Research

During the past decade we have placed a major emphasis on optics and photonics, including quantum optics, laser optics and optical materials leading to the development of a series of spectroscopy laboratories which now have gained international stature. Our materials laboratories provide state of the art facilities for the preparation, characterization and investigation of solid state structures ranging from exotically doped, optically non-linear crystals to nanostructure devices.

Astronomy and Space Physics

Dr. Gordon Emslie's space science program focuses on near earth phenomena, including the radiation belts. His current interests include the study of solar flares.

Dr. Peter Shull's interests include supernova remnants and protoplanetary disks. He is also the director of OSU's observatory, which operates a new, 24-inch robotic telescope, the largest in Oklahoma. Research programs for the telescope include the photometric discovery of transiting exoplanets, and astrometry of near-Earth asteroids.

Biological Physics

Dr. Aihua Xie leads an active research group that studies the fundamental principles of proteins. Proteins by nature are nanoparticles, with well designed biological functions. Proteins perform an enormous range of roles in cells such as manufacturers, communicators, regulators, and commanders that keep cells alive, organized, healthy, and active. Her group employs a broad range of experimental, computational, and biochemical techniques for their research, encompassing tunable nanosecond lasers, time-resolved nanosecond and microsecond Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, microlithographically fabricated microflow device, infrared microscopic spectroscopy, and density function based quantum calculations of complex biomolecules.

Dr. Bret Flanders is studying the mesoscopic thermodynamics of lung surfactants which are vital in newborns to establish normal breathing patterns.

High Energy Physics

Dr. Satya Nandi and Dr. Kaladi Babu and the elementary particle theory group are focused on proposing tests for the theories within and beyond the standard model as they look at unification of forces within the context of supersymmetry, compactification of extra dimensions and string theory. Dr. Nandi is also the Director of the Oklahoma Consortium of Universities for High Energy Experimental and Theoretical Physics.

Dr. Flera Rizatdinova leads an experimental high energy group. The group is involved in two major experiments, D0 at the Tevatron, Fermilab, and ATLAS at the Large Hadron Collider, CERN. The main interests of the group are top quark physics and search for a Higgs boson. Members of the group develop tracking algorithms and experimental methods to identify jets originated from b-quarks. The group is also involved in the optical links research and development for the next pixel system in the upgraded ATLAS detector.

Nanostructures and Condensed Matter Theory

The group led by Dr. John Mintmire continues studies of single- and multi-walled nanotubes and other nanostructures using density functional theory.

Dr. Xincheng Xie is applying many-body theory to study fundamental phenomena of solids and nanomaterials such as their electronic transport properties. Dr. Xie recently was recognized as one of the outstanding theoretical physicists worldwide by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Dr. Jacques Perk studies thermodynamic quantities, phase transitions, and correlation functions of exactly solvable models capturing phenomena in real physical systems.

Nanostructures and Condensed Matter Experimental

Dr. Bret Flanders is "growing" nanowires from the ground up. His group has developed special techniques for self-assembly of nanostructures in external electric fields. His students are investigating the electrical and optical properties of these nanowires with an eye toward their technological application as sensors.

Dr. Jim Wicksted employs Raman and Raman spectroscopies to study the mechanical, electrical and optical properties of carbon nanotubes and other nano, bio and amorphous materials.

Dr. Eduardo Yukihara is developing new techniques and materials for radiation dosimetry. Dosimetry studies includes radiation measurements in the International Space Station, the development of new passive dosimeters for neutrons, and high-precision dosimetry for dose verification and quality assurance of radiotherapy treatments.

Dr. Bruce Ackerson research deals with the non-equilibrium structure of fluids and colloidal suspensions as determined by light scattering. Recently his interest has turned to developing and testing strategies in science education which will afford students more immediate and better insights into physics and other sciences.

Dr. Robert Hauenstein studies the molecular beam epitaxial (MBE) growth and characterization of semiconductor films and heterostructures.

Optics and Photonics

Dr. Girish Agarwal and his students are exploring various problems in quantum optics and quantum information science, including quantum computing. Dr. Agarwal holds the Noble chair in Optics at OSU; the group has worldwide collaborations in the field of optics with similar groups at the University of Rochester, Texas A&M, and the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics.

Dr. Gil Summy's group is using Bose-Einstein Condensation in rubidium 87 to investigate fundamental issues in quantum chaos and atom trapping. In August 2004, Dr. Summy's group achieved a Bose Einstein condensate using optical trapping methods exclusively, thereby becoming one of the first such groups in the world to do so. The group maintains active collaborations with Dr. William Phillips' (Nobel Laureate 1997) group at NIST.

Dr. Al Rosenberger's group is studying the fundamental properties and technical applications of "whispering gallery modes" (WGM's) of light in dielectric microresonators. For example, a fused-silica microsphere less than 1 mm in diameter supports many WGMs, whose evanescent parts extend outside the sphere to "feel" the environment. Applications include quantum-dot microlasers and chemical sensors.

Dr. Donna Bandy (Noble Research Fellow) and her students are investigating the WGMs using sophisticated modeling techniques to predict properties such as mode excitation and outcoupling using tapered optical fibers.

Dr. James Harmon has developed real-time sensors which measure minute levels of various chemical and biological agents by studying the changes in the spectral properties of target molecules to which they bind. Dr. Tim Wilson and Dr. Tom Collins and their students are computing the spectral properties of these target molecules and how they are affected by the agents which bind to them.

Surface Science

Dr. Peter Sherwood uses surface analytical probes, especially core and valence band X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy(XPS), for the study of material surfaces with particular interest in electrode surfaces, corrosion systems, carbon fibers and composites and data analysis.

Research Facilities and Research Groups

State-of-the-Art Experimental Research Facilities and Theoretical Research Groups within our department include:

• The Bose-Einstein Condensation Laboratory
• The Computational Materials Physics Group (OKRA)
• The Crystal Growth Laboratory
• The H. S. Mendenhall Observatory
• The High Energy Physics Group
• The Optical Physics Laboratory
• The Optically and Thermally Stimulated Phenomena Laboratory
• The Physics and Chemistry Instrument Shop
• The Quantum Optics and Quantum Information Science (QOQIS) Group
• The Surface Science Laboratory
• The Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics Group