Speaker:
Prof. James S. Schilling, Department of Physics, Washington University, St. Louis

Title:
"The Role of High Pressure in Basic, Materials, and Life Sciences"

Abstract:
Pressure, like temperature, is a basic thermodynamic variable which can be applied in experiment over an enormous range. Four of the most important applications of the high pressure technique in today's science are: (1) to help identify the materials which reside deep within our earth or other heavenly bodies and determine their properties, (2) to uncover underlying systematics and critically test theoretical models, (3) to synthesize novel and useful materials not readily available by other means, and (4) to determine the effect of pressure on living organisms and explore the conditions favorable for the origin of life itself. The increasing popularity of high pressure studies is fueled by recent advances in the notably difficult experimental techniques. In this paper I will attempt to capture some of the current excitement in this field by offering brief synopses of selected experiments in the basic, materials, and life sciences.

This colloquium is partly supported by the NSF EPSCoR Speakers Program.

Host:
John Neumeier