This blog post has two flavors: Traditional and More Fun.
So it's been about a week back in the US of A. And I miss the sights and sounds of Paris. It truly was a magical experience, and a big thanks goes to the University of Michigan for providing me this opportunity and the NSF for making it possible.
It's weird having things that should be so familiar to me feel foreign. Like splitting checks. I forgot that was even an option. But at the same time, I'm glad to be home. It's a beautiful and good place. So while my adventures were very fun and good, every good thing must end. Or so they say.
"Damn it feels good to be a gangsta."
-Geto Boys
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Make some Noise!!
Deaf dumb and blind kid, sure plays a mean interferometry
Today was good day in the lab, we managed to take some data for the noise. Progress comes sure but slow.
Afterwards I tried to meet up with Aunt Julie and Luke for a picnic, but ended up just having one on the lawn of Deutsch with everyone I could find.
"Excuse me while I kiss the sky."
-Jimi Hendrix
Monday, July 16, 2012
Work Family Friends, Repeat.
"Steam rollers run shit over to make sure it's good. Like if they want to test a product, they'll run over it with a steam roller. How do you know the steam roller's good? Who ran over the steam roller?"
-Mitch Hedberg
Thought I'd start off with the quote today, because it's very apropos to my work right now. We are making interferometers on interferometers on interferometers. Like the hip song Racks on Racks on Racks, but more of a mouthful. (Got ya. No I couldn't really put that song on here, it just wouldn't fit with the whole good music thing I have going.) So we have the one originally built with a frequency stabilized laser that will shit 1 part per million of a frequency over a whole month. Yeah thing's legit. Then we have a less good laser that is used in a Mach-Zenhder interferometer so we can tell the noise is really due to the target and not the optical equipment we run it through. Then, once we have the appropriate number of beam-splitters, we'll split the frequency stabilized laser and use it to form a Michelson interferometer. This will provide a baseline amount of noise. No matter what we do, that noise, or inaccuracy, will be in our measurement because it's the super stabilized laser on the super stabilized optical table. We will also cover this up, to minimize wind effects (when you deal with ten nanometers, they're important) and cover up the laser and interferometers putting the latter in a vacuum chamber so nothing is really moving and seeing how accurate we can make everything. And that's what we have to work on for the next two weeks. Game on.
In other news, my buddy Steven Thorn, author of The Phoenix Guardian, available here on amazon, has been visiting me. We did Paris right. He got in on Friday, and after settling in, we went and saw the Notre Dame plus Shakespeare and Co. Then it was time to hit the hay, because Saturday was Bastille Day. On saturday, my poor navigating ability ensured that we didn't see much of the parade, but we did see the helicopters flying over the Louvre. Which was pretty awesome. Then we got lunch at a quick little bistro thing, I had some pasta, it was good. From there, we went off to the Louvre and saw too much art. Then it was time to picnic and watch the fireworks next to the Eiffel tower. Mir got some really good photos of everything, and he stood with the Eiffel between him and the fireworks, which is probably the way you're supposed to see it, but o well, I enjoyed myself. There was quite the interesting walk home, let me tell you. For sunday, Steven and I went to mass at the Notre Dame. Incroyable. Then off to Invalides to pay Napoleon a visit, and then up to the Sacre Coeur, with a quick stop at the Arc d'Triomphe in between. I gotta say, I was more impressed with the Arc this time as opposed to last year, and I don't really know why. Maybe I knew what to expect more. Also the guard for the tomb thing that's there changed while we there. Not as cool as the Tomb of the Unknown back home ('Merica) but it was still kind of cool to watch it. Then we went to Zango's for dinner, and it was it's usual fantastic stuff. Then gelato for dessert, and the Eiffel tower to cap it all off. It was beautiful up there, and it was great chatting with Mr Thorn. I always enjoy our discussions. (You sound like you're from London!)
Aunt Julie and Luke got in today, so I briefly saw them, and outlined the good sights to see and we went and got dinner. It was great to see them and share any knowledge I could.
.... I don't know how to end without a quote.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Work work work
Sorry, it's been a while
Alright let's get to it. Work has been going very well the past couple of days, and that's for a very specific reason. We've actually had things to do. At the same time, it hasn't been overwhelming and we've normally had about half a day off each day. It's nice, but still wish I could be doing some thing more. So think back on the interferometer I've described previously. What we've done was replace the target with a more manufactured version on the same target. We finally got it back and had set it up. However the motor is right next to the target in this version, and causes it to shake rather violently. This means that the fringes go haywire for a split second every time you try to move the target. So our program would not work for stabilizing it. What we did instead on Tuesday, was set up a millitron, which looks like a metal finger that you set on the target and it reads displacements of up to a micron. Then we tried to rotate the target around so that we could see how much it wobbled, and try to stabilize it using the picomotors attached to the mount. This did not produce the results we wanted, and we discovered the screw holding the target in place on the mount, actually would be shaken out of the mount because of the vibrations in the motor. We replaced it with a bigger screw to ensure it would no longer do that. Then during lunch, we talked to Antonin about our problems with the stabilization, and he described a much simpler process to use then we had thought of. See the target mount has three points, one of them is fixed, the other two are controlled by the picomotors and these adjust the angle. If we set the points to be exactly equal, then the wobble should disappear. So we measured the position of the fixed point with the millitron, then turned it to the next point, and so on and so forth until we could stabilize the thing. Unfortunately, even using this simple method we could not get it to work. We then realized that the problem was the fixed screw kept jostling out of place. So we got thread glue and stuck it back in there and it didn't move any more. Then we were able to stabilize it and watch its rotation barely move by shooting the beam of the laser to a point on the wall and seeing that it didn't precess at all. Which is what the last target had done. However after we got the fringes back from the interferometer, we realized that the vibrations of the motor made it impossible to use that program to stabilize it any more, and it's nowhere near as stable as it would need to be if we were trying to generate attosecond pulses off of it. So in short, the homegrown version was much better. We spent Wednesday morning reassembling it, and stabilizing it. It works so much better and smoother than the manufactured version it's not even funny. In my down times at work, I've been reading the Dark Tower III book: The Waste Lands. It's quite an interesting read and raises some interesting questions. I'm excited to see how it turns out.
In my down times back home, I've been wondering around Paris. On Tuesday, I read at the Shakespeare and Company bookstore, which is across the river from Notre Dame and offers a lovely view when one tires of the page. I'm going to spend way too much money there. I think I might buy Finnegan's Wake there, even though I may never read it. It's a crazy book. Also people like to dance around the edges of the Seine at night, I discovered. One of the girls who works with Mir is done after this week, and she had a picnic at the banks of the Seine under Notre Dame. It was beautiful, all lit up in the night, and the angle we had to look at it was incredible. Also booked my trip to Prague on Tuesday. Visit the homeland. Then yesterday, Jay and Drew and I went to dinner at another Mexican food place near Bastille. It was good, but different from the first one. Also got some gelato after it and wondered down to Quai de la Gare. Once on a bridge across the Seine, the sun was going down and you could see Notre Dame and it looked absolutely beautiful.
"I am the Walrus."
- John Lennon
No you're not.
Alright let's get to it. Work has been going very well the past couple of days, and that's for a very specific reason. We've actually had things to do. At the same time, it hasn't been overwhelming and we've normally had about half a day off each day. It's nice, but still wish I could be doing some thing more. So think back on the interferometer I've described previously. What we've done was replace the target with a more manufactured version on the same target. We finally got it back and had set it up. However the motor is right next to the target in this version, and causes it to shake rather violently. This means that the fringes go haywire for a split second every time you try to move the target. So our program would not work for stabilizing it. What we did instead on Tuesday, was set up a millitron, which looks like a metal finger that you set on the target and it reads displacements of up to a micron. Then we tried to rotate the target around so that we could see how much it wobbled, and try to stabilize it using the picomotors attached to the mount. This did not produce the results we wanted, and we discovered the screw holding the target in place on the mount, actually would be shaken out of the mount because of the vibrations in the motor. We replaced it with a bigger screw to ensure it would no longer do that. Then during lunch, we talked to Antonin about our problems with the stabilization, and he described a much simpler process to use then we had thought of. See the target mount has three points, one of them is fixed, the other two are controlled by the picomotors and these adjust the angle. If we set the points to be exactly equal, then the wobble should disappear. So we measured the position of the fixed point with the millitron, then turned it to the next point, and so on and so forth until we could stabilize the thing. Unfortunately, even using this simple method we could not get it to work. We then realized that the problem was the fixed screw kept jostling out of place. So we got thread glue and stuck it back in there and it didn't move any more. Then we were able to stabilize it and watch its rotation barely move by shooting the beam of the laser to a point on the wall and seeing that it didn't precess at all. Which is what the last target had done. However after we got the fringes back from the interferometer, we realized that the vibrations of the motor made it impossible to use that program to stabilize it any more, and it's nowhere near as stable as it would need to be if we were trying to generate attosecond pulses off of it. So in short, the homegrown version was much better. We spent Wednesday morning reassembling it, and stabilizing it. It works so much better and smoother than the manufactured version it's not even funny. In my down times at work, I've been reading the Dark Tower III book: The Waste Lands. It's quite an interesting read and raises some interesting questions. I'm excited to see how it turns out.
In my down times back home, I've been wondering around Paris. On Tuesday, I read at the Shakespeare and Company bookstore, which is across the river from Notre Dame and offers a lovely view when one tires of the page. I'm going to spend way too much money there. I think I might buy Finnegan's Wake there, even though I may never read it. It's a crazy book. Also people like to dance around the edges of the Seine at night, I discovered. One of the girls who works with Mir is done after this week, and she had a picnic at the banks of the Seine under Notre Dame. It was beautiful, all lit up in the night, and the angle we had to look at it was incredible. Also booked my trip to Prague on Tuesday. Visit the homeland. Then yesterday, Jay and Drew and I went to dinner at another Mexican food place near Bastille. It was good, but different from the first one. Also got some gelato after it and wondered down to Quai de la Gare. Once on a bridge across the Seine, the sun was going down and you could see Notre Dame and it looked absolutely beautiful.
"I am the Walrus."
- John Lennon
No you're not.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Weekend Update with Caleb Holt
There is a house in New Orleans.
So Friday I went to a French barbecue with Mathieu. It was a lot of fun actually. There was plenty of wine bread and sausages. But that was about it. It was cool to see how they interacted in that type of setting. Another view into the culture. There was a very well-spoken (read spoke good english) Frenchman who wanted to go to Harvard or somewhere in the states, which is why he spoke so well. And most of them could speak enough English for us to converse. There was one Italian guy who was quite well off who kept ending his sentences in You Know?! More food for my american friend, You Know?! (I didn't complain about this.)
On saturday, I took it easier and saw some sights I had neglected. I saw Les Invalides and Napoleon's tomb. The tomb part was super cool. Napoleon was ridiculously cocky though apparently, which is what makes it so much fun to visit. The church there too was also very cool, although the tomb was much more impressive. Then I visited Rodin's gardens, which were awesome. I like one artist museums much more I've decided than collections. However collections allow you to see much more of a variety. Going through people's life is just really cool.
Sunday I tried to go to Lauds with Drew at Sacre Coeur. Unfortunately the internet led us astray again, so we just took in the basilisk then wandered around...wherever we were. There was an open air market that went on forever. I finally got the pair of Lennon sunglasses I've been searching for. I'm quite pleased. Then we chilled an took it easy the rest of the afternoon. For dinner we (Zak, Drew, and I) went to Zango's again. Love that place. There was an acoustic band this time. Quite good.
Monday work we actually did something. Got the new target set up and the fringes look good. It was so nice to be back in the lab aligning things. It's weird how much that can frustrate me, and how much I can enjoy it when it works. Then the rest of the morning we took it easy and heard a talk. It was interesting, about second order harmonics for something. I didn't really pay too much attention (obviously). After lunch we hooked up the driver which turns the target, but the motor of the new target shakes it so much we can't even use the program we originally had. Which leads me to believe that the original set-up worked much better. However we still have to try to minimize the wobble to prove that the original works.
"So it goes."
-Kurt Vonnegut
So Friday I went to a French barbecue with Mathieu. It was a lot of fun actually. There was plenty of wine bread and sausages. But that was about it. It was cool to see how they interacted in that type of setting. Another view into the culture. There was a very well-spoken (read spoke good english) Frenchman who wanted to go to Harvard or somewhere in the states, which is why he spoke so well. And most of them could speak enough English for us to converse. There was one Italian guy who was quite well off who kept ending his sentences in You Know?! More food for my american friend, You Know?! (I didn't complain about this.)
On saturday, I took it easier and saw some sights I had neglected. I saw Les Invalides and Napoleon's tomb. The tomb part was super cool. Napoleon was ridiculously cocky though apparently, which is what makes it so much fun to visit. The church there too was also very cool, although the tomb was much more impressive. Then I visited Rodin's gardens, which were awesome. I like one artist museums much more I've decided than collections. However collections allow you to see much more of a variety. Going through people's life is just really cool.
Sunday I tried to go to Lauds with Drew at Sacre Coeur. Unfortunately the internet led us astray again, so we just took in the basilisk then wandered around...wherever we were. There was an open air market that went on forever. I finally got the pair of Lennon sunglasses I've been searching for. I'm quite pleased. Then we chilled an took it easy the rest of the afternoon. For dinner we (Zak, Drew, and I) went to Zango's again. Love that place. There was an acoustic band this time. Quite good.
Monday work we actually did something. Got the new target set up and the fringes look good. It was so nice to be back in the lab aligning things. It's weird how much that can frustrate me, and how much I can enjoy it when it works. Then the rest of the morning we took it easy and heard a talk. It was interesting, about second order harmonics for something. I didn't really pay too much attention (obviously). After lunch we hooked up the driver which turns the target, but the motor of the new target shakes it so much we can't even use the program we originally had. Which leads me to believe that the original set-up worked much better. However we still have to try to minimize the wobble to prove that the original works.
"So it goes."
-Kurt Vonnegut
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Land of the Free, Home of the Brave.
Happy Fourth everyone. (it's a day late I know)
I really like how this video was shot in Paris. Apparently the Boss is performing here the fourth and fifth but I couldn't get tickets.
Work has been slow still. Waiting on people to build things takes a while. Least I can read.
Yesterday, in order to celebrate the fourth correctly, the Señor and I went to Hard Rock Cafe and got some good bar-b-que. It hit the spot, let me tell you. Afterwards we saw Spider-Man. It was a lot of fun. A very entertaining and well-done movie, although some parts could have used more work. It felt a little rushed sometimes. But I still really enjoyed it.
"You rascally rabbit."
-Elmer Fudd
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Paris is Beautiful.
Had to put this song on here.
Work update first. The motor we're working on to compare to the motor of the target we already have is progressing smoothly. Just by other people. Three mechanics are working on it, we just go around and talk to them, make sure things are working. We had a scare with the pico motors but it turns out to be all good, as we just messed with the setting of the joystick that controls them. We got to see the new motor and target modeled on a computer by Gregory and it looks sweet. For the rest of the day, Mathieu and I taught Matt math. It was slow going because both Mathieu and I had forgotten how little math we knew in the 11th grade. Derivatives aren't too complex of a concept but knowing what defines a function and a limit are definite pre-requisites we forgot to cover before delving into the subject.
Whenever I first got here, I thought the Parisians must just have their jaw dropped all the time with how beautiful their city is, but that's clearly not the case or the stereotype of a frenchman would be someone gawping all the time instead of being a douche bag (which I don't know how they got because I really haven't had a problem with that, yeah there have been a select few, but that's anywhere). But now that I've been here for a month (crazy how that happens), I've realized they just get used to it. However, I'm trying my best to not have that happen to me by constantly reminding myself I AM HERE. It's nice too because I can just wander the side streets and take in what they have to offer which admittedly isn't much, but it's still cool I can do that and not be tourist-y about it and have to hurry to see the sights.
Oh and Paris still takes my breath away. Thank God. I must be crazy when I can keep it.
"Naaa, na na nanaNA, nanaNA, Hey Jude."
-Paul McCartney
Work update first. The motor we're working on to compare to the motor of the target we already have is progressing smoothly. Just by other people. Three mechanics are working on it, we just go around and talk to them, make sure things are working. We had a scare with the pico motors but it turns out to be all good, as we just messed with the setting of the joystick that controls them. We got to see the new motor and target modeled on a computer by Gregory and it looks sweet. For the rest of the day, Mathieu and I taught Matt math. It was slow going because both Mathieu and I had forgotten how little math we knew in the 11th grade. Derivatives aren't too complex of a concept but knowing what defines a function and a limit are definite pre-requisites we forgot to cover before delving into the subject.
Whenever I first got here, I thought the Parisians must just have their jaw dropped all the time with how beautiful their city is, but that's clearly not the case or the stereotype of a frenchman would be someone gawping all the time instead of being a douche bag (which I don't know how they got because I really haven't had a problem with that, yeah there have been a select few, but that's anywhere). But now that I've been here for a month (crazy how that happens), I've realized they just get used to it. However, I'm trying my best to not have that happen to me by constantly reminding myself I AM HERE. It's nice too because I can just wander the side streets and take in what they have to offer which admittedly isn't much, but it's still cool I can do that and not be tourist-y about it and have to hurry to see the sights.
Oh and Paris still takes my breath away. Thank God. I must be crazy when I can keep it.
"Naaa, na na nanaNA, nanaNA, Hey Jude."
-Paul McCartney
Monday, July 2, 2012
The Monster Reviews Arras
Main Square Music Festival success!
But first work-related stuff. So after setting up the interferometer, work has been kind of slow. We've got most of it figured out, but to show how effective the home-made target system is, we're going to test it against a more manufactured model. Right now my workdays consist of traveling around with the two French Mathieu's and talking to the mechanics (rather listening to the mechanics and Mathieus talk as they only speak French). So far, we progress little by little.
Arras time!
Drew Chrissy and myself arrived around 6 in the afternoon of Friday for Arras. After a walk to the campsites and retrieval of bracelets for the festival, we set up the tent quickly and then went to see the music, after joining up with Kierstin and Zak. We listened to some of garbage, and then Mir arrived, so I showed him where the tents were. Here's my thoughts on the artists. (Kind of a long and tedious list, so don't read if you don't care.)
Friday
Garbage (19:30)- They were older than I thought they were, but they put out a good sound. Not exactly my style of music and the lead singer's pants were distracting.
Brigitte (20:45)- Very French. But a lot of fun too. Two girls sang and they had very coordinated movements.
Kasabian (21:15)- They were the first real rock band. Very entertaining to watch. Good times had by all.
The XX (23:10)- Too chill for their own good. Good music, good vibes, but not exciting enough to headline.
Justice (01:10) Fantastic. I don't normally like DJ shows, but the beats and the lights were incredible. I'd forget there were other people around.
Chase and Status (2:10)- Fun show, but the best song was a cover of Killing in the Name of. Good cool-down after the might of justice.
Saturday
Skip the Use (15:05)- Very british, very punk, very fun.
Rain delay (~16:30-17:10)
not real, but for us, yes.
Miles Kane (18:00)- Good stuff, the songs just kind of sounded the same after a while.
The Kooks (18:05)- Very british again. Very nice.
Florence+The Machine (19:35)- Incredible. Everything I hoped for. Florence brought the sun out, she was fun and lively and despite what Zak says, I enjoyed her crowd interactions. Her voice is incredible. I wanted to sing along, but felt I shouldn't out of respect. It was that good. Also her performance passed by so quickly for me because of how much I enjoyed it.
Pearl Jam (21:30)- One of the best rock bands brought the rock. Even though, I'm not too familiar with their stuff, they were great showmen and had great stuff. Lot of fun.
Birdy Nam Nam (00:10)- Again a DJ show, but there were four of them, and it was incredible. The lights weren't as good as Justice, but the beats were incredible (I guess you can do that with four people).
Sunday
The All-American Rejects (15:10)- Fun concert. Definitely one of the more American feeling shows. Only drawback, they led with their proverbial left by opening with Dirty Little Secret. Just seems like a bad idea.
Michael Kiwanuka (15:15)- Surprise find of the festival. Good old fashioned grooves and blues type stuff. I really enjoyed his show.
Gaz Coombes (15:45)- Would have liked them more if I could have figured out what they were about.
Wiz Khalifa (17:20)- Great concert and show. Lot of fun, and he seemed to really enjoy himself which helps. Also kept giving shout outs to his band which was very nice of him, I thought.
Noah and the Whale (18:05)- Probably would have really enjoyed them, but I was anxious to see Incubus.
Incubus (19:00)- Great show. It was nice to know most of the songs again. I had fun with it, I just wish the crowd was more into it.
The Mars Volta (21:15)- My second favorite show (first was Florence). They were just feeling it and went crazy on stage for the whole time. Tons of fun, even though I didn't recognize any of the songs. Also produced my favorite quote from the festival. The lead singer came out and declare "I'm here to eat your cheeseburger ass. That's right, your ass is made of cheeseburgers. Now bend over and let me take a bite!"
Blink-182 (22:50)- Good for the first couple of songs, then I remembered why anyone only listens to them in middle school. Cause they just sound whiney. So we left.
M83 (23:10)- Good vibes, but we were tired, so we went to bed so we could get up at 4:30. (We being Zak and myself, as we were the only ones brave enough to handle three days of Arras goodness.)
For a quote see the one from the Mars volta.
But first work-related stuff. So after setting up the interferometer, work has been kind of slow. We've got most of it figured out, but to show how effective the home-made target system is, we're going to test it against a more manufactured model. Right now my workdays consist of traveling around with the two French Mathieu's and talking to the mechanics (rather listening to the mechanics and Mathieus talk as they only speak French). So far, we progress little by little.
Arras time!
Drew Chrissy and myself arrived around 6 in the afternoon of Friday for Arras. After a walk to the campsites and retrieval of bracelets for the festival, we set up the tent quickly and then went to see the music, after joining up with Kierstin and Zak. We listened to some of garbage, and then Mir arrived, so I showed him where the tents were. Here's my thoughts on the artists. (Kind of a long and tedious list, so don't read if you don't care.)
Friday
Garbage (19:30)- They were older than I thought they were, but they put out a good sound. Not exactly my style of music and the lead singer's pants were distracting.
Brigitte (20:45)- Very French. But a lot of fun too. Two girls sang and they had very coordinated movements.
Kasabian (21:15)- They were the first real rock band. Very entertaining to watch. Good times had by all.
The XX (23:10)- Too chill for their own good. Good music, good vibes, but not exciting enough to headline.
Justice (01:10) Fantastic. I don't normally like DJ shows, but the beats and the lights were incredible. I'd forget there were other people around.
Chase and Status (2:10)- Fun show, but the best song was a cover of Killing in the Name of. Good cool-down after the might of justice.
Saturday
Skip the Use (15:05)- Very british, very punk, very fun.
Rain delay (~16:30-17:10)
not real, but for us, yes.
Miles Kane (18:00)- Good stuff, the songs just kind of sounded the same after a while.
The Kooks (18:05)- Very british again. Very nice.
Florence+The Machine (19:35)- Incredible. Everything I hoped for. Florence brought the sun out, she was fun and lively and despite what Zak says, I enjoyed her crowd interactions. Her voice is incredible. I wanted to sing along, but felt I shouldn't out of respect. It was that good. Also her performance passed by so quickly for me because of how much I enjoyed it.
Pearl Jam (21:30)- One of the best rock bands brought the rock. Even though, I'm not too familiar with their stuff, they were great showmen and had great stuff. Lot of fun.
Birdy Nam Nam (00:10)- Again a DJ show, but there were four of them, and it was incredible. The lights weren't as good as Justice, but the beats were incredible (I guess you can do that with four people).
Sunday
The All-American Rejects (15:10)- Fun concert. Definitely one of the more American feeling shows. Only drawback, they led with their proverbial left by opening with Dirty Little Secret. Just seems like a bad idea.
Michael Kiwanuka (15:15)- Surprise find of the festival. Good old fashioned grooves and blues type stuff. I really enjoyed his show.
Gaz Coombes (15:45)- Would have liked them more if I could have figured out what they were about.
Wiz Khalifa (17:20)- Great concert and show. Lot of fun, and he seemed to really enjoy himself which helps. Also kept giving shout outs to his band which was very nice of him, I thought.
Noah and the Whale (18:05)- Probably would have really enjoyed them, but I was anxious to see Incubus.
Incubus (19:00)- Great show. It was nice to know most of the songs again. I had fun with it, I just wish the crowd was more into it.
The Mars Volta (21:15)- My second favorite show (first was Florence). They were just feeling it and went crazy on stage for the whole time. Tons of fun, even though I didn't recognize any of the songs. Also produced my favorite quote from the festival. The lead singer came out and declare "I'm here to eat your cheeseburger ass. That's right, your ass is made of cheeseburgers. Now bend over and let me take a bite!"
Blink-182 (22:50)- Good for the first couple of songs, then I remembered why anyone only listens to them in middle school. Cause they just sound whiney. So we left.
M83 (23:10)- Good vibes, but we were tired, so we went to bed so we could get up at 4:30. (We being Zak and myself, as we were the only ones brave enough to handle three days of Arras goodness.)
For a quote see the one from the Mars volta.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Man food is good.
Bonjour!
Much like the song suggests, they gave me all the food I could want today and then some. All with the added benefit of having to do no work. My adviser didn't get in until 11 today, and I had a meeting at Ecole Polytechnique (the school affiliated with where I work) in which they outlined their graduate programs in a shameless plea to get us to attend them. Which made me feel nice to be wanted, but I probably won't be attending here. The graduate programs that interest me are all taught in French... and I still can't speak that language. So somewhere else for masters, maybe PhD, sorry mom. We'll see though.
The food though. That's what's important here. The food was free. And good, cause it's French food, and they don't mess around. They had quiches that were bomb and a brownie that was thick and chocolate and delicious. Plus wine, apple orange and grapefruit (very bitter) juice, sparkling water, and coffee. All for free. Which made it all better. I'm growing to love the coffee here and being able to indulge it in free was awesome.
Then when I returned to LOA (the lab where I work), there was a barbecue kind of thing. It was not like BBQ back home though. No sauce. Just chicken on sticks, some salad things, and couscous and wine again. They brought out cheeses and breads and fruits later. Then came the desserts and they just never stopped bringing them out and they were so good. All that to say, this was the first time I've been overly full after eating, so full I can skip dinner. It never happens here normally, the portions are too small. It's nice for a change, but I don't know how I eat like this back home. I hope it's something that stays with me. I feel better and healthier here. Plus I've run the past couple of days which is nice.
"Riches do not profit on the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death."
-Old Hebrew Proverb.
Much like the song suggests, they gave me all the food I could want today and then some. All with the added benefit of having to do no work. My adviser didn't get in until 11 today, and I had a meeting at Ecole Polytechnique (the school affiliated with where I work) in which they outlined their graduate programs in a shameless plea to get us to attend them. Which made me feel nice to be wanted, but I probably won't be attending here. The graduate programs that interest me are all taught in French... and I still can't speak that language. So somewhere else for masters, maybe PhD, sorry mom. We'll see though.
The food though. That's what's important here. The food was free. And good, cause it's French food, and they don't mess around. They had quiches that were bomb and a brownie that was thick and chocolate and delicious. Plus wine, apple orange and grapefruit (very bitter) juice, sparkling water, and coffee. All for free. Which made it all better. I'm growing to love the coffee here and being able to indulge it in free was awesome.
Then when I returned to LOA (the lab where I work), there was a barbecue kind of thing. It was not like BBQ back home though. No sauce. Just chicken on sticks, some salad things, and couscous and wine again. They brought out cheeses and breads and fruits later. Then came the desserts and they just never stopped bringing them out and they were so good. All that to say, this was the first time I've been overly full after eating, so full I can skip dinner. It never happens here normally, the portions are too small. It's nice for a change, but I don't know how I eat like this back home. I hope it's something that stays with me. I feel better and healthier here. Plus I've run the past couple of days which is nice.
"Riches do not profit on the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death."
-Old Hebrew Proverb.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Tuesdays are for hip-hop
Just heard this guy. Great stuff.
Short post today. Work was making a fourier transform of our data. It took most of the day, and I'm not even sure it's right. Also had to find out about the Nyquist criterion for work at home or homework, but not really homework you know.
Ratatouille is again delicious. Why does nobody ever remember that Pixar movie?
As suggested by the Chris Chapman, perhaps cyclops visor is a polarizer, which cuts the intensity of the light to a manageable degree. Also would explain why it glows red. Food for thought.
"If you smile at me, I will understand. Because that is something everyone everywhere does in the same language."
-Crosby Stills and Nash (and sometimes Y...oung)
Short post today. Work was making a fourier transform of our data. It took most of the day, and I'm not even sure it's right. Also had to find out about the Nyquist criterion for work at home or homework, but not really homework you know.
Ratatouille is again delicious. Why does nobody ever remember that Pixar movie?
As suggested by the Chris Chapman, perhaps cyclops visor is a polarizer, which cuts the intensity of the light to a manageable degree. Also would explain why it glows red. Food for thought.
"If you smile at me, I will understand. Because that is something everyone everywhere does in the same language."
-Crosby Stills and Nash (and sometimes Y...oung)
Monday, June 25, 2012
Monday Monday
Physics is a man's world.
So today I was joined by another high schooler and roughly the French equivalent of what I am. Both named Matthew (or Matchieu depending on if you say it French like or not), so the name thing should be easy. They both speak pretty good English too, which is nice. So the French go to high school, then this really intense prep school, then they jump to getting their masters and Phd. I think it takes roughly the same time for both of us though. So Matthew Sr was there first but I didn't know he was coming so I thought he was a high schooler and tried explaining very simple things, but it turns out he's very smart and attends one of the best schools in France for theoretical physics and math. He gets paid to go to school. That's how good it is. Chuh. It was kind of frustrating sometimes cause he'd mess with the set up I had built all last week which momentarily put a flash of terror in me cause he didn't know what he was doing, or I thought he didn't. It was all good though.
Today our intrepid crew really didn't do a whole lot. Rod got the motor on the target running and got it rotating so we were able to see how that affected the fringes, which was really cool, because the thing is already pretty damn stable. It just needs a little more tweaking and it'll be there. We also messed with the filter to balance the arms of the interferometer to make sure the contrast is as good as we can make it. That was the biggest thing we did today. Good day. Then I ran and ate and read Stephen King's The Gunslinger, part 1 of the Dark Tower series. It's really good.
"Long days and pleasant nights"
-The gunslinger
So today I was joined by another high schooler and roughly the French equivalent of what I am. Both named Matthew (or Matchieu depending on if you say it French like or not), so the name thing should be easy. They both speak pretty good English too, which is nice. So the French go to high school, then this really intense prep school, then they jump to getting their masters and Phd. I think it takes roughly the same time for both of us though. So Matthew Sr was there first but I didn't know he was coming so I thought he was a high schooler and tried explaining very simple things, but it turns out he's very smart and attends one of the best schools in France for theoretical physics and math. He gets paid to go to school. That's how good it is. Chuh. It was kind of frustrating sometimes cause he'd mess with the set up I had built all last week which momentarily put a flash of terror in me cause he didn't know what he was doing, or I thought he didn't. It was all good though.
Today our intrepid crew really didn't do a whole lot. Rod got the motor on the target running and got it rotating so we were able to see how that affected the fringes, which was really cool, because the thing is already pretty damn stable. It just needs a little more tweaking and it'll be there. We also messed with the filter to balance the arms of the interferometer to make sure the contrast is as good as we can make it. That was the biggest thing we did today. Good day. Then I ran and ate and read Stephen King's The Gunslinger, part 1 of the Dark Tower series. It's really good.
"Long days and pleasant nights"
-The gunslinger
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Notes on Mortality
Fleet fox time
So I visited the Musee d'Orsay and I saw some new art this time than last time, and it was incredible. Absolutely fantastic. I loved it in other words. Also mass in Notre Dame is incredible. Even if it's in a language I can't understand. When the organ plays it reverberates through you. Fantastic. Also the couple who sat next to me are related to people from Edmond. What are the chances?
I also visited the Pantheon. My advice? Skip it. Unless if you do the panoramic view, then maybe. Although I can't imagine it's any better then Eiffel. It's not that much more impressive on the inside than the outside and is costly, compared to what you get. It's roughly the same price as the Louvre or the Musee d'Orsay and has less than half the stuff. The only exceptional things are the graves/crypts of Voltaire and Rosseau. I have to wonder how they'd feel about that. It gave me the creeps. Since the internet is written in ink, let me just go ahead and get this out there: Don't bury me in stone. Don't just let me sit somewhere for all eternity decaying in some box until some future archaeologist (although they'll probably call it something else) digs me up. Ahohhno. (<- shudder noise)
Also Zak and Josh cook some mean grub.
"Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind."
-Albert Einstein
So I visited the Musee d'Orsay and I saw some new art this time than last time, and it was incredible. Absolutely fantastic. I loved it in other words. Also mass in Notre Dame is incredible. Even if it's in a language I can't understand. When the organ plays it reverberates through you. Fantastic. Also the couple who sat next to me are related to people from Edmond. What are the chances?
I also visited the Pantheon. My advice? Skip it. Unless if you do the panoramic view, then maybe. Although I can't imagine it's any better then Eiffel. It's not that much more impressive on the inside than the outside and is costly, compared to what you get. It's roughly the same price as the Louvre or the Musee d'Orsay and has less than half the stuff. The only exceptional things are the graves/crypts of Voltaire and Rosseau. I have to wonder how they'd feel about that. It gave me the creeps. Since the internet is written in ink, let me just go ahead and get this out there: Don't bury me in stone. Don't just let me sit somewhere for all eternity decaying in some box until some future archaeologist (although they'll probably call it something else) digs me up. Ahohhno. (<- shudder noise)
Also Zak and Josh cook some mean grub.
"Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind."
-Albert Einstein
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Half Weekend
Live from Paris, it's Caleb Holt!
I just wanted to say that.
I'll get to it now. Ok so on Friday, we finished our set up, and took pictures of our results. Then we used a program to analyze the contrast, or basically how good our fringes were. The dark should be completely distinct from the light parts in theory, but that's not how it works in reality. However our fringes were pretty good, especially the ones we took later in the day. It was also Michael, my high school student's last day, which was unfortunate, but I replace him next week. Hopefully I get his name right the first time. Anyway here are the pictures of what I've been working on all week
Set up (hard to explain. See previous posts.)
Fringe patterns on computer. Look nice don't they?
After all that, I got out of work a bit early, which was nice. And I discovered the bookstore Shakespeare and Company with Kierstin. It was incredible. To think Joyce had been there, and worked there was too much. But he wasn't in the actual physical building of it because the original closed down or something, but the owner of this one bought the name or had it sold to him or something. Anyway, I feel the spirit of the thing lives on. It was incredible. I bought Crime and Punishment and the third book of the Dark Tower series, which I'm now reading thanks to Zak. It's pretty good so far. Much better than the book I was reading, but I felt I had to see that one through for some misguided reason. After a lovely evening in Paris, there's a lot of those, I went to bed with plans to go to the Normandy beaches on the morrow. But fate decided against that. Or really my lack of planning led me to be dumb and get off the train two stops early. But I did get on the train which almost didn't happen due to my tardiness. Like I literally got on and the train started moving. It was awesome. Felt like being in an old Western. Except for the part where everyone speaks French. So I got off two stops early cause the place had normandy in the name. I was still like 2 hours from the D-Day beaches so I messed that up, so I did what any person would do and enjoyed the place where I was. < Kind of applies to the situation. > I discovered a Notre Dame there, and a free museum which was a bit of a let down. But the best part was definitely the rattatouille or however you spell it. Like the Pixar movie no one remembers. There were also really pretty hills there which I climbed. And two jets that decided to be awesome and put on an improntu aerial show. So that was my grand misadventure as I have termed it. Here's the proof.
The other other Notre Dame
Inside
Crazy organ
Maccaroon (delicious)
Hôtel de Ville
Awesome hill
Flowers
Flowers closer (plus bee)
Thursday, June 21, 2012
La fisica
<It's a stormy day here in Paris, France, and everyone needs to Thunder Up >
So the past couple days I've actually had to do physics at work. Which is why I haven't made posts about the physics of the X-men in a while. This week, I'm joined by my assistant Michael (who I thought was named William for the first couple of days, very awkward [and I'd like to deeply apologize]), who is a high school student right here in a good ol' Paris at a bilingual school. Luckily though, he's Australian by earth so he speaks good english and has even helped me with my Spanish some. He doesn't know too much about physics, but that's more because he's in the tenth grade than anything else, so it's been kind of neat explaining things to him.
What we've been working on has been a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Which is where one takes a laser beam, passes it through a beam splitter (which allows half the beam to be transmitted, half to be reflected, ideally) then both beams are reflected, one from the target, one from a mirror parallel to the target. One then recombines the beams with another beam splitter so that they are equal intensity, or should roughly be. Which is very easy to say, much more difficult to do. However today, Michael and I achieved our goal. It is now displaying a very nice interference pattern on a wall down stairs in the basement. ....Just trust me on that.
What's the point? The point is that interference pattern occur due to wavelengths of light which are very small (~.0001 millimeters). Therefore, if the target moves by that amount or more, the pattern will change. (Interference patterns look like 1111, basically fringes of light with dark spots in between them, I'll post a picture of ours later) So they can be very useful in detecting the smallest of changes which is exactly what we need in order to make attosecond pulses because the laser has to hit a new part of the target each time.
In other news, I've been wandering around Paris at night, and it's still beautiful. I went to see the Grande Arche, which is like the Arc d'Triomphe only more modern and big. It was like wandering into a futuristic part of Paris. Yesterday I went and wandered the Tuillieres garden and the Champs-Elysses. C'est Magnifique! I also had a conversation with a French lady in French, despite my protests that I spoke none of it. I just guessed at answers to here questions until I was right. She was very insistent about it, and it was a lot of fun.
"I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask where they're going, and hook up with 'em later."
-Mitch Hedberg.
So the past couple days I've actually had to do physics at work. Which is why I haven't made posts about the physics of the X-men in a while. This week, I'm joined by my assistant Michael (who I thought was named William for the first couple of days, very awkward [and I'd like to deeply apologize]), who is a high school student right here in a good ol' Paris at a bilingual school. Luckily though, he's Australian by earth so he speaks good english and has even helped me with my Spanish some. He doesn't know too much about physics, but that's more because he's in the tenth grade than anything else, so it's been kind of neat explaining things to him.
What we've been working on has been a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Which is where one takes a laser beam, passes it through a beam splitter (which allows half the beam to be transmitted, half to be reflected, ideally) then both beams are reflected, one from the target, one from a mirror parallel to the target. One then recombines the beams with another beam splitter so that they are equal intensity, or should roughly be. Which is very easy to say, much more difficult to do. However today, Michael and I achieved our goal. It is now displaying a very nice interference pattern on a wall down stairs in the basement. ....Just trust me on that.
What's the point? The point is that interference pattern occur due to wavelengths of light which are very small (~.0001 millimeters). Therefore, if the target moves by that amount or more, the pattern will change. (Interference patterns look like 1111, basically fringes of light with dark spots in between them, I'll post a picture of ours later) So they can be very useful in detecting the smallest of changes which is exactly what we need in order to make attosecond pulses because the laser has to hit a new part of the target each time.
In other news, I've been wandering around Paris at night, and it's still beautiful. I went to see the Grande Arche, which is like the Arc d'Triomphe only more modern and big. It was like wandering into a futuristic part of Paris. Yesterday I went and wandered the Tuillieres garden and the Champs-Elysses. C'est Magnifique! I also had a conversation with a French lady in French, despite my protests that I spoke none of it. I just guessed at answers to here questions until I was right. She was very insistent about it, and it was a lot of fun.
"I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask where they're going, and hook up with 'em later."
-Mitch Hedberg.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Heaven
Being here in Paris, one can often wonder about Heaven.
Let me tell you about the food they serve there.
In Paris, if one is willing to take the time to find them, there are several great restaurants. I have found one of the top shelf ones. It is a little pricey, but not too bad really for the amount of food and the atmosphere, not to mention the quality. The quality is superb. It's a little bar and restaurant called Zango Daguerre located on the Rue de Daguerre and it's absolutely fantastic. They play music every Sunday (Dimanche for you Frog-talkers), and so far I've enjoyed both bands I've heard. There are meals named after explorers that feature food from all over but it's all very well prepared and presented and tastes fan-freaking-tastic.
So I imagine the food they serve up in Heaven probably tastes way better, but the shadows are nice too.
"I've never been to heaven, but I've been to Oklahoma."
-Hoyt Wayne Axton
Let me tell you about the food they serve there.
In Paris, if one is willing to take the time to find them, there are several great restaurants. I have found one of the top shelf ones. It is a little pricey, but not too bad really for the amount of food and the atmosphere, not to mention the quality. The quality is superb. It's a little bar and restaurant called Zango Daguerre located on the Rue de Daguerre and it's absolutely fantastic. They play music every Sunday (Dimanche for you Frog-talkers), and so far I've enjoyed both bands I've heard. There are meals named after explorers that feature food from all over but it's all very well prepared and presented and tastes fan-freaking-tastic.
So I imagine the food they serve up in Heaven probably tastes way better, but the shadows are nice too.
"I've never been to heaven, but I've been to Oklahoma."
-Hoyt Wayne Axton
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Playing Around
In honor of it being (American) Father's Day tomorrow, please enjoy The Boss.
The last couple of days have been nice and relaxing. I didn't have work Friday because my PhD student had to get his knee checked out by a surgeon so there was nobody in the office. I enjoyed my day by running and reading. It was quite nice. Then I watched the France Football Federation win 2-0 against Ukraine with some German students from Cité. It was a lot of fun.
This morning, Drew and I went on a roving adventure to Disneyland Paris. It was so great. It just made me feel like a kid, and we didn't even go inside the Park (cause it's like 74 Euro). On the way we also found a market where I bought a semi-fancy watch for only 15 euro, and we also found some great sandwiches called chipolatas, which I think is just sausage. Also bought our train tickets to Arras so we're that much closer to being prepared for the Festival. Getting excited.
"Imagination is there to compensate man for what he is not, humor to console him for what he is."
-Francis Bacon
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Physics is Phun
< Dr Dog anyone? >
Anyway today has been another slow day, but still good. I did go over the start up process for the laser system, making a useful procedure document for anyone besides Aurelion who would like to turn the laser on, which is important because he'll be gone in a few weeks.
One of things I've noticed while working in the lab is the use of these ruby-red laser shields, which remind me an awful lot of Cyclops's glasses from the X-Men.
Anyway today has been another slow day, but still good. I did go over the start up process for the laser system, making a useful procedure document for anyone besides Aurelion who would like to turn the laser on, which is important because he'll be gone in a few weeks.
One of things I've noticed while working in the lab is the use of these ruby-red laser shields, which remind me an awful lot of Cyclops's glasses from the X-Men.
One of the remarkable things about the shields is that you cannot see the green laser at all. So it got me thinking about the physics of Marvel's superhero. To all the true believers out there, it will come as no surprise that the simple glass of his visor should actually be able to block his destructive lasers, given that they block whatever wavelength his eyes operate on. However, since his optic blasts are clearly red, his visor should not be red too since that would allow the light to pass through. Think filters on stage lights, white light hits the red filter, the red filter blocks all other wavelength and allows red to pass through. In short, we're all living a lie.
I forgot a quote on my last post, so here's two.
"Watch it, bub."
-Wolverine
"Life is to be lived, not controlled, and humanity is won by continuing to play in the face of certain defeat."
-Ralph Ellison
Monday, June 11, 2012
Weekend Recap #1
< Rest and Relax >
This weekend was quite nice as weekends in Paris go, which is generally pretty good I'm assuming. Started off the weekend by going on a run and doing laundry. I was so productive during Saturday morning that I didn't do anything else useful the rest of my time. I did go see some things. Saturday we (Zak, Kierstin, and I) toured the inside and outside of Versailles, the definition of opulence. The inside was not as exciting as I was hoping it would be and was rather pricey so I'm glad I saw it, but I'm not going back. The gardens, however, are incredible. Absolutely gorgeous. At one point it looks like a canyon of hedges. It's incredible. Then back to Cité for some pizza, and chilling on the lawn, followed by bed.
After that, we went to see the Stadium du France which was impressive but we could not approach it.
On the train there we saw the tops of Sacre Coeur, and determined to go see it. We got distracted on our way by the Opera house, which had Kierstin swooning for a good three hours. After a tour of the inside, we wound our way to Sacre Coeur, which is up a steep hill in case you didn't know.
Thought my mom would really like that poster.
This weekend was quite nice as weekends in Paris go, which is generally pretty good I'm assuming. Started off the weekend by going on a run and doing laundry. I was so productive during Saturday morning that I didn't do anything else useful the rest of my time. I did go see some things. Saturday we (Zak, Kierstin, and I) toured the inside and outside of Versailles, the definition of opulence. The inside was not as exciting as I was hoping it would be and was rather pricey so I'm glad I saw it, but I'm not going back. The gardens, however, are incredible. Absolutely gorgeous. At one point it looks like a canyon of hedges. It's incredible. Then back to Cité for some pizza, and chilling on the lawn, followed by bed.
On Sunday, Drew, Kierstin, and I tried to go to mass at Saint-Suplice but we missed what we thought was the early mass at 6h20, in the morning, and then thought it started at 7h but no one got up to preach... so we just left. The church was very pretty though.
We toured the Luxembourg gardens and waited for a café to open for breakfast. Once they finally had (nothing opens until about 8h or 8h30 here) we went to the Columbus Café, which had a pigeon problem, because it sold muffins. The muffins were really quite good, and so was the hot chocolate which warmed all of us up, except Kierstin who had tea, but I suppose that warmed her up too. France is cold in the morning.
This is just one of the many fun things to discover while walking Paris
After that, we went to see the Stadium du France which was impressive but we could not approach it.
On the train there we saw the tops of Sacre Coeur, and determined to go see it. We got distracted on our way by the Opera house, which had Kierstin swooning for a good three hours. After a tour of the inside, we wound our way to Sacre Coeur, which is up a steep hill in case you didn't know.
The opera house is above. Sacre Coeur is incredible. I highly recommend it to all. Even if you have only three days to go see things in Paris, go see this. It's crowded but beautiful and well worth the climb. You can't take pictures of the inside but it's fantastic in there too. Just sitting in the Cathedral is an experience. I loved it.
Thought my mom would really like that poster.
View of Sacre Coeur from the bottom. On our way down we saw this street performer climb a pole with a soccer ball balanced on his head. It was awesome. He then juggled it up at the top of the pole and did some other ungodly athletic things.
Later on, I wandered Paris and discovered a sweet little bar/restaurant thing with a band (a violin, upright bass, piano) playing folky jazz music. It capped off an excellent weekend in a way I can't begin to describe. The music that played was spot on, and I sat and listened and enjoyed a good cheap beer. Phenomenal.
But now it's Monday, and work has started again. Game on.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Significantly Less Physics than last Post (promise)
Here, be easy.
Just photos (plus captions)
Where we were at U Mich
proof America has pretty buildings too
Burritos (before leaving.)
Cité Universitaire (University of where I'm staying, but not this building.)
Le Seine (yeah places like this exist in the middle of Paris.)
Rose garden next to the Seine (again, see above)
old men playing bocce ball but the french version
Nyan cat subway
compulsory photo of Notre Dame (I live in the same city. How awesome is that?)
Pirate ship on the Seine
Clock of the Museé d'Orsay (seemed appropriate cause I'm making a much smaller clock)
Really pretty Monet at the Museé. It's of just one person which is weird for him, and the way he painted her is just fantastic.
Henri Toulouse-Loutrec one of my favorite artists. Period.
My buildings just to the right here but I think this building looks neater. (The French students here call it Hogwartz)
"Twas brillig and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves
And the mome rathes outgrabe"
-Lewis Carroll
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Theory
So today was a bit of slow day here at LOA, my project's not quite ready for me despite how ready I might be. We're mostly just setting up the lab, but I can't really be trusted with the equipment cause I have no idea what it does so I mostly just help in whatever small way I can. Anyway, I thought it'd be helpful to go into a bit of the theory of my measurement for my sake. So here goes. When a laser as powerful as the lasers we're dealing with hits a solid object it immediately creates a plasma. You might be asking yourself, "self, what's a plasma?" Well hold on, I'll explain. It's the fourth state of matter. Not enough? Yeah I didn't get it after that either. Basically it's a state of matter where all the particles are ionized. You can think of it as almost a jello-like structure with layers of negative charge/positive charge,
(delicious and plasma-y)
What my mission, should I choose to accept it (which I already have I suppose), is to help create a machine that will emit attosecond pulses of light.
"In the time of chimpanzees, I was a monkey."
-Beck
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Back in Black
First day here almost done. I'm working in the black laboratory for LOA (labortoire d'optical apliquee) for Ensta. Saw my set up today. I'm really excited. It looks to be very hands on and independent. If I understand everything right, I will be working on a mechanism that can spin glass super fast with an accuracy on the order of nanometers. Game on.
The theory behind a lot of the measurement is a bit over my head, so it kind of feels like I'm drinking out of a fire hose right now. I'm sure it will calm down quite soon.
As a side note, everybody here speaks French and they speak it often, so I'd like to apologize for all the times I made fun of my friends for learning French instead of Spanish. Clearly it is kind of useful, I was wrong. It does make it easy to know when I'm being spoken to because then they speak in English.
Yesterday, I didn't have to come in because my professor (Rodrigo who is quite nice) wouldn't have had time to show me around, so I had a free day in Paris, which is always nice. I saw the Musee d'Orsay and saw some really great works of art. The French are so art-rich it's stupid. I walked most of the way to the Musee after taking the metro to Notre Dame. The walk was really pretty as well. I then took a nap, and ate dinner with group plus Emmanuelle and then headed to the Eiffel Tower for the night. Quite the day, if I may say so myself.
"Got my physics in Paris and they going gorillas!"
-Kanye West (modified)
The theory behind a lot of the measurement is a bit over my head, so it kind of feels like I'm drinking out of a fire hose right now. I'm sure it will calm down quite soon.
As a side note, everybody here speaks French and they speak it often, so I'd like to apologize for all the times I made fun of my friends for learning French instead of Spanish. Clearly it is kind of useful, I was wrong. It does make it easy to know when I'm being spoken to because then they speak in English.
Yesterday, I didn't have to come in because my professor (Rodrigo who is quite nice) wouldn't have had time to show me around, so I had a free day in Paris, which is always nice. I saw the Musee d'Orsay and saw some really great works of art. The French are so art-rich it's stupid. I walked most of the way to the Musee after taking the metro to Notre Dame. The walk was really pretty as well. I then took a nap, and ate dinner with group plus Emmanuelle and then headed to the Eiffel Tower for the night. Quite the day, if I may say so myself.
"Got my physics in Paris and they going gorillas!"
-Kanye West (modified)
Monday, June 4, 2012
First Day of Work! (not really)
I will take a cue from Banjo, please join me in some Paris Music
As the title suggests it was supposed to be my first day of work, but instead I just saw the grounds and found out my instructor wasn't there. So I got the day off. Pretty Sweet. I bought a phone, and took the metro to semi-random locations like Bastille. Paris is gorgeous. Almost every stop has something incredible. (Honeymoon phase.) While I was there, I met a very nice Italian who spoke the Queen's English named Lucca. So wherever you are Lucca, thank you. Also saw Moonrise Kingdom with Jay. It was fantastic. Highly recommend it. Plus movies in Paris are around 4 Euro for students.
-"Life is too short to learn German"
Old French proverb.
As the title suggests it was supposed to be my first day of work, but instead I just saw the grounds and found out my instructor wasn't there. So I got the day off. Pretty Sweet. I bought a phone, and took the metro to semi-random locations like Bastille. Paris is gorgeous. Almost every stop has something incredible. (Honeymoon phase.) While I was there, I met a very nice Italian who spoke the Queen's English named Lucca. So wherever you are Lucca, thank you. Also saw Moonrise Kingdom with Jay. It was fantastic. Highly recommend it. Plus movies in Paris are around 4 Euro for students.
-"Life is too short to learn German"
Old French proverb.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Last day before Work
Yo. So yesterday we arrived in Paris and after exploring a bit for some towels and some ping pong, we ended up on the front lawn with some Parisians. Just kicking it. Mir and I slept way in today which was nice cause we were super jet lagged/ tired from the flight and all that but we did manage to get to stay awake to 11 PM which helps. Then today was spent getting some food for lunch, going to see Notre Dame (absolutely beautiful), then the bird/flower shops which were pretty fun, then to the Louvre cause it's free on first sundays. We saw the Ancient Egyptian exhibit plus the statue garden (which was much more impressive honestly and gorgeous). Then dinner at an Italian place, and gelato for dessert. They put the gelato on the cone like a rose. It was incredible. We just wandered around to see what we could see after that, and we found the church near St Germaine but I forget it's real name (sorry Laura), and it was incroyable as the French would say. There was a statue of the Madonna with child that'll blow your mind. I lit a votive candle there but I was supposed pay 2 euro but only put in 25 cents. Makes you wonder though, the whole Jesus turning tables thing seems contrary to that. Still it was very nice inside and if it helps with the upkeep I'll pay. When I have the change that is. Then we toured the grounds of the Luxembourg Palais which can absolutely take your breath away. So pretty. There were statues and beautiful trees and things all over the place. Fantastique. On top of it all, the thunder tied the series which just is the cherry on top.
"Will you succeed? Yes you will! Ninety-eight and three quarters percent guaranteed!"
-Dr Suess
"Will you succeed? Yes you will! Ninety-eight and three quarters percent guaranteed!"
-Dr Suess
Friday, June 1, 2012
Almost Paris
Today is our last day before leaving for Paris. I guess technically we leave tonight but arrive tomorrow so it counts. Yesterday was spent attempting to construct a hologram that could be view panoramically, however my group was unsuccessful in creating one. We did manage to develop the proper technique, but lacked the resources to accomplish them. In other words, we failed. So it goes.
In other news, the Thunder finally beat the Spurs. Zak, Jay, Josh, and I all watched the game together. Good times. Oh and curiosity cola is delicious. If you ever happen to be in Ann Arbor, check it out.
"People think dreams aren't real because they aren't made of matter, of particles. Dreams are real. But they are made of viewpoints, of images, of memories and puns and lost hopes."
-Neil Gaiman in Sandman
In other news, the Thunder finally beat the Spurs. Zak, Jay, Josh, and I all watched the game together. Good times. Oh and curiosity cola is delicious. If you ever happen to be in Ann Arbor, check it out.
"People think dreams aren't real because they aren't made of matter, of particles. Dreams are real. But they are made of viewpoints, of images, of memories and puns and lost hopes."
-Neil Gaiman in Sandman
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Holograms and Group therapy
When we arrived today at the U of M, we began a crash course in optics, specifically holography. We reviewed the methods for making off-axis holograms so that way the viewer doesn't have to stare into a laser in order to see the image of the hologram. We also just reviewed some basics things about optics such as lenses, and some less basic things like Fresnel zones, but we went about explaining Fresnel Zone Plates in a different fashion than what I studied with Michael this semester. We made a hologram of a Hot Wheel type car as group, then divided into smaller groups and created holograms for each one. My group was the bro group (made of all boys) and we created a hologram of a different Hot Wheel car using a red laser. It worked pretty well all in all. We had to maintain strict silence while the developing process was happening because any disturbance of the system would create dark spots or wash the image out.
After holography it was lunch. I had a couple pieces of pizza which were pretty good all things considered. Then after lunch, our group divided and we took a walk around campus. Michigan is a pretty campus, and expansive. The University of Oklahoma does not even come close to the University here. It's giant. But still nice. They do have a bus system which takes people around to their various campuses (i.e. north campus, south campus, medical campus, etc, etc).
Around 1:00 we had an orientation to go over questions for Paris, and various French customs. Also we took this time to lay out certain ground rules for how the group should behave as a unit. It was a good time where we could be open and honest with each other.
"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid."
-Albert Einstein
After holography it was lunch. I had a couple pieces of pizza which were pretty good all things considered. Then after lunch, our group divided and we took a walk around campus. Michigan is a pretty campus, and expansive. The University of Oklahoma does not even come close to the University here. It's giant. But still nice. They do have a bus system which takes people around to their various campuses (i.e. north campus, south campus, medical campus, etc, etc).
Around 1:00 we had an orientation to go over questions for Paris, and various French customs. Also we took this time to lay out certain ground rules for how the group should behave as a unit. It was a good time where we could be open and honest with each other.
"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid."
-Albert Einstein
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
First day
The hotel and everything has been pretty nice so far. They provided breakfast this morning, which was quite nice, really. I also had to start this blog, so that's cool. I hope it goes well.
You escaped what I escaped
You'd be in Paris doing research too
- Jay-Z (modified)
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