Prof. Dr. Kang-Kuen Ni

Our group is working to create molecules at the lowest possible temperatures, and to study their chemical reactions and physical interactions. At such ultra-cold temperatures quantum mechanics describes all aspects of the molecules: their position, orientation, and internal state. In this fascinating regime, new quantum phases emerge, beyond the usual gas, liquid, and solid phase, and even Bose-Einstein condensation. These phases are the subject of many theoretical studies, and now await laboratory demonstration. At ultra-cold temperatures, chemistry is also fully quantum mechanical, and unusual four-center reactions may dominate chemical dynamics. We are embarking to map out this strange new world of ultra-cold quantum chemistry and ultra-cold molecules. The unique properties of molecules also open new research opportunities for quantum information science.[more]