Seminars

Welcome to the PAMS department seminars!

Attending seminars is a great way to expand ones knowledge in our areas of physics, astronomy, and materials science. Each semester, invited faculty from other universities and from MSU, PAMS alumni students, and our current graduate students give talks on their research or their work. Faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students of the PAMS department are highly encouraged to attend our seminars. The MSU community as a whole is also more than welcome to attend.

Seminars are either in Kemper Hall #206 or via Zoom on

Thursdays at 4 p.m.

(unless otherwise noted)

Zoom meeting ID: 955 2509 1021

See the CNAS Events for other seminars, e.g., in Chemistry or Biology.

List of previous seminars.

Fall 2021 Seminar Schedule

Date	Speaker	Title
8/26	PAMS Faculty	First week of classes: Introduction for new graduate students
9/2	Rifat Ara Shams (PAMS)	Study of Structural, Electrical and Optical Properties of Copper Oxide Phase Mixture Thin Films Grown by Pulsed Laser Deposition
9/9	Bishwajite Karmakar (PAMS)	Study of Structural and Magnetic Properties of Ni-NiO Thin Films
9/16	Dr. Adam Brandt Colorado State University & NIST	A Measurement of the 2S_1/2 - 8D_5/2 Transition in Hydrogen
	Dr. Brandt is an alumnus of the department. He recently finished his PhD and started working at NIST. He will meet with students to answer questions related to PhD, career paths, job, etc. 2:30-3:30 in Kemper 101M.
	Abstract: Over the past decade, there has been renewed interest in precision spectroscopy of atomic hydrogen and hydrogen-like species due to the so-called proton radius puzzle. The proton radius puzzle arose largely due to a measurement of the Lamb shift on muonic hydrogen, a hydrogen atom where the electron is replaced a muon, which resulted in a determination of the proton radius that was in significant statistical disagreement with the proton radius obtained from hydrogen spectroscopy at the time. We present a new measurement of the 2S_1/2 - 8D_5/2 transition with a cryogenic hydrogen beam, and the spectroscopy laser directly referenced to a coherent optical frequency comb. The measured resonance frequency is 770649561570.8(2.0) kHz, which corresponds to a relative uncertainty 2.5x•10^-12. Combining our result with the most recent measurement of the 1S-2S transition, we find a proton radius of r_p=0.8581(50) fm and a Rydberg constant of R=10973731.568330(52) m^-1. Our result has a 3.4 sigma disagreement with the proton radius obtained from the muonic hydrogen Lamb shift measurement and a combined 1.8 sigma disagreement with the 2014 hydrogenic world average.
9/23 Zoom	Dr. Conal Murray IBM T.J. Watson Research Center	Investigating Material Improvements in Superconducting Qubits
9/23 Zoom	Abstract: The emergence of quantum computing has enabled new paradigms of solving problems on the path towards surpassing classical computing platforms. A critical link in its implementation is determining which constraints pose the greatest limitations on qubit performance. After a brief introduction into superconducting transmon qubits, I will describe several mechanisms that are responsible for the relaxation or decoherence of superconducting qubits and the corresponding methods that can be utilized to characterize their influence. The resulting analysis, based on analytical and computational approaches, provides guidance into the design of qubits and the metallization that comprises them, allowing for a more accurate comparison of parameters that can influence their manufacture and operation. I will also detail how these aspects provide a framework for understanding the evolution of IBM’s offerings in the era of near-term quantum computing.
9/30	Dr. Shun Saito Missouri University of Science and Technology	Cosmic Acceleration and the Role of galaxy Surveys
9/30	Abstract: As featured in Nobel Prize Physics in 2011, the fact that the current universe experiences accelerated expansion is one of the biggest mysteries in fundamental physics. In this talk, I will overview our current understanding of the dark energy, unknown energy component attributed to explain the cosmic acceleration, from the observations in the last two decades, particularly focusing on the role of various galaxy redshift surveys. It is remarkable how much information a gigantic three-dimensional galaxy map provides to understand the nature of dark energy. I will introduce past, ongoing and future galaxy redshift surveys. In addition, I will briefly review the issues we are facing in cosmology such as the Hubble tension.
10/7	Fall break: no seminar
10/14 Zoom	Dr. Yicheng Guo University of Missouri - Columbia	TBA
10/21	Dr. Maria Mills University of Missouri - Columbia	TBA
10/28 Zoom	Dr. Wai-Lun Chan University of Kansas	TBA
11/4
11/11
11/18	Dr. Damena Agonafer Washington University in St. Louis	TBA
11/25	Thanksgiving: no seminar
12/2 Zoom	Dr. Rizal Hariadi Arizona State University	TBA
12/9 Zoom	Dr. Jingyi Chen University of Arkansas	TBA
12/16	Finals week: no seminar

Previous Seminars

Spring 2021

Date	Speaker	Title
1/21	Dr. Jason Jackiewicz New Mexico State University	Seismology of Sun and Stars
1/28	Dr. Michael Gordon Æsir Technologies	Nickel-Zinc Battery Research Opportunities
2/4	Kwabena Asante Boahen (PAMS)	**Modeling of Argon Bombardment and Densification of Low-temperature Organic Precursors using Reactive Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Machine Learning
2/11	Dr. Oliver C. Grant Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia	Virus-Receptor Interactions of Glycosylated SARS-CoV-2 Spike and Human ACE2 Receptor
3/2	Bikash Timalsina (PAMS)	Development of EAM and RF-MEAM Potential to Study Thermal Properties of Zirconium Diboride
3/2	Bishwajite Karmakar (PAMS)	Tuning Physical Properties of ZnO for Optoelectronics Applications
2/25	Dr. Cathy Wong University of Oregon	In Situ Transient Absorption Spectroscopy During Materials Formation
3/4	Dr. Robert Baker National eXtreme Ultrafast Science (NeXUS), Ohio State University	Watching Electrons Move at Interfaces: Visualizing Charge and Spin Dynamics Using Ultrafast XUV Spectroscopy
3/11	Alin Niraula (PAMS)	Transport Properties of Binary and Doped Diborides
3/11	Abiodun Odusanya (PAMS)	A Study of Laser-assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) Technique to Grow Carbon-based Materials
3/25	Shannon Dulz University of Notre Dame	Cold Exoplanets: Ground-based Direct Imaging and Population Studies Planning for Future Space Missions
4/8	Dr. Vashti Sawtelle Michigan State University, Lyman Briggs College	Research on Inclusive Practices: Supporting Two-Year College Transfer Students in the Physics Community
4/15	Dr. Ryan Behunin Northern Arizona University	Noise in Integrated Photonic Brillouin Lasers
4/22	Dr. Marilu Perez Garcia Ames National Laboratory, Critical Materials Institute	Designing Ligands with Predetermined Metal Ion Selectivity using Electronic Structure Theory, Machine Learning, and Molecular Mechanics
4/23	Rifat Ara Shams (PAMS)	Electrical and Optical Properties of CuO-Cu₂O Phase Mixture for Solar Cell Application
4/29	Joshua Kern Clemson University	Using ro-vibrational Emission from Protoplanetary Disks in Order to Observe Accretion and Planet Formation in Action
4/30	Abu Zobair (PAMS)	Effect of Pulsed Laser Annealing on the Optoelectronic Properties of ZnO Thin Films
4/30	Sajal Islam (PAMS)	Simulation and Fabrication of All Oxide Based Glass/ITO/TiO₂/CuO/Au Heterostructure for Solar Cell Application

Fall 2020

Date	Speaker	Title
9/3	David Magness (PAMS)	Kinetic Monte Carlo Simulations of Atomic Layer Deposition
9/3	Tauhidul Islam (PAMS)	Study of Size-controlled CoO@MnFe₂O₄ Core-shell Nanoparticle
9/10	Dr. Matthew Horton Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory	Democratizing Access to Materials Science with the Materials Project
9/17	Nadib Akram (PAMS)	A Raman Study of Actinide Complex Species in Aqueous Chloride Solutions at High P-T Conditions
9/17	Sudha Krishnan (PAMS)	Exploring Topological Weyl Semimetals Isostructural to YbMnBi₂ and Co₂MnGa
9/24	Dr. Andrew Mason University of Central Arkansas	Do They Care, and Does It Matter? An Analysis of Learning Goals and Perceived Relevance of Introductory Physics to Life Science Majors
10/1	Dr. Jessica Krogstad University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign	Exploring the Potential of Concentrated Point Defects: Their Role in Mass Transport, Microstructural Evolution and Material Functionality
10/15	Dr. Paul Canfield Ames National Laboratory & Iowa State University	Cooking, Fishing and Jogging through Phase Space: A Practical Guide to Discovering and Understanding New Materials
10/22	Dr. Dilpuneet Aidhy University of Wyoming	Properties of Concentrated Alloys Predicted from Atomistic Calculations and Machine Learning
10/29	Abiodun Odusanya (PAMS)	A Study of Laser-assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) Technique to Grow Carbon-based Materials
10/29	Sajal Islam (PAMS)	TiO₂-CuO Heterostructure Solar Cell for Cost Effective and Better Optoelectronic Properties
11/5	Alin Niraula (PAMS)	Predicting Thermal Conductivity of High Temperature Ceramics (Diborides)
11/5	Abu Zobair (PAMS)	Effect of Pulsed Laser Annealing on ZnO Thin Films
11/12	Dr. Alannah Hallas University of British Columbia	Competing Orders and Phases in Pyrochlore Magnets
11/19	Bikash Timalsina (PAMS)	EAM and RF-MEAM Interatomic Potential Development to Study Thermal Properties of Zirconium Diboride
12/3	Dr. Catherine Espaillat Boston University	A Panchromatic View of Variability in Protoplanetary Disks

Spring 2020

Date	Speaker	Title
1/23	Yuxuan Lu (PAMS)	Reactive MD Simulation on the Formation of Amorphous Sub-nano Alumina Layer
1/23	Moudip Nandi (PAMS)	Synthesis and Characterization of Barium Titanate and Carbon-based Core-Shell Nano Particles
1/30	Abdullah Shafe (PAMS)	Magnetic Properties of NiO Based Magnetic Heterostructured Nano Crystals (MHNCs)
1/30	Joy Roy (PAMS)	Fabrication of CFO@C Core/Shell Nanoparticles by Laser Ablation
2/6	Dr. Mallory Molina Montana State University	Resolving Black Hole and Star-Formation Activity in Nearby Galaxies
2/7	Dr. Mallory Molina Montana State University	Towards a More Inclusive Astronomy: Building Community for All in Academia
2/13	Christopher Robledo (PAMS)	Heterostructure of 2D Materials
2/13	Shahidul Asif (PAMS)	Study of ZnO for Thin Film Transistor
2/20	Dr. Bharat Ratra Kansas State University	The Accelerating Expanding Universe: Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and Einstein's Cosmological Constant, or Why Jim Peebles was Awarded Half of the 2019 Physics Nobel Prize
2/27	Dr. Wouter Montfrooij University of Missouri, Columbia	Does Spontaneous Fragmentation of a Magnetic Lattice Lead to Heavy Fermion Behavior?
3/5	Dr. Ariful Haque North Carolina State University	Fabrication of Q-carbon and Diamond Films by Ultrafast Laser Processing and Deposition for Electron Field Emission and Electrocatalysis Applications

Fall 2019

Date	Speaker	Title
8/29	Rajan Khadka (PAMS)	Study of Amorphous Boron Carbide (a-B_xC) Materials using Molecular Dynamics (MD) and Hybrid Reverse Monte Carlo (HRMC)
8/29	Muztoba Rabbani (PAMS)	Development of Multicomponent EAM Potential for Ni Based SuperAlloy
9/5	Hayley Sohn University of Colorado Boulder	Active Liquid Crystal Skyrmions
9/12	Sabila Kader Pinky (PAMS)	Molecular Dynamics (MD) Study of Creep Deformation in Ni-based Superalloy
9/19	Moudip Nandi (PAMS)	Synthesis and Characterization of Oxide Carbide Core Shell Nano Particles
9/19	Joy Roy (PAMS)	Fabrication of CFO@C Core/Shell Nanoparticles by Laser Ablation
9/26	Abdullah Shafe (PAMS)	Structural and Magnetic Properties of NiO@Mn_xNi_1-xO Core-Shell Nanoparticles Synthesized at Varying pH Values
9/26	Sinjan Majumder (PAMS)	Development of a CVD Assisted PLD System for Growing Thin Films
10/3	Dr. Alexander Kozhanov Georgia State University	Spin Waves in Structured Ferromagnetic Materials
10/16	Dr. Lloyd Lumata University of Texas Dallas	Hyperpolarized Magnetic Resonance: Enhancing NMR and MRI Signals by >10,000-fold for Real-Time Metabolic Assessment of Cancer
10/24	Dr. Marco Cavaglià Missouri University of Science and Technology	Unraveling the Universe's Deepest Mysteries with Gravitational Waves
10/31	Dr. Rao Khan Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine	Keeping Physics Relevant in Ever-changing Practice of Radiological Medicine
11/7	Dr. Yew San Hor Missouri University of Science and Technology	Promising Candidates for Topological Superconductors
11/14	Christopher Robledo (PAMS)	Heterostructure of 2D Materials
11/14	Shahidul Asif (PAMS)	A Comparative Study of Characteristics of ZnO TFT for Various Substrate and Fabrication Parameters
12/5	Dr. Emmett Redd Missouri State University	Mathematics and Physics: How to Make Artificial Intelligence More Like Biological Intelligence