The Atomic, Molecular and Optical (AMO) and Condensed Matter (CM) physics groups are hosting a joint seminar as part of the Center for Quantum Research and Technology (CQRT). This endowed seminar series brings in experts from across the country as well as across campus to discuss the latest in research advances in quantum science.
Seminars are scheduled for 2:00-3:00 pm on Tuesdays and/or Fridays, and are held in-person in Lin Hall 105, depending upon speaker availability and preference. Please check this web page or the email announcements for the current week's talks. By attending the seminar, either in person or on Zoom, you are agreeing to abide by our departmental code of conduct.
To get on the seminar mailing list, please contact the seminar organizers, Prof. Kieran Mullen.
Title: "Finger" states, “butterfly" molecules, and “fishbone” structures: updates in the study of the littlest giant molecules
Matt Eiles, Purdue University
Friday, September 11th, 2026
2:00-3:00pm, 105 Lin Hall
Abstract: The study of long-range Rydberg molecules, which are created out of a Rydberg atom and one or more additional particles (ground-state atoms, ions, or even small molecules), has reached maturity following a string of highly successful experiments in which all of the major types of molecules predicted by theorists over a quarter century ago have been observed. Now, with the major ingredients of the theory confirmed, attention has turned to the subtler details of these molecular interactions and to potential applications for these molecules. In this talk, I will share some of what we have been working on, largely in collaboration with experimental groups, to explore this physics. Time permitting, I will show (a) how Yb Rydberg molecules were used to obtain conclusive evidence that the Yb negative ion exists only as a shape resonance, (b) how incredibly fragile Rydberg molecule states with $\Pi$ orbital symmetry could be measured in very low-lying Rydberg states, and (c) how Rydberg-ion molecules can be used to explore Stückelberg interference in predissociation on extreme length and time scales.
Title: TBA
Andrew Lucas, University of Chicago
Friday, September 25th, 2026
2:00-3:00pm, 105 Lin Hall
Abstract: TBA
Title: Many-Body Chemistry: Phase Coherence and Entanglement in Matter-Wave Reactions
Cheng Chin, University of Chicago
Monday, September 28th, 2026 (Note Special Day and Time!)
3:30-4:30pm, 105 Lin Hall
Abstract: Chemical reactions are ordinarily viewed as incoherent processes governed by statistical ensembles and thermodynamics. When atoms and molecules become quantum degenerate, however, they can form coherent matter waves, opening a fundamentally different regime of chemistry in which reactions become coherent nonlinear processes. In this regime, the matter-wave fields of reactants and products are expected to exhibit phase matching, closely analogous to nonlinear optical frequency conversion.
Here we observe phase-coherent reaction dynamics between Bose-condensed atoms and molecules near a Feshbach resonance. Using matter-wave diffraction in optical lattices, we directly probe the spatial coherence of both atomic and molecular condensates. We observe phase doubling when two atomic matter waves combine to form a molecular wave: the matter-wave analogue of optical frequency doubling. Remarkably, the diffraction patterns also reveal two-atom entanglement generated by the reaction.
Title: TBA
Jonathan Hood, Purdue University
Tuesday, October 6th, 2026
2:00-3:00pm, 105 Lin Hall
Abstract: TBA
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Eite Tiesinga, NIST
Tuesday, October 13th, 2026
2:00-3:00pm, 105 Lin Hall
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Fiona Burnell, University of Minnesota
Friday, October 23rd, 2026
2:00-3:00pm, 105 Lin Hall
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Jusitn Wilson, Louisiana State University
Tuesday, October 24th, 2026
2:00-3:00pm, 105 Lin Hall
Abstract: TBA
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Marcel Davanco, NIST Maryland
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026
2:00-3:00pm, 105 Lin Hall
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Michael Kolodrubetz, Univ. of Texas, Dallas
Tuesday, November 10th, 2026
2:00-3:00pm, 105 Lin Hall
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Aaron Danner, NUS Singapore
Tuesday, December 1st, 2026
2:00-3:00pm, 105 Lin Hall
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Omar Magana-Loaiza, Louisiana State University
Tuesday, December 8th, 2026
2:00-3:00pm, 105 Lin Hall
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Title: Quantum simulation with trapped ions and Rydberg atoms
Ilango Maran, University of Amsterdam
Thursday, June 11, 2026
2:00-3:00pm, 105 Lin Hall
Abstract: Recently, a new type of a long-range molecule consisting of an ion and a Rydberg atom popularly known as Rydberg atom-ion molecules (RAIMs) has been theoretically proposed and experimentally observed in an ultracold cloud of 87Rb atoms. We use a hybrid atom-ion system to create a linear crystal of ions in a Paul trap with RAIMs attached to its either ends to generate Rydberg-Rydberg interactions through the crystal’s collective motional modes. We also use detailed Floquet analysis to demonstrate the feasibility of our scheme in the presence of the time dependent rf potential of the Paul trap. In the second part of the talk, I will discuss atomic structure calculations that I performed using the AMBiT package. With it, we identify previously unexplored metastable states in Yb+. One of these states, 3[3/2]5/2 is particularly interesting for electron shelving and can be used for high fidelity qubit and qudit state detection. Finally, I compare my calculations to preliminary experimental results.
Title: Quantum Simulation of Correlated Exciton Phases via Ultrafast Optical Microscopy
Lubai Huang, Purdue University
Friday, January 30, 2026
2:00-3:00pm, 105 Lin Hall
Abstract: Moiré superlattices formed from transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) heterostructures have emerged as a compelling platform for exploring quantum many-body physics. These systems are viewed as a solid-state counterpart to ultracold atomic gases in optical lattices for quantum simulation. A central open question concerns the coherence and dynamics of quantum phases arising from photoexcited moiré excitons, especially under dissipative conditions.
To address this, we employed transient photoluminescence and ultrafast reflectance microscopy to directly image non-equilibrium exciton phase transitions in twisted WS2/WSe2 heterobilayers. Surprisingly, both experimental data and theoretical modeling reveal that strong long-range dipolar repulsion between moiré excitons leads to a freezing of exciton motion in the Mott insulator phase, persisting for over 80 ns. This result defies the conventional expectation that repulsive interactions delocalize particles, while attractive ones promote binding. The observed phenomenon of frozen dynamics due to strong repulsive interactions is characteristic of highly coherent systems, a feature previously realized exclusively in ultracold gases.
We further investigated the interplay between exciton and charge orders in Bose-Fermi mixture, as well as ballistic exciton flow driven by generalized electron Wigner crystals, revealing rich and tunable excitonic correlations in moiré systems.
Title: This seminar will be rescheduled after faculty interviews are finished.
Andrea Alu, CUNY
Friday, February 13th, 2026
2:00-3:00pm, 105 Lin Hall
Abstract: TBA
Title: New opportunities in quantum simulation with ultrapolar molecules
Zoe Yan, University of Chicago
Friday, February 20th,, 2026
2:00-3:00pm, 105 Lin Hall
Abstract: Ultracold molecules are an emerging platform for quantum science that combines the techniques of atomic physics pioneered over the last half century, including quantum-state control and single particle detection/manipulation, with molecules' inherently rich internal structure. I will present new efforts at UChicago toward building novel quantum phases of matter using the emerging technology of highly polar molecules cooled to nanokelvin temperatures. Specifically, we hope to realize exotic topological superfluids built from interacting gases of KAg molecules, which could feature extraordinary characteristics such as resistance to disorder, frictionless flow, and the emergence of Majorana particles. Another complementary goal is to leverage the strong dipole-dipole interactions to pioneer novel ways to load molecules into defect-free, low-entropy arrays for realizations of lattice spin models.
Title: The Quantum and The Colossal
Mahdi Hosseini, Nortwestern Universiy
Friday, May 1st 2026
1:00-2:00pm, 105 Lin Hall (NOTE SPECIAL TIME)
Abstract: I will discuss projects in our lab where we study how quantum physics scales from single particles to systems involving millions of atoms, macroscopic objects, and bright optical fields. I will present our work on telecom-band quantum memories in erbium-doped solids, enabling efficient storage of quantum light for long-distance communication, and on engineering collective interactions in large arrays of rare-earth ions, where cooperative emission and geometry-driven correlations give rise to new regimes of light–matter coupling. I will also discuss magnetic levitation of macroscopic objects as a platform for ultra-sensitive accelerometry and for testing fundamental modifications to quantum mechanics, such as the Schrödinger–Newton equation. Finally, I will show how bright intensity-squeezed light, quantum-correlated at the level of billions of photons, can enhance the sensing and characterization of electronic systems.
Title: Capstone Talks
Friday, May 1st, 2026:
2:00-3:00pm, 105 Lin Hall
Title: Capstone Talks
Friday, May 8th, 2026:
2:00-3:00pm, 105 Lin Hall
