News & Events

Menu: Hamburgers, Hot dogs, Black bean burgers, Potato Salad, Coleslaw, Potato chips and Mini Cupcakes.

Venue change to PAN, due to predicted rain. Masks will be required in the food line and in PAN.

Claudia Felser, Max Planck Institute For Chemical Physics of Solids

Magnetic Materials and Topology

Abstract:  Topology, a mathematical concept, recently became a hot and truly transdisciplinary topic in condensed matter physics, solid state chemistry and materials science. All 200 000 inorganic materials were recently classified into trivial and topological materials: topological insulators, Dirac, Weyl and nodal-line semimetals, and topological metals [1]. Around 20% of all materials host topological bands. Currently, we have focused also on magnetic materials, a fertile field for new since all crossings in the band structure of ferromagnets are Weyl nodes or nodal lines [2], as for example Co 2 MnGa and Co 3 Sn 2 S 2 . Beyond a single particle picture and identified antiferromagnetic topological materials [3].


1. Bradlyn et al., Nature 547 298, (2017), Vergniory, et al., Nature 566 480 (2019).
2. Belopolski, et al., Science 365, 1278 (2019), Liu, et al. Nature Physics 14, 1125 (2018), Guin, et al.
Advanced Materials 31 (2019) 1806622, Liu, et al., Science 365, 1282 (2019), Morali, et al., Science
365, 1286 (2019)
3. Xu et al. Nature 586 (2020) 702.

Professor Roberta Humphreys of the School of Physics and Astronomy will deliver the first colloquium of the 2021-2022 school year on the topic of Luminous Blue Variables (LBVs), rare, extremely large stars known as Hypergiants and their imposters.

Abstract: The most massive stars end their brief lives dramatically as supernovae when their massive cores collapse to black hole or neutron stars. Prior to their terminal state though, massive stars experience high mass loss episodes that alter their evolution and their eventual fate. Forty years ago, our comparison of the most luminous stars in our region of the Milky Way and the Large Magellanic Cloud revealed comparable populations of massive stars and the recognition of an empirical upper-luminosity boundary that was not predicted by theory or models at that time. Up until that time it was generally accepted that red supegiants were the end produce of massive stars evolution. But the lack of red supergiants above a certain luminosity implied an upper mass for stars that could evolve to red supergiants with important implications for stellar evolution. We suggested then that the upper luminosity boundary was due to mass loss, including high mass loss episodes near the Eddington limit. Today, observations in the Galaxy and nearby resolved galaxies have revealed evolved stars of different types experiencing high mass loss, stars that characterize the upper luminosity limit, and provide clues to the origin of their high mass loss events prior to their terminal state. These include the Luminous Blue Variables (LBVs), warm and cool hypergiants, B[e] supegiants, and “superpnova impostors”. I'll just have time to introduce you to some of the most interesting stars I know.

The Physics Force will preform two back-to back shows, at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

The Physics Force will preform two shows at 10:00 and 11:00 a.m.

The Physics Force will preform two shows. There will be a morning show at 10:15 a.m., and an afternoon show at 2:15 p.m.

The Cmpact Muon Solenoid (CMS) group at Minnesota will hold a mini-symposium where some of the current work going on in the group is highlighted.  On Monday August 16th there will be short descriptions of our work both here and at CERN, which will be followed by a some talks by group members working on applications of machine learning projects. On Tuesday there will be talks about some of our hardware projects and lightening 5 minute (elevator) talks by our new grad students.

Universe in the Park is a summer outreach program hosted by the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics and area state and local parks. This annual program is headed by faculty member Evan Skillman and graduate student Nico Adams.

At our events, representatives of the Institute will present a short (~20 min) outdoor public talk and slide show. Presentations cover a variety of astronomical topics such as: the history of matter, how astronomers "see," and a journey through our solar system. For our 2021 season, we will be giving these talks outdoors to ensure they are as safe as possible.

Afterwards, if weather allows, attendees have the opportunity to view the sky through multiple 8-inch reflecting telescopes, operated by the staff and provided by the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics. Additionally, we provide free star maps (e.g., www.skymaps.com) and are happy to show visitors how to use them. Throughout the evening, we encourage questions from the audience and enjoy discussing topics ranging from backyard astronomy to the latest scientific discoveries.

Through these events, we hope to convey the excitement of modern astronomical research while simultaneously providing an enjoyable introduction to amateur astronomy. Although a vehicle permit is usually required to enter the parks, the events are free to the public. Please join us!