"Recent Advances In Core-Collapse Supernova Theory", Jason Nordhaus (Rochester Inst. Of Technology) (2:30PM - 3:30PM)

For approximately half a century, core-collapse supernovae have posed a vexing puzzle for theorists despite being a major ingredient (and uncertainty) in fields ranging from stellar and galaxy evolution to the interstellar medium. Historically, advances in core-collapse theory have been linked to advances in computing power and software. Supernovae are inherently multi-dimensional objects in which neutrino transport, gravity, hydrodynamic instabilities and convection play important roles. Three-dimensional simulations incorporating sufficient physical fidelity require extensive high-performance computing resources and codes efficient enough to use the associated architecture. In this talk, I will highlight recent advances in the field. In particular, I will discuss the dependence of spatial dimension on the viability of the delayed-neutrino mechanism and how pulsar kicks naturally arise from core collapse events.

Place: Physics Dept. Meeting Room, 2th floor, IST

Contact Info : Jorge Rocha Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

"Goldstone Gravity From Spontaneous Lorentz Violation", Robertus Potting (U. Algarve) (2:30PM - 3:30PM)

We present a theory of gravity in which a symmetric two-index tensor in Minkowski spacetime acquires a vacuum expectation value (vev) via a potential, thereby breaking Lorentz invariance spontaneously. Two of the resulting Nambu-Goldstone modes have properties that are identical to those of the graviton in general relativity. Imposing self-consistent coupling to the energy-momentum tensor constrains the potential for the Lorentz violation. This self-consistent bootstrap leads to a nonlinear theory of gravity, containing kinetic and potential terms along with a matter coupling. At energies small compared to the Planck scale, the theory contains general relativity. Integrating out massive modes yields Lorentz-violating radiative-correction terms in the low-energy effective Lagrangian, that can lead to observable effects.

Place: Physics Dept. Meeting Room, 2th floor, IST

Contact Info : Jorge Rocha Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

"The Universe After Planck 2013", Martin Bucher (Laboratoire APC, Univ. Paris 7) (2:30PM - 3:30PM)

The European Space Agency PLANCK satellite was launched in 2009 in order to map the primordial cosmic microwave background anisotropy at approximately twice the spatial resolution and ten times the sensitivity of the previous NASA WMAP mission. I will review the impact of the Planck 2013 first cosmology results on our understanding of the very early universe, placing Planck in the context of previous results as well as indicating what new results could be expected in future Planck releases and other future space missions and

ground based experiments. I will also assess some of the anomalies that suggest that the standard cosmological model might not be the whole story.

Place: Physics Dept. Meeting Room, 2th floor, IST

Contact Info : Jorge Rocha Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

"Tunneling In Models Of Flux Vacua", José Blanco-Pillado (Ikerbasque And Tufts University) (2:30PM - 3:30PM)

I will present simple models of flux compactifications that lead to the existence of vacua with different numbers of large dimensions. I will then describe the instantons interpolating between these different vacua as well as some observational implications of a transdimensional multiverse of this type.

Place: Physics Dept. Meeting Room, 2th floor, IST

Contact Info : Jorge Rocha Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it