ILP Theory Unit

Former Members

I worked as the ILP webmaster during 2002-2004. I am an active member of the Gamma Phi Circus team.



Anthony Battaglia

I have investigated the extrapolation based imaging scheme to improve the resolution of blurred images. I plan to become a physics high school teacher.

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2007), Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (2006)



Michael S. Bell

I have been doing Monte Carlo simulations of light scattering in random media. Together with my colleague Allen Lewis I discovered the "Dark Cone Effect." In fall 2004 I will join the UIUC graduate program in physics.

Publications:
"Dark cone produced by light back-scattered off turbid media"
M.S. Bell, A.F. Lewis, R.E. Wagner, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Las. Phys. 13, pp. 207-212 (2003).

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004), Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (2001, 2002, 2003)



Alexander Bergquist

Conference Presentations:
Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (2000), ISU Undergrad. Symp(2000, 2001), ISAAPT Spring Meeting(2000)




Trisha Blood

I joined ILP this spring. I have already a bachelors degree in chemistry and biochemistry and I am very interested in learning how one can use lasers to detect tumors in biological tissues.

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2005), ISAAPT (2005)



Joshua W. Braun

Publications:
"Numerical Approach to Solve the Time-Dependent Dirac Equation"
J. W. Braun, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A, 59, 604 (1999).

"Ionization Reduction and Enhancement for Model Atoms in Super-Strong Laser Radiation"
J.W. Braun and Q. Su, Physics of Vibration, ed. F.V. Bunkin, (Allerton Press, New York, 1999), 109.

"Special Relativity and an Application in Laser Physics"
J.W. Draun, ORBIT Vol. 3, No. 1, 55 (1998)

Conference Presentation:
ISU Undergrad. Symp. (1998, 1999), ISAAPT/IL (1998), Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (1997, 1998), SPS Zone Meeting (1998)

Sawyer D. Campbell

I joined ILP in summer 2004 after graduating from Bloomington High School. I am involved in the development of a light!

Publications
"Light scattering regimes along the optical axis in turbid media"
S. Campbell, A. O'Connell, S. Menon, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. E 74, 061909 (2006).

"Impact of large-angle scattering on diffusively backscattered light"
S. Campbell, A. O'Connell, G.H. Rutherford and R. Grobe, Opt. Lett. 32, 560 (2007).

"Scaling of light scattering with density of scatterers"
S. Campbell, S. Menon, Q. Su, G.H. Rutherford and R. Grobe, Las. Phys. 17, 117 (2007).

"Decomposition based recovery of absorbers in turbid media"
S.D. Campbell, I.L. Goodin, S.D. Grobe, Q.Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 76, 063802 (2007).

"Decomposition based imaging with fiber and ccd camera detections"
S.D. Campbell, I.L. Goodin, S.D. Grobe, Q. Su and R. Grobe, J. Opt. Health Sci. 1, 115 (2008).

"Limitations of decomposition based imaging of longitudinal absorber configurations"
S.D. Campbell, S.D. Grobe, I.L. Goodin, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 77, 023821 (2008).

"Laser beam widening mechanisms in turbid media"
S.D. Campbell, T.P. Garvin, I.L. Goodin, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Las. Phys. 19, 238 (2009).

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2004,2005,2006,2007,2008), Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (2004,2005,2006,2007), ISAAPT (2005,2006,2007,20!


Kareem Carr

I am from the Carribean and I like physics research. I am studying the universality of the resonant profile of various nonlinear systems.

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp. (2004, 2005), Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (2003, 2004), ISAAPT (2004).

Kevin Cooley

I have just joined ILP coming out of high school. I have begun to study the birth process of matter using computer simulations. I enjoy playing with computers and maintaining web pages, including the ILP site.

Publications
"Short- and long-time breakdown of the vacuum by supercritical fields"
P. Krekora, K. Cooley, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Las. Phys. 15, 282 (2005).

"Creation dynamics of bound states in supercritical fields"
P. Krekora, K. Cooley, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 070403 (2005).

"Early time errants during the field-induced pair creation"
P. Krekora, K. Cooley, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Las. Phys. 16, 588 (2006).

Conference Presentations
Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (2004, 2005), ISU Undergrad. Symp. (2005), ISAAPT (2005).


Nic Chott

I use a classical model to study and try to understand the matter creation process. In particular I solve the classical density equation of an electron or a positron and try to compare the density with those computed using quantum field theory.

Publications
"Classical-quantum correspondence in pair creation"
N. Chott, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 76 (R), 010101 (2007).

"Interference in electron-positron creation"
T. Cheng, N.I. Chott, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Las. Phys. 18, 190 (2008).

Conference Presentations
Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (2006,2007), ISU Undergrad. Symp. (2006,2007,2008), ISAAPT (2006,2007,2008).




Jason C. Csesznegi

Publications:
"Dynamics of Wave Packets in Inhomogeneous and Homogeneous Magnetic Fields"
J.C. Csesznegi, G.H. Rutherford, Q. Su, and R. Grobe, Laser Physics, 9, 41 (1999).

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp. (1997, 1998), ISAAPT/IL (1996, 1997, 1998), Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (1996, 1997, 1998) SPS Zone Meeting (1998).


Jennifer R. Csesznegi

Publications:
"The Spatial Excitation of a Medium by Light"
J.R. Csesznegi, ORBIT Vol. 3, No. 2, 40 (1998).

"Controlled Exitation of Selected Regions Inside Dielectric Media"
J.R. Csesznegi, B.K. Clark, and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A57, 4860 (1998).

"Recall and Creation of Spatial Excitation Distributions in Dielectric Media"
J.R. Csesznegi and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. Lett. 79, 3162 (1997).

"Temporal and Spatial Adiabaticity in the Propagation of Laser Pulse Pairs Through Three-level Media"
K.M. Paul, J.R. Csesznegi and R. Grobe, Laser Phys. 7, 884 (1997).

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp. (1997, 1998), ISAAPT/IL (1996, 1997, 1998), Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (1996,1997, 1998), Natl. Coll. Hon. Council (1997), SPS Zone Meeting (1998), Poland exchange program(1998)

Travis N. Faust

I am a very typical physicist, I play frisbee and love the arts. I am studying to become a physics high school teacher. I am part of the strong field physics subgroup at ILP.

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2003)


Tim Garvin

I make large-scale computer simulations on x-grid (with 25 workstations) to study light scattering in random media. In particular I am interested in how changing modulation frequency of laser intensity have an effect on the width of the diffused beam as it propagates through a medium.

Publications
"High-frequency limit of photon density waves in turbid media"
T.P. Garvin, M. Narter, S. Menon, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Las. Phys. 18, 211 (2008). "Laser beam widening mechanisms in turbid media"
S.D. Campbell, T.P. Garvin, I.L. Goodin, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Las. Phys. 19, 238 (2009).

Conference Presentations
Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (2006,2007), ISU Undergrad. Symp. (2006,2007,2008), ISAAPT (2006,2007,2008).




Joshua C. Gillespie

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2002)



Sebastian D. Grobe

I began working for the ILP center after my high-school sophomore year. I have taken three classes at ISU. I help the bio-optical imaging group with model calculations. In my spare time I like play frisbee and swimming.

Publications
"Decomposition based recovery of absorbers in turbid media"
S.D. Campbell, I.L. Goodin, S.D. Grobe, Q.Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 76, 063802 (2007).

"Decomposition based imaging with fiber and ccd camera detections"
S.D. Campbell, I.L. Goodin, S.D. Grobe, Q. Su and R. Grobe, J. Opt. Health Sci. 1, 115 (2008).

"Limitations of decomposition based imaging of longitudinal absorber configurations"
S.D. Campbell, S.D. Grobe, I.L. Goodin, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 77, 023821 (2008).

Conference Presentations:
Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (2007), ISAAPT (2008), ISU Undergrad. Symp. (2008).



John C. Henderson

I began working for the ILP center during the summer of 2002. I learned under the Apker winner Robert Wagner how atoms interact with strong laser and magnetic fields. Presently I am investigating cyclo helium. My hobbies are wrestling and the Gamma Phi Circus.

Publications
"Electron-electron correlation in relativistic ionization"
P.J. Peverly, J.C. Henderson, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Laser Phys. 14, 462 (2004).

"Mirror assisted imaging in one-dimensional turbid media using photon density waves"
J,C. Henderson, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Laser Phys. 14, 515 (2004).

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2003), Argonne Undergrad. Symp (2002).



Benjamin P. Irving

Publications:
"Ionization Modulation in Dynamic Stabilization"
Q. Su, B.P. Irving and J.H. Eberly, Laser Physics 7, 568 (1997).

"Stabilization of a One-dimensional Short-range Model Atom in Intense Laser Fields"
Q. Su, B.P. Irving, C.W. Johnson and J.H. Eberly, J. Phys. B 29, 5755 (1996).

Conference Presentations:
DAMOP (1996), ISU Undergrad. Symp. (1996, 1997), ISAAPT/IL (1996, 1997), Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (1995, 1996, 1997)


Marek Jacobs

I used to be the web master for ILP. 


Chad W. Johnson

Publications:
"Stabilization of a One-dimensional Short-range Model Atom in Intense Laser Fields"
Q. Su, B.P. Irving, C.W. Johnson and J.H. Eberly, J. Phys. B 29, 5755 (1996).

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp. (1996), Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (1995)


Nathan Kidwell

I have investigated several imaging schemes to improve the resolution of blurred images. I also looked at a perturbative approach to better model an intensity modulated laser beam.

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2007), Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (2006)



Kara Lamb

I will be studying in France. I am a student at U of Illinois. Since winter 2005 I have been working for the ILP center. I have been using Mathematica to analyze the inversion problem in diffusive imaging. Since the problem is not based on perturbation but rather the exact solution of the piece-wise constant media, the extention to a few slab system is already quite challenging. My hobbies are playing piano and reading.

Publications
"Unitary and non-unitary approaches in quantum field theory"
K.D. Lamb, C.C. Gerry, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 75, 013425 1-9 (2007).
also in Virtual Journal of Ultrafast Science, Vol.5 Issue 11, November 2006.

"Non-perturbative retrieval of the scattering strength in 1D media"
K.D. Lamb, S. Menon, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. E 74, 061903 (2006).
also in Virtual J Biological Physics Research, Vol.12 Issue 12, December 2006.



Allen F. Lewis

I am a senior in the computational physics program. I play the tuba, and really enjoy music, as well as trains and traveling by train. Currently, I am investigating the relationship between the Tyndall effect and our microscopic scattering phase function. I graduated in 2004 and plan to continue my education at a graduate school.

Publications:
"Dark Cone produced by light back-scattered off turbid media"
M.S. Bell, A.F. Lewis, R.E. Wagner, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Las. Phys. 13, pp. 207-212 (2003).

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2002, 2003), Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (2001, 2002).


Shannon M. Mandel

Publications:

"Point scatterer phase approximation for electromagnetic and intensity waves in random media"
S. Menon, S.M. Mandel, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Opt Comm 205, 25-35 (2002)

"Split operator solution of the time-dependent Maxwell's equations for random scatterers"
Q. Su, S. Mandel, S. Menon, and R. Grobe, SPIE 4536, 245-252 (2002)

Numerical solution techniques to the time-dependent Maxwell equations for highly scattering media"
S. Mandel, S. Menon, Q. Su, and R. Grobe, SPIE 4431, 165-168 (2001).

Conference Presentations:
Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (1999, 2000, 2001), ISU Undergrad. Symp (2000, 2001), ISAAPT Spring Meeting (2000)


Kimberly N. McGill

I switched my major from Business Administration to computer physics in spring 2003. I am involved with a cool inversion scheme wich can be used to see through a "milky medium."

Publications:
"Inversion algorithm for intensity modulated light in 1D turbid media"
K.N. McGill, Q. Su, and R. Grobe, Las. Phys. 15, 552, (2005).

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2004, 2005), ISAAPT (2004, 2005), Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (2004).




Matthew E. Narter

I study how light is transported through a turbid and highly scattering medium using a Monte Carlo approach to the Boltzmann equation. In my spare\ time I play soccer and baseball. In May 2004 I got an invitation to present my work at the DAMOP meeting in Tucson.

Publications
"High-frequency limit of photon density waves in turbid media"
T.P. Garvin, M. Narter, S. Menon, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Las. Phys. (in press).

"Bridging the gap between the Maxwell and Boltzmann theories for light migration in model biomedia"
Q. Su, M. Narter, S. Menon and R. Grobe, J. Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. 5254, pp. 73-82 (2003).

Conference Presentations:
DAMOP (2004), ISU Undergrad. Symp (2003, 2005), Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (2004), ISAAPT (2005).

Kevin M. Paul

Publications:
"Temporal and Spatial Adiabaticity in the Propagation of Laser Pulse Pairs Through Three-level Media"
K.M. Paul, J.R. Csesznegi and R. Grobe, Laser Phys. 7, 884 (1997).

Alison O'Connell

I am a sophomore and have been running Monte-Carlo simulations to model Sawyer's light scattering experiments. I enjoy computer related research activities and hope to become an engineer one day. I like to read, travel, bowl and play video games.

Publications
"Light scattering regimes along the optical axis in trubid media"
S. Campbell, A. O'Connell, S. Menon, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. E 74, 061909 (2006).

"Impact of large-angle scattering on diffusively backscattered light"
S. Campbell, A. O'Connell, G.H. Rutherford and R. Grobe, Opt. Lett. 32, 560 (2007).

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2006,2007), Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (2005,2006,2007), ISAAPT (2006,2007).

Peter J. Peverly

In addition to my research work on various laser-atom or laser-medium reactions, I have worked with computer graphics making animated movies as well as stereographic images. Starting fall 2004, I will pursue a Ph.D. in optics at the University of Rochester.

Publications
"Electron-electron correlation in relativistic ionization"
P.J. Peverly, J.C. Henderson, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Laser Phys. 14, 462 (2004).

"Photon density waves in macro- and microscopic plan parallel scattering samples"
P.J. Peverly, R.E. Wagner, G.H. Rutherford, M. Marsalli, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. E 65, 031908 (2002).

"Relativistic electron spin motion in cycloatoms"
Q. Su, P.J. Peverly, R.E. Wagner, P. Krekora, and R. Grobe, Optics Express 8, 51-58 (2001).
http://www.opticsexpress.org/oearchive/source/27085.htm

"Quantum signatures in time-resolved electron-electron collisions"
R.E. Wagner, P.J. Peverly, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Laser Phys. 11, 221-225 (2001).

Spatial electron clouds at fractional and multiple magneto-optical resonances"
Q. Su, R.E. Wagner, P.J. Peverly and R. Grobe, in Frontiers of Laser Physics and Quantum Optics, eds, A.
Xu, S. Xie, S.-Y. Zhu and M.O. Scully, (Springer, Berlin) 117-123 (2000).

"Fractional resonances in relativistic magnetic-laser-atom interations"
P.J. Peverly, R.E. Wagner, Q. Su, and R. Grobe, Las. Phys. 10, 303-309 (2000).

"Classical versus quantum dynamics for a driven relativistic oscillator"
R.E. Wagner, P.J. Peverly, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 61, 35402-35404 (2000).

Conference Presentations:
APS Meeting (2000), Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (1999, 2000), ISAAPT (2000), ISU Undergrad. Symp. (1999, 2000, 2001).

Tony J. Piraino

I am a Junior in the Affiliated Physics and Engineering program. After graduation I plan to work for Caterpillar as a Mechanical Engineer. This is my third year with ILP and I am currently the Webmaster.

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2002, 2003), Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (2002)


Sarah Radovich

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp (2002)


Kelly N. Rodeffer

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp. (1996, 1997), ISAAPT/IL (1996), Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (1996)


Tyson R. Shepherd

Conference Presentations:
Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (1999), ISU Undergrad. Symp. (1999, 2000), ISAAPT Spring Meeting (2000)


Kress M. Shores

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp. (1997), ISAAPT/IL (1997)


Brad A. Smetanko

Publications:
"Wave Packet Motion in Relativistic Electric Fields"
Q. Su, B.A. Smetanko and R. Grobe, Laser Phys. 8, 93 (1998).

"Relativistic Suppression of Wave Packet Spreading"
Q. Su, B.A. Smetanko and R. Grobe, Optics Express 2, 277 (1998).

Conference Presentations:
ISU Undergrad. Symp. (1997, 1998), ISAAPT/IL (1996, 1997), Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (1996, 1997), Natl. Coll. Hon. Council (1997)

Robert E. Wagner

I am studying the high-order harmonic generation due to the intense laser-atom interaction using the Monte-Carlo method. My project on cycloatoms was selected by the American Physical Society (APS) as one of the five best undergraduate research works in atomic, molecular and optical physics in the US in 1999. I was invited to present my work at the APS centennial meeting in Atlanta in March of 1999. I like to read in my spare time. In 2001 I won the Barry Goldwater and LeRoy Apker awards.

Publications:
"Classical mechanical ionization probability in strong magnetic fields"
R.E. Wagner, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Las. Phys. (in press)

"Dark cone produced by light back-scattered off turbid media"
M.S. Bell, A.F. Lewis, R.E. Wagner, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Las. Phys. (in press).

"Dephasing model for spatially extended atomic states in cyclotron-like resonances"
R.E. Wagner, S. Radovich, J. Gillespie, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A (in press).

"Relativistic dynamics of atomic electrons in resonant magnetic-laser fields"
R.E. Wagner, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 3282-3285 (2000).

"High-order harmonic generation in relativistic ionization of magnetically dressed atoms"
R.E. Wagner, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A 60, 3233-3243 (1999).

"Classical versus quantum dynamics for a driven relativistic oscillator"
R.E. Wagner, P.J. Peverly, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A. 61, 35402-35404 (2000).

"Fractional resonances in relativistic magnetic-laser-atom interactions"
P.J. Peverly, R.E. Wagner, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Las. Phys. 10, 303-309 (2000).

"Spatial electron clouds at fractional and multiple magneto-optical resonances"
Q. Su, R.E. Wagner, P.J. Peverly and R. Grobe, in Frontiers of Laser Physics and Quantum Optics, eds, Z. Xu, S. Xie, S.-Y. Zhu and M.O. Scully, (Springer, Berlin) 117-123 (2000).

"Dirac theory of ring-shaped electron distributions in cycloatoms"
P. Krekora, R.E. Wagner, Q. Su, and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. A, 63, 25404 (2001).

"Relativistic electron spin motion in cycloatoms"
Q. Su, P.J. Peverly, R.E. Wagner, P. Krekora, and R. Grobe, Optics Express, 8, 51-58 (2001).
http://www.opticsexpress.org/oearchive/source/27085.htm

"Quantum signatures in time-resolved electron-electron collisions?"
R.E. Wagner, P.J. Peverly, Q. Su, and R. Grobe, Laser Phys. 11, 221-225 (2001)

"Retardation and kinematic relativistic effects in scattered light"
P. Krekora, R.E. Wagner, Q. Su, and R. Grobe, Laser Phys. 12, 455-463 (2002).

"Photon-density waves in macro- and microscopic plane parallel scattering samples"
P.J. Peverly, R.E. Wagner, G.H. Rutherford, M. Marsalli, Q. Su, and R. Grobe, Phys. Rev. E 65, 031908 1-7 (2002).

Conference Presentations:
APS Meeting (2000, 2001), APS Centennial Meeting (1999), Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001), SPS Zone Meeting (1998), ISAAPT Spring Meeting (2000), ISU Undergrad. Symp. (1999, 2000, 2001)

Rebecca Wenning

I work in the ILP light scattering laboratory. I have made computer simulations to study the enhancement of the scattered light signal by adding re\ flective mirrors to the turbid medium. I know several foreign languages and have traveled to many countries.

Publications
"Optical characteristics of a turbid medium between two mirrors"
R. Wenning, Q. Su and R. Grobe, Las. Phys. 16,631 (2006).

Conference Presentations:
DAMOP (2005), ISU Undergrad. Symp (2004, 2005), ISAAPT (2004, 2005), Argonne Undergrad. Symp. (2004).

Dr. Taiwang Cheng

Dr. Piotr Krekora






Dr. Sunish Menon




Dr. Harshwardhan Wanare

Click here for Dr. Wanare's personal web page

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