糖心TV

Astronomy Seminar:

Zach Cano (Liverpool John Moores University)

"The Gamma-Ray Burst -- Supernova Connection"

Abstract to follow

The Story of Quasicrystals

Quasicrystals are intermetallic compounds which possess long-range order but are not periodic. A consequence is that they possess non-crystallographic symmetries. The story of their discovery and interpretation is a tale of serendipity, intrigue and controversy. It involves a host of colourful characters; Leonardo di Fibonacci, Johannes Kepler, Linus Pauling, Roger Penrose and Paul Steinhardt are famous; others like Danny Shechtman and Alan Mackay are perhaps less well-known but nonetheless very eminent in the field; some like Robert Ammann can be definitely classed as obscure and even tragic. I will describe the science and the personalities involved and touch on aspects of the field which remain highly controversial; and in doing so will illustrate that the path of scientific discovery is not always linear or well-planned but develops from a creative and competitive culture and environment.