[Title] "Modeling non-linearities in the ringdown of colliding black holes"
[Speaker] Prof. Manuel Tiglio
[Institution] University of Maryland
[Abstract] I will present a new covariant and gauge invariant formalism for arbitrary second order perturbations of (non-rotating) black holes. Next I will discuss a numerical implementation of such formalism and studies of the gravitational radiation generated by self-coupling of linear perturbations. Finally, I will review some ongoing comparisons with full non-linear simulations of colliding black holes. One of the goals of this ongoing effort is to gain further insights in the late stages of colliding black holes and its analytical modeling. A second motivation comes from the possibility of LISA being able to detect a second ringdown mode.
When: Mon, November 23, 2009 - 11:00am
Where: 4102 Physics Building

Title: Top Quark and New Physics
Speaker: Qing-Hong Cao
Affiliation: Argonne National Lab
When: Mon, November 23, 2009 - 11:15am
Where: Physics Rm. 2202

Title : AppEl Seminar - A wave chaos approach to understanding and mitigating directed energy effects
Speaker Name: Steven Anlage
Speaker Institution : UMD - Physics
Notes: Bring your lunch. Beverages will be provided.
When: Mon, November 23, 2009 - 12:00pm
Where: 1207 Energy Research Facility

Title : Applied Hyperentanglement
Speaker Name: Paul Kwiat
Speaker Institution : University of Illinois Abstract : In addition to displaying strong nonclassical correlations in polarization, energy, momentum and spatial mode, photons from spontaneous downconversion may be entangled in multiple degrees of freedom simultaneously (“hyperentangled”). Such hyperentangled states reside in a much larger Hilbert space, and enable new capabilities in quantum communication and metrology. For example, hyperentanglement enables one to deterministically identify all four maximally entangled Bell states, leading to improved quantum dense coding. I will discuss this results and it’s extensions, in addition to another application, the remote preparation of entangled polarization/spatial-mode states. Specifically, by making a particular measurement on one photon of a hyperentangled pair (effectively a CNOT gate between polarization and spatial mode), Alice may remotely prepare Bob’s photon in entangled state of these two degrees of freedom. One example is a ‘radial-polarization’!

state, in which the polarization of a light beam is everywhere radially directed. Such states have been shown to enable the largest possible longitudinal electric field component in the focal point of a lens, as well as the most efficient mode converter for light-atom coupling in free space. More generally, using these techniques, a wide range of other complex entangled polarization-spatial modes may be remotely prepared.The remotely prepared photons were analyzed in two ways, by quantum state tomography of the entire beam in the spin-orbit basis, and by direct tomography of the polarization state over the transverse spatial mode, using a small scanning pinhole.
When: Mon, November 23, 2009 - 12:30pm
Where: 1201 Physics

[Title] "Phenomenology of General Neutralino NLSPs"
[Speaker] Dr. Matthew Reece
[Institution] Princeton Center for Theoretical Science, Princeton University
[Abstract] I will discuss the collider phenomenology of gauge mediation models where a general neutralino is the lightest MSSM superpartner (the NLSP), focusing on the potential reach from existing and future Tevatron searches. Promptly decaying general neutralino NLSPs can give rise to final states involving missing energy plus photons, Zs, Ws and/or Higgses. I will survey the final states where the Tevatron should have the most sensitivity, estimate the reach of existing Tevatron searches, and discuss new searches (or optimizations of existing ones) that should improve the reach. I will also briefly discuss prospects at the LHC and the scenario with macroscopically displaced NLSP decays.
When: Mon, November 23, 2009 - 3:00pm
Where: 4102 Physics Building

Title : Water, Water Everywhere . . . Even in Amyloid Fibrils?
Speaker Name: Professor Robin Hochstrasser
Speaker Institution : University of Pennsylvania
Notes: Refreshments at 3:45pm
When: Mon, November 23, 2009 - 4:00pm
Where: IPST Bldg. 085, Room 1116

Title : Connecting the Sun to the Earth Through Solar Irradiance
Speaker Name: Phillip C. Chamberlin
Speaker Institution : NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Abstract : The solar photon output, which was once thought to be constant, varies over all time scales from seconds during solar flares to years due to the solar cycle, and even longer-term variations throughout the life of the Sun. These solar variations cause significant deviations in the Earth and space environments on similar time scales, such as affecting the atmospheric densities and composition of particular atoms, molecules, and ions in the atmospheres of the Earth and other planets. These changes then affect many things including satellite drag, radio communications, and the accuracy of the Global Positioning System (GPS). Presented and discussed will be examples of the accurate, space-based measurements of the integrated photon output of the Sun, referred to as the solar irradiance, with the main focus on the X-ray and ultraviolet wavelength regions of the spectrum as well as the total solar irradiance (TSI). Connections will then be made to show how changes in the!

solar ultraviolet irradiance on the minutes to years time scales drive changes in the Earth, Moon, and Mars and lead to challenges in a society that is becoming more and more dependent on technologically.
When: Mon, November 23, 2009 - 4:30pm
Where: CSS 23400

Title: Neutron Electric Dipole Moment in Minimal Left-Right Symmetric Model

Speaker Name: Fanrong Xu
Speaker Institutions: China Academy of Science and University of Maryland

Abstract: The neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM) in the minimal left-right symmetric model with both explicit and spontaneous CP violations is calculated in the effective theory approach. We systematically analyze Wilson coefficient of all the possible operators. It is noticed that neutron electric dipole moment receive significant contributions from flavor-neutral P-odd and CP-odd four-quark operators. However, considerable uncertainties exist in calculating the hadronic matrix elements of these operators, strongly affecting the experimental constraints on CP-violating parameters in these theories. We study their hadronic matrix elements in combined chiral perturbation theory and nucleon models. Using the state-of-the-art hadronic matrix elements, we obtain the nEDM as a function of right-handed W-boson mass and CP-violating parameters. We use the current limit on nEDM combined with the kaon-decay parameter epsilon to provide the most stringent constraint yet on the left-right symmetric scale MWR > (10 ± 3) TeV.
When: Wed, November 25, 2009 - 1:00pm
Where: Physics, Rm. 2202

Title: Resonant Dark Matter
Speaker: Yang Bai
Speaker Institute: Fermilab, Batavia IL
Abstract: We propose an alternative form of dark matter-nucleus scattering which only probes a narrow range of dark matter velocities due to the
existence of a resonance, a dark matter-nucleus bound state. The scattering cross section becomes highly element dependent, has increased modulation and as a result can explain the DAMA/LIBRA results whilst not being in
conflict with other direct detection experiments.
When: Mon, November 30, 2009 - 11:15am
Where: Physics Rm. 2202

Title : Appel Seminar - Nanophotonic devices for secure communications and sensing
Speaker Name: Edo Waks
Speaker Institution : UMD - ECE, IREAP
Notes: Bring your lunch. Beverages will be provided.
When: Mon, November 30, 2009 - 12:00pm
Where: 1207 Energy Research Facility

Title : Is smell a quantum phenomenon?
Speaker Name: Luca Turin
Speaker Institution : Biological Engineering, MIT
Abstract : Our sense of smell is a extraordinarily good at molecular recognition: we can identify tens of thousands of odorants unerringly over a wide concentration range. The mechanism by which this happens do so is still hotly debated. One view is that molecular shape governs smell, but this notion has turned out to have very little predictive power. Some years ago I revived a discredited theory that posits instead that the nose is a vibrational spectroscope, and proposed a possible underlying mechanism, inelastic electron tunneling. In my talk I will review the history and salient facts of this problem and describe some recent experiments that go some way towards settling the question.
When: Mon, November 30, 2009 - 12:30pm
Where: PHYS1201

Speaker: Bill Atalay from the University of Mary Washington.
Title: "Leonardo and the Unity of Art and Science"
When: Tue, December 1, 2009 - 4:00pm
Where: PHYS 1410

Title: Space-Time Reduction of Large-N Gauge Theories
Speaker: Barak Bringoltz
Affiliation: University of Washington, Seattle

Abstract: Space-time reduction is a remarkable property of large-N gauge theories that allows one to perform lattice simulations on very small volumes. I plan to explain this idea, review its history, and discuss recent developments in the context of gauge theories with fermions in high representations of the gauge group. Such theories are of relevance to QCD and to physics which is beyond the standard model.
When: Wed, December 2, 2009 - 12:00pm
Where: Physics Rm. 2202

Title :Optimizing low Reynolds number locomotion
Speaker Name: Peko Hosei
Speaker Institution : Dept of Mechanical Engineering, MIT
When: Thu, December 3, 2009 - 12:15pm
Where: 1207 Energy Research Facility

[Title] Atomic- and Molecular- Scale Devices: Beyond DC Electronic Transport
[Speaker] Professor Douglas Natelson
[Institution] Rice University
[Abstract] Techniques developed over the last two decades have led to tremendous
progress in measuring electronic conduction through atomic- and
molecular-scale structures. Interpreting those measurements with the
help of theoretical models has given great insight into the processes that
can take place in these quantum systems driven out of equilibrium.
However, as useful as DC characterization has been, there is a growing
realization that going beyond simple measurements of conduction can
pay significant benefits. I will present two examples of this new
approach. In the first, we use shot noise, the intrinsic fluctuations in
current caused by the discreteness of the electronic charge, to examine
the quantum character of conduction in atomic-scale metal junctions at
room temperature. In the second, we combine electronic transport
studies with surface-enhanced Raman scattering to see the effects of
inelastic electron-vibrational scattering at the single-molecule level.
Host: Min Ouyang
When: Thu, December 3, 2009 - 2:00pm
Where: 1201 Physics Building

Title : AppEl Seminar - Control of molecular alignment in the atmosphere for enhanced long-range propagation and detection
Speaker Name: Howard Milchberg
Speaker Institution : UMD - IREAP,ECE,IPST,PHYSICS
When: Mon, December 7, 2009 - 12:15pm
Where: 1207 Energy Research Facility

Title : Non-equilibrium Dynamics of Strongly Interacting Bosonic and Fermionic Quantum Gases Speaker Name: : Immanuel Bloch Speaker Institution : Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics Abstract : Ultracold quantum gases offer novel and intriguing possibilities to probe the dynamical evolution of strongly correlated quantum systems far from equilibrium. We report on recent experiments, in which we have analyzed the transport behaviour of fermionic quantum gases in an optical lattices. We find three distinct transport regimes for non-interacting, weakly- and strongly-interacting quantum gas mixtures for both attractive and repulsive interactions. In a second series of experiments we probe the quantum dynamics of 1D ladder systems far from equilibrium. Here we investigate generalized Landau-Zener transitions between two Luttinger liquids, for which we find striking effects of ground state phase transitions that manifest in the dynamical evolution of the system. Finally, we report on our recent experimental progress towards single atom and single site addressing in a 3D optical lattice using a high numerical aperture optical microscope.
When: Mon, December 7, 2009 - 12:30pm
Where: 1201 Physics

Title : Cosmic Ray Modulation over the Past 10,000 Years
Speaker Name: Ken McCracken
Speaker Institution: IPST, University of Maryland

The cosmogenic nuclides, 10Be and 14C, provide two independent records of the cosmic ray intensity at Earth, each stretching back >10,000 years. They exhibit several prominent and large amplitude periodicities; the Hale (11/ 22yr); Gleissberg (~85yr): de Vries (208 yr); and Hallstatt (2200 yr). In the period under study, there have been twenty two “Grand Minima” events in the cosmic ray intensity, similar to those accompanying the Maunder (1645-1715) and Spoerer (1420-1540) minima. During these events, the cosmic ray intensity at Earth has approached that of the local interstellar spectrum. These features of the paleo-cosmic ray record will be discussed, showing that the “instrumental era” has represented one of the more active intervals (but not most active) in the past 10,000 yr. The until recently poorly known Hallstatt (2200yr) periodicity will be discussed in some detail, showing that the “Grand Minima” events usually coincide with the Hallstatt minima, !

leading to the prediction that there may be no more deep Grand Minima for another 1000 years. The cosmogenic data have been used to estimate the strength of the interplanetary magnetic field throughout the 10,000 yr interval, yielding 25 yr averages of ~1 nT during deep Grand Minima, and ~8nT during the maxima of the Hallstatt cycle. The solar implications will be discussed. Finally, the understanding gained from the paleo-cosmic ray record will be used to discuss the significance of the current “prolonged sunspot minimum”, and the potential that it presents to provide improved understanding of the heliospheric conditions in the past.
Institution : IPST, University of Maryland
Abstract
When: Mon, December 7, 2009 - 4:30pm
Where: CSS 2400

Speaker: Simon A. Levin, Princeton University
When: Tue, December 8, 2009 - 4:00pm
Where: PHYS 1410

Title: The Large N Limit of Four-Dimensional Yang-Mills Field Coupled to Adjoint Fermions on a Single Site Lattice
Speaker: Rajamani Narayanan
Institution: Florida International Univ., Miami

Abstract: We consider the large N limit of four-dimensional SU(N) Yang-Mills field coupled to adjoint fermions on a single site lattice. We use perturbative techniques to show that the center-symmetries are broken with naive fermions but they are not broken with overlap fermions. We use numerical techniques to support this result. We also present evidence for a non-zero chiral condensate for one and two Majorana flavors at one value of the lattice gauge coupling.
When: Wed, December 9, 2009 - 1:00pm
Where: Physics Rm. 2202