JILA Thesis Defense

Abstract: A molecular level investigation of metal-ligand interactions that govern structure and function in coordination complexes. Coordination compounds perform a wide variety of important chemical tasks, from the biochemical transport of molecules and ions to industrial applications in electrocatalysis and contaminant sequestration. Coordination chemistry with organic ligands is ubiquitous, providing chemical access to over half of the periodic table.

Abstract: The past few decades have born out exquisite improvements in the control of quantum systems, with quantum computing and quantum metrology at the forefront. It has therefore become essential to design methodologies for assessing the performance of these devices. Unsurprisingly, the field of quantum information has already paved the way forward.

Entangled two-photon absorption (E2PA) is a process in which entangled photon pairs are used instead of a pulsed laser to excite a two-photon transition. The correlation of these photons in time and space may improve the excitation efficiency. In this work, we develop experimental apparatuses that enable sensitive measurements of E2PA via both transmittance and fluorescence-based schemes. We show strong evidence that E2PA cross sections are several orders of magnitude lower than many prior reports claimed.

Abstract: To date, neutral atom optical lattice clocks have demonstrated the highest precision measurements of fractional frequency shifts. State-of-the-art optical oscillators employing cryogenic reference cavities have been used to push this frontier, enabling record-level stabilities and resulting in foundational advances in optical frequency metrology. The fundamental performance of cryogenic cavities utilizing crystalline spacers and substrates has been limited by the Brownian thermal noise associated with mechanical dissipation of the mirror coatings.

Abstract:

Abstract: Ultracold molecules have rich internal structure and tunable dipolar interactions, making them an exciting platform for studying quantum many-body physics. However, controlling molecular interactions, especially chemical reaction losses, has remained an experimental challenge. We demonstrate two approaches for tuning molecular interactions: strong 2D confinement and electric-field-induced shielding resonances.