Physics of the Early Universe

Transcription

1 OHIO SECTION OF THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY (APS) MICHIGAN SECTION OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICS TEACHERS (AAPT) SPRING 2006 MEETING MARCH 31, APRIL 1 Wayne State University Physics of the Early Universe Invited Talks: Supernovae and Dark Energy Dr. Peter E. Nugent, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory How the Early Universe Informs the Formation and Long Term Evolution of Galaxies, Stars, and Planets Professor Fred C. Adams, Physics Department, University of Michigan QGP: The Perfect Liquid and the Early Universe Dr. Paul Stankus Oak Ridge National Laboratory Workshops: Hands on experience with the PASCO CASTLE Kit Alan Gibson, C3P mentor and PTRA, Retired Teacher from Rochester Adams High School, Keith Fortan, PTRA, Teacher Traverse City Central High School Beyond Declarative Knowledge in Science Are You Really Teaching if No One is Learning Dr. Edward Prather, University of Arizona, Department of Astronomy Deadline for Abstracts: March 15, 2006 Deadline for Registration: March 15, 2006 Website for more Information: 1

2 Invited Talks Supernovae and Dark Energy (Vaden Miles Lecture) Dr. Peter E. Nugent, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Astronomers have begun to measure the fundamental parameters of cosmology through the observation of very distant Type Ia supernovae. Over the past decade more than 300 spectroscopically confirmed high-redshift supernovae have been discovered. These supernovae are used as standardized candles to measure the history of the expansion of the universe. Under the current standard model for cosmology these measurements indicate the presence of a heretofore-unknown dark energy causing a recent acceleration in the expansion of the universe. At this time supernova measurements of the cosmological parameters are no longer limited by statistical uncertainties, rather systematic uncertainties are the dominant source of error. These include the effects of evolution (further back in time do the supernovae behave the same way?), the effect of intergalactic dust on the brightness of the supernovae and the relationship between supernovae and their environments. Here I will review two recent supernova cosmology programs, the SuperNova Legacy Survey and the SuperNova Factory, which hope to address these remaining questions for Type Ia supernovae. I will also present exciting new developments in the field of cosmology using Type II-P supernovae as standardized candles and the prospect of using them to independently measure the cosmological parameters. How the Early Universe Informs the Formation and Long Term Evolution of Galaxies, Stars, and Planets Prof. Fred C. Adams, Physics Department, University of Michigan This talk describes how the physics of the early universe provides the initial conditions for the formation and subsequent evolution of galaxies, stars, and planets. Inflation allows the universe to have a long lifetime and provides density fluctuations that seed galaxy formation. Baryogenesis provides an asymmetry between matter and antimatter and thereby allows the raw material for cosmic structures to exist. Big bang nucleosynthesis sets the initial abundances for stellar evolution. This connection between the early universe continues into the far future. QGP: The Perfect Liquid and the Early Universe Dr. Paul Stankus, Oak Ridge National Laboratory The basic framework for describing the thermal history of the early Universe is reviewed. Special attention is paid to the era of the QCD hadron/quark-gluon transition, and its cosmological significance. Recent intriguing experimental results from high-energy nuclear collisions are highlighted, and their relevance to early Universe physics is discussed. 2

3 Workshops Hands on Experience with the PASCO CASTLE Kit Friday, March 1, 2006, Mc Grgeor Center, 9-12AM, 1-3PM, Room to be announced. Alan Gibson, C3P mentor and PTRA 1 Retired Teacher, Rochester Adams High School Keith Fortan PTRA 1 Teacher Traverse City Central High School CASTLE (Capacitor-Aided System for Teaching and Learning Electricity) is a middle and high school electricity curriculum that leads students from initial naive ideas to an increasingly expert understanding of electrical phenomena.. In this workshop, participants will use a representative sample of the self-guided experiments that help students confront their misconceptions, grasp the physics of current propulsion and build intuitive explanatory models. We also find it to be a good program to help teachers firm up their own understanding of concepts in electricity. The CASTLE approach originated in the research of Professor Melvin S. Steinberg of Smith College and was developed by a team of college and high school physics teachers under a National Science Foundation grant. Extensive testing has shown superior conceptual and confidence gains. The U.S. Department of Education s Program Effectiveness Panel certified CASTLE as a proven effective program in (1) Physics Teaching Resource Agents (PTRA) is a program of the American Association of Physics Beyond Declarative Knowledge in Science Are You Really Teaching if No One is Learning Saturday, April 1, 2006, 8:00-10:00 AM, Mc Grgeor Center, Room to be announced. Dr. Edward Prather, Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona, Researchers with the Conceptual Astronomy and Physics Education Research (CAPER) Team at the University of Arizona s Department of Astronomy are conducting fundamental research into students ideas over a range of science topics typically taught in non-science major introductory science courses. Research in this field repeatedly demonstrates that students enter the classroom with many inaccurate scientific ideas that are poised to interfere with instruction. Our research indicates that these student ideas are difficult to change through conventional lecture alone. Moreover, the depth of student understanding is often masked when they are able to correctly answer test questions that are based on declarative knowledge. To better promote student learning, the results from our investigations are being used to inform curriculum development and instructional practices that are aimed at creating a learner-centered environment in the large lecture classroom. Students working in this environment show substantial increases in their understanding over conventional lecture. 3

4 Registration and Banquet Information The registration for meeting and banquet is due March 15th, The conference fee is $35 for members of APS or affiliated societies who register by March 15th, A fee of $5 is assessed for late registration. Although there is no registration fee charged to students, they are asked to fill out a registratin form. The cost of the banquet is $35 for non students and $15 for students. Banquet reservations must be made by March 15th at the latest. Registration can be made by mail or online. Registration by Mail Download and complete the registration form (MS Word or a pdf file) and send it with your check or money order to: c/o Claude A Pruneau, Dept. Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University, 666 West Hancock, Detroit, MI Only checks or money orders accepted. Address checks or money order to Wayne State University. No credit cards. Do not send cash by mail. Registration Online You may register online using major credit cards at 4

5 Abstract Information Contributed papers pertaining to all areas of physics, physics education and original research are solicited from both APS and AAPT members, for both Oral and Poster presentations. Complete abstract submission form and instructions can be found at We strongly urge you to proof your abstract before submission. Contributors may be accepted in one of two ways: Submission via the web: to submit a contributed abstract using the online web submission process, an author needs to know two things: (1) the number and ordering of the authors and collaborations; and (2) abstract content. The web page will guide you through the rest. Consider trying a test submission before submitting your abstract. Log onto and select the meeting TEST. Follow the directions online to create your own practice abstract. When ready to submit your abstract online, select the meeting 2006 Ohio Section of the APS Spring Meeting by selecting the appropriate check box. A form will be created for you. Simply input the information. Submission via Contributors must create their abstract from an electronic template supplied by the American Physical Society. The templates and instruction for contributed abstracts can be obtained by sending to abs-request@aps.org with the phrase OSS06 in the message. If you have questions regarding abstract submission, please send them to abs-help@aps.org or to pruneau@physics.wayne.edu. If you wish your abstract to be published in the APS bulletin, it must be submitted electronically. The deadline for the receipt of all submitted abstracts is March 15, 2006 by 5:00 PM EST at APS headquarters. 5

6 Hotel and Housing Accommodations We have reserved a block of rooms at the St-Regis Hotel located near campus. Hotel St. Regis, 3071 WEST GRAND BOULEVARD, Detroit, MI The following hotels are located at short driving distance from the main campus and offer excellent accommodations. Holiday Inn Express Downtown, 1020 WASHINGTON BLVD, Detroit, MI Marriott Detroit Renaissance Center, RENAISSANCE CENTER, Detroit, MI Courtyard by Marriott Detroit Downtown, 333 E JEFFERSON AVE, Detroit, MI Atheneum Suites Hotel, 1000 BRUSH AVENUE, Detroit, MI Days Inn Downtown Detroit, 3250 EAST JEFFERSON AVENUE, Detroit, MI EW HOTEL PONTCHARTRAIN, 2 WASHINGTON BLVD, Detroit, MI Hilton Garden Inn Detroit Downtown, 351 GRATIOT AVE, Detroit, MI Ramada Inn Downtown Detroit, 400 BAGLEY AVE, Detroit, MI Traveling to Detroit Detroit is easily accessible by road, air or train. The city has two major airports (Detroit Metropolitan Airport, and City Airport), and is served by most major airlines. Bus terminals and train stations are also centrally located and enable economical access to the conference. Directions to Wayne State University, Detroit The Wayne State University main campus is located in the center of Detroit right at the junction of the Lodge and I94 highways. It is also easily accessible from highways I75 (north and south bound) and I96 for those arriving from the west side of the state. Visitors from Canada can travel to Detroit via highway 401 and cross to Detroit via the bridge or the tunnel. A map of the campus is included with this mailing. You may get additional maps at 6

7 Ohio Section of the American Physical Society Spring 2006 Meeting March 31-April 1, 2006, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan REGISTRATION FORM Deadline for receipt of this form by mail is March 15 th, 2006 Name: Affiliation: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: Do you intend to present a contributed paper? Yes No Status: Student Faculty Industry Government Retired/Unemployed Membership: APS OS/APS AAPT Registration Fee Member APS/AAPT $35 Nonmember $55 Retired/Unemployed/Student $0 Banquet Ticket (Friday night, Mc Gregor Center, reservation deadline March 1) Member $35/person Student $15 Would you prefer a vegetarian meal Yes No Box Lunch (Saturday noon) $7 Abstract Publication in BAPS* $45 Late Registration Fee (after March 15, 06) $5 Total Total Payment Enclosed** Make Checks Payable to: Wayne State University - OSAPS Conference Mail this registration form with payment to: Claude Pruneau Physics and Astronomy Department Wayne State University Detroit, MI * Abstract fee is not required to contribute a paper. ** A payment receipt will be included in your registration packet. 7