Chemistry & Physics

David Olsgaard

Professor Olsgaard with laser equipment

Research Interests/Student Projects:

My main interests lie in the area of laser spectroscopy of atoms and molecules. Recent (sabbatical) research involved quantum coherent control of molecular processes and photodissociation spectroscopy of metal ion-rare gas molecules.

Student projects in the works include building laser systems for high-resolution laser spectroscopy; high-resolution sub-doppler spectroscopy of Rubidium, two-photon one-color and two-photon two-color spectroscopy; and electromagnetically induced transparency.

Memberships:

American Association of Physics teachers
Optical Society of America
Sigma Pi Sigma
Epsilon Sigma

Courses Taught:

Physics 121 Ideas in Physics
Physics 151-152 Principles of Physics
Physics 191-192 General Physics
Physics/Engineering 210 Introduction to Laser Science
Physics 230 Modern Physics
Physics/Engineering 250 Statics
Physics 271 Experimental Physics
Physics 290 A Guided Tour of Spacetime Physics
Physics 290 Cosmology: Science of the Universe
Physics 320 Classical Mechanics
Physics 340 Electromagnetic Fields
Physics 360 Quantum Mechanics
Senior Colloquium 399 Faith and Physics (spring 2000)

Refereed Publications:

Photodissociation Spectroscopy of Ca+(C2H4), J.H. Holmes, P.D. Kleiber, D. A. Olsgaard, and K.H. Lang, Journal of  Chemical Physics Vol. 112   (No. 15), pp. 6583- 6589 (April 15, 2000).

"Polarization spectra of excited state-Mg(3p)-rare-gas-atom optical collisions," R. A. Lassel, D. A. Olsgaard, and M. D. Havey, Physical Review A 50, 423 (1994).

"Polarization and intensity spectra for Mg-Ne and Mg-Ar fractional collisions," D. A. Olsgaard, R. A. Lassel, M. D. Havey, and A. Sieradzan, Physical Review A 48, 1987 (1993).

"Collisional modification of the atomic Na 3s 2S1/2 - 5s 2S1/2 two-color, two-photon polarization spectrum," L. Cook, D. Olsgaard, M. Havey, and A. Sieradzan, Physical Review A 47, 340 (1993).

"Alignment spectra of two-photon, magnesium-rare gas atom fractional collisions," D. A. Olsgaard, M. D. Havey, A. Sieradzan, and R. A. Lassel, Physical Review Letters 69, 1745 (1992).

"Polarization measurements of Na 3p2P3/2 in Na-Ar, Na-Kr, and Na-Xe optical collisions," D. A. Olsgaard, M. D. Havey, and A. Sieradzan, Phys. Rev. A 43, 6117 (1991).

"Asymptotic screened hydrogenic radial integrals," D. A. Olsgaard, F. Khan, G. S. Khandelwal, J. Opt. Soc. B 5, 2437 (1988).

Published Abstracts and Presentations:

“Assume a Spherical Rocket: Context Connections in the Laboratory,” D. A. Olsgaard, Iowa Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers, Ames, IA, Nov. 6, 2004.

Photodissociation Spectroscopy of Ca+(C2H4), D.A. Olsgaard, J.H. Holmes, P.D. Kleiber, and K.H. Yang, The American Physical Society March Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, March 2000.

“Lasers the Light Fantastic: A Course for Gifted High School Students,” D. A. Olsgaard, Iowa Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers, Cedar Rapids, IA, Nov. 7, 1999.

"Observation of Alignment Dynamics in Mg-Rare Gas Two-Photon Fractional Collisions," D. A. Olsgaard, M.D. Havey, and A.Sieradzan, APS-DAMOP meeting, Chicago, IL, May 20-22, 1992.

"Measurement of collisional depolarization of atomic Na 3s-5s two-photon, two-color polarization spectrum," L.O. Cook, A. Sieradzan, M.D. Havey, D.A. Olsgaard, APS-DAMOP meeting, Chicago, IL, May 20-22, 1992.

"Polarization Measurements in Na-Ar, Na-Kr, and Na-Xe Optical Collisions," D. A. Olsgaard, M. D. Havey, and A. Sieradzan, APS-DAMOP meeting, Washington D.C., April 1991.

"Atomic Polarization Produced in Na-Ar and Na-Xe Optical Collisions," D.A. Olsgaard and M.D. Havey, Twelfth International Conference on Atomic Physics, Ann Arbor, MI, July 1990.

"Spectroscopy of SO2 in a pulsed supersonic beam," D. A. Olsgaard  and G. E. Copeland, Virginia Academy of Sciences, May 1985.

Other Publications:

“The Big Bang...Whispers of Faith,” Cover article for The Simpson Magazine, Spring 2000.

Last Updated: 11/14/08