Recent content by TaylorRatliff

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    Physics Non-Fusion-Related Plasma Physics?

    There are other schemes of laser-plasma interactions for accelerating particles. I'm an undergraduate working on ion acceleration from thin foil targets in the radiation pressure acceleration (RPA) scheme. My work is a mix of analytic theory and computational science.
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    On-line vs. written homework assignments

    I'm a student and undergraduate TA at UT Austin, and have some strong but mixed feelings about the use of Quest in lower division courses. It certainly helps the course run smoothly from the instructors view, but I would rather see more written problems emphasizing problem solving and thought...
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    Start Career in AI & Transhumanism: Steps to Take

    What do you want to accomplish? As a fellow transhumanist its my opinion that developing human/machine interfaces is the biggest problem. Maybe you should look into bio-physics, specifically regarding the nervous system. In the next 10 years you could be working on making robotic arms or legs...
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    Attending my first APS conference (DPP)

    Thanks for the advice, Choppy! I've emailed APS about it, my concern is that potential graduate advisors from a much broader range of topics in plasma physics will be at the undergraduate session, and if I'm not presenting there I will lose opportunities to make an impression. Upon browsing...
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    Attending my first APS conference (DPP)

    In one week I'll be flying to Chicago with my group to attend my first APS conference, the APS Division of Plasma Physics (DPP). This is a pretty critical moment in my academic career, as I'm a senior undergraduate in the process of applying for graduate school, and I want to make a good...
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    Just Bought a Kindle - Science Anybody?

    The first thing I read was Carl Sagan's contact (I have a PDF - unfortunately its not in the kindle store). I mostly use my kindle for reading PDFs, as very few textbooks are available in the kindle store. Amazon also let's you convert PDFs to kindle format, but for texts rich in diagrams and...
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    Higgs Boson and it's nickname the 'god particle'

    I was under the impression that the name "god particle" was a euphemistic, popularizing twist on "god damned particle".
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    Physics Differential Geometry in Physics

    Plasma physics - especially magnetic confinement for fusion.
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    Wolfram Alpha: Your Ultimate Online Computational Knowledge Engine

    I watched this the other day, and couldn't help but grin as he somewhat nervously revealed why he has spent so much time and effort on this project: Physics. Once a physicist, always a physicist I suppose. I don't know what to think about NKS though. It sounds good in theory but where are the...
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    Do Point-Particles Truly Lack Spatial Extension?

    I have a related question, so I won't start a new thread: I understand that the electron degeneracy pressure arises from the Pauli exclusion principle, which forbids two electrons from occupying the same quantum state. However it has been explained to me, and I can show that the degeneracy...
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    The Bloom Box: Could it Power Our Homes? | CBS 60 Minutes Report

    Well you can never get in more than you put out, but you can get closer to 100% efficiency. Think of a gasoline engine in a car, only a small amount of the chemical potential energy in the gasoline is converted into kinetic energy, a lot is lost in the form of heat.
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    The Bloom Box: Could it Power Our Homes? | CBS 60 Minutes Report

    This is an interesting development, the real question is how much more efficient is this than current power generation tech? You still need fuel, for example gasoline, but a slow chemical reaction could be orders of magnitude more efficient than combustion. I guess we'll find out Wednesday...
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    60 Minutes: Could Fuel Cells Revolutionize Energy Use

    This is an interesting development, the real question is how much more efficient is this than current power generation tech? You still need fuel, for example gasoline, but a slow chemical reaction could be orders of magnitude more efficient than combustion. I guess we'll find out Wednesday...
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    Apple introduces latest iNonsense

    The iPad disappointed a lot of people who were expecting a revolutionary new device because the iPad is not revolutionary, it's evolutionary. It uses the same simple layout 75 million people already know how to use. Its built to deliver content in the form of music, movies, TV shows, and apps...
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    Probability of throwing a 6 in dice

    I don't think the Binomial distribution is appropriate here, check out the Negative Binomial Distribution: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_binomial_distribution
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