One of the highest “impact” journals in physics is the American Physical Society’s Physical Review Letters (PRL). Among the crazy things about PRL is that it limits letters to four pages. Yes, people from other fields, you heard that right: one of the most “prestigious” journals in physics limits the authors to four pages. Realistically, when you include references, a title, and an abstract, this really means more like less than three and a half pages. Crazy!
Recently looking over papers in PRL, however, it occurred to me that the editors are skewering us even more. That’s because a good two lines (two full lines, damnit!) are being used to denote PACS numbers and DOI
Center for Quantum Information and Control Postdocs
At least three postdoc positions at the University of New Mexico and the University of Arizona’s “Center for Quantum Information and Control.” Here is a pdf ad for the positions.
The Center for Quantum Information and Control (CQuIC) is seeking to hire at least three postdoctoral fellows over the next year. CQuIC has research nodes at the University of New Mexico (UNM) under Professors Carlton Caves and Ivan Deutsch and at the College of Optical Sciences of the University of Arizona (UA) under Professor Poul Jessen.
Research at CQuIC is focused on quantum information, quantum control, quantum
metrology, and quantum optics. The theoretical program at UNM addresses topics in all
of these areas. The experimental program at UA seeks to implement ideas from quantum
information and quantum control in laser-cooled neutral-atom systems. CQuIC postdocs
are expected to take an active interest in both theoretical and experimental projects at the
Center.
A successful applicant must have a PhD in physics, optical sciences, or a related discipline. Applicants should submit applications to cquic [change this to an at] unm.edu; the applicant should state whether he/she is applying for a theoretical postdoc at UNM or an experimental postdoc at UA. Applications should include a curriculum vitae and a statement of research accomplishments and plans, and the applicant should arrange to have three letters of recommendation submitted to the same e-mail address.
Applications will be processed as they are received. For full consideration in the first round of hiring, a complete application should be received by October 31, 2009. Applications will continue to be reviewed till all positions are filled.
Hm, experimental or theoretical postdocs in the southwest. Which one is red and which one is green?
Zurich Trip Report 8/27/09 – 9/1/09
Caesar Salad
You’ve got to love a country where a Caesar salad includes a big helping of Bacon:
All hail Caesar Bacon!
Experiments I'd Like To See, Part 1
I am selfish. Sometimes when I work on a research problem, I do it in the hope that it will actually turn into something which, you know, will be done experimentally. I know, I know, I should be more of a pure theorist and not hope for salvation validation from reality, but hey we can’t all be perfect. So, here is an experiment I’d like to see done: I would think it would be within the regime of what is doable in a few physical implementations of quantum computers now.
Help the Quantum Pontiff Survive 15.5 Hours in Transit
I’m off to Zurich tomorrow for 8th Symposium on Topological Quantum Computing which I’m greatly looking forward to (this will be my first trip to Switzerland.) What I’m not looking forward to is the 15.5 hours it will take me to get from the Seattle airport to the Zurich airport! So, any recommendations for papers I should read, lectures I should listen to, or videos I should watch in order to keep from going insane on during the flight?
Adiabaticly Failing for Random Instances
An interesting paper on the arXiv’s today, arXiv:0908.2782, “Adiabatic quantum optimization fails for random instances of NP-complete problems” by Boris Altshuler, Hari Krovi, and Jeremie Roland. Trouble for D-wave?
Continue reading “Adiabaticly Failing for Random Instances”
A Pocket Full of Quantum Woo
Clearly I’m in the wrong business, this pseudo-professor gig. I should be using quantum physics for mucho dinero! I found out that this is possible via a reader who pointed me to the woo-nderful A Happy Pocket Full of Money
Continue reading “A Pocket Full of Quantum Woo”
I Am Poor the iPhone App
I Am Poor, the $0.99 iPhone app:
The mac & cheese, Ramen noodles, and tuna is my artistic rendition of what poor college students eat with their limited funds.
The icon on your iPhone or iPod Touch always reminds you (and others when you show it to them) that you were able to afford this.
But, we all would like to get a little richer so tapping on the info button will let you read on old classic by P.T. Barnum called ‘Art of Money Getting’ to give you some sage advice to help you increase your wealth.
Barnums “Golden Rules for Making Money” found in ‘Art of Money Getting’ will pay for ‘I Am Poor’ many times over.
h/t @ravenme (Apparently it took over 11 months to get approved on the iTunes store.)
Microsoft Station Q Postdocs
Want a job hacking away at topological quantum computing (and more) by day and surfing (by morning?) on the beautiful Southern California coast near Santa Barbara? Okay, well maybe surfing isn’t part of the job description, but Microsoft’s Station Q at UCSB has postdocs available with a deadline of October 16, 2009:
Station Q will be recruiting postdoctoral researchers. We are primarily interested in applicants with a strong background in quantum Hall physics, topological insulators, quantum information in condensed matter, and/or numerical methods, but will consider excellent candidates with different backgrounds.
Details of the application process can be found at http://stationq.ucsb.edu/jobs.html