http://www.physics.uq.edu.au/people/aggie/blog The pseudorandom output of Aggie Branczyk Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:37:20 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I have a new paper on the arXiv entitled, Optimised generation of heralded Fock states using parametric down conversion, in which we characterise the effects of spectral entanglement and higher order photon-number contributions on the generation of pure photon number states using PDC. Beware, it's looooong, but it has lots ... http://www.physics.uq.edu.au/people/aggie/blog/?p=194 I just stumbled across this really cute article about being an introvert, or more specifically, dealing with an introvert. A great deal of it really resonated with me. Without giving it much though, I would have considered myself an extrovert. I tend to be quite social, however, the needs and ... http://www.physics.uq.edu.au/people/aggie/blog/?p=193 I've just uploaded a video of the Glockenspiel in the main square in Munich. My first attempt at annotating Youtube videos. http://www.physics.uq.edu.au/people/aggie/blog/?p=191 I've been battling an aphid infestation on my chillies for a few months now. I've tried using natural killers like Pyrethrum spray, but to no avail. It kills them on contact, but then they come back. I wouldn't mind having them there, except they chew away at the new fruit ... http://www.physics.uq.edu.au/people/aggie/blog/?p=186 My boyfriend was watching Cool Hand Luke the other day and was a bit surprised to find the soundtrack suddenly break in to the theme music for Channel 9 News. "...with Bruce Page and Heather Ford". http://www.physics.uq.edu.au/people/aggie/blog/?p=184 Who needs a guitar teacher, when you've got a half naked man with a doobie hanging out of his mouth, giving tutorials on youtube? http://www.physics.uq.edu.au/people/aggie/blog/?p=183 Some of you may have heard about the federal government's proposal to implement mandatory internet filtering at the ISP (internet service provider) level. I wanted to post about the proposal's champion, Stephen Conroy's, recent TV appearances regarding the filter, however, I thought it best to provide a short historical ... http://www.physics.uq.edu.au/people/aggie/blog/?p=182 I find this appalling: http://www.physics.uq.edu.au/people/aggie/blog/?p=181 3 Billion years ago cyanobacteria appeared on the planet, changing the course of life on earth. Scientists call this event the Oxygen Catastrophe. This video discusses the appearance of cyanobacteria and the effect it had on the evolution of life over the next 3 billion years. Suitable for an introduction to evolution, ... http://www.physics.uq.edu.au/people/aggie/blog/?p=180 Some potentially useful approximations * 1° is approximately the width of a little finger at arm's length. * 10° is approximately the width of a closed fist at arm's length. * 20° is approximately the width of a handspan at arm's ... http://www.physics.uq.edu.au/people/aggie/blog/?p=179