Leopold Infeld Colloquium
2006/2007 | 2007/2008 | 2008/2009 | 2009/2010 | 2010/2011 | 2011/2012 | 2012/2013 | 2013/2014 | 2014/2015 | 2015/2016 | 2016/2017 | 2017/2018
2013-12-05 (Thursday)
Nowa A(425), Hoża 69 at 15:30 
Prof. Aleksandra Walczak (Ecole Normale Superieure)Information processing in gene regulatory circuits
Many of the biological networks inside cells can be thought of as transmitting information from the inputs (e.g., the concentrations of transcription factors or other signaling molecules) to their outputs (e.g., the expression levels of various genes). Given the molecular limits (small concentrations, intrinsic randomness), not all networks perform equally well, and maximizing information transmission provides a optimization principle from which we might hope to derive the properties of real regulatory networks. Inspired by the precision of transmission of positional information in the early development of the fly embryo, I will discuss the properties of specific small networks that can optimally transmit information. Concretely, I will show how the form of molecular noise drives predictions not just of the qualitative network topology but also how the quantitative parameters for the input/output relations at the nodes of the network depend on the molecular regulator elements. I will then show how we can consider time dependent information transmission.
2013-11-21 (Thursday)
Nowa A(425), Hoża 69 at 15:30
Prof. dr hab. Andrzej Królak (Institute of Mathematics Polish Academy of Sciences;National Centre for Nuclear Research)The quest for gravitational waves
I shall present the current status of searches for gravitational radiation.Gravitational waves are one of the predictions of the Einstein's general theory of relativity. I shall briefly introduce this phenomenon, review astrophysical sources of gravitational radiation and present evidence for its existence.Currently there is operating a world wide network of large scale laser interferometric antennas aiming at direct detection of gravitational waves. These detectors involve challenging technologies. Sophisticated data analysis methods are used to search for gravitational wave signals in the noise of the detectors. I shall present the observational results obtained so far from the analysis of data collected by these detectors. I shall stressimportance of joint searches with other astronomical observatories. No gravitational waves have been detected so far but exciting results are expected in a few years time when detectors with advanced configuration start operating. I shall briefly mention other current gravitational wave detection projects and projects planned in the future. I shall also describe the effort of researches in Poland in this field.
2013-11-07 (Thursday)
Nowa A(425), Hoża 69 at 15:30
Prof. Achim Schwenk (Institut fuer Kernphysik and ExtreMe Matter Institute EMMI ;Technische Universitaet Darmstadt)Three-body forces: From exotic nuclei to neutron stars
Three-body forces are especially important in strongly interacting systems. In nuclear physics, three-body forces are predicted by effective field theories of Quantum Chromodynamics. I will show that exotic nuclei become increasingly sensitive to three-nucleon forces and how experiments with neutron-rich nuclei test and constrain these subtle components of nuclear forces. The same three-body forces impact neutron-rich matter in neutron stars and other extreme neutron-rich astrophysical environments. Three-nucleon forces therefore provide an exciting link between experimental, theoretical and observational physics frontiers