On the Labels of Things
When I was 8 years old, I read about lasers in my wonderful illustrated encyclopaedia. The next day I went to my second grade teacher.
“I know what a LASER is!” I said, brimming with enthusiasm.
“Tell me,” he said.
“A Laser is Light Amplified by Stimulated Emission of Radiation!” I said, and smiled.
I am sure he had an amused look when he asked me,
“And what does that mean?”
“Well,” I said slowly, as I gestured with my little hands, “You have Light, and it is Amplified or made stronger, by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.”
Mr. Sandin realized I had no idea what I was talking about, but I think he was kind enough to let me have my bubble…
During the last 6.5 years (and counting!) of my education in Physics, I have learned only one thing perfectly well: I know nothing.
For almost everything I “knew” about the natural world, I was only looking at fuzzy picture, a disjointed mosaic. But since each picture was neatly framed, and clearly labeled, I believed I knew what it was.
Going from knowing what L.a.s.e.r. meant at 8 years old, to having a freshman physics knowledge of lasers, is quite a difference. But that picture is still flat, still bounded and neatly framed.
Now here I am, a 25 year old physics PhD, reading through textbooks in advanced Quantum Mechanics, trying to get my brain around all the involved calculations at the real core of why lasers exist.
And its clear to me that I will never peel back the final layer, on any topic.
Because it’s not a picture I am looking at, but a window.
With no horizon, and no boundaries.
And that fills me with wonder.
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