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We will be returning to Bletchley Park, the World War II codebreaking centre (code-named "Station X") and birthplace of the computer, and this time Fusion will be paying the entry fee in full, so all you have to do is get yourself there!
If you missed out last time, or didn't manage to see all of it, get in touch. You can read a report of our last visit and more information is available at the Bletchley Park website.
Bletchley Park is a short walk from Bletchley Station on the West Coast Main Line, and is also not far from the huge motorway that is Milton Keynes. It is open from 10.30 to 5.00, and there is tons of stuff to see, so we will meet up as early as possible (you can have lunch there). So if you are planning to come, let us know what time you would like to start, and we will arrange as early a start time as possible (and for any latecomers we will issue vouchers to get you in). There will be a guided tour as part of the visit, and we will also need to book that for an appropriate time. |
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The visit comprises an introduction to fusion and tours of the two fusion experiments on site, the JET and MAST. |
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The programme for our visit to Jodrell Bank Observatory (JBO) is as follows: Saturday 25th February 2006 (meet outside the Visitor Centre) 11:00 Tour of JBO with Ian Morison 13:00 Lunch in the JBO visitor's centre Followed by two astronomy talks in the JBO lecture room: 14:00 Planetary Nebulae in the Interstellar Medium by Prof Albert Zijlstra Planetary nebulae form when an old star ejects much of its hydrogen, in a catastrophic stellar wind. The ejecta form a slowly expanding shell around the remaining core of the star. The core becomes very hot and ionizes the ejecta, before nuclear burning ceases and the remnant star fades to become a white dwarf. The ionized shell, now visible as a planetary nebula, eventually merges with the interstellar medium. The talk will discuss the evolution of planetary nebulae, with particular emphasis on the spectacular morphologies. The interaction of the nebula with the interstellar medium will be discussed, as this appears to play an important role in the shaping of the nebula. 15:00 Pulsars by Dr Michael Kramer Pulsars are stellar remnants created by Supernova explosions. As neutron stars they are almost black holes, forming the most extreme dense matter that we can study in the Universe. Emitting a radio beam and acting as cosmic lighthouses when they rotate, pulsars are superb clocks that can be used as tools for the widest range of physical and astrophysical applications, such as solid states physics, studies of the Milky Way and tests of general relativity. In particular the double pulsar system discovered by Jodrell Bank astronomers represents the most wonderful laboratory to test Einstein's theories. The presentation will summarise the properties of pulsars and how they are used as cosmic laboratories. 16:00 Conclusion |
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PROGRAMME
MEALS
HOTEL |
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Starting at 11.00pm we take a tour of the Flood Barrier, walking onto the construction that spans the Thames. Then to a Greenwich market cafe for lunch, and for those who have the time for a full day out, an afternoon visit to the Greenwich Observatory and the Royal Maritime Museum. |
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We invite you to an evening of Planetary Exploration at Walton Hall. Doors open at 5.30pm for the first lecture at 6.00pm. Two lectures are being given, one by Prof Colin Pillinger explaining the fascinating complexities behind the idea of landing the Beagle probe, the size of a bicycle wheel, onto the surface of Mars and then remotely controlling its 'paw' in order to pick up rock samples and the second from Dr. Andrew Ball explaining how the Huygens probe, a sophisticated robotic laboratory equipped with six scientific instruments, was able to land on Titan and hence monitor its atmospheric and surface conditions. After the lectures Fusion members are invited to meet up at the Swan Inn for drinks and dinner. This event will be advertised to Institute of Physics members, so book early in order to reserve your place. |
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Provisional programme: Friday evening: Observing evening - joint with Q-soc (Sussex University Physics & Astronomy Society). If cloudy we will look at some images in the astrophysics lab. Followed by dinner at the union bar or in town. Saturday morning: Lab visits (EDM lab, laser lab, accelerator). Saturday afternoon: Fusion AGM, followed by a guest lecture. Saturday evening: Dinner and Brighton nightlife! Sunday: Visit to the Royal Pavilion and a stroll along the seafront. You can attend all of these events, or just one, or any number in between. |
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UKAEA are currently decommissioning the WAGR, the prototype Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor, forerunner of the UK's second-generation batch of reactors; also the Windscale Piles, one of which caught fire in 1957. Find out how "Cockcroft's Folly" saved the day! More details to follow. |
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Richard Humphreys is organising a visit which will hopefully include some observational astronomy. Details will be announced when available. |
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We are returning to the venue of one of our most popular visits. This large site a few miles outside Cambridge is home to 3C, 4C, CAT, COAST and lots more. If you don't know what these acronyms mean, you should definitely come on the visit. Oh, and you may find the odd bee orchid ... |
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RAL are now entering the second cycle of their Open Afternoons, and due to the popularity of the three "pilot" events in 2003, the same facilities will now be spread over four or more dates so that we will get to see more of each.
Wednesday 26 May 2004: Instrumentation Wednesday 21 July 2004: Isis & Particle Physics |
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We will have a short tour of the hydro-electric power station, and may catch sight of a Fish Ladder (what's one of those, I hear you ask? Well, come and find out!) before moving on to the Cliff Railway and Camera Obscura at Aberystwyth. We hope to round off the day with a nice meal with our fellow-physics-freaks at Aber. |
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A long-awaited return to this fascinating monument to the dawn of the computer age.
There is so much to do that we just had to go back! After an introductory talk and guided tour,
you are free to wander round the wonderfully diverse exhibits which include a computer museum
(see Fusion Vol 2 Issue 4), real working hands-on Enigma machines, a museum of cinematography and a
plywood submarine! We will probably aim to arrive about 10am. You can get a nice lunch at the café,
so we will be able to stay all day if we want!
This event is has been subsidised by the Institute of Physics.
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The Biggest Fusion Event Ever!
Yes, the Fusion Weekend 23 - 25 January 2004 in Manchester, which includes the Fusion AGM on Saturday 24 January, is set to be the biggest event we have yet organised. Don't be put off if you live in the South, journeying North of Watford will be well worth the effort! You can come for the whole weekend or any individual section of the programme of activities (but please do tell us what you plan to attend, so that we can coordinate numbers. If you plan to attend the whole weekend and stay at one of the nearby hotels, you should budget for around £140 for accommodation and meals for two days (alcoholic drinks not allowed for). Events on Friday and Saturday are being held in the UMIST Main Building, Whitworth Street, Manchester, which is a five minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly railway station (lower level exit). The main entrance to UMIST is at the back of the Main Building in Granby Row (the entrances in Whitworth Street and Sackville Street will be closed). There is secure car parking close by in Charles Street (off Sackville Street). Look out for the direction signs when you get to the UMIST campus. The Full Itinerary is as follows: Friday 23rd January Room G36, G Floor, UMIST Main Building (Granby Row entrance), Whitworth Street
18:00 Registration and Coffee 20:30 Dinner at Eden, Canal Street Saturday 24th January Room J9, J Floor, UMIST Main Building (Granby Row entrance), Whitworth Street
10:30 Registration and Coffee 13:00 Lunch at eat-as-much-as-you-like Grand Indian Buffet, Whitworth Street
14:00 Fusion Annual General Meeting
19:00 Pre-dinner drinks Sunday 25th January Meet in front of the UMIST Main Building in Whitworth Street, Manchester
10:00 Walk alongside Rochdale Canal to Castlefield with commentary by Lorna Pain 13:30 Lunch at the White Lion Pub in Liverpool Road
14:45 Planetarium Show - The Night Sky (optional) |