Seminars

Jenschke Lecture: "Making Light of Mathematics"

by Prof. Sir Michael Berry

Europe/Berlin
DESY Auditorium

DESY Auditorium

Description
Many 'mathematical phenomena' find application and sometimes spectacular physical illustration in the physics of light. Concepts such as fractals, catastrophe theory, knots, infinity, zero, and even when 1+1 fails to equal 2, are needed to understand rainbows, twinkling starlight, sparkling seas, oriental magic mirrors, and simple observations on interference, polarization and focusing. The lecture is intellectual but nontechnical, and strongly visual. Prior to the lecture the Association of the Friends and Sponsors of DESY presents its thesis award.