Special Colloquium
Gang Zhou
Cal Tech
A mathematical model of quantum friction
Abstract: It is known that certain media, for example electromagnetic
fields and Bose Einstein condensates, have positive speed of sound. It
was observed that if the medium is in its equilibrium state, then an
invading subsonic particle will slow down due to friction; likewise the
speed of a supersonic particle will slow down to the speed of sound
and the medium will radiate. This is called Cherenkov radiation. It
has been widely discussed in physics literature, and applied in
experiments. In this talk I will present some rigorous mathematical results describing this phenomenon.
Joint works with Juerg Froehlich, Israel Michael Sigal, Avy Soffer, Daniel Egli, Arick Shao.
There will be a Meet & Greet Tea right after the talk in SEO 300.
Friday January 16, 2015 at 3:00 PM in SEO 636