Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics

Atomic, molecular and optical physics is the study of how light and matter interact. The field has produced an extremely exciting set of tools for creating and probing many of today’s most exotic quantum systems. Researchers are working to develop and improve devices for better detecting and researching these quantum systems: research that can then be used to engineer quantum key distribution technology, quantum nodes needed for quantum communication, and improved detectors for astrophysics research.

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Atomic molecules

UChicago PME Researchers

In Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
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David Awschalom
David Awschalom
Director of the Chicago Quantum Institute, Liew Family Professor of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research Areas
Spintronics, Solid-State Quantum Information Processing, Magnetic Semiconductors, Nanomagnetism, Magneto-Optical Spectroscopy
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Andrew Cleland
Andrew Cleland
John A. MacLean Sr. Professor of Molecular Engineering Innovation and Enterprise in the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering; Director, Pritzker Nanofabrication Facility
Research Areas
Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing
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Aashish Clerk
Aashish Clerk
Professor of Molecular Engineering in the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research Areas
Theoretical Quantum Condensed Matter Physics, Quantum Optics, Engineered Quantum Systems, Quantum Information
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Alex High
Alex High
Associate Professor of Molecular Engineering in the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research Areas
Quantum Materials, Heterogeneous Integration and Hybrid Quantum Technologies, Quantum Sensing, Quantum Photonics, Quantum Optomechanics
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Liang Jiang
Liang Jiang
Professor of Molecular Engineering in the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research Areas
Quantum Communication, Quantum Computing, Quantum Sensing, Quantum Simulation, Quantum Control, Quantum Error Correction
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Peter Maurer
Peter Maurer
Assistant Professor of Molecular Engineering in the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research Areas
Quantum Optics, Quantum Sensing, Solid-State Spin Systems, Single-Molecule Biophysics, Physical Chemistry
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Ruben Verresen
Ruben Verresen
Assistant Professor of Molecular Engineering in the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research Areas
Condensed Matter Physics, Quantum Information, Topological Physics, Quantum Simulation, Engineered Quantum Systems
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Tian Zhong
Tian Zhong
Assistant Professor of Molecular Engineering in the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research Areas
Quantum Photonics, Quantum Information, Quantum Networking, Solid-State Quantum Technologies

UChicago and Argonne Researchers

In Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
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Cheng Chin
Cheng Chin
Professor in the Department of Physics, James Franck Institute, Enrico Fermi Institute, and College
Research Areas
Quantum Sensing, Condensed Matter Physics, AMO Physics
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Zoe Yan
Zoe Yan
Assistant Professor of Physics, UChicago Department of Physics
Research Areas
AMO Physics, Condensed Matter Physics, Quantum Computing, Quantum Information