Prof. Hass's Abstract: Abstract: The study of nuclear reactions that are relevant to astrophysical issues plays a central role in the basic understanding of astrophysical phenomena and of the origin of the elements. One can discern two categories in this field:
-- The high-precision study of solar fusion reactions at low energy, using stable nuclear beams, in order to shed light on energy generation in the Sun, the solar neutrino issue and Big-Bang Nucleo-synthesis. There has been significant progress in this field, resulting in a very good understanding of the relevant reactions, but yet more information is needed and is being produced in order to serve the need of modern neutrino experiments and “precision” neutrino physics.
-- Explosive nucleo-synthesis is one of the fore-front topics in nuclear astrophysics research. The study of the underlying nuclear reactions that govern astrophysical phenomena such as x-ray bursts and super-novae is essential for illuminating the nature and mechanism that trigger and power such objects. For example, reactions such as 14O(α,p)17F and 15O(α,γ)19Ne may relate to the breakout from the “hot-CNO cycle” into the “rp” (rapid proton capture) process with the production of medium mass proton-rich nuclei. Such studies require beams of short-lived radioactive isotopes at unprecedented intensities, and are hence closely linked to present and future large-scale “rare-isotopes” facilities.
This talk will present a status report and future prospects of these separate, but closely related activities.

Dr. Kang's Abstract: Abstract: The semi-analytical model is an useful tool to explore the formation of galaxy population in a cold dark matter dominated universe. I will give a brief introduction to the model ingredients, and its predictions at both low and high redshift. I will also highlight the discrepancies between the model prediction and the data, and discuss possible solutions to the problems.

Prof. Huffenberger's Abstract: Abstract: Planck is the third generation satellite to measure the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), following in the footsteps of COBE and WMAP. Since its launch in 2009, Planck has been surveying the sky in temperature and polarization at frequencies from 30-900 GHz, building a data set rich in cosmological and astrophysical information. I will describe the instrument and it's mission, review some of the early results (on compact sources, galaxy clusters, and the cosmic infrared background), and look ahead in anticipation of the first cosmology results, which are slated for release later this year.

Prof. Huffenberger's Abstract: Abstract: A new polarization-sensitive camera, SPTpol, designed to measure the polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB), was deployed on the 10 meter South Pole Telescope in January 2012. The goal of the project is to exploit the high resolution of the telescope (1 arcminute beam) and the high sensitivity afforded by the 1536 detector camera to characterize the B-mode polarization induced by the gravitational lensing of the primordial E-mode CMB polarization, as well as to detect or set an upper limit on the level of the B-mode polarization from inflationary gravitational waves. The lensing B-modes will be used to constrain the sum of the neutrino masses by measuring large scale structure, while the inflationary B-modes are sensitive to the energy scale of inflation. I will discuss the development of the SPTpol camera including the cryogenic design and the transition edge sensor (TES) detectors developed at NIST and Argonne National Labs, as well as the science goals and status of the ongoing of the SPTpol program.

 Abstract: In an effort to continue a professional development series, Journal Club will have a panel with four members who will share their advice to graduate students on obtaining a post-doc. The session is aimed at graduate students. However, current post-docs, faculty members, researchers, and friends of CASS are invited to attend and share their experiences.

Chris's Abstract: Abstract: Circumstellar disks play an important role in stellar formation and provide the birth sites of planets. These disks are found around young stars across the whole mass range. How these disks evolve and eventually dissipate is still a matter of debate, especially for disks around the lower mass objects because those have for long been too faint to study. In this Journal club I will attempt to give a broad summary about disks around young stars. Then I will dig a bit deeper into the state of research on disks around Brown Dwarfs, and close with how ALMA exactly will make our life better (when it comes to disks around Brown Dwarfs at least).

Jon's Abstract: Abstract: I will touch on some of the key points in the paper: Planck 2013 results. XV. CMB power spectra and likelihood (arXiv:1303.5075v2).