Title: The Promise of a Giant Radio Telescope

Speaker: Professor Li Di National Astronomical Observatories

Location: Room 111, Physics Building

Time: 2:00pm, 24-10-2012, Wednesday

Abstract:

The National Astronomical Observatories (NAOC) has started building the largest antenna in the world. Known as FAST, the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope is a Chinese mega-science project funded by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). FAST also represents part of Chinese contribution to the international efforts to build the square kilometer array (SKA). Upon its finishing around September of 2016, FAST will be the most sensitive telescope in the low frequency radio bands between 70 MHz and 3 GHz. FAST has the potential to make significant discoveries in the fields of astrophysics and astrochemistry, such as gaseous universe, star formation, compact objects, gravitational waves, and cosmology. I will give a brief overview of the project and its key science goals. The rest of the talk will be devoted to the "early science" opportunities of FAST.

Title: Origin of Mass and The God Particle Revolution

Speaker: Professor Hong-Jian He Tsinghua University

Location: Room 111, Physics Building

Time: 3:00pm, 24-10-2012, Wednesday

Abstract:

I discuss the origin of masses for all elementary particles in Nature, and analyze the intrinsic connection of the “God Particle” (Higgs Boson) with vacuum properties of the Universe. In particular, we review the recent important discovery of a Higgs-like state of mass 125-126GeV at the CERN LHC. This is going to boom the explorations on the properties of the God Particle and the physical vacuum, the origin of masses, and the underlying new physics laws. The successful LHC running and its first breakthrough have opened up an exciting new era for explorations and discoveries of the essence of the Universe. I will review the recent new advances of both experimental and theoretical studies.