Institute for Theoretical, Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (ITAMP)

原子、分子和光学（AMO）物理学是一门使人有能力的科学，对上个世纪一些最重要的科学和技术进步作出了贡献。虽然第一次量子革命扩大了对原子和分子（物质的基本组成部分）结构的理解，并将其应用于导航、医学、计算和通信等行业、社会和经济领域，但一场新的量子革命正在全面向我们袭来。第二次量子革命是由原子之间相互作用的精度和控制以及对光和物质的相干特性的操纵和研究方面的显著技术进步推动的。具有原子和离子的大规模可编程量子系统现在已经常规实现。量子模拟器将原子困在光学镊子中的宏观距离上，并与里德堡激发强耦合，有望实现快速量子门的放大。使用原子、分子和人造原子的精密测量、时钟和传感技术的进步，现在影响着我们对量子物理学和宇宙学最基本方面的理解。AMO理论卓越中心将作为帮助引领量子技术革命的活动整合者。理论原子、分子和光学物理研究所（ITAMP）中心将为美国物理学家提供广泛的服务。位于马萨诸塞州剑桥市哈佛-史密森天体物理中心（CfA）的ITAMP将努力成为理论原子、分子和光学物理的孵化器，通过提供资源和访问剑桥丰富的与天体物理相关的卓越生态系统，为访问学者创造一个协作环境，为初级研究员提供培训和指导。广泛倡导该领域，并领导AMO物理学的前沿研究和向社区的推广工作。ITAMP将举行并主办有针对性的会议，在这些会议上，大批实践者将聚集在一起，对AMO物理学中的局部挑战发起协调攻击，并找到解决这些问题的新方法。博士后研究员和学生将受益于接近这些公认的人物在理论和实验AMO科学。访问学者将在丰富的办公环境中与博士后和科研人员进行互动，这在其他情况下是不可能的。冬季研究生院将安排培训学生热衷于学习AMO物理的基础和高级主题。作为其项目使命的一部分，该研究所将从少数民族院校招募教师/学生团队作为暑期研究员。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Atomic, Molecular and Optical (AMO) physics is an enabling science that has contributed to some of the most significant scientific and technical advances of the last century. While the first quantum revolution led to an expanded understanding of the structure of atoms and molecules -- the elementary building blocks of matter -- with applications in navigation, medicine, computing, and communication in use across the industry, society and economy, a new quantum revolution is fully upon us. The second quantum revolution is powered by remarkable technological advances in precision and control of interactions between atomic species, and manipulation and study of the coherent properties of light and matter. Large-scale programmable quantum systems with atoms and ions are now routinely realized. Quantum simulators, with atoms trapped over macroscopic distances in optical tweezers and strongly coupled with Rydberg excitations, promise to allow scaling up of fast quantum gates. Advances in precision measurement, clocks and sensing using atoms, molecules, and artificial atoms now impact our understanding of the most fundamental aspects of quantum physics and cosmology. A center of excellence in AMO theory will serve as the integrator of activities in helping to lead this revolution in quantum technologies. The Institute for Theoretical Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (ITAMP) hub will serve a broad community of physicists in the U.S.ITAMP at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) in Cambridge, MA will strive to be an incubator facility for theoretical AMO physics by providing resources and access to the rich AMO-related ecosystem of excellence in Cambridge, to create a collaborative environment for visiting fellows and for the training and mentoring of junior fellows, to broadly advocate for the field, and to lead in forefront research in AMO physics and outreach efforts to the community. ITAMP will hold and host targeted meetings in which large groups of practitioners will gather in critical mass to mount coordinated attacks on topical challenges in AMO physics and find novel solutions to these problems. Postdoctoral fellows and students will benefit from proximity to these recognized figures in theoretical and experimental AMO science. Visiting fellows, housed in an enriching office environment, will interact with the postdoctoral and scientific fellows in ways not otherwise possible. Winter Graduate Schools will be scheduled to train students keen on learning fundamental and advanced topics in AMO physics. As part of its programmatic mission, the Institute will recruit faculty/student teams from minority-serving colleges as summer Fellows.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.