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Suggested Citation:"Epilog." National Research Council. 2002. Atoms, Molecules, and Light: AMO Science Enabling the Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10516.
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Epilog

The breadth of AMO science and its impact have made the discipline attractive to a large number of support agencies. Support comes mainly from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Additional support is realized through active research programs at federal and industrial laboratories.

AMO science is dominated by the work of single investigators and small groups. This mode of operation, often called “small science”— in contrast to large-scale science such as experimental high-energy physics and space-based science—has fostered the creativity and innovation that produce notable discoveries year after year. Students trained in AMO science graduate with a vast range of skills and capabilities, making them valuable contributors to our economy. The vitality of AMO science as a fundamental science as well as a fertile training ground has contributed to the recent birth and expansion of AMO programs in academic institutions across the United States.

We continue to be dazzled by the progress of technology and its huge impact on the economy, health, environment, national security, and homeland defense. It is not possible to fathom the wonderful new ideas that will invariably arise from the basic research currently under way. But more important than the tangible aspects of the progress brought about by discoveries and inventions is the pioneering spirit enkindled by scientific exploration. This pioneering spirit is the key to our nation’s continuing security, health, and economic success.

Suggested Citation:"Epilog." National Research Council. 2002. Atoms, Molecules, and Light: AMO Science Enabling the Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10516.
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IMAGE CREDITS (in order of appearance)

Cover:

Courtesy of National Institute of Standards and Technology (photographer: M. Helfer)

Inside cover:

Courtesy of W. Ketterle, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; I. Bloch, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, and T.W. Hänsch, Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik; M. Kasevich,Yale University; and W.D. Phillips, National Institute of Standards and Technology

p. viii left

Courtesy of Columbia University

p. viii right

Courtesy of Volvo Car Corporation

p. 2

Courtesy of FreeFoto.com

p. 2

Courtesy of Intel Corporation

p. 2

Courtesy of GE Medical Systems

p. 3

Courtesy of Alan Gough,Vision Masters Multimedia

p. 4

Courtesy of Synrad Corporation

p. 4

Courtesy of J. Owers-Bradley, University of Nottingham

p. 4

Courtesy of National Aeronautics and Space Administration

p. 4

Courtesy of Air Force Research Laboratory

p. 5

Courtesy of H.J. Kimble, California Institute of Technology

p. 6

Courtesy of Synrad Corporation

Figure 1

Reprinted, by permission, from Nature 406, p. 353 (2000), © 2000 Macmillan Magazines Ltd.

p. 8 (box)

Courtesy of Lucent Technologies

p. 9 (box)

Courtesy of Vitaliy V. Losev, NT-MDT Corporation

Figure 2

Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Figure 3

Courtesy of National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Figure 4

Courtesy of Jimmy K. Chin, Photographer

p. 12

Courtesy of J. Owers-Bradley, University of Nottingham

p. 14 (box)

Courtesy of IBM Corporation

Figure 5

Courtesy of TLC Vision Corporation

Figure 6

Courtesy of B.E. Bouma, Harvard University

p. 18 (box)

Courtesy of Air Force Research Laboratory

Figure 7

Courtesy of W.E. Moerner, Stanford University

p. 20

Courtesy of National Aeronautics and Space Administration

p. 21 (box)

Courtesy of K. Kirby, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Figure 8

Courtesy of U.S. Global Change Research Program

Figure 9

Courtesy of National Aeronautics and Space Administration

p. 25 (box)

Courtesy of W. Cottingame, Los Alamos National Laboratory

p. 26 (box)

Courtesy of L.R. Narasimhan, University of California, Los Angeles

Figure 10

Courtesy of National Aeronautics and Space Administration

p. 27 (box)

Courtesy of Sandia National Laboratories

Figure 11

Courtesy of Sandia National Laboratories

p. 28

Courtesy of Air Force Research Laboratory

p. 30 (box)

Courtesy of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Figure 12

Courtesy of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Figure 13

Courtesy of TRW, Inc.

p. 34

Courtesy of H.J. Kimble, California Institute of Technology

Figure 14

Courtesy of Department of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries

Figure 15

© Harold & Esther Edgerton Foundation, 2002, reprinted courtesy of Palm Press, Inc.

p. 38

Courtesy of the Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Figure 16

Courtesy of the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester

Figure 17

Courtesy of National Institute of Standards and Technology

Figure 18

Courtesy of National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Figure 19

Courtesy of P. Meystre, University of Arizona

Figure 20

Photo by Paul Kwiat and Michael Reck. © Institute of Experimental Physics, University of Vienna

Suggested Citation:"Epilog." National Research Council. 2002. Atoms, Molecules, and Light: AMO Science Enabling the Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10516.
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Page 43
Suggested Citation:"Epilog." National Research Council. 2002. Atoms, Molecules, and Light: AMO Science Enabling the Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10516.
×
Page 44
Atoms, Molecules, and Light: AMO Science Enabling the Future Get This Book
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With the publication in 1994 of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Science: An Investment in the Future (the FAMOS report), the National Research Council launched the series Physics in a New Era, its latest survey of physics. Each of the six area volumes in the survey focuses on a different subfield of physics, describing advances since the last decadal survey and suggesting future opportunities and directions. This survey culminated in 2001 with the publication of the seventh and final volume, Physics in a New Era: An Overview. Since the publication of the FAMOS report, the developments in atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) science have been amazing.

Significant advances in areas such as cooling and trapping, atom and quantum optics, single-atom and single-molecule detection, and ultrafast and ultra intense phenomena, along with the emergence of new applications, made it clear that an update of the FAMOS report was needed. With support from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, the Committee for an Updated Assessment of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Science was formed. The committee's statement of task reads as follows: The committee will prepare a narrative document that portrays the advances in AMO science and its impact on society. This report highlights selected forefront areas of AMO science, emphasizing recent accomplishments and new opportunities, identifies connections between AMO science and other scientific fields, emerging technologies, and national needs, describes career opportunities for AMO scientists.

To accomplish its task and at the same time reach a broad audience, the committee decided to present its report in the form of a brochure highlighting selected advances, connections, and impacts on national needs. An exhaustive assessment of the field, which will fall within the purview of the next decadal survey, was not the goal of the update. The committee would like to express its gratitude for the informative interactions it had with many scientists and policy makers. Many colleagues completed a questionnaire and suggested topics to be included in this report. The final selection of topics was made in accordance with the criteria set forth in the statement of task. While this report was still being written, the tragic events of September 11, 2001, occurred. AMO science and its applications have already played and will continue to play a central role in our nation's response to terrorist threats from conventional as well as chemical or biological weapons. Some of the technology discussed in this report in the chapter "AMO Science Enhancing National Defense" was used successfully for the U.S. military response in Afghanistan—the Global Positioning System (GPS) and laser-guided munitions are just two examples. AMO science will also enable the development of early detection techniques that will help to neutralize the threat from biological and chemical agents.

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