University Calendar

Senior Experience Seminar Series in Physics - 2024

Adda Fadila Louleid
Solar tracker: light meets GPS technology, Approach for Optimal Energy Harvesting
This presentation presents research done on solar panel tracking system by combining light sensors and GPS technology for optimized energy capture. By dynamically adjusting panel orientation based on real-time solar irradiance and precise location data, we will see how this ensures maximum energy generation efficiency. The presentation outlines the physics theory behind sun tracking, it will also outline the design and performance evaluation of the tracker and compare it to static trackers.


Matt Balfe
An Introduction to Quantum Key Distribution Protocols
This talk will explore two Quantum Key Distribution Protocols, The 1984 Bennett and Brassard Protocol (BB84) and the 1991 Ekert protocol (Ekert91.) The beginning of the talk will explain the basics of the Stern Gerlach experiment and its analogue for polarized light as an introduction to the BB84 set up. Then we will go into theoretical expectations for the BB84, briefly discuss experimental set up and results. Then to discuss the Ekert protocol, this requires an explanation of entangled photon states and Bell’s inequality. Then we can look at some of my simulated code using the Qiskit Quantum Composer and compare simulations on real quantum computers to our expectation. Time permitting, I would like to briefly discuss the decoy state BB84 and its utility particularly in a world with sufficient quantum computing power to run Shor's algorithm.

Location:	Youngchild 121
Contact:	Matthew R. Stoneking matthew.r.stoneking@lawrence.edu
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