Bragging On My Son

[COSteve]

Yes, I know it's bragging but isn't that what a dad is suppose to do? Anyway, my son got another paper published in the Journal of Low Temperature Physics as first author. It's titled, "Andreev Reflections in Micrometer-Scale Normal Metal-Insulator-Superconductor Tunnel Junctions" and the abstract of the paper is, "Understanding the subgap behavior of Normal metal-Insulator-Superconductor (NIS) tunnel junctions is important in order to be able to accurately model the thermal properties of the junctions. Hekking and Nazarov (Phys. Rev. B 49:6847, 1994) developed a theory in which NIS subgap current in thin-film structures can be modeled by multiple Andreev reflections. In their theory, the current due to Andreev reflections depends on the junction area and the junction resistance area product. We have measured the current due to Andreev reflections in NIS tunnel junctions for various junction sizes and junction resistance area products and found that the multiple reflection theory is in agreement with our data."

My son modeled, designed, manufactured, and tested the tunnel junctions he used to gather the data to support the theory. It's an important step towards his PhD as he's pushing the absolute efficiency of tunnel junctions and is currently working on the chips that he' designed to set a new world's record in efficiency. This is an important element in many fields including many types of sensors as well as work along the path to room temperature super conductors.

[Pitchy]

Lost me Steve but sounds like you have reason to be proud.

[AJMD429]

Those tunnel junctions are really dangerous - it's hard to see the stoplights in those dark tunnels, what with all the exhaust fumes.

[hightime]

Be proud. Be happy with your kid always.

Owen

[Blaine]

A couple years ago, I made a comment about him getting the inside track on cold fusion....maybe I was not too far off Many moons ago, I ran thin films at a MASCA chip fab, and we were still struggling to make it to sub-micron....I can't believe what they have now.

[WCF3030]

You lost me after "my son got another paper published in the Journal of"

I can see why your a proud dad though!!!

[Nazgul]

Ok to brag on the smart kids. Good for him, sounds like a fine mind.

Have a son graduating as a chemical engineer from Rose-Hulman in the spring, He brought home one of his math finals-Did not get a single idea what it was about. My daughter #2 is graduating from Purdue this year also with a degree in computers-writes programs for large companies. She got a job to start after graduation that pays twice what I make after 25 years in my profession.

Did not steal your thread- just added to it!

Glad for your son.

Don

[madman4570]

Very impressive Steve!
Tell him congrats and congrats to you as well.

[Griff]

You lost me after "my son got another paper published in the Journal of"
I can see why you('re) a proud dad though!!!

+1

[jeepnik]

Congrats to all the youngsters. They are getting smarter and smarter. Maybe they won't make the same mistakes we made. Nah, that wouldn't be any fun.

[Tycer]

[FWiedner]

It reassuring to know that someone is out there and actually working to advance the march of hard science. You should proud for sure, but what I get out of all of that abstract is "Yup... what he said."

I guess that's one of those peer-review things or testing a theory before advancing it.

So he's trying to manipulate the laws of physics as they are currently understood or applied regarding the need for near absolute zero temperatures to facilitate superconduction... ?

That's exciting!

[Blaine]

Some cold, hard facts, there.....

[KirkD]

First author! That is a real accomplishment! You have good reason to be proud. Congratulations.

[Shrapnel]

It is hard not to be proud of your son...My oldest went to school in Civil Engineering, on a basketball scholarship. He played 4 years of college basketball and still graduated with a 3.85 in Civil Engineering. He took a job with the Forest Service in Alaska and was responsible for the roads in the Tongas National Forest in Southeast Alaska.

He told me how he had learned all about the physics and design of structures, roads and related engineering disciplines. In his job for the Forest Service, he would drive down the road and look at the various water passageways, (Culverts) and would note whether or not it was in need of replacement...

Hopefully your son in his career will be better used in Superconductor Tunnels and vortices's, than it seems my son was in Alaska. I went up there and went Grizzly hunting with him because it was way cheaper than with a guide. We both got bears, and I don't even care what the roads looked like, I am still proud of him...

[awp101]

Yes, I know it's bragging but isn't that what a dad is suppose to do?

It ain't braggin' if you can back it up...

[kimwcook]

Steve, you have every right to be proud of your son. Good on him and you.

It's nice to hear when kids are doing great.

Shrapnel, that looks like one of those funny side handle levers.

[Tom Richardson]

Congratulations to your son and to his parents.
Bragging is allowed.

[bdhold]

of course you should be proud and that's something to brag about.

[Ysabel Kid]

[jeepnik]

One of my favorite actors, on a relatively short lived series, Guns of Will Sonnet had a recurring line. "Ain't no brag, just fact". That pretty much sums it up.