Course Information | PKUSSI 2023 on Fundamental Physics

Editor's Note

Here is the list of the courses offered during the Peking University Summer School International 2023 on Fundamental Physics. 

北京大学基础物理学暑期学校课程信息

01

Lecture: 

SIDNEY YIP AND THE INTEGRATION OF MOLECULAR SIMULATIONS INTO MATERIALS SCIENCE: THE PIONEERING PERIOD, 1965-1985

Language: 

English

Abstract:

This lecture explores the early research trajectory of Sidney Yip, a nuclear engineer who played a pivotal role in establishing molecular simulations as a core practice in materials science. Specifically, the focus will be on Yip’s career from 1965, when he joined the faculty at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to 1985 when he presented his pioneering research work at the 97th course of the International School of Physics “Enrico Fermi” in Varenna, Italy. His lecture marked a significant moment when Yip addressed a group of leading physicists and chemists illustrating his pioneering research and highlighting the need for the scientific community to focus on materials science. Throughout this talk, a set of interconnected key articles will be analyzed, attempting to reconstruct the outlines of an early history of molecular simulations in materials science.

Schedule: 

Afternoon, August 7, 2023.

Lecturer: 

DANIELE MACUGLIA

Daniele Macuglia, also known as 马大年, works as an assistant professor of history of science in the Department of History of Science, Technology and Medicine at Peking University. After graduating summacum laude in condensed matter physics from the University of Pavia and the Institute of Advanced Studies in Pavia, Italy, he decided to pursue his long-standing passion for history. He continued his academic journey at the University of Chicago, where he studied under the guidance ofLeo Kadanoff. He obtained his doctoral degree in 2017. Currently, at Peking University, he is focused on analyzing the history of molecular simulations in soft and hard matter. He collaborates closely with renowned scientists who had a significant involvement in molecular simulations, particularly during the years spanning from the 1970s through the 1990s. Together, they aim to record, scrutinize, and provide insights on the outcomes achieved during that timeframe.

Personal webpage: 

https://www.danielemacuglia.com/

Email: 

[e-mail]

Host:

TBD.

02

Course:

PARTICLE PHYSICS

Language:

English

Introduction:

Welcome to the Particle Physics at Summer School of Peking University. This program is designed for junior undergraduate students interested in exploring the fascinating realm of particle physics. Over the course of five classes, you will be introduced to key concepts, theories, and experimental techniques in the field.

Objective:

The main objective of this summer school is to provide a solid foundation in particle physics for second-year undergraduate students. By the end of the program, students should be able to:

1. Understand the fundamental principles of particle physics.

2. Describe the standard model of particle physics and its components.

3. Explain the experimental techniques used in particle physics research.

4. Discuss current topics and open questions in particle physics.

5. Demonstrate problem-solving skills through the quiz class.

Schedule:

Morning (Monday to Wednesday, and Saturday) and afternoon (Thursday and Friday), August 7-12, 2023.

Topics:

The summer school will consist of five classes, followed by a quiz class. The schedule is as follows:

Class 1: Introduction to Particle Physics and Historical Overview

Overview of the subatomic world

Historical milestones in particle physics

Class 2: The Standard Model of Particle Physics

Elementary particles and their classifications

Fundamental forces and interactions

Class 3: Experimental Techniques in Particle Physics

Particle accelerators and colliders

Particle detectors and their principles

Class 4: Current Frontiers and Open Questions

Beyond the standard model: Supersymmetry, extra dimensions, etc.

Neutrino physics and oscillations

Class 5: Applications of Particle Physics and Future Directions

Cosmology and astroparticle physics

Practical applications and societal impact of particle physics

Quiz Class: Problem-Solving and Review Session

Prerequisites:

To participate in this summer school, students should have completed their first-year undergraduate studies in physics or a related field. Basic knowledge of classical mechanics, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics is required to grasp the material effectively.

Textbook:

Modern Particle Physics, Mark Thomson, University of Cambridge

Grading:

Yes

Lecturer:

GIAN FRANCESCO GIUDICE

Gian Francesco Giudice is a theoretical particle physicist working at CERN. Born in 1961, he graduated from the University of Padua and obtained his PhD in theoretical physics from SISSA in Trieste. He worked at Fermilab and at the University of Texas, in the group of Prof. S. Weinberg, before moving to CERN in 1993. Currently, he serves as the head of the theoretical physics department at CERN. His research focuses on the construction of new theories beyond the Standard Model and on 

their implications for the early history of the universe. Supersymmetry and extra dimensions are fields in which he has made important contributions. He is the author of A Zeptospace Odyssey, a popular-science book on the physics of the Large Hadron Collider. He has obtained various awards, including the Jacques Solvay Chair in Physics in 2013, Distinguished Visiting Research Chair at PI in 2019, Academician of the Accademia dei Lincei in 2022, Erwin-Schrödinger Guest Professor at University of Vienna 2023.

Personal webpage: 

https://theory.cern/roster/giudice-gian-francesco

Email: 

[e-mail]

Assistant lecturer:

Jia Liu, Assistant Professor, School of Physics, Peking University

Email: 

[e-mail]

03

Lecture: 

THE EARTH SYSTEM: CLIMATE, BIOGEOCHEMISTRY, AND BIOGEOPHYSICS

Language:

English

Abstract:

The Earth is the only planet that sustain our life as we know it. Life and our planet’s functions co-evolved over billions of years. To understand the complex phenomena that arises on Earth requires integration of biology, chemistry, geology, and physics. Broadly, we call this branch of physics Earth Systems Science. The interactions among processes on the planet lend rise to emergent phenomena we observe in weather patterns, ocean circulation, the evolution of landforms, and biological function. In the first lecture, I will introduce the concept of Earth Systems Science and focus on the climate system from the perspective of global energy balance. In the second lecture, I will focus on the current research on the role of biological organisms on land in regulating exchanges of water, carbon, heat, and momentum with the atmosphere, and how that influences climate. I will further discuss how globally distributed long-term observations and Earth system models are used to project the future of climate from these processes. Together, these tools help us understand and mitigate the fate of humanity and ecosystems in light of global warming.

Schedule: Afternoon, August 8-9 (Tuesday and Wednesday), 2023.

Lecturer: ANKUR DESAI

Ankur Desai is Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and the Reid Bryson Professor of Climate, People, and Environment with the Nelson Institute Center for Climatic Research, both at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His lab studies and has authored over 150 articles regarding ecosystems, weather, and climate. This work spans from Wisconsin to the globe and uses both long term observations in nature and advanced computer simulations. He received his Bachelor's degree in computer science and environmental studies from Oberlin College, a Master's in Geography from University of Minnesota, and a Ph.D. in Meteorology from The Pennsylvania State University. Ankur is also an American Meteorological Society Certified Consulting Meteorologist and a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union.

Personal webpage:  

https://aos.wisc.edu/faculty/Desai/

Email: 

[e-mail]

Host:

Yan Yu, Assistant Professor, School of Physics, Peking University

Email: 

[e-mail]

04

Lecture: 

QCD: OBJECTIVES, GOALS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Language:

English

Abstract:

QCD (quantum chromodynamics) is 50 years old. A summary of its major successes, where it stands today, and in what directions it is developing will be given. Important open problems and challenges will be reviewed. An attempt will be made to give a flavor of the problems open to students and young researchers.

Schedule: 

Morning, August 11 (Friday), 2023.

Lecturer: 

ALFRED H. MUELLER

Alfred H. Mueller is a distinguished American theoretical physicist who currently serves as the Enrico Fermi Professor of Physics at Columbia University. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Iowa State University in 1961 and completed his PhD at MIT in 1965. Following this, he worked as a post-doctoral researcher at Brookhaven National Laboratory until 1971, after which he joined Columbia University as a faculty member.

Among other subjects, Mueller studied the high-order perturbation theory of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and tests of QCD “hard” scattering processes of hadrons and QCD in nuclear physics and heavy ion collisions. Mueller is a founding father of the field of parton saturation, a theoretically well established idea that the occupation numbers of small-x quarks and gluons cannot become arbitrarily large in the wave function of a hadron or nucleus.

He was a Sloan Research Fellow in 1972 and a Guggenheim Fellow in 1988. In 2003 he received the prestigious Sakurai Prize for the development of concepts of perturbative QCD.

Personal webpage: https://www.physics.columbia.edu/content/alfred-h-mueller

Email: 

[e-mail]

Host:

HuaXing Zhu, Associate Professor, School of Physics, Peking University

Email: 

[e-mail]

05

Lecture: 

HISTORY OF FREE-ENERGY CALCULATIONS IN SOFT AND HARD MATTER

Language:

English

Abstract:

Free energy is of fundamental importance in the study of energy processes and transformations of matter. Yet, the development of methods to calculate this thermodynamic potential has represented a major challenge for generations of scientists engaged in both analytical approaches and computer simulations. This lecture aims to outline a history of free-energy calculations in condensed matter, along with an outline of a chronology and a collection of primary sources useful for further historical insights. The period considered here begins with John Kirkwood’s analytical studies of 1935 - which laid the foundations of the so-called Hamiltonian thermodynamic integration – and stops with the onset of umbrella sampling in 1977. The emphasis will be on simulative techniques and the main difficulties faced by scientists engaged in molecular simulations. Despite some references in texts aimed primarily at natural-science readers, the history of free-energy calculations still lacks adequate systematization. This study aims to take a step in this direction.

Schedule: 

Afternoon, August 11, 2023.

Lecturer: 

DANIELE MACUGLIA

Daniele Macuglia, also known as 马大年, works as an assistant professor of history of science in the Department of History of Science, 

Technology and Medicine at Peking University. After graduating summa cum laude in condensed matter physics from the University of Pavia and the Institute of Advanced Studies in Pavia, Italy, he decided to pursue his long-standing passion for history. He continued his academic journey at the University of Chicago, where he studied under the guidance of Leo Kadanoff. He obtained his doctoral degree in 2017. Currently, at Peking University, he is focused on analyzing the history of molecular simulations in soft and hard matter. He collaborates closely with renowned scientists who had a significant involvement in molecular simulations, particularly during the years spanning from the 1970s through the 1990s. Together, they aim to record, scrutinize, and provide insights on the outcomes achieved during that timeframe.

Personal webpage: 

https://www.danielemacuglia.com/

Email: 

[e-mail]

Host:

TBD.

06

Course: 

SPINTRONICS

Language:

English

Introduction:

Spintronics is the science and technology that utilized the electron in spin in small structures and devices. 

Objectives:

A qualitative understanding of the basic physics of and important experiments in spintronics, including related fields. The successful participant should be able to study research literature. 

Schedule: 

9:00-10:30 a.m., August 14-19 (Monday to Friday), 2023.

Topics:

Magnetism and magnetic materials, micromagnetism, electron charge and spin transport, magnetoelectronics (including GMR and TMR), spin Hall and related effects, magnonics, cavitronics, caloritronics, ferronics.

Prerequisites:

Elementary quantum statistical mechanics (wave equation, angular momentum, fermions and bosons) and solid-state physics (reciprocal space, band structures, Fermi surface).

Textbooks:

None.

Grading:

None.

Notes:

Handouts of the OHP’s will be distributed.

Lecturer: 

GERRIT E.-W. BAUER

Gerrit Bauer received his Ph.D. in physics from Technical University Berlin in 1986. He has been a postdoc at the Institute of Solid State Physics of the University of Tokyo and a member of the scientific staff of Philips Research Laboratories. He is presently at the Institute of Materials Research of Tohoku University, Sendai, and the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Sciences at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. He works in theoretical spintronics and magnetoelectronics. He was recognized as a fellow of the American Physical Society.

Personal webpage: https://kits.ucas.ac.cn/index.php/people/faculty/44-faculty/538-gerrit-e-w-bauer

Email: 

[e-mail]

Assistant lecturer:

Zhaochu Luo, Assistant professor, School of Physics, Peking University

Email: 

[e-mail]

07

Course: 

EXOPLANETS AND THEIR ORIGINS

Language:

English

Introduction:

The field of exoplanets is still young – the first planet around a main-sequence star was detected less than 30 years ago.  We have since discovered thousands of planets outside of our own solar system and characterized the atmospheres and structure of many of them, yet these investigations are still just scratching the surface of what will become possible during our lifetimes.  We still do not know how common earth-like planets might be, but we are on the path to discovery.  In this week-long course, I will describe the status of the field of exoplanets and their formation, highlighting main questions that remain and the future instrumentation that will allow us to answer those questions.

Objective: 

To learn about exoplanets.

Schedule:

10:30am-12:15pm, August 14-19 (Monday to Saturday), 2023.

Topics:

Exoplanets, Exoplanet Atmospheres.

Prerequisites: 

None.

Textbook:

Astronomy (feeely downloaded)

Grading:

Yes (A/B/C/D/F)

Lecturer:

GREGORY HERCZEG

Gregory Herczeg is Associate Professor and Associate Director for Science at Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at Peking University. He received his PhD at University of Colorado in 2005 and worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Caltech and Max Planck Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics before moving to PKU in 2011. Professor Herczeg is an observational astronomy with a focus on the 

formation of stars and planets.

Personal webpage:

https://gherczeg.github.io/

Email:

[e-mail]

Assistant lecturer: 

None.

08

Lecture: 

THE AGE OF DISCOVERY WITH THE JAMES WEBB: EXCAVATING THE FIRST MASSIVE BLACK HOLES

Language: 

English

Abstract:

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has been opening a new window ofa the most distant universe and unveiling the early growth of supermassive black holes (BHs) in the first galaxies. The existence of supermassive massive BHs observed when the universe was younger than one billion years strongly constrains their formation pathway and provides a crucial hint to understand the coevolution between BHs and galaxies. In this talk, I will review the physical mechanisms that promote rapid assembly and growth of seed BHs in early protogalaxies, and discuss how JWST will probe the earliest structure formation in the near future.

Schedule: Afternoon, August 23 (Wednesday), 2023

Lecturer:

KOHEI INAYOSHI

Before joining KIAA in 2018 fall, Dr. Kohei Inayoshi spent 4 years at Columbia University in US as a Junior Simons Fellow. He received his Ph.D. in physics from Kyoto University, Japan, in 2014. He is interested in a variety of topics on the physics of black holes, including gas accretion physics, formation of supermassive black holes, and multi-frequency gravitational wave astronomy.

Personal webpage: https://inayoshi0328.wixsite.com/kohei-inayoshi

Email: 

[e-mail]

Host: 

TBD.

Course Information | PKUSSI 2023 on Fundamental Physics

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