Events

The Physics and Astronomy Department hold regular seminars and events on a variety of topics. Please see below for further details.

Event Name Date, Time and Host Summary
Revealing the topology of Fermi-surface wave functions from magnetic quantum oscillations
event
-
place
Physics 120
group
Dr. Pavlo Sukhachov
Abstract: In the quantum theory of solids, a metal is distinguished from an insulator by having a Fermi surface - a surface (in momentum space) where "the drama of the life of the electron is played out". Understanding how electrons behave on the Fermi surface is… Show more

Speaker: Prof. Aris Alexandradinata, UC Santa Cruz

TBD
event
-
place
Physics Library (223A)

Speaker: Bo Yang

Computational design of optimal heterostructure materials for monoclinic Ga2O3
event
-
place
Physics room 223a
group
Pontus Laurell
Ga2O3, a wide-band gap semiconductor, is of interest for high-power devices and deep-UV photodetectors. Many of these applications require the formation of heterostructures to create a conduction-band offset to confine charge carriers. This is commonly achieved… Show more

Speaker: Prof. Hartwin Peelaers, Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of Kansas

MU Department of Physics and Astronomy Open House
event
-
place
Physics Building First Floor
group
Yun Zhang
Being Human in Physics; Or, the class I taught on how not to be a jerk.
event
-
place
Physics 120
group
Dr. Pontus Laurell
Abstract: In 2019, the physics department at UT Austin learned that women undergraduates were leaving the physics major at roughly twice the rate of men leaving the major. Through interviews with current and former students we learned that this was largely the result… Show more

Speaker: Prof. Vernita Gordon, The University of Texas at Austin

Dissertation Defense
event
-
place
Physics Library (223A)

Speaker: Alec Martin

Host material incorporated into biofilm matrices has the potential to provide a pathogen-agnostic approach to treating biofilm infections.
event
-
place
Physics 223A
group
Pontus Laurell
Abstract: Biofilms are aggregates of single-cell organisms that are stuck to each other by a matrix of polymer and protein. Establishment of a biofilm infection creates a reservoir of pathogens that tolerate antibiotics and evade the immune system, can prevent… Show more

Speaker: Prof. Vernita Gordon, The University of Texas at Austin

Quantum-Enhanced Sensing via Squeezed Light and On-Chip Optical Resonators
event
-
place
Physics Library
group
Guang Bian
Quantum sensing enables precision measurements beyond classical limits by exploiting quantum properties such as entanglement and squeezing. These resources allow us to detect extremely weak signals—such as minute magnetic fields, subtle forces, or small phase shifts—… Show more

Speaker: Dr. Fu Li, Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis

O.M. Stewart Colloquium
event
-
place
Physics 120
group
Dr. Keith Cassidy
Abstract: TBD

Speaker: Prof. Juan Perilla, University of Delaware

Dissertation Defense
event
-
place
Physics Library (223A)

Speaker: Vishal Jayswal

Bioprinting and 3D-Cell Assays Using Microgel Support Baths
event
-
place
Physics room 223a
group
Pontus Laurell
At relatively low polymer concentrations, granular hydrogel particles, commonly called microgels, undergo a jamming transition and behave like a soft elastic solid with reversible yielding. Over the past decade, these microgel packings have been utilized as… Show more

Speaker: Prof. Christopher S. O'Bryan, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, MU

Dissertation Defense
event
-
place
Physics Library (223A)

Speaker: Teja Teppala

TBD
event
-
place
Physics 223A
group
Pontus Laurell

Speaker: Prof. Hui Zhao, Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of Kansas