Atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics is the study of how small numbers of atoms (or molecules) interact with one another and with the electromagnetic field.  By using optical forces, a cloud of room-temperature atoms can be cooled to a temperature just above absolute zero. These ultracold atoms can then be used to create exceptionally accurate clocks and inertial sensors.  They also have many other applications in many-body physics, entanglement-enhanced measurement, and quantum computation.

Chris Overstreet

Chris Overstreet is interested in using AMO systems to study fundamental physics. His group is constructing an atom interferometry experiment to search for dark matter.

Alex Sushkov

Alex Sushkov is an interdisciplinary researcher interested in developing new quantum tools for precision measurements and employing them to address key problems in fundamental and applied science.