Precision measurements in atoms for astrophysics, photonics, and fundamental physics

我们的研究涉及影响原子物理、天体物理、核物理和加拿大电信业的领域：(1)天体物理所需的原子性质的测量。要了解恒星和超新星中元素过去的创造历史，以及间接研究恒星不可见的内部正在进行的过程，需要难以获得关于原子性质的信息，天文学家将其用作“远程探测器”。“我们已经开发了一种世界领先的设施，其中使用激光和原子加速器来测量这些性质。”(2)基础原子的研究是对基础理论的考验。量子力学和相对论的结合导致了对氢原子性质的令人难以置信的精确预测；然而，将这些计算扩展到氦和锂这样的简单原子仍然给理论家带来了巨大的挑战。我们的测量将测试这些理论，并指导新的计算方法的发展，这些方法将导致更好的基本理解。(3)用原子物理测量原子核的结构。对原子中电子能量的高分辨率激光研究揭示了原子核形状的细节。我们正在使用加拿大国家核物理设施TRIUMF生产用于研究的稀有放射性同位素束流。(4)开发光纤电信行业的实用设备。将更多的通信通道封装到一根光纤中需要对激光波长进行非常精确的测量和控制。我们已经建造和测试了一种新的设备，并用它来建立新的校准标准。该设备将扩展到红外，并成为便携式第二代仪器。

Our research is in areas which impact atomic physics, astrophysics, nuclear physics and the Canadian telecommunications industry: (1) MEASUREMENTS OF ATOMIC PROPERTIES NEEDED IN ASTROPHYSICS.  Understanding the past history of the creation of the elements in stars and supernovas, as well as indirectly studying the ongoing processes in the unseen interiors of stars, requires difficult-to-obtain information about the properties of atoms, which astronomers use as "remote probes."  We have developed a world-leading facility in which lasers and an atomic accelerator are used to measure these properties. (2) STUDIES OF FUNDAMENTAL ATOMS AS A TEST OF BASIC THEORY.  Combining Quantum Mechanics and the theory of Relativity led to incredibly precise predictions of the properties of the hydrogen atom; however, the extension of these calculations to even such simple atoms as helium and lithium continues to pose significant challenges for theorists.  Our measurements will test these theories and guide the development of new computational approaches that will lead to better fundamental understanding. (3) MEASUREMENTS OF NUCLEAR STRUCTURE USING ATOMIC PHYSICS. A high-resolution laser study of the energies of electrons in atoms reveals details of the shape of the nucleus.  We are using TRIUMF, Canada's national nuclear physics facility, to produce beams of rare radioactive isotopes for study. (4) DEVELOPMENT OF PRACTICAL DEVICES FOR THE FIBEROPTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY.  Packing more channels of communication into a single fiber requires extraordinarily precise measurement and control of the laser wavelength.  We have built and tested a new device and used it to establish new calibration standards.  This will be extended to the infrared, and turned into a portable second-generation instrument.