• Theoretical Condensed-Matter Physics
• Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics
• Astrophysics and General Relativity
• Experimental Elementary Particle Physics
• Accelerator Physics
• Experimental Condensed-Matter Physics
• Biological Physics
• Multidisciplinary Research
• Major Research Facilities
• Resources for Researchers

B.S., 1967, Iona College. Ph.D., 1973, Columbia University. Research Associate, Columbia University, 1972-76. Assistant Professor, Physics, Columbia University, 1976-82. Associate Scientist, Fermilab, 1982-85. Scientist, Fermilab, 1985-91. Head, Accelerator Division, Fermilab, 1989-91. Associate Director, Superconducting Super Collider Laboratory, 1991-94. Full Professor, Physics, Cornell University, 1995-present. Fellow, American Physical Society.

Research Areas
Accelerator physics of lepton and hadron colliders; beam-beam interaction; collective instabilities; positron and antiproton production; stochastic cooling of particle beams; beam transport and transfer systems; design of electron and positron damping rings; design and utilization of superconducting accelerator magnets

Current Research

Currently, my research interests in accelerator physics are focused on initiatives connected with future accelerators at the energy frontier. My principal interest is in the physics and technology of high-energy linear electron-positron colliders, in particular, the International Linear Collider (ILC). In the ILC's injector system, areas of particular interest are the design of electron and positron damping rings and the physics of ion-driven instabilities that can limit the performance of the rings. I am currently involved in the CesrTA program at Cornell. This program is focused on the study of the buildup of the electron cloud, a charged plasma which develops in the vacuum chamber of positron accelerators and can seriously degrade the performance of the accelerator.

I am also interested in advanced and novel acceleration techniques that may be used in far-future accelerators, for example, the use of high-peak-power lasers to realize laser-driven plasma wakefield accelerators.

Spotlight

Michael Ehrlichman, graduate student, is working in Professor Georg Hoffstaetter’s group researching the effect of ionized residual gas on particle accelerator beams.  Residual gas molecules ionized by charged particle beams can become trapped in the potential well of the beam.  These trapped ions exert a nonlinear focusing force on the beam that can reduce beam quality.  The ions can also undergo coupled oscillations with the beam.  These coupled oscillations can become unstable and increase the effective dimensions of the beam or ...
read more