Prize Recipient

Bethany Jochim
Augustana College

Citation:

"Strong-field dissociation dynamics of NO2+: A multiphoton electronic or vibrational excitation."

Background:

Bethany Jochim received her B.A. (summa cum laude) with a major in physics (departmental distinction) from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD in May 2011.  Her early undergraduate research examined bond rearrangement in ammonia and methane following fast ion impact.  Much of her subsequent work has focused on closed-loop coherent control of intense ultrafast laser-induced fragmentation of molecular systems.  These research experiences have led her to co-author five articles as an undergraduate, including two as the primary author.  She was awarded the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship in 2009 and the ELCA Rossing Physics Scholarship in 2009 and 2010.  She is a member of Sigma Pi Sigma and the APS.  Bethany's current research endeavors include laser-induced dissociation of a metastable NO2+ ion beam, the focus of her senior thesis, and also adaptive femtosecond control of isomerization dynamics in acetylene and ethylene.  She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in atomic, molecular, and optical physics at Kansas State University, where she is supported by the Timothy Donoghue Fellowship.

Selection Committee:

Cherry Murray, Chair; C.G. Callan; A. Chodos; M.E. Parks; J.M. Pasachoff; N.J. Hadley; L. Santos; C. Conover