FIU-JILA Partnership for Research and Education in AMO Physics

该奖项的全部或部分资金来自《2021年美国救援计划法案》(公法117-2)。原子、分子和光学(AMO)物理学研究功能物质的基本组成部分，包括原子及其组成、分子和量子水平上的光。AMO物理一直是现代科学和技术的基石，特别是新兴的量子信息科学和技术领域。该项目旨在建立佛罗里达国际大学(FIU)物理系和JILA物理前沿中心(JILA PFC)之间的战略合作伙伴关系，以促进和促进两个机构在AMO物理学方面的多样性和卓越研究。研究目标将通过两个主要研究项目(超冷原子物理和单分子生物物理)来实现，这两个项目旨在利用JILA PFC的世界级专家以及FIU的现有研究能力。该项目将通过实施预科课程改进战略，改善两所院校中代表性不足群体的研究生的招生、留住和学位获得情况。这一合作伙伴关系将推动AMO物理学的研究，并改善两所大学研究生的多样性。拟议的FIU-JILA伙伴关系将在两个主要方面进行研究，以促进AMO物理，特别是在理解(1)超冷原子阵列中的多体物理和(2)单分子生物物理方面。在推力1中，研究人员将使用基于飞秒激光的超快光谱来研究原子阵列中的多体效应，包括相互作用、关联和集体效应，以应用于基础多体物理和量子技术。他们还将使用飞秒脉冲来实现对原子阵列中量子态的超快操纵。在推力2中，将发展最先进的单分子成像和测量技术，包括共聚焦和全内反射显微镜，基于纳米管的电化学技术与单分子荧光技术的集成，基于原子力显微镜的高精度单分子力技术，以及分子动力学模拟，并用于研究生物分子的折叠动力学和动力学以及细胞内单分子的传递和检测。这一伙伴关系还将通过实施预科途径改进战略，包括教职员工/学生互访，让本科生参与JILA PFC的暑期研究，让本科生和研究生参与FIU拟议的研究活动，学生指导，以及在迈阿密菲利普和帕特里夏·弗罗斯特科学博物馆的公开讲座，改善FIU和JILA物理学研究生的多样性。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2). Atomic, Molecular, and Optical (AMO) physics studies fundamental building blocks of functional matter, including atoms and their constituents, molecules, and light at the quantum level. AMO physics has been a cornerstone for modern science and technologies, particularly the emerging field of quantum information science and technology. This project aims to form a strategic partnership between the Department of Physics at Florida International University (FIU) and the JILA Physics Frontier Center (JILA PFC) in the JILA institute to promote and advance diversity and research excellence in AMO physics at both institutions. The research goals will be achieved through two major research thrusts (ultra-cold atomic physics and single-molecule biophysics) that are designed to leverage the world-class experts at JILA PFC as well as the existing research capabilities at FIU. The project will improve the recruitment, retainment, and degree attainment of graduate students from underrepresented groups in both institutions by implementing PREP pathway improvement strategies. This partnership will advance research in AMO physics and improve the diversity of graduate students in both institutions. The proposed FIU-JILA partnership will conduct research in two major thrusts to advance AMO physics, particularly in understanding (1) many-body physics in ultra-cold atom arrays and (2) single-molecule biophysics. In thrust 1, the investigators will use femtosecond laser-based ultrafast spectroscopy to study many-body effects including interactions, correlations, and collective effects in atom arrays for applications in fundamental many-body physics and quantum technologies. They will also use femtosecond pulses to realize ultrafast manipulation of quantum states in atom arrays. In thrust 2, state-of-the-art single-molecule imaging and measurement techniques including confocal and total internal reflection microscopy, the integration of nanopipette-based electrochemical techniques with the single-molecule fluorescence techniques, the atomic force microscopy-based high-precision single-molecule force techniques, and molecular dynamics simulations will be developed and used to study folding kinetics and dynamics of biomolecules and intracellular single-molecule delivery and detection. The partnership will also improve the diversity of physics graduate students in both FIU and JILA by implementing PREP pathway improvement strategies including faculty/student exchange visits, engaging undergraduate students in summer research at JILA PFC, engaging undergraduate and graduate students in proposed research activities at FIU, student mentoring, and public lectures at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science in Miami.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.