Research Interests:

My current research effort consists of trying to understand static and dynamic properties of low-dimensional nonuniform quantum Bose gases. The experimental observation of Bose-Einstein condensation (1995) in trapped alkali vapors has ushered in a new era of superlow-temperature physics bridging the disciplines of atomic and condensed matter physics. Today, experimentalists can produce and manipulate condensates of different sizes and various geometries, and practical applications of this new state of matter are just on the horizon. Some of these applications (ultrasensitive interferometers, for example) require producing essentially one-dimensional condensates, which poses the question of their theoretical description. Up to now, most of the experiments with Bose condensates have been conducted in a three-dimensional regime where the theory of Gross and Pitaevskii adequately describes the physics.

Recently we have demonstrated that this theory fails in one and two spatial dimensions, and proposed a new hydrodynamical theory which correctly captures the physics in question. The applications of this theory are practically endless, and currently we are working on several specific projects.

In the past I have worked in the area of classical and quantum phase transitions and related phenomena in pure and disordered systems, and I maintain these interests. I also have a general interest in nonequilibrium phenomena.

Current and Recent Courses:

PHYS 1425: Intro to Physics for Engineers (Lecturer) Spring

PHYS 1620: Introductory Physics for Majors (Lecturer) Spring

PHYS 5310: Optics (Lecturer) Fall