Brian Saam

Prof. Brian Saam is a full Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Washington State University (WSU). He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from Princeton University (1995) and a B.S. in Physics and German from the University of Michigan (1989). Prior to joining WSU in 2017, he served as a faculty member at the University of Utah, attaining full professorship in 2008. His research focuses on experimental atomic and condensed-matter physics, particularly spin physics and magnetic resonance in gas-phase and solid-state systems. Key areas include spin-exchange optical pumping (SEOP), hyperpolarized noble gases (e.g., ³He and ¹²⁹Xe), and applications in precision magnetometry, MRI lung imaging, and quantum chaos. He chairs the 2017 Conference on Polarized Noble Gases (PiNG) and leads the Saam Lab at WSU.

Education:

• Ph.D. (Physics), Princeton University, 1995
• B.S. (Physics and German), University of Michigan, 1989

Research Interests:

• Spin-polarized alkali-metal vapors and noble gases
• Many-body spin physics and chaos in condensed-phase systems
• MRI applications to lung imaging via helium diffusion
• Development of hyperpolarized gas techniques
• Exploration of SEOP relaxation mechanisms

Labs/Teams: Director of the Saam Lab, dedicated to advancing experimental atomic and condensed-matter physics research.