The Nobel Moment: Eric Cornell

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="content: http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/ dc: http://purl.org/dc/terms/ foaf: http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/ og: http://ogp.me/ns# rdfs: http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema# schema: http://schema.org/ sioc: http://rdfs.org/sioc/ns# sioct: http://rdfs.org/sioc/types# skos: http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core# xsd: http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema# "> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/nobel-moment-eric-cornell","20220112183910","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1642012750"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta charset="utf-8"/> <noscript><style>form.antibot * :not(.antibot-message) { display: none !important; }</style> </noscript><script>(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"]=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,"script","https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js","ga");ga("create", "UA-66610693-3", {"cookieDomain":"auto"});ga("require", "linkid", "linkid.js");ga("set", "anonymizeIp", true);ga("set", "dimension2", "The Nobel Moment: Eric Cornell");ga("set", "dimension3", "1108711");ga("set", "dimension7", "Basic page");ga("send", "pageview");ga('create', 'UA-33523145-1', 'auto', 'NISTGSA'); ga('NISTGSA.send', 'pageview');</script> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/nobel-moment-eric-cornell"/> <link rel="shortlink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/node/1108711"/> <meta name="description" content="The creation of the first BEC ended up requiring a three-step cooling process."/> <meta name="dcterms.title" content="The Nobel Moment: Eric Cornell"/> <meta name="dcterms.creator" content="paul.hernandez@nist.gov"/> <meta name="dcterms.description" content="The creation of the first BEC ended up requiring a three-step cooling process."/> <meta name="dcterms.date" content="2016-09-28T19:29-04:00"/> <meta name="dcterms.type" content="text"/> <meta name="dcterms.format" content="text/html"/> <meta name="dcterms.identifier" content="https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/nobel-moment-eric-cornell"/> <meta name="dcterms.modified" content="2021-08-31T11:54-04:00"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="NIST"/> <meta property="og:type" content="Article"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/nobel-moment-eric-cornell"/> <meta property="og:title" content="The Nobel Moment: Eric Cornell"/> <meta property="og:description" content="The creation of the first BEC ended up requiring a three-step cooling process."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910im_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/images/2019/04/02/quantum_physics_bose_einstein_condensate.jpg"/> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2021-08-31T11:54:02-04:00"/> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="QMu0ODkER3rN5hLcMLqNVf7e3bkjYsNLTuhqfH48jCA"/> <meta name="Generator" content="Drupal 9 (https://www.drupal.org)"/> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width"/> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true"/> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"/> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/web/20220112183910im_/https://www.nist.gov/themes/custom/nist_www/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon"/> <title>The Nobel Moment: Eric Cornell | NIST</title> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20220112183910cs_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_62iqXH02Ql_5_yAl3nvCS-USNC9UMbDzox-o5hwGa30.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" media="screen" href="/web/20220112183910cs_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_I_3xN7ZfxIAoRmqVoBY5G_2Zy7GBZOE0Em4smmXGmZQ.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" media="print" href="/web/20220112183910cs_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_zbjDhj-AmeVwgu9y0DlPwEfp7l-a5BpoK3MpoGmRB6o.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20220112183910cs_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_PV0KmreUx3hVeYI6yGypf71UDz9BSQl1Z5DjiESDh-Y.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" media="screen" href="/web/20220112183910cs_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_dPzPn8vpSRC0SuRdT2lDz3BiWlRMgIk4IRHUySwBNoQ.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20220112183910cs_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_7icWnorLNLmQi3vruPHGiCSTmfZ1FhsOmI6tqLWJaM8.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" media="screen" href="/web/20220112183910cs_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_NI73gnw5CZt6JHuihVvo_GGoeDWT1lNupYUeUQqnL6A.css"/> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910js_/https://script.crazyegg.com/pages/scripts/0039/8570.js" async></script> <script src="/web/20220112183910js_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_-dbYZ4JxrJ1JstYSHl6hMbgz-yFcPPqDY0VSXVJZCIo.js"></script> </head> <body class="node-1108711"> <a href="#main-content" class="visually-hidden focusable"> Skip to main content </a> <div class="dialog-off-canvas-main-canvas" data-off-canvas-main-canvas>  <section class="usa-banner" aria-label="Official government website"> <div class="usa-accordion"> <header class="usa-banner__header"> <div class="usa-banner__inner"> <div class="grid-col-auto"> <img class="usa-banner__header-flag" src="/web/20220112183910im_/https://www.nist.gov/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/us_flag_small.png" alt="U.S. flag"> </div> <div class="grid-col-fill tablet:grid-col-auto"> <p class="usa-banner__header-text">An official website of the United States government</p> <p class="usa-banner__header-action" aria-hidden="true">Here’s how you know</p> </div> <button class="usa-accordion__button usa-banner__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="gov-banner-default"> <span class="usa-banner__button-text">Here’s how you know</span> </button> </div> </header> <div class="usa-banner__content usa-accordion__content" id="gov-banner-default"> <div class="grid-row grid-gap-lg"> <div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6"> <img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="/web/20220112183910im_/https://www.nist.gov/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/icon-dot-gov.svg" role="img" alt="" aria-hidden="true"> <div class="usa-media-block__body"> <p> <strong>Official websites use .gov</strong> <br/> A <strong>.gov</strong> website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. </p> </div> </div> <div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6"> <img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="/web/20220112183910im_/https://www.nist.gov/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/icon-https.svg" role="img" alt="" aria-hidden="true"> <div class="usa-media-block__body"> <p> <strong>Secure .gov websites use HTTPS</strong> <br/> A <strong>lock</strong> ( <span class="icon-lock"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="52" height="64" viewbox="0 0 52 64" class="usa-banner__lock-image" role="img" aria-labelledby="banner-lock-title banner-lock-description" focusable="false"> <title id="banner-lock-title">Lock</title> <desc id="banner-lock-description">A locked padlock</desc><path fill="#000000" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M26 0c10.493 0 19 8.507 19 19v9h3a4 4 0 0 1 4 4v28a4 4 0 0 1-4 4H4a4 4 0 0 1-4-4V32a4 4 0 0 1 4-4h3v-9C7 8.507 15.507 0 26 0zm0 8c-5.979 0-10.843 4.77-10.996 10.712L15 19v9h22v-9c0-6.075-4.925-11-11-11z"/></svg> </span> ) or <strong>https://</strong> means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section>   <div class="nist-print-header" style="display:none;"> <p class="nist-print-header__url">https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/nobel-moment-eric-cornell</p> <img class="nist-print-header__logo" width="289" height="38" src="/web/20220112183910im_/https://www.nist.gov/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/logo/nist_logo_sidestack.svg" alt="National Institute of Standards and Technology"/> </div> <div class="usa-overlay"></div> <header class="usa-header nist-header--www nist-header--minimal" role="banner"> <div class="usa-navbar"> <div class="usa-logo flex-fill"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/" title="National Institute of Standards and Technology" aria-label="Home"> <img src="/web/20220112183910im_/https://www.nist.gov/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/logo/logo.svg" alt="National Institute of Standards and Technology"/> </a> </div> <div class="usa-header__right grid-row flex-auto"> <div class="grid-col-fill nist-header__search-group"> <form class="usa-search usa-search--small" accept-charset="UTF-8" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/fusion-search" id="search_form" method="get"> <div role="search"> <label class="usa-sr-only" for="search-form">Search NIST</label> <input class="usa-input" id="search-form" type="search" name="s" placeholder="Search NIST" required=""> <button class="usa-button" type="submit"><span class="usa-sr-only">Search</span></button> </div> </form> </div> <div class="grid-col-auto padding-left-1"> <button class="usa-menu-btn">Menu</button> </div> </div> </div> <nav aria-label="Primary navigation" class="usa-nav"> <div class="usa-nav__inner"> <button class="usa-nav__close">Close</button> <ul class="usa-nav__primary usa-accordion"> <li class="usa-nav__primary-item"> <button class="usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="primary_menu-1"><span>Topics</span></button> <div id="primary_menu-1" class="usa-nav__submenu usa-megamenu"> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/topics" class="usa-nav__link">All Topics</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/advanced-communications" class="usa-nav__link">Advanced communications</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/artificial-intelligence" class="usa-nav__link">Artificial intelligence</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/bioscience" class="usa-nav__link">Bioscience</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/buildings-construction" class="usa-nav__link">Buildings and construction</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/chemistry" class="usa-nav__link">Chemistry</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/climate" class="usa-nav__link">Climate</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/cybersecurity" class="usa-nav__link">Cybersecurity</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/electronics" class="usa-nav__link">Electronics</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/energy" class="usa-nav__link">Energy</a> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/environment" class="usa-nav__link">Environment</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/fire" class="usa-nav__link">Fire</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/forensic-science" class="usa-nav__link">Forensic science</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/health" class="usa-nav__link">Health</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/information-technology" class="usa-nav__link">Information technology</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/infrastructure" class="usa-nav__link">Infrastructure</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/manufacturing" class="usa-nav__link">Manufacturing</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/materials" class="usa-nav__link">Materials</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/mathematics-statistics" class="usa-nav__link">Mathematics and statistics</a> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/metrology" class="usa-nav__link">Metrology</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nanotechnology" class="usa-nav__link">Nanotechnology</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/neutron-research" class="usa-nav__link">Neutron research</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/performance-excellence" class="usa-nav__link">Performance excellence</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/physics" class="usa-nav__link">Physics</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/public-safety" class="usa-nav__link">Public safety</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/resilience" class="usa-nav__link">Resilience</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/standards" class="usa-nav__link">Standards</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/transportation" class="usa-nav__link">Transportation</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="usa-nav__primary-item"> <a class="usa-nav__link" href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/publications">Publications</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__primary-item"> <button class="usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="primary_menu-3"><span>Labs & Major Programs</span></button> <div id="primary_menu-3" class="usa-nav__submenu usa-megamenu"> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/labs-major-programs/laboratories" class="usa-nav__link">Laboratories</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/ctl" class="usa-nav__link">Communications Technology Laboratory</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/el" class="usa-nav__link">Engineering Laboratory</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/itl" class="usa-nav__link">Information Technology Laboratory</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/mml" class="usa-nav__link">Material Measurement Laboratory</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/pml" class="usa-nav__link">Physical Measurement Laboratory</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/labs-major-programs/user-facilities" class="usa-nav__link">User Facilities</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/ncnr" class="usa-nav__link">NIST Center for Neutron Research</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/cnst" class="usa-nav__link">CNST NanoFab</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/labs-major-programs/research-test-beds" class="usa-nav__link">Research Test Beds</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/laboratories/projects-programs" class="usa-nav__link">Research Projects</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/laboratories/tools-instruments" class="usa-nav__link">Tools & Instruments</a> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/labs-major-programs/major-programs" class="usa-nav__link">Major Programs</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/baldrige" class="usa-nav__link">Baldrige Performance Excellence Program</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/mep" class="usa-nav__link">Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/oam" class="usa-nav__link">Office of Advanced Manufacturing</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/special-programs-office-spo" class="usa-nav__link">Special Programs Office</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/tpo" class="usa-nav__link">Technology Partnerships Office</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="usa-nav__primary-item"> <button class="usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="primary_menu-4"><span>Services & Resources</span></button> <div id="primary_menu-4" class="usa-nav__submenu usa-megamenu"> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/services-resources/standards-and-measurements" class="usa-nav__link">Standards and Measurements</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/calibrations" class="usa-nav__link">Calibration Services</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nvlap" class="usa-nav__link">Laboratory Accreditation (NVLAP)</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-quality-system" class="usa-nav__link">Quality System</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/srm" class="usa-nav__link">Standard Reference Materials (SRMs)</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/standardsgov" class="usa-nav__link">Standards.gov</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/pml/time-and-frequency-division/time-services" class="usa-nav__link">Time Services</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/pml/weights-and-measures" class="usa-nav__link">Office of Weights and Measures</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/services-resources/software" class="usa-nav__link">Software</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/data" class="usa-nav__link">Data</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://webbook.nist.gov/chemistry/" class="usa-nav__link">Chemistry WebBook</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://nvd.nist.gov/" class="usa-nav__link">National Vulnerability Database</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/pml/productsservices/physical-reference-data" class="usa-nav__link">Physical Reference Data</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/srd" class="usa-nav__link">Standard Reference Data (SRD)</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/shop" class="usa-nav__link">Storefront</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/tpo" class="usa-nav__link">License & Patents</a> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/http://csrc.nist.gov/" class="usa-nav__link">Computer Security Resource Center (CSRC)</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-research-library" class="usa-nav__link">NIST Research Library</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="usa-nav__primary-item"> <button class="usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="primary_menu-5"><span>News & Events</span></button> <div id="primary_menu-5" class="usa-nav__submenu usa-megamenu"> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news" class="usa-nav__link">News </a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/news-events/events" class="usa-nav__link">Events</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/video-gallery" class="usa-nav__link">Video Gallery</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/image-gallery" class="usa-nav__link">Image Gallery</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/feature-stories" class="usa-nav__link">Feature Stories</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/blogs" class="usa-nav__link">Blogs</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/director/pao/media-contacts" class="usa-nav__link">Media Contacts</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/si-redefinition" class="usa-nav__link">SI Redefinition</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="usa-nav__primary-item"> <button class="usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link usa-current" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="primary_menu-6"><span>About NIST</span></button> <div id="primary_menu-6" class="usa-nav__submenu usa-megamenu"> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/about-nist" class="usa-nav__link">About Us</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/about-nist/contact-us" class="usa-nav__link">Contact Us</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/visit" class="usa-nav__link">Visit</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/careers" class="usa-nav__link">Careers</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/our-organization" class="usa-nav__link">Our Organization</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/director/nist-organization-structure" class="usa-nav__link">Organization Structure</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/director" class="usa-nav__link">Office of the Director</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/about-nist/our-organization/people" class="usa-nav__link">People</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/about-nist/our-organization/budget-planning" class="usa-nav__link">Budget & Planning</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/industry-impacts" class="usa-nav__link">Industry Impacts</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/awards" class="usa-nav__link">Awards</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/work-nist" class="usa-nav__link">Work with NIST</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/history" class="usa-nav__link usa-current">History</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/http://nistdigitalarchives.contentdm.oclc.org/" class="usa-nav__link">NIST Digital Archives</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-museum" class="usa-nav__link">NIST Museum</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel" class="usa-nav__link usa-current">NIST and the Nobel</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/education" class="usa-nav__link">Resources for Kids</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> </header>  <div class="grid-container"> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> </div> <div id="block-nist-www-content" class="nist-block"> <section class="nist-page__content usa-section clearfix"> <a id="main-content" tabindex="-1"></a> <div class="nist-page__region nist-page__region--content-top-full"> <div class="nist-block"> <div class="nist-section-header nist-section-header--1188616 nist-section-header--menu nist-section-header--interior"> <div class="nist-section-header__main grid-container"> <div class="nist-section-header__title"> <h2><a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel">NIST and The Nobel</a></h2> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-container margin-top-4"> <div class="grid-row grid-gap-6"> <aside class="nist-page__region nist-page__region--sidebar-first tablet-lg:grid-col-4 desktop-lg:grid-col-3"> <div>  <div class="views-element-container nist-block nist-block--section-nav"> <div><div class="js-view-dom-id-9a0e2ec35ae69edea21b770bcbfa0f9d426a40d0d4ec65892483e12d55075604"> <div><div class="views-field views-field-nid"><span class="field-content"> <nav> <ul class="usa-sidenav usa-accordion "> <li class="usa-sidenav__item usa-sidenav__item--parent"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dave-wineland" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Dave Wineland</a> <button class="usa-accordion__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="menu-nist-and-the-nobel-1"><span class="usa-sr-only">Expand or Collapse</span></button> <ul id="menu-nist-and-the-nobel-1" class="usa-sidenav__sublist usa-accordion"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dave-wineland/person-behind-nobel-prize-dave-wineland" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Person Behind the Nobel Prize: Dave Wineland</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dave-wineland/context-discovery-dave-wineland" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Context of a Discovery: Dave Wineland</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dave-wineland/nobel-moments-dave-wineland" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Nobel Moments: Dave Wineland</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dave-wineland/prizes-legacy-dave-wineland" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Prize’s Legacy: Dave Wineland</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dave-wineland/outside-work-dave-wineland" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Outside of Work: Dave Wineland</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dave-wineland/what-excites-and-inspires-david-wineland-science-today" data-drupal-link-system-path="">What excites and inspires David Wineland in science today?</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item usa-sidenav__item--parent"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dan-shechtman" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Dan Shechtman</a> <button class="usa-accordion__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="menu-nist-and-the-nobel-2"><span class="usa-sr-only">Expand or Collapse</span></button> <ul id="menu-nist-and-the-nobel-2" class="usa-sidenav__sublist usa-accordion"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dan-shechtman/context-discovery-dan-shechtman" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Context of a Discovery: Dan Shechtman</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dan-shechtman/nobel-moment-dan-shechtman" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Nobel Moment: Dan Shechtman</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dan-shechtman/person-behind-nobel-prize-dan-shechtman" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Person behind the Nobel Prize: Dan Shechtman</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dan-shechtman/prizes-legacy-dan-shechtman" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Prize’s Legacy: Dan Shechtman</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dan-shechtman/what-excites-and-inspires-dan-shechtman-science-today" data-drupal-link-system-path="">What excites and inspires Dan Shechtman in science today?</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item usa-sidenav__item--parent"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/jan-hall" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Jan Hall</a> <button class="usa-accordion__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="menu-nist-and-the-nobel-3"><span class="usa-sr-only">Expand or Collapse</span></button> <ul id="menu-nist-and-the-nobel-3" class="usa-sidenav__sublist usa-accordion"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/jan-hall/context-discovery-jan-hall" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Context of a Discovery: Jan Hall</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/jan-hall/nobel-moment-jan-hall" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Nobel Moment: Jan Hall</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/jan-hall/person-behind-nobel-prize-jan-hall" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Person Behind the Nobel Prize: Jan Hall</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/jan-hall/prizes-legacy-jan-hall" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Prize’s Legacy: Jan Hall</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item usa-sidenav__item--parent"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell" class="usa-current" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Eric Cornell</a> <button class="usa-accordion__button" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="menu-nist-and-the-nobel-4"><span class="usa-sr-only">Expand or Collapse</span></button> <ul id="menu-nist-and-the-nobel-4" class="usa-sidenav__sublist usa-accordion"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/context-discovery-eric-cornell" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Context of a Discovery: Eric Cornell</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/nobel-moment-eric-cornell" class="usa-current" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Nobel Moment: Eric Cornell</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/person-behind-nobel-prize-eric-cornell" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Person behind the Nobel Prize: Eric Cornell</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/prizes-legacy-eric-cornell" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Prize’s Legacy: Eric Cornell</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/what-excites-eric-cornell-science-today" data-drupal-link-system-path="">What excites Eric Cornell in science today?</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item usa-sidenav__item--parent"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/bill-phillips" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Bill Phillips</a> <button class="usa-accordion__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="menu-nist-and-the-nobel-5"><span class="usa-sr-only">Expand or Collapse</span></button> <ul id="menu-nist-and-the-nobel-5" class="usa-sidenav__sublist usa-accordion"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/bill-phillips/context-discovery-bill-phillips" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Context of a Discovery: Bill Phillips</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/bill-phillips/nobel-moment-bill-phillips" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Nobel Moment: Bill Phillips</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/bill-phillips/person-behind-nobel-prize-bill-phillips" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Person behind the Nobel Prize: Bill Phillips</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/bill-phillips/prizes-legacy-bill-phillips" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Prize’s Legacy: Bill Phillips</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/bill-phillips/what-excites-bill-phillips-science-today" data-drupal-link-system-path="">What excites Bill Phillips in science today?</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/other-nist-connections-nobel-prize" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Other NIST Connections to the Nobel Prize</a> </li> </ul> </nav> </span></div></div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="nist-block nist-block--main-menu"> <nav> <ul class="usa-sidenav usa-accordion "> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/about-nist" data-drupal-link-system-path="">About Us</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/about-nist/contact-us" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Contact Us</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/visit" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Visit</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/careers" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Careers</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item usa-sidenav__item--parent"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/our-organization" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Our Organization</a> <button class="usa-accordion__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="main-5"><span class="usa-sr-only">Expand or Collapse</span></button> <ul id="main-5" class="usa-sidenav__sublist usa-accordion"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/director/nist-organization-structure" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Organization Structure</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/director" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Office of the Director</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/about-nist/our-organization/people" data-drupal-link-system-path="">People</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/about-nist/our-organization/budget-planning" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Budget & Planning</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/industry-impacts" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Industry Impacts</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/awards" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Awards</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/work-nist" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Work with NIST</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item usa-sidenav__item--parent"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/history" class="usa-current" data-drupal-link-system-path="">History</a> <button class="usa-accordion__button" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="main-9"><span class="usa-sr-only">Expand or Collapse</span></button> <ul id="main-9" class="usa-sidenav__sublist usa-accordion"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/http://nistdigitalarchives.contentdm.oclc.org/" data-drupal-link-system-path="">NIST Digital Archives</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-museum" data-drupal-link-system-path="">NIST Museum</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel" class="usa-current" data-drupal-link-system-path="">NIST and the Nobel</a> <button class="usa-accordion__button" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="main-9-3"><span class="usa-sr-only">Expand or Collapse</span></button> <ul id="main-9-3" class="usa-sidenav__sublist usa-accordion"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/bill-phillips" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Bill Phillips</a> <button class="usa-accordion__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="main-9-3-1"><span class="usa-sr-only">Expand or Collapse</span></button> <ul id="main-9-3-1" class="usa-sidenav__sublist"> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/bill-phillips/context-discovery-bill-phillips" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Context of a Discovery: Bill Phillips</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/bill-phillips/nobel-moment-bill-phillips" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Nobel Moment: Bill Phillips</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/bill-phillips/person-behind-nobel-prize-bill-phillips" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Person behind the Nobel Prize: Bill Phillips</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/bill-phillips/prizes-legacy-bill-phillips" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Prize’s Legacy: Bill Phillips</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/bill-phillips/what-excites-bill-phillips-science-today" data-drupal-link-system-path="">What excites Bill Phillips in science today?</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dan-shechtman" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Dan Shechtman</a> <button class="usa-accordion__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="main-9-3-2"><span class="usa-sr-only">Expand or Collapse</span></button> <ul id="main-9-3-2" class="usa-sidenav__sublist"> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dan-shechtman/context-discovery-dan-shechtman" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Context of a Discovery: Dan Shechtman</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dan-shechtman/nobel-moment-dan-shechtman" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Nobel Moment: Dan Shechtman</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dan-shechtman/person-behind-nobel-prize-dan-shechtman" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Person behind the Nobel Prize: Dan Shechtman</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dan-shechtman/prizes-legacy-dan-shechtman" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Prize’s Legacy: Dan Shechtman</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dan-shechtman/what-excites-and-inspires-dan-shechtman-science-today" data-drupal-link-system-path="">What excites and inspires Dan Shechtman in science today?</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dave-wineland" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Dave Wineland</a> <button class="usa-accordion__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="main-9-3-3"><span class="usa-sr-only">Expand or Collapse</span></button> <ul id="main-9-3-3" class="usa-sidenav__sublist"> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dave-wineland/context-discovery-dave-wineland" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Context of a Discovery: Dave Wineland</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dave-wineland/outside-work-dave-wineland" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Outside of Work: Dave Wineland</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dave-wineland/nobel-moments-dave-wineland" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Nobel Moments: Dave Wineland</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dave-wineland/person-behind-nobel-prize-dave-wineland" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Person Behind the Nobel Prize: Dave Wineland</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dave-wineland/prizes-legacy-dave-wineland" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Prize’s Legacy: Dave Wineland</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dave-wineland/what-excites-and-inspires-david-wineland-science-today" data-drupal-link-system-path="">What excites and inspires David Wineland in science today?</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell" class="usa-current" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Eric Cornell</a> <button class="usa-accordion__button" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="main-9-3-4"><span class="usa-sr-only">Expand or Collapse</span></button> <ul id="main-9-3-4" class="usa-sidenav__sublist"> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/context-discovery-eric-cornell" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Context of a Discovery: Eric Cornell</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/nobel-moment-eric-cornell" class="usa-current" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Nobel Moment: Eric Cornell</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/person-behind-nobel-prize-eric-cornell" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Person behind the Nobel Prize: Eric Cornell</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/prizes-legacy-eric-cornell" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Prize’s Legacy: Eric Cornell</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/what-excites-eric-cornell-science-today" data-drupal-link-system-path="">What excites Eric Cornell in science today?</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/jan-hall" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Jan Hall</a> <button class="usa-accordion__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="main-9-3-5"><span class="usa-sr-only">Expand or Collapse</span></button> <ul id="main-9-3-5" class="usa-sidenav__sublist"> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/jan-hall/context-discovery-jan-hall" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Context of a Discovery: Jan Hall</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/jan-hall/nobel-moment-jan-hall" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Nobel Moment: Jan Hall</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/jan-hall/person-behind-nobel-prize-jan-hall" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Person Behind the Nobel Prize: Jan Hall</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/jan-hall/prizes-legacy-jan-hall" data-drupal-link-system-path="">The Prize’s Legacy: Jan Hall</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/other-nist-connections-nobel-prize" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Other NIST Connections to the Nobel Prize</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/education" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Resources for Kids</a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </aside> <div class="nist-page__region nist-page__region--content tablet-lg:grid-col-8 desktop-lg:grid-col-9"> <div class="nist-block"> <h1 class="nist-page__title">The Nobel Moment: Eric Cornell</h1> </div> <div class="nist-block">  <div class="nist-block nist-social__wrapper"> <h2 class="nist-social__title">Share</h2> <div class="social-media-sharing"> <div class="nist-social__wrapper--share"> <div> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/nobel-moment-eric-cornell" title="Facebook" class="nist-social nist-social--facebook-gray"> <span>Facebook</span> </a> </div> <div> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/nobel-moment-eric-cornell&source=https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/nobel-moment-eric-cornell" title="Linkedin" class="nist-social nist-social--linkedin-gray"> <span>Linkedin</span> </a> </div> <div> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/nobel-moment-eric-cornell&status=https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/nobel-moment-eric-cornell" title="Twitter" class="nist-social nist-social--twitter-gray"> <span>Twitter</span> </a> </div> <div> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/mailto:/?subject=NIST.gov&body=Check out this site https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/nobel-moment-eric-cornell" title="Email" class="nist-social nist-social--envelope-gray"> <span>Email</span> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="nist-block"> <div class="text-with-summary"> <p>The creation of the first BEC ended up requiring a three-step cooling process.</p> <p>First, Cornell and Wieman used laser cooling to create an “optical molasses” of supercooled rubidium atoms using techniques developed in the mid-1980s by Bell Laboratories physicist Steven Chu and colleagues. </p> <p>Second was magnetic trapping, which, when atoms are sufficiently slowed by laser cooling, takes advantage of the fact that the spin of an atom’s electrons makes it act like a tiny bar magnet that is steerable by magnetic fields. The JILA magnetic trap was a more sophisticated version of the first-ever trap to capture neutral atoms, which NIST’s Bill Phillips had developed several years earlier. Atoms in Phillips’ original trap were very loosely packed, but Cornell’s magnetic trap had to compress the atomic haze enough that the third step, evaporative cooling, would have enough rubidium to work with.</p> <p> </p> <figure class="nist-video" data-media-id="355676"><div class="video-embed-field"><div class="video-embed-field-lazy" data-video-embed-field-lazy="<div class="video-embed-field-provider-nist-kaltura video-embed-field-responsive-video"><iframe width="854" height="480" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay *; fullscreen *; encrypted-media *" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" src="https://www.kaltura.com/p/684682/sp/68468200/embedIframeJs/uiconf_id/31013851/partner_id/684682?iframeembed=true&amp;entry_id=0_x1cvn1yn?iframeembed=true&amp;entry_id=0_x1cvn1yn&amp;flashvars%5BautoPlay%5D=1"></iframe> </div> "><img alt="Creation of a Bose-Einstein Condensate" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910im_/https://cdnsecakmi.kaltura.com/p/684682/sp/68468200/thumbnail/entry_id/0_x1cvn1yn/width/1280" typeof="foaf:Image"><button class="video-embed-field-lazy-play"></button> <div class="video-embed-field-lazy-title">Creation of a Bose-Einstein Condensate</div> </div> </div> <figcaption class="nist-video__caption" data-caption-editable="true"></figcaption></figure><p>Harold Hess of MIT’s hydrogen group had laid out the concept for evaporative cooling of trapped atoms in 1986. The general concept was simple enough; indeed, ordinary cups of coffee are evaporative coolers. Evaporative cooling works because the coffee molecules are not all moving the same speed, but move at a range of different speeds. The hottest, highest-energy molecules steam off, leaving behind the colder ones. </p> <p>It was a different matter to achieve a similar effect in a virtual magnetic cup holding a few thousand rubidium atoms chilled by lasers and then captured by magnets in a vacuum. Cornell and Wieman had to find ways to maximize the “good” collisions that led to overall cooling of the atom cloud, while avoiding the “bad” collisions that caused atoms to stick together and destroyed the trap’s stability.</p> <p class="text-align-center"> </p> <figure class="align-center nist-image--lightbox nist-image" data-lightbox="https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/2800_x_2800_limit/public/images/2017/04/03/bose_einstein_illo_final.jpg?itok=FmOQLcQo" data-media-id="354901"><img alt="NIST and the Nobel Cartoon: Eric Cornell and Carl Wieman" height="809" loading="lazy" src="/web/20220112183910im_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/960_x_960_limit/public/images/2017/04/03/bose_einstein_illo_final.jpg?itok=o_f9ja5I" typeof="foaf:Image" width="960"><figcaption class="nist-image__caption"><div class="nist-image__caption-content" data-caption-editable="true"> </div> <div class="nist-image__credit"> <span class="nist-image__credit-label">Credit:</span> Kevin Rechin/NIST </div> </figcaption></figure><p>While the researchers’ approach to creating BEC met with early skepticism, their rapid progress during the early 1990s won over many. They contributed to great progress in laser cooling and trapping techniques that were also taking place at MIT, Rice University in Houston, the California Institute of Technology and the École Normale Supérieure in Paris.</p> <p>Cornell and Wieman published and other groups benefited. Others published and the JILA team benefited. Competition was pushing the science.</p> <p>“We were worried about them,” Cornell says. “It definitely focused our efforts.”</p> <p>Earlier input from David Pritchard’s group at MIT had led Wieman and Cornell to an evaporative cooler design that allowed them to lower the edges of the figurative coffee cup over the span of perhaps a minute, allowing progressively cooler—but still too hot—rubidium atoms to escape. It worked well, but not well enough: at temperatures about 200 times hotter than the theorized BEC trigger point (40 microkelvin, compared to the 200 nanokelvin needed to form a rubidium BEC), the atoms found a “hole” in the evaporative-cooling magnetic trap and leaked out. </p> <p>So Cornell designed an ingenious solution: a similar trap with a second, small magnetic field that moved the inevitable hole in the trap’s magnetic field faster than the atoms could follow. The Time Orbiting Potential (TOP) trap, as Cornell called it, “was the perfect thing to take the existing apparatus and push us over the top. It got us where we needed to be very, very quickly.”</p> <p>Temperatures plunged, condensing the trapped rubidium gas to perhaps 20 microns across. This was too small for the researchers’ laser-light detector to see. In late May and early June 1995, the team built a magnetic coil, which they called an “antigravity coil,” to hold the atoms aloft briefly after the evaporative cooler was turned off, allowing the cloud to expand in place until the detector could perceive it.</p> <p>At 10:24 a.m. on June 5, 1995, the apparatus in Cornell’s laboratory chilled a cloud of 2,000 rubidium atoms to 50 nanokelvin, an all-time low. The atoms became one, undulating in a single quantum wave, just as Einstein had predicted. </p> <p class="text-align-center"> </p> <figure class="align-center nist-image--lightbox nist-image" data-lightbox="https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/2800_x_2800_limit/public/images/2019/04/02/quantum_physics_bose_einstein_condensate.jpg?itok=qtxH4R5r" data-media-id="294421"><img alt="three graphs showing peaks" height="640" loading="lazy" src="/web/20220112183910im_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/960_x_960_limit/public/images/2019/04/02/quantum_physics_bose_einstein_condensate.jpg?itok=2ic7Kzut" typeof="foaf:Image" width="960"><figcaption class="nist-image__caption"><div class="nist-image__caption-content" data-caption-editable="true"> Perhaps the most famous image associated with the formation of Bose-Einstein condensates, this graphic shows three-dimensional successive snap shots in time in which rubidium atoms condense from less dense red, yellow and green areas into very dense blue to white areas. </div> <div class="nist-image__credit"> <span class="nist-image__credit-label">Credit:</span> NIST/JILA/CU-Boulder </div> </figcaption></figure><p>Cornell and his colleagues didn’t declare victory just yet, however—especially because the sharpness and clearness of the wave they observed seemed, as Cornell put it in <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/2001/cornell-lecture.html">his Nobel lecture</a>, “too good to be true.” They carried out tests to make sure they weren’t fooling themselves into seeing what they wanted to see. The crucial piece of evidence was that the condensate took on an elliptical, rather than circular, shape. Though not what Cornell and his team had expected, they realized that the shape fit perfectly with the predictions of quantum mechanics, and eliminated other possible explanations for what they were seeing. By evening they were confident they had achieved their goal.</p> <div class="nist-callout"> <p>“Eric was totally outside the box, thinking about totally different areas of physics — I don’t know how he got so smart. He’s [also] the only scientist I know who can inject humor into a talk and pull it off every time. One of the rules of public speaking is, if you have canned joke, don’t use it. Eric does have some canned lines, but he pulls them off every time—I don’t know how he does it. He was a joy to be around.”</p> <p class="text-align-right">– Chris Monroe, physicist, Joint Quantum Institute; graduate student in Carl Wieman’s lab when Cornell was a postdoc</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-container"> <div class="nist-page__region nist-page__region--content-bottom"> <div class="nist-block"> <div class="text-italic font-sans-2xs"> Created September 28, 2016, Updated August 31, 2021 </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div>  <footer class="nist-footer padding-bottom-4"> <div class="grid-container nist-footer__info"> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="tablet:grid-col-6"> <div class="nist-footer__logo"> <a href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/" title="National Institute of Standards and Technology" rel="home"> <img class="nist-footer__logo-img" src="/web/20220112183910im_/https://www.nist.gov/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/logo/nist_logo_sidestack_rev.svg" alt="National Institute of Standards and Technology logo"> </a> </div> <div class="nist-footer__contact"> <h3 class="nist-footer__contact-heading">HEADQUARTERS</h3> <address> 100 Bureau Drive<br> Gaithersburg, MD 20899<br> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/tel:301-975-2000">301-975-2000</a> </address> <p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/mailto:do-webmaster@nist.gov">Webmaster</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/about-nist/contact-us">Contact Us</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/about-nist/our-organization">Our Other Offices</a> </p> </div> </div> <div class="tablet:grid-col-6"> <div class="nist-footer__social-links"> <a class="nist-social nist-social--twitter-white" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://twitter.com/NIST"> <span>Twitter</span> </a> <a class="nist-social nist-social--facebook-white" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.facebook.com/NIST"> <span>Facebook</span> </a> <a class="nist-social nist-social--linkedin-white" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.linkedin.com/company/nist"> <span>LinkedIn</span> </a> <a class="nist-social nist-social--instagram-white" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.instagram.com/nist/"> <span>Instagram</span> </a> <a class="nist-social nist-social--youtube-white" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.youtube.com/NIST"> <span>YouTube</span> </a> <a class="nist-social nist-social--rss-white" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/news-events/nist-rss-feeds"> <span>RSS Feed</span> </a> <a class="nist-social nist-social--envelope-white" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://service.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNIST/subscriber/new"> <span>Mailing List</span> </a> </div> <div class="nist-footer__feedback"> How are we doing? <a class="usa-button" rel="nofollow" href="/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/form/nist-gov-feedback?destination=/nist-and-nobel/eric-cornell/nobel-moment-eric-cornell" title="Provide feedback">Feedback</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-container"> <div class="nist-footer__nav" role="navigation"> <ul> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/privacy-policy">Site Privacy</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/oism/accessibility">Accessibility</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/privacy">Privacy Program</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/oism/copyrights">Copyrights</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.commerce.gov/vulnerability-disclosure-policy">Vulnerability Disclosure</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/no-fear-act-policy">No Fear Act Policy</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/office-director/freedom-information-act">FOIA</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/environmental-policy-statement">Environmental Policy</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/summary-report-scientific-integrity">Scientific Integrity</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.nist.gov/nist-information-quality-standards">Information Quality Standards</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://www.commerce.gov/">Commerce.gov</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/http://www.science.gov/">Science.gov</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/http://www.usa.gov/">USA.gov</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220112183910/https://vote.gov/">Vote.gov</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </footer>  </div> <script type="application/json" data-drupal-selector="drupal-settings-json">{"path":{"baseUrl":"\/","scriptPath":null,"pathPrefix":"","currentPath":"node\/1108711","currentPathIsAdmin":false,"isFront":false,"currentLanguage":"en"},"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"back_to_top":{"back_to_top_button_trigger":"100","back_to_top_prevent_on_mobile":0,"back_to_top_prevent_in_admin":1,"back_to_top_button_type":"image","back_to_top_button_text":"Back to top"},"google_analytics":{"trackOutbound":true,"trackMailto":true,"trackDownload":true,"trackDownloadExtensions":"7z|aac|arc|arj|asf|asx|avi|bin|bsh|c|csv|doc(x|m)?|dot(x|m)?|dw(fx|g|gd)|dxf|eps|epub|exe|f(90)|flv|gif|gz|gzip|hqx|jar|jpe?g|js|m1v|mp(2|3|4|e?g)|mobi|mov(ie)?|msi|msp|pdf|phps|pl|png|ppt(x|m)?|pot(x|m)?|pps(x|m)?|ppam|sld(x|m)?|thmx|qtm?|ra(m|r)?|rfa|rtf|rvt|sch|sea|sit|swf|tar|tgz|tif|txt|txz|wav|wma|wmv|wpd|wrl|xls(x|m|b)?|xlt(x|m)|xlam|xml|xsd|z|zip","trackDomainMode":1},"data":{"extlink":{"extTarget":false,"extTargetNoOverride":false,"extNofollow":false,"extNoreferrer":false,"extFollowNoOverride":false,"extClass":"ext","extLabel":"(link is external)","extImgClass":false,"extSubdomains":true,"extExclude":"\\.gov\\\/|doi\\.org\\\/|\\.mil\\\/","extInclude":"","extCssExclude":"","extCssExplicit":"","extAlert":true,"extAlertText":"Thank you for visiting NIST. We hope your visit was informative. We have provided a link to this site because it has information that may be of interest to our users. NIST does not necessarily endorse the views expressed or the facts presented on this site. Further, NIST does not endorse any commercial products that may be advertised or available on this site. Click OK to be directed to your link.","mailtoClass":"mailto","mailtoLabel":"(link sends email)","extUseFontAwesome":false,"extIconPlacement":"append","extFaLinkClasses":"fa fa-external-link","extFaMailtoClasses":"fa fa-envelope-o","whitelistedDomains":[]}},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"520687c07b4be4858e6c6ce3a624b46210584185ff52f288415ad535b343bd9c"}}</script> <script src="/web/20220112183910js_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_3-Fga3Euztt6g_-nLaJvgz_gg9u8EY_Oj91cPPkNItA.js"></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

The Nobel Moment: Eric Cornell | NIST