Quantum Physics Division

Division Overview   |   Program Directions   |   Major Technical Highlights

Overview Through the Quantum Physics Division, NIST participates in JILA, a cooperative Institute between NIST and the University of Colorado (CU). The Division conducts long-term, cutting edge research in quantum physics and related areas in support of the Nation's science and technology. The Division interacts with University faculty, students, and visiting scientists to maintain expertise at the forefront of research in physics; transfers the results of its research and technology to the Nation's industries and other government agencies; and exchanges ideas and skills with other scientists in NIST and in industry through scholarly publications, visits, seminars, and exchanges of personnel. The governing body of JILA, its "Fellows," consists of 24 permanent senior scientists who set policy, subject to review by the Director of NIST and the President of CU. A biennially elected Chair, assisted by the NIST Division Chief acting as an Associate Chair, together with an executive committee are responsible for operating the Institute within the policies set out by the Fellows. Of the present 24 active Fellows, 14 are tenured State of Colorado faculty members – six in the Department of Physics, two in Chemistry, and six in Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences – and 10 are NIST employees – nine in the Quantum Physics Division and one in the Time and Frequency Division. Currently, one NIST scientist and one CU scientist are "Associate Fellows." All of these scientists work side by side, sharing facilities and responsibility for the success of the Institute, yet each remains officially responsible to their respective employer, NIST and the Physics Laboratory Director in some cases, CU and the pertinent academic department in the others. During 2001, approximately 100 graduate students and postdoctorals were supervised by NIST scientists and approximately 40 staff were associated with NIST activities.
		Ultracold, fermionic potassium atoms released from an optical trap. In this image we see atoms in seven different spin states, separated for imaging by a spatially inhomogeneous magnetic field. By trapping atoms in multiple spin states we can explore interaction effects, such as the possibility of Cooper pairing, in the Fermi gas.

The governing body of JILA, its "Fellows," consists of 24 permanent senior scientists who set policy, subject to review by the Director of NIST and the President of CU. A biennially elected Chair, assisted by the NIST Division Chief acting as an Associate Chair, together with an executive committee are responsible for operating the Institute within the policies set out by the Fellows. Of the present 24 active Fellows, 14 are tenured State of Colorado faculty members – six in the Department of Physics, two in Chemistry, and six in Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences – and 10 are NIST employees – nine in the Quantum Physics Division and one in the Time and Frequency Division. Currently, one NIST scientist and one CU scientist are "Associate Fellows." All of these scientists work side by side, sharing facilities and responsibility for the success of the Institute, yet each remains officially responsible to their respective employer, NIST and the Physics Laboratory Director in some cases, CU and the pertinent academic department in the others. During 2001, approximately 100 graduate students and postdoctorals were supervised by NIST scientists and approximately 40 staff were associated with NIST activities.

JILA was formed in the early 1960's in response to serious gaps in our basic understanding of the physics of gaseous atmospheres (terrestrial, planetary, solar, and stellar). Subsequently JILA has evolved to respond to new scientific opportunities, changing national needs, and the requirements of its parent organizations. It has become a world leader not only in atomic and molecular science, but also in precision measurement (including gravity, frequency standards, and geophysics), laser and optical physics, chemical physics, and astrophysics. Most recently it has expanded into programs involving surfaces and materials as well as biophysics. As NIST's mission has expanded to include support for industry, the criteria used by division scientists to direct their research programs have also been modified.

In pursuit of the NIST mission, the Division:

• develops the laser as a precise measurement tool;

• determines fundamental constants and tests the fundamental postulates of physics;

• exploits Bose-Einstein condensation as well as quantum degenerate Fermi gases for metrology and low temperature physics;

• investigates new ways to direct and control atoms and molecules;

• characterizes chemical processes and their interactions with nanostructures;

• studies the interaction of ultrashort light pulses with matter; and

• is implementing a new program in biophysics.