Síle Nic Chormaic FInstP CPhys

     

Professor 

Síle Nic Chormaic on ResearchGate

 

 

Qualifications:

B.Sc. (1st Class Joint Hons.) in Experimental and Mathematical Physics (Maynooth University, Ireland)

M.Sc. by Research - Electron-Hydrogen Collisions (Maynooth University, Ireland)

PhD in Physics - Stern-Gerlach Atom Interferometry of Hydrogen (Université Sorbonne Paris-Nord, France).

FInstP, CPhys, Fellow Optica, Senior Member SPIE, Member AIP, Member JSAP 

IUPAP Commissioner for International Commission on Physics Education (Commission 14) 2012 - 2014

Honorary Professor, University KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Nationality

Irish

Awards and Recognitions

  • President's Award for Top Undergraduate Student in Science, Maynooth University  (1990)
  • EU Science Bursary (1992-1995)
  • Lise Meitner Fellowship, Austrian Science Foundation (1995)
  • Science Foundation Ireland Principal Investigator Award (2003-2008)
  • Leixlip Town Council Native Non-Resident of the Year Award - In recognition of  scientific research achievements (2004)
  • President's Award for Research on Innovative Forms of Teaching and Learning, University College Cork, Ireland (2007-2008)
  • Visiting Fellow, QSciTech, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia (Nov-Dec. 2015)
  • CNRS Visiting Researcher, Laboratoire Aimé-Cotton, Université Paris-Sud, France (November 2017)
  • Fellow of the Institute of Physics Ireland and UK (February 2019)
  • Fellow of Optica (formerly OSA - September 2020)
  • Participant in Homeward Bound Team 6.  Homeward Bound is an initiative aiming to build a global collaboration of 1000 women with STEMM backgrounds, to demonstrate a new model of leadership creating better outcomes for the planet.  
  • Visiting Professor in LPGP, Paris-Saclay University, France (Dec 2021-March 2022) funded through LabEx PALM visiting researcher award.  
  • Rita R. Colwell Impact Fund Recipient for the Advancement of Women in Science 2021
  • Visiting Scholar, Technische Universitaet Chemnitz, Germany (May-July and August-September 2023).
  • SPIE Senior Member (July 2024)

Research Career

1990-1992 M.Sc. Student in Atomic Physics, Maynooth University.  Topic:  Measurement of the polarisation of Lyman-alpha radiation emitted during electron-H collisions.  Supervisor: Prof. Jim Slevin
1992-1994 EU Science Bursary Fellow and PhD Student (dual registration) in Atomic Physics, Maynooth Univesity and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, France.  Topic: Stern-Gerlach type atom interferometry applied to a beam of metastable hydrogen.  Supervisor: Prof. Jacques Robert; Group Leader: Prof. Jacques Baudon.   PhD awarded by Université Sorbonne Paris Nord
1995-1996 Lise Meitner Fellow and Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Innsbruck, Austria. Topic:  Laser cooling and interferometry of Li.  Group Leader: Prof. Anton Zeilinger (Nobel Laureate in Physics)
1996-1999 Postdoctoral Reearcher, The University of Melbourne, Australia.  Topic:  Laser cooling and interferometry of Cs for mineral exploration.   Group Leader: Prof. Geoff Opat
1999-2000 Visiting Researcher, Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics, Garching, Germany.  Topic:  Atomic fountain and interferometry of Rb.  Group Leader: Prof. Ted Haensch (Nobel Laureate in Physics)
​2000-2009 Lecturer, Munster Technological University, Ireland.  Founded Quantum Optics Group in 2003
2004-2012 Academic Member, Tyndall National Institute, Ireland
2006-2012 Lecturer, University College Cork, Ireland
2011-2012 Adjunct Assoc. Professor, OIST Graduate University, Japan
2011-2018 Hon. Assoc. Professor, University KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
2012-2016 Assoc. Professor and PI,  OIST Graduate University, Japan
2015 Visiting Fellow (1 month), QSciTech, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
2016-    Professor and PI, OIST Graduate University, Japan 
2017 CNRS Visiting Researcher (1 month), Laboratoire Aimé-Cotton, Université Paris-Sud, France
2018  Visiting Researcher (8 months) Nano-optics and Forces Group, Institut Néel, Grenoble, France
2018-2021 Topical Editor, Optics Letters
2019-2021 Hon. Professor, University KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
2019 Visiting Researcher (4 months) Nano-optics and Forces Group, Institut Néel, Grenoble, France
2020- 2024  Editorial Board, SPIE Advanced Photonics 
2020- 2024 Editorial Board, AVS Quantum Science (AQS)
2021-2022 Visiting Professor, LPGP, Paris-Saclay University, France (Dec 2021-March 2022)
2023  Visiting Scholar, Technische Universitaet Chemnitz, Germany (May-September 2023)
2023-2025 SPIE Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee Member
2023- Advisory Editorial Board, SPIE Advanced Photonics Nexus
2024-2027 SPIE Membership and Communities Committee Member

 

 

 

Selected Publications - check Unit Publications for latest list

  • M. Morrissey, K. Deasy, M. Frawley, R. Kumar, E. Prel, L. Russell, V.G. Truong and S. Nic Chormaic, "Spectroscopy, Manipulation and Trapping of Neutral Atoms, Molecules, and Other Particles using Optical Nanofibers: A Review", Sensors 13, 10449 (2013).  OPEN ACCESS
  • L. Russell, R. Kumar, V. B. Tiwari and S. Nic Chormaic, "Measurements on release-recapture of cold Rb-85 atoms using an optical nanofibre", Opt. Commun. 309, 313 (2013) http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.optcom.2013.07.080
  • R. Madugani, Y.Yang, J. Ward, J. Riordan, S. Coppola, V. Vespini, S. Grilli, A. Finizio, P. Ferraro, and S. Nic Chormaic, "TeraHz tuning of whispering gallery modes in a PDMS, stand-alone, stretchable microsphere",Opt. Lett. 37, 4762 (2012).
  • M. Frawley, A. Petcu-Colan, V. G. Truong and S. Nic Chormaic, "Higher order mode propagation in an optical nanofiber", Opt. Commun. 285, 4648 (2012).
  • L. Russell, M. Daly and S. Nic Chormaic, "1- and 2-photon absoprtion by laser-cooled 85Rb using an optical nanofiber", AIP Conf. Proc. 1469, 82 (2012).  
  • A. Watkins, J. Ward and S. Nic Chormaic, "Thermo-optical tuning of whispering gallery modes in Er:Yb doped glass microspheres to arbitrary probe wavelengths", Jap. J. Appl. Phys. 51, 05201 (2012).
  • Y. Wu, J. Ward and S. Nic Chormaic, "Observation of thermal feedback on the optical coupling noise of a microsphere attached to a low-spring-constant cantilever", Phys. Rev. A 85, 053820 (2012).
  • L. Russell, K. Deasy, M. Daly, M. Morrissey and S. Nic Chormaic, "Sub-Doppler temperature measurements of laser-cooled atoms using optical nanofibres", Meas. Sci. Technol. 23, 015201(2012).
  • M. Frawley, V. Minogin and S. Nic Chormaic, "The Van der Waals interaction of an atom with the convex surface of a nanocylinder", Phys. Scr. 85, 058103 (2012).
  • A. Watkins, J. Ward, Y. Wu and S. Nic Chormaic, "Single input spherical microbubble resonator", Opt. Lett. 36, 2113 (2011).
  • A. Petcu-Colan, M. Frawley and S. Nic Chormaic, "Tapered few-mode fibers: mode evolution during fabrication and adiabaticity", J. Nonlinear Opt. Phys & Mat. 20, 293 (2011).  DOI No: 10.1142/S0218863511006170
  • R. Schmidt, S. Nic Chormaic and V. G. Minogin, "Van der Waals interaction of a neutral atom with the surface of a metal or dielectric nanosphere", J. Phys. B 44, 015004 (2011).
  • J. M. Ward and S. Nic Chormaic, "Thermo-optical tuning of whispering-gallery modes in Er:Yb co-doped phosphate glass microspheres", Appl. Phys. B 100, 847 (2010).
  • J. M. Ward, Y. Wu. K. Khalfi and S. Nic Chormaic, "Short vertical tube furnance for the fabrication of doped glass microsphere lasers", Rev. Sci. Instrum. 81, 07106 (2010). 
  • Y. Wu, J. M. Ward, V. G. Minogin and S. Nic Chormaic, "Trapping of a microsphere pendulum through cavity-enhanced optical forces", Phys. Scr. T140, 014040 (2010).
  • Y. Wu, J. M. Ward and S. Nic Chormaic, "Ultralow green lasing threshold and optical bistability in ZBNA microspheres", J. Appl. Phys. 107, 033103 (2010).  DOI: 10.1063/1.3277024
  • V. G. Minogin and S. Nic Chormaic, "Manifestation of the van der Waals surface interaction in the spontaneous emission of atoms into an optical nanofiber", Laser Phys. 20, 2 (2010).
  • L. Russell, D. A. Gleeson, V. G. Minogin and S. Nic Chormaic, "Spectral distribution of atomic fluorescence coupled into an optical nanofiber", J. Phys. B 42, 185006 (2009).
  • M. J. Morrissey, K. Deasy, Y. Wu, S. Chakrabarti and S. Nic Chormaic, "Tapered optical fibers as tools for probing magneto-optical trap characteristics", Rev. Sci. Instrum. 80, 053102 (2009).  arXiv:0903.2953.  
  • J. M. Ward, Y. Wu, V. G. Minogin, and S. Nic Chormaic, "Trapping of a microsphere pendulum resonator in an optical potential", Phys. Rev. A 79 053839 (2009). arXiv:0811.2585   and selected for Vir. J. Nan. Sci. & Tech. 19 (2009). 
  • T. N. Bandi, V. G. Minogin and S. Nic Chormaic, "Atom microtraps based on near-field Fresnel diffraction",  Phys. Rev. A 78, 013410 (2008)
  • J. M. Ward, P. Féron, and S. Nic Chormaic, "A taper-fused microspherical laser source",  IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 20, 392 (2008).
  • D. G. O'Shea, J. M. Ward, B. J. Shortt, M. Mortier, P. Féron and S. Nic Chormaic, "Upconversion channels in Er3+:ZBLALiP fluoride glass microspheres", Eur. Phys. J. Appl. Phys.  40, 181 (2007).  arXiv:physics/0611197
  • D. O'Shea, J. Ward, B. Shortt and S. Nic Chormaic, "An all fiber coupled multicolor microspherical light source", IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett.  19, 1720  (2007).
  • J. M. Ward, D. G. O'Shea, B. J. Shortt and S. Nic Chormaic, "Optical bistability in Er-Yb co-doped phosphate glass microspheres at room temperature", J. Appl. Phys. 102, 023104 (2007).  arXiv:physics/0702139
  • T. Busch, K. Deasy and S. Nic Chormaic,"Quantum state preparation using multi-level atom optics", J. of Phys.: Conference Series 84, 012002 (2007).