[Dept of Physics]
Research Activities

Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics

Research Programme

Atomic and molecular physics generally is concerned with the study of atoms and molecules and their ions. Both the structure of individual atoms, molecules and ions and the way they interact with each other and with electromagnetic radiation are important.

Our interests lie principally in collisions and in spectroscopy. The collisions can range from the very weak disturbance of an excited atom by a passing rare-gas atom to very violent interactions where a molecule breaks up into fragments after absorbing a photon or being struck by an electron. These collisions are important in numerous applications, particularly laboratory astrophysics and fusion plasmas. The spectroscopy is laser based and ranges from the probing of energy levels in doubly-charged molecules to studying light emitted or absorbed during an atomic collision.

We use a variety of techniques: crossed beams of electrons, ions and atoms, crossed and collinear beams of molecules and photons from a laser or a synchrotron, study of the radiation emitted or absorbed during collisions and theoretical modelling. This diversity of approaches provides a particularly stimulating environment for student training. Full details of the work being done can be found under the individual staff members' entries below.

While the majority of the work of the group uses local facilities, experiments needing far ultra-violet radiation use the Synchrotron Radiation Source (SRS) at Daresbury, between Manchester and Liverpool. Local facilities include various electron, atom and ion beams apparatus, tuneable-dye lasers, solid-state diode and CO2 lasers and a share of a cluster of 18 workstations dedicated to atomic and molecular physics calculations.

Our research recently has been funded principally by the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC), with further support coming from the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC), the National Environmental Research Council (NERC), the European Community, INTAS, the Royal Society and the British Council.

The permanent staff in the group consists of:

Postgraduate Opportunities

For October 1998 the group expects to have EPSRC  funded Ph.D. studentships available. Normally at least an upper Second Class Honours degree in Physics or a closely related subject is required. Competitive university studentships may be available for exceptional candidates.
Contact
Ms Julie Coomber
Physics Department
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
NEWCASTLE upon TYNE
NE1 7RU
e-mail: Julie.Coomber@ncl.ac.uk
Tel. (0191) 222 7302
for a postgraduate application form. Anybody seriously interested who is not a UK resident should also contact Prof. Dickinson concerning possible eligibility for support.

Suitable applicants are normally invited to visit the department.

Newcastle is an attractive city with a vibrant nightlife, good communications, reasonably priced accommodation and (recently) a successful football team! For further details see the University entry.

A well-established programme of postgraduate training is in place with both Physics courses and more general training provided by the Science Faculty. Where appropriate students may attend international summer schools and national and international conferences.

Paid laboratory demonstrating may be available for postgraduate students.

 

The following lectures will be held in Room 37 of the Herschel Building at 4.00 pm.

 
Revised by ASD 19/2/98