Heat is a nuisance.
At least, that is the point of view taken by low temperature physicists, insofar as thermal energy disturbs the very delicate, subtle, quantum mechanical phenomena they study. Prof. Ellman has extensive experience in studying these complex quantum states using a variety of techniques, including thermal conduction and ultrasonic attenuation. All this is not to say that life only begins near absolute zero. Prof. Ellman has wide ranging interests in physics, has worked in particle astrophysics and scanning probe microscopy, and work in his lab continues to apply ideas and techniques from a variety of fields. Students in the group are exposed to many techniques and a broad range of physics concepts and methods.