Quantum Theories of Fundamental Atomic and Molecular Processes

该项目将发展一套量子理论，以便在广泛的温度范围内系统地理解基本的原子和分子过程，从零开尔文，一切都表现为量子力学，到室温，原子和分子运动的某些方面已经演变成经典行为，但仍然存在微妙的量子效应，可以在天文学，化学，凝聚态物质和生物学中发挥关键作用。虽然量子理论在绝对零度附近相对简单，但在状态数量急剧增加的更高温度下，它可能变得极其困难。我们能有效地处理多态量子系统吗？原子和分子的量子理论是否不仅准确，而且足够简单和系统，可以用来为更复杂的少体和多体系统建立新的量子理论？基于PI、他的学生和同事在十多年中积累的一系列概念和数学上的进步，我们期望在这些基本问题上取得进展。就更广泛的影响而言，原子和分子的相互作用和过程是物理科学的基础。从冷原子到天体物理学等领域都有广泛的应用。这项工作将使新的、准确的、简单的原子和分子过程量子理论得以发展。这个项目将涉及研究生的培训。这些学生将在原子和分子的基本量子物理学方面受到良好的训练。这将使他们能够在天文学、化学、凝聚态物质和生物学等物理科学的其他领域发展新的理论和模型。

This project will develop a set of quantum theories for a systematic understanding of fundamental atomic and molecular processes over a wide range of temperatures, from zero kelvin, where everything behaves quantum mechanically, to room temperature, where certain aspects of the atomic and molecular motion have evolved into classical behavior, but with subtle quantum effects remain that can play a crucial role in astronomy, chemistry, condensed matter, and biology. While quantum theories can be relatively simple near absolute zero temperature, it can become exceedingly difficult at higher temperatures where the number of states has grown dramatically. Can we efficiently deal with quantum systems with many states? Can quantum theories for atoms and molecules be not only accurate, but also sufficiently simple and systematic that they can be used to build new quantum theories for more complex few-body and many-body systems? These are the fundamental questions that we expect to make progress on, based upon a set of conceptual and mathematical advances that the PI, his students, and colleagues have accumulated in over a decade. In terms of broader impact, atomic and molecular interactions and processes are at the very foundation of physical sciences. There is a wide range of applications in areas ranging from cold atoms to astrophysics. This work will allow substantially new, accurate yet simple quantum theories for atomic and molecular processes to be developed. This project will involve the training of graduate students. These students will be well trained in fundamental quantum physics of atoms and molecules. This will allow them to develop new theories and models in other areas of physical sciences such as astronomy, chemistry, condensed matter, and biology.