Atomic, Molecular, & Optical Physics

Physics hardware

Apparatus for creating quantum gases of the most magnetic atom, dysprosium, for quantum simulation of exotic many-body physics (Lev group)

AMO research in the Department of Applied Physics explores new regimes of quantum physics and exploits quantum effects for novel devices

The Department of Applied Physics has a proud tradition in AMO physics stretching back decades. Art Schawlow and Steve Chu, joint faculty members with the Physics Department, won Nobel prizes in 1981 and 1997 for laser spectroscopy & laser cooling and atom trapping, respectively. Today, our AMO efforts span a wide range of intellectual inquiry, complementing that explored in other Stanford departments such as Physics and Electrical Engineering.

The AMO physics in the Department of Applied Physics explores regimes of nature wherein quantum and nonlinear effects are manifest at low energies or high field intensities. Several faculty work at SLAC in the field of ultrafast and x-ray lasers for studying atomic, molecular, and solid-state structure and dynamics. On campus, we exploit AMO systems for quantum engineering writ broadly: quantum sensing, devices, computing, and analog simulation of quantum many-body physics. Foundational and applied quantum physics with quantum gases complements work with atom-like solid-state systems made from superconducting circuits, optoacoustic and optomechanical materials, and color centers in crystals.