soapbox

So the WMAP folks just proved that the inflationary period in the early universe actually existed. Hooray inflation!

I’m not an early universe expert, so I’m going to keep my explanation very short. However, this is the very very basic explanation
1) the universe begins and is tiny
2) sometime before about 10^{-32} inflation happens and the universe expands from microscopic size to “big”.
3) since then, things expand in a more or less nice manner.
4) then you get things that are actually interesting to study.

So, to prove the inflationary step, the WMAP people had to look at the polarization of the cosmic microwave background and detect changes on the order of a few microkelvin. To determine the age of the universe (which was done with the same data in 2003) they only had to detect intensity changes around a millikelvin.

WMAP Press Release 3_16_2006

I thought that was funny and sounded vaguely like i was some sort of obscure government agent, but I’m also currently at the single highest concentration of nerds in the world, ever, so my sense of humor might very well be questionable.

Anyways, from the title, those of you in the know will rightly assume that I’ve been offered a position as a Graduate Advisor (GA) for next year. I guess my application and interviews went over better than I figured. And now, if you’ll pardon the blatant self-aggrandizement: go me!

I was really hoping to become a part of this program, and, based on my background and interests I expressed during the application process, they’ve assigned me to be the GA for their new sophomore experience pilot program. The residence hall cluster I’m assigned to (Fayerweathers/Ripley-Woodward-Smith) will have students participating in this sophomore program, as well as a general mix of other sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

As Michael can attest from knowing Ben, the GA apartment in basement of the Fayerweathers isn’t the snazziest one available, but I’ll be very well-accomodated as far as living expenses go while part of this program, so it’s unlikely that I’ll complain too much. Also of note: I’ll be about 100 yards from the lab next year, which will make Alex very happy, I feel certain.

So, I’m sitting here with my friend Jay from Rice, who’s giving the first talk in Session U37 DMP: Focus Session: Nanowire and Nanodot Quantum Devices in about 15 minutes. I’m here for the solidarity and because some of the stuff Jay works on (nanostructures in dilute magnetic semiconductors interests me. Another Rice friend, Aaron, who works in the same lab as Jay, will be presenting in this same session closer to 9:30 AM, so I’m figuring to catch breakfast from the cafeteria across the street in between.

Just one quick comment that I’ve been meaning to post, but kept on forgetting:

The projector screens in each room are on collapsible set-ups, as would befit a multi-function facility like this convention center. For the most part, they do their job well, but, in rooms with chairs arranged in an unstaggered lattice, I would have positioned the screens a little taller to acccomodate better views for the folks in the back rows, particularly in the middle of the room. Of course, this isn’t such a big deal right now (first talk, late in the week of the conference), but I’m sure it will have me straining and craning my neck again later today.

Also, I’ve decided to buck off this afternoon’s sessions (most of which are of passing or no interest to me) in favor of some sightseeing. The USS Constellation and Fort McHenry are within walking distance, not to mention Camden Yards. In addition to appealing to my mild tourist instincts, I feel like all the walking around will do me some good in terms of exercise after all these days of alternating between idly sitting around and wandering the convention center.