Ultrafast Quantum Physics

Catalog description

Intended for first-year graduate students who are interested in understanding the basic concepts of ultrafast quantum science to prepare for research in AMO physics, condensed matter physics, physical chemistry or quantum information science.The topics in this course are distinct from and complementary to AP 201 (Laser and X-ray Sources and Science) and AP 203 (AMO Physics and Quantum Optics). Topics for this course: - Atomic structure probed in the time domain: Wave packets and quantum entanglement.- Molecular structure probed in the time domain: Building up and then breaking down the Born-Oppenheimer picture.- Extended quantum systems probed in the time domain: Band structure, phonons, and ultrafast disturbances- Laser-matter interactions: From multi-photon absorption to tunnel-ionization. - X-ray-matter interactions: Excitation, ionization, and linear and nonlinear scattering.- Attosecond science: Impulsive excitation, Auger-Meitner decay, charge migration within molecules.- Extreme time-domain quantum physics: high-field environments, and matter tunneling from the quantum vacuum.