Radiations
Department
of Physics and Astronomy
Carleton College
You are invited to meet our candidate for the DepartmentÕs
Visiting Assistant Professor position:
Dr. Stephen
Parker. He is a candidate for the two-year
experimentalist position, and is from the Technical University of Denmark.
Thursday, February 26 Noon-12:50
pm Olin
04
Meet Stephen for his classroom
talk, "Fastest Soup in the
Midwest," an introductory physics lecture on rotational kinectic energy.
Friday, February 27 Noon Room
117 LDC
Student-only lunch with Stephen
Friday, February 27 3:40
p.m. Olin
04
Research Talk, "A Bug's Bug's Bug's
Life: Viewing the Nanoscale
World" Properties of metal particles can radically change as their size
decreases from millimeters to microns to nanometers. For instance, large particles of gold are highly unreactive,
whereas nanoparticles of gold can be used as a low temperature CO oxidation
catalyst. In order to gain a more
fundamental understanding of the physics behind these differences, a variety of
surface sensitive techniques such as X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS),
Low Energy Ion Scattering (LEIS), and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) have
been used to explore model systems in the nanoscale world. A description of all these techniques,
as well as experimental and theoretical results from the nucleation, growth,
and thermal stability of nanoparticles, will be discussed.
Student-only reception in the Second
Olin Lounge after the talk. Come and share some
interesting conversation with Stephen and enjoy some delicious refreshments.
Comps Calendar:
February 23, Brynn Barile, ÒHow far the stars? A history of the
astronomical distance scale in the first half of the 20th centuryÓ.
Monday, 3:10-4:20
p.m., Olin 04
Astronomers are constantly delving out into
space to find objects more distant than any seen before. Yet less than a century ago many
believed that everything seen in the night sky belonged in the Milky Way, which
itself was thought to be small by today's standards. What happened in the early 20th century that changed our
thinking? I will explain the
development of new theories and techniques that expanded our view of the
universe by increasing our knowledge of astronomical distances.
February
25, Ashley Ross, ÒCleaning up dark matter with
laundry detergent: How axions may account for 90% of the matter in the universeÓ
Wednesday, 3:10-4:20
p.m., Olin 04
The last 70 years has given rise to the notion
that around ninety percent of the mass of the universe cannot be directly
detected. This undetectable matter
is known as dark matter. Work that
studies galaxies, clusters of galaxies, the cosmic microwave background, and
the theory that governs the universe has put narrow constraints on the nature
of dark matter. A theoretical
particle known as the axion fits these constraints quite well. In my talk, I
will outline the evidence for dark matter, the constraints this evidence puts
on dark matter, and how axions elegantly fit within these constraints.
Introductory papers of upcoming talks are
available in binders in the second and third floor lounges. These will provide you with important
background information and a brief outline of the talks to be presented.
FYI:
Astro 113 Night Lab Spring Term: this is the funnest course in the
College (at least Joel says so).
Make sure to get a signed permission form from him before registering if
you want to take it. Anyone
reading Radiations has sufficient prereqs.
Annual Design of Medical Devices Conference.
The University of Minnesota is looking for up
to 30 undergraduates (outside the U of M) to attend. Anyone interested in
graduate work in biomedical engineering should look into this. It is April 7, 8
and 9 at the Radisson Hotel Metrodome. Accepted students will have expenses
covering hotel, meals and conference fees covered by the U of M. Applications
due by March 4. See Nelson for specific details.
2004 REU and
Internship Information
List of
REU and internship opportunities are also on the Carleton Physics Web at:
http://webapps.acs.carleton.edu/curricular/physics/for_students/summer_jobs_internships/
The deadline for materials to be
included in Radiations is noon Thursday prior to the week you would like the
information to appear.