Advanced laser technology, some of it developed in SIMS, is dramatically
extending our control over almost all aspects of light and through
it our ability to observe and control matter. The current state-of-the-art
is:
Colour: How molecules respond to light of different
colours is their "figerprint". Each molecule reacts
differently to a given colour. With laser technology we can define
colours incredible accurately --- to one part in ~ 1015. There are
about 1,000,000,000,000,000 distinct colours that can form a molecular
fingerprint.
Time: Atoms and molecules are in constant motion.
Reactions between them, involving fast electronic and vibrational
motion power chemical and biological processes. Laser technology
produces optical or electron pulses that are only 200 attoseconds
(200/1,000,000,000,000,000,000 sec.) in duration. Ultrafast lasers
allow us to measure the dynamics of many chemical reactions.
Intensity: Light is a wave of electric force.
Electrical forces also hold electrons to ions in atoms and molecules
or atoms together in molecules or solids. The forces exerted by
lasers can approach or exceed the binding forces. Through these
forces we have one important avenues for controlling the quantum
world. Wavelength: On the molecular scale, laser wavelengths are very large.
Until recently that has meant that lasers could not "see"
molecules. Now, laser wavelengths are approaching molecular dimensions
and lasers control electrons are already less than molecular sizes.
We are poised to revolutionize how we determine molecular structure.
Phase: Phase is what distinguishes quantum and
classical mechanics. Because of their short duration, femtosecond
duration pulses contain a broad bandwidth of phased radiation. Quantum
interference offers a second avenue for controlling quantum systems.
The Atomic, Molecular and Optics Science group
studies the interaction of advanced light beams with physical and
biological materials. Applied to atoms, we produce attosecond optical
and electron pulses. Applied to molecules, we follow chemical processes
as they occur. Applied to clusters, we observe the origins of super-fluidity.
Applied to transparent solids, we write buried nano-structures.
Applied to biological samples we plan to follow chemical processes
occurring in cells in both space and time.
AMO Science: Lasers were discovered in 1960. They allow us to control light.
Lasers ensure that modern AMO science is as revolutionary as it
was 100 years ago. Lasers allow us to:
Produce very short light pulses (currently ~ 200 attoseconds).
With short light pulses we can measure the very fastest processes
in atoms, molecules and solids.
Produce very intense light pulses. Through them we control atoms
and molecules.
Produce very narrow linewidth light beams. Through them we extend
the precision spectroscopy from
Make phase controlled pulses.
Our research builds on a century old foundation. During this time
AMO Science has shaped the very foundations of science. Nearly a
century ago, quantum mechanics was developed to describe experiments
on light-atom interactions. Fifty years ago the structures of small
molecules were determined from studying how light interacts with
them. Much of that research was done at NRC in the 1950's.
This field of research was named spectroscopy. Now science is determining
the structure of large molecules by how X-rays scatter from them.
