ESP Biography

You probably know that light usually travels in a straight line, unless a magnifying glass (i.e. a convex lens) bends it. But why do physicists claim that our Sun can also act like a lens? In this class, you will be introduced to Einstein's famous general theory of relativity and you will learn the reason for this magic lensing effect!

Even though atoms are too small to be observed by naked eyes, scientists can still “see” the microscopic structure using a variety of techniques. In this class, I will introduce many cutting-edge technologies such as scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), and resonant X-ray scattering (RXS), which are employed to investigate many fascinating properties of matter.

As we cool down certain materials to extremely low temperature, its electric resistivity can abruptly drop to zero, a phenomenon called superconductivity. It’s no small feat! For example, zero resistance means an electric current can flow in a superconducting wire for many many years. In this class, you’ll be introduced to more fascinating properties of superconductors, and we’ll try to answer the question: what causes superconductivity?

There’s an intricate link between electricity, magnetism and Einstein’s special theory of relativity. In fact, Einstein’s original paper on special relativity is titled “On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies”. In this class, I’ll show you an ingenious way to “derive” special relativity from an extremely simple observation of moving charges in a wire. Behold the magic!

What is quantum mechanics? What is the meaning of “quantum”? What is a wavefunction? We’ll demystify these jargons by looking at two famous experiments: one on the photoelectric effect and the other on the double slits interference. The experiments are very simple but they convey deep messages about the weird worlds of quantum mechanics.

Quantum teleportation sounds like a fancy technique, but do you know what is exactly being teleported? And how do we achieve it? Come to this class to learn more about the mechanism for quantum teleportation, which turns out to be extremely simple and elegant.

You probably know that light usually travels in a straight line, unless a magnifying glass (i.e. a convex lens) bends it. But why do physicists claim that our Sun can also act like a lens? In this class, you will be introduced to Einstein's famous general theory of relativity and you will learn the reason for this magic lensing effect!

You probably know that light usually travels in a straight line, unless a magnifying glass (i.e. a convex lens) bends it. But why do physicists claim that our Sun can also act like a lens? In this class, you will be introduced to Einstein's famous general theory of relativity and you will learn the reason for this magic lensing effect!

The Greek mathematicians once asked whether or not we can perform the following using only $$\textbf{compass}$$ and $$\textbf{straightedge}$$: 1) Doubling of the cube (i.e. construct a cube whose volume is double that of a given one) 2) Angle trisection (i.e. trisect an arbitrary given angle) 3) Squaring a circle (i.e. construct a square whose area equals that of a given circle) In fact, we can't. I will tell you why we can't do so, and in general, what are the constructible numbers, i.e. the lengths that can be constructed using only a compass and a straightedge.

You probably have heard the anecdote that Gauss at the age of ten calculated $$1+2+3+\dots+100=5050$$ by applying the formula $$1+2+3+\dots+n = n(n+1)/2$$. What about other series, such as $$1^2 + 2^2 +\dots+ n^2$$? Or even infinite series such as $$1+2+3+\dots$$(until infinity)? In this class, you will get to see some interesting techniques in quickly evaluating these summation series, and be ready to embrace some astounding result, for example, $$1+2+3+\dots$$(until infinity) $$= -1/12$$ (the negative sign is not a typo).

Have you heard of quantum computers? Have you wondered how they work? In this class, you will be introduced to the theory of quantum information and its application to quantum computation! In case you’re wondering why quantum computers are so cool, think about this: if you have a set of $$N$$ numbers, a quantum computer can tell whether a given number $$x$$ is in the set or not without looking at all $$N$$ numbers, i.e. the complexity is less than $$O(N)$$! Come to the class if you want to know the magic behind the scene!

If you stay in the Bay area while your friend is at the top of Mount Everest, your friend's watch is going to run faster than yours! This is not due to manufacturing defect, nor due to special relativity (you and your friend are not moving relative to each other). The truth is the Earth's gravity "slows down your watch". If you are curious to find out why, come to this class! Don't be daunted by the word "General Relativity": no equation is involved to convince you of this weird fact!

Have you heard of quantum computers? Have you wondered how they work? In this class, you will be introduced to the theory of quantum information and its application to quantum computation (and as a side benefit, you will get to know some really cool physics: Quantum Mechanics)! I will first sketch some basics of quantum mechanics relevant to quantum information, including Stern-Gerlach experiment, density matrix $$\varrho$$ for one and more particles, pure/mixed state, quantum measurement, entanglement $$\left|00\right> + \left|11\right>$$ and Bell inequality. Then I will move on to several quantum algorithms that prove the superiority of quantum computer over classical computers. They include Deutsch–Jozsa algorithm, and Grover's search algorithm. Other topics such as quantum cloning may be included if time permits. Last but now least, the good news is that you don't have to know anything about quantum mechanics to appreciate the beauty of a quantum computer. I hope to see you in class!

Have you seen a photo taken by a Lytro camera? Have you wondered why an image can be refocused after it is taken? In this class, you will learn the trick behind the miracle of digital refocusing!