S. Burçin Bayram
Biography
As an experimental Atomic, Molecular and Optical (AMO) physicist in the Department of Physics at ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ, I am passionately interested in involving ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈs at all levels in my research activities. My research focuses on exploring the dynamics of light-matter interactions using short laser pulses on atomic and molecular systems. My ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈs are actively involved in designing experiments and building lasers. They employ these lasers along with fiber optics, spectrometers, electronics, light-sensitive detectors, signal processing, and remote control of devices in hands-on physics research. This work provides ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈs at all levels with advanced scientific and technical training. My research in molecular physics has received continuous funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) since 2013.
I am also passionate about creating innovative teaching materials to enhance ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ success in Advanced Laboratory Courses in atomic and molecular physics. To support this goal, I developed straightforward and cost-effective experiments focused on the vibrational and rotational spectra of diatomic molecules. I shared these findings through publications in educational journals.
Education
- Joined ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ in 2002
- Post Doctoral Fellowship, University of Michigan, 1999-2002
- Ph.D. Physics, Old Dominion University, Virginia, 1998
- B.Sc. Physics, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, 1992
Research Interests
My research area is experimental atomic, molecular, and optical physics, and molecular quantum optics, with a primary focus on the coherent interaction of light with matter. My group uses laser pulse sequences and high-resolution molecular spectroscopy to investigate the highly excited electronic state of target diatomic molecules, such as sodium, lithium, and NaK, in a heatpipe oven. Employing advanced techniques such as double or triple resonance excitation and a photon-counting method, we measure the radiative lifetimes and collisional dynamics of the excited state molecules. The study of highly excited molecules is specifically interesting due to the exotic double-peak structure in molecular states, opening up potential applications in ultracold physics. The relatively simple yet still sufficiently rich internal structure of these molecules is a compelling target for testing fundamental laws of nature and probing novel states of quantum matter.
Courses
I teach Advanced Laboratory in Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy, advanced Classical Mechanics for physics majors and introductory level calculus- and algebra-based physics for science and non-science majors.
Selected Publications
- Md. Shakil Bin Kashem*, Morgan Davies*, Lok R. Pant*, S. Burcin Bayram, "Molecular Spectroscopy as a Laboratory Experiment: Measurement of Important Parameters of Sodium Diatomic Molecules", American Journal of Physics, vol. 91, issue. 12, pg. 1015-1022 (2023).
- S.B. Bayram, M. Lyyra and N. Melikechi, Book: "Optical Spectroscopy and Imaging for Cancer Diagnostics" in Chapter 2: "Light Interaction with Atoms and Molecules", pages 29-43, World Scientific Publishing, February (2023). doi:10.1142/12907
- D. Wagle*, L.R. Pant*, J. Converse*, S. Wenner*, Z. Saglam* and S.B. Bayram, "Rovibrationally resolved radiative lifetime and collisional cross section measurements of the 6sSg(v=6,7, J=31) state of molecular sodium", J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transf., vol. 261C, pg. 107438 (2021).