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Home » Physics and Astronomy Faculty » Research » Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics

Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics

Atomic, Molecular, and Optical (AMO) Physicists study phenomena on the scale of one to a few atoms or molecules, interactions between which are governed by electric and magnetic forces from charged particles (electrons and protons). Besides determining how atoms and molecules and their antimatter counterparts function, they use atomic or molecular systems to measure fundamental constants of nature, such as the fine structure constant governing the strength of electromagnetic interactions. The term "optical physics" is synonymous with research in the field because of the role played by lasers, which are used to probe atoms and molecules on the quantum scale with exquisite precision. AMO physicists also employ lasers and their interactions with matter to develop new ways of measuring macroscopic phenomena, such as atmospheric dynamics (lidar) and the Earth’s gravitational field (gravimetry).

Picture Name Research Area Research Type
Picture of Scott Beattie Beattie, Scott Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Experimental
Picture of Radu Campeanu Campeanu, Radu Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Computational
Theoretical
Picture of Allan Carswell Carswell, Allan Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Planetary Physics
Experimental
Picture of Jurij Darewych Darewych, Jurij Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Computational
Theoretical
Picture of Matthew George George, Matthew Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Experimental
Picture of Michael Haslam Haslam, Michael Applied Mathematics
Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Computational
Theoretical
Picture of Eric Hessels Hessels, Eric Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Computational
Experimental
Theoretical
Picture of Marko Horbatsch Horbatsch, Marko Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Computational
Theoretical
Picture of Tom Kirchner Kirchner, Tom Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Computational
Theoretical
Picture of Anantharaman Kumarakrishnan Kumarakrishnan, Anantharaman Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Experimental
Picture of James Laframboise Laframboise, James Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Computational
Theoretical
Picture of Louis Marmet Marmet, Louis Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Computational
Experimental
Picture of James Martin Martin, James Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Experimental
Picture of Robert McEachran McEachran, Robert Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Computational
Theoretical
Picture of Allan Stauffer Stauffer, Allan Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Computational
Theoretical
Picture of Cody Storry Storry, Cody Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Experimental
Picture of William van Wijngaarden van Wijngaarden, William Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Experimental
Picture of Jennifer van Wijngaarden van Wijngaarden, Jennifer Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Computational
Experimental