Join UK's Folklore & Mythology Club in a full event of games, food, crafts and even a prize or two.

Come join UK's Folklore & Mythology Club for a meeting where we use Creepypasta to create the funniest Mad Libs.

Dr. Erik Henriksen, Washington University, St. Louis

Title:  Thermal transport in atomically thin materials

Abstract: Inspired by the potential to study quantum spin liquid-related phenomena in unusual magnetic materials, we are developing methods to measure thermal properties of single- and few-layer atomically thin materials, as well as thicker flakes. We will briefly introduce the Kitaev-type quantum spin liquid and the most promising material candidate at the moment, a-RuCl3, and then review some recent experimental progress including a surprisingly large and useful charge transfer when a-RuCl3 is placed in proximity to other materials. The remainder of the talk will cover our latest work on a technique to simultaneously measure the thermal conductivity and specific heat in suspended quasi-2D systems, starting with SiN membranes and moving on to flakes of a-RuCl3, hexagonal boron nitride, and also the antiferromagnet FePS3.

Title: Fundamental physics with cold and ultracold neutrons

Abstract: Thanks to their lack of charge, neutrons can be powerful probes to study fundamental aspects of the weak and strong nuclear forces unhampered by electromagnetic effects. However, for the same reason tools and techniques to make neutrons useful for fundamental physics are quite different from other fields of subatomic physics. This presentation will explain the principles of neutron production, moderation and transport and showcase examples of the fundamental physics that can be explored with neutrons.

Title: Hamiltonian approach to near extremal black hole physics

Abstract: Much progress has been made in recent years on understanding near-extremal black holes, primarily through the Euclidean path integral. These findings include large backreaction effects at both classical and quantum levels.  However, a Lorentzian formulation of these effects, as needed to describe black holes formed from collapse along with other dynamical processes, is not well understood. I will describe an approach to this problem based on the Hamiltonian formulation of gravity. In this formulation we can make contact with earlier Euclidean results while also generalizing to inherently Lorentzian processes like black hole formation. 

Dr. Deborah Ferguson, The University of Rhode Island

Title: Using Numerical Relativity for Gravitational-Wave Astronomy

Abstract: Ten years ago, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory detected gravitational waves from merging black holes for the first time. In the 10 years since, we've observed nearly 400 more binary mergers. This is only expected to improve as next-generation detectors, such as the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, are already under development and promise even higher sensitivities. 

Detecting and characterizing these signals relies upon having a strong understanding of the expected gravitational waves from such systems. This understanding is provided by numerical relativity, which computationally solves Einstein's equations. In this talk we'll discuss the current and future state of gravitational-wave astronomy as well as how we use numerical relativity to enable such observations.