Dr. Justin Robinson
(Georgia State University)LAMP High School, February 10, 2026 Troy University Library, February 11, 2026 |
The Cosmos and Its Galaxies As Seen Through Next-Generation Observatories (Outreach Lecture Series)
Premier observatories such as the James Webb Space Telescope, the Hubble Space Telescope, the Vera Rubin Observatory, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, and the Dark Energy Survey Instrument have collectively catapulted our understanding of the Milky Way, nearby galaxies, galaxy clusters and superclusters, and the large-scale Universe into uncharted and exciting territory. These powerful telescopes observe the cosmos in many different ways, including 1) through imaging in different wavelengths of light, most of which are unable to be seen with the naked human eye and 2) through splitting incoming light into its individual wavelengths, thereby creating a spectrum for objects in space. In this presentation, I will describe how these observatories 1) use imaging in different wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum to reveal different physical attributes about galaxies and 2) use spectroscopy to learn even more about the same objects, with a few experiments to demonstrate the awesome power of these instruments. |
Dr. Hoa Dinh MSCX 114, November 7, 2025 |
From the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics to Quantum Computers
(Outreach Lecture Series)
We explore the historical background of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics and examine several modern models of quantum computers. In addition, we introduce some fundamental principles of quantum mechanics that underpin quantum computing. |
Dr. Yafet Sanchez Troy University Library, April 3, 2025 |
The Fourier transform. A bridge between Music and Analysis
(Outreach Lecture Series)
The Fourier transform is a powerful mathematical tool that helps us analyze signals. In this talk, I will describe this technique and explore its applications in music. Simply put, the transform allows us to break down complex waves into their basic building blocks, much like how a prism separates light into different colors. This helps us understand how musical notes, instruments, and even voices combine to create the sounds we hear. Click here to watch it on YouTube. |
Dr. Bruno Costa Troy University Library, January 30, 2025 |
Threads of Reality: The Ubiquity of Quantum Entanglement and Its Probabilistic Nature (Outreach Lecture Series)
In our world, identical experiments can produce unequal outcomes. To deal with those, we developed the quantum theory, which deploys an extension of traditional logic called probabilities. Because probabilities operate on rigid rules, we quickly realize that we can learn certain properties of a particle by observing another, often in uncanny ways that our non-quantum intuition cannot fathom. This talk discusses quantum entanglement, a property once declared "spooky" by Einstein that permeates our best fundamental theories of matter. Click here to watch it on YouTube. |
Dr. Rakshak Adhikari Troy University Library, February 14, 2025 |
Dark Matter in the Universe (Outreach Lecture Series)
The Center for Relativity and Cosmology hosted Dark Matter in the Universe, where Dr. Rakshak Adhikari explored the elusive substance that, though invisible to the eye, exerts a gravitational pull shaping galaxies and the large-scale structure of the cosmos. He discussed evidence for dark matter, current detection efforts, and its critical role in the universe’s evolution from the Big Bang to galaxy formation, highlighting his work on structure formation using cosmological simulations to illustrate how computational models help scientists understand the universe’s hidden scaffolding. |
Dr. Govind Menon
Troy University Library, September 19, 2024 |
Black Holes, Gravitational Waves, and Space-Time (Outreach Lecture Series)
The Center for Relativity and Cosmology hosted an introductory talk on general relativity and gravitational physics. Dr. Menon explained how space and time form a single framework and described the basic properties of black holes and their effects on light and the surrounding environment. He discussed gravitational waves as disturbances in space-time and outlined how they are detected. The talk also covered supermassive black holes and the energetic jets produced as they accrete matter, with examples of observations from very large distances. The lecture was followed by a question-and-answer session moderated by Professor Orlofsky. |