How To Push Limits Without Looking Crazy?

Grzegorz Kalicy
Associate Professor Professor
The Catholic University of America 
Department of Physics 

Wed, September 11, 2024 - 4:00 PM
Karl Herzfeld Auditorium of Hannan Hall - Rm 108

In this talk, I will explore the journey of transforming ambitious, seemingly far-fetched ideas into cutting-edge technologies that drive advancements in science. Using the development of the high-performance DIRC (hpDIRC) detector for the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) as a case study, I will demonstrate how a bold concept, which initially appeared overly ambitious, was transformed into one of the key systems of the EIC experiment, now ready for construction. This achievement required overcoming numerous technological challenges and setting new benchmarks for detector performance but it also had to be defended at every step in endless reviews run by external experts.

In the second part, I will discuss how success with the hpDIRC inspired a relentless pursuit of further innovation. Building upon the validated concept, we sought to push boundaries even further, envisioning and developing the extreme-performance DIRC (xpDIRC). This new phase exemplifies the spirit of technological progress: once you break one limit, you immediately begin working toward surpassing the next twenty. Through this lens, we will examine the continuous cycle of innovation that fuels the evolution of scientific instrumentation.

Refreshments served at 3:45 PM

If you have any questions about the Colloquium Series  or would like to make a donation please contact the Physics Department, cua-physics@cua.edu or (202) 319-5315.