Items sharing a similar topic, meandered onto in the depths of a major outpouring of procrastination…
The path less traveled by Andrea Schweitzer (via @mattleifer) on a different way to have a career as a scientist. And for a description of one of the most successful scientists from quantum computing, an interview with Ignacio Cirac (sent to me by Daniel.) Somedays, however, one might wonder about all the time professors spend working and contemplate the idea of death by tenure track. Or if you care a lot about the notion of tenure versus non-tenure AND you don’t mind reading redstate.org, you can amuse yourself reading Glorious Leader Gap: More Evidence Our Pretentious President Was Never a Law School Professor. Equally depressing, but perhaps in a different form, is the state of the astronomy job market. For better options, you might try computer science (unless of course you’re going to start screaming about DEH TOOK OUR JRBS OVER CCCCs, in which case, go ahead rant, but please include at least one link to statistics in your rant.)
My First Bacon
A bunch of you sent me
Like my father used to say when we’d cook Bacon: “Check your toes!”
Also, someone is addicted…to bacon salt. I tried it on popcorn and I have to say that I wasn’t hooked. But then again I like “Spike” on my popcorn.
And, on a not so safe for work bacon note (NUDITY IMPLIED?) Bacon Bra.
Finally here is what April fools day looked like for our household:
Now what can I think to do with a giant six foot Sonic? Hmm…
A Real Turing Machine
Science V Nature
One of the more interesting facts coming out of the Sciencewatch survey of quantum computing citations was that Nature has published 169 journal articles on quantum computing while Science has published 84 such articles (or at least these are the numbers reported in the survey and it is not clear that the survey is in any sense “complete.”) When I first saw this I thought it was probably just a fact that Science doesn’t like quantum computing as much as Nature. But a conversation at the APS march meeting with a science journalist made me question this.
Round We Go
Lest you think I’m not working:
March Meeting Quantum Computing Schedule
The APS March meeting is next week as 10000 physicists invade Portland, Oregon. I hope Powell’s bookstore has stocked their science sections well! GQI, the topical group on quantum information, sponsors a good number of sessions at the meeting including sessions with invited talks, focus sessions, and general sessions. Below the fold I’m assembling a list of quantum computing sessions, but before the fold I’d like to point out the invited sessions, which have longer speaking slots where one can actually learn more than the speakers name and research project title, that are sponsored or cosponsored by GQI (also below note the Focus sessions listed below have invited speakers)
- Monday, March 15 8:00am-11:00am Session A8: Quantum Opto-Mechanics
Room: Portland Ballroom 255
(Jointly sponsored with DAMOP)
Invited speakers: Jack Harris, Klemens Hammerer, Philipp Treutlein, Nathaniel Brahms, Keith Schwab - Monday, March 15 11:15am-2:15pm Session B6: Controlling Dissipation in Quantum Systems
Room: Portland Ballroom 253
(Jointly sponsored with DAMOP)
Invited Speakers: Frank Verstraete, Hans Peter Buechler, Matthias Lettner, Luis A. Orozco, Sergio Boixo - Monday, March 15 2:30pm-5:30pm Session D4: Quantum Computer Science
Room: Oregon Ballroom 204 Invited Speakers: Graeme Smith, Aram Harrow, Ben Reichardt, Sandy Irani, Stephanie Wehner - Thursday, March 18 11:15am-1:40pm Session W6: Superconducting Qubits
Room: Portland Ballroom 253
Invited Speakers: Radoslaw Bialczak, Franco Nori, Leonardo DiCarlo, Sahel Ashhab
Posthumous ArXiv Posting
Hm, today we seem to have a posting from beyond the grave, arXiv:1003.2133:
Proof of the Ergodic Theorem and the H-Theorem in Quantum Mechanics
Authors: John von Neumann
Abstract: It is shown how to resolve the apparent contradiction between the macroscopic approach of phase space and the validity of the uncertainty relations. The main notions of statistical mechanics are re-interpreted in a quantum-mechanical way, the ergodic theorem and the H-theorem are formulated and proven (without “assumptions of disorder”), followed by a discussion of the physical meaning of the mathematical conditions characterizing their domain of validity.
Quantum Computing Postdoc at LPS
A theoretical condensed matter postdoc of interest to the quantum computing folks:
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Theoretical Condensed Matter and Quantum Information Science at the Laboratory for Physical Sciences, University of Maryland.
Applications are being accepted for physics postdoctoral research positions in quantum information and device theory at the Laboratory for Physical Sciences (LPS) at the University of Maryland-College Park. Demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following categories is desired: semiconductor/condensed-matter physics, solid-state quantum computing (e.g. spins in semiconductors or diamond, superconductors, etc.), quantum information science, many-body condensed matter physics, simulation of quantum systems, computational physics, quantum error correction/prevention, quantum optics, and related subjects.
Positions are available immediately in the groups of Drs. Frank Gaitan, Ari Mizel, and Charles Tahan. Interested candidates are invited to seek more information or submit an electronic application addressed to Charles Tahan at ctahan [thisisanatsybol] lps.umd.edu. Applications should include a CV, a summary of research interests, publications list, and the electronic (email) contact details of two references.
The University of Maryland is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from women and members of minority groups.
QUANTUM COMPUTING AT LPS
The quantum computing group at LPS consists of both experimentalists and theorists focused on various aspects of solid-state quantum computers, condensed matter theory, and quantum information science. Opportunities to collaborate with researchers at the University of Maryland Physics Department, the Joint Quantum Institute, nearby NIST and NRL are ample.
ABOUT THE LABORATORY FOR PHYSICAL SCIENCES
Located adjacent to the University of Maryland’s College Park Campus, the Laboratory for Physical Sciences is a unique facility where university and federal government personnel collaborate on research in advanced communication and computer technologies. The Lab for Physical Sciences is also a member of the Joint Quantum Institute together with NIST and UMD.
Ask a Nobel Laureate
Ever wanted to ask a Nobel Laureate in physics a question? Well here’s your chance: check out this youtube page where you can upload your own questions to Albert Fert, 2007 Nobel prize winner for Giant Magnetoresistance.
What You Can Do With An Undergrad Degree in Physics: Win a Turing Award
Chuck Thacker is the 2009 Turing Award Winner. Microsoft has a very nice article about his career. For the physicists out there, note that he has a B.S. in physics from Berkeley (1967)…he was trying to support his grad studies when he took his first job with computers and was “hooked.”