Faculty
Louis A. Bloomfield
Ph.D., 1983, Stanford
Gordon D Cates, Jr.
Ph.D., 1987, Yale
Thomas F. Gallagher
Ph.D., 1971, Harvard
Robert R. Jones, Jr.
Ph.D., 1990, Virginia
Kevin Lehmann
Ph.D., 1983, Harvard
Olivier Pfister
Ph.D., 1993, Paris-North
Charles Sackett
Ph.D., 1998, Rice
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The fundamental goal of essentially all atomic and molecular physics is a complete understanding of the interactions of atoms and molecules with electromagnetic fields. These fields may be static or dynamic, originating within the atoms or molecules, or external to them. The experimental Atomic and Molecular groups in the Department of Physics use a wide variety of laser, electro-optical, and microwave equipment to study and manipulate the properties of atoms, molecules, and clusters. As a result, their work is closely connected to the field of optical physics. Optical physics is the study of the generation of optical radiation, the properties of that radiation, and the manipulation and control of radiation by matter. Current research in optical physics includes the development of novel light sources and the exploitation of the quantum properties of light for non-classical communication and precision measurements. The particular research specialization of individual faculty members in the AMO group is summarized below.
Bloomfield’s research group studies clusters, small aggregates of atoms that fall in between atoms and solids. His group is particularly interested in two areas of cluster science: the study of magnetism in isolated metal clusters and the study of electronic structure in insulator clusters. Their work on magnetism in metal clusters seeks to connect atomic and molecular magnetism with that of condensed matter.
Gallagher’s research focuses on highly excited Rydberg atoms. These atoms interact strongly with external perturbations providing opportunities to quantitatively explore otherwise inaccessible phenomena. Currently the group is investigating microwave multiphoton excitation and ionization with few-cycle microwave pulses, studying collisions between cold (1 milliKelvin) Rydberg atoms in a magneto-optical trap, and examining energy flow between different electronic configurations in atoms with two optically active electrons.
Jones and his students use intense electromagnetic pulses with durations as short as 25 femtoseconds to investigate and control quantum dynamics within atoms and molecules. Current efforts include the development of new techniques for imaging the evolution of electronic wavefunctions within atoms and the position of nuclei within molecules, the control of electron-electron scattering within atoms through the creation of two-electron wavepackets with specific dynamical properties, the use of intense laser pulses to align and/or orient molecules in free space, the generation of coherent, vacuum ultraviolet femtosecond light pulses; and the use of unipolar, THz frequency electric field pulses to simulate coherent charged-particle/atom collisions.
Pfister’s research interests include molecular spectroscopy, nonlinear and quantum optics, and quantum information. His group is especially interested in experimental realizations of quantum information protocols using parametric oscillators and two-photon lasers as intense ultrastable sources of entangled photons. Other interests include the applications of nonclassical light to high-precision measurements, such as Heisenberg-limited interferometry.
Sackett is interested in applying the physics of Bose condensates to practical problems. For instance, by coherently separating and recombining the atom wave in an interferometer, an instrument can be made that is highly sensitive to inertial effects such as rotation, acceleration, and gravity. Construction of such an interferometer, however, requires "atom-optics" elements to confine and direct the matter wave, since traditional optical components like mirrors and lenses are unsuitable. Sackett’s group is working to develop a magnetic wave guide system to serve this purpose. They are also exploring ways that the unusual properties of condensates might be used to advantage in quantum information systems.
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