The goal of the program is to understand the structure and dynamics of atoms and molecules using photons and ions as probes. The current program is focussed on studying inner-shell photo-ionization and photo-excitation of atoms and molecules, molecular orientation effects in slow collisions, slowing and cooling molecules, and X-ray photo-excitation of laser-dressed atoms. The experimental and theoretical efforts are designed to break new ground and to provide basic knowledge that is central to the programmatic goals of the Department of Energy (DOE). Unique LBNL facilities such as the Advanced Light Source (ALS), the ECR ion sources at the 88-inch cyclotron, and the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) are used to perform experimental and computational work. The program makes full use of the unique resources and expertise of the Laboratory in engineering, detector development and computation.

We seek to obtain new insight into atomic and molecular processes and to test advanced theoretical treatments by achieving new levels of completeness in the description of the distribution of momenta and/or internal states of the products and their correlations. The work currently ongoing at the ALS centers on studies of inner-shell photo-ionization of atoms and molecules and makes use of both synchrotron radiation and the newly constructed 1.5 GeV electron and photon beam line at the ALS booster. The experimental studies are carried with a powerful Cold Target Recoil Ion Momentum Spectroscopy (COLTRIMS) technique to detect momenta of all of the fragments. Complementary work using COLTRIMS is carried out with projectile ions at the Advanced Electron Cyclotron Resonance (AECR) Source located at the 88-inch cyclotron. The dipole polarizability experiments seek to improve the measurement of the static dipole polarizability of cesium - a benchmark for calculations. A new method for slowing and cooling molecules using electric field gradients is being developed.

Principal Investigators

Ali Belkacem
CSD Deputy and Senior Staff Scientist; Atomic, Molecular and Optical Sciences Program Leader
Projects
Publications

C. William McCurdy
Associate Laboratory Director for Computing Sciences at LBNL; Professor of Applied Science, Department of Applied Science, University of California, Davis; Adjunct Professor of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley
Publications

Michael H. Prior
CSD Senior Staff Scientist, Atomic, Molecular and Optical Sciences Program
Projects
Publications

Thomas Nicola Rescigno
Senior Scientist, Computing Sciences; Atomic, Molecular and Optical Sciences
Program; Senior Scientist (Emeritus), LLNL