[Sci-all-l] Physics and Astronomy Student Colloquium: Part 2

[Scott Fleming]

Part 2 of the Vassar College Physics and Astronomy Student Colloquium will
be held on Monday, September 27 at 4:00 PM in Sanders Physics Lecture
Hall, Room 207.  Tea and cookies will be served before the talks.  All are
welcome to come and hear about the exciting research performed by Vassar
College students over the summer.  Part 2 will feature talks by Kate
Dooley and Peter Robinson:


Kate Dooley, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Title: "A CESR-c Fast Luminosity Monitor"

Abstract: Earlier this year, physicists at Cornell University decided to
incorporate a fast luminosity monitor (FLM) into their particle
accelerator. Its purpose is to determine the instantaneous luminosity at
the interaction point where electrons and postitrons collide. With this
timely information, the accelerator operator can efficiently find the best
machine parameters in order to maximize luminosity. I will present some
theory and the design of the FLM and discuss how it calculates luminosity
to within a 1% statistical error.


Peter Robinson, Maria Mitchell Observatory, Nantucket, MA
Title: "Recurrent Novae: The Tale of Interstellar Relationships - An
Exploration of White Dwarfs, Red Giants, and What Happens When They Meet"
Abstract: Exploring the future evolution of our own Sun, one encounters
two interesting star types; the cool, gigantic Red Giant, and the hot,
tiny White Dwarf.  Although interesting in and of themselves, they are
even more interesting when they are close to each other, creating systems
known as Recurrent Novae. This talk explains how Recurrent Novae form and
briefly presents the results of an archeo-astronomical search for unknown
outbursts of these systems.