Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Commons^™

University Physics I: Classical Mechanics, Julio Gea-Banacloche

Open Educational Resources

This is a “minimalist” textbook for a first semester of university, calculus-based physics, covering classical mechanics (including one chapter on mechanical waves, but excluding fluids), plus a brief introduction to thermodynamics. The presentation owes much to Mazur’s The Principles and Practice of Physics: conservation laws, momentum and energy, are introduced before forces, and one-dimensional setups are thoroughly explored before two-dimensional systems are considered. It contains both problems and worked-out examples.

A Demonstration Of The Infrared Activity Of Carbon Dioxide, Philip Sieg, William Berner, Peter Harnish, Philip C. Nelson

Department of Physics Papers

Before they can talk meaningfully about anthropogenic climate change, students need to grasp basic principles of natural planetary climates, for example, the key role of trace atmospheric gases in setting surface temperature. We describe a dramatic demonstration that scales well for large audiences and that requires as little as ten classroom minutes to show the crucial difference between room air and carbon dioxide gas. Beyond its significance for public policy, the demonstration can serve as a springboard to motivate discussion of important physics concepts such as rotation and vibration spectra.

Evidence For Terahertz Acoustic Phonon Parametric Oscillator Based On Acousto-Optic Degenerate Four-Wave Mixing In A Silicon Doping Superlattice, Thomas E. Wilson

Physics Faculty Research

We report evidence for a 1.0-THz self-starting mirrorless acoustic phonon parametric oscillator (MAPPO) produced from acousto-optic phase-conjugate degenerate four-wave (D4WM) mixing in a THz laser-pumped silicon doping superlattice (DSL). The DSL was grown by molecular beam epitaxy on a (100) boron-doped silicon substrate. A superconducting NbTiN subwavelength grating was used to couple the THz laser radiation into the DSL. Superconducting granular aluminum bolometric detection, coupled with Si:B piezophonon spectroscopy, revealed excitation of THz coherent compressional and shear waves, along the ⟨111⟩ direction only. The Bragg scattering condition for distributed feedback, and the energy conservation requirement for the D4WM ...

Theoretical Studies Of Ultrafast Electron Dynamics In Atoms And Molecules Via High-Order Harmonic Generation, Paul Abanador

Paul Abanador

Optical Micro-Seismometer Based On Evanescent Field Perturbation Of Whispering Gallery Modes, Jaime Da Silva

Mechanical Engineering Research Theses and Dissertations

This thesis proposes a light-weight, compact, and accurate optical micro-seismometer that could be used in many applications, such as planetary exploration. The sensor proposed here is based on the principle of whispering gallery optical mode (WGM) resonance shifts of a dielectric micro-resonator due to disturbances of its evanescent field. The micro-seismometer could be used in place of the traditional bulky seismometers. The design of a waveguide-resonator and mechanical structure to disturb the evanescent field are presented. A proof-of-concept a seismometer model that uses a 5µm ring resonator is numerically tested with actual seismic data. The results show that a WGM-based ...

Computational Spectroscopy Of C-Like Mg Vii, Saleh Allehabi

Electronic Theses & Dissertations Collection for Atlanta University & Clark Atlanta University

In this thesis, energy levels, lifetimes, oscillator strengths and transition probabilities of Mg VII have been calculated. The Hartree-Fock (HF) and Multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock (MCHF) methods were used in the calculations of these atomic properties. We have included relativistic operators mass correction, spin-orbit interaction, one body Darwin term and spin-other-orbit interaction in the Breit-Pauli Hamiltonian. The configurations, (1s²)2s²2p², 2s2p³,2p⁴, 2s²2p3s, 2s²2p3p,2s2p²(⁴P)3s and 2s²2p3d which correspond to 52 fine-structure levels, were included in the atomic model for the Mg VII ions. The present ...

Dynamical Electron Vortices In Attosecond Double Photoionization Of H2, Jean Marcel Ngoko Djiokap, A. V. Meremianin, N. L. Manakov, L. B. Madsen, S. X. Hu, Anthony F. Starace

Anthony F. Starace Publications

We study electron momentum vortices in single-photon double ionization of H2 by time-delayed, counterrotating, elliptically polarized attosecond pulses propagating along kˆ either parallel or perpendicular to the molecular axis R. For kˆ | R, kinematical vortices occur similar to those found for He. For kˆ ⊥ R, we find dynamical vortex structures originating from an ellipticity-dependent interplay of ¹∑⁺_u and ¹∏⁺_u continuum amplitudes. We propose a complete experiment to determine the magnitudes and relative phase of these amplitudes by varying pulse ellipticities and time delays.

Computational Techniques For Scattering Amplitudes, Juliano A. Everett

Publications and Research

Scattering amplitudes in quantum field theory can be described as the probability of a scattering process to happen within a high energy particle interaction, as well as a bridge between experimental measurements and the prediction of the theory.

In this research project, we explore the Standard Model of Particle Theory, it’s representation in terms of Feynman diagrams and the algebraic formulas associated with each combination.

Using the FeynArts program as a tool for generating Feynman diagrams, we evaluate the expressions of a set of physical processes, and explain why these techniques become necessary to achieve this goal.

Improving The State Selectivity Of Field Ionization With Quantum Control, Vincent C. Gregoric, Jason Bennett, Bianca R. Gualtieri, Ankitha Kannad, Zhimin Cheryl Liu, Zoe A. Rowley, Thomas J. Carroll, Michael W. Noel

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The electron signals from the field ionization of two closely spaced Rydberg states of rubidium-85 are separated using quantum control. In selective field ionization, the state distribution of a collection of Rydberg atoms is measured by ionizing the atoms with a ramped electric field. Generally, atoms in higher energy states ionize at lower fields, so ionized electrons which are detected earlier in time can be correlated with higher energy Rydberg states. However, the resolution of this technique is limited by the Stark effect. As the electric field is increased, the electron encounters numerous avoided Stark level crossings which split the ...

Computational Modeling Of Radiation Interactions With Molecular Nitrogen, Tyler Reese

Dissertations

The ability to detect radiation through identifying secondary effects it has on its surrounding medium would extend the range at which detections could be made and would be a valuable asset to many industries. The development of such a detection instrument requires an accurate prediction of these secondary effects. This research aims to improve on existing modeling techniques and help provide a method for predicting results for an affected medium in the presence of radioactive materials. A review of radioactivity and the interactions mechanisms for emitted particles as well as a brief history of the Monte Carlo Method and its ...

High-Performance Self-Powered Uv Detector Based On Sno2-Tio2 Nanomace Arrays, Duo Chen, Lin Wei, Lingpan Meng, Yanxue Chen, Yufeng Tian, Shishen Yan, Liangmo Mei, Jun Jiao

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Photoelectrochemical cell-typed self-powered UV detectors have attracted intensive research interest due to their low cost, simple fabrication process, and fast response. In this paper, SnO2-TiO2 nanomace arrays composed of SnO2 nanotube trunk and TiO2 nanobranches were prepared using soft chemical methods, and an environment-friendly self-powered UV photodetector using this nanostructure as the photoanode was assembled. Due to the synergistic effect of greatly accelerated electron-hole separation, enhanced surface area, and reduced charge recombination provided by SnO2-TiO2 nanomace array, the nanostructured detector displays an excellent performance over that based on bare SnO2 arrays. The impact of the growing time of TiO2 branches ...

Time-Resolved Double-Resonance Spectroscopy: Lifetime Measurement Of The 61Σ+G(7,31) Electronic State Of Molecular Sodium, Michael Saaranen, Dinesh Wagle, Emma Mclaughlin, Amelia Paladino, Seth T. Ashman, Burcin Bayram

Seth Ashman

Completely Top–Down Hierarchical Structure In Quantum Mechanics, Yakir Aharonov, Eliahu Cohen, Jeff Tollaksen

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Can a large system be fully characterized using its subsystems via inductive reasoning? Is it possible to completely reduce the behavior of a complex system to the behavior of its simplest “atoms”? In this paper we answer these questions in the negative for a specific class of systems and measurements. After a general introduction of the topic, we present the main idea with a simple two-particle example, where strong correlations arise between two apparently empty boxes. This leads to surprising effects within atomic and electromagnetic systems. A general construction based on preand postselected ensembles is then suggested, wherein the Nbody ...

Sampling Complexity Of Bosonic Random Walkers On A One-Dimensional Lattice, Gopikrishnan Muraleedharan, Akimasa Miyake, Ivan Deutsch

Shared Knowledge Conference

Computers based quantum logic are believed to solve problems faster and more efficiently than computers based on classical boolean logic. However, a large-scale universal quantum computer with error correction may not be realized in near future. But we can ask the question: can we devise a specific problem that a quantum device can solve faster than current state of the art super computers? One such problem is the so called "Boson Sampling" problem introduced by Aaronson and Arkhipov. The problem is to generate random numbers according to same distribution as the output number configurations of photons in linear optics. It ...

44 - Computational Techniques To Analyze The Nitrogen Second Positive System, Bakari Bethea

Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference (GURC)

One of the most easily identifiable parts of a nitrogen molecular emission spectra is the second positive system, which has strong emission bands between 300 nm and 400 nm. This system is often used to determine the gas temperature for electric discharges since the rotational temperature in most of these systems is very close to the actual gas temperature. However, when using these systems many researchers assume that the band intensity for middle range angular momentum quantum numbers can be fitted by a Boltzmann distribution. This assumption is only true if the system is in thermal dynamic equilibrium, which does ...

3 - The Zeeman Effect And Its Potential In Molecular Spectroscopy, Megan L. Climer

Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference (GURC)

Zeeman Effect and Its Potential in Molecular Spectroscopy

Megan Climer

The Zeeman Effect is a splitting of energy levels or shells within an atom that is caused by an external magnetic field exerting torque on the electrons in the atom. The splitting itself is proportional to the strength of the magnetic field applied while the number of splits depends on the energy level of the atom itself. These splits can be observed in spectroscopy as distinct spectral lines that are formed in the place where only one was before. Studying this difference due to the magnetic field allows us to ...

Beam Theory For Classical And Quantum Nonlinear Optics---Exposing Classical And Quantum Correlations Of Transverse-Spatial Modes, Robert Nicholas Lanning

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Optics is arguably the most important branch of physics that has ever been studied. It is not only an essential ingredient of many other branches of physics that we study, it governs how we see, how we measure, and how we communicate in the modern world. And as the world continues to change, so do our tools and resources. In a relatively short amount of time, we have progressed from rudimentary tools that shape the world around us, to tools that harness the fundamental laws of nature. Unsurprisingly, the laws of nature governing optics remain paramount. This is because many ...

Bipartite Quantum Interactions: Entangling And Information Processing Abilities, Siddhartha Das

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The aim of this thesis is to advance the theory behind quantum information processing tasks, by deriving fundamental limits on bipartite quantum interactions and dynamics. A bipartite quantum interaction corresponds to an underlying Hamiltonian that governs the physical transformation of a two-body open quantum system. Under such an interaction, the physical transformation of a bipartite quantum system is considered in the presence of a bath, which may be inaccessible to an observer. The goal is to determine entangling abilities of such arbitrary bipartite quantum interactions. Doing so provides fundamental limitations on information processing tasks, including entanglement distillation and secret key ...

Theoretical Studies Of Ultrafast Electron Dynamics In Atoms And Molecules Via High-Order Harmonic Generation, Paul Vincent Abanador

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The interaction of atoms and molecules with strong laser pulses is of fundamental interest in physics and chemistry. Notably, the process known as high-order harmonic generation (HHG) refers to the production of extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) light, which occurs when an ensemble of atoms or molecules is subjected to a strong infrared laser field. Characterized by an attosecond time scale (1 as = 10^-18 s), the HHG process provides the capability for experimental measurements to capture the ultrafast motion of electrons in these target atoms and molecules. The underlying physical mechanism behind this process naturally leaves imprints in the properties of the ...

Perturbative Representation Of Ultrashort Nonparaxial Elegant Laguerre-Gaussian Fields, Andrew Vikartofsky, Anthony F. Starace, Liang-Wen Pi

Anthony F. Starace Publications

An analytical method for calculating the electromagnetic fields of a nonparaxial elegant Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) vortex beam is presented for arbitrary pulse duration, spot size, and LG mode. This perturbative approach provides a numerically tractable model for the calculation of arbitrarily high radial and azimuthal LG modes in the nonparaxial regime, without requiring integral representations of the fields. A key feature of this perturbative model is its use of a Poisson-like frequency spectrum, which allows for the proper description of pulses of arbitrarily short duration. This model is thus appropriate for simulating laser-matter interactions, including those involving short laser pulses.