Special Department of Physics Seminar
Dr. Tianlu Yuan
Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center (WIPAC) and the University of Wisconsin Madison

Abstract: Neutrinos are weakly interacting particles, making them uniquely difficult to detect and at the same time surprisingly useful probes of fundamental physics at the largest and smallest scales. To detect astrophysical neutrinos, the IceCube Neutrino Observatory transforms a cubic-kilometer of ice at the South Pole into a weak-force telescope. Since its completion a decade ago, IceCube has discovered the existence of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos, found the first evidence of the Glashow resonance, probed neutrino interactions at the highest energy scales and is beginning to unveil individual sources of neutrinos from outer space. In this talk, I will highlight these results, discuss the technical challenges involved, and provide an outlook for the future with IceCube-Gen2.

Dr. Daniel Stern

Highlights from the NuSTAR Satellite

NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, launched in June 2012, and is the first telescope in orbit to focus high energy X-ray light.  High energy X-ray light provides a unique probe of the most energetic phenomena in the universe, from flares on the surface of the Sun, to the explosions of stars, to the extreme environments around neutron stars and black holes.  NuSTAR has discovered new classes of objects, such as neutron stars accreting at prodigious rates, and has provided uniquely robust measurements of how fast black holes are spinning.  Compared to the previous generation of non-focusing observatories working in this energy band, NuSTAR's change in technology provides 10x sharper images and 100x greater sensitivity.  This talk will present some of the highlights from the NuSTAR mission and describe how they are changing our picture of the extreme universe.

A live stream of the event will be available at http://livestream.com/CreightonUniversity/NuSTAR.

Abstract: The research presented in this thesis was carried out with the ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) detector at the CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) LHC (Large Hadron Collider). Two feasibility studies are conducted for Run 2 energies at the LHC. The first case studies the photo-production process of the ηc meson decaying to a four particle final state, π⁺π^-K⁺K^- in Pb-Pb ultra-peripheral collisions (UPCs).

How Fast is Ultrafast: Non-Equilibrium Quantum Matter at 10^-15 s

Dr. Jigang Wang

Associate Professor and Staff Scientist
Dept. of Physics, Iowa State University
Materials Science and Engineering Division: Ames Laboratory

The challenge to push the gigahertz (109 hertz) switching speed-limit of today’s logic and magnetic memory devices into the terahertz (1012 hertz) regime underlies the entire field of information processing, storage, communication as well as integrated multi-functional systems. I will discuss to implement an emerging theme: use ultrashort laser pulses to achieve ultrafast control of quantum materials and explore non-equilibrium quantum dynamics at femtosecond (fs, 10^-15 s) timescales. This cross-cutting theme has merged different disciplines of current focus including condensed matter physics, quantum materials, ultrafast nonlinear optics, nano-photonics/-electronics... These provide increasing evidence, both from intellectual and practical point of view, on a paradigm shift for modern science and technology to engage ultrafast physics and technology. I will show some snapshots from recent published work from my group [1-5] to meet this ultrafast challenge.

Dr. Steve Rolston
Professor & Co-Director
Joint Quantum Institute
Dept. of Physics, University of Maryland

Where is My Quantum Computer?

Twenty years ago mathematician Peter Shor proved that a computer based on the laws of quantum mechanics could in principle factor large numbers in polynomial time, a problem believed to be exponentially difficult for classical computation.  Given the importance of this problem to modern cryptography, it understandably stimulated a great deal of excitement and effort.  Dozens of candidate systems have been proposed and many worked on, but we are still many years away from a machine that threatens our financial transactions.  In this talk I will highlight the challenges to build large, controllable systems that maintain their quantum character, and look at where we are, where we will be going, and what we have learned along the way.

From Physicist to Patent Lawyer
Matt Poulsen, Ph.D.
Suiter – Swantz pc llo

Patent law represents an intriguing career choice for many in the science and engineering disciplines.  The number of patent applications filed in the U.S. has steadily risen for the past two decades.  With the increased focus on intellectual property by developing economies, such as China and India, U.S. and foreign patent related activity will undoubtedly continue to grow.  Couple this with changing U.S. patent law and the demand for skilled patent attorneys and agents will likely remain strong in the foreseeable future. Not surprisingly, patent attorneys must possess strong technical, reasoning and writing skills.  Physicists are uniquely situated in this regard and will generally find a smooth transition to patent law.  Opportunities exist in patent law for patent attorneys, patent agents, technical advisors and patent examiners working in a broad spectrum of technological areas and settings. These settings include large law firms, boutique law firms, large and small companies, university technology transfer offices and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. 

Matt is currently a patent attorney at Suiter Swantz pc llo and counsels clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small startups on a variety of intellectual property matters.  In this discussion, he will touch on a variety of patent related topics and provide a general overview of career opportunities in patent law.  He will describe his experience in transitioning from a freshly minted Ph.D. physicist to a patent attorney (including life as a law student) and his personal experiences as a patent attorney, providing a snapshot of what one career path in patent law may look like.