McPherson Lecture: Opening A Neutrino Window On The Universe From The South Pole

The Anna McPherson lecture is McGill's prize lecture series in physics, bringing a distinguished physicist to our department each year. This year we are delighted to welcome Francis Halzen from University of Wisconsin–Madison!

Abstract:

The IceCube project at the South Pole melted 86 holes 2.5 kilometer deep in the Antarctic icecap to construct an enormous astronomical observatory. The experiment discovered a flux of neutrinos from deep space with energies more than a million times those of neutrinos produced at accelerator laboratories. These cosmic neutrinos are created in some of the most violent processes in the universe since the Big Bang and originate in the cosmic particle accelerators that are still enigmatic sources of cosmic rays. This lecture will discuss the IceCube neutrino telescope and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of cosmic origin. It will highlight the recent discovery that high-energy neutrinos—and cosmic rays—originate in sources powered by rotating supermassive black holes.

Meet Our Speaker:

Dr. Francis Halzen is the Vilas Research Professor and Gregory Breit Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Francis is a theoretical particle physicist who has served as the Principal Investigator for the AMANDA and IceCube Neutrino Experiments since their inception. Francis is a world leading expert in cosmic ray and astroparticle physics and is the recipient of many awards and honors. This includes winning the 2018 Bruno Pontecorvo Prize for breakthroughs in particle physics for his contributions to IceCube and the experimental discovery of high-eneryg astrophysical neutrinos. For more details of Francis’ work and IceCube we refer you to his website and the IceCube public website.

Date: March 21st, 2024
Time: 7:30 pm
Where: McGill University, Leacock Building room 132