More Music

After a successful time in the lab, we experienced what everyone in the UHV community goes through occasionally: a downtime. Right before the last series of experiments that ought to complete the data for the upcoming publication, a tiny cable came loose in the ultra-high vacuum (UHV) chamber. For the non-scientists among the readers of this blog, I shall explain UHV quickly. I study surfaces, with respect to their chemical performances (i.e., reactivities). This kind of experiments requires the use of the so-called ultra-high vacuum or UHV, which means a pressure level at the equivalent of outer space. Essentially the chamber is empty, and as a consequence, the gas phase contained in it is negligible. Hence, the surface in question will adsorb contaminations only very slowly. As you can imagine, obtaining such an environment is technically demanding. Other than good pumping, a procedure called bake-out is required, in order to remove moisture from the air that gt into the chamber, when it was opened the last time. - Therefore the loose wire is quite annoying, because it means a downtime from the experiments for several days, until the repairment is carried out and the vacuum is fully restored. Unfortunately the screw that was supposed to hold and connect the wire got stuck in its hole, and I was unable to move it at all. Eventually I even broke its head off, which means the mechanical workshop will have to remove the remainder and make a new screw for me. Estimated downtime: one week.
Back home in Berlin, this would have affected my mood quite a bit. But since I do not have to pass an exam at the end anymore, I see it a lot more relaxed. In fact, I decided to use the free time on Saturday to finally do some sightseeing, which I have been neglecting in the past. From one of the earliest posts in this blog, you might remember that you can see the Sears Tower (the tallest building in North America) quite well from the L station close to my work. It has been luring me into a visit ever since my arrival - but since I also needed to do some shopping, I decided to give the John Hancock Center a visit.
Named after a highly successful businessman, it is the fourth-tallest building in Chicago, after the Sears Tower, the Trump International Hotel & Tower (topped out in 2008 and currently being finalized), and the Aon Center (in descending order). For the sake of completeness, it be mentioned that the Chicago Spire is planned to be the new second-tallest building in town ina few years from now, but the current financial crisis has stalled further work for now, and it might even kill the project altogether.
Anyways, I did pay "Big John" a visit, and while making a connection from the blue to the red line at Jackson on the way there, I could enjoy some more music. Check it out - and make sure you don't miss the crazy guy in the audience!