Remember: You must choose (and stick with) one of the two tracks.
Track A, assignment 1: Read the first chapter of “QED” by Feynman (available in bookstores, Amazon, etc.) and write a 1-2 page essay, making connection with the topics we covered in class, and comparing/contrasting the different approaches.
Track B: Choose one of the following:
choice 1: LIGO
Option 1: Read the article that you can download here (it s 30 MB): http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/docs/P/P990039-00.pdf
Then, write a 1-2 page summary, focusing on the interferometer techniques (and
not, e.g., the gravitational radiation sources, the international
collaboration, etc.)
choice 2: OCT
Do some online research on Optical Coherence Tomography, and then write a 1-2page essay. Explain how it works, what are the resolution limits, various applications, etc. If possible include a quick calculation, or physics argument on how it works, using the topics discussed in class
Deposit your paper here by 5pm Wednesday, February 3, 2010.
View the articles here.