Coherent Time-Dependent Electron Interactions Within and Between Atoms

University Of Virginia Main Campus, Charlottesville VA

Investigators

Abstract

This research focuses on the manipulation of two-electron interactions within atoms and coherent collisions between atoms. The project is part of a larger effort within the PI's group that focuses on using lasers to control and observe quantum dynamics in atoms and molecules, an area of considerable current interest in fundamental physics research. In one set of experiments, electronic wavepacket control techniques will be used to investigate electron dynamics in a three-body Coulomb system, a long-standing problem in quantum and classical physics with no known general solution. A second line of experiments will test the general applicability of a variant of frequency-domain scaled-energy spectroscopy for investigating complex multi-configurational two-electron dynamics in the presence of strong static electric fields. In a third group of experiments, the transfer of atomic coherence via resonant Rydberg-Rydberg atom collisions will be explored. The broader impact involves the education of both graduate and undergraduate students.