Nao Suzuki
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Abstract:
Taking in the spirit of Journal Club, I will introduce a variety of topics:
Math, my research background and cultural interest.
1. Math Quiz
"What is the most efficient partition of the plane into equal areas?"
If you can answer this question with a proof, you could write a paper in math
journals. I will introduce recent development of the study of fundamental geometry.
2. Power Spectrum: Measurement from the Ly alpha Forest
How many talks have you heard about the power spectrum? But have you ever seen
real time power spectrum of your voice or your favorite instrument? I will demostrate
the real time power spectrum of the sound using some instruments. (If you have
one you wish to test, please bring it in)
Then, I will introduce how we can measure the power spectrum from the Ly alpha
forest in the quasar spectrum and show the measurement of growth factor at redshift
2 which also probes dark energy. Also I will discuss the potential problems
in the sigma8 measurement from the Ly alpha forest.
If time allows, I will mention why I am suspicious about the report on the variation
of fine structure constant from the quasar absorption lines.
3. Immortal Beloved: -- the truth of Beethoven's last love
A passionate letter was found right after the death of Ludwig van Beethoven.
The letter was written to an "Immortal Beloved" but no name was mentioned
in the letter. It has been a mystery who the person is for centuries.
Recently, there were some developments on the identity of the beloved one. A
Japanese researcher who spent 40 years of her life searching for the one found
a conclusive evidence. I'll introduce who the beloved one is.