Modern techniques, such as holographic interferometry and finite element analysis, can be used to visualise and predict vibrations of the complicated structures found in musical instruments. This demonstration lecture will give a guided tour of the vibrations of guitars and violins and discuss current research efforts to predict quantitatively the sound quality of an instrument at an early stage in construction. The use of light to transfer and store information has transformed our world. It has allowed the development of the global internet and is present in every home in the form of CD or DVD systems. This talk will describe this technological revolution and provide an insight, via a number of practical demonstrations, to the Physics underpinning it.
Black holes are among nature's most fascinating creations.
Though black holes do not emit any light or radio waves they do emit what are called gravitational waves but only when they are disturbed from their quiescent state. This disturbance can occur when other stars or black holes fall into them causing a disruption of the spacetime warp around them. AS the disturbed black hole settles backs to its quiescent state it emits energy in the form of gravitational waves. There is now a world-wide effort in the construction of gravitational wave antennas both on the ground and in space. The visible Universe is seen to be organised in a hierarchical manner from stellar systems to galaxies to galaxy clusters to clusters of galaxy clusters.