My PhD, an introduction

My PhD

So, lots of people know I'm about to embark on a PhD*. If they know that they also know I'm doing it in Physics, my thing, and they might know I'm doing a computational/theoretical project. I don't always say the last one, as saying “I'm doing a PhD in theoretical/computational Physics” is enough to get anyone, even physicists, looking at you in a really strange way. It's a “so are you about to disintegrate me with your brain?” sort of look. Uncomfortable for everyone there, really best to be avoided if at all possible.

I thought I would explain what I was doing and why it's important. Not straight from nothing - I actually wrote a rather long essay on the subject a few months ago titled “Something meaningful only to those in the field” but could have also been titled “Why my PhD is really important.” For a few blog entries, I will attempt to translate it from the arcane runes of physics into something intelligible. Or I'll get bored and forget, I won't put money on which it'll end up being.

Initially I'll put my PhD in some context, introducing why Fusion is important and then what it is.  I'll then explain my variety of Fusion and the subject I'm involved in, then what my project is and why it's important.

I will also need to reference this all, but that's for later.

*26 seems a bit late for that sort of thing. I was distracted. Yes, for 6 years. Well for my whole life prior to about a year and half ago actually, but I've got my focus on now. Mostly ;)