Advancing the science of light and quantum matter
Understanding and controlling properties of light and matter are major themes in both AMO physics and photonics, leading to fundamental discoveries, such as new quantum phases of matter, as well as technical inventions, like high-intensity lasers for eye surgeries and the atomic clocks used on GPS satellites. Researchers in AMO physics are creating synthetic quantum matter made of laser-cooled atoms, for gaining insights into the vastly complicated world of many-particle quantum physics and potential applications in quantum computing. Our photonics researchers explore the fundamental properties and technical applications of light, ranging from single-photon experiments to the creation of intense laser pulses, with pioneering applications in biomedical fields and quantum information processing.
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Research in 60
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Meet our researchers
K. Rajibul Islam, Associate Professor
Dr. Islam works in quantum information processing, with a focus on quantum simulation and computation using laser-cooled trapped ions. His research explores entanglement, strongly correlated quantum matter, frustrated spin systems, and quantum many-body dynamics. His group develops experimental methods for controlling and measuring trapped-ion quantum systems and contributes to QuantumIon, an open-access trapped-ion quantum computer. By using highly controllable quantum platforms, his work addresses problems that are difficult or impossible to solve with classical computers.
Jim Martin, Associate Professor
Dr. Martin is an experimentalist who studies atomic, molecular, and optical physics, especially Rydberg atoms, using laser cooling techniques.
Christine Muschik, Associate Professor
Dr. Muschik leads a theoretical quantum optics research group focused on quantum communication, quantum simulation, and quantum networks. Her work develops methods for understanding light-matter interactions with applications in quantum information science. Working closely with experimental collaborators, she designs protocols for quantum networks, quantum sensing, autonomous quantum error correction, and quantum simulations of complex systems. Her research aims to harness quantum systems to address fundamental questions in physics and advance quantum technologies.
Joe Sanderson, Associate Professor
Dr. Sanderson studies how matter interacts with intense femtosecond laser pulses. His research uses ultrafast lasers to investigate molecular dynamics, laser-matter interactions, and the behaviour of matter on short timescales. His group works on Coulomb imaging of molecules, mass spectrometry for nanoscience applications, nanoparticle generation, and related ultrafast processes. By using femtosecond lasers as tools for imaging and manipulating matter, his work connects molecular physics with applications in photonics, nanoscience, and analytical techniques.
Crystal Senko, Assistant Professor
Canada Research Chair in Trapped Ion Quantum Computing
Dr. Senko studies trapped ions for quantum simulation and quantum computing. Her research explores how highly controlled trapped-ion systems can be used to simulate interacting spin systems, investigate quantum dynamics, and implement quantum information processing protocols. She is particularly interested in the use of qudits, which encode information using multiple quantum levels, to enhance quantum computation. Her work advances experimental approaches to quantum technologies while improving our understanding of complex quantum systems.
Donna Strickland, Professor
Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics, 2018
Dr. Strickland is a Nobel Prize-winning physicist known for co-developing chirped pulse amplification, a breakthrough that enabled the generation of ultra-intense laser pulses. Her research focuses on high-intensity laser systems, nonlinear optics, and laser-matter interactions. Her group investigates short-pulse lasers, multi-frequency Raman generation, mid-infrared light sources, and optical technologies with applications in medicine, industry, and environmental monitoring. By advancing ultrafast laser science, her work connects fundamental physics with innovative real-world technologies.
David Yevick, Professor
Dr. Yevick develops theoretical, numerical, and experimental methods for photonics and optical communications. His research focuses on high-speed optical communication systems, polarization effects, optical signal analysis, and the modeling of statistically rare events such as bit errors. His work also encompasses optical waveguides, beam propagation, fiber optics, soliton dynamics, semiconductor lasers, and photonic system design. By combining applied physics with mathematical modeling, he develops practical solutions for industry while advancing understanding of complex optical systems.
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