Calendar

SHARP – A Near-IR Multi-mode Spectrograph Conceived for the Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics Module MORFEO@ELT

Abstract:

The world’s largest aperture combined with state-of-the-art Adaptive Optics systems will enable the ELT to capture better data than the JWST in both sharpness and depth. Therefore, the spectrograph intended for the 2nd port of the Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics (MCAO) system MORFEO@ELT will be the most powerful instrument of the JWST era, revealing phenomena beyond the reach of others. SHARP (http://sharp.brera.inaf.it) is a near-IR spectrograph designed for the 2nd port of MORFEO@ELT, intended to be submitted in the upcoming ESO instrument call. Composed of a Multi-Object Spectrograph, NEXUS, and a multi-Integral Field Unit, VESPER, SHARP covers the wavelength range to 0.95-2.45 μ. Coupled with MCAO-assisted observations, it delivers unprecedented high angular (~30 mas) and spectral resolution, outperforming NIRSpec@JWST (100 mas). MORFEO-SHARP will allow us to study the nearby and the early Universe in unprecedented detail, resolving the first galaxies and the star forming regions within galaxies far back in cosmic time, and providing spectra of individual nearby young stellar objects. This presentation introduces the scientific rationale behind SHARP, showcasing its features and inviting those interested to join the SHARP team.

Speaker: Salvatore Sciortino (INAF)

Titolo: ” `Time` and Physics: A strange marriage and more …”

Abstract:

The physical nature of Space and Time has been always at the core of the
physical theories. After General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics have become
consolidated main-stream theories some of the attempts to reconcile them have
required to consider a world where Space have more than 3 dimensions, like in
the string theories, or Time is not fundamental, like in the some proposed GR
reformulations, or in the Loop Quantum Gravity, or Space and Time are not
fundamental, like seems to imply the Twistor theory. Following L. Smoolin
analysis and arguments I will discuss why one arrives to the conclusion
(contrary to rooted and somehow hidden ideas) that Time is fundamental and
illustrates some of the key implications on our effort to understand the
physical world, and the conceptual difficulty to apply “standard” physical
theory to the Universe.

Speaker: Salvatore Sciortino (INAF)

Titolo: “Is Quantum Mechanics the last word ? Why not ? Some alternative ideas  toward (re-)introducing realism in Physics”

Abstract:

The General Relativity (GR) and Quantum Mechanics (QM) are the two pillars of
today Physics. They have been verified in a huge number of conditions and have
survived to all falsification attempts. Several key aspects of our life and our
societies are based on them, among them the entire internet “world”, mobile
phones and GPS assisted navigation. Despite these astonishing successes, after
about 100 years of efforts of the smartest worldwide physicists GR and QM still
remain essentially incompatible. Most of the past “merging” efforts have mostly
concentrated on attempts to “quantize” general relativity but they have been so
far either unsuccessful or have ended up to unfalsifiable theories. This has
stimulated a critical rethinking of the basis of today physics pillar theories,
especially of QM. I will present some of this alternative ideas, their pro and
con following the analysis path championed by R. Penrose and L. Smoolin whose
ultimate aim is to build a new physical theory based on the idea that a real
world exists (independently from one of us watching it) and Physics is the
science to understand how it really works.