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Faculty Profile Last Modified Time: 10:48:43 AM Wed, 8 Apr 2020   Contact Information Tom Killian Associated Profiles  Professor and Department Chair, Physics and Astronomy, Rice University   Brockman Hall, Room No.: 336    killian@rice.edu     713-348-2917    Web Link    Lab Webpage    Atomic Physics and Plasma Physics: Strongly Interacting Quantum Degenerate Atomic Gases, Ultracold Rydberg Atoms and Molecules, and Ultracold Plasmas    Associated Profiles Research and Expertise Appointments  Research and Expertise Research Interests   Thomas Killian's research group studies ultracold neutral plasmas and quantum degenerate atomic gases. Both experiments start with laser-cooled and trapped neutral strontium. Laser-cooling is a powerful technique for producing and trapping atoms at temperatures as low as one millionth of a degree above absolute zero. Under these exotic conditions, matter behaves in fundamentally different ways, and the exploration of this regime teaches us about the basic laws of nature and lays the foundation for powerful new technological advances. The current focus for our experiments with quantum degenerate gases is the creation and study of strongly interacting, many-body systems. In the quantum realm, the highly entangled wavefunctions in these systems lead to the emergence of new physics, such as superfluidity, superconductivity, and magnetism. Ultracold atoms offer many advantages for these experiments, such as the ability to control atom interactions with magnetic and optical fields, and the ability to control sample geometry and even dimensionality with atom traps made with interfering laser beams. We are currently studying the use of laser fields to control interactions and form exotic molecular states in strontium Bose-Einstein condensates. We are also using lasers to excite atoms in the quantum degenerate gas to highly excited Rydberg states. This introduces strong, long-range interactions between atoms, and is predicted to lead to exotic states of matter such as supersolids, which have long-range order of a solid and frictionless flow of a superfluid.  Publications/Creative Works Click here to search for this faculty member's publications on PubMed.  Appointments Title Department / School Institution Professor & Chair Physics and Astronomy Rice University

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