Juha Javanainen

Professor Emeritus

Physics

Research Interests

Aggregates of atoms in an optical lattice as a laboratory for mesoscopic physics. The goal is to build a bridge between quantum mechanics (as in a two-atom cluster or “lattice dimer”) and classical mechanics (as in a many-atom soliton). The back-action from measurements and other manipulations on the atoms appear to be crucial in establishing a classical-physics like behavior for an aggregate of atoms. We hope to turn this observation into methods whereby one can correctly address quantum fluctuations in a near-classical system, and conversely, transfer intuition from classical systems deep into the realm of quantum mechanics.

CV

Education

• D.Sc., Physics, Helsinki University of Technology, 1981
• M.Sc., Physics, Helsinki University of Technology, 1977

Experience

• September 1987 – Present, Professor, Physics, University of Connecticut
• January 1986 – August 1987, Senior Research Associate, University of Rochester
• January 1985 – December 1985, Max-Planck-Stipendiat, Max-Planck-Institut fuer Quantenoptik, Garching, Germany
• April 1982 – December 1984, Senior Research Associate, University of Helsinki