Radiations

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Carleton College

OCTOBER 16-22, 2005

October 18 (Tuesday) Ivan Deutsch from the University of New Mexico will give a talk over pizza noon-1:00 pm in Olin 04.

The title of Ivan’s talk is Quantum Information Processing with Ultracold Atomic Qubits

Abstract: The end of the twentieth century saw the coming together of two of its greatest intellectual achievements -- digital information processing and quantum mechanics. What lies ahead of Moore's road map of ever shrinking microprocessor components is not just a tinier version of devises, but a broad new principle based on quantum superpositions and nonlocal entanglement. A particularly promising scheme employs some of the coolest matter around -- the optical lattice -- neutral atoms trapped in a virtual crystal of light.

October 19 (Wednesday) Linda Rossi’s Optic Nerve Opening Goodsell Observatory 4:30 pm.

A small celebration will be held for photography professor Linda Rossi’s installation in progress “Optic Nerve” which pays homage to the wonderful history of Goodsell, to optic devices including telescopes, cameras, and more. Light refreshments will be served and all are invited.

October 20 (Thursday) Physics Table, 12:00-1:00 pm, LDC 113

Plan to have lunch with physics students and staff at the LDC at noon. We can meet on 3^rd Olin at 11:55 for the short walk to the dining hall or you can meet us there. All are welcome.

October 20 (Thursday) Richard Wolfson a visiting Middlebury Physics Professor will give a lecture on metaphor in physics 7 pm Boliou 104.

We all use metaphors in everyday language. Surely science must be beyond the use of these imprecise devices to explain nature!   But no!  In fact, modern physics abounds with metaphor.  Richard Wolfson, the Benjamin F. Wissler Professor of Physics at Middlebury College, will present a lecture, “Like a Work of Shakespeare:  Reality and Metaphor in Modern Physics.”  The talk, aimed at an audience of nonscientists and scientists together, will explore metaphorical connections between modern physics and the humanities.   All are welcome to attend the talk.

October 21 (Friday) All Science and Math Sigma Xi Poster Session will take place 3:30-4:45 pm in Hulings Atrium. Students who did summer research at Carleton or elsewhere will be presenting their results in poster format. Please come support them! You are welcome to come and go over the hour. Everyone is strongly encouraged to attend and talk with some of the presenters about their projects. You'll learn a lot of new and interesting science and math. The Carleton Board of Trustees will be attending the All Science and Math Poster Session from 4:15-4:45 pm. We ask that you please stay until 4:45 pm, especially if you are presenting a poster. There will be plenty of yummy Halloween food to satisfy your late afternoon appetite. And this is a great opportunity to celebrate student creative achievements with the Trustees, in person!

Co-sponsored by Sigma Xi and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute grant to Carleton.

FYI:

Student Workers: Tuesday October 18 is the last day of the current payroll period. Please have you hours worked entered, totaled, and your signature on the timesheet by noon on Wednesday. The timesheets are in a binder in 3^rd Olin Lounge. Please check the “past timesheet” section for incomplete timesheets.

The Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship Program provides outstanding benefits and opportunities to students pursuing a Ph.D. in scientific or engineering disciplines with an emphasis in high-performance computing. Fellows also participate in research at a DOE laboratory. Applications must be received by January 11, 2006. For more information visit www.krellinst.org/csgf.

The deadline for materials to be included in Radiations is noon Thursday prior to the week you would like the information to appear. Contact mdrew@carleton.edu if you want to be added or removed from this mailing list.