Prerequisites: consent of instructor

Description: The extremely fast relaxation and dephasing of nuclear (vibrational) and electronic excitations in condensed matter are probed by the use of coherent spectroscopy using (sub-picosecond) light pulses. Decay mechanisms are studied by making spectroscopic measurements at cryogenic temperatures (approximately 1K) and at various high pressures (greater than 100 Kbar). Students who present a seminar or submit a term paper receive a letter grade; other students receive a Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC) grade. May be repeated for credit. Chronister