The second exam

...And yesterday we were asked to write about a detector which was critical in the measurement of a physical quantity, explain the physical processes at the basis of the detection process, the mechanical construction, the calibration procedures, the use of the detector for the data analysis, and the measurement of the physical quantity.

I talked about the CDF calorimeter and the measurement of the top quark mass.

I think I did well, although the three hours we were given were barely enough to write a first pass of what I wanted to say, and I did not have the time to make things look pretty nor give more detail than that I had given at the first pass.

All in all, I think I will not be among the first 16 after the written part of the exam. They give 60 points per each written test, then 50 points for the curriculum and the publications, and 80 points for the oral examination. However, they will pass people to the oral part only on the basis of how many positions they wish to fill. It seems they will select about 20-25 candidates for the 16 positions, which makes it tough to be among the ones who will pass the written part. If I were to evaluate my two tests, I would give myself 39 in the first one and 48 in the second, so not much more than the threshold of 84 they set to declare it sufficient.

I will have the results on the 22nd.... As I said, I do not want to be among the winners, but I would not mind being qualified for the oral part.

Comments

[Helge]

Hey T. Ever thought about what would happen if one of the examiner reads your blog? With all the: I don't mant to win, but I wouldn't mind being good. in it.

[Tommaso Dorigo]

Well, Helge, total disclosure is the aim of a blog.
Anyway I know the three examiners pretty well, and they would not be surprised to read what I wrote.
Moreover, being honest always pays off IMO.

Cheers,
T.

[T.Riestino]

"Moreover, being honest always pays off IMO"

Yes, that is how Signor Berlusconi became so rich.

[Tommaso]

... Of course I was not talking about money Triestino! :)

[m.visaya]

tomorrow is day day 7 already. the protected space requirement for the higgs-boson search has been completed. probity and confiscation of property are two sides of the same coin. my bit finder would have served its purpose on the overall safety of your endeavors. best wishes. (ces-195)