About Waseem S. Bakr's Work
Our lab studies atomic and molecular gases cooled to a few billionths of a degree above absolute zero. At these temperatures, the gases enter a regime of quantum degeneracy and are useful for highly controlled studies of quantum many-body phenomena. By trapping the particles in tailored optical potentials, our group is able to engineer synthetic condensed matter systems from the bottom up. Our group uses optical microscopy to probe and manipulate these systems at the level of single atoms or molecules. Our research illuminates the behavior of electrons in a wide range of materials including superconductors and quantum magnets.
Awards and Achievements
AFOSR Young Investigator Award
Sloan Research Fellowship
AAAS Newcomb Cleveland Prize
DAMOP Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award