CMSP

Europe/Rome 2018-09-12 11:00:00 2018-09-12 12:00:00 Condensed Matter and Statistical Physics: Electrocatalytic Conversion of Organic Compounds at Solid/Liquid Interface from Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulation Electrocatalytic conversion of biomass derived feedstocks offers a promising avenue for effective carbon recycling from renewable energy resources. To retain economic viability of this target technology, rational design of electrocatalysts with high activity and selectivity towards producing value-added chemicals and fuels is necessary. For improved conversion of biomass resources to fuels and fine chemicals, understanding and controlling the aqueous-phase catalytic hydrogenation of organic compounds on metals is crucial. Unlike gas-phase hydrogenation, the presence of water and the solid/liquid interface play critical roles in catalysis. Although there have been extensive studies in electrocatalysis, there exists a lack of mechanistic exploration and molecular-level understanding of electrocatalytic conversion of organic compounds specifically pertaining to biomass feedstocks. Moreover, these reactions occur at the solvated electrode-electrolyte interface where complex interactions between the electrode and solvent molecules have a critical influence on the reaction chemistry. In this talk, I will address the effect of the solvent and the charged metal electrode on the reaction pathways and their capacity to undergo reduction/hydrogenation. Results of molecular-scale structural/electronic properties near the electrochemical interface and the reaction energetics of target organic compounds obtained from density-functional-theory(DFT) based ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations will be presented. The inferences drawn will be used to postulate design criteria for electrocatalytic conversion of organic compounds from an experimental and theoretical perspective. ICTP ICTP pio@ictp.it 12 Sep 2018

Europe/Rome 2018-09-18 11:00:00 2018-09-18 12:00:00 Joint ICTP/SISSA Statistical Physics Seminar: to be announced SISSA, Via Bonomea 263, Room 128 ICTP pio@ictp.it 18 Sep 2018

Europe/Rome 2018-09-25 11:00:00 2018-09-25 12:00:00 Joint ICTP/SISSA Statistical Physics Seminar: to be announced SISSA, Via Bonomea 263, Room 128 ICTP pio@ictp.it 25 Sep 2018

Europe/Rome 2018-10-05 11:30:00 2018-10-05 12:30:00 Condensed Matter and Statistical Physics Seminar: Amplitude Tuning of Steady State Entanglement in Strongly Driven Coupled Qubits We report a new mechanism to generate dissipative steady state entanglement in coupled qubits driven by strong periodic fields. We demonstrate that steady entanglement can be induced and tuned by changing the amplitude of the driving field. A rich dynamic behavior with {\it creation, death and revival} of entanglement can be observed near multiphoton resonances. Coupled superconducting qubits are good candidates for the observation of these effects. Please see paper in arXiv:1806.09047 ICTP ICTP pio@ictp.it 5 Oct 2018

Europe/Rome 2018-08-27 08:00:00 2018-09-14 22:00:00 Summer School on Collective Behaviour in Quantum Matter | (smr 3235) This School, aimed at graduate students and junior researchers, aims to teach a modern course in condensed matter and statistical physics. It combines basic concepts with recent structural and interdisciplinary developments. It features a combination of theory and computational courses, and seminars on experimental progress in the field. TOPICS: The program will cover a broad variety of topics within condensed matter physics, emphasizing connections with related fields such as quantum information, atomic, optical and high-energy physics:   1. Statistical Mechanics: from foundations to quantum information 2. Numerical methods: high-level programming and advanced numerical methods 3. Coherent dynamics: entanglement, decoherence, phase transitions, driven systems 4. Topological quantum matter: phases and diagnostics 5. Physical implementations: cold atoms, trapped ions, nanophysics, materials. SPEAKERS: F.  Alet (CNRS, Toulouse, France) E.  Andrei (Rutgers University, US) B.  Beri (University of Cambridge, UK) I.  Bloch (MPQ, Garching, Germany) P.  Calabrese (SISSA, Trieste, Italy) J.  Chalker (University of Oxford, UK) X.  Chen (Caltech, US) J.   Dalibard (Collège de France, Paris, France) M.  Devoret (Yale University, US) D.  Dhar (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune) M.  Heyl (MPIPKS Dresden, Germany) D.  Huse (Princeton, US)* V.  Khemani (Harvard University, US) W.  Krauth (Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris, France) B.  Lake (Berlin Technical University, Germany) C.  Laumann (Boston University, US) A.  Lazarides (MPIPKS Dresden, Germany) A.  MacKenzie (MPI-CPfS Dresden, Germany) E.   Martinez (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) U.  Schollwoeck (LMU Munich, Germany) M.  Znidaric (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia)   *to be confirmed HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Fill in the online application form using the link "Apply here" that can be found on the sidebar of this page. The deadline to submit applications has expired.     ICTP ICTP pio@ictp.it 27 Aug 2018 - 14 Sep 2018

Europe/Rome 2018-10-15 08:00:00 2018-10-19 22:00:00 Ethiopian Regional Workshop on Solar Energy and Energy Storage Technologies: Materials, System Design, and Applications | (smr 3149) DEADLINE FOR APPLICATONS:   15 JULY 2018 Director: Teketel YOHANNES, AASTU, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ICTP Contacts: Ralph GEBAUER & Nicola SERIANI, ICTP, Trieste, Italy The Workshop addresses students and researchers working in the field of solar energy and energy storage.  The event will focus on fundamental and applied research on functional materials, on devices and on their application. To cope with increasing global energy demand, solar energy is one of the best alternatives.  The feasibility of solar energy technology in Africa, where the sun is available throughout the year, is not questionable.  This huge energy can be used as photo-thermal and in photovoltaic forms.  For efficient conversion of solar energy it is very important to have a clear understanding of the photo-physical and opto-electrical properties of materials.  In parallel with the development of photovoltaic devices, due attention has to be given to the storage of electrical energy in easily portable chemical energy forms and/or in an electrical field.  Since solar energy is collected only in the day time, it is also wise to develop alternative technologies such as storage for renewable energy forms. Please note that funds from the Joint Undertaking for an African Materials Institute (JUAMI) are also available for US students. TOPICS: Current photovoltaic systems, new technologies; Promise of nanostructures and technology in this field; Wind and geothermal energy: potential and installations in Ethiopia; Energy storage: fuel cells, batteries and supercapacitors; Importance of materials science, experimental and computational approach; Renewable energy potentials in the region. WORKSHOP SPEAKERS: Michael ARMAND, Parque Technologies, Spain Vladimir DYAKONOV, Wuerzburg, Germany Gebrekldan G. ESHETU, Ulm, Germany Sosina M. HAILE, Northwestern, U.S.A. Harold HOPPE, Jena, Germany Kenneth I. OZOEMENA, Witwatersrand, South Africa Stefano PASSERINI, Ulm, Germany Markus C. SCHARBER, Linz, Austria Sahle TAMIR, MOWIE, Ethiopia Addis Ababa - Ethiopia ICTP pio@ictp.it 15 Oct 2018 - 19 Oct 2018

Europe/Rome 2018-11-05 07:00:00 2018-11-15 21:00:00 Conference on Latin American Initiative for Molecular Simulations | (smr 3245) Montevideo - Uruguay ICTP pio@ictp.it 5 Nov 2018 - 15 Nov 2018

Europe/Rome 2018-11-12 07:00:00 2018-11-23 21:00:00 Winter School on Quantitative Systems Biology: Learning and Artificial Intelligence | (smr 3246) THE CALL FOR APPLICATIONS IS OPEN DEADLINE: For applicants requesting  financial support: 1 September 2018 For applicants NOT requesting financial support: 15 October 2018   Artificial intelligence (AI) is undergoing an explosive phase — machines can now accomplish complex specific tasks at a level that exceeds human skills. At the basis of this performance is the ability to understand the sensory input from the external world and to associate it with effective strategies to achieve the desired goal.   This advanced school aims to combine different yet strongly coupled perspectives: first, theoretical approaches, which focus on principles, algorithms, and their applications to computer science; second, the relationship with experimental neuroscience, which has inspired the latest generation developments in AI and has, in turn, benefited from the ability of AI to investigate the computations underlying complex cognitive processes; third, applications such as robotics, gaming, etc.   The topics covered include:   •    deep learning and its relation to vision and language •    reinforcement learning and decision making •    sensorimotor learning •    the ethics of artificial intelligence and its impact on society Invited lecturers: B. Biggio (Cagliari U.) D. Braun (Ulm U.) P. Dayan (Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit) J. Di Carlo (MIT) B. Kappen (Radboud U., Nijmegen) T. Lattimore (DeepMind, London) M. Pelillo (Ca' Foscari U.) J. Peters (Technische Universitaet Darmstadt) L. Rosasco (U. Genova, MIT & IIT) N. Tishby (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem) R. Zecchina (U. Bocconi )   Financial support for students from India is available under the Pratiksha Trust Scholarships, ICTS Bangalore ICTP ICTP pio@ictp.it 12 Nov 2018 - 23 Nov 2018