PROGRAMS 2011-12:
New Frontiers in Low-Dimensional Systems Program
Program Organizers: Dmitry Abanin, Andrei Bernevig, Zahid Hasan, Shivaji Sondhi, Ali Yazdani
Strongly Interacting Electrons in Low Dimensions: New Orders, Symmetries, and Excitations
Workshop Organizers: Dmitry Abanin, Andrei Bernevig, Shivaji Sondhi
This workshop will bring together leading theorists working on strongly interacting electrons in low-dimensional systems. Most exciting recent theoretical developments in various fields, including the quantum Hall effect, frustrated magnetism, superconductivity and topological phases, will be covered. Also, we are hoping to identify the most promising future directions in the studies of strongly correlated electrons and to discuss where the field as a whole is headed.
PROGRAM AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Towards Unifying Concepts in the Physics of Aperiodic Systems
October 14-15, 2011
Aperiodic particle and spin systems and their formation continue to intrigue scientists. Known aperiodic systems, such as quasicrystals, structural and spin glasses, foams, liquid crystals, network-forming liquids and large-scale cosmological structures, still offer many theoretical challenges. What are the roles of kinetics and thermodynamics in the formation of such aperiodic patterns? How can we accurately characterize such patterns spatially? Are aperiodic patterns endowed with novel physical properties and, if so, why? Can we control their formation and tailor their collective behaviors? Other fascinating aperiodic systems include disordered jammed particle packings, which possess the same quasi-long-range correlations as certain quantum systems. There are a variety of biological systems in which aperiodic patterns offer evolutionary advantages, e.g., bird feathers, collagen networks, bacterial colonies and cancer cells. Formulating a universally applicable description of a "disorder" metric that can characterize and categorize arbitrary aperiodic systems is a major challenge. The aim of this workshop is to bring together a diverse group of scientists to discuss recent developments in our understanding of the formation and structure of aperiodic systems and their physical properties.
After the workshop, we will have a regular seminar series on the physics of aperiodic systems throughout the year. Speakers will be both internal and external to Princeton.
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Exact Methods in Gauge/String Theories
November 11-12, 2011
The program focuses on a wide range of exact methods which have been developed over the last few years in the study of the non-perturbative dynamics of gauge/string theories. The keywords include localization techniques, matrix models and quantum integrable systems. These methods have already led to a wealth of important results, such as the exact computation of partition functions, the analysis of vacua of supersymmetric gauge theories, several precise tests of the AdS/CFT correspondence, and new non-perturbative dualities between gauge theories in various dimensions.
The main purpose of the workshop is to gather leading researchers in these fields and overview the recent achievements. The speakers are chosen from rather broad areas, and we hope that their confrontation will stimulate new ideas and perspectives in these fields.
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Quantum Statistical Mechanics and Quantum Computation
March 22-23,2012
The workshop's intended purpose is to bring together statistical physicists and computer scientists in a small, focused meeting to explore the intersection between quantum statistical mechanics and quantum computation, specifically quantum complexity theory. Advances in complexity theory have interesting implications for physics, especially for the thorny question of glassiness in physical systems. Conversely, the application of statistical mechanical methods allows useful statements to be made about the average complexity of various problems.
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Non-equilibrium statistical mechanics
June 11-13, 2012
The aim of this workshop is to bring together scientists working on different aspects of nonequilibrium physics in strongly interacting quantum systems and to foster cross-fertilization of ideas and concepts from different areas of physics. The special focus of this workshop will be on ultracold atomic gases and systems of strongly-interacting atoms and photons, two of the most fascinating emerging fields where nonequilibrium phenomena can be studied in highly controllable experimental setups.
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Connecting the Electromagnetic and Gravitational Wave Skies in the Era of Advanced LIGO
April 30 - May 4, 2012
It is anticipated that within the next few years the first direct detection of gravitational waves will be made with advanced networks of ground based interferometers including LIGO and Virgo. Because some gravitational wave events may be accompanied by transient electromagnetic counterparts, coordination between electromagnetic and gravitational wave observers will be critical to maximize the scientific return from these discoveries. In addition, theoretical models and data analysis strategies must already be in place before the gravitational wave observatories observe first "light".
With this in mind, we will be hosting this week-long workshop at the Princeton Center for Theoretical Science (PCTS) on April 30-May 4, 2012. The goal of the workshop will be to bring together a small group of researchers, including key members of the detector experiments, observational and theoretical astronomers, and numerical relativists, for an informal discussion of how to maximize the science from "multi-messenger" gravitational wave astronomy. The planned format is to intersperse a relatively sparse schedule of talks with panel-lead open discussions of the challenges facing different aspects of the endeavor (data analysis, source modeling, transient surveys, detector enhancements, etc) to further stimulate discussion.
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Hot Topics at Coliider: Exploring Hints of New Physics
April 27-29, 2012
This workshop will bring together theorists and experimentalists to discuss recent anomalous results at the Tevatron and LHC. The talks will focus primarily on Higgs, supersymmetry, and heavy flavor searches. The workshop will provide an opportunity to reflect on theoretical implications of results, as well as experimental goals for future analyses.
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+ more to come
2009-10 PAST PROGRAMS at PCTS HERE
2009-10 PAST PROGRAMS at PCTS HERE
2008-9 PAST PROGRAMS at PCTS HERE
2007-8 FIRST PROGRAMS AT PCTS (click here)
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