Colloquium

Upcoming Colloquium

Learning about Massive Binary Stellar Evolution from High Mass X-ray Binaries in Local Group Galaxies
Dr. Margaret Lazzarini, CSU Los Angeles

November 3, 2025
11:00am in HSCI-102

Margaret Lazzarini

Multiwavelength observations of populations of evolved massive stellar binaries are crucial for understanding the complex process of massive binary stellar evolution. High mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) are evolved massive stellar binaries in which the primary star has become a compact object and accretes from a massive secondary star. In this talk I will discuss ongoing work to characterize the population of HMXBs in spiral and dwarf galaxies in the Local Group. Combining deep optical and X-ray observations allows us to characterize each galaxy's HMXB population including measuring X-ray luminosities, physical properties of the secondary stars, and the HMXB age distribution and production rate for each galaxy. These measured population demographics can be used to constrain theoretical binary stellar evolution models. Comparing HMXB populations across galaxies of different masses, star formation rates, and chemical compositions allows us to constrain the impact of these galaxy-scale properties on binary stellar evolution.

high mass x-ray binary
Fig. High mass X-ray binary (HMXB).

About the Colloquium

The Colloquium is a unique opportunity for students to learn about new developments in physics and what physicists do after they graduate. Hosted by the Physics and Astronomy Department at California State University, Long Beach, the weekly meetings invite guests from universities, research laboratories, and industry to present and discuss current topics in physics. All students are encouraged to attend for a well-rounded experience and training in physics.

Colloquium Coordinator

For information and suggestions about the colloquium please contact the colloquium coordinator:

Dr. Sarah Grefe
Sarah.Grefe@csulb.edu

Schedule

Fall 2025 Colloquia
DateTitleSpeaker and Affiliation
November 3, 2025Learning about Massive Binary Stellar Evolution from High Mass X-ray Binaries in Local Group GalaxiesDr. Margaret Lazzarini, CSU Los Angeles
November 10, 2025(topic: condensed matter experiment)Nicholas Dale, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
November 17, 2025(topic: condensed matter theory)Elizabeth Peterson, Los Alamos National Laboratory
December 1, 2025(topic: condensed matter theory)Gil Refael, Caltech
December 3, 2025Student PresentationsCSULB physics students
December 5, 2025Student PresentationsCSULB physics students

Previous Colloquia

Previous Fall 2025 Colloquia
DateTitleSpeaker and Affiliation
October 27, 2025Energetic particles and spin polarized fuel for magnetic fusion energyDr. William Heidbrink, UC Irvine
October 20, 2025Physics of AnimeDrs. Kristjan Stone, Roman Gomez, Caleb Baker; Jet Propulsion Laboratory / NASA
October 13, 2025Searching for the Universe's Dark MatterDr. Alvine Kamaha, UCLA
October 6, 2025Faculty Research PresentationsPhysics Department Faculty, CSU Long Beach
September 29, 2025Bicrystals and Bowties: Photothermoelectric and Plasmonic effects of gold nanostructuresDr. Charlotte Evans, Sandia National Laboratory
September 22, 2025Studying strongly correlated systems with AIDr. Eduardo Ibarra Garcia Padilla, Harvey Mudd College
September 15, 2025A New Approach to the Flavor PuzzleDr. Michael Ratz, UC Irvine
September 8, 2025Department Meet 'n MixDepartment Faculty, Staff, and Student Leaders

The Colloquium Archive has the Colloquia from previous semesters.

Sponsors

We acknowledge with gratitude donations and support from the following present sponsors:

  • H.E. and H.B. Miller and Family Endowment
  • Benjamin Carter
  • Mary L. Bresnan
  • K. Y. Shen
  • American Physical Society
  • Anonymous

We also acknowledge with gratitude our past donors: The Forty-Niner Shops, Inc., The Northrop Grumman Foundation, Sandra Dana, Anonymous.

If you wish to support the Colloquium, please contact the colloquium coordinator or the department chair. Thank you!