- #1
susskind_leon
- 178
- 0
I got my degree in physics some months ago and I want to start a PhD asap but I'm still undecided about my specific area.
The situation is rather tricky: I would say that my research interest lies within statistical mechanics or condensed matter theory, because I think it's something profound, useful, yet as theoretical as you like and ultimately, you can use computers to tackle the problems, which I generally enjoy a lot. Yet, I don't want to leave my city (yet), which limits my options.
Here, it's all about particle physics, but I don't want to do particles for sure.
There is one position for me in a group that does cosmology. They do a lot of computing on galaxy observations and also, it seems that cosmology has some overlap with statistical mechanics, right?
Also, there are a lot of people here working in that area which gives it a somewhat vibrant atmosphere.
There is also a group which does quantum optics. They occasionally work on fields like BEC, polaritons, laser physics, ... so in terms of overlap, I would probably be more . The only thing that makes me hesitate to take this position is that the group is really small and isolated and I know from personal experience that work is only half as fun if are alone.
So... what should I do? Is there a chance to make the transition cosmology -> Solid state / stat. phys.?
I'm relatively sure that QO is a better choice in terms of my (current) research interests but the environment is rather uninspiring / lonely and that I would probably stay at home a lot and maybe just come to the department to discuss with my advisors and leave after that, just like their last PhD student did (who has done a really good job there)
The situation is rather tricky: I would say that my research interest lies within statistical mechanics or condensed matter theory, because I think it's something profound, useful, yet as theoretical as you like and ultimately, you can use computers to tackle the problems, which I generally enjoy a lot. Yet, I don't want to leave my city (yet), which limits my options.
Here, it's all about particle physics, but I don't want to do particles for sure.
There is one position for me in a group that does cosmology. They do a lot of computing on galaxy observations and also, it seems that cosmology has some overlap with statistical mechanics, right?
Also, there are a lot of people here working in that area which gives it a somewhat vibrant atmosphere.
There is also a group which does quantum optics. They occasionally work on fields like BEC, polaritons, laser physics, ... so in terms of overlap, I would probably be more . The only thing that makes me hesitate to take this position is that the group is really small and isolated and I know from personal experience that work is only half as fun if are alone.
So... what should I do? Is there a chance to make the transition cosmology -> Solid state / stat. phys.?
I'm relatively sure that QO is a better choice in terms of my (current) research interests but the environment is rather uninspiring / lonely and that I would probably stay at home a lot and maybe just come to the department to discuss with my advisors and leave after that, just like their last PhD student did (who has done a really good job there)