Forthcoming seminars

[CM ICTP - Trieste]

JOINT ICTP/SISSA STATISTICAL PHYSICS SEMINAR



Thursday, 29 May    -    3:00 p.m.



Lecture Room 'B' - terrace level  ICTP Leonardo Building



M. BERRY    ( Bristol University )


Series of lectures on: 'Singularities and asymptotics'


Fourth lecture

" Optical vorticulture "



Abstract


After reviewing the history, beginning in the 1660s, of lines of phase 
and polarization singularity in light and other waves,  I will describe 
our present understanding of their geometry, and several recent 
applications: to spiral phase plates (vortex choreography), vortex 
knots and links, ubiquity of vortices in interferometers, and quantum 
cores of the singularities.


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JOINT ICTP/SISSA STATISTICAL PHYSICS SEMINAR




Wednesday, 4 June    -    3:00 p.m.


Lecture Room 'B' - terrace level   ICTP Leonardo Building


M. BERRY  ( Bristol University )


Series of lectures on: 'Singularities and asymptotics'


Fifth lecture


" Two by two "


Abstract

A tutorial account of families of 2x2 matrices labelled by several 
parameters will concentrate on the neighbourhood of degeneracies. The 
emphasis will be on the differences between hermitian and nonhermitian 
matrices. Physical phenomena where such degeneracies play a crucial 
role will be described.