Faculty in AMO and strong-field physics are advancing the frontiers of light-matter interactions, attosecond science, spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. Recent breakthroughs in laser technology provide powerful tools for manipulation, measurement, and control of dynamical processes in atoms, molecules, nanomaterials, solids, and the exploration of the nature of radiation phenomena and particle production by strong electromagnetic forces. Applied research includes laser driven nuclear fusion and plasma physics. The group members are embedded into highest ranked national and international
research networks and seek to expand engagement with graduate students.
Atomic, Molecular, Optical and Strong Fields Physics Faculty
The Golubev group conducts theoretical and computational research on ultrafast quantum dynamics in atomic, molecular, and condensed-matter systems. The group investigates how electrons and nuclei evolve on femtosecond and attosecond timescales after excitation or ionization by light, with particular emphasis on correlated electron-nuclear motion and light-matter interactions. By developing and applying first-principles quantum methods, semiclassical approaches, and large-scale numerical simulations, the group aims to describe and understand phenomena such as charge migration, photoinduced dynamics, and ultrafast processes in molecules and solids relevant to attosecond science and modern spectroscopy. Golubev's research program has been recognized with the Branco Weiss Fellowship – Society in Science and a DOE Early Career Award in 2023.
The Hassan group leads experimental research in ultrafast science, spanning attosecond imaging, petahertz electronics, and ultrafast quantum optics. Building on the invention of the attosecond electron microscope (“Attomicroscope”), the group has established real-time imaging of electron motion in solids with combined nanometer spatial and attosecond temporal resolution, enabling direct measurements of nonequilibrium electron dynamics. The group has also achieved landmark advances in light-driven electronics, including the demonstration of a petahertz quantum phototransistor and all-optical current switching on attosecond timescales, laying the foundation for electronics operating at optical field frequencies. Complementary contributions include new ultrafast metrology techniques and advances in quantum light generation for high-speed communication. These achievements were recognized internationally with an AFOSR YIP award and the 2025 Microscopy Today Innovation Award for Attomicroscopy.
The Rafelski group investigates the behavior of elementary particles and plasmas in strong electromagnetic fields, an interdisciplinary area spanning nuclear physics, particle physics, and plasma physics. The research addresses phenomena encountered in environments such as ultra-intense laser-matter interactions and heavy ion collisions, connecting high-Z atomic and nuclear collisions with relativistic and quantum-field effect. Current work, explores radiation processes, particle production from quark-gluon plasma, quantum vacuum structure in strong fields, and applications to early-Universe physics and laser-nanostructure interactions aimed at compact fusion concepts. Since the COVID period, six PhD students have completed their degrees in this area and transitioned to academic careers, and future efforts will emphasize nuclear fusion research combining relativistic lasers with nanoscale optoelectronic devices.
