IFT Fellesseminar

Abstract: Several features of the Sun, including the huge explosions known as solar flares and the 1-million-kelvin temperature of  solar corona, are likely to be explained by the process of magnetic reconnection. During this process, current sheets tends to break up in smaller elements, leading to the formation of magnetic islands, known as "plasmoids". In the corona, these plasmoids are often too small to be seen by most currently-active solar telescopes, but simulations show that plasmoid instability has a significant impact on the amount of magnetic energy that gets converted to heat. Our research proves that  the satellites Multi-slit Solar Explorer (MUSE) and Solar-C, due to launch in a few years from now, will be capable of detecting and studying those plasmoids in details, hence bringing us one step closer to solving the mysteries of coronal heating and solar flares.

Øystein Færder, IFT

Abstract: Cryptography provides a crucial component of everyday life, including communication via mail and messaging apps, browsing the internet using HTTPS, and e–commerce. However, the mathematical problems underlying some of the most common cryptographic algorithms in use today will be broken if large-scale quantum computers are developed in the future. This has prompted a surge of research into post-quantum cryptography: the study of cryptographic algorithms that will remain secure in the presence of future quantum computers.

In this talk I will give a brief overview of how quantum computers will break current cryptographic algorithms and describe the mathematical problems we believe will form the secure foundations of future cryptography.

Bio: Morten Øygarden has a PhD in algebraic cryptanalysis of post-quantum cryptography. He has worked on the same topic as a post-doc at Simula UiB since 2021, and is also employed as a researcher (20%) at the Norwegian National Security Authority (NSM).

Morten Øygarden, Dept of Cryptography, Simula UiB / NSM

Abstract: In this talk, we’ll look at a few problems that seem simple at first but turn out to be surprisingly complex. We’ll focus on two real-world problems, examining them both from a traditional view and through the lens of parameterized complexity. We’ll discuss what makes a problem "easy" or "hard" and how algorithms can show us when brutef orce is the only option. We’ll also see how parameterized complexity can provide efficient algorithms that are exponential only in a small parameter, making them practical to use. This approach helps us better understand and solve tough computational problems.

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See mini-symposium program here.

Abstract: As laboratory instruction comes under increasing pressures due to budgetary issues and overfilled curricula, how do we justify the time and expense of laboratory instruction? Often, the justification is rather tautological: physics is an experimental subject, so physics students must do experiments. While this is true, it is not sufficient. I will discuss what I think are better justifications of laboratories in the physics curricula together with some examples of how one can transform traditional laboratory exercises into genuine scientific investigations.

Ian Bearden, Niels Bohr Institute

Abstract: Matter-wave diffraction is widely used for precision measurements, in fundamental sciences, and materials research. For investigating materials in transmission, both electron and neutron diffraction are common and well-established solutions. However, there are some limitations, for instance, in the study of radiation-sensitive materials. To overcome these, we aim to complement these techniques by coherent diffraction of atomic matter waves through crystalline materials [1]. Within this talk, we show first experimental results. Using atoms with a kinetic energy in the keV-range, we observe detailed patterns that result from interaction with the natural lattice of the crystalline gratings. This observation is remarkable as the atoms have sufficient energy to excite the membrane, which is expected to lead to decoherence and thus prevent coherent diffraction. We will discuss possible applications in the fields of materials research and fundamental science.
[1] Brand et al., New J. Phys. 21, 033004 (2019)

Christian Brand, German Aerospace Center

Abstract: While deep learning-based medical image analysis has made great strides, there are many cases where we need to keep a human in the loop. In this talk, I will introduce the field of medical visualization and provide several examples of how interactive visualization can support diagnosis, treatment planning, education, and communication in medicine.

Noeska Smit, Medical Visualization Group, UiB