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A list of all the posts and pages found on the site. For you robots out there, there is an XML version available for digesting as well.
Pages
Matthew Heffernan
About me
Posts
Future Blog Post
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Blog Post number 4
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This is a sample blog post. Lorem ipsum I can’t remember the rest of lorem ipsum and don’t have an internet connection right now. Testing testing testing this blog post. Blog posts are cool.
Blog Post number 3
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Blog Post number 2
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Blog Post number 1
Published:
This is a sample blog post. Lorem ipsum I can’t remember the rest of lorem ipsum and don’t have an internet connection right now. Testing testing testing this blog post. Blog posts are cool.
publications
Universal parametrization of thermal photon rates in hadronic matter
Published in Physical Review C, 2015
A parametrization of thermal photon rates from in-medium rho mesons, pions, and bremsstrahlung.
Recommended citation: M. Heffernan, P. Hohler, and R. Rapp. (2015). "Universal parametrization of thermal photon rates in hadronic matter." Phys. Rev. C. 95(027902).
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Quantifying the sensitivity of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis to isospin breaking with input from lattice QCD
Published in ArXiv pre-print, 2017
We perform the first quantitative study of the sensitivity of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis to variations in isospin breaking with precise input from lattice QCD calculations.
Recommended citation: M. Heffernan, P. Banerjee, and A. Walker-Loud. (2017). " Quantifying the sensitivity of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis to isospin breaking with input from lattice QCD." [arXiv:nucl-th/1706.04991].
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Hadronic transport coefficients from the linear sigma model at finite temperature
Published in Phys. Rev. C., 2020
We investigate general frameworks for calculating transport coefficients for quasiparticle theories at finite temperature. Hadronic transport coefficients are then computed using the linear sigma model (LSM).
Recommended citation: M. Heffernan, S. Jeon, and C. Gale (2020). "Hadronic transport coefficients from the linear sigma model at finite temperature." Phys. Rev. C. 102, 034906.
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How about that Bayes: Bayesian techniques and the simple pendulum
Published in arXiv, 2021
I demonstrate the use of Bayesian techniques in providing data-driven guidance to teaching laboratories with a tutorial focused on the simple pendulum.
Recommended citation: M. Heffernan (2021). "How about that Bayes: Bayesian techniques and the simple pendulum." arXiv preprint 2104.08621
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Bayesian quantification of strongly-interacting matter with color glass condensate initial conditions
Published in arXiv, 2023
We perform a state-of-the-art analysis of the Quark Gluon Plasma using Bayesian methods.
Recommended citation: M. Heffernan, C. Gale, S. Jeon, and J.-F. Paquet, (2023). "Bayesian quantification of strongly-interacting matter with color glass condensate initial conditions." arXiv preprint 2302.09478
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Early-times Yang-Mills dynamics and the characterization of strongly interacting matter with statistical learning
Published in arXiv, 2023
We demonstrate that sufficient statistical evidence does not exist for temperature-dependent specific shear viscosity of the Quark Gluon Plasma despite strong constraints from data.
Recommended citation: M. Heffernan, C. Gale, S. Jeon, and J.-F. Paquet, (2023). "Early-times Yang-Mills dynamics and the characterization of strongly interacting matter with statistical learning." arXiv preprint 2306.09619
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research
Bayesian inference in hybrid models of Heavy Ion Collisions
Developed the nascent field of Bayesian analysis in high-energy nuclear theory.
Applying statistical methods to teaching problems
Using research methods to give quantitative guidance in undergraduate laboratories
Hadronic transport coefficients from the linear sigma model at finite temperature
Extend calculational frameworks for the calculation of transport coefficients in high-temperature gases.
Quantifying the sensitivity of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis to isospin breaking with input from lattice QCD
Testing for beyond-Standard Model physics with BBN as a constraint for variation in fundamental constants.
Universal Parametrization of Thermal Photon Production in Hadronic Matter
Parametrizing thermal photons in hadronic matter to unprecedented accuracy
talks
Comparative approaches to calculating transport coefficients in massive theories demonstrated in the Linear Sigma model
Published:
Talk on M.Sc. work on calculating transport coefficients in robust frameworks. A first calculation of transport coefficients in the Linear Sigma Model is performed.
Transport coefficients in the linear sigma model at finite temperature
Published:
Talk to the DukeQCD group on then-unpublished work on the Linear Sigma model.
Constraining the initial state through many-body observables
Published:
Parallel talk at the VIth International Conference on the Initial Stages of High-Energy Nuclear Collisions.
Constraining the initial state through many-body observables
Published:
Parallel talk at the 2021 APS April Meeting.
Quantification of the Quark-Gluon Plasma with statistical learning
Published:
Invited talk to accept the 2024 American Physical Society Dissertation Award in Nuclear Physics
teaching
Teaching Assistant
Physics 101, McGill University, Physics Department, 2016
In this course, I was responsible for accurate grading of laboratory materials. This included both the original grading of the material and handling student questions and complaints about the marking.
Teaching Assistant
Physics 102, McGill University, Physics Department, 2017
In this course, I marked one-third of a 10 question (with subparts) of both midterm and final exams. This included both the original grading of the material and handling student questions and complaints about the marking as well as interfacing with the grading software ``Crowdmark”.
Teaching Assistant
Physics 203, McGill University, Physics Department, 2017
In this course, I marked homework assignments and led tutorial sessions for groups of approximately 20-30 undergraduates in the course “Dynamics of Simple Systems.” This involved classroom management, preparation, and answering questions and working through confusing topics for students.
Teaching Assistant
Physics 102, McGill University, Physics Department, 2018
In this course, I marked homework assignments and led tutorial sessions for groups of approximately 20-30 undergraduates in the course “Dynamics of Simple Systems.” This involved classroom management, preparation, and answering questions and working through confusing topics for students.
STEM Graduate Teaching Development Fellow
Physics 102, McGill University, Physics Department, 2018
Wrote a semester of questions in preparation for flipping McGill’s 700-student introductory electromagnetism course. Attended meetings on pedagogical development and worked with the professor to strategize delivery, management of the flipped classroom environment.
STEM Graduate Teaching Development Fellow
Physics 102, McGill University, Physics Department, 2019
Mentored students and supported the professor in delivering in-class questions I had written the previous semester.
Teaching Assistant
Physics 102, McGill University, Physics Department, 2019
Undertook teaching training in preparation for teaching tutorial sessions of approx. 100 students. This resulted in an EdX certificate from Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne.
Teaching Assistant (Course Development)
Physics 102, McGill University, Physics Department, 2020
Prepared and gave tutorials to groups of up to 100 students, involving classroom management and coordination of teaching resources. Coordinated delivery with the professor to ensure a uniform experience and managed interactive classroom tools such as TurningPoint for live polling.
Teaching Assistant
Physics 101, McGill University, Physics Department, 2020
Worked with professor and other teaching assistants to collaboratively redesign laboratories for the introductory mechanics course at McGill due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Led development of a new rolling without slipping laboratory designed to be performed with minimal equipment so as to be easily adaptable to student situations all over the world. Recorded walkthrough videos and led student tutorial sessions and oversaw marking.
Teaching Assistant
Physics 102, McGill University, Physics Department, 2021
Worked with the professor to manage online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This involved helping facilitate lectures by providing real-time feedback to students while participating in a just-in-time learning/flipped classroom environment.