Ph.D. Thesis - Physics
Ph.D. Thesis - Physics
Ph.D. Thesis - Physics
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should totally start a band. I also owe much to Paul Antohi for his assistance with setting<br />
up the new cryostat. Kenan Diab, an undergraduate with whom I’ve worked recently, is a<br />
really smart guy, and it was an honor to work with him on something relatively practical,<br />
before he goes on to discover the Theory of Everything. Other colleagues with whom I’ve<br />
shared some good discussions and great times are, in no particular order: Liz George, Ruth<br />
Shewmon, Arghavan Safavi-Naini, Chris Pearson, Dave Schuster, Josh Folk, Terri Yu, and<br />
Peter Herskind. Thanks to all of you!<br />
In addition to the above individuals, there are some friends I’ve had in Boston without<br />
whom it would have been most challenging to hold on to my sanity. I’d like to thank Doug<br />
and Bory Eastman for a lot of great times and some unique experiences. I’d also like to<br />
thank Simon Myrgren, who was a pleasure to room with and to hang out with. It was a<br />
lot of fun to live with and enjoy some scientific, musical, and philosophical discussions with<br />
Andrew and Abigail Cross. I know someday my grandchildren will scarcely believe that I<br />
was at the world premier of “Tonya and Nancy: The Opera.” I’d also like to acknowledge<br />
my final roommate in Boston, Andy Klettke, and thank him for the good times we had.<br />
Finally, I’d like to thank two fellow Ohioans, who followed me out to Boston (cough), and<br />
were a great source of support all the while, Ryan and Stephanie Alvanos. When I think<br />
of all the busking, concerts, hanging out, camping trips, and sundry other activities that<br />
helped me to keep my cool during these six years, I am profoundly grateful. I wish you all<br />
the best until you follow me to Austin!<br />
This brings me to my family. I can’t thank my mother and father, Priscilla and James<br />
Clark, enough for their love and support over all these years. Without them, needless to<br />
say, I would not exist, much less have made it through graduate school. I’d like to thank<br />
Derek Clark for being a great brother, and Sarabeth Wilson for being a good girlfriend to<br />
him and friend to me. I appreciate all that Joanne Clark has done for me, as well. I also<br />
thank Mary and Paul Leidel for being great in-laws.<br />
It’s a bit unbelievable that this is really the end of the long, long period of long, long<br />
distance between me and my wife, Christina. Bumi - thank you so much for your patience,<br />
your love, and your support, from the moment I got into MIT and we had to part ways,<br />
through the moment I sprung that little surprise on you in New York, all the way to<br />
Erterreinpratz, our wedding, Ireland, and our house in Texas. It’s been a great journey<br />
already, even though we’re really still just at the beginning. You may tell the kids I’m on<br />
my way home.<br />
Finally, I’d like to thank my grandparents, Gertrude and Russell Clark, and Joan Day-<br />
ton, for all their support and love over the years. Sadly, one of my grandparents departed<br />
this world just before the completion of this work, but I believe he would have been as<br />
proud of me and as full of encouragement as he was during the rest of my life. This thesis<br />
is dedicated to the memory of Robert Jean Dayton.<br />
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