Digital Holographic Interferometry (DHI) plays an important role in the
evaluation of object static and dynamic displacements. The state of the art
research on this technique is such that it is being used to solve problems in a
wide variety of disciplines, from basic Physics to engineering and even social
sciences. This invited plenary talk will deal with specific applications in some
biomedical objects, even showing preliminary results using Electron Holography.
To say that atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics underwent a revival in
the 80s and 90s is to acknowledge that it was in need of reviving. Prior to this
rebirth, high-quality research was being done in many labs, but it was primarily
passive with respect to atomic motion. The demonstration of laser cooling in
1978 ushered in a new era where the full quantum states (internal and external)
of atoms would be precisely controlled in the following decades. This control
has essentially given today’s AMO physicist the power to “realize the gedanken”
and build experiments that exploit quantum mechanics to perform computations,
simulations, and measurements with tremendous speed and precision. I will
discuss some of the current challenges and potential of this exciting time in
the field of AMO physics through the lens of a case study of some of the work of
this year’s Nobel Laureates, Dave Wineland and Serge Haroche.
When rockets and space-bound vehicles are fired into space, they have to deal
with turbulence, winds and waves in the Earth's atmosphere. Different height
regimes cause different problems. In the lower regions (0 to 20 km altitude),
winds and turbulence are major issues, whereas above 50 km altitude, large
atmospheric waves have serious importance on safe passage. Similar issues arise
on re-entry. In this talk, I will discuss the ways in which these atmospheric
phenomena manifest themselves, and how they are best mitigated. One example of
particular significance will be the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, for which I
consulted with NASA in respect to possible atmospheric influences. I will also
describe some of the instrumentation used to measure these phenomena.
Impacts of asteroid and comets constitute major geologic processes shaping the
surfaces and evolution of planetary bodies. Impacts produce deep transient
cavities, with excavation to deep crustal levels, fragmentation, and removal of
large rock volumes. Formation of complex craters involves high pressures and
temperatures resulting in intense deformation, fracturing and melting. Here, we
analyze the crater-forming impacts and their effects on the Earth´s climate,
environment and life-support systems, in relation to the Cretaceous/Paleogene
(K/Pg) boundary. The boundary represents one of the major extinction events in
the Phanerozoic, which affected about 75 % of species. It is marked by a clay
layer globally distributed that is characterized by anomalous contents of
iridium and platinum group elements, marking the occurrence of a large bolide
impact. Studies have examined the age, stratigraphic correlations and
composition of the boundary layer, establishing a genetic association to the
Chicxulub impact in the Yucatan peninsula in the Gulf of Mexico. The Chicxulub
crater is a ~200 km diameter structure with peak ring and multi-ring morphology.
Impact generated a transient cavity some 20-25 km deep resulting in intense
deformation and shaking, which is recorded in the breccias and debris flow
deposits in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea area. Impact was on a shallow
carbonate platform and resulted in huge tsunamis and in injection of CO2 and
sulfur components into the atmosphere. Effects of impacts in the environment and
climate of the Earth have been intensely investigated, mainly in relation to the
mass extinction, where the affectation in the evolution patterns was profound
and long-lasting. Effects of the K/Pg impact on the ecosystems extended for a
long period of several millions of years. The disappearance of large numbers of
species including complete groups severely affected the biodiversity and
ecosystem composition in the marine and continental realms.