Possible Bromley projects

Random computational atomic physics Projects

This is a quick list of possible projects in two areas of atomic physics. Most of the atom optics uses serial code, some of the atomic structure calcs require parallelised code (think 20 CPUs). Many of the projects are already in some state of progress, making testing the physics waters easier for you!

Atom Optics projects

• Atoms in Optical Lattices - Controlling the dispersion of BEC's using periodic potentials on atom-chips
• Solitons - Creation of solitons (non-spreading BEC's) using optical lattices on atom-chips
• Bound-states - How many atoms from a BEC can one trap in bound-states in waveguides?
• Methods - Analysis of different multi-dimensional computational approaches to solving the Gross-Pitaevskii equation (the equation that best describes the physics of BEC's)
• Atom Interferometry - Calculations of BEC propagation around a 3-D circular ring (including the role of imperfections)
• Transfer matrix - Computing multi-dimensional quantum scattering through waveguides

Atomic Structure / Scattering projects

• Structure of Helium - variational calcs using Natural Orbitals to reduce the size of calculations by an order of magnitude or so
• Structure of Helium - variational calcs using principle quantum number expansion (important for Quantum Chemists)
• Structure of Helium - relativistic effects using both variational calcs and perturbation theory
• He-He van der Waals interaction - using variational calcs plus 3rd/4th order Perturbation theory
• Positron natural orbitals - test calculations of positron binding to copper and lithium with their natural orbitals
• Positron scattering - test calcs using natural orbitals to do positron scattering from hydrogen
• Positron scattering - real BIG calcs using natural orbitals to do positron scattering from magnesium, zinc and cadmium to hunt for annihilation resonances (group at UCSD is interested in such experiments)
• Methods - Diagonalisation of large, sparse matrices using the Lanczos method (that Dr. Johnson uses, so a co-project) to see if it is better that the Davidson algorithm that i'm currently using!
• Methods - Linear equation solver on a parallel computer, the BIG scattering calcs probably will need this technology
• Methods - Atom in a box... using artificial atom bound states stuck in a spherical well to extract electron-atom and positron-atom scattering information.
• Johnson project - using Teran/Johnson state-of-the-art nuclear-code to look at statistical spectra of atoms... still not sure of where this can go though
• More speculative - calculations of the properties of ³Ps (positron-electron in spin-triplet states) to form a matter-antimatter BEC. Possible collaboration with experimental group at UCRiverside.

Optics

• Transfer matrix - using transfer matrix program to compute periodic structures that Dr. Davis does optics/coax cable experiments with