The Department offers exciting research opportunities in experimental and theoretical optical physics. The graduate program includes courses such as quantum optics, optical coherence theory, laser physics, laser physics laboratory, nonlinear optics, nonlinear optics laboratory, optical properties of solids, and optical properties of solids laboratory. The faculty combine theoretical physics with rigorous programs in experimental physics. The research emphasized includes classical and quantum coherence in optics and atom-field interactions, nonlinear dynamics of lasers, optical parametric oscillators, nonlinear optics, photorefraction, phase conjugation, real time holography, photothermal spectroscopy, cavity quantum electrodynamics, electromagnetically induced transparency, photon statistics, quantum optics, light scattering from microspheres, and spectroscopy of atoms and molecules. Theoretical studies include classical and quantum chaos, vibration and rotation of large molecules, including C60, multiphoton ionization, atomic scattering, and cavity quantum electrodynamics.

Scientific collaborators from other institutions are often in residence. The research is well funded by grants from federal sources including NSF, ONR, ARO, AFOSR. Expenditure on research exceeded $1.4 M last year. During the past two years more than 60 papers have been published in major research journals by faculty working in these areas. Research facilities are equipped with many lasers including one or more of the following : Ti-sapphire, Nd:Yag, argon-ion, krypton ion, excimer, dye, diode, and He:Ne. Facilities for growing crystals and semiconductor structures via molecular beam epitaxy for optical applications are under development. Excellent research and sample characterization facilities equipped with X-ray diffractometer, Raman spectrometer, atomic force and scanning electron microscopes are also available at the High Density Electronics Center (HiDEC) at the University.

Faculty and Specialization: J. Gea-Banacloche: theoretical quantum optics; F. T. Chan: atomic theory; R.Gupta: spectroscopy; W. Harter: rotational and vibrational dynamics of molecules; M. Henry: nonlinear optics; M. Lieber: atomic scattering theory; G. Salamo: coherent and nonlinear optics; S. Singh: quantum and nonlinear optics; K. Vickers: microelectronics-photonics; R. Vyas: theoretical quantum optics; M. Xiao: quantum and nonlinear optics.

Graduate Students: Hussam Abu-Safe, Horace Crogman, Daniel Erenso, Dorel Guzun, Ed Hach, Brian Hart, Amjad Nazzal, Fuad Rawwagah.