Hien Ha

Degrees

B.S. in electrical and computer engineering -- Univ. of Maryland (1988)

M.S. in electrical and computer engineering -- Univ. of Maryland (1990)

Present research is on the Thunder and Lightning project funded by DARPA. The goal of the project is to build a 100 Gbit/sec optical network. My work involves designing the high-speed microchips for the transmitting and receiving ends of the communication channel. The chips are GaAs HBTs. They operate well into the GigaHertz range and give off enough heat to roast a marshmallow. I could give you more details but then I would have to kill you.

Non Research

Remember those days when you were a kid watching Saturday morning cartoons? You would look forward to the commercials because that meant Schoolhouse Rock! If you never heard of "Interplanet Janet", "Conjuction Junction" or "Rufus Xavier Saspirella", don't bother looking. It's a cultural thing. This page only has the lyrics in text. There used to be another page that had complete sound files that can be downloaded but, alas, that page seemed to have closed down.
On a totally different note: skydiving. I only went once with Chuck but it was a blast! Hurtling towards the desert floor at greater than 100mph is something that has to be experienced at least once. If I can ever find some equipment to convert 8mm tape to mpegs then I'll put the footage of my sloppy landing here. (no, not that sloppy!)
Fencing: I'm the captain of the men's foil squad. We took first place in the Southern California Division in 1994 and 1995. Yea! We took second place in 1996. Boo! Hiss! Here are some pictures taken at a meet in the 1997 season. No actual fencing footage. Just some humorous pictures. It could take a while if you have a slow connection.
Well, we're back on top again! Men's foil took 1st in 1997. I took the silver medal in individual standing and my squad mate Thom Cate took the bronze. I missed the gold medal by five lousy indicator points! Here are some more pictures of us going against UCLA in the fall quarter.
Go here and click on the Really Big Button. You'll be glad you did.

Contact

Hien Ha
Dept of ECE
Box 110
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
(805) 893-4461
email: hienha@umbra.ece.ucsb.edu

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