Smith, Winthrop

I work with students in experimental atomic and molecular physics, using tools like laser spectroscopy and doing collision studies using laser-excited atomic and molecular beams, accelerated beams of ions, ion-traps and, most recently, surfaces. I've also worked in nonlinear dynamics and chaos. For undergrads, I try to use research insights in class and lab to bring out the joy of physics.

Education

• Ph.D., Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• B.A., Physics, Amherst College

Professional Societies

• Fellow, American Physical Society
• Phi Beta Kappa
• Sigma Xi

Selected Publications

1. R. Cote, P. L. Gould, M. Rozman, and W. W. Smith, eds., Pushing the Frontiers of Atomic Physics, Proceedings of the XXI Int. Conf. on Atomic Physics, World Scientific, 2009, 371pp.
2. C.J. Verzani, K. Miller, A. Wrigley, Q. Kessel, W. W. Smith, S. J. Smith, S. Hossain, A. Chutjian, Laboratory Measurement of 50-250 eV X rays from collisions of cometary interest: S and Ne L X-rays, Fe M X-rays and others, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 261, pp. 189-192 (2007).
3. W. W. Smith, O. Makarov, and Jian Lin, Cold Ion-Neutral Collisions in a Hybrid Trap, Journal of Modern Optics, 52, 2253-2260 (2005).
4. O. P. Makarov, R. Cote, H. Michels, and W. W. Smith, Radiative charge transfer lifetime of the excited state of (NaCa)⁺, Phys. Rev. A 67, 042705 (2003).
5. W. W. Smith, E. Babenko, R. Cote, and H. H. Michels, On the collisional cooling of trapped atomic and molecular ions by ultracold atoms: Ca⁺ + Na and Na₂⁺(v*,J* ) + Na, invited talk at QO VIII, University of Rochester, June 13-16, 2001, in Coherence and Quantum Optics: VIII Proceedings of the 8th Rochester Conference, N. Bigelow, et al. editors, Plenum Press/ Kluwer, NY, 623-624 (2003).
6. S. Gupta, D. A. Kokorowski, R. A. Rubenstein, and W. W. Smith, Longitudinal Interferometry with Atomic Beams, Invited book chapter in V. 46 of Advances in Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, B. Bederson and H. Walther (editors), p.243-275, Academic Press, NY, 2001.
7. M. Kostrun, W. W. Smith and J. Javanainen, Theory of the Pi-Periodic Motion of Two Ions in a Paul Trap, Phys. Rev. A 57, 2895-2903 (1998).
8. E. Babenko, C. Tapalian and W. W. Smith, Associative ionization in laser-excited sodium 3p + 3d collisions, Chem. Physics Letters 244, 121 (1995).
9. C. A. Schrama, E. Peik, W. W. Smith, and H. Walther, Novel miniature ion traps, Optics Comm. 101, 32 (1993).

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