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My old mentor and friend, Peter Saeta, is writing a Statistical Mechanics textbook (whimsically titled, Statistical and Thermal Physics). I just received a draft copy to review. Peter probably thinks I'm doing him a big favor, but the truth is I am deeply honored that he would seek my input on this.

(You can probably tell that even after several years, I'm still having trouble with the transition from hero-worship to friendship here. Bear with me.)

See, years ago, I wanted to be Peter. Ok, maybe I wanted to dress a little sharper, but other than that, Peter was where it was at. The problem was that I wasn't really cut out for it. Here's the thing about experimental physics -- when you're starting out, you need to learn an awful lot about an awful lot, awful fast. For example, a typical condensed-matter physicist would need proficiency in:

• vacuum systems
• low-temperature physics and cryogens
• system administration (UNIX or NT)
• digital electronics
• analog electronics
• at least one programming language
• lithography and semiconductor processing
• machining (mostly lathe and mill)
• general physics knowledge
• general mathematical knowledge

There are a very small number of people who are A) mathematically inclined and who B) ferociously and fearlessly attack any new learning situation that they're thrown into, no matter what. People who are both A) and B) should be scientists. People who are only A) should be engineers. (And people who are terrified of learning anything new at all should be programmers.) Personally, I can handle one or two new things just fine... but eight or ten? Nope. I wish it were otherwise, but no.

So Peter managed to crank out the rough draft of Statistical and Thermal Physics in about three months. There's your famous physicist's tenacity for you. I don't think Peter knows what writer's block is. Anyway, I'm definitely looking forward to reading it. The funny thing is that Stat Mech was never really my strong suit... I was more of a Quantum Mech and E&M kind of guy. (Strangely, I was never big on Theo Mech, even though it shares a fair amount of math with E&M. Go figure.) Many students have trouble with Stat Mech, because, well, it's kind of weird and abstract... and that's weird and abstract by a physicist's standards, which should tell you something. I wish I had some analogies or some good examples for why this is, but I don't. I bet if push comes to shove, I can steal something from Peter...

Posted by Evan Goer on Sep. 04, 2002 at 9:35 PM