Colloquia

Seminars

• Astronomy and Space Physics
• Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
• Condensed Matter
• Fluids and Plasmas
• Particle Physics
• Calendar of Events

Graduation Commencement

Colloquium Abstract

Date: March 5 (205 Gore Hall at 4:00pm)

Speaker: Kara Hoffman, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park

Title: South Pole Neutrino Telescopes

Abstract:

Many years after large scale neutrino telescopes were first conceived, the operation of a kilometer-cubed scale detector is finally on the horizon at the South Pole.  IceCube is the culmination of decades of effort. It has recently eclipsed a smaller array, AMANDA, which was built and operated at the Pole as proof of principle.  IceCube will perhaps provide us the first view of high energy astrophysical objects with this new messenger particle.  Some of the phenomena that can be addressed by this new instrument include the origin of cosmic rays, the nature of dark matter, and the mechanisms at work in high energy astrophysical objects such as gamma-ray bursts.