Time Schedule:
Eric G Adelberger
PHYS 486
Seattle Campus
Offered: W.
Class description
PHYSICS 486: SEMINAR IN CURRENT PROBLEMS IN PHYSICS
Class Description:
The unifying topic of this seminar is the interesting physics/technology of extremes. But the main focus will be on developing your ability to:
• read a scientific/technical paper • write a clear and interesting scientific/technical paper • give an effective scientific/technical talk
These skills will extremely important in advancing your career. This seminar provides a chance to upgrade them in a friendly and fun environment, while you research a topic of your choice. We will be paying attention to both substance and style. Aim your talks at your fellow students—make them informative, educational and clear but no “snow jobs”. I will be looking for your personal contribution and synthesis of your topic—not regurgitation of downloaded material.
Here is a list of some possible topics:
• extremely hot -- for example: controlled fusion • extremely cold -- for example: superconductivity, Bose-Einstein condensation • extremely small -- for example: nanotechnology, elementary particles • extremely large -- for example: cosmology • extremely complicated -- for example: biophysics • extremely tiny effects: -- for example: searches for new interactions in atomic or gravitational physics or gravity-wave detection • extremely powerful: -- for example: astronomical gamma-ray bursts • extremely weird: -- for example: entangled states in quantum mechanics
Initial meeting: Wednesday January 3 at 2:30 pm in C521. At this meeting we will decide on the regular meeting times for this seminar which will meet for one hour every week.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
Class requirements:
• attend two January physics or astronomy colloquia and provide brief oral critiques of them the colloquium schedules are at www.phys.washington.edu/colloquia.htm (usually on Mondays at 4:00pm in A102) www.astro.washington.edu/pages/colloquium.html (usually on Thursdays at 4:00 in A102)
• attend seminar meetings regularly and participate actively in the discussions
• give a 40 minute talk on a topic of your choice (consistent with the broad theme of the seminar) You must show me your visuals well before your talk so I can make suggestions on possible improvements
• write a paper on that topic. You will prepare a first draft of your paper which the instructor will critique. Then you will hand in a final copy to be graded.
Grading: Your grade will be based on a weighted sum of the above requirements with your talk and paper constituting 60% of the total
