|
June 13, 2007
Robert H. Grubbs, Victor and Elizabeth
Atkins Professor of Chemistry
Fundamental
Research to Commercial Products: Applications of Olefin Metathesis Catalysts
Fundamental studies of the mechanism
of the olefin metathesis reaction led to the discovery of a family of catalysts
that allow the promise of this interesting reaction to be realized. The
availability of a catalyst that promotes scrambling of the fragments of
a carbon-carbon double bond by a metathesis reaction in the presence of
a variety of functional groups and under normal reaction conditions has
opened a variety of applications. The applications range from the
production of tough polymers that are seeing a variety of uses to the production
of highly functionalized pharmaceuticals.
June 20, 2006
Nadia Lapusta,
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Geophysics
Title TBD
Abstract Unavailable
June 27, 2006
Stephen L. Mayo, Professor of Biology and Chemistry
Title TBD
Abstract Unavailable
July 11, 2006
Nai-Chang Yeh, Professor of Physics
Recent Advances in the Science and Technology of
Superconductivity
Superconductivity, a phenomenon associated with certain materials that conduct
electricity with no resistance below a critical temperature, has been a fascinating
topic that continuously stimulates new scientific and technological advances.
The discovery of high-temperature superconductors over 20 years ago has further
spurred a worldwide frenzy in superconductivity research. A vast amount of
new physics knowledge beyond conventional superconductivity has since been
developed, and a variety of applications ranging from magnetic sensors for
cardiograms to microwave filters for cellular phone base stations have been
realized. This talk will review basic concepts and applications of conventional
superconductivity and further describe important physics issues and challenges
of high-temperature superconductivity. In addition, some of the most exciting
recent developments in the research and technological applications of superconductivity
will be discussed.
July 18, 2006
Speaker TBD
Title TBD
Abstract Unavailable
July 25, 2006
Antonio Rangel, Associate Professor of Economics
The Neuroeconomics of Simple Choice
Almost all models of decision-making assume that choices are made in two
stages: first a decision value (DV) is computed for each alternative, then
the DVs are compared to generate a choice. We study the neural mechanisms
underlying the first set of computations in simple economic choice situations. In
the talk we will present results from a series of fMRI experiments that
combine tools from experimental economics and cognitive neuroscience to
identify brain areas associated with the computation of DVs.
August 1, 2006
Wesley Traub, JPL, Chief Scientist, Navigator Program;
Project Scientist, Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronagraph
Exoplanets and the Search for Life
One of the “big questions” that many of us wonder about is “are
there Earth-like planets around other stars, and is there life on those
planets?” For centuries, only philosophers dared try to answer
this question. But today, with space telescopes and new optical
tricks, we have the ability to find Earth-like planets and search for signs
of life on them.
August 8, 2006
Harry Atwater, Howard Hughes Professor and Professor of
Applied Physics and Material Science
Plasmonics: Bending and Switching Light at the
Nanoscale
The rapidly developing field of plasmonics has captured
the imagination of physicists, chemists and engineers because of the unique
ability to control optical dispersion and localize light in metallodielectric
materials at nanoscale dimensions. Many ideas are currently being generated
by researchers, which may ultimately enable plasmonic components to form
new metamaterials designs and also building blocks of a chip-based optical
device technology with potential imaging, spectroscopy and interconnection
applications in ultramicroscopy, computing, communication and chemical/biological
detection.
In this talk
I will describe recent opportunities presented by new plasmonic structures including
i) negative refraction of light in the visible and near infrared ii) plasmon-enhanced
emission from quantum dots, and iv) active plasmonic devices based on electro-optic
and all-optical modulation of plasmon propagation. I will discuss the
application of plasmonic materials to superlenses capable of imaging below the
diffraction limit and invisibility cloaks that operate at visible frequencies.
|
