Cass Sackett

Cass Sackett is a Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Physics Department at the University of Virginia, specializing in experimental atomic, molecular, and optical physics with a focus on Bose-Einstein condensates and quantum sensing applications.

Education:

• Ph.D., Rice University, 1998

His research develops condensate interferometry using magnetic traps to achieve unprecedented interaction times (up to 1 second) and wave-packet separations (0.5 mm), enabling high-precision measurements of gravity, rotation, and atomic interactions. Current projects target inertial sensing and electromagnetic field detection, while future work explores atom-surface interactions and entangled-state-enhanced metrology.

Publication analysis (2006-2009) reveals consistent innovation in atom interferometry, leveraging macroscopic quantum phenomena for sensor development across atomic physics, quantum physics, and precision measurement disciplines. Key themes include gravitational wave detection, rotation sensing, and quantum coherence maintenance in engineered systems.

No scientific awards were explicitly mentioned in source materials.

Sackett serves as principal investigator for NASA's Cold Atom Lab aboard the International Space Station, conducting microgravity quantum experiments that test fundamental physics principles. His advisory role includes directing undergraduate physics education and mentoring research students, with significant grant support from NASA for space-based quantum research.

He chairs the Undergraduate Program Committee and serves on multiple departmental committees including Teaching, Long Range Planning, and Community Building. His research group operates advanced atomic physics laboratories at UVA while collaborating internationally on space-based quantum platforms like the ISS Cold Atom Lab.