Geneva University - Events in March

École de physique - Département de physique nucléaire et corspusculaire
24, quai Ernest-Ansermet
1211 GENEVA 4
Tel: (022) 379 62 73 - Fax: (022) 379 69 92

Monday 8 March 2010
PHYSICS COLLOQUIUM
at 17:00 – Stückelberg Auditorium
Gravitational lensing: an astrophysical tool
Prof. Georges Meylan
École Polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) - Observatoire de Sauverny

The total solar eclipse of 1919 unveiled the gravitational lens nature of our Sun. The next example of another gravitational lens was discovered in 1979. Originally considered as a mere curiosity, gravitational lensing has matured, during the last two decades, into a genuine astrophysical tool, used in a large variety of problems, from planet search to the quest for the most distant galaxies.

We shall present cosmological results obtained at EPFL about (i) strong lensing and time delays, related to the measurements of the Hubble constant ; (ii) micro lensing and the measurement of the size of the accretion disk of a quasar, and (iii) the first case of a quasar playing the role of gravitational lens.

We shall conclude with Euclid, a project of ESA satellite aiming at investigating dark matter and dark energy through their impact on gravitational lensing.

A drink with the speaker will be offered after the colloquium.

Organizer: Prof. Markus Büttiker




Wednesday 10 March 2010

PARTICLE PHYSICS SEMINAR
at 17.00 hrs – Stückelberg Auditorium
The COMPASS Experiment at CERN: achievements and outlook
Prof. Franco Bradamante

University and INFN Trieste


The COMPASS Collaboration has set up a modern spectrometer at CERN to investigate two complementary aspects of hadron physics, the spin structure of the nucleons and the light quark spectrum of hadrons. The experiment is taking data since 2002.

The spin structure of the nucleon has witnessed a real renaissance in the past 20 years, and COMPASS has measured both longitudinal and transverse spin effects using polarized proton and deuteron targets and a 160 GeV muon beam. Important contributions have been given to the assessment of the quark and gluon contribution to the nucleon spin, and establishing new properties of the parton distribution functions and of the fragmentation functions related to the transverse spin. Using hadron beams, of ~ 200 GeV, in 2008 and 2009 data have been taken on a liquid hydrogen target in search of glueballs and other exotic hadronic states. An overview of the main accomplishments of the experiment will be given, as well as a mention of the future plans which are presently being formulated.


Information : http://dpnc.unige.ch/seminaire/annonce.html
Organizer : J.-S. Graulich




Wednesday  17th March 2010
PARTICLE PHYSICS SEMINAR
at 17.00 hrs – Stückelberg Auditorium

Status of SESAME Project
Prof.  Hafeez Hoorani, Scientific Director, SESAME


Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in Middle East SESAME is a project, which is established under auspices of UNESCO as intergovernmental organization with following members: Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Pakistan, Palestine Authority, and Turkey. The German Government as a gift has donated the injector and booster for SESAME after dismantling of BESSY in Berlin. The SESAME team will build the storage ring.

SESAME is a third generation light source with beam energy of 2.5 GeV, beam current of 400 mA, emittance 26 nm.rad and circumference of 133.2 m. It is under construction close to Amman – Jordan and will become operational end of 2012 or beginning of 2013. SESAME contains 16 straight sections out of which 13 straight sections are available for placing insertion devices such as undulator and wigglers.

An extensive scientific programme has been established with the help of Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the Beamline Advisory Committee (BAC). From the beginning 7 beamlines are planned for Phase – I covering diverse areas of scientific interest such as: SAXS/WAXS, PX, IR, Soft X-ray, Powder Diffraction, XRF/XAFS and Atomic, Molecular spectroscopy (AMO) beamline. SESAME once operational will be a very competitive machine in the category of third generation light sources.


Information : http://dpnc.unige.ch/seminaire/annonce.html
Organizer : J.-S. Graulich




by Geneva University