UNB Physics Department Seminar-FR

Event date(s): October 30, 2025
Time(s): 01:15 PM - 02:15 PM
Category: Fredericton
Location: Fredericton

UNB Physics Department Seminar
 
When: Thursday, Oct. 30, 1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Location: Carleton Hall 139

Speaker: Dr. Duncan O’Dell of McMaster University

Title: The Abraham-Minkowski controversy: an ultracold atom perspective

Abstract: Over 100 years ago Max Abraham and Hermann Minkowski proposed rival theoretical expressions for the momentum of light in a medium. Since then a large number of theoretical and experimental studies have been conducted which have variously supported one or the other theory. The subject remains controversial to this day, but the advent of ultracold atoms allows for simple and clean measurements that may lead to greater clarity. I will discuss this subject from the perspective of ultracold atoms and point out some unexpected connections to seemingly different physics such as the He-McKellar-Wilkens phase (the geometric phase acquired by an electric dipole moving in a magnetic field) that might be testable using atom interferometry.

Building: Carleton

Room Number: 139