Physics Students Present Poster in Gravitational-wave Conference in Louisiana
Prottoy Samir and Emma Derrick attended the LIGO-Virgo-Kagra March 2024 Conference in Louisiana, where they presented their work on optical coating studies. The poster was titled "Surface and Defect Characterization of a Ta2O5-separated GeTiOx/SiO2 coating vs Annealing". The conference is an opportunity to explore new areas of research in optics, connect with colleagues and students that do similar research, and experience a scientific conference.
We are also thrilled that Emma's dedication to research was recognized in 2024 with the highly prestigious Goldwater Foundation Scholarship award!
Physics Student Presents Poster in Conference in Toyama, Japan
Left: Kace Colby is a Junior in the Physics Program at Bard. He has done extensive research in experimental Optics. Here, Kace is presenting his poster the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA September 2023 Meeting, at the Toyama Conference Center in Japan.
Right: 3 kilometer (1.9 mi) tunnel in the Kamioka mines. The tunnel is one of two long tunnels housing the KAGRA Gravitational-wave detector.
Physics students publish work in Optics
Physics students working in the Gravitational-wave Optics Lab (GOLab) publish in a peer-reviewed journal their work related to making better mirrors for future gravitational-wave observatories. The paper describes a novel technique to measure the size of defects on mirrors used in precision experiments such as GW interferometers and quantum optics. These kind of measurements lead to the development of new material that will allow precision experiments to reach new limits in metrology. The article in the journal Applied Optics can be found here.
For more information: contact Antonios Kontos at akontos(at)bard.edu
News from the Physics Program
Professor Clara Sousa-Silva Featured on PBS Show NOVA
Clara Sousa-Silva, assistant professor of physics at Bard College, appears in the PBS award-winning documentary series NOVA. The episode, “Solar System: Storm Worlds,” focuses on the dramatic forces creating spectacular weather on neighboring planets and moons. “In our solar system, wherever there’s an atmosphere, there’s weather, no matter how different an atmosphere from Earth’s,” said Sousa-Silva.
Professor Clara Sousa-Silva Appeared as a Panelist at United Nations Summit of the Future
Clara Sousa-Silva, assistant professor of physics at Bard College, addressed the United Nations on September 20 as a panelist at “Summit of the Future,” which brings world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future. The panel discussion, “Activating Young Scientists for Trust in Science,” focused on exploring ways of advancing trust in science globally among young people.
Bard Professor Antonios Kontos Awarded $351,951 Grant from the National Science Foundation
Antonios Kontos, associate professor and director of physics at Bard College, has been awarded a research grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Kontos’ proposal, titled “Stray Light Control for Cosmic Explorer,” has been awarded a total of $351,951 in funding over a period of three years, which will also cover student salaries, travel, and equipment. “Try to imagine a telescope that can hear every collision between two stars in the universe. That is what we are creating with the Cosmic Explorer detector,” said Kontos.