News and Events

CAPP Journal Club

The Centre for Astro-Particle Physics (CAPP) is launching its very own Journal Club. This platform will give students the opportunity to share insights and ideas on new articles relevant to their work or recent scientific breakthroughs in the field of astrophysics.

Additionally, these sessions will provide a chance for participants to give weekly updates on their research progress. The aim is to facilitate advice exchange on research challenges, share ideas on current or potential projects—including collaborative ones—and stay updated with the latest advancements in the astrophysics research field.

Mr. Thabo Msiza Passed His Honours With Distinction

Mr. Thabo Msiza, under the supervision of Prof. Soebur Razzaque, has graduated with a Masters in Physics, receiving a distinction for his dissertation. In his own words, a brief overview of his dissertation can be found below:

My dissertation focused on utilizing a beyond the Standard Model (BSM) framework, specifically the revamped Babu-Ma-Valle model (Revamped BMV model), to obtain improved constraints on the poorly determined neutrino oscillation parameters of δ_{CP} and θ_{23}. To achieve this, I analyzed long-baseline neutrino experimental data from NOvA (NuMI Off-axis ve Appearance) and T2K (Tokai to Kamioka). These ongoing experiments are well-suited to provide precise measurements for these challenging parameters. The results of my analysis indicated an improvement in the constraint on θ_{23} from the NOvA experiment. However, there were no significant changes in the constraints for δ_{CP}. The results from T2K did not provide any new constraints, but it is worth noting that this may change as new data becomes available every few years.

Mr. Luyanda Mazwi, Master’s Student, mentioned in the ‘Citizen Maverick’

Mr. Luyanda Mazwi, a Master’s Student, has been in the spotlight in the ‘Maverick Citizen’ for his creation of a portable cooling system made entirely of recycled plastic that does not require electricity. This innovative design showcases his exceptional skills and provides street vendors with a practical solution to prevent their produce from spoiling within a day. Mr. Mazwi’s pioneering design is a testament to his ingenuity and unwavering determination to make a positive impact on society.

Mr. Mazwi boldly orchestrated and financed an evening of music and poetry, driven by a pure desire to inquire if anyone possesses a 3D printer with potential to aid in the development of his product. His noble goal is to share the intellectual property, enabling anyone to construct and market these innovative cooling systems.

If you can help Mr. Luyanda Mazwi gain access to a 3D printer that can print over 260 degrees Celsius and is not PTFE lined, please email info@theactionists.co.za.

Visit by Noble Lauriet in Physics 2022

Prof. Soebur Razzaque was invited to the High Commission of Canada in Pretoria where Dr. Arthur McDonald, Nobel Laureate in Physics 2015, was a guest speaker.

Science@UJ Series 2022

Professor Soebur Razzaque, Director at the Centre for Astro-Particle Physics (CAPP), on @ujfm as part of the Science@UJ series.