Atomic, molecular, and optical physics

Atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics is the study of the behavior of single atoms, ions, and molecules, as well as electromagnetic fields at frequencies primarily in the ultraviolet to microwave range. Included are the interactions of these fields with atoms, ions, and molecules.

One active area of AMO physics is in laser cooling and trapping of atoms and ions, whereby lasers are used to cool a collection of atoms or ions in the gas phase. Nobel physics prizes in this subfield of were awarded in 1989, 1997, 2001, and 2012.