385. NEQNET: Last two weeks of April

The last month of the spring 2009 has started. Like all crazies, who usually get a bit more active during spring, I want (need) to become more active – my spirit requires some change. In this respect, I would like to ask you – what do you want to see new on NEQNET? New design? New guest bloggers? Are you unhappy about anything, that is, do you think that something has to be improved on the blog? Do you want to discuss some particular topic?

In the mean time here is what happened on NEQNET during last two weeks…

1. String theory, field theory, quantum gravity

1.1. M2 branes and Chern-Simons theories by John Davey, graduate student at Imperial College, London. John discusses some basics behind quiver Chern-Simons theories and their relation to membrane mini-revolution in string theory.

2. Nuclear physics

Somehow, I decided to study the physics of thermonuclear fusion a bit to get some understanding of the problem that I assigned N7 in my list to…

2.1. Introduction into thermonuclear reactors, where I introduce classification of thermonuclear reactors based on how plasma is confined in the reactor.

2.2. Thermonuclear reactors. Inertial confinement, where I calculate reaction rate in this type of reactors.

2.3. Thermonuclear reactors. More on inertial confinement, where I discuss several important parameters characterizing nuclear reactors with inertial confinement of plasma.

2.4. Inertial confinement – using lasers for compression, where it is explained why laser is such a great thing.

2.5. Inertial confinement: more on interaction of laser emission with matter, where I list different mechanisms of laser/matter interaction.

2.6. Inertial confinement: concluding part on lasers, where I describe what exactly happens with ablator and fuel in the capsule after the laser impulse.

3. Quantum mechanics and quantum computations

3.1. Temporal and spatial dependence of quantum entanglement by Shih-Yuin Lin, professor at National Center for Theoretical Sciences, Taiwan. Shih-Yuin discusses his recent exciting work done in collaboration with Bei-Lok Hu.

4. Cosmology, astrophysics, space research

4.1. Cosmological parameters in the context of time varying w by Rahul Biswas, graduate student of Benjamin Wandelt. Rahul explains how robust are bounds on cosmological parameters of CDM, if we allow effective equation of state for the dark energy to vary with time.

4.2. Kepler sees first light. Kepler is a new NASA space telescope, its particular mission being the estimation of number of planets per cubic kPc in our Galaxy.

4.3. Vector inflation by Alexey Golovnev (U. of Munich). Alex explains the core physics behind his recent work with Slava Mukhanov and Vitaly Vanchurin.

4.4. Some musings about Unruh effect, where I duscuss recent paper by Ugo Moschella and Richard Schaeffer.

4.5. A GRB detected at z=8.3 – the most distant object in the Universe so far!

4.6. Lester Lyles is not to be the next NASA administrator, and it seems that Steve Isakowitz is the favorite N1 in the run now.

5. Hydrodynamics, turbulence

5.1. Vortex line representation. Coulomb interaction of vortex lines, where I prove that energy should be dissipated inhomogeneously in the flow with very large Reynolds numbers. No more, no less.

5. Fun and things

5.1. The future of science blogs, where I ask you, my good readers, whether NEQNET should join some blog portal or not. Your answer is unclear to me

5.2. On science (in Russia), where I discuss some rather interesting statistics showing that science in Russia is in a decline after the decay of USSR. As if you wouldn’t now

6. Videos posted

6.1. ISS Tour.

6.2. ATLAS/CERN 2009 multimedia contest.

6.3. Steven Hawking’s “Black holes and beyond”.

6.4. How big is the Universe

6.5. Sounds of Jupiter.

Cheers and have a good weekend!