The School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering Seminar Series, “The Universe as a Nuclear Factory: Engineering at the Smallest Scale” Presented by Dr. Zarif Rahman

About the event

The Universe as a Nuclear Factory: Engineering at the Smallest Scale

Presented by Dr. Zarif Rahman, Faculty Fellow, Whitman College and Part-time lecturer, University of Idaho

Abstract:

Atomic nuclei and stars, although separated by many orders of magnitude in size and density, must often be studied together to obtain a complete picture of the universe. Our closest star, the Sun, has provided energy for over five billion years through nuclear fusion, a process that converts mass into energy. More generally, nuclear reactions in stars are responsible for the creation of nearly all the elements and isotopes found in nature, making the study of stellar nuclear processes directly connected to our own existence. As we cannot directly access stellar interiors, we rely on theoretical modeling, large-scale simulations, and carefully designed laboratory experiments. Experimental measurements serve as critical benchmarks for theory, allowing us to test our understanding of the fundamental physics at play. Achieving this complete picture requires interdisciplinary collaboration spanning nuclear and particle physics, astrophysics, and engineering, where advances in experimental techniques and instrumentation play a central role.

Biography:

Zarif Rahman is a nuclear physicist interested in understanding the mysteries of the universe. After completing high school in his home country, Bangladesh, he earned his undergraduate degree in Physics with a minor in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He then defended his Ph.D. in Physics at Michigan State University. His doctoral research involved developing a novel technique to extract crucial nuclear data and simulating the heating evolution in neutron star crusts. Outside of academia, Zarif enjoys traveling, photography and weightlifting.