Collaborative Research: Imaging and Controlling Ultrafast Dynamics of Atoms, Molecules, and Nanostructures

非技术描述内布拉斯加州和堪萨斯州的原子、分子和光学(AMO)研究小组将组成一个合作联盟，研究和开发控制电子在原子、分子和纳米结构中发生超快(Femto(10-15)到atto(10-18)秒)时间尺度的基本过程的方法。该项目将汇集来自内布拉斯加大学林肯分校(UNL)、堪萨斯州立大学(KSU)和堪萨斯大学(KU)的实验和理论物理学家、化学家和电气工程师，以及KSU詹姆斯·R·麦克唐纳实验室(JRML)的AMO研究设施、UNL的极端光实验室、KU的物理和化学系，以及伙伴机构的计算资源，以探索新的物质状态。该项目团队计划参与协同活动，通过在广泛的教育水平上吸引学生、教师和研究人员，扩大STEM劳动力并使其多样化。预计联合体合作伙伴之间以及在国家和国际层面的研究和教育合作以及筹备多样化的、全球参与的STEM劳动力培训工作将在授权期后持续下去。这些项目将使用飞秒脉冲来触发物质中不同类型的反应，并使用泵浦-探测测量、高次谐波产生和超快电子衍射方法来研究和成像原子和分子的运动。将进行详细的实验和理论研究，以了解由强激光场和分子相互作用引起的分子电离过程。参与研究人员将建造具有角分辨率的电子能谱仪，提高提取分子结构参数的准确性，并建立改进的多原子分子电离理论。该项目的另一个方面将侧重于实验和理论研究，以研究纳米结构与极端紫外线和红外辐射的超短脉冲的相互作用。还将探索超快光学自由电子束开关等应用。该项目将利用堪萨斯州和内布拉斯加州实验计划建立的基础设施和教育、多样性和外联计划，以刺激竞争性研究(EPSCoR)，以参与和激励各级学生。在这个研究基础设施改善轨道2项目的三年时间里，该计划预计提供19个人年的博士后培训，并支持48名研究生、18名本科生和18名来自两年制和四年制大学的教职员工、18名高中生和30名高中教师进行研究。

Non-technical DescriptionThe atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) research groups in Nebraska and Kansas will form a collaborative consortium to study and develop ways to control fundamental processes of electron motion in atoms, molecules, and nanostructures that occur at ultrafast (femto (10-15) to atto (10-18) second) time scales. The project will bring together experimental and theoretical physicists, chemists and electrical engineers from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL), the Kansas State University (KSU), and the University of Kansas (KU) as well as the facilities for AMO research at the James R. Macdonald Laboratory (JRML) at KSU, Extreme Light Laboratory at UNL, Physics and Chemistry departments at KU, and the computing resources at the partner institutions to explore novel states of matter. The project team plans to engage in synergistic activities to expand and diversify the STEM workforce by engaging students, teachers, and researchers at broad ranging educational levels. Research and educational collaborations among the consortium partners as well as at national and international levels and the preparation of a diverse, globally engaged STEM workforce training are expected to be sustained beyond the award period. Technical Description The projects will use femto to atto second pulses of light to trigger different types of reactions in matter and use pump-probe measurements, high harmonic generation, and ultrafast electron diffraction methods to study and image atomic and molecular motions. Detailed experimental and theoretical studies will be carried out to understand the molecular ionization processes caused by the interaction of strong laser fields and molecules. Participating researchers will build an electron spectrometer with angular resolution, improve the accuracy of extracting the molecular structure parameters, and establish an improved ionization theory for polyatomic molecules. Another aspect of the project will focus on experimental and theoretical studies to investigate the interaction of nanostructures to ultrashort pulses of extreme ultraviolet and infrared radiation. Applications such as ultrafast optical free electron beam switches will also be explored. The project will leverage the infrastructure and education, diversity, and outreach programs established by Kansas and Nebraska Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) to engage and inspire students at all levels. During the three years of this Research Infrastructure Improvement Track-2 project, the program expects to provide 19 person-years of postdoctoral training and support 48 graduate students, 18 undergraduates and 18 faculty members from two-and four-year colleges, 18 high school students, and 30 high school teachers in research.