Interview with Dr. Ryan Hooper

Q1: Why did you become a physicist? Was there a moment of epiphany or have you always known?

A1: I was/still am fascinated by how physics reveals the hidden nature and beauty of things.  I also love the structure, logic, and how physics is in a paradoxical way both abstract and concrete at the same time.  Bottom line is that I became a physicist because I want to know how things work!

Yes, the “epiphany” moment was in 5^th grade when we were allowed to do a book report on any book in our library.  I found a book on nuclear power plants and how they worked, I was hooked on fundamental physics (i.e. nuclear and particle physics) ever since!  As a matter of fact, my family still fondly remembers after I did that book report … I went home and told my parents that I wanted to be a nuclear physicist.  At first my parents were rightfully skeptical, but after a few years of me telling them I want to be a nuclear/particle physicist, they started to think I was serious J  Oh, by the way, I am a particle physicist.

Q2: What do you do as a physicist? What are some examples of projects or events you have done that you are able to share?

A2: I build physical things.  I code computers to accomplish tasks.  I build and work with electronics.  I collect empirical data.  I analyze data.  I think about how things work and why.  I dream of how to make things go faster.

I helped construct, commission and run the D0 Central Fiber Tracker (a 100,000 channel fiber optic tracking system).

I published the first experimental research on large extra-dimensions as it may manifest itself in a hadron collider using a high transverse momentum muon signature.  I also published one of the first experimental searches for Randall-Sundrum extra-dimensions.

I helped construct the Compact Muon Solenoid Silicon strip detector (a 1 million channel silicone strip tracking system).  This system was instrumental in the discovery of the Higgs’ boson, found in 2012.

I helped build, commission and run high efficiency and low emissions test engines at CAT.

Q3: From your line of work (projects, previous work, personal experience, etc.) How do you believe it effects everyone and or everyday life?

My detector work demonstrates new improved techniques that are used in medical imaging.

My engine work saves gallons of fuel and reduces the amount of pollutants placed in the atmosphere.

My musings on general relativity may open up possibilities for human to travel to the stars.

Q4: Have you worked with or made contributions to something that would affect us here at Lewis now or in the near future that can directly be related to physics?

A4: Other than for educational purposes my contributions related to physics tend to be more abstract/pure research based.

Q5: How do you believe physics affects us every day? Anything that stands out as extremely fascinating to you related to an everyday occurrence?

A5: Two words:  Faraday’s Law or more succinctly [ ].  The basis for nearly all (~80%) electricity generation on the planet!

Also, without our knowledge of general relativity the GPS applications in your smart-phone would become useless in about a week.  This is due to gravitational time dilation.

Q6: Do you think that physics has accounted largely for our rapid growth in technology and advancement in sciences? Why?

Two words:  Faraday’s Law.  Electricity (I would argue, more generally electromagnetism E&M) is the “life-blood” on which modern society lives, let alone our technology/research base!  Just watch what happens when a region loses power for even a short period of time.