|
|
|
 |
|
Siu Au LeeProfessor 
Laser SpectroscopyOur group is interested in applying the techniques of high resolution laser spectroscopy to test special relativity and for atom manipulation.Our test of special relativity measures the relativistic Doppler shift in a fast beam of atoms using resonant two-photon spectroscopy. According to the prediction of special relativity, the frequency of a moving clock is altered from the frequency of a clock at rest. This relativistic Doppler shift is a direct consequence of the time-dilation effect. Recently we obtained an accuracy of 2.3 ppm in our experiment, which is the most accurate direct verification of the time-dilation effect. An experiment to test for the anisotropy in the one-way speed of light is also being explored. This experiment looks for possible variations in the speed of light that are correlated with the existence of a "preferred frame." Experiments in atom manipulation include using light force to deflect atoms or to focus atoms, for applications in atom interferometry and in submicron optical lithography. We are particularly interested in the regime in which the atomic beam extent is small compared to the spatial periodicity of the optical field gradient. We are also interested in manipulating atoms such as aluminum, cadmium, gallium, etc., that are of practical interest in the field of opto-electronics. |