| Scientific report | |||
| Scientific coordinators: Jan-Michael Rost (mpipks Dresden) Walter Strunz (TU Dresden) |
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| A wide variety of topics were covered at the "Atomic Physics" International Workshop 2008 (November 24 - 28), ranging from atomic and molecular dynamics to more fundamental and conceptual issues. There were 64 participants from many European and some non-European countries of which a balanced mixture of well established and promising young scientists gave about 40 invited talks. Other participants presented their research during two poster sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evening. The first two days were devoted to the "focus topic" on dissipative quantum dynamics in atomic and molecular systems. Invited speakers both from Theoretical Physics and Theoretical Chemistry reported on current developments in the description of complex quantum dynamics. On Monday many speakers gave an account of their research on quantum transport phenomena in biologically or chemically relevant complex molecules and we had the pleasure to witness the full catalogue of possible approaches to these highly complex systems (fully quantum approaches, master equations, path integrals, stochastic Schrödinger equations, quantum-classical hybrid approaches, MD simulations, etc.). Focus was directed at questions on the relevance of coherent phenomena in such systems, the role of structured reservoir spectral densities, and non-perturbative results. A subject that could be felt permeating through many talks was concerned with the question whether -- for some applications -- dynamics may well be described classically, while all the quantum features are merely reflected in the initial phase space distribution. On Tuesday we heard talks on a variety of topics ranging from (quantum) control and quantum error correction under the influence of noise, the quantum strong damping limit, test of Bell inequalities featuring massive particles, and once again talks that highlighted the intricate difficulties when faced with an efficient description of complex quantum dynamics. Wednesday started with experimental accounts of quantum dynamics in or on Helium nanodroplets, a field of fascinating possibilities as these droplets are not only interesting many-body quantum systems themselves but they provide ideal refrigerators for molecular spectroscopy. These talks were followed by two sessions on the topical issue of (ultracold) Rydberg physics. Thursday was dedicated to the whole spectrum of topical research in atomic and molecular physics, ranging from Bose-Einstein condensates over femtochemistry and attosecond pulses to quantum chaos. The international workshop came to a close on Friday with the presentation of experimental results in laser-atom and laser-molecule interaction; again we heard some speakers touching more conceptal issues concerning coherence and entanglement in atomic and molecular processes. The workshop was attended by researchers from divers backgrounds such as theoretical and experimental atomic, molecular and solid state physics, quantum optics, theoretical chemistry and theoretical biophysics, statistical physics and quantum information. As on so many occasions before, supported by the excellent local organisation, the MPI-PKS provided an ideal environment for stimulating scientific discussions and an exchange of ideas between these various fields. It became very clear that a successful framework for the description of complex quantum dynamics will have to merge concepts from all these research areas. |