The Society of Physics Students at UC Santa Cruz

What do you know about ultracold gases? Maybe you did the liquid helium / second sound lab in 134. I did. Maybe you had a good time. I did. Maybe you learned enough about the theory to motivate the experiment. I did. But did you *completely understand* the theory behind the effect? I didn’t.

Dr. Marcos Rigol, a postdoctoral researcher here in the UCSC Physics Department, studies strongly correlated quantum many-body systems (and related topics), and he’s agreed to come and talk at this week’s meeting — which takes place on Thursday, November 29th, 2007, at 6 PM in ISB 231 — about ultracold gases and what they have to do with quantum statistical mechanics. And maybe if we ask nicely, he’ll explain a little about second sound.

Coffee, tea, soda, and some food will be available, as usual, but the coffee will most certainly *not* be ultracold. I swear.

Also, please join me in another huge round of electronic applause for all of our SPS Undergraduate Symposium presenters and moderators. The event was a great success, and we’re already planning for the winter quarter incarnation. In fact, there are still a few spots left, so if you think you’d like to talk, let us know. We promise to get faculty moderators as good as Young and Haber (even though that might not be physically possible).

And an article about using a Bose-Einstein condensate for quantum information storage is here:

http://tinyurl.com/2mjlv6

– James

Yes, we’re watching a movie. But it’s not just any movie. For the first SPS Movie Night of the school year, we’ll be watching

“Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace”…

BUT! It will feature audio commentary by Mike Nelson and Kevin Murphy, two of the guys from Mystery Science Theater 3000. It’s called RiffTrax, and more info is here:

http://shop.rifftrax.com/rifftrax/star-wars-episode-i-phantom-menace

And if you’re not familiar with Mystery Science Theater 3000, I am both deeply saddened for you and also generous enough to suggest a quick web search.

WHEN: Saturday, 11/17/07, 7 PM
WHERE: Thimann 1

Your presence is demanded. As always, bring food and stuff but don’t bring alcohol. University rules, not ours.

And any and all friends are welcome, too.

– James

Last week’s session of the SPS Undergraduate Symposium was an extraordinary affair, full of ejected planets and elegant wedge products, and there’s no way we could ever possibly top it.

But we’re going to try.

The second session will be held this Thursday, November 15th, at 6 PM in ISB 231, and includes four more UCSC physics undergrads giving fifteen minute presentations about some kind of research or project they have been or will be working on, complete with a Q&A period and a faculty moderator. This week’s speakers are

and the faculty moderator is Howard Haber.

Your attendance is, once more, humbly requested.

As always: coffee, tea, and snack-type food.

And a new article called “Electromagnetic Wormholes and Virtual Magnetic Monopoles from Metamaterials” is here:

http://tinyurl.com/2lprxe

– James

The UCSC Physics Department does an extraordinarily good job teaching its undergraduates. We all know this.

But here’s something you might not know: UCSC physics undergrads think about more than just free body diagrams or passing a 116 midterm. They often pursue independent projects and ideas. They sometimes do things that look a lot like research.

And they sometimes like to talk about this work in public.

To that end, the Society of Physics Students at UCSC is pleased to announce that the first SPS Undergraduate Symposium will be held on November 8th and November 15th, 2007. Each meeting will feature four UCSC physics undergrads giving fifteen minute presentations about some kind of research or project they have been or will be working on, complete with a Q&A period and a faculty moderator.

The first session of the symposium occurs this Thursday, Nov. 8th, at 6 PM in ISB 231, and the speakers will be as follows:

The faculty moderator for this session will be Peter Young.

Your attendance is humbly requested.

And it wouldn’t be an SPS meeting without coffee, tea, and snack-type food.

And an article about the experimental potential of the International Space Station is here:

http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/indepth/31259

– James