Physics & Astronomy

Education

• Ph.D. in Applied Physics, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, USA (2013)
• M.S. in Applied Physics, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, USA (2009)
• M.S. in Theoretical Physics, Hunan University, China (2007)
• B.S. in Applied Physics, Hunan University, China (2003)

Interests and Expertise

• Quantum optics
• Quantum information
• Light-matter interaction
• Laser physics and applications
• Tapered optical fiber
• Low temperature plasma
• Biophysics

Courses

Fall 2023 Courses:

• PHY 223, Mechanics and Sound
• PHY 442/542, Optics and Optics Laboratory

Publications and Presentations

• M. Lai, E. Ujah, and G. Slaughter, Ultralow power refractive index tapered 0ptical fiber glucose Sensor, Biophotonics Congress: Optics in the Life Sciences 2023, Vancouver, BC, Canada, JW2B.3 (2023).
• E. Ujah*, M. Lai*, and G. Slaughter, Ultrasensitive tapered optical fiber refractive index glucose sensor, Sci. Rep. 13, 4495 (2023).
• M. Lai, S. Song, E. Oshin, L. Potter, N. Lai, and C. Jiang, The production of OH in a nanosecond pulsed helium plasma jet impinging on water, saline or pigskin, J. Appl. Phys. 131, 173301 (2022).
• M. Lai, C. Jiang, S. Biswas, and I. Ekoto, Evaluation of the transient plasma Ignition of methane/air under lean-burn conditions, 2021 IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science (ICOPS), Lake Tahoe, NV, USA, pp. 1-1 (2021).
• T. Liyanage, M. Lai, and G. Slaughter, Label-free tapered optical fiber plasmonic biosensor, Anal. Chim. Acta. 169, 338629 (2021).
• M. Lai, S. Song, and C. Jiang, Impact of substrates on OH productions in a nanosecond helium plasma jet impinging on water, saline or pig skin, 2020 IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science (ICOPS), Singapore, Singapore, pp. 562-562 (2020).
• M. Lai, and G. Slaughter, Label-free microRNA optical biosensors, Nanomaterials. 9, 1573 (2019).
• T. B. Pittman, M. M. Lai, and J. D. Franson, Enhanced transmission for ultra-low-power nonlinear optics experiments using tapered optical fibers in rubidium vapor, CLEO: 2013, San Jose, CA, USA, pp. 1-2 (2013).
• M. M. Lai, J. D. Franson, and T. B. Pittman, Transmission degradation and preservation for tapered optical fibers in rubidium vapor, Appl. Opt. 52, 2595 (2013).
• S. M. Hendrickson, M. M. Lai, T. B. Pittman, and J. D. Franson, Observation of Two-Photon Absorption at low power levels using tapered optical fibers in Rubidium Vapor, Phys. Rev. Lett. 05, 173602 (2010).
• Q. Liu, L. Tong, and M. Lai, Constraint-Induced mean curvature dependence of cartesian momentum operators, J. Phys. A Math. Theor. 40, 41614168 (2007).
• M. Lai, X. Wang, Y. Xiao, and Q. Liu, Gauge transformation and constraint induced operator ordering for charged rigid planar rotator in uniform magnetic field, Commun. Theor. Phys. 6, 843844 (2006).
• Y. Xiao, M. Lai, M. J. Hou, X. Chen, and Q. Liu, A secondary operator ordering problem for a charged rigid planar rotator in uniform magnetic field, Commun. Theor. Phys. 4, 4950 (2005).
• Q. Liu, T. Liu, X. Shi, Y. Xiao, J. Hou, and M. Lai, A note on the quantum constraint systems, J. of Hunan Univ. 31 (2004).

A complete list of publications can be found here.