Research involves
Using atoms and molecules as precise tools to understand our universe. One project aims to construct a very precise atomic clock, to observe gravitational waves from exotic astronomical objects such as black holes. Another project aims to precisely study confined molecules to understand astrophysics and chemistry occurring in space. Another project aims to understand the reason for “missing anti-matter” in the universe, using precise measurements on atomic nuclei confined in crystals.
Research relevance
New laws of physics are necessary to describe mysterious aspects of our universe, such as dark energy and dark matter. A good way to discover new physics is to probe the limits of known physical laws, through precise measurements. By developing new precise tools and techniques to probe fundamental physics, we hope to unravel new aspects of the universe. The atomic and molecular tools (such as atomic clocks and nuclear gyroscopes) that we develop in our research also have practical implications for navigation, geodesy and communications technologies.