• 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
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M.S., 1998, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Far Eastern State University, Russia. Ph.D., 2000, Far Eastern State University, Russia. Research Assistant, Pacific Oceanological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 1997-2000; Postdoctoral Associate, Laboratory of Nuclear Studies & Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source, Cornell University, 2000-2003; Research Associate, Cornell Laboratory for Accelerator-based Sciences and Education, Cornell University, 2003-2007; Assistant Professor, Physics, Cornell University, 2007-present.

Research Areas

Accelerator Physics, High-Brightness Electron Sources, Photoinjectors, Space Charge Dominated Beams, Linear and Nonlinear Beam Dynamics, Next Generation X-ray Sources, Energy Recovery Linacs, Free-Electron Lasers, International Linear Collider 

Current Research

Intense relativistic electron beams are effective in probing atomic, nuclear, and subatomic structure of matter. In addition, relativistic free electrons are the only medium for tunable light production in the widest range of photon energies, providing the path towards creation of intense sources of coherent radiation in spectral range not attainable with conventional means, such as hard and soft X-rays, and THz radiation. The quality of the particle beam, mainly its brightness, is a decisive factor in determining its usefulness. Thus, creation, transport, and utilization of such intense high-energy beams are the core subjects of accelerator physics.

My research interests can be categorized in two broad areas: production of extreme particle beams and development of new applications utilizing such beams. More specifically, the former focuses on the electron source development, beam diagnosis, and advanced techniques of synchrotron radiation production, while the latter is concerned with exploration of new research possibilities enabled by the next generation light sources such as Energy Recovery Linacs (ERL) and X-ray Free Electron Lasers (XFEL).

At the moment, the main effort is concentrated on development and operation of a novel high-brightness electron injector for the ERL X-ray source, a necessary prerequisite in realizing the full scale synchrotron radiation facility based on the ERL concept. Such an electron source is of great interest to a number of applications not limited to the ERL, e.g., ion cooling, polarized electron source for colliders, and XFELs. The effort in building this complex beyond-the-state-of-the-art electron injector is interdisciplinary and broadband in nature, making it an ideal environment for a graduate researcher who wants to develop a well-balanced mix of experimental and theoretical skills.

Below are some the areas that are presently being pursued:

    * High brightness space-charge dominated beams, beam emittance formation

    * Photocathode physics for advanced accelerator applications

    * High average and peak beam current phenomena, ion effect, coherent synchrotron radiation

    * Instrumentation and diagnostics for extreme high brightness beams

    * Beam instabilities, computational aspects, orbit control

My other interests are:

    * Surface phenomena in high gradient environment

    * Coherent X-ray diffraction imaging, radiation damage mechanisms

    * X-ray ultrafast pump-probe experiments, multiple X-ray photon reactions

Some of my collaborators in this research: Bruce Dunham and Sergey Belomestnykh

Graduate Students

Colwyn Gulliford
 

Undergraduate Students

Allen Kim, Muhammed Sameed and Shahkukh Mallick

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 ...
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