Colloquia & Seminars
General information
Colloquia and seminars will usually be held in Kelvin Building, Room 312 on Wednesdays at 2.00pm (unless otherwise stated). Come One, Come All!
You can view the upcoming (and past) colloquia talks on the Events Management System, and you can also subscribe to calendar updates via RSS or iCal. Coordinated with the colloquia at the Department of Physics of the University of Strathclyde.
Questions? Comments? Speaker suggestions?
Please use the dedicated contacts below:
Colloquia:
Dr Adetunmise Dada (Adetunmise.Dada@glasgow.ac.uk)
Kelvin Building, Room 157C, Ext 6429
Internal seminars:
Dr Giulio Butera (Salvatore.Butera@glasgow.ac.uk)
Kelvin Building, Room 521
Schedule of upcoming talks
§ Internal seminar ‡ Outside of regular schedule.
30/09/26 • TBC • TBC
30/09/26 • John Baez • TBC
Prof. John Baez (University of California, Riverside / University of Edinburgh) • Wednesday, October 14, 2:00 PM • Kelvin Building, Room 312 TBC
Title TBC
Abstract TBC
11/11/26 • David Fairhurst (Edinburgh) • Title TBC
Dr David Fairhurst (University of Edinburgh) • Wednesday, November 11, 2:00 PM • Kelvin Building, Room 312
Title TBC
Abstract TBC
25/11/26 • Laurence Wilson (York) • Title TBC
Dr Laurence Wilson (University of York) • Wednesday, November 25, 2:00 PM • Kelvin Building, Room 312
Title TBC
Abstract TBC
03/02/27 • Amanda Foust (Imperial) • Title TBC
Dr Amanda Foust (Imperial College London) • Wednesday, February 3, 2:00 PM • Kelvin Building, Room 312
Title TBC
Abstract TBC
Past talks
§ Internal seminar ‡ Outside of regular schedule.
27/05/26 • Eugene Polzik (Copenhagen) • Quantum Sensing of Fields and Forces
Prof. Eugene Polzik (Niels Bohr institute Copenhagen) • Wednesday, May 27, 2:00 PM • Kelvin Building, Room 312
Quantum Sensing of Fields and Forces
Studies of extreme cases within quantum mechanics have always been particularly attractive. How macroscopic can objects be and still demonstrate unique quantum features, such as entanglement? What are the real limits of measurement precision in quantum mechanics? I will review our experiments where macroscopic objects are driven deep into the quantum regime. Observation of a quantum trajectory in a quantum reference frame with, in principle, unlimited accuracy will be presented. A concept of a reference frame with an effective negative mass required for such observation will be introduced. Sensing of magnetic fields and of mechanical motion beyond standard quantum limits of sensitivity using this concept will be presented. Application of those ideas to gravitational wave detection and magnetic field sensing will be reported.
References
- Hybrid quantum network for sensing in the acoustic frequency range. Novikov et al. Nature 643, 955 (2025).
- Entanglement-enhanced magnetic induction tomography. W. Zheng, H. Wang, R. Schmieg, A. Oesterle and E. S. Polzik. Phys. Rev. Lett. (2023) 130, 203602.
- Entanglement between Distant Macroscopic Mechanical and Spin Systems. Thomas et al. Nature Physics 17, 228–233(2021).