We started work this summer on Tuesday, May 27, 2003 and will continue until August 1, 2003. We have quite a bit of work ahead of us. How did we do? Look at the summaries provided below.

Our goals:

Acquire and make meaningul interpretations of RbBr data [Originally started 2001]
Make sense of Li⁶I data previously acquired [Originaly started 2000]
Complete new data analysis program [In the works since 2001]

Here we have our log page. We will strive to update it weekly!

For 2003, the Molbeamers consist of:

Mike Bongard	Will Kleiber	John Nichol
bongard@stolaf.edu	kleiber@stolaf.edu	nicholj@stolaf.edu
Class of 2004 - Physics, Math, and Computer Science major	Class of 2006 - Physics and Math major,  Asian Studies concentration	Class of 2006 - Physics and Math major

Where would we be without some pictures of our hard work? Check them out if you've got some time on your hands.

Summaries

Mike:

    Another summer come and gone. Once again, I'm struck by how fast these ten weeks fly by! After this third year of work on the Molbeam team, I think I finally understand just what we're doing.  (Maybe it's just that 20/20 hindsight.) Looking back over the years, I am pleased at the progress I've made -- Pumps, to safely operate the Beam (2001) ; WinBeam, to control it and acquire data (2002); and now Linefit, to make sense of that data.  I've learned a lot about physics, as well as about computer programming and how research actually goes on. To those considering research: Do it. It'll be one of the best decisions you'll ever make.
    Being the 'veteran' member on the team was odd, to say the least. I liked working with John and Will, who will be continuing the Molbeam tradition after me. While they seemed to be struggling, or perhaps out of place those first few days, they didn't sink -- they swam Olympic records. By the end of the summer, they were teaching me things I didn't know! Both of them got a good grasp of C++, the fitting process, Beam operation --  it was a very productive summer!
    My work on Linefit has been successful, at least in my book. While it does not perform fitting in its current form, the framework for the fitting process has been completed, as well as many of the more drudgework-like GUI development tasks, etc. I never expected so many support routines needed to be written to get as far as I did! Fortunately, I have the opportunity to continue to develop Linefit throughout the academic year, as part of my Computer Science major through the CIS. Fitting is just on the horizon!
    Finally, I need to thank Dr. Cederberg for all of his help these past three years. It's been a privelege to work under him. The APS was quite right when they gave him their award, and I'm glad to have contributed to it in some small way.
    I suppose the test of time will tell if my tools remain useful to future Molbeamers. I certainly hope they do. Good luck to them -- and happy Beaming!

John:

    I would like to thank Mike (computer genius), Will (genfitter, first class), and especially Dr. Cederberg for a summer of struggles, excitement, and above all, learning.  I cannot imagine a more rewarding way to spend one's summer vacation.  This summer was certainly productive; we analyzed all of the old and some of the new 6LiI data, we continued to tame RbBr, and we began important software development.  In short, we leave just as much unfinished business as we found waiting for us at the beginning of  this year.
    Precisely how the molbeam works still evades me, but seeing how just a few equations can describe so accurately how the molbeam  works continues to amaze me.   I look forward to the pleasure of finding more things out about the molbeam.
    Thanks again and happy beaming!

Will:

    It's seemed a short and rather hectic summer.  Starting off learning C++ for weeks, followed up by diving head first into 6LiI data analysis, and just at the end beginning the refits of RbCl.  All the while learning the ins and outs of the beam, and peering up at the looming, antaen concepts of quantum mechanics.  I managed to write a four isotope fit program which will most likely become obselete soon with Mike's new invention.  Ten weeks later I'm speechless at how much I've managed to learn, which I could never have done alone.  My thanks extends to everybody on the project: Mike, John, and particularily Dr. Cederberg by whom everybody should have the privelage of being taught.  We've taken another step towards the wild world of RbBr, and will definitely have a good handle on it in coming years.  Once again, thanks to all of my teammates for all of the assistance and patience that has helped me become familiar with this interesting subject.  Beam me up, Dr. Cederberg!