Since the early days of quantum mechanics, and still in Feynmam's lectures on physics, interference between spatially seperated trajectories of a single particle has not ceased to fascinate physicists. I will present a realization in optics of that GedankenExperiment, realized with a true single photon source. It has even allowed us to implement Wheller's delayed choice experiment, emphasizing the weirdness of wave particle dualityfor a single particle.

Central to Alan Turing's posthumous reputation is his work with British codebreaking during the Second World War. This relationship is not well understood, largely because it stands on the intersection of two technical fields, mathematics and cryptology, the second of which also has been shrouded by secrecy. This lecture will assess this relationship from an historical cryptological perspective. It treats the mathematization and mechanization of cryptology between 1920-50 as international phenomena. It assesses Turing's  role in one important phase of this process, British work at Bletchley Park in developing cryptanalytical machines for use against Enigma in 1940-41. It focuses on also his interest in and work with cryptographic machines between 1942-46, and concludes that work with them served as a seed bed for the development of his thinking about computers.

Helium clusters at low temperatures (~0.3 K) can be studied by infrared spectroscopy of an embedded molecular probe molecule like CO, CO2, or OCS. This allows the evolution of superfluidity to be traced from single molecules (e.g. He2 - CO2), through huge clusters with ~104 atoms (“helium nanodroplets”), to bulk liquid helium. In our work, the best results are obtained for HeN-OCS clusters where spectra are resolved and assigned for N = 1 to 70, with confirmation up to 39 from precise microwave data. Superfluid effects occur even in surprisingly small clusters (6-10 atoms). There has been speculation for decades about superfluidity in molecular hydrogen, since para-H2 is a light bosonic species like 4He. Of course bulk H2 is a solid below 13 K, but what about hydrogen clusters? Our recent work on para-H2 clusters probed using CO2 arguably provide the best evidence to date for such superfluid effects, notably for the “magic” cluster size, N = 12.

Canada became the world’s third space-faring nation in 1962 with the launch of Alouette-1.  Over the 50 intervening years Canada has distinguished itself by its many achievements in space.

In his 2012 President’s Tour presentation, Ron looks back upon the government vision that first took Canada into space, explains the strategic role that space infrastructure plays in the delivery of our public policy and in our international relations, and reviews the many ways that space assets touch the daily lives of every Canadian. 

Finally Ron will discuss how recent government benign neglect of our space industry sets the scene for an emerging crisis in Canada’s space industry that threatens our space autonomy.

What is the quantum state? There is no widely agreed answer to this question, despite the ubiquitous and crucial role this mathematical object plays in our lives. Two broad schools of thought can be identified. The "ontic view" is that the quantum state describes (partially or completely) the real physical state of affairs. The "epistemic view" is that it instead represents some agent's knowledge or information about the physical system in question. 

Although there are many compelling reasons to favour the epistemic view, I will show that only the ontic view is compatible with three notions seemingly indispensible to science: (i) the existence of systems with physical properties (ii) the idea that measurements respond to, and reveal aspects of, those properties and (iii) the ability to perform independent experiments. 

This result will hopefully leave you as uncomfortable about the status of the quantum state as I am, and perhaps, like me, after the talk you will find yourself requiring some fortification before having the courage to step out into reality...

Join us for games, puzzles and prizes. Dr. Jason Donev will be speaking on the history of units and give you a chance to learn everything about units which you may have be afraid to ask.

In the sky – Jupiter will brighten the sky and give us a glimpse of its many moons.

Admission: $20 per car or $10 per person

Wear your costume and join us for astronomical fun and games, Science Fiction talks, music and trivia challenges. - presale tickets available on October 1, $10 each

Image: Illustration from Space.com "Cosmic Cannon: How an Exploding Star Could Fry Earth"

Radio astronomy is the future of astrophysics and allows astronomers to see what was once invisible. Delve into the centre of our universe and learn about the newest discoveries.

Admission: $20 per car or $10 per person, all proceeds to RAO educational programming

Join us for late night observing along side research scientists. The three nights around the new moon allow for incredible opportunities to view faint and deep sky objects such a nebulae and galaxies.

Please check for weather and sky observing forecasts and updates.

Admission is by donation to our educational programming.

image credit: Don Hladiuk, eye on the sky, cbc radio

Join us for late night observing along side research scientists. The three nights around the new moon allow for incredible opportunities to view faint and deep sky objects such a nebulae and galaxies.

Please check for weather and sky observing forecasts and updates.

Admission is by donation to our educational programming.