What do YOU do in science?

[ajm317]

I know at least a few of our members here have some experience in science themselves, so I figured it'd be a good idea to make a thread where everybody comes in and says a little bit about what they've been up to. If you're a student, show us one of your recent homework problems, if you're an MD tell us a bit about your practice, and if you're a researcher give us a word about your research. It'll be nice to know what kind of background people are coming from, and hopefully it will be interesting.

I am a (late) 3rd year grad student (evidently that corresponds to late 2nd year for you Euros, curse you chris_uk) in Physics going for my PhD. My field of research is what is known as "atomic, molecular and optical" Physics (AMO for short.) I am currently involved in 2 related research projects, here's a bit about the first, with a few related Wiki links along the way.

The first project has (down the road) potential applications in quantum computing. First we couple light into a waveguide (like a optical fiber [1], except that our waveguide is not a fiber, but instead a thin coating of material on a fused silica substrate.) By coupling two counter propagating laser beams into the waveguide we can create something called a "standing wave". [2] Now, when you have light going down a waveguide, you get something called an "evanescent" [3] wave at the boundaries. This wave dies off exponentially, so it only exists close to the surface. This evanescent wave is what we're going to be using.

Off to the side of all this we've been trapping Rubidium atoms in something called a "magnetic optical trap" (MOT for short). Basically the idea is that we cool the Rubidium down using the lasers, [4] and then we trap them using a magnet. Once we do that we can then physically move the magnet down our table, to our waveguide.

At this point we can release the magnetic trap, and the cooled atoms will drop onto the waveguide. Now light is a electromagnetic wave, so the evanescent wave will exert a force on the Rubidium. By tuning our laser to the "red" or the "blue" of the atomic absorption lines, we can trap the Rubidium at the nodes or the anti-nodes of the standing wave. This traps our cold Rubidium atoms in 1D array. By setting up another set of counter-propagating lasers perpendicular to the first we can turn that into a 2D array.

So now, if all goes well, you have Rubidium atoms trapped in a 2D array, and ideally each point in the array has a Rubidium atom trapped in it. You could use this as, say for example, a memory system for a quantum computer, where each trap site functions as a "qubit". [5]

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_fiber
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standing_wave
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evanescent
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_cooling
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qubit

[Chaigidel]

I cant really talk too much about it but I was heavily involved in organic chemistry :O-- so have barely any idea bout physics experimentation :O

I bought and sold lab equipment for a brief time as well but thats about it :O

(never formally educated in chemistry but my father was a chemist)

[Bootsiuv]

I like to catch bugs and pull their wings off. Ummmm, that's good science.

[Niles Crane]

I'm a Year 10 Australian student who does mandatory science. Since the beginning of high school, I have had one good teacher. The rest of them have just explained to us things like atomic theory, reproduction, disease, physics, parasites, etc. in a foreign language.

[Beowulf47]

I have gone on paleontological expeditions every summer for about the last 10 years. Very fun field.

[chris_uk_83]

I finished my MPhys in June of 2006, with my masters project being in Quantum Turbulence in Superfluid Helium 4, so I know a lot about superfluids.

I'm currently working as a Nuclear Safety Consultant, so I know a lot about the nuclear industry too.

I'm leaving this job at the end of July though to become a physics teacher (GCSE and A-level). My PGCE (post graduate certificate of education) course begins in September and I can't wait. I've actually been encouraged by a lot of people in the Athenaeum to persue this career because of the way people seem to understand my explanations of physicsy things where Sim's explanation will go right over their heads. Thanks guys!

[Syron]

I'm a physics student at the University of Manchester, going into my second year. It’s pretty “basic” at the moment (by basic I mean not exactly the forefront of physics just yet!) so it’s mostly learning all the techniques we’ll need to study more complex scenarios. That said one of my modules, Advanced Dynamics, was incredibly interesting. It’s a theoretical module mostly to do with the mathematical architecture used by Einstein to come up with Relativity theory.

with my masters project being in Quantum Turbulence in Superfluid Helium 4, so I know a lot about superfluids.

Wow, I’m quite surprised. Given the application of superfluid research to Theoretical physics and cosmology you never seem that fond of/interested in theoreticians!

[LSJ]

I am interested in a career in science, but I am not into theoretical stuff or research. I am into tech work - doing things like testing and analyzing with already existing equipment and using pre-set procedures. Examples of such work would be groundwater surveys and quality testing.
It doesn't sound as exciting as superfluids and nanotubes, but I find it more suited to me as a job.

+ I'm also an amateur chemist and weapons manufacturer... what would I do without my homemade nebelwerfer?

[DisgruntledGoat]

I am interested in a career in science, but I am not into theoretical stuff or research. I am into tech work - doing things like testing and analyzing with already existing equipment and using pre-set procedures. Examples of such work would be groundwater surveys and quality testing.
It doesn't sound as exciting as superfluids and nanotubes, but I find it more suited to me as a job.

+ I'm also an amateur chemist and weapons manufacturer... what would I do without my homemade nebelwerfer?

You should definitely look into becoming an engineer. There are several fields in engineering that would suit your tastes. The broad named field is civil engineering (sometimes wrongly thought of as construction engineering). In civil engineering you can specialize in things like environmental engineering, geological engineering, mining/mineral engineering and water management etc.

[PacSubCom]

Surface Physics, Atomic Force Microscopy, Thin Films

[Chaigidel]

so tell me chris what is a superfluid and what are its applications ( is it like plasma?)-rep for all scientists !

[Gary88]

ajm, thats sounds fascinating do you have any papers of your own that i could gander at? i wouldnt understand but i might get the basic idea.

chris uk yes you do explain things well and a physics teacher is a very nobel job we need more of you guys, the stuff on super fluids sounds like fun.

i'm currently waiting on whether i make it to manchester uni next september or if not that then cardiff...or i've really ****ed uo and im joining the army. i spent most of my time last year working on my international baccalaureate extended essay in physics. i tried to pick something slightly interesting rather then just another pendulum experiment so i looked at the effect of the angle of incidence between a source of beta emission and an aluminium absorber. needless to say hours of research went only to prove what i knew at the start but the schools equipment was shockingly bad and it was still more fun than doing anything else.

[ajm317]

ajm, thats sounds fascinating do you have any papers of your own that i could gander at? i wouldnt understand but i might get the basic idea.

Unfortunately we haven't gotten results yet (building the apparatus is a big job in and of itself) but we hope to have some in the next couple of weeks (the apparatus is finally finished, just some bugs to iron out like beam alignment...we hope). Probably we won't be published for a couple months at least.

yeah the good thing about physics is that its so damn unpopular there are loads of clearing places left

In the U.S. it's very easy to get into Physics graduate schools right now, especially if you speak English.

Getting a job however is a different matter, at least in academia.

[Quacky]

I just finished 2nd year natural sciences at Cambridge going on to biochemistry in 3rd and 4th year doing all the protein engineering modules because that stuff is fun and chemistry like

[chris_uk_83]

so tell me chris what is a superfluid and what are its applications ( is it like plasma?)-rep for all scientists !

I'll start a thread on it tomorrow if you like. It's nothing like a plasma

i'm currently waiting on whether i make it to manchester uni next september or if not that then cardiff...or i've really ****ed uo and im joining the army.

If you do **** up (not that I think you will), then Lancaster is a great uni for choosing people on their merit rather than their A-level results. The fact that you've been doing an international baccelaureate suggests to me that you're quite interested in physics. They took my fiancee (who wasn't my fiancee back then) who got Ds and Es on A level dispite being damn clever, she graduated with a 1st and is now doing a PhD, which goes to show that grades aren't everything!

[Gary88]

If you do **** up (not that I think you will), then Lancaster is a great uni for choosing people on their merit rather than their A-level results. The fact that you've been doing an international baccelaureate suggests to me that you're quite interested in physics. They took my fiancee (who wasn't my fiancee back then) who got Ds and Es on A level dispite being damn clever, she graduated with a 1st and is now doing a PhD, which goes to show that grades aren't everything!

yeah the good thing about physics is that its so damn unpopular there are loads of clearing places left

[Mathias]

I haven't done much in science so far except reading up on some random science stuff by myself. When the summer is over though, I am going to study physics, chemistry and biologi, which is probably the hardest course at school here.

[DisgruntledGoat]

Wow, some hardcore schoolies are here (or lifers or whatever you prefer to call life long students). Myself, I hold a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering with a specialization in solid mechanics/machine design. Currently looking for a career I'm sure some of you know how that goes. I've got bit of a background in a few things like Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma Design as well as experience in drafting and my new favorite SolidWorks 3D CAD.

[MaximiIian]

Well, let's see...I consider myself an amateur biologist, because I have an extreme interest in biology, especially zoology and palaeontology. I'm also deeply interested in Cryptozoology, and I think Cryptozoology should be considered a normal science, like one that you can earn a degree for in college.

I also like Chemistry; I mean, I'd have to say that my favourite class this past year (my Junior year) was Chem. I've absorbed a lot of the stuff I learned in that class.

[chris_uk_83]

Wow, I’m quite surprised. Given the application of superfluid research to Theoretical physics and cosmology you never seem that fond of/interested in theoreticians!

Haha, I know. I avoided theoretical physics like the plague when I was at uni, it all seemed a bit abstract to me; I like the more applied stuff.

Also Lancaster is one of the few places that actually does experimental low temp stuff, so their degree scheme actually features it, unlike a lot of other universities. I just loved playing with liquid nitrogen and messing with superfluid helium 4.