Special Seminar: AMO Faculty Search

[Schechter, Robert K.]

Hello,

Please join us for the AMO Faculty search Special Colloquium this morning at 10:00am in 1080 Smith Seminar, search candidate Dr. Christian Schneider from UCLA will talk about  "Quantum control of atoms, ions, and nuclei." There will be a brief reception before the talk at 9:45am held in the atrium of PRB. We hope to see you there!

Abstract:
Cold atoms and ions are exciting systems for a variety of measurements of fundamental physics. Radio frequency traps open up experiments with both large ensembles of ions, e.g. in cold chemistry, and experiments with few or single ions, such as quantum computation, optical clocks, and tests of fundamental physics, where ultimate quantum control matters. Optical traps enable complementary experiments with neutral atoms
I will first describe recent results from our work on cold chemistry and cold molecular ions using a hybrid atom-ion. We have developed an integrated time-of-flight mass spectrometer, which allows for the analysis of the complete ion ensemble with isotopic resolution. With this new ability, we have significantly enhanced previous studies of cold reactions and found unexpected, new reactions. Further, we demonstrated a proof-of-principle implementation of non-equilibrium physics in our hybrid trap. Current work aims at demonstrating rotational cooling of molecular ions.
Second, I will report our recent results in the search for the nuclear isomeric transition in thorium-229. This transition in the vacuum-ultraviolet regime (around 7.8 eV) eludes nuclear physics techniques but becomes accessible to lasers. It is better isolated from the environment than electronic transitions making it a very promising candidate for future precision experiments, such as a nuclear clock and tests of fundamental constants. Our approach employs a direct search with thorium-doped crystals. In a first experiment with synchrotron radiation (ALS, LBNL), we were able to exclude a large region of possible transition frequencies and lifetimes. Currently, we continue our efforts with enhanced sensitivity using a pulsed VUV laser system. Additionally, theoretical considerations of possible transition energies and lifetimes will be presented.

Thanks,
Kyle

[The Ohio State University]
Kyle Schechter, Fiscal Associate
Department of Physics
4112 Physics Research Building | 191 West Woodruff Avenue Columbus, OH 43210
614-292-7260 Office
Schechter.19 at osu.edu<mailto:Schechter.19 at osu.edu> osu.edu<http://osu.edu/>




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