Recent content by Thomas Rigby

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    B What's so great about Noether's theorem?

    I read about Noether's theorem that says how for every symmetry there is a conserved quantity. Seems kind of obvious. Does anyone understand it well enough that they can explain precisely why that notion is profound?
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    Understanding the Basics of VNA Measurements with an SMA Connector

    I don't understand what you mean when you say "currents always have a return path". Suppose I have a two conducting spheres; one charged and one uncharged. If I then connect a single wire between them, a current will flow until the equilibrium is reached. There doesn't appear to be any "return...
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    Understanding the Basics of VNA Measurements with an SMA Connector

    Transmission lines require two conductors. I am just using one conductor. But thanks for participating.
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    Understanding the Basics of VNA Measurements with an SMA Connector

    I don't attach a coax cable to the little wire. I attach a solid 14 AWG wire to it. There is no co-axial wire.
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    Understanding the Basics of VNA Measurements with an SMA Connector

    I connect this to my NanoVNA. The reason I sent this image is to show you that there is no connection between the inner conductor and the outer conductor. My mental picture is this: a signal is transmitted out along the inner conductor, hits whatever is at the other end (in this image, nothing)...
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    Understanding the Basics of VNA Measurements with an SMA Connector

    Thank you, I believe I understand. Since the outer connector is just a reference point, I don't need to connect it to anything, unless I have some reason for preferring a different reference.
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    Understanding the Basics of VNA Measurements with an SMA Connector

    I have a VNA with an SMA connector for measuring reflection. If I connect only the center conductor of the SMA to a piece of metal, I get a spectrum. My question is, what should I be doing with the outer connector? I am trying to learn EE by reading and doing. I don't have a lot of intuition...
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    Network analyzer on a single wire

    Thanks! This is very helpful.
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    Network analyzer on a single wire

    I have a NanoVNA spectrum analyzer. I took a 1 meter 12 AWG solid copper wire and soldered one end of that to the center conductor of the SMA connector and did a sweep from 10 kHz to 1 Ghz looking at reflection. I have attached a photograph of the result. My hope is that someone can tell me...
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    I want to learn about Quantum Computing

    I want to learn about Quantum Computing (QC). I am familiar with Quantum Mechanics. So far I have found two types of literature: (1.) Introductions to QC for the layman, and (2) Literature for people who are already knowledgeable about the field. Can someone recommend a mid-level source along...
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    B Understanding Nuclear Fusion and Particle Interactions

    That was my gut feeling, but I wasn't sure. What, then, is the simplest process I can study involving nucleons? I keep reading about Deuterium, I feel like that might be a prototypical model for what you are describing. In addition, such a reaction seems to require inelasticity, otherwise it is...
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    B Understanding Nuclear Fusion and Particle Interactions

    Yes, this is what I am looking for. Nuclear physics is new to me; what are "D", "T", and "+"? Sorry if my wording is awkward, I am not familiar with the terminology of nuclear physics.
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    B Understanding Nuclear Fusion and Particle Interactions

    I was hoping someone could point me to a source where I could read about the actual QFT theory behind fission or fusion, not indulge in petty discussions about the definition of "rest mass".
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    B Understanding Nuclear Fusion and Particle Interactions

    In more advanced courses, you will learn about something called "annihilation" in which an electron and an "anti-electron" combine to form two photons. I was hoping someone knowledgeable about nuclear physics could point me to an analogous mechanism in nuclear fission or fusion.
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    B Understanding Nuclear Fusion and Particle Interactions

    What is the precise mechanism by which matter is converted to energy?
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