Author Archives: Rui Chen

Use conda to install. When creating the virtual environment, make sure to designate the python version to 3.11 or 3.12. GDSfactory use a version of numpy below numpy 2.x.x version, which is incompatible with python 3.13.

Install Windows subsystem of Linux by opening the system prompt in administrative mode and type: wsl –install Follow instructions here to install miniconda: https://dev.to/sfpear/miniconda-in-wsl-3642 Create the folder for meep files: cd ~makedir meepcd meep Create environment for meep and install jupyter notebook for visualization: conda create -n meep -c conda-forge pymeep pymeep-extraspip install jupyter ActivateContinue reading “Use Meep in Windows subsystem of Linux”

An essential part of life is “rest,” which should function as a way to refresh ourselves for better productivity. However, we all occasionally feel more tired after resting, which can be quite confusing. What is Rest? The reason is simple: anything outside our primary work is subconsciously considered “rest,” but this is not always true.Continue reading “Reflection on the concept of rest”

We talk everyday, to family, to friends, to collegues and maybe even to our enemies. The most interesting I found though, is to talk to myself. It is until very recently, I started to realize how weakly we have control over ourselves. People talk about self-discipline all the time, but what they are talking aboutContinue reading “Talk to one’s self”

People always think science as cool stuff while engineerings as old fashioned things. In some ways that is true. But thinking about their true meaning, one should repect them both. They all start from the observation of nature, abstract to the language of Math and then be understood and used by us. In fact, byContinue reading “Science and engineering”

We all once lost our purpose. You can only be defined by yourself, because whatever you are doing now will affect your own future. The world however, is not likely to be influences. You could define yourself as a water drop, a bottle of water, or a lake, but to the sea, there is noContinue reading “Define yourself”

It has been long ignored in Chinese education that the capability to ask questions is indeed more important than to memorize equations or essays. Thus many people can’t ask questions or especially intelligent ones. It is, however, more and more important to realize the significance of such seemingly useless and thus highly overlooked mental activity.Continue reading “What why and how”

Ambition could be a bad thing, but also a good thing. It is the ultimate goal that is pursued defines it. Are you ambitious only for yourself, or also for the good of others? Will you feel guilty when you hurt others, which might be inevitable during your conquer? Can you be merciful even ifContinue reading “Ambition”

Modern numerical techniques, typicalized by finite difference methods and neural networks, only require the equations of motion and initial conditions to iteratively solve most of the physical problems. No analytical analysis is required in this whole process. These numerical methods discretalize the whole space and determine each grid value iteratively using simple mathematical operations suchContinue reading “Is analytical analysis dead?”

One doesn’t have infinite amount of energy. Before you fight for anything, think about whether it worth the time and effort.