To Robin, who taught me empathy and discipline; to my parents, who taught me integrity and who made my world a safe place;and to Olive the dog, who did the opposite.
AcknowledgementsI must first thank Mark Raizen, whose steady leadership and generous support guided this project through many obstacles. Several problems we encountered, like those with the supersonic valve, seemed preternaturally resistant to logical analysis. Others felt like fundamental flaws in the experimental design. At some points over the past five years, I am reasonably sure that Mark was the only person in the world who believed that our lens would produce images even a fraction as good as those which fill these pages. He has an uncanny ability to see to the core of a problem, and there were many humbling occasions on which this talent quickly outweighed several days' worth of dedicated troubleshooting. More important than offering fast solutions, Mark is always ready to sit down and think through a problem. When the path forward seems irredeemably blocked, meeting with Mark reliably helps to clarify the issue, outline a plan of attack, and lift our spirits. In addition to his scientific leadership, Mark's kindness and compassion set him apart. I have never felt pressured to prioritize this project over my personal well-being, and Mark has demonstrated countless times that his primary goal is not publications or grants but the success of his students. Erik Anciaux joined the project at the end of my second year, and it would be difficult to overstate my debt to him as both a colleague and a friend. Through long periods of slow, discouraging progress, Erik's work ethic remained relentlessly focused. His attitude was buoyant enough to float my own, even when we were both convinced that the entire project was falling apart. Erik has a remarkable capacity to say: "nothing works, and we are very likely moving in the wrong direction; let's get to it." This ability to put one foot in front of the other-even when everything is broken-is something I admire and continuously try to emulate. Lest it be supposed that Erik's work ethic balances an unremarkable natural talent, I should also mention that he is an extremely gifted physicist. Erik's mastery of theoretical concepts and his knack for the minutiae of experimental atom optics make him uniquely qualified to tackle the many puzzles we face. He is personally responsible for breakthroughs like developing the Vespel-Swagelok connection and discovering the source of the double-peak phenomenon, among others. It is not the least bit hyperbolic to say that without Erik this project would not have succeeded. In addition to his scientific v contributions, I am indebted to Erik for his friendship, which made the lab a fun place to work. Our prototype lens was assembled in the chaos of high-volume political debates, often shouted over both the hum of the chopper (D-sharp, I believe) and a classic rock Pandora station (only on Fridays). It is a testament to our friendship that working together in an often-st...