Atomic Physics
Dr Mitroy does research in the general area of atomic structure and collisions physics. For the last decade the main theme of his work has been the interaction of low energy antimatter (in the form of positrons) with atoms and molecules. The most notable discovery from this research was the discovery that positrons could form chemically stable complexes with atoms for about a nanosecond before matter-antimatter annihilation occurs and the complex disintegrates in a burst of gamma rays.
More recently, he has become interested in forces that act between two atoms when they are a long distance apart (these are sometimes called van der Waals forces). This work was triggered by the explosive growth in the new area of physics known as "Cold Atom Physics". Clouds of very cold atomic gases are sensitive to the long range forces between two atoms since (a) the atoms are generally a long distance apart and (b) the atoms move very slowly so the weak long range forces have a perceptible influence on the behaviour of the clouds.
Research Coordinator: Dr Jim Mitroy
