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Posted in March 2012

Seventh Lecture Advanced Statistical Physics

has taken place today. It was a switch to the second book of Kardar. The lecture has began very philosophical since we’ve discussed reductionism, emerging complexity and all that. So surprise I got distracted and could not say much about the methods… What a pity, again a delay. The next lecture will be on Monday.

Sixth lecture Advanced Statistical Physics

Was devoted to a standard topic: statistics of ideal quantum gases. The Bose-condensation was a bit overloaded with details and did not go well. Must revise it next year. Otherwise, the lecture was affordable.

Thanks for 1 MB views!

So I am pleased to report another doubling of number of views. It took 531 day to achieve this. Thank you very much, dear reader, for sticking to this blog despite all the variety you can find elsewhere. This is motivating. I am happy with this.

Microkelvin 2012

I’m now in Slovakia attending a meeting of European MicroKelvin Collaboration, large network of low-temperature groups. I do not participate in the network and got invited because my temperature fluctuation exercises that, rather unexpectedly, get along with a burst of interest in non-equilibrium thermodynamics of small systems. In comparison with a generic conference, the talks over here are more serious and provide (interesting) technical details: people speak to equally knowlegeable colleagues and expect a usefull feedback. I enjoy this, although frequently it is tough to follow.

Quantum phase slips in superconducting wires with weak inhomogeneities

is finally accepted by Physical Review Letters, in seven months after the submission. Phase slips rock!

Fifth Lecture Advanced Statistical Mechanics 2012

did not go too bad. Guess I could explain use and complexity of perturbation theory in the context. There were also many students.

(At least) two things could go better. 1. I did not exlpain the realtion between cumulants and connected/disconnected diagramms. Fortunately, I got a question, and though I did not manage to gasp it fast, it was exteremly helpful. 2. I should have spent more time on critical point explaining the significance and uniqness of Taylor expansion.

My dean, my department head and me (2012)

came together for an evaluation meeting. I like so much to compare such meetings with a dental check. The densists are there to find holes in your performance and sometimes are trying to provide an on-spot treatment.

Since I have just recently came to a glorious status of the group leader, my performance in two related aspects was automatically set to a default low value to provide me with more motivation. Anyway, they did not want to sack me right away and we have made several useful appointments.

Fourth Lecture Quantum Transport 2012

should have been the third in fact. I still keep the delay for a bit more a half of the lecture. I could have enjoyed a bigger audience today… Anyway, I should not complain since the intereaction with the audience was quite good despite my somehow hasty style.

International Women’s Day

is taking place today. It is an official holiday in Afganistan and several other countries. Congratulations, my reader!

Fourth Lecture Advanced Statistical Mechanics 2012

has taken place today. Finally we are through the basis of statistical mechanics (with one lecture delay) and can do more challenging things. The attention of the audience is fading, that can be after-the-break effect. I have to wait for a minute before I get the answer on a rather simple question about dimensions. Still we can keep some interaction…

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