Theoretical Atomic and Nuclear Physics at UNSW

Areas of Research:

• Parity non-conservation and time-invariance violation in atoms and nuclei.

  This is one of the most interesting and challenging topic of the modern atomic and nuclear physics. It is focused on the investigation of the fundamental nature forces with the aim to contribute towards their grand unification... (more...)

• Variation of fundamental constants.

  The possibility that fundamental constants (such as the speed of light, the electron charge and mass, the Planck constant, etc.) can change in time is predicted by some unified field theories. The detection of such a variation would be an important confirmation of these theories... (more...)

  See also: Atomic Physics and Search for Variation of Fundamental Constants (Slides of the talk presented on 9 March 2006 at School of Physics, UNSW; PDF file).

• Isotope shift.

  Isotope shift is an important systematic effect which could mimic the effect of a varying fine structure constant in absorption spectra of distant quasars. Also, a comparison of calculated and measured ISs is a way to study nuclear structure. (more...)

• Many-body theory and methods for high-precision atomic calculations.

  A set of numerical methods and corresponding computer codes has been developed in our group to perform very accurate atomic calculations. (more...)

PhD and Honours projects

• Calculation of isotope shift in many-electron atoms and study of fundamental interactions.
• Study of relativistic and quantum electrodynamics effects in many-electron atoms.
• Effects of variation of fundamental constants of Nature from Big Bang to atomic clocks.
• Violation of fundamental symmetries in atoms and test of grand unification theories.
• Search for Strange Nuclear Matter in Earth's Atmosphere and Isotope Shift of Argon (honour project).

Collaborators (in atomic theory)