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Past Events
Do the Laws of Physics Vary in the Presence of Strong Gravitational Fields?
| Speaker: | Prof. John Webb |
| Affiliation: | School of Physics, University of New South Wales |
| Date: | September 19, 2017 (Tuesday) |
| Time: | 4:30 p.m. |
| Venue: | Room 522, 5/F, Chong Yuet Ming Physics Building, HKU |
Abstract
Searches for variations in fundamental constants provide important tests of new theoretical work that predicts variations of fundamental constants.
Spectroscopy of white dwarf photospheres allow us to probe regions where the gravitational potential is over 10,000 times greater than on Earth. Recent UV spectra from the Hubble Space Telescope revealed hundreds of narrow absorption lines that permit a direct probe for new physics in these strong gravitational fields.
I will present new results, based on comparing laboratory measurements with Hubble Space Telescope spectra that hint at a possible dependence.
Coffee and tea will be served 20 minutes prior to the seminar.
Anyone interested is welcome to attend.