From Nonlinear Optics to High-Intensity Laser Physics

Donna Strickland, U Waterloo

Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 16:00

UBC HENN 201

Abstract

The laser increased the intensity of light that can be generated by orders of magnitude and thus brought about nonlinear optical interactions with matter. Chirped pulse amplification, also known as CPA, changed the intensity level by a few more orders of magnitude and helped usher in a new type of laser-matter interaction that is referred to as high-intensity laser physics. In this talk, I will discuss the differences between nonlinear optics and high-intensity laser physics. The development of CPA and why short, intense laser pulses can cut transparent material will also be included. I will also discuss future applications.

Hi GAPS members!

A quick reminder that GAPS hosts a 30-minute chat with the colloquium speaker after each Thursday TRIUMF colloquium. These take place in the MOB Cafeteria, starting directly after the colloquium. This is a great opportunity for informal chats with the speaker, related to their presentation or anything else you wish to discuss!

See you there!

-Your GAPS

gaps.triumf.ca

Using Binding Energies to Gain Insights on Machine Learning

Ian Bentley, Florida Polytechnic University

Thu, Mar 19, 2026, 14:00

Auditorium / Zoom

Abstract

Nuclear binding energies provide an excellent testing ground for developing machine learning regression models. The moderately sized data set of about 2500 accurately measured values and the well studied behavior allow for training and test sets to be set up and appropriate physical features to be utilized. Neural networks, kernel-based approaches, such as support vector machines, and gaussian process regression, and even ensembled tree-based approaches have seemingly matched and potentially surpassed the accuracy of prior models. This talk will discuss observed behavior among these approaches when used to model binding energy residuals. A composite model which predicts the Atomic Mass Evaluation 2020 for N>7, and Z>7 with a standard deviation of less 100 keV will also be discussed.

Zoom: https://uvic.zoom.us/j/83875570623?pwd=kQKlwDCfScrIu0J5TunWqnho0jNRg8.1

Meeting ID: 838 7557 0623 Password: TRColloq

Hi GAPS members!

A quick reminder that GAPS hosts a 30-minute chat with the colloquium speaker after each Thursday TRIUMF colloquium. These take place in the MOB Cafeteria, starting directly after the colloquium. This is a great opportunity for informal chats with the speaker, related to their presentation or anything else you wish to discuss!

See you there!

-Your GAPS

gaps.triumf.ca

Muon g-2: Taking Particle Physics for a Spin

Peter Winter, Argonne

Thu, Mar 12, 2026, 14:00

Auditorium/Remote

Abstract

The muon — a heavier cousin of the electron — plays a unique role in particle physics, offering powerful ways to search for new physics beyond the Standard Model. Over the past few decades, precision measurements involving muons have deepened our understanding of fundamental particle interactions. One of the most prominent efforts is the Muon g-2 Experiment at Fermilab, which was designed to measure the muon's magnetic anomaly,?aµ = (gµ?–?2)/2, with an unprecedented precision of 140 parts per billion—four times more precise than the earlier measurement at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). The new experiment was motivated since the BNL result had revealed a tantalizing discrepancy of about 3.5 standard deviations from the Standard Model prediction. The Muon g-2 collaboration has recently completed its full data analysis, achieving a final precision of 127 parts per billion. This new result sets the most stringent benchmark to date for testing extensions to the Standard Model. In this colloquium, I will give a broad overview of the muon’s role in particle physics, followed by a focused discussion of the Fermilab Muon g-2 experiment and its implications.

Remote Connection: https://ubc.zoom.us/j/69003361760pwd=y6cVBqVjmmoDkgkKaBYFaLYb9iDTHg.1

Meeting ID: 690 0336 1760 Passcode: 596192

Hi GAPS members!

A quick reminder that GAPS hosts a 30-minute chat with the colloquium speaker after each Thursday TRIUMF colloquium. These take place in the MOB Cafeteria, starting directly after the colloquium. This is a great opportunity for informal chats with the speaker, related to their presentation or anything else you wish to discuss!

See you there!

-Your GAPS

gaps.triumf.ca

Fine-tunings in nuclear physics

Ulf-G. Meissner, University of Bonn, FZ Juelich

Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 14:00

Auditorium/Remote

Abstract

Element generation in the Big Bang and in stars is a fine laboratory to test possible variations of the fundamental constants of the Standard Model. In this talk, I review the constraints from primordial nucleosynthsesis on the electromagnetic fine-structure constant aEM, the light quark masses mu, md, ms and the CP-violating ?-parameter, with an emphasis on a thorough analysis of the systematic errors for the physical values of these parameters. Second, I discuss fine-tunings in the basic reactions generating the life-enabling elements carbon and oxygen via the triple-alpha process and the radiative alpha-capture on carbon, the so-called holy grail of nuclear astrophysics. Finally, I also make contact to the anthropic principle.

Remote Connection: https://ubc.zoom.us/j/68099892709pwd=RXafbpqP79cfh4atRzauRlUIVDQYhH.1

Meeting ID: 680 9989 2709 Passcode: 146064

Hi GAPS members!

A quick reminder that GAPS hosts a 30-minute chat with the colloquium speaker after each Thursday TRIUMF colloquium. These take place in the MOB Cafeteria, starting directly after the colloquium. This is a great opportunity for informal chats with the speaker, related to their presentation or anything else you wish to discuss!

See you there!

-Your GAPS

gaps.triumf.ca

Topic: Searching for long-lived heavy neutrinos and building new detectors at the LHC

Dominique Trischuk, U Victoria

Thu, Feb 19, 2026, 14:00

Auditorium/Remote

Abstract

High-energy proton collisions can be used to study heavy particles that decay very quickly, like the Higgs boson. But long-lived particles – which travel more than a few millimeters before they decay – could be key in explaining big questions we have about our Universe. In this colloquium, I will present a case study using novel experimental approaches to hunt for long-lived heavy neutrinos using data collected by the ATLAS experiment. This talk will also discuss the landscape of heavy neutrino searches at the Large Hadron Collider and the pivotal role that designing and constructing new detectors will play in boosting searches for new physics at the energy frontier.

Remote Connection: https://ubc.zoom.us/j/69360630892pwd=FEHgaPwdGHXEPK9WtvJ6dvsxkUM7Pm.1

Meeting ID: 693 6063 0892

Passcode: 823798