Twelfth Sir Nevill Mott Lecture

Making light of mathematics

Professor Sir Michael Berry, FRS (Bristol)

Thursday 16 March 2006, 17.00, T0.03

Hosted by Department of Physics, Loughborough University

Many ‘mathematical phenomena’ find application and sometimes spectacular physical illustration in the physics of light. Concepts such as fractals, catastrophe theory, knots, infinity, zero, and even when 1+1 fails to equal 2, are needed to understand rainbows, twinkling starlight, sparkling seas, oriental magic mirrors and simple experiments on interference, polarization and focusing. The lecture will be based on pictures; the level is nontechnical but intellectual.

Part of the Science Faculty programme for National Science Week 2006

The Sir Nevill Mott lecture series at Loughborough was inaugurated by Sir Nevill Mott in 1995. Previous lectures

For further information contact

Dr Binoy Sobnack
(01509) 223307
Department of Physics
Loughborough University
Loughborough, Leics LE11 3TU