Atomic, Molecular, and Chemical Physics
Progress toward cleaner combustion, the development of surface catalysts, the microfabrication of layered semiconductors, the ultrasensitive detection of toxic emissions from hazardous waste incinerators, and the discovery of new corrosion-resistant materials exemplify the objectives of current research projects in Applied Physics that require a precise understanding of chemical reactions in the gas phase and on solid surfaces.
Characterization of these chemical reactions requires a variety of experimental techniques, including photoionization mass spectrometry with VUV lasers and synchrotron radiation, laser-induced multiphoton ionization, laser photolysis, x-ray and low-energy diffraction, Auger spectroscopy, and time-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Closely related studies involve molecular energy transfer, ionization in the gas phase, vibrational energy exchange, and desorption at surfaces. Another research program in this area concentrates on collisions between low-energy, highly charged ions and atoms or molecules that take place at KeV energies. Of particular interest are basic atomic processes relevant to laboratory and astrophysical plasmas. The low-energy, very highly charged ions of interest are produced by a superconducting solenoid electron-beam ion source, designed and built at Cornell.
FACULTY AND THEIR RESEARCH INTERESTS IN THIS AREA:
| John M. Blakely Professor, Materials Science and Engineering, MSE surface physics and chemistry |
| Itai Cohen Assistant Professor of Physics, Physics Department complex matter phyiscs: collodial suspensions; biological tissues; fluid-membrane interfaces |
| Terrill A. Cool Professor of Applied and Engineering Physics, AEP chemical physics, laser spectroscopy, combustion diagnostics, vacuum ultraviolet photo-ionization mass spectrometry, plasma spectroscopy of combustion |
| Harold G. Craighead Charles W. Lake Jr. Professor of Engineering; Professor of Applied and Engineering Physics, AEP nanofabrication, physics of ultrasmall solid-state devices and structures, biological nanostructures |
| Francis J. DiSalvo John A. Newman Professor of Physical Science, Chemistry and Chemical Biology synthesis and structure of solid-state theoretical prediction and design of new materials and states for energy conversion |
| Gregory D. Fuchs Assistant Professor, Applied and Engineering Physics, AEP quantum control, photo-physics of single semiconductor defects, photo-physics of dyes in polymers |
| Emmanuel Giannelis Walter R. Read Professor of Engineering, MSE hybrid nanomaterials for energy, biomedical, transportation, and packaging |
| Melissa A. Hines Professor, Chemistry and Chemical Biology surface physics and chemistry |
| Paul Houston Professor Emeritus, Chemistry and Chemical Biology molecular and chemical physics |
| Vaclav O. Kostroun Professor Emeritus, Applied and Engineering Physics, AEP low energy nuclear and atomic physics |
| Jiwoong Park Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Chemical Biology exploration of fundamental physics and chemistry in the nanometer scale by investigating electrical, optical, and thermal properties of individual nanostructures, including single molecules, nanocrystals, nanowires, carbon nanotubes, and their arrays |
| Richard Robinson Assistant Professor, MSE physics and chemistry of low-dimensional materials to produce a variety of nano-materials targeted for energy applications |
| Darrell G. Schlom Professor, MSE heteroepitaxial growth and characterization of oxide thin films; preparation of oxide superlattices and metastable phases by molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) |
| Z. Jane Wang Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering biophysics, fluid dynamics, statistical physics, applied mathematics; physics of insect flight; modeling of biological organisms; computer-human interactions |
