Eventi INFN Sezione di Bari

This talk will present our work bridging between (a) experiments carried out on biological systems of ciliated epithelium, typical of the human respiratory tract and the brain ventricles, where motile cilia reside and generate fluid flow, and (b) very minimal physics-based models of coupled oscillators, representing actively driven colloidal particles. This link aims to explain how synchronisation can happen across large distances in the epithelium, and specifically how the dynamical state can be one that helps to drive fluid flows.
The simplistic physical model is an out of equilibrium system – we will show numerically that in specific spatial layouts of oscillators (well designed arrays) it is possible to engineer an asymmetric propagation of information (where here “information” is measured as the coherence to an external signal applied at an input node), and thereby perhaps set the grounds for information processing in this class of network systems.

Speaker: Prof. Pietro Cicuta (Cambridge University)

When: 29^th September at 15:00

Where: Aula C – 1^st floor, Physics Department

Janus particles are artificial colloids characterized by an inhomogeneous distribution of physical and chemical properties across their surface.
This asymmetry, together with hydrodynamic interactions with the surrounding fluid, gives rise to a remarkably rich phenomenology.
In particular, a phoretic Janus colloid can produce (or consume) chemicals, self-propel, drift along chemical gradients, and rotate its intrinsic polarity to align with these gradients. As a result, their collective behavior is governed by the interplay between particle position and orientation.
These features make Janus colloids promising candidates for engineering and reproducing active matter systems.
To investigate their collective behaviour, we construct continuum theories by coarse-graining the microscopic dynamics of the colloids.
This approach yields a set of equations for the slow modes of the system, namely the particle density and the associated polarization field.
We then demonstrate how a homogeneous disordered state can become unstable under the effect of phoretic interactions, leading to the emergence of aster patterns as well as oscillatory and traveling states.

Finally, we discuss how multicomponent mixtures of Janus colloids with distinct phoretic mobilities provide a promising theoretical framework for exploring collective behaviors arising from nonreciprocal interactions.

Speaker: Dott. Gennaro Tucci (Max Planck – Gottingen)

When: 29^th September at 15:45

Where: Aula C – 1^st floor, Physics Department

Neutrino physics remains key to exploring physics beyond the Standard Model. SND@LHC, a dedicated neutrino experiments at the LHC operational since 2022, has reported the first observation of collider neutrinos.

Using a hybrid detector, it enables flavour identification and studies of forward heavy-flavour production. In this seminar, we will present the most recent results and outline the upgrade program planned for the High-Luminosity LHC.

Speaker: Antonia Di Crescenzo (Universita’ & INFN Napoli)

When: 23^th October at 15:30

Where: Aula A

The workshop aims to gather together the various Italian research communities involved in the study of particle physics at high intensity. The workshop is an opportunity to discuss the present and future of this research area, favouring the discussion and the exchange of ideas and synergies between experiments and with the theoretical community. Favouring the participation of the young members of the high-intensity community is also one of the aims of the workshop, with the dedicated Young Scientist Forum session for which abstracts will be accepted.

The workshop will develop along the lines of the scientific programme summarised below, giving space to the three pillars of our work: theory, physics measurements and detector R&D.

Where: Centro polifunzionale per glistudenti (ex-palazzo delle poste) – Bari

When: 11-14 Novembre 2025

More info on Agenda web page.