| James Shaffer | |
| Title: | Associate Professor |
| Education: | B.S. 1991 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
| Ph.D.1999 University of Rochester | |
| Office: | 143 Nielsen Hall |
| Phone: | 405-325-3961, ext. 36143 |
| Email: | |
| Research Home Page |
I am currently interested in investigating exotic states of matter and the coupling of quantum dynamical systems to their environment. My research group has developed novel experimental methods for investigating the interactions between ultracold atoms using Rydberg atom time-of-flight spectroscopy. In developing this method, we were able to predict and find a new type of molecule formed by 2 Rydberg atoms which has a bond length of > 3 μm. I am also interested in other types of molecules that can form at ultralow temperatures such as Rydberg atom-ground state atom molecules and the physics of Efimov states and three-body recombination. These types of systems and methods are important for investigating chemical dynamics that can take place in ultracold atom traps. My research group also is working on understanding the interactions between cold Rydberg atoms for making new types of quantum entanglement based devices such as single photon sources and quantum gates. Some of this work is done at ultracold temperatures (T ≤ 1 mK) and some is done in micron-sized thermal vapor cells. Most of these investigations are experimental but my research group also does theory to support our experimental efforts.
Representative Publications:
- "Atom Optics: Marriage of Atoms and Plasmons," J.P. Shaffer, Nature Photonics 5, 451 (2011).
- "Coherent Excitation of Rydberg Atoms in Thermal Vapor Cells," H. Kubler, J.P. Shaffer, T. Baluksian, R. Low, and T. Pfau, Nature Photonics 4, 112 (2010).
- "Electric Field Effects in the Excitation of Cold Rydberg Atom Pairs," V.A. Nascimento, L.L. Caliri, A. Schwettmann, J.P. Shaffer, and L.G. Marcassa, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 213201 (2009).
- "Observation of Ultra-Long Range Rydberg Molecules," V. Bendkowsky, B. Butscher, J. Nipper, J.P. Shaffer, R. Low, and T. Pfau, Nature 458, 1005 (2009).
- "Observation of Electric-Field Induced Cs Rydberg Atom Macrodimers," K.R. Overstreet, A. Schwettmann, J. Tallant, D. Booth, and J.P. Shaffer, Nature Physics, 5, 581 (2009).