Research Interests:

Since its first observation in 1995, the process of Bose-Einstein condensation of atomic gases has captured the imagination of many physicists. In this phenomenon, a large number of atoms come to occupy the same quantum state, causing the normally ethereal wave function to act rather as a classical, observable wave. This effect may prove useful for various applications. For instance, by coherently separating and recombining the atom wave in an interferometer, an instrument can be made which is highly sensitive to inertial effects such as rotation, acceleration, and gravity. Prof. Sackett developed an interferometer of this sort, in which the two parts of the wave can be separated by about 1 mm, an enormous distance on usual scale of atomic physics.

Current projects include further optimization of the interferometer, and applications to measurements such as rotation sensing and a precise determination of the electric polarizability of Rb atoms.

Longer term goals include using the interferometer to study the interaction of atoms and light in an optical cavity, with potential uses for quantum communication and computation.

Research Group(s):

Sackett Group

Selected Publications:

Current and Recent Courses:

PHYS 3150: Electronics Laboratory (Supervisor) Fall

PHYS 5190: Electronics Lab (Supervisor) Fall

PHYS 8310: Statistical Mechanics I (Lecturer) Spring