Professor Norbert Lutkenhaus (Feb 2017):
Prof Norbert Lütkenhaus is a leading international expert in quantum optics and quantum key distribution, who focuses on bridging the gap between theory and experiment in the realization of quantum technologies. Prof Lütkenhaus’ expertise is likely to appeal to students interested both in theoretical studies as well as in experimental implementations.
SUPA graduate students will have the opportunity to interact with Prof Lütkenhaus, and to learn about and be trained in recent developments in the fields in which he is an expert. Prof Lütkenhaus will deliver a series of lectures (indicatively each 1 hour long), to be broadcast / recorded through the SUPA videoconferencing network, and local seminars at the hosting institutions.
Professor Lutkenhaus will be visiting University of Glasgow, Heriot-Watt University, University of St. Andrews, and University of Strathclyde.
Dr William D. Phillips (July 2017):
Dr Phillips is a Physics Nobel Laureate and is a pioneer of laser cooling and the application of ultracold atoms towards quantum technologies. He has received numerous awards, the highest profile of which was the Nobel Prize in Physics, which he received in 1997 for his contribution to the development of laser cooling, which has formed the basis for essentially all research in ultracold atoms physics since the early 1990s.
Dr Phillips will be giving a public talk during his visit and will be working with Universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow.
Professor William G Unruh (Oct 2016):
Professor Unruh is renowned for pivotal contributions to the understanding of a range of subtle problems arising at the crossroads of quantum physics, gravitational theory and cosmology. He has developed concepts and tools that now bear his name, including the Unruh particle detector, Unruh vacuum, and Unruh temperature. His 1976 discovery that what is defined as the vacuum by inertial observers is perceived by an accelerated observer as a thermal bath at a characteristic temperature proportional to his acceleration, was instrumental (along with Hawking’s parallel discovery of black hole evaporation) in opening new vistas in fundamental physics.
Professor Unruh will be giving seminar talks at University of St Andrews and students will have the opportunity to meet him during his visit.
Dr David Valls-Gabaud (Spring 2017):
Dr Valls-Gabaud will give a series of lectures, broadcast across the SUPA network, that focus on the history, theoretical foundations and recent developments in the field of strong gravitational lensing and its use as a cosmographic tool. Gravitational lensing is a research theme that links Glasgow, Edinburgh, St Andrews and Aberdeen, and Dr Valls-Gabaud’s visit will stimulate opportunities for further collaborative research and provide a strong focus for interaction between graduate students working across the above four SUPA institutions. In addition, the visit will provide a timely and important opportunity to SUPA scientists to discuss the proposed MESSIER satellite mission – aimed at surveying the ultra-low surface brightness universe from the UV to the NIR. Dr Valls-Gabaud is leading the international consortium proposing this mission. This topic will be of wide appeal to SUPA postgraduate students in Glasgow, Edinburgh and St Andrews, as well as other SUPA institutions.
Professor Martin J. Ward (April 2017):
Professor Ward has 40 years of research experience, and is a world expert on the phenomenology and physical interpretation of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), an area of work that is of significant interest to scientists in Edinburgh, St. Andrews and Glasgow universities. He is currently Science co-Director of University of Durham’s unique interdisciplinary Institute for Advanced Studies.
Professor Ward will give a SUPA-wide course of graduate lectures and give one or more seminars of widespread interest at several SUPA locations. He will also contribute to other activities such as the Edinburgh extragalactic reading group. Professor Ward will be based at University of Edinburgh.
Professor Emeritus John L Wood (May 2017):
Prof. Emeritus Dr. John L. Wood is one of the most distinguished low-energy nuclear structure physicists. His standing within the community of this field is best described as outstanding. In recent years after his retirement Prof. Wood has remained an active member of the low-energy nuclear physics community. In these years Prof. Wood has contributed with several review articles towards the phenomena of shape coexistence in atomic nuclei, for which he is one of the world-leading experts.
During his visit Prof. Emeritus Wood will provide four lectures to the SUPA graduate school: “Many-body quantum mechanics of the nucleus”. The content will be the general physics of manybody quantum systems explained using the nuclear many-body system.
Professor Emeritus Wood will be based at University of the West of Scotland.