Physics professor recognized for innovative research
COLLEGE STATION —
Dr. Alexei V. Sokolov, assistant professor of physics in the College of Science at Texas A&M University, has been awarded a $35,000 Research Innovation Award (RIA) to support his investigation on the process of creating ever-shorter pulses of light.
The award was given to Sokolov after his proposal underwent an extensive peer review by the Research Corporation of Tucson, Arizona. According to the corporation, the RIAs are so named because innovation is one of the hallmarks of original research. The corporation seeks to encourage this innovation by supporting proposals For “research that transcends the ordinary and promises significant discoveries.”
“The type of research in which the corporation is interested involves projects that the traditional research funding agencies might not accept,” said Sokolov. “This gives incentive to younger faculty to branch out from what has been done before.”
“Our research focuses on creating short pulses of light,” Sokolov said. “For example, when you take pictures, you need a fast flash to catch something that is moving. With the very short pulses we are trying to create, you will eventually be able to take movies of molecular and electronic motion – something not currently possible.”
According to Sokolov, the application of the group’s findings may not be known for another 10 to 20 years. For example, in addition to the creation of shorter pulses of light, Sokolov’s group is working on an idea of using such pulses to generate laser-induced nuclear fusion.
Sokolov’s Subfemtosecond Science Lab research group includes graduate students Andrea Burzo, Bogdan Dobrescu, Jiahui Peng, Lei Wang, and Miaochan Zhi. They are all currently studying the process of making short pulses of light.
Sokolov holds a Master of Science degree in physics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology in Russia and a doctorate in physics from Stanford University.
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Contact: Pat Schaub, Communications Specialist, College of Science, Texas A&M University, EMAIL: pschaub@science.tamu.edu, PH: 979-862-1237.
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