Particle Physics Seminar
Effective field theory: New physics through precision measurements
Date: 17 February 2017, 13:45 – 14:45
Venue: Physics C36
Speaker: Dr Chris Hays, Oxford
With the discovery of the Higgs boson, the Standard Model (SM) is complete. Yet the SM is itself an incomplete description of nature. One strategy to go beyond this model is to search for new processes through SM measurements. An effective field theory (EFT) describes the impact of these processes as small deviations from the SM in orders of the inverse scale of new physics. A complete fit of the EFT operator coefficients provides a generalised probe for new physics. I discuss the potential for such a fit, focusing on the contributions from precision Higgs and electroweak measurements.
Grainne Wilkinson
Physics Refurbishment – Weekly Update
Please see below details of scheduled works on the Physics refurbishment project for week commencing Monday 20th February.
- Sliding door 1st fix – completed
- Re-Roofing works – low noise, no vibration
- Scaffolding stripping – minimal noise, minimal vibration
- New toilet block façade works – medium noise, minimum vibration
- M&E builders work – high noise, medium vibration
- M&E 1st fix – medium noise, medium vibration
- M&E 2nd fix – medium noise, minimum vibration
- 2nd fix partitions – medium noise, minimum vibration
- 1st fix joinery works – medium noise, minimum vibration
- 2nd fix joinery works – medium noise, minimum vibration
- Plastering – minimal noise, no vibration
- Mist coat decoration – minimal noise, no vibration
- Floor preparation – medium noise, minimum vibration
- Plant room cladding – medium noise, minimum vibration
- Existing toilet block and new entrance brickwork and steelwork – medium noise, medium vibration
- Asbestos removal – medium noise, medium vibration
Should you have any queries regarding the project please contact the Senior Project Manager, Helen Wood, via the Facilities Helpdesk on facilities.helpdesk@lancaster.ac.uk or 01524 593333.
Louisa Duff
Reporting absence for illness – a guide
At the Faculty SHaW sub-committee last week, Jayne May (HR) agreed to supply a user guide so everyone can understand how to input their own sickness absence on the Core system.
This can be found here specifically page 12 of the employee guide contains the self-certification notes.
http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/hr/coreguide/CoreHREmployeev22.pdf
Roger Jones
Astrophysics Seminar – Soft X-ray sources/novae – 24th Feb
Title: High-resolution X-ray spectra of Super Soft X-ray Sources
Speaker: Jan-Uwe Ness (European Space Astronomy Centre, Madrid)
Time: 3pm on Friday 24th February 2017
Venue: Bowland North SR 03
Abstract:
Super-Soft X-ray Sources (SSS) are a small class of X-ray sources characterised by a blackbody-like spectrum of effective temperature
30-100 eV (several 10^5 K) and luminosities above 10^36 erg/s. Owing to their softness, galactic SSS are more difficult to observe and interpret because of high galactic extinction and uncertain distances, respectively. While a small number of permanent SSS are known since the 80s, novae have been predicted to pass through a phase of SSS emission that has indeed been observed with, e.g., ROSAT, BeppoSAX, or ASCA.
Attempts of spectral modeling of nova SSS spectra ranged from blackbody fits to most refined local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) and non-LTE atmosphere modeling, but the low resolution of CCD spectra allows no unique constraint of spectral parameters of complex models. The X-ray grating spectrometers on board XMM-Newton and Chandra allow much more detailed analysis of SSS spectra and, as always in nature, the truth is much more complicated than believed. I will first present historic observations and attempts of interpretation, and then show the grating spectra with the details. A large variety in grating spectra of canonical SSS spectra and those of novae emerged, and I will show approaches how to find trends and to explain some commonalities.
Spectral modeling is currently not possible, but I will present and discuss some approaches.
Grainne Wilkinson
The Physics of Cartoons
Recommended to Physicists with a sense of humour.
http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/articles/2017/a-space-where-anything-can-happen/
The Physics of cartoons … an excellent way to spend your lunch break.
Phil Furneaux
Energy Lancaster Seminar
Date: 17 February 2017, 11:30
Venue: FST Training and Development Centre, A76 Science and Technology Building
Speaker: Professor Christian Breyer (Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT), Finland)
Title: 100% renewable electricity: how could it work and pathways to get there
Please confirm attendance for catering purposes. There will be tea, coffee and cakes served from 11.30 outside the Lecture Theatre. You can register here
(https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/100-renewable-electricity-how-could-it-work-and-pathways-to-get-there-tickets-31877092241).
Christian Breyer, D.Sc. (Tech.), is Finland’s first Professor of Solar Economy at Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) and his research focus in the area of renewable energy. Professor Breyer came to LUT from Reiner Lemoine Institute in Germany, where he worked as managing director and scientific director. He earned his doctorate from the University of Kassel in Germany in 2012 for his research on the “Economics of Hybrid Photovoltaic Power Plants”. Prior to that he worked several years in the research and development and market development department of Q-Cells, a former world market leader in solar cell manufacturing and solar power plant engineering.
He is one of the co-founders of DESERTEC Foundation, engaged in the Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme of the International Energy Agency and Chairman for Renewable Energy of the Energy Watch Group. Breyer has published approximately 60 scientific articles and 5 books as author, co-editor and contributor. His academic background is physics, energy systems engineering and general business.
www.researchgate.net/profile/Christian_Breyer
www.lut.fi/web/en/school-of-technology/lut-energy
http://www.neocarbonenergy.fi/ vision at https://youtu.be/Ww76jNrVHhw
Nuno Bimbo
Do you fancy acting as a judge at the IOP’s North West undergraduate Physics Challenge this year?
Derek Ward-Thompson at UCLan has asked me to circulate the invitation to staff here at Lancaster. It’s at Salford University on Wednesday 29th March from 10.30am till 3pm.
If interested, please contact Derek directly (dward-thompson@uclan.ac.uk)
Gráinne Wilkinson & Jim Wild
VC Visit
The VC will visit Physics on Tues 21 February from 1300-1500hrs. The format and venues for the visit are given below and I’d be grateful if you could make a note in your diaries.
Part One (1300 – 1345hrs) Venue – B10
Head of department and their leadership/management team
The two questions Mark wants to discuss are:
1. Their reflections on the NSS 2016 outcomes, the strengths and weaknesses and work they have done ready for NSS 2017.
2. In the strategy refresh what they as department they would like to see added/updated.
Part Two (1345 – 1500hrs) Venue – C36
Whole department
Mark will talk for approximately 25 minutes followed by general questions from the department.
Gráinne Wilkinson