Josh Hanson-Kaplan
Wednesday, February 22 2023
3:10 pm in Olin 141
Using the Higgs Portal to Detect Dark Matter
The newfound ability to produce and detect the Higgs Boson in the Large Hadron Collider(LHC) has produced an incredible opportunity in the search for exotic particles, specifically, dark matter. Throughout this paper I will look to show why physicists have such a high degree of confidence in the existence of dark matter, what we expect from Higgs boson decays in the LHC, and how these decays may directly detect dark matter once and for all. In this process I will delve into the astrophysical impossibilities that imply that the standard model only accounts for 17% of the mass of the universe as well as briefly delving into a few other detection methods.
Thomas Monson
Friday, February 27 2023
3:30 pm in Olin 141
Energy Efficiency of Superconducting Maglev Transportation
Public transportation in the United States has always been a step behind. The only options for long distance travel across the country are cars, Greyhound buses, or airplanes. All of these modes use up lots of energy and emit a lot of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Magnetic levitation technology may be one possible answer to the faults of interstate long distance travel. The Japanese maglev rail series L0 uses technology that makes trains cleaner, safer, and faster through the use of superconducting electromagnets and clever stabilization mechanisms. The MDoT plans to build a maglev line between Baltimore and Washington DC to kickstart the use of this technology in the United States. However, the project to build this line has faced a lot of resistance over the past six years of its development, due to its route cutting through important communities and a cost of 15 billion dollars. Many are understandably skeptical that the project will bring about enough economic benefits to offset the cost of its construction. So how can we start to quantify its benefits and drawbacks? I will take the route of calculating its energy efficiency to draw a direct comparison to car, bus, and airplane travel. I will discuss the technology of L0 superconducting maglev transportation, including the linear motor that propels it, the electric and magnetic forces behind its motion, and the role of superconducting magnets to produce the strong magnetic field that brings the technology together.
No talk
Monday, February 27 2023
8:30 am in Olin 141
Elise’s talk has been rescheduled to Monday, March 6th