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Wolfgang Korsch

Research Interests:
Fundamental Interactions and Symmetries
Education

Diploma in Physics at Univ. of Marburg and MPI for Nucl. Physics (Heidelberg), Germany (1987)
Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics at Univ. of Marburg and MPI for Nucl. Physics (Heidelberg), Germany (1990)
Postdocs at MIT (1991-93) and Caltech (1994-96).

Research

Nucleon Spin Structure and Test of Fundamental Symmetries (Exp.)

My research interests are focused on the understanding of the structure of nucleons. The fundamental theory of strong interactions is Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). Testing the features of QCD at all relevant distance scales is one of the most exciting topics in modern nuclear and particle physics. I am interested in questions like: "How do strange quarks contribute to the charge and magnetism of the nucleon?", "How do quarks, gluons, and orbital angular momentum contribute to the spin of the nucleon?". 

In recent years my research expanded to include tests of discrete symmetries in Nature. Specifically, the search for a permanent electric dipole moment of the neutron is currently one of the most active fields in nuclear and particle physics. I am actively involved in such a search which will take place at the SNS (Oak Ridge National Lab).

In addition, I use high-precision ellipsometry (Faraday and Kerr effect) to study the magnetic and electric polarizability of various systems. I try to understand how light interacts with materials in magnetic and electric environments. Ultimately the methods developed here can be used to probe certain features of Dark Matter.

Present Graduate Students:

  • Jiachen He

Complete list of publications (INSPIRE)

Complete list of publications (ADS)