Integrated Calendar

MHD is a model that is widely used in the study of plasma physics with applications to fusion energy, solar physics, and industrial processes. The model describes the macroscopic behavior of plasmas confined by magnetic fields. One form of the model, known as “ideal MHD”, has received extensive study, even leading to the publication of several related textbooks. The ideal MHD model is useful because of its relative simplicity making it amenable to both theoretical and computational analysis. However, a considerable number of assumptions have to be made to derive the model. The question then is whether the resulting model is actually useful in understanding and predicting experimental performance or just offers some general guidelines concerning plasma behavior. In the seminar the assumptions used in the derivation of the model plus the model’s basic physical properties will be discussed with specific application to the Z-Pinch experiment at the Weizmann Institute. Does the model make reliable predictions for the Z-Pinch experiment? We shall see.

Defect in solids are an emerging class of quantum systems with potential use in various areas of quantum technology like quantum communication, information processing and precision sensing. Defects are found in 2D materials as well as bulk. Their quantum properties on the one hand mimic atomic systems but as well reveal molecular or solid state properties. The talk shall highlight two particular use of defects for quantum technology. 1) As optically active defects couple to light fields. They are excellent systems for quantum repeater nodes. They both show strong interaction with the light field and on the other hand do have very good quantum memory capabilities due to local nuclear spins. I will show efficient storage of photon to nuclear spin coherence and discuss the potential for generating strings of entangled photons using single defect. 2) Diamond defects are excellent tools for nanoscale quantum sensing. The long spin coherence times of such defects even under ambient conditions close to surfaces make them highly suited for spin-based detection of various quantities. The talk shall describe nanoscale sensing of electric, magnetic fields, temperature etc. utilizing spin quantum sensors. Applications in such diverse areas like solid-state physics or cellular biology shall be discussed.

Cancer is a complex disorder characterized by intricate genetic and epigenetic events. Elucidating the mechanism behind these events may help design appropriate therapeutic strategies. We propose a model where activated oncogenes compromise the replication process, triggering the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway, fueling genomic instability. Based on our findings genomic instability is now considered as an enabling hallmark of cancer. Moreover we present a novel pathway linking DDR with the alternative reading frame (ARF), a major tumor suppressor. We propose how this interlink can be therapeutically exploited. Finally, we discuss the role of deregulated replication-licensing within the oncogene-damage induced model.

Cell movement is driven by a spatially extended, self-organized, mechanochemical machine consisting of numerous actin polymers, accessory proteins and molecular motors. This impressive assembly self-organizes over several orders of magnitude in space and time, from the fast dynamics of individual molecular-sized building blocks to the persistent motion of whole cells over minutes and hours. We focus on the mechanisms underlying this remarkable self-organization using the simplest available model systems. We combine quantitative analysis of cell morphology and spatio-temporal dynamics at the molecular level with biophysical measurements, toward the goal of understanding how global cell shape and movement are determined. Our results feed into and direct the development of theoretical models of moving cells.