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

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)