More on Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
The department enjoys collaborations with strong spectroscopy groups at
the Laser Spectroscopy Facility in the chemistry department located next to
the physics building (Smith Lab). This is a new state-of-the-art, multimillion-
dollar laser laboratory.
Typical groups include a professor and several graduate students. Funding
is from the NSF and other federal and industrial sources.
We are currently conducting research in the following areas:
- Quantum electronics and millimeter and submillimeter waves; laboratory
astrophysics and upper atmosphere physics; molecular collisions and
chemical physics.
- Laser light is being used to manipulate the translational degrees of
freedom of atoms; atomic samples at ultracold (less than 1 millikelvin)
temperatures may be obtained.
- High-precision spectroscopy of small molecules is being done.
- The formation of molecules in space and molecule-molecule reactive
scattering in the gas phase are being studied.
- Ultra short, high intensity laser pulses are used to study the nonlinear
interaction of light and matter through experiments on propagation,
multiphoton ionization, and X-rays from laser produced plasmas.
Created by: furnstah@mps.ohio-state.edu [29 October 94]