Since its invention in the 1960s, laser has been an extremely efficient tool of controlling atoms or molecules. During the past few decades, lasers have become stronger (in intensity), faster (in duration), and higher (in frequency). For example: Strong infrared lasers now reach peak intensities on the order of 10²³ W/cm²; X-ray free electron lasers generate frequencies (photon energies) on the order of 10 keV; Laser pulses last for merely 10 fs or shorter.

    Modern advanced lasers have thus become more than capable of just controlling the electrons of the atoms or molecules. In fact, they become possible to influence and control the atomic nuclei. It is intriguing to envisage that lasers become efficient tools to manupulate and control nuclear physics as they do for atomic and molecular physics. The research of our group focuses on understanding the physics and exploring the possibilities of using lasers to control nuclear properties and nuclear physical processes.

   Our research is motivated by important potential applications in precision measurement ("nuclear clocks"), energy storage and release ("nuclear batteries"), novel light sources ("nuclear lasers"), etc. Besides the applications, laser-nuclear physics provides an interesting platform on which laser physics, nuclear physics, and atomic physics directly interplay.