Ergin Ahmed

Research Assistant Professor in Physics

Ph.D., Temple University

SERC, Room 464
1925 N. 12th Street 
Philadelphia, PA 19122
215-204-1398
[email protected]

Research Interests

In recent years there have been significant developments in the use of coherence effects in the interaction of light with matter as a quantum state control mechanism. In contrast to atomic systems, molecules with their rich excitation pathways and the variety of molecular interactions make them attractive candidates in the development of novel applications in this field. 

One of our current research interests focuses on the use of laser radiation as control tool of the spin-orbit interaction in molecular systems. Using the Autler-Townes (AC Stark) effect of an electromagnetic radiation we have shown experimentally that the spin character of states coupled by the spin-orbit interaction can be manipulated externally. Building on this result we are developing an all-optical spin switch mechanism using which population transfer between a singlet and a triplet state would occur in a controlled fashion in the time domain under the influence of an external optical field.

Key Publications

E. H. Ahmed, X. Pan, J. Huennekens, and A. M. Lyyra, “Optical control of collisional population flow between molecular electronic states of different spin multiplicity”, Physical Review A 89, 061401(R) (2014).

E. H. Ahmed and A. Marjatta Lyyra “Frequency domain control of quantum state singlet/triplet character and prospects for an all-optical spin switch” Journal of Modern Optics 621, 7-12 (2014).

E. H. Ahmed, J. Huennekens, T. Kirova, J. Qi, and A. M. Lyyra, “The Autler-Townes effect in molecules: observations, theory, and applications”, Advances in Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Vol. 61, pp. 467-514 (2012).

E. H. Ahmed, S. Ingram, T. V. Kirova, O. Salihoglu, J. Huennekens, and A. M. Lyyra, “Quantum control of the spin-orbit interaction using the Autler-Townes effect”, Physical Review Letters 107, 163601 (2011).

E. H. Ahmed, Peng Qi and A. M. Lyyra, “cw all-optical quadruple resonance spectroscopy: a five level coherently driven molecular system”, Physical Review A 79, 062509 (2009).

E. H. Ahmed, P. Qi, B. Beser, J. Bai, R. W. Field, J. P. Huennekens and A. M. Lyyra, “Experimental mapping of the absolute magnitude of the transition dipole moment function, μe(r), of the Na2 A1Σu transition”, Physical Review A 77, 053414 (2008).

E. Ahmed, A. Hansson, P. Qi, T. Kirova, A. Lazoudis, S. Kotochigova, A. M. Lyyra, L. Li, J. Qi, and S. Magnier, “Measurement of the electronic transition dipole moment by Autler-Townes splitting: Comparison of three- and four-level excitation schemes for the Na2 A1Σu Chemical Physics 124, 084308 (2006).