Description:

Pat Stollenwerk
Title: Optical Branching Ratios of SiO+ via Dispersed Fluorescence

Abstract: Select species of atomic ions have been gifted with properties that make them exceptionally amenable to precise control with lasers. These properties have been successfully exploited to give us the most precise clocks, insights into fundamental physics, and some of the cleanest demonstrations of quantum phenomena. A natural extension to the atomic ion is the molecular ion. In this talk I will elaborate on the motivation for molecular ions and outline some of the basic properties that will be necessary for filling out the ion trapper’s “data sheet.” In particular I will present my work on measuring the optical branching ratio of one promising molecular candidate for precision control—SiO+.
 

Cody Dirks
Title: How do molecular clouds from out of a diffuse ISM?

Abstract: Understanding the star formation process requires an understanding of the origins of molecular clouds, as the majority of new stars are born in these cold, dusty environments. The exact process by which molecular clouds are formed out of the diffuse interstellar medium remains unclear, as turbulence, magneto-hydrodynamics, and large-scale ISM flows may all contribute in some way. Here I will discuss recent work in characterizing the diffuse ISM at small scales, as well as work to probe the transition between the diffuse ISM and molecular regions by combining data from the Planck satellite and the Hubble Space Telescope.

Pizza will be available.