Jun Ye group
I am a graduate student on the KRb experiment, studying many-body physics using ultracold molecules. I previously studied physics and applied math at Harvard, where I worked on laser cooling polyatomic molecules and ultrasensitive atomic force microscopy.
I work on one of the strontium clock experiments-- on our particular project, we're building a new machine with an optical lattice clock inside a high-finesse cavity. We're aiming to use the long-range interactions unlocked by our cavity as a new platform to study both precision metrology (for example, by achieving a spin-squeezed clock), and many-body physics. I previously studied physics and math at Harvard, working in Misha Lukin's group on a coupled NV/nanomechanical oscillator system.
I am a postdoctoral research associate working on infrared spectroscopy of buffer gas cooled fullerenes. I earned my PhD in the Ni group at Harvard assembling ultracold molecules with optical tweezers.
Molecules cooled to ultralow temperatures provide fundamental new insights to molecular interaction dynamics in the quantum regime. In recent years, researchers from various scientific disciplines such as atomic, optical, and condensed matter physics, physical chemistry, and quantum science have started working together to explore many emergent research topics related to cold molecules, including cold chemistry, strongly correlated quantum systems, novel quantum phases, and precision measurement.
Since 1999 and 2000, there has been a remarkable convergence of the fields of ultrafast optics, opti cal frequency metrology, and precision laser spectroscopy — a convergence that our lab was privileged to help facilitate. A remarkable transformation took place in these fields as unprecedented advances occurred in the control of optical phases ranging from the ultrashort (femtoseconds) to laboratory time scales (seconds). Today, a single-frequency continuous optical field can achieve a phase coherence time exceeding 1 s.
Our group explores many facets of ultracold strontium (Sr), emphasizing precision measurement and quantum state engineering and manipulation of atomic states. The group has achieved exquisite technical control via precision stabilization of lasers and the realization of ultracold atoms in optical lattices. Early on, we focused on precision measurements of Sr electronic transitions, which occur at optical frequencies, to explore the possibility of developing an optical atomic clock.
Physics Frontiers Centers (PFCs)
The Physics Frontiers Centers (PFC) program supports university-based centers and institutes where the collective efforts of a larger group of individuals can enable transformational advances in the most promising research areas. The program is designed to foster major breakthroughs at the intellectual frontiers of physics by providing needed resources such as combinations of talents, skills, disciplines, and/or specialized infrastructure, not usually available to individual investigators or small groups, in an environment in which the collective efforts of the larger group can be shown to be seminal to promoting significant progress in the science and the education of students. PFCs also include creative, substantive activities aimed at enhancing education, broadening participation of traditionally underrepresented groups, and outreach to the scientific community and general public. Read more about this program at the NSF website.