Past Events

Electron Dynamics throughout the Solar System

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Abstract: Electron-scale physics is often the key ingredient that helps to disentangle complex plasma measurements. In this seminar, I highlight the synergies between in-situ observations, simulation models and laboratory experiments, characterizing the role that localized plasma processes can have in regulating the large-scale dynamics and evolution of a macroscopic system. I focus on modeling the kinetic interaction of bodies immersed in plasma using different numerical approaches.

Soft X-ray Generation Using Mid-Infrared Femtosecond Lasers at High kHz Repetition Rates

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AbstractHigh harmonic generation is a unique short wavelength light source with high spatial and temporal coherence, enabling ultrafast pump-probe studies of dynamics in chemical reactions, biological systems, and technologically relevant materials. For soft x-ray generation, this requires ultrafast lasers operating at high pulse energy and high repetition rate in the mid-infrared spectral region, which remain a challenging technology.

A Tour of Dust in (Simulated) Galaxies

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Abstract: I last came to CU in 2015, and talked almost entirely about molecules in galaxies.  Now I'm 8 years older, and 8 years more esoteric: 2023 Desika is going to talk all about dust!  But seriously, dust is awesome.  It impacts almost every astrophysical observation that you make, is a critical ingredient to thermal balance in the ISM, and is used to trace obscured star formation at all redshifts.   I'll present the results from a new model for dust in galaxy simulations that we're pushing, talk

Dipolar spin-exchange and entanglement between molecules in an optical tweezer array

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Abstract: Ultracold polar molecules are promising candidate qubits for quantum computing and quantum simulations. Their long-lived molecular rotational states form robust qubits, and the long-range dipolar interaction between molecules provides quantum entanglement. We demonstrate dipolar spin-exchange interactions between single CaF molecules trapped in an optical tweezer array.

Nanomaterials Enable Delivery of Genetic Material Without Transgene Integration in Mature Plants

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Abstract: Genetic engineering of plants is at the core of sustainability efforts, natural product synthesis, and agricultural crop engineering. The plant cell wall is a barrier that limits the ease and throughput with which exogenous biomolecules can be delivered to plants. Current delivery methods either suffer from host range limitations, low transformation efficiencies, tissue regenerability, tissue damage, or unavoidable DNA integration into the host genome.

Imaging with multimode fiber endoscopes

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Abstract:  In-vivo imaging through multimode fibers has been recently accomplished. Multimode fibers are attractive for endoscopic applications due to their thin cross-section, a large number of degrees of freedom, and flexibility. However modal dispersion and intermodal coupling preclude direct image transmission. The development of fast spatial phase control enables focus scanning and structured illumination for different novel imaging modalities. We discuss the implications of these techniques for ultrathin optical endoscopy. 

 

Relativistic Fluid Dynamics: From Particle Colliders to Neutron Star Mergers

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Abstract: Heavy-ion collision experiments have provided overwhelming evidence that quarks and gluons, the elementary particles within protons and neutrons, can flow as a nearly frictionless, strongly interacting relativistic liquid over distance scales not much larger than the size of a proton. On the other hand, with the dawn of the multi-messenger astronomy era marked by the detection of a binary neutron star merger, it became imperative to understand how extremely dense fluids behave under very strong gravitational fields.

The Secret Language of Nature's Tiny Communicators

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Abstract: Imagine a world where communication doesn't depend on words, but on flashes of light, scents, and movement. In the extraordinary world of insects, this is a daily reality. This talk will take you on a journey into the secret lives of fireflies and bees, exploring how they convey information through visual and chemical signals. Drawing on concepts from physics, mathematics, and computer science, we will uncover the universal rules that insects obey to make their communication efficient and effective.