Atomic

Atomic Physics at Texas A&M encompasses an unusually rich variety of topics. Strong programs in theoretical atomic physics (Ford, Kattawar, Reading) are complemented by equally strong efforts on the experimental side (Church, Kenefick, Schuessler). The members of the atomic physics group have close collaborations with a variety of national and international research labs, such as the Lawrence Livermore and Oak Ridge National Laboratories, Universities of Nevada, of Bordeaux (website in French), of Pierre and Marie Curie and of Mainz, CERN, Max-Planck-Institute for Quantum Optics and the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute. There are also very extensive cross-interactions between Atomic Physics and Quantum Optics.

The scope of the theoretical investigations range from ion-atom interactions (Ford and Reading) to light scattering (Kattawar). The emphasis of the former is on the investigation of electron correlations on cross-sections for excitation, ionization, and charge transfer. Applications under study are controlled nuclear fusion and radiation damage in biological systems. The latter program concentrates on the development of Monte-Carlo techniques to calculate the Mueller Matrix for a coupled atmosphere-ocean system; simulations of the imaging of objects embedded in highly turbid media using polarimetry; first principles calculations of the Mueller matrix for dielectric and metallic surfaces; and the use of atmospheric refraction and solar imagery to extract unique temperature profiles in the marine boundary layer; the use of Mueller matrix imaging for pre-cancerous lesion detection.

The experimental programs demonstrate the strong link between atomic physics and quantum optics at Texas A&M, including the fruitful collaboration on the realization of an Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen experiment (Kenefick, and Fry). Other experimental programs emphasize the trapping and investigation of collisions and precision spectroscopy of highly charged ions (Church). The properties of cold ions, with charges as high as 80⁺ and of collision phenomena have been studied. Cooled-ion crystals are being considered as gates in future quantum computers. In addition, the properties of mixed, non-neutral plasmas are investigated using synchrotron radiation. Other research topics are the sensitive detection of rare isotopes, with the help of fast-ion beam spectroscopy; the investigation of coherent phenomena in metallofullerene complexes; the in-vivo observation of bio-structures with a bio-sensor based on surface plasmon resonances; and material characterization with laser-generated non-linear surface acoustic wave pulses (Schuessler).

Major research equipment includes: Narrow bandwidth ring dye laser systems, excimer and Nd:YAG pumped tunable dye laser systems, injection locked high-power ND:YAG lasers, femtosecond dye lasers, and a 100-kV ion accelerator.