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Francis Robicheaux

NOTE: E-mail addresses end with @purdue.edu

Francis Robicheaux
PHYS 284
(765) 494-3029

Education

  • Ph.D. Physics, University of Chicago, June 1991
  • M.S. Physics, University of Chicago, December 1986
  • B.A. with Honors in Physics, University of Chicago, December 1985
  • Louisiana State University, 1982-83

Experience
  • Professor of Physics, Purdue University, 8/13 -
  • Sabbatical at University of Wisconsin-Madison, 7/17-11/17
  • Professor of Physics, Auburn University, 9/03-8/13
  • Alumni Professor of Physics, Auburn University, 9/04-9/09
  • Associate Professor of Physics, Auburn University, 9/98 to 9/03.
  • Sabbatical at AMOLF FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 6/98-6/99.
  • Assistant Professor of Physics, Auburn University, 9/93 to 9/98.
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, 12/90 to 8/93.
  • Graduate Research Assistant, University of Chicago, 5/86 to 12/90.

Current Funding
  • National Science Foundation, Atomic Theory
  • National Science Foundation, Plasma Physics
  • Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences
  • Office of Naval Research, Nanoscale Physics
  • Sandia National Lab, Nanoscale Physics

Honors
  • Eugene J. Clothiaux Faculty Teaching Award, Auburn University College of Science and Mathematics, 2012.
  • M.O.P. Award, Auburn Society of Physics Students, 2012
  • John Dawson Award for Excellence in Plasma Physics Research, 2011 (shared with several members of the ALPHA collaboration)
  • Dean's Faculty Research Award, Auburn University College of Science and Mathematics, 2011.
  • Outstanding Referee, American Physical Society, 2008.
  • Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, Auburn Society of Physics Students, 2005
  • SPS Faculty Award, The Quotable Award, Auburn Society of Physics Students, 2004
  • Alumni Professor, Auburn University, 2004-9.
  • Fellow of the American Physical Society, 2001.
  • National Science Foundation Young Investigator, 1994-9.
  • Harper Fellowship from University of Chicago, 1990.

Research Area

Prof. Robicheaux is an atomic theorist mainly focusing on coherence and decoherence in quantum systems, application of basic atomic processes to quantum simulators and quantum computer platforms, many body processes when photons interact with many atoms, highly excited (Rydberg) atoms, strong fields, and ultracold plasmas. He is a member of the ALPHA collaboration which was the first group to trap the antimatter version of the hydrogen atom and is the only group to perform experiments on anti-hydrogen. Research in the Robicheaux group has a strong computational component so that the majority of results contain comparisons with past and predictions of future experimental results.


Ten Recent Publications
  1. G. Ferioli, A. Glicenstein, F. Robicheaux, R. T. Sutherland, A. Browaeys, and I. Ferrier-Barbut, “Laser-Driven Superradiant Ensembles of Two-Level Atoms near Dicke Regime,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 243602 (2021). PDF (1680 kB)
  2. C.J. Baker, et al (ALPHA collaboration), “Laser cooling of antihydrogen atoms,” Nature 592, 35 (2021).  PDF (3650 kB) CERN press release, Purdue press release, various news reports
  3. P. Giannakeas, M. T. Eiles, F. Robicheaux, and J. M. Rost, "Dressed ion-pair states of an ultralong-range Rydberg molecule," Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 123401 (2020). PDF (2090 kB)
  4. M. Ahmadi, et al (ALPHA collaboration), "Investigation of the fine structure of antihydrogen," Nature 578, 375 (2020).  PDF (1890 kB)
  5. M. Ahmadi, et al (ALPHA collaboration), "Characterization of the 1S-2S transition in antihydrogen," Nature 557, 71 (2018).  PDF (1850 kB) (CERN comment, CERN Courier about previous work cover and pgs 30-34)
  6. B.C. Yang, J. Perez-Rios, and F. Robicheaux, "Classical Fractals and Quantum Chaos in Ultracold Dipolar Collisions," Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 154101 (2017). PDF (722 kB)
  7. F. Robicheaux, "Comment on "Matter-Wave Interferometry of a Levitated Thermal Nano-Oscillator Induced and Probed by a Spin"," Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 108901 (2017). PDF (58 kB)
  8. C. Ahmadi, et al (ALPHA collaboration), "Observation of the 1S-2S transition in trapped antihydrogen," Nature 541, 546 (2017). PDF (525 kB) (Nature comment, APS comment, many online descriptions)
  9. A. P. Povilus, N. D. DeTal, L. T. Evans, N. Evetts, J. Fajans, W. N. Hardy, E. D. Hunter, I. Martens, F. Robicheaux, S. Shanman, C. So, X. Wang, and J. S. Wurtele, "Electron Plasmas Cooled by Cyclotron-Cavity Resonance," Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 175001 (2016). PDF (1480 kB)
  10. Thai M. Hoang, Yue Ma, Jonghoon Ahn, Jaehoon Bang, F. Robicheaux, Zhang-Qi Yin, and Tongcang Li, "Torsional Optomechanics of a Levitated Nonspherical Nanoparticle," Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 123604 (2016).  PDF (810 kB) News and commentary

Full publication list

Last Updated: Jul 25, 2023 10:30 AM

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