 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
| AMP: Experimental Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics | ||||
|
Project Links AMP laboratory measurements of exotic carbon-chain molecules aim to understand the role of the chemical bond and organic chemistry in nature on a cosmic scale, and to determine the origin of the interstellar diffuse bands, the outstanding unsolved problem in astronomical spectroscopy. Over the last ten years the continuing discovery and increasingly accurate characterization of brown dwarfs and extrasolar giant planets (EGPs) have created a new frontier in stellar and planetary astronomy. The development of accurate spectral diagnostics and the refinement of the theoretical models to describe these objects are among the most important challenges for the future. We are contributing to both of these goals through a combined theoretical and experimental program to obtain highly accurate profiles of alkali resonance lines broadened by collisions with molecular hydrogen and helium. AMP research on atomic clocks and quantum optics includes precise tests of fundamental symmetries of physics (Lorentz invariance) linked to questions about the origin and fate of the universe. In particular, these measurements can be used to test the standard models of physics, with profound implications for cosmology. This research also enables Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) astronomy and precise navigation of spacecraft. Measurements on low temperature collisions between hydrogen atoms contribute to the understanding of basic atomic processes. Stored light experiments in quantum optics show that information encoded in a light pulse can be transfered to an atomic system and then retrieved coherently, with potential applications to quantum computing, communication, and quantum cryptography.
Project Links
|
The Dual Noble Gas Maser has been undergoing a major overhaul and
reconstruction prior to a new series of precision frequency
measurements. Above, the major components of the Maser can be seen in
various stages of assembly. At left, the new dual-bulb glass cell. At
right, the entire re-assembled system is shown. | ||
|