CUPS - Cambridge University Physics Society

CUPS - Cambridge University Physics Society The Cambridge University Physics Society is all about the physics you don't do in your degree. We call ourselves PhysSoc or (preferably) CUPS for short.

The Cambridge University Physics Society (CUPS) provides the perfect social scene for everyone with an interest in physics. We organise regular events including lecture series, cocktail evenings, the annual Omega Dinner, and a May Week Garden Party. CUPS presents an unrivalled opportunity to enjoy talks by internationally renowned speakers, which have included Stephen Hawking, Jim Al-Khalili, Roge

r Penrose and many others, on subjects ranging from the cutting edge to the purely historical, philosophical, astronomical, or biological. A drinks reception follows each talk, where there is an opportunity for informal discussion with the speaker, and other attendees. Website: www.camphysoc.co.uk
(or http://physics.soc.srcf.net - both link to the same site)
YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/camphysocUK
Facebook: www.facebook.com/camphysoc
Twitter: www.twitter.com/camphysoc
talks.cam: http://talks.cam.ac.uk/show/index/6558


CUPS is very proud to be sponsored by... http://physics.soc.srcf.net/wiki/index.php?title=Cambridge_University_Physics_Society

NOTE:
People who like our page are free to post or comment as they wish. From third parties (i.e. not CUPS or people who like this page), however, only our sponsors are allowed to post on our Facebook Timeline, and all other posts may be deleted without prior notice. If you have a message that might interest our members, or wish to consider sponsoring CUPS, you can send us an e-mail to the address advertised below.

Note: this talk is co-hosted with the Cambridge University Astronomical Society (CUAS)Abstract: The diversity and prolif...
10/03/2026

Note: this talk is co-hosted with the Cambridge University Astronomical Society (CUAS)

Abstract: The diversity and prolific number of planets discovered have revolutionised our conception of the nature and history of planet formation. They have opened up the idea of the possible rarity of planetary systems similar to our own, but also exciting prospects for the potential to probe the atmospheres of planets in search of traces of life. We are living in a historic moment that brings us closer to exploring life in the universe and understanding the origins of life on Earth.

The talk will present an outlook on this landscape and will discuss the implications of these recent findings. New insights about the origins of life will be presented in the light of recent experiments about a possible origin of prebiotic chemical building blocks as well as a possible long-range pathway for detecting Earth- like systems amenable for remote study of life.

Here are a title and an abstract for Carlos Frank this Thursday: "Everything from nothing: how our universe was mad...
05/03/2026

Here are a title and an abstract for Carlos Frank this Thursday:

"Everything from nothing: how our universe was made"

Cosmology addresses some of the most fundamental questions in science. How and when did our universe begin? What is it made of? How did galaxies form? Recent observations have established that our
universe contains an unexpected mix of components: ordinary atoms, exotic dark matter and a new form of energy called dark energy. With suitable assumptions about these components, large supercomputer
simulations, based on the known laws of physics, can recreate the evolution of the universe in astonishing detail. A coherent picture of cosmic evolution, going back to a tiny fraction of a second after the Big Bang, is beginning to emerge. However, fundamental issues,
like the identity of the dark matter and the nature of the dark energy remain unresolved.

Our official term card for this term;Much to look forward to like blind dating, physics conferences, committee elections...
04/02/2026

Our official term card for this term;
Much to look forward to like blind dating, physics conferences, committee elections and our annual omega dinner!

Come to our second talk if term! As always 7pm and in the chem dept. Talking about gravitational waves, LIGO/VIRGO and m...
04/02/2026

Come to our second talk if term! As always 7pm and in the chem dept.

Talking about gravitational waves, LIGO/VIRGO and much more!

Listening to the Universe:

Gravitational Waves, Amazing Detectors, and the Laws of Nature

A decade ago the first, historic detection of tiny ripples of spacetime, generated by the merger of two black holes, opened an entirely new observational window on the universe. Investigating the cosmos through gravitational waves holds great potential for advancing our understanding across various areas of physics, as suggested by the remarkable results achieved so far by the LIGO and Virgo detectors.

In this seminar, we will review the impact of LIGO/Virgo observations to date and discuss the future prospects, as we appear to be entering a “golden era” for gravitational wave physics.

First lecture of Lent term! Come join us in the Wolfson lecture theatre in the chemistry department.Abstract: Large-scal...
29/01/2026

First lecture of Lent term! Come join us in the Wolfson lecture theatre in the chemistry department.

Abstract: Large-scale universal quantum computers are expected to vastly outperform classical computers in important applications. Small-scale machines already exist in university and industry labs today, but their usefulness is limited by size and performance, regardless of their underlying qubit technology. Moving towards broad computational advantage means making quantum computers better as well as bigger. At Oxford Ionics we do this by combining the precision of atomic ions – used for the most precise clocks in the known universe – with the scalability of microelectronics.

I will motivate why trapped ions make the best qubits, how we develop large-scale quantum computers at Oxford Ionics, an IonQ company, based on a small set of fundamental operations and simple guiding principles. I will show how this enables us to demonstrate the highest performance quantum gates to date, among all physical platforms.

Join us tonight for pizza, to celebrate the end of michealmas term!
30/11/2025

Join us tonight for pizza, to celebrate the end of michealmas term!

Come see our final talk of the term!! Tonight in the chem department.Abstract:Climate change is already causing consider...
27/11/2025

Come see our final talk of the term!! Tonight in the chem department.

Abstract:
Climate change is already causing considerable concerns, including resultant flooding, structural damage to buildings, amongst other problematic situations. 

One way of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere is to store it deep underground, where it is in a supercritical (liquid-like) state 

and can spread in a conduit capped by an impermeable surface. Quite some work has been carried out on this idea at Slipner off Norway and during the Ottway

project in Victoria, Australia, as well as elsewhere around the world.  Theoretrical valuations of such flows have so far only really considered  how this liquid-like 

material is sequestered in layers with opaque upper and lower horizontal boundaries. We will present new results of fluid flow over topographically 

varying boundaries, incorporating uniform drainage and localized leakage.

Come see our talk this week on Thursday in the chem department. Ion think you wanna miss this one! Abstract: Large-scale...
18/11/2025

Come see our talk this week on Thursday in the chem department. Ion think you wanna miss this one!

Abstract: Large-scale universal quantum computers are expected to vastly outperform classical computers in important applications. Small-scale machines already exist in university and industry labs today, but their usefulness is limited by size and performance, regardless of their underlying qubit technology.
Moving towards broad computational advantage means making quantum computers better as well as bigger. At Oxford Ionics we do this by combining the precision of atomic ions – used for the most precise clocks in the known universe – with the scalability of microelectronics.
I will motivate why trapped ions make the best qubits, how we develop large-scale quantum computers at Oxford Ionics, an IonQ company, based on a small set of fundamental operations and simple guiding principles. I will show how this enables us to demonstrate the highest performance quantum gates to date, among all physical platforms.

CUPS is hosting a FREE Career Fair TODAY from 3pm-5pm, at Central Hall, St John's Old Divinity School. Our speaker is fr...
14/11/2025

CUPS is hosting a FREE Career Fair TODAY from 3pm-5pm, at Central Hall, St John's Old Divinity School. Our speaker is from d-fine, a leading European Management Consulting Firm.

Week 5 over! Celebrate it by coming to see our talk this Thursday at 7pm in the chemistry Dept. Wolfson lecture theatre!...
13/11/2025

Week 5 over! Celebrate it by coming to see our talk this Thursday at 7pm in the chemistry Dept. Wolfson lecture theatre!

Abstract: The interaction of a muon’s spin with a magnetic field defines its magnetic moment in terms of the gyromagnetic ratio, g. In the Dirac equation, g is exactly 2, but additional higher-order QED, electroweak and strong interactions increase its value by ~ 0.1%. Moreover, new interactions beyond the Standard Model of particle physics can also contribute at the level of approximately 1 part per million. Very precise measurements are thus required to uncover new, beyond the Standard Model, interactions.

I will describe the most recent, world's best, measurement, from the Fermilab Muon g-2 experiment: a measurement with a precision of 0.1 parts per million which is the most accurately measured quantity using a particle accelerator storage ring and the plans to improve the Standard Model prediction which will hopefully resolve whether the magnetic interaction of a muon is a harbinger of new physics or not.

Cure your week 5 blues and come see our great talk tonight at 7pm in the chem. dept!Abstract: Organic molecules with sem...
06/11/2025

Cure your week 5 blues and come see our great talk tonight at 7pm in the chem. dept!

Abstract: Organic molecules with semiconducting properties are now used as the light-emitting diodes, LEDs, in organic LED displays - the dominant technology for the high-performance displays used in smartphones and in televisions. I will describe some of our journey from early discoveries to practical display technology. I will outline some of our current research on some new phenomena that these materials can show. I will highlight our current work on molecules with net spin, where we can couple photons to spin quantum states, enabling (we hope) a new generation of quantum sensors that can be directly used in biomedical applications.

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