There will be a bus to transport you to the SFA observatory at 8:00pm at the commuter's bus stop (located behind the Steen Library). See building 48 on this map: http://www.physics.sfasu.edu/astro/springmeeting/CampusMap.jpg

In addition to our public viewing session at the SFA Observatory you may also want to attend a planetarium show on a Friday night at 7pm. The planetarium is located in building 53 on the map linked above. Here's the planetarium schedule: http://www.physics.sfasu.edu/planetarium/index.htm

Dynamics Schedule?

For the Spring 2007 Semester, as it is scheduled now PHY 321L (2-4:50 pm) overlaps with MTH 333L by 15 minutes. Please contact Dr. Downing if you have any problem with PHY 321L running from 2:30-5:20 on Mondays to resolve this overlap problem.

Quantum Computing Seminars

"Quantum Computing in Infinite Dimensions" Part 1 4 lectures by Jeremy Becnel The next lecture will be held at 4pm, Monday, October 16 @ Math/Nursing Room 357

Oct 9, Oct 16, Oct 23, & Oct 30 Abstract: We introduce the postulates of Quantum Mechanics and demonstrate how a finite dimensional Quantum Mechanical system can be used to perform computational task. Using these notions we develop the Shor algorithm for factoring an integer.

The series will start with a introduction to Quantum Mechanics as it relates to Quantum Computing. Examples and algorithms in finite dimensions will be introduced, most importantly the famous Shor algorithm for factoring. We will then use distribution theory to extend these ideas to infinite dimensional spaces. Next we construct an algorithm to find the unknown integer period of a periodic function on the real line, which can be thought of as a continuous extension of the Shor algorithm. We further extend these ideas to be able to perform algorithms on functions whose domain is a Hilbert space. In order to do this, we use White Noise Distribution Theory, which is a combination of Probability Theory and Functional Analysis.

Science News

ASSIST movie from MIT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZNTgglPbUA
http://rationale.csail.mit.edu/project_assist.shtml

Americans win Nobel physics prize
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/10/03/nobel.physics.ap/index.html

Software finds missing 'a' in Armstrong's moon quote
"One small step for a mankind, one giant leap for mankind."
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/09/30/moon.quote.ap/index.html

CNN Video: Phones that Scream
http://www.emailthis.clickability.com/et/emailThis?clickMap=viewThis&etMailToID=1055937567&pt=Y

Novarupta
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/03oct_novarupta.htm?list184210

T-Shirt
http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/science/8964/

Movie: Working together really well!
http://astro.sfasu.edu/movies/Formadoporgente.wmv

Astronomers find supernova first spotted in A.D. 185
Nearly 2,000 years ago, Chinese astronomers spotted a bright light materializing in the night sky. Turns out the skywatchers had witnessed the spectacular explosion of a dying star. That was the year 185 AD. Tuesday astronomers said they might have identified the remains from this ancient stellar explosion, now considered the oldest supernova on record.
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060928.html

Face on Mars -- Recent Images
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060926.html
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060925.html

Earth as seen From Saturn
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060927.html

Autumnal Equinox: Vertical Lines on the Sunlit Earth
http://astronomy.physics.tamu.edu/Java/Tools/Earth/Sun/

Movie: Magic Quarter with Chriss Angel?
http://astro.sfasu.edu/movies/MagicQuarter.wmv

Movies: The World's Safest Table Saw
http://www.sawstop.com/

The space station is really growing!
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060920.html

Feel free to send any interesting links that you find. This email message is sent to students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the department. If you would like to be removed from the emailing list or are getting multiple copies of these newsletters, then feel free to reply to this message with your request.

Clear skies,
Dan Bruton
astro@sfasu.edu