Chuan Cheng
Stanford Postdoc Researcher|Ultrafast Gamer|Strong-Field Thinker|Math Enthusiastic
Hello everyone, welcome to my website. I am Chuan Cheng, a researcher in strong field Physics. I studied molecular dynamics in strong field ionization in Prof. Thomas Weinacht’s lab at Stony Brook University. Now, I am working as a postdoctoral scholar in Prof. Philip Bucksbaum’s group at Stanford University, trying to extend our knowledge about multiparticle correlation and the nonlinear nature of strong field ionization. The strong field Physics is such a fruitful research area that it opens the gate to the attosecond (10^-15s) research, which was recently awarded the Nobel Physics Prize in 2023. The past few decades of our field is recorded by Nobel Prize in Physics of early days: the construction of oscillators and amplifiers based on the maser-laser principle (1964), the development of laser spectroscopy (1981), the development of laser-based precision spectroscopy, including the optical frequency comb technique (2005) and the generation of high-intensity, ultra-short optical pulses (2018). It is also worth noting that, one can study femtosecond Chemistry by using the femtosecond laser pulses, which is awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1999. It is very impressive that the research in Physics and Chemistry are coupled to each other and one can benefit from the development of the other.
As an experimentalist, I tried to combine the advantages of the femtosecond ultrafast lasers and the velocity map imaging spectrometer. The development of the photoionization spectroscopy and Tpx3Cam greatly enhanced my ability to solve problems in order to reach the core of strong field Physics. Also, as a person who loves math, I enjoy developing mathematical derivations to better understand the science behind our experiments. So far, I have developed the four-body correlation formula (cumulant) with Prof. Leszek Frasinski and an efficient algorithm to compute such high order correlation. I believe this mathematical tool will be much powerful in the future study of the strong field Physics.
I have been impressed by both Tom and Phil’s enthusiasm on science but also enjoyed working with my colleagues. The lunch meetings that I had with them had greatly broadened my horizon to ultrafast electron diffraction, quantum control, spectral broadening, enhanced ionization in strong field, machine learning, X-ray diffraction techniques, liquid phase photoionization spectroscopy, etc. All of these topics form a coherent symphony of our field and more. I hope to make friends with brilliant people who is doing fascinating research and to contribute more to this wonderful time!
Chuan's Site 