Institute for Nuclear and Particle Astrophysics (INPA) at LBNL
The INPA Seminar weekly talks are on Fridays, starting at 12:00 pm, unless informed otherwise. The seminar talk starts with a brief presentation of the weekly scientific news. Typically, the talks conclude by 1:00 pm. The seminars are held in the Sessler Conference Room, located in Bldg. 50A- 5132.
Please send all suggestions for future INPA talks and speakers to the INPA Committee.
To be added to the INPA News Mailing List, please contact Erica Hall.
INPA Talks are archived here.
The INPA Committee currently consists of:
2025-26
Daniel Kodroff
Krystal Alfonso
Edmond Chaussidon
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Joint INPA/IIC Talk with Dr. Patrick Peplowski (Johns Hopkins University)-Talk title: Nuclear Physics in Space: Uncovering the Solar System’s History with Gamma Rays and Neutrons
July 11 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Seminar series: Interdisciplinary Instrumentation Colloquium
Talk title: Nuclear Physics in Space: Uncovering the Solar System’s History with Gamma Rays and Neutrons
Date: Friday, July 11th @ 12 pm (bring your lunch)
Location: B50-Sessler (50A-5-5132)
Note: Tea and cookies provided!
Speaker: Dr Patrick Peplowski (Johns Hopkins University)
Abstract:
By detecting faint nuclear signals from the surfaces of planets, moons, and asteroids, scientists are uncovering the hidden stories of how these worlds formed and evolved. This technique, known as nuclear spectroscopy, has revealed the iron-rich crust of Mercury, the volatile content of Mars, and the building blocks of our Moon and various asteroids.
In this talk, I will explore how interplanetary spacecraft have used nuclear physics to probe the surfaces of our solar system’s rocky bodies—and what these findings tell us about the origin and evolution of our planetary neighborhood. We’ll journey from Mercury to Mars, stopping at the Moon and asteroids along the way, and see how fundamental nuclear interactions power one of the most exciting tools in planetary science
Speaker bio:
Patrick Peplowski is a staff scientist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, where he works to develop, build, test, and operate nuclear spectrometers that have flown on missions built by NASA and the Japanese Aerospace Agency (JAXA). He has been a science team member on eight different planetary science missions, including missions to Mercury, the moons of Earth, Mars, and Saturn, and a variety of asteroids. His background is in nuclear physics, having received his BS (2004) in Physics from the University of Washington, and his MS (2005) and PhD (2009) from Florida State University. Patrick’s current research interests focus on measurements of spallation and neutron inelastic reaction cross sections, and he is currently the instrument scientist for the gamma-ray and neutron instruments for NASA’s Psyche mission (launched in 2023) and JAXA’s Mars Moon Exploration (MMX) mission, which will launch in 2026.
Passcode: 631580
INPA guests from campus can now come to the lab early on Fridays. The INPA Common Room (50-5026) is reserved for our guests from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Note that the seminars are now held in 50A-5132 to accommodate a more significant number of attendees.
CPTea Series (also known as INPA Tea Series)
The Physics Division CPTea Series invites you to an In-Person Tea Series 1st Friday of every month at 3:30 pm INPA Conference Room 50-5026.
Everyone is welcome to attend the open forum. Tea and light refreshments will be served.
INPA Common Room (50-5026)
Fridays
3:30 pm
Access to the Lab
For a shuttle pass, please email Erica Hall. The pass is only valid for the day of the seminar.