Sunday, July 30, 2023
By:
Hello and Welcome back!
This is the second to last blog of the Summer, which is bittersweet to say the least.
In work news, last week I was able to simulate a theoretical model of a 2 quantum diagram. This week the challenge has been adding the biexciton to this model. There’s not much change that should be added to the code. Generally, it’s just adding another part to the cell that filters the energy level jumps. After an hour, I am proud to say that the biexciton was successfully added. Now, it was simply just added to the model, we have not yet made it specific to our experimental results. I created an animation to view the energy changing with respect to detuning, and we found the biexciton traveling laterally, different from the polaritons moving diagonally. We are further investigating how to alter our parameters to replicate the experimental data as closely as possible.
After work on Monday, Randy and I ventured to Arlington National Cemetery. I had never been there before, but Randy had so he took the lead on guiding us through. We saw the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, paid our respects to the Kennedy family, and visited the Challenger memorial site.
Later on we went to the Wharf to have a nice dinner before he left in the morning. We scootered from the Wharf to the National Mall where we walked around the monuments together at night. I am so grateful we got to experience DC together this Summer.
The rest of the week was spent relaxing in the evenings, especially because the simulation is now working so the grunt of the work is done. It’s exciting times in the development of this biexciton simulation, so rest is definitely needed.
On Friday, the interns took a tour of NIST. They all enjoyed the hour and a half commute in the morning and got the true experience of what it was like being an intern at NIST. In the middle of the tour, I had to sneak off to give my final presentation for my mentor, post-doc, and our group lead. I got great feedback, and I feel confident about my presentation next Friday. I rejoined the group afterward and saw many things I hadn’t seen before at NIST. We also enjoyed pizza and learning about the history that NIST holds.
Saturday afternoon I joined Jenna in watching the Disney+ recording of Newsies on Broadway. Jenna has seen the show a while back and I’ve seen the recording probably 50 times. It was great to share the amazing experience that is Newsies with another intern. Later that evening a group of interns gathered to go to the Georgetown Piano Bar. They were having a Dueling Pianos event later at night and we all wanted to see it. Essentially, there are two pianos and they take requests from the audience and they play each song after another. After screaming the lyrics to Don’t Stop Believin and Sweet Caroline, each of the interns no doubt had an amazing time.
I caved and bought another ticket to see Oppenheimer for Sunday afternoon. Hannah also bought a ticket and joined me for the same showing. Unfortunately we had to sit apart since tickets are nearly sold out everywhere. I can confidently say, I wanted to see the movie again right after it finished.
See you next week for the last of the Summer Blogs.
Janessa Slone