Staff information
Dr S Francesca Shearer
Centre for Theoretical Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physicsemail: f.shearer@qub.ac.uk
Tel: 028 9097 6049
Fax: 028 9097 6061
Room DBB 0G.031
Department of Applied Mathematics & Theoretical Physics
Queen's University Belfast
University Road
Belfast BT7 1NN
General Research Area: Theoretical and Computational Physics
During my research career I have worked mainly in the area of ion-atom collisions. My research interests in this field include non-adiabatic transitions in low-energy inelastic atomic collision processes and charge transfer. I am also interested in the study of single ionization processes in highly charged ions as this work is relevant to a range of practical applications including radiation therapy, material modification, ion implantation and heavy ion pumped fusion.
Another area of interest is the study of multiphoton detachment of electrons from negative ions. The process of ionization in an atomic system in a strong laser represents a hot topic in atomic physics. Analytical and numerical calculations are currently in progress exploring the behaviour of electron detachment from negative ions by a few cycle laser linearly polarized pulse. Work in this vibrant area will be extended to multiphoton detachment from molecules by few-cycle laser pulses to determine the characteristics of this process. In particular it will be of major interest to study the transition between the incoherent superposition of vibrational states and coherent wavepacket dynamics.
Other activities include the study of warm dense matter. Such matter is of significant scientific importance primarily due to its relevance to planetary interiors and inertial fusion experiments. There is a need to improve existing theory to robustly describe angularly resolved x-ray scatter measurements from warm dense matter samples to gain an increased knowledge of their dynamic and static structures.
Honours include a European Fellowship Award (1991-1992) held at the Université Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris, a Visiting Assistant Professorship held at Texas A & M University, USA (1993-1994), a Royal Society University Research Fellowship (1994-2000) and an honorary Lectureship at Queen's University (conferred June 1999 for a five year period). I am a current member of the Local Organizing Committee of XXV11 ICPEAC which will be hosted in Belfast, 2011.
