ABSTRACT
Precision spectroscopy of the hydrogen atom, a fundamental two-body system, has been instrumental in shaping quantum mechanics. Today, advances in theory and experiment allow us to extend such high-precision studies to more complex many-body systems. In this talk, I will present our recent laser spectroscopy work on a select class of computable systems — including atomic helium (three-body), molecular hydrogen (four-body), and multi-electron species like CO — where state-of-the-art ab initio calculations achieve spectroscopic accuracy. By comparing experimental and theoretical transition frequencies at the 12-digit level, we are able to test quantum mechanics and reveal novel quantum phenomena. Beyond frequencies, our ppm-level measurements of spectral intensities open applications in primary thermometry, isotopic analysis, and gas metrology. However, persistent interlaboratory discrepancies highlight remaining challenges, motivating further refinement of both experimental and theoretical approaches.
BIOGRAPHY
Shui-Ming Hu received his B.S. (1995) and Ph.D. (2000) in Chemical Physics from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), followed by postdoctoral research at Rice University and Argonne National Laboratory. Awarded the prestigious National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars in 2012, he currently serves as Professor of Chemical Physics and Instrumentation at USTC, Director of the Division of Advanced Measurement Instruments at the Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, and Council Member of the Chinese Society for Measurement. His research focuses on developing novel laser spectroscopy techniques with ultrahigh precision and sensitivity, with applications spanning fundamental studies of atomic and molecular physics, chemical kinetics, optical metrology, trace gas analysis, and the development of advanced spectroscopic instrumentation for both scientific and industrial applications.
Date & Time
Venue
Chair