Q: What object did you choose to represent your work in the shoot and why?
A: I brought a smoke ring generator, which helps one visualize the type of microscopic objects that I study in extremely cold matter. The vortex rings you see here are miniature traveling tornadoes with joined ends. We study similar vortex rings in the laboratory that are much less than the width of a human hair and have a host of interesting properties.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about your space?
A: I’m distracted at the moment with the logistics of moving our home-built, million-dollar atomic refrigerator from Merrill to the new building without taking it apart or breaking it. When that’s all done, I expect to be pleasantly surprised by the modern infrastructure, which will make it much easier to focus on experimental progress.
Q: How will the building impact your work?
A: I hope that the building will initially spark some creative growth in both teaching and research. I then hope that it "disappears," in the sense that it permits us to teach, learn and discover without introducing significant new constraints and distractions.