I lead an experimental group that works with trapped molecular ions. By laser-cooling co-trapped atomic ions, my group can sympathetically cool the molecular ions to milliKelvin temperatures, where velocities and environmental interactions are reduced and where novel molecular control becomes possible. Applications of the research range from particle physics to chemistry to astrophysics.
My research group focuses on the transport properties of nanoscale quantum materials. Semiconductor quantum dots are used to isolate single electron spins, which exhibit long quantum coherence times. These systems allow quantum mechanics to be harnessed in a solid state environment for the implementation of elementary quantum gates. Our team uses nanofabrication to create artificially … Continued
Our research applies the experimental tools of nanoscale science to address open questions in condensed matter physics. One research direction uses electronic transport and noise techniques to explore the nature of the current-carrying excitations in strongly correlated materials – systems in which electron-electron interactions cannot be neglected and the standard model of conventional metals appears … Continued
Much of my research effort is devoted to the topic of quantum computation. Is it possible for a quantum computer to function in thermal equilibrium? How does one design realistic tests for quantum behavior in a given device? What can one learn about quantum mechanics in general by taking a “quantum information” perspective?
This year, my research group finished several long-standing projects which can be traced back directly to the funding by the Packard Foundation and the community of Packard fellows. We used an atom interferometer to record the most precise measurement of the fine structure constant, which describes the strength of the electromagnetic interaction. Comparison to other … Continued
My research explores the electronic, optical, and mechanical properties of nanoscale materials. I am currently excited about using these materials to construct functional micron-scale machines.
My research centers on non-accelerator particle physics, particle astrophysics, and low temperature physics. In particular, my work is on the development, construction, and operation of new detectors using liquefied noble gases, which are useful in looking for physics beyond the Standard Model. Applications include the search for dark matter interactions with ordinary matter, searches for … Continued
My research combines theoretical, computational, and experimental components with special emphasis on studying quantum mechanical coherence, interference, and entanglement phenomena. The general goal is to develop new techniques for controlling quantum evolution of quantum mechanical systems consisting of interacting atoms, molecules, photons, or electrons, and to use these techniques for exploring new science (e.g., quantum … Continued
My research program involves the use of subensemble techniques – single-molecule spectroscopy, magnetic resonance, and ultrafast fluorescence – to investigate the role of nanoscale order and shape on charge and energy migration in pi-conjugated macromolecules, semiconductor nanocrystals and monolayers, and metallic nanoparticles. The overarching theme, captured by the term “molecular mesoscopics”, is to identify collective … Continued
My research group strives to make conceptual advances to the field of quantum many-body physics. We pursue two research themes using the experimental tools of ultracold atomic physics and condensed matter physics: 1) Exploring new regimes of beyond mean-field physics wherein quantum fluctuations play a non-trivial role in system organization; and 2) Advancing the state-of-the-art … Continued