Kyle Sikkema - The New Grill Master is Hard at Work

**Sorry for the weird format, Blogger did some weird stuff to my post that I had to fix**

After an action-packed first week, it was time to get down to business. When I walked into the office
on Monday morning, nobody was there. I made efficient use of my morning by reviewing additional
safety modules. The second module was a laser-focused course, so I completed it within the hour,
making me eligible to attain a lab key. I submitted my request for a key and by noon I was completely
finished with my orientation-related tasks. Being fully acclimated to the lab, I made productive use
of my time. Each morning, I worked with Chris on coding and developing some models to depict the
behavior of the MDCS Analog. Each afternoon, I worked with Grace on the laser experiment.
I am surprised at how my knowledge of Python has increased 10-fold in just these short two weeks.

My confidence is soaring, enabling my ability to contribute to the project. Cesar has been monumentally
helpful in teaching me how to write concise code allowing the computer to complete the desired task.
Unfortunately, we ran into a little trouble when attempting a “best fit” model to the data plot from a test run,
due to a complex data file. We labored over the data file all week until Chris intervened on Friday.
He told me that the issues were not something I needed to worry about, so I focused on another task.

Chris introduced me to a new coding/data analysis program called Igor Pro. After he taught me
the basics,
I completed the modeling of the data in about an hour. I questioned why we didn’t start with Igor
Pro for data analysis, and Chris completely agreed with my point. Full of excitement,
he commented that the graphs I generated from Igor Pro will be extremely helpful in my presentation
next fall for EXP. My knowledge of Python will also be important for the future.
Grace and I fine-tuned the alignment of the optics in the laser experiment setup, as well as connected
the most important piece of the experiment: The Fabry-Perot. This neat electronic device collects data
for the experiment. It contains a complex combination of mirrors that bounce the light from the input
laser beam back and forth hundreds of times before attaining an output laser beam on the opposite
end of it. Grace and I do not fully understand its capabilities and applications, but we do know it is one
of the oldest pieces of optics in the lab. It is so old that the company which made the Fabry-Perot has
since changed names and rebranded to other laser products. Nevertheless, we will pray that it works.
Here’s a picture of the updated experiment layout:

^(Bottom right corner) The telescope-looking optic to the left of the blue laser is the Fabry-Perot

^Black box setup lowers the power of the laser to make safety people happier with me using it. (Spent a solid hour making this high-quality box)

The second Wednesday meeting was thought-provoking. During PGSS (the lunch research presentation), I learned about
Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT), or at least attempted to learn.
Chris told me that this research ties more closely with Dr. Cundiff’s research projects. In the undergraduate meeting,
I updated Dr. Cundiff on my steady progress. At the end of the meeting, he notified us that he would be out of town for
the next three weeks (which I knew before coming to the lab, but still took as a shock). I would not see him until my last
week in the lab, so Chris told me to email him weekly with my progress to seek advice from Dr. Cundiff while he was away.

I didn’t go out to lunch this week because I realized I bought way too much food when I moved in, so I took care
of business in that category. But alas, now I don’t have enough food so when this blog is posted,
I will be doing some much-needed grocery shopping by myself, for the first time.
Also, my George Foreman electric grill just came in, so I’m going to become a grill master this
weekend and cook up some steaks.

In more urgent and serious news, Chris told me his last day was next Tuesday.
This frightened me a bit, but he told me he is always available on email and will connect
me with another graduate student who will continue to mentor me on the MDCS Analog project.
I’ve only known Chris for two weeks, but I’m definitely going to miss him and his knowledge.
He is taking a professor job at San Jose State University, as well as being given his own research
group. I am thrilled for him; he is a great teacher and mentor. I regard Chris as one of the most
important mentors I’ve ever had. With all this change, I am going to need to be strong and face
this adversity head-on, so wish me luck for week three.

Week two is officially in the books. All good - KRS.