Past Events

More than physics, more than data: Integrated machine-learning models for chemistry

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Abstract: Machine-learning techniques are often applied to perform "end-to-end" predictions, that is to make a black-box estimate of a property of interest using only a coarse description of the corresponding inputs.
In contrast, atomic-scale modeling of matter is most useful when it allows to gather a mechanistic insight into the microscopic processes that underlie the behavior of molecules and materials. 

Recent spectroscopic observations of stellar flares and possible stellar mass ejections

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Abstract: Flares are frequent energetic explosions in the stellar atmosphere, and are thought to occur by impulsive releases of magnetic energy stored around starspots. Large flares (so called “superflares”) generate strong high energy X-ray and ultraviolet emissions and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which can greatly affect the planetary environment and habitability. Recent Kepler/TESS photometric data have revealed the statistical properties of superflares on G, K, and M-type stars.

Using anisotropic strain to probe multipolar order parameters

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Abstract: Because it can be applied in-situ in a continuous fashion, and can be tailored to preserve or break selected spatial symmetries, piezoelectric devices-based strain has lately emerged as a versatile tuning parameter of quantum materials. In this talk we will focus on utilizing anisotropic strain as a probe of otherwise elusive multipolar orders in solids. Using the adiabatic AC elastocaloric effect, a compact, thermodynamic strain-based experimental technique [1,2], we study anisotropic strain effects on f electron-based multipolar orders [3,4].

Quantum Simulation - from Dipolar Quantum Solids to Kinetic Nagaoka Ferromagnetism

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Abstract: Quantum simulations with ultracold atoms in optical lattices enter the next phase, in which we can extend bosonic and fermionic Hubbard models in a wide range of ways. I will present recent results in which we realized strongly correlated dipolar quantum gases and observed quantum-phase transitions to stripe and checkerboard phases.

TBA

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Butcher Auditorium, A115, JSCBB 3415 Colorado Ave, Boulder, CO 80303

Cosmic Mashups: From Galaxies to Black Holes

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Abstract:  From the galaxy mergers that trigger new star formation and black hole growth, to the black hole mergers that produce gravitational waves, mergers are fundamental drivers of the evolution of our Universe. The first pulsar timing array observations of gravitational waves, which were announced earlier this year, offer a new opportunity to crack open the mysteries of how galaxy mergers lead to supermassive black hole mergers.

The Space Weather Operational Readiness Development (SWORD) Center: a new NASA center of excellence at CU

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The Space Weather Operational Readiness Development (SWORD) Center is a new international, multi-disciplinary focal point where space weather researchers, operational forecasters, industry partners, and the space weather community will collaborate on transformative research to improve forecasts and nowcasts of the orbital and cis-lunar space environment. SWORD is led by Tom Berger out of CU’s Space Weather Technology, Research, and Education Center (SWx TREC) with major contributions from LASP Co-Investigators.

Single molecule ligand binding kinetics and environmental adaptations in lysine riboswitches

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Abstract: Riboswitches are important RNA structures in bacteria and some eukaryotes that can bind a ligand to toggle between conformations that allow or terminate transcription, translation, or splicing. We study folding kinetics and thermodynamics in the B. subtilis and T. maritima lysine riboswitches via single molecule TIRF microscopy. We show that riboswitch folding is exothermic with a large entropic cost, which we attribute to increased binding pocket rigidity upon lysine binding.

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