pack your appetites and join us in the great American pastime of eating hot dogs until we all feel ill!

Abstract: The evolution of plasma environments is defined and governed by balances between ionizing processes, chemical rearrangements, and neutralisation reactions such as mutual neutralisation (MN). Measuring and explaining these processes in detail is fundamental to understanding and modelling non-local thermal equilibrium environments, such as atmospheric plasmas.

Planetary magnetospheres provide natural laboratories for the study of space plasmas, and Jupiter’s magnetosphere in particular acts as a bridge between those phenomena we can study in detail at Earth, and those beyond the solar system that we can only glimpse through telescopes. Jupiter’s auroras have been studied for many years with increasing sensitivity and resolution, but the James Webb Space Telescope offers a revolutionary perspective of these spectacular emissions.