Research

The exotic atoms and heavy ions team works on exploring bound-state quantum electrodynamics in extreme Coulomb fields.

In few body, high-Z atomic systems like H-like uranium or antiprotonic or muonic atoms, the atomic bound states are found in electric field strengths that are stronger than the most powerful lasers on earth. In these extreme fields, the interactions with the quantum vacuum become enhanced, and by studying with high precision the bound state structure of these exotic atomic systems, we can probe the details of QED in the non-perturbative regime, study fundamental interactions, and even (maybe) look for hints of new physics.

The team is composed of both experimentalists and theorists who work together on experiments at exotic beam facilities around the world including in Paris, CERN, Japan, and Switzerland.