Would a Space Elevator make a suitable Collider?

The Space Elevator: 'Thought Experiment', or Key to the Universe? (Part 1)

Sir Arthur C. Clarke took note in 1981 that then current materials could construct a stable tower 40 kilometers high. Just long enough for the International Linear Collider. So why not test the concept with the construction of the ILC? There must be some benefit to building in the air rather than burrowing in the ground.

And there would have to be some energy savings from dropping your particles over 39 kilometers as opposed to maintaining a 'straight' path conforming to the earth's curvature or tangential to it.

Or split the difference with a 18 - 20 kilometer tower combined with a tunnel of similar length that uses an angled configuration proposed in the literature.

The customer is always right

I like to sum up years of experience in a few sentences. Today I brought out, "Our customers are always right. It's our job to find out what it is they're right about". Well let's face it. Sometimes what our customers say needs some interpretation and understanding. What they may consider a problem may only be a symptom.

Lake Erie Quatenary Geology

Collisions Under Lake Erie

Gelogical information will be critical to bringing the International Linear Collider to Northern Ohio. By way of introduction, here is the The Quatenary Survey of the area surrounding Lake Erie, brought to you by the Department of the Interior, 1991.

Reduced-size image of the entire map sheet, 500x320 pixels, 72k bytes.

PDF Screen-optimized rendition of the entire map sheet, 4.9 MB.

Job Seeker Groups and I (and Me?)

Here I am unemployed and trying to reinvogorate my job search. Last week I attended two different Job Seeker groups.

I had difficulties witht the first one right off the top. The schedule I found on the internet was obsolete (thank you John Carroll University). I did run into one of the founders and he promised me a quick addition to the roster. Nothing happened. This is a very large group, meets every other week, and focusses on finding speakers and managing what is purported to be a very worthy website on Yahoo! Groups.

I say purported to be, because the don't want me to have access. You see I had the audacity to say that they have a rather cumbersome registration process. You must attend at least one meeting. You must wait for four or five emails to be delivered to you from the one person who has charge of the website. Because I was critical of their strictly volunteer efforts and stood up for my perception of things, I've been blacklisted. Apparently my behavior was unchristian-like too boot. Did I neglect to mention they meet in a church which apparently had a large role in their formation and support?

Well, yes. I am not a Christian. And I have some problems which would not be corrected by the simple act of conversion. Still, I do know somebody is supposed to turn the other cheek. I am sorry I didn't when I read their first reply. It was quite testy. We've gone back and forth a couple times by email. At this point I am waiting to see if we can clear the air in a personal meeting. Let us say they are not in a hurry to repair things.

I also want to point out we all can learn from James 1:19-20.

On the other hand I attended another Job Seeker group closer to my home. It meets weekly and is composed of a couple dozen folks who try to focus on one or two persons dilemnas each week by pre-arrangement, only after making certain everyone gets an opportunity to speak to their own situation and anything helpful they found in the past week. What more can you ask for?

We now have a new website in Yahoo! Groups as well. A consequence of their previous interest in obtaining one and my suggestion that Yahoo! provides a versatile and adequate one for free. Thank you for listening guys.

And if you're looking for a Job Seekers organization, which one would you choose? If you need to know which one I recommend, let me know. I will not speak further about the one I can't recommend at this point in time.

Collisions Under Lake Erie

Collisions Under Lake Erie

No time to say much today. Keep in mind, "The more tightly one attempts to grasp the fish, the more easily it escapes the grasp".

GLC Project Report Roadmap (April 2003)

The Japanese are about two years ahead in determining sites and construction for the Global Linear Collider. Fermi Lab has only begun researching its sites in Northern Illinois. You would think a multi-billion dollar construction project expected to take three years would generate more interest. The link in the title will take you to the Japanese study (English language version).

The table below is taken from the linked PDF.

Table 1.5: Spin-off of technologies ; invented, pioneered or highly motivated by high energy physics experiments [18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23].

Accelerator Application

synchrotron light super-fine processing of semi-conductor, non-destructive inspection,
material structure analysis, ultra-micro analysis
free-electron X-ray laser nuclear fusion, surface analysis, super-fine processing, living-cell holography
electron beam material curing and cross-linking, disinfection, sterilization, smoke purification, nuclear-waste processing
neutron beam material structure analysis, radio-activation analysis
proton beam cancer treatment, nuclear-waste processing
heavy-ion beam cancer treatment, inertial fusion reactor
muon beam muon-catalyzed nuclear fusion
radio-isotope production positron CT, medical tracer, non-destructive inspection, de-germination

Accelerator Technology
Subject Related Technologies Applications

magnets ultra-high-field superconducting magnet NMR
high-permeability ferrite power transformer
radio-frequency superconducting cavity
high-power high-frequency klystron
ultra-precision machining
copper-plating
ultra-high vacuum surface coating CRT / TV
radiation environment robot
radiation-resistant material space station
facility precision survey and alignment civil engineering

Detector Technology
Subject Related Technologies Applications

electronics fast / highly-integrated
radiation resistance / low-power space station
computing and fast / parallel / large data GRID
data handling image reconstruction and processing
Monte Carlo / statistical analysis financial engineering
Networking WWW
optical device high gain / high sensitivity / low noise noctovision
large area / dense array / imaging positron CT
radiation detector crystals positron CT
chambers security X-ray scanners
superconducting magnet large aperture / thin material NMR / MRI

Physics Study
Subject Related Technologies Applications

Lattice-QCD Super/parallel computing Earth simulation

Collisions Under Lake Erie

Collisions Under Lake Erie

The great trouble with religion - any religion - is that a religionist, having accepted certain propositions by faith, cannot thereafter judge those propositions by evidence. One may bask at the warm fire of faith or choose to live in the bleak uncertainty of reason -- but one cannot have both. -- Hartley M. Baldwin (from the novel "Friday" by Robert Heinlein).

Artificial Photosynthesis

Collisions Under Lake Erie

Witten to the editor of Analog:

Dear Dr. Schmidt,

Dr. Gillett provided fascinating insights with his article “Artificial Photosynthesis” (April, 2005). Why did he leave off with speculation about methanol production? I think he could have expanded on the concept by speculating on the ability to produce sugars and artificial sweeteners. Aspartame (formed from two amino acids) contains methanol in part. Meanwhile, the commercial viability might be proven on a smaller scale by selling syntheries (the terms refineries and distilleries don’t seem appropriate) to large and small manufacturers, I could see bakeries and confectionary shops abandoning their suppliers, setting about a downturn in natural sugar production and the conversion of sugar plantations to more nutritious food production.

The synthesis of aspartame produces a water molecule, at least in theory. Sucralose contains chlorine. Is there the possibility of ramping up desalination plants a whole level of magnitude? Also, if starches can be synthesized there is a possibility of producing cotton (hint to Egypt and India).

I can quite imagine all the equatorial countries devoting funds and personnel to this area of study. As for the science fiction possibilities, consider a setting such as Bahrain a hundred years from now, as totally automated processes run wild, producing a mountain of sugar and millions of baked goods. Cleveland, Ohio would lose its title, as this small country becomes the new “Rock (Candy) and Roll Capital”.

Thank you for keeping me young by giving me these wonderments “published monthly except for combined January/February and July/August double issues…” for my speculation.

Sincerely,



Harlan R. Cohen, MBA, CPIM

Beachwood, OH

Two Wrongs could make things right

Collisions Under Lake Erie

Wal-Mart has put the kebosh on negotiations for a store in the proposed "Steelyard Commons". We don't know how much blame we need to assess Councilman Cimperman for trying to legislate the proportion of grocery sales to overall sales the store should produce. But if Wal-Mart's concern was lack of traffic at a location in the flats there may be a solution.

Cuyahoga County's Juvenile Court judges may sue the county to remain downtown rather than move to what I suspect is a much more inconvenient location at E. 93rd and Quincy.

The solution is to put these two problems together. The county needs land and First Interstate has land. The county can purchase enough land at the proposed shopping center to build its juvenile courthouse and detention center. This should insure a constant stream of parents, guardians, lawyers, judges, referees, clerks, secretaries and administrators who can shop at Wal-Mart and all the other proposed retailers.

If Wal-Mart wants to be involved in the community it could help organize a work-release program for the detention center. Perhaps leaven its management with licensed social workers. And if Wal-Mart still doesn't want to participate there are other retailers to work this out singly or in combination. Kmart/Sears, a Target/Tops combination, or Meijers come to mind.

This is not over yet. And Steelyard Commons may only be the first step. A succesful development there will bring more attention back to Tower City. Perhaps Forest City will see its way to finding a more upscale anchor. A Macy's or a Bloomingdale's could make good sense in the future.

It will take blood, sweat, and tears to get it done. Good luck and good wishes to First Interstate.

Watch This Blog (link)

If you have an interest in alternative energy, Gary Voelker is your man and the link will take you to his blog.

Showing My Age

What is the big deal in finding people to do programming in Java? Twenty-five years ago GE Lighting staffed their IS group by hiring bright persons who may have taken a college course or two in programming and sent them out for eight days to learn COBOL. I programmed a major part of an online order entry system after a year and a half of experience. Where is the vaunted ability of contemporary software development products to produce dramatic productivity increases when the learning curve is so steep?

I have tried to find employment with several of the companies in your series. I am very willing to negotiate salary. I answer the ads in your paper or elsewhere and I never hear back unless it is to hear I lack one quality or another over my competition. So obviously they are finding talented people. If they talent pool is not up to their expectations, let them organize the training that will make things happen.

What's the name of that professor at CSU who funnels students into Brandmuscle? Were any of those students over 40? There is an implicit age bias at work in concentrating on recent graduates, even if they live, breathe, and sleep their work.

I am thinking of four associates who showed pretty equal abilities. One still maintains large mainframes, one successfully transitioned to web development, another is now an Oracle DBA and one now drives a truck for a living. Personally, I've never interviewed superlatively and I am still unemployed.

There is still a lot of chance and circumstance for both the employer and applicant. Both have to be willing to take a chance under sometimes desperate circumstances in order to make a match.

"Ohio's Economic Equation"

This was an unpublished letter to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Or if they did publish it, I certainly missed it.

It is curious that Les Vinney and Dorothy Baunach took this week to tout the achievements of NorTech (“Ohio’s economic equation”, PD 2/22/2005) while ignoring the injuries to be suffered at Glenn Research Center in the next federal budget. What does Julian Earls, Glenn’s Director and Northeast Ohio Technology Coalition member, have to say about the role NorTech will play in sustaining the research center’s programs and pre-eminence?

“Ohio ranks 22nd overall in federal R&D funding, receiving only $164 on a per capita basis versus the national average of $269. At only 61% of the national average, we have lots of room for improvement. Increasingly, opportunities for new federal funding require cooperation among multiple organizations which NorTech, as an independent and trusted third party, can help broker or facilitate. NorTech engages outside experts as needed, and works closely with the region’s universities, councils, and corporations to determine those areas and activities where that will bring more federal dollars into the region. (http://www.nortech.org/#agenda_nort)”. This quote comes from the NorTech website. But exactly what they expect to do is absent.

NorTech could be organizing a consortium to bring the construction of the International Linear Collider to Northern Ohio rather than Northern Illinois. It may not be too late. I am writing about what will be the world’s largest machine. A multi-billion dollar package of electronics, metals, ceramics, and polymers placed in a tunnel 39 kilometers long. Local manufacturers could be supplying a number of components, materials, and infrastructure. But will they? Not if business leadership ignores a potential goldmine. Or should I say salt mine? Because one place to consider placing this construction is in the geologically stable salt bed under Lake Erie.

Scientists and engineers could be working here, rather than in Chicago, engaged in research about the nature of the universe. That is an endeavor as sublime as a Cleveland Orchestra performance and more demanding than Cleveland Browns football. More office space downtown could be inhabited instead of vacant, although I’m hardly aware how many researchers and administrative staff a supercollider requires. The power requirements might expand and rehabilitate the Municipal Power Plant. Steel mills may reawaken or be kept busy for several years.

It is too much to dream for and apparently NorTech leadership does not dare to dream.

Jewish Buddhism

I received this recently in an email and if someone knows the source I would gladly give it the correct attribution.

THE PRINCIPLES OF JEWISH BUDDHISM

1. Let your mind be as a floating cloud. Let your stillness be as the wooded glen. And sit up straight. You'll never meet the Buddha with such round shoulders.

2. There is no escaping karma. In a previous life, you never called, you never wrote, you never visited. And whose fault was that?

3. Wherever you go, there you are. Your luggage is another story.

4. To practice Zen and the art of Jewish motorcycle maintenance, do the
following: get rid of the motorcycle. What were you thinking?

5. If there is no self, whose arthritis is this?

6. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. Forget to do this and attaining Enlightenment will be the least of your problems.

7. The Tao has no expectations. The Tao demands nothing of others. The Tao does not speak. The Tao does not blame. The Tao does not take sides. The Tao is not Jewish.

8. Drink tea and nourish life. With the first sip, joy. With the second, satisfaction. With the third, Danish.

9. The Buddha taught that one should practice loving kindness to all sentient beings. Still, would it kill you to find a nice sentient being who happens to be Jewish?

10. Be patient and achieve all things. Be impatient and achieve all things faster.

11. Be here now. Be someplace else later. Is that so complicated?

12. Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkes! [i.e., "a hill of beans" or "nothing" -- for Yiddish-deprived people].