Speaker:

Brian Anderson

University of Arizona

Title:

Exploring the Quantum Universe with Light

Host:

Stanley Pau

Abstract:

Did you know that the College of Optical Sciences holds the record for the coldest temperatures ever recorded in Arizona?  Or that optics and lasers are crucial for cooling matter to a few billionths of a degree above absolute zero?  Such ultracold gases of atoms, called Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs), are routinely made here at the University of Arizona.  They have become one of the hottest tools in physics research, from studies of the quantum mechanical world of the very small and cold, to principles involving the evolution and structure of the Universe.  In this colloquium, I will first describe how light is used to create, manipulate, and observe these cold objects. I will point out some of the remarkable relationships between BECs and laser light, and provide insight into an emerging field of physics:  coherent atom optics.  I will finally focus on how BECs and laser light can be used together in studies of fundamental physics, emphasizing recent experimental accomplishments of my research group at the College of Optical Sciences.

Speaker:

Anthony Tyson

University of California, Davis

Title:

The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope: Optics for Gravity's Lens

Host:

Stanley Pau

Abstract:

Fueled by advances in software, microelectronics, and large optics fabrication, a new type of sky survey is being designed.  In a relentless campaign of 15 second exposures, the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope will cover the sky deeply every few nights, opening a new window on faint objects that change or move: exploding supernovae, potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids, etc.  The superb images from the LSST will also chart billions of remote galaxies in 4-D: their gravitationally lensed images provide a probe of the mysterious Dark Matter and Dark Energy.  Thirty TB of multi-color images per night will be transformed into a new view of our four dimensional universe.

Speaker:

Robert Greenler

Emeritus Professor, Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Title:

Seeing With the Mind as Well as the Eye

Hosts:

Stephen Jacobs and James Wyant

Abstract:

In this presentation I will attempt to describe a way of looking at the world - a way of seeing beyond the immediate observation.  Since what we perceive is strongly influenced by what we already know, the examples I will present will be quite personal.  However, they illustrate a way of looking at nature that I believe can be very important for a scientist, and can, in addition, enhance our pleasure in walking through the world.

Bio:

Dr. Robert Greenler is Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he has been a faculty member since 1962.  He has been instrumental in the development of the Laboratory for Surface Studies at Milwaukee, an internationally recognized interdisciplinary laboratory that has been the focus for much of his research effort.

He is the organizer of "The Science Bag," a series of public science programs in Milwaukee that has had over 160,000 attenders since it was started in 1973.  He has been the producer of a series of 30 videotape versions of selected Science Bag programs that are sold over the country for classroom use.

Another area of his interest concerns the study of optical effects of the sky.  His book, Rainbows, Halos, and Glories, was published by Cambridge University Press in 1980 and has been reprinted in paperback edition by Peanut Butter Publishing.  This interest in optical sky phenomena has taken him on three field trips to the U.S. Antarctic Research Station located at the South Pole.

Professor Greenler served at the president of the Optical Society of America in 1987.  In 1988 he received the Millikan Lecture Award of the American Association of Physics Teachers for the 'creative teaching of Physics" and in 1993, the first Esther Hoffman Beller Award to be awarded by the Optical Society of America for "...extraordinary leadership in advancing the public appreciation and understanding of science...".

In 2002, his name was placed on a bronze plaque at the Spaights Plaza on the campus of the university of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as an individual "...who has made significant, enduring, and campus-wide contributions to the growth and development of the university of Wisconsin-Milwaukee."

His latest book, Chasing the Rainbow: Recurrences in the Life of a Scientist, was published in 2000 by Elton Wolf.

Dr. Greenler lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

Speaker:

Leslie Tolbert

University of Arizona

Title:

Microscopic Studies of Intercellular Interactions Critical for the Development of Brain Circuitry

Host:

James Wyant

Abstract:

My research group is interested in mechanisms underlying the development of complex neural circuitry.  We focus on development of the olfactory system and use convenient model organisms, a moth and the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster, for our studies.  Experiments are aimed at understanding the cellular and molecular basis of key cellular interactions that influence the guidance of olfactory receptor axons to their targets in the brain and their subsequent influence on the development of those target neurons.  Using laser scanning confocal microscopy, video microscopy, and electron microscopy, as well as biochemical, molecular biological, and electrophysiological techniques, we have discovered that the influence of sensory input on the development of brain circuitry is mediated by glial cells, cells previously thought to play only more passive roles.  We currently are exploring the molecular underpinnings of reciprocal interactions between developing neurons and glial cells.  Our results to date make predictions about roles for glial cells in development in more complicated mammalian nervous systems.

Bio:

Leslie Tolbert, a faculty member at the University of Arizona since 1987, is a Regents’ Professor in the Arizona Research Laboratories Division of Neurobiology, with a joint appointment in the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy. She became Vice President for Research, Graduate Studies, and Economic Development in July 2005. 

Leslie received her A.B. in applied mathematics from Radcliffe College (Harvard University) and her Ph.D. in neuroanatomy from the Division of Medical Sciences of Harvard University in 1978.  She held a postdoctoral fellowship with John Hildebrand (now at the UA!) at Harvard Medical School and then was a research associate with Ron Calabrese at Harvard’s Biological Laboratories.  She then was a faculty member at Georgetown University School of Medicine for five years before moving to the University of Arizona in 1987.

She leads a research group that studies mechanisms underlying the important role of sensory input in guiding the development of sensory areas of the brain, carrying out their research in experimentally advantageous insect model systems.  She has taught undergraduate, graduate, and medical students, and is a member of several graduate programs, including the campus-wide GIDP in Neuroscience, which she chaired for seven years, and the GIDP in Applied Math, for which she served on the steering committee for many years. 

Outside of the university, Leslie recently served as president of the Association for Chemoreception Sciences and is currently a councilor of the Society for Neuroscience.  She sits on the editorial board of Chemical Senses and was an associate editor of The Journal of Comparative Neurology from 2001 to 2005. 

Speaker:

Diana Huffaker

University of California Los Angeles

Title:

Patterned inAs Quantum Dot and Nanopillars Formation and Characterization

Host:

Jerome Moloney

Abstract:

We overview our work in controlled patterned nanostructure formation and dependence MOCVD growth parameters. Our patterned quantum dot (PQDs) are formed atop the (001) apex of a GaAs pyramidal buffer to achieve sufficiently small growth platform for quantized carrier confinement and to separate the recombination region from the processed interface. The GaAs pyramids are characterized by well-defined equilibrium crystal shapes (ECS) defined by three crystal plane families including {11n}, {10n} and (001).  Subsequent patterned QD (PQD) nucleation on the GaAs pyramidal facets is highly preferential towards the (11n) planes due to superior energy minimization and the shape of the QDs on the (11n) planes is also highly predictable and uniform.  The GaAs pyramid formation strongly correlates to the pyramidal shape and to the subsequent PQD PL characteristics.  The wavelength of the patterned In(Ga)As QDs can be controlled and ranges from 950 nm to as long as 1.6 μm.  Several aspects to be discussed are the effects of crystallographic structure measured using photoluminescence and SEM.  By controlling crystal faceting, we are able to form coupled quantum clusters along with truly isolated QDs. This initial work correlates the basic PQD characteristics to the GaAs pyramidal buffer formation.  Our ongoing studies include time resolved photoluminescence and photo-excitation luminescence studies to further elucidate band-structure. Planarization and overgrowth for room temperature light emitting diodes will also be described.

Bio:

Professor Diana Huffaker received her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin with dissertation studies focused on vertical cavity microlasers and other quantum dot devices.

Prior to joining the University of California at Los Angeles, she was Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at the Univeresity of New Mexico at the Center for High Technology Materials.  She has also served as Senior Research Scientist at Picolight Incorporated in Boulder, CO. Her research interests include directed and self-assembled nanostructure solid-state epitaxy, optoelectronic devices for energy and biosensing applications with special emphasis in III-V/Si photonics.  Professor Huffaker has co-authored over 120 refereed journal publications, 2 awarded patents with 8 disclosures pending, 2 book chapters and has reported her work through many invited presentations.  She has been awarded the 2002 Compound Semiconductor International Symposium Young Scientist Award for developments in novel quantum dot and selectively oxidized optoelectronic materials and devices including the first oxide-confined VCSEL and the first 1.3 mm self-organized quantum dot laser.  She recently received the 2004 Alexander von Humboldt research fellowship to study (In)GaN quantum dot light emitters at Technical University Berlin.  She is an active participant in the technical community with appointments in IEEE/LEOS, SPIE, WISE, MRS, OSA and TMS.  She is an elected member of the IEEE/LEOS Board of Governors and IEEE WIE Region 6 chairman.

Speaker:

Jack Jewell

Title:

VCSELs

Host:

Russell Chipman

Abstract:

VCSELs are great for datacommunications and computer mice, with about 100 million in the field, and more products are on the way.  VCSEL history, technology and applications are presented, seasoned by the speaker’s 27-year involvement, including the contribution of OSC and a roller-coaster ride through the telecom bubble and crash.

Speaker:

Fred Wudl

University of California Santa Barbara

Title:

Organic Electronics:  Plastic Solar Cells and White Light Emission

Host:

Nasser Peyghambarian

Abstract:

Though an organic semiconductor’s light-emission upon application of an electric field and production of electricity upon irradiation are based on the same concept, the design of the materials involved in each process and fabrication of the devices for each process have challenges that are particular to either photoemission or photovoltage generation.

In this presentation we will discuss the design and synthesis of molecules and polymers for applications in organic electronics. The principal applications are in light-emitting devices, particularly the production of white light and photovoltaic devices. The results and challenges in both camps will be presented.

Speaker:

Michael Marcellin

University of Arizona

Title:

An Overview of Digital Cinema

Host:

Kurtis Thome

Abstract:

A consortium of Hollywood studios, known as Digital Cinema Initiatives  (DCI), has selected JPEG2000 for future distribution of motion pictures.  This selection was based in part on the fact that JPEG2000 is an open international standard that can support both 2K and 4K resolution projectors from a single codestream. The talk will give an overview of digital cinema, including discussions on image quality, color space selection, security, business issues, and JPEG2000 profiles.