Khondkar Rezaul Karim
Professor
Department of Physics
Illinois State University
Moulton 313-A
Normal, IL 61790-4560

Phone 309-438-5070
Fax 309-438-5413

• Teaching
• Research
• Publications
• Curriculum Vitae

• Illinois State University:
  • Exploring the Universe
  • Fundamentals of Physics
  • Engineering Physics-II
  • Electricity and Magnetism-I
  • Electricity and Magnetism-II
  • Quantum Mechanics-I
  • Quantum Mechanics-II
  • Atomic Physics
• Kansas State University:
  • Advanced Topics in Atomic Physics
  • Engineering Physics Tutorials
• Jahangir Nagar University (Bangladesh):
  • Solid State Physics
  • X-ray and Crystallography
  • Quantum Mechanics
  • Engineering Physics

Course Syllabi

• Hollow Atoms: Hollow atoms, atoms with inverted electron populations, are atoms with unique properties. Hollow atoms have been produced in ion-atom collision experiments and by multiphoton laser excitation of rare-gas atomic-clusters. Few- electron hollow atoms are also produced in hot fusion plasmas. The potential of hollow atoms as sources of x-ray lasers has generated enormous speculations in recent years. We perform ab intio calculations of x-ray and Auger transition rates, transition energies, fluorescence yields, and lifetimes of hollow atoms using Hartree-Fock and Dirac-Fock atomic models.

• Electron and positron scattering from atoms: The measured cross sections for electron and positron scattering from atoms provide a sensitive test for theoretical models. There has been an enormous number of theoretical and experimental investigations on this subject over the past several decades. The theoretical models which yield reasonable results remained, however, semi-empirical in nature with adjustable fitting parameters. We compute cross sections of electron and positron scattering from atoms employing parameter-free numerical methods.

• Dielectronic recombination: Dielectronic recombination is the dominant electron-ion recombination channel in low-density high-temperature plasmas. Knowledge of dielectronic recombination rates is necessary for the understanding of astrophysical plasmas, for the development of laboratory fusion plasmas, and in connection with x-ray laser research. We calculate rate coefficients of dielectronic recombinations using various atomic models.

• Rydberg atoms: Novel and innovative laser excitation techniques have recently been developed to explore the properties of atoms wherein two electrons are raised to highly excited states. These so-called Rydberg-atoms promise to yield information on that regime where quantum mechanical behavior blends into that of classical mechanics. The fundamental question we are addressing is: How does nature link these seemingly contradictory ``classical" and``quantum" regimes?

• Effects of Exchange Interaction on Autoionization: Autoionization is the process by which an excited atom decays by emitting electrons. This is also known as the Auger effect or the radiationless transitions. All electrons being identical it is not possible to determine which atomic electron is being ejected. This indistinguishable nature of electrons gives rise to so-called `exchange' force. We investigate the effects of exchange interaction between the outgoing Auger electron and the bound electrons.

• Continuum-Continuum Interaction in Autoionization: An excited atom can often decay through a few competing decay channels. The electrostatic couplings among these various outgoing channels are known as continuum-continuum interactions. This inter-channel interaction can substantially alter the spectral distribution of the Auger electrons. In our calculation of certain low-energy Auger transitions, individual transition rates are found to be affected by as much as eighty four percent due to inter-channel couplings. We investigate the effects of continuum-continuum interactions on lifetimes of exotic atoms for which large discrepancies exist between theoretical and experimental transition rates.

• Effects of Relaxation on Atomic Transition: As an excited atom decays, electrons `relax' in the new environment. In calculating transition rates these `relaxation' effects are ignored to avoid certain mathematical pitfalls. According to Quantum Mechanical laws, the transition rates of atoms are proportional to certain integrals, called the matrix elements. In traditional calculations of matrix elements the same wave functions are used for both the initial and the final states, as if the waves are `frozen' in time. This can introduce grave errors in theoretical transition rates, specially for a multi-excited few-electron atom, where the electrons are expected to experience significant relaxation. We are currently investigating the effects of such relaxation on transition rates of hollow atoms.

(Names of undergraduate student authors are undelined)

• M. A. Uddin, A. Haque, M. Mahbub, A. K. Basak, K. R. Karim, and F. B. Malik, "Modified Kolbensvedt model for electron impact K-shell ionization cross sections of atoms," European Physics Journal D 37, 361 (2006)
• A. Haque, M. A. Uddin, A. K. Basak, K. R. Karim, and B. C. Saha, " An empirical formula for the electron-impact K-shell cross sections," Physical Review A 73, 12708 (2006)
• A. Haque, M.A. Uddin, A.K. Basak, K.R. Karim, B.C. Saha, and F.B. Malik, "Electron impact ionization of L-shell species," Physical Review A 73, 052703 (2006)
• A. Haque, M.A. Uddin, A.K. Basak, K.R. Karim, B.C. Saha, and F.B. Malik, "Relativistic effects in electron impact ionization from the p-orbital," Physics Letters A 354, 449 (2006)
• K. R. Karim, "Electron momentum distribution in multiply ionized neon atoms," Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer 98, 68-80 (2006)
• H. Park and K. R. Karim, "Electron Momentum Distribution in Multiply ionized Atoms as a function of atomic number and the degree of ionization," Physica Scripta 73, 30-39 (2006)
• A. Haque, M. A. Uddin, A.K. Basak, K.R. Karim, B.C. Saha, and F.B. Malik,"Electron impact ionization of M-shell atoms," Physica Scripta 74, 377-383 (2006)
• M.A. Uddin, A. Haque, M. Billah, K.R. Karim, and A.K. Basak, "Electron-impact single ionization of mono- and di-positive ions," Pramana:Journal of Physics (India), 66, 119 (2006)
• M. A. Uddin, A. K. F. Haque, A. K. Basak, K. R. Karim, and B. C. Saha, "Electron-impact ionization of hydrogen and Li-like systems," Physical Review A 72, 32715 (2005)
• M. A. Uddin, A. K. F. Haque, K. R. Karim, and A. K. Basak, "Empirical model in ionization cross section of H- and He- like ions," Physica Scripta 72, 389 (2005)
• M. A. Uddin, A. Haque, A. K. Basak, K. R. Karim, and B. C. Saha, "Electron impact ionization of Beryllium isolelectronic ions," International Journal of Mass Spectrometry 244, 76-83 (2005)
• M. A. Uddin, A. K. F. Haque, M. M. Billah, A. K. Basak, K. R. Karim, and B. C. Saha, "Computation ofelectron-impact K-shell ionization cross sections of atoms," Physical Review A 71, 32715 (2005)
• E. P. Benis, M. Zamkov, P. Richard, T. J. M. Zouros, and K. R. Karim, "Production of 2s2p^2 ^2D_e triply excited state in collision of quasi-free electrons with He-like B^3+, C^4+, N^5+, O^6+, and F^7+ ions," AIP Conference Proceedings 680, 168 (2003)
• K.R. Karim, "Compton Profiles of multiply ionized oxygen atoms," Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiaive Transfer 77, 13-21 (2003)
• K. R. Karim, "Compton Profile of Variously ionized Carbon atoms with configurations 1s^m2s^n2p^q," Physica Scripta 66, 234-240 (2002)
• K.R. Karim and C. P. Bhalla, "Compton Profile of multiply-ionized flourine atoms," Application of accelerators in Research and Industry - Sixteenth International Conference, edited by L. Duggan and I.L. Morgan (American Institute of Physics) 201-204 (2001)
• K. R. Karim and L. Logan, "Calculation of dielectronic recombination rate coefficients for hydrogen-like titanium, chromium, and nickel," Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer 64, 609-618 (2000).
• K. R. Karim, L. Logan, and C. P. Bhalla, "X-ray and Auger Transitions from Highly-ionized Ca Ions," Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on the Application of Accelerators in Research and Industry, (American Institute of Physics, New York, 1999) edited by J. Duggan , page 52.
• K. R. Karim and L. Logan, " Theoretical lifetimes, transition rates, x-ray wavelengths, and fluorescence yields of hollow neon atoms with double K-shell vacancies," Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer 61, 659-664 (1999).
• K.R. Karim, B. VanCleave, and C.P. Bhalla, "Calculation of atomic parameters for K-alpha satellite spectra of hollow argon atoms," Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer 61, 227 (1999).
• K. R. Karim and L. Logan, " Radiative and Auger transitions from variously ionized neon atoms with configurations 1s 2s(m)3p(n)," Physica Sripta 58, 547-582 (1998).
• K. R. Karim, S. R. Grabbe, and C. P. Bhalla "Radiative and Auger de- excitation of hollow argon atoms," Journal of Physics B 29, 4007 (1996)
• K. R. Karim, M. Ruesink, and C. P. Bhalla "Dielectronic satellite spectra of hydrogen-like Ca, Ti, and Cr," Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer 55, 431 (1996).
• K. R. Karim, C.P. Bhalla, and M. Wilson, "Dielectronic satellite spectra from high-lying resonance states of H-like Mg and Si," 5th International Colloquium on Atomic Spectra and Oscillator Strengths for Astrophysical and Laboratory Plasmas, edited by W.-U L. Tchang-Brillet, J.-F. Wyart, and C.J. Zeippen, (Publications de l'Observatoire de Paris, Meudon, page 108,) (1996)
• K. R. Karim and C. P. Bhalla "Dielectronic satellite spectra for high-lying resonance states of hydrogen-like iron and nickel," Journal of Physics B 28, 5229 (1995)
• K.R. Karim, "X-ray and Auger transition rates and energies of 3l3l' states of two-electron ions," Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. B99, 66-67 (1995)
• K. R. Karim, "X-ray and Auger transitions from selected doubly-excited two-electron ions, "Physica Scripta 49, 565-570 (1994).
• K.R. Karim and C.P. Bhalla,"Theoretical Auger Spectra of selected doubly excited Li-like ions," Journal of Quantitative spectroscopy and Radiative transfer 51, 557-565 (1994).
• K.R.Karim, "Dielectronic satellite intensity factors for high-lying resonance states of helium-like neon and argon," Journal of Physics B (Lett.): Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics 26, L725-L729 (1993).
• K.R. Karim and C.P Bhalla, "Satellite spectra from high-lying resonance states for He-like Si, Ca, and Ti," Physical Review A 45, 3932-3937 (1992).
• K.R. Karim, M. Ruesink and C.P Bhalla, "Dielectronic recombination from high-lying resonance states in H-like Si, Ca, and Fe," Physical Review A 46, 3904-3909 (1992).
• K.R.Karim, C.P. Bhalla, M. Ruesink, S. Biel, and M. Wilson, "Variation of satellite intensity factors with n for 1sel-2l'nl"-1snl" dielectronic recombination processes in selected hydrogenlike ions," Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics 24, L375-L380 (1991).
• K.L. Baluja, A. Jain, H.W. Jones, C.A. Weatherford, and K.R. Karim,"Elastic differential cross sections for positron-neon scattering," Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics 24, L93-L98 (1991)
• C.P. Bhalla, K.R. Karim and M. Wilson, "Angular Distribution and linear polarization of photons in dielectronic recombination of heliumlike ions," Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. B56/57, 324-326 (1991)
• K.R. Karim and C.P Bhalla, "Variation of satellite intensity factors with n for 1s2el-1s2pnl-1s2nl dielectronic recombination processes in heliumlike ions," Physical Review A (Rapid Communications) 43, 615-617 (1991).
• K.R. Karim and C.P. Bhalla, "Satellite spectra for high-lying resonance states of chromium and nickel," Physical Review A 42, 3555-3560 (1990).
• C.P. Bhalla, K.R. Karim, and M. Wilson, "Autoionization rates for selected double-Rydberg states of Barium," Physical Review A 41, 1715-1717 (1990).
• A. Jain, B. Etemadi, and K.R. Karim, "Total (elastic plus inelastic) cross sections for electron scattering with argon and krypton atoms at energies 10- 6000 eV," Physica Scripta 41, 321-328 (1990).
• R. Shingal, Z. Chen, K.R. Karim, C.D. Lin, and C.P. Bhalla, "Charge-state dependence of elastic scattering cross sections at large angles between electrons and multiply charged ions," Journal of Physics B 23, L637-L640 (1990).
• C.P. Bhalla, K.R. Karim, and M. Wilson, "Comparison of theoretical satellite line intensity factors for dielectronic satellite of Li-like ions," Atomic Spectra and Oscillator Strengths for Astrophysics and Fusion Research, edited by J.E. Hansen (Dutch Royal Academic, 1990).
• .K.R. Karim and C.P. Bhalla, "Dielectronic recombination rate coefficient for some selected ions in helium isoelectronic sequence," Physical Review A 39, 3584-3554 (1989).
• C.P. Bhalla and K.R. Karim, "Resonant transfer and excitation in collisions of Li-like F6+ and Ca17+ ions with light targets," Physical Review A (Rapid Communications) 39, 6060-6063 (1989).
• T.J.M. Zouros, D.H. Lee, P. Richard, J.M. Sanders, J.L. Shinpaugh, S.L. Varghese, K.R. Karim, and C.P. Bhalla, "State selective observation of resonant transfer excitation in collisions of F6+ with He and H2 targets," Physical Review A 40, 6246-6250 (1989).
• C.P. Bhalla, K.R. Karim, and M. Wilson, "Lifetimes of Be-like Ar and Ti," Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. B40/41 369-371 (1989).
• K.R. Karim and C.P. Bhalla, "Calculation of dielectronic recombination rate coefficient for He-like iron," Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B40/41, 366-368 (1989).
• K.R. Karim and A. Jain,"Elastic scattering of electrons from argon atoms at 0.001 - 200 eV," Physica Scripta 39, 238-242 (1989)
• K.R. Karim and C.P. Bhalla, "Auger and radiative deexcitation rates and energies of 3l3l ' states of argon and silicon," Physica Scripta 38, 795-801 (1988)
• K.R. Karim and C. P. Bhalla, "Z-dependence of atomic parameters for selected autoionizing states of two-electron systems," Physical Review A 37, 1507-1511 (1988).
• K.R. Karim and C. P. Bhalla, "Dielectronic recombination of hydrogenlike ions in high temperature low density plasmas," Physical Review A 37, 2599- 2604 (1988).
• K.R. Karim and C. P. Bhalla, "Effects of radiative cascades on dielectronic satellite lines in high temperature, low density plasma," Physical Review A 37, 840-844 (1988).
• C.P. Bhalla and K.R. Karim, "Atomic parameters for dielectronic satellite spectra of hydrogenlike iron," Review of Scientific Instruments 59, 1527-1529 (1988).
• K.R. Karim and C.P.. Bhalla, "Calculations of atomic parameters of dielectronic satellite lines of Ca XX resonance lines," Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 24, 266-269 (1987).
• C.P. Bhalla and K.R. Karim, "Z dependence of the intensity ratio of J-line to hydrogenlike resonance line in high temperature low density plasma", Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 24, 270-272 (1987).
• K.R. Karim and C.P. Bhalla, "Atomic parameters for doubly-excited heliumlike silicon," Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and radiative Transfer 37, 559-564 (1987).
• B. Crasemann, K.R. Karim, and M.H. Chen, "Resource Note: Theoretical Atomic electron binding energies," Atomic Data and Nuclear Data Tables 36, 355-374 (1987).
• H. Hsuan, M. Bitter, K.W. Hill, S. Goeler, B. Grek, D. Johnson, L.C. Johnson, S. Sesnic, C.P. Bhalla, K.R. Karim, F. Bely-Dubau, and P. Faucher, "Satellite spectra in heliumlike nickel," Physical Review A 35, 4280-4285 (1987).
• C.P. Bhalla, K.R. Karim, and T. Reeves, "Dielectronic satellite spectra of hydrogenlike argon and transition rates and energies of doubly-excited heliumlike argon", Physica Scripta 34, 747-750 (1986).
• K.R. Karim, C.P. Bhalla, and T.W. Tunnell, "Theoretical x-ray and Auger transition rates, x-ray wavelengths, Auger electron energies fluorescence yields and nonradiative branching ratios for doubly excited heliumlike neon," J. of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer 36, 505-513 (1986).
• K.R. Karim and C.P. Bhalla, "Dielectronic satellite spectra of hydrogenlike chromium," Physical Review A 34, 4743-4750 (1986).
• C.P. Bhalla and K.R. Karim, "Theoretical dielectronic satellite lines of neon X resonance line," Review of Scientific Instruments 57, 2055-2057 (1986).
• C.P. Bhalla and K.R. Karim, "Dielectronic satellite spectra of hydrogenlike titanium," Phys. Rev. A 34 (Rapid Communication), 3525 -3527 (1986).
• K.R. Karim and C.P. Bhalla, "Theoretical dielectronic recombination rate coefficients for ground-state hydrogenlike neon," Physics Letters A 116, 172- 174 (1986).
• R. Karim, "Hartree-Fock calculation of transition rates for atoms with multiple open shells of the same symmetry and the same occupation number," Physical Review A 32, 2747-2750 (1985).
• G.B. Armen, T. Aberg, K.R. Karim, J.C. Levin, B. Crasemann, G.S. Brown, M.H. Chen, and G.E. Ice, "Threshold double photoexcitation of argon with synchroton radiation," Physical Review Letters 28, 182-185 (1985).
• K.R. Karim and B. Crasemann, "Continuum interaction in low-energy radiationless transitions", Physical Review A 31, 709-713 (1985).
• K.R. Karim and B. Crasemann, "The L1-L2,3M1 Coster-Kronig spectrum of argon in intermediate coupling scheme," Physical Review A 30, 1107-1108 (1984).
• K.R. Karim, M.H. Chen, and B. Crasemann, "Effects of exchange, electron correlation, and relaxation on L1-L2,3M1 Coster-Kronig transitions in argon", Physical Review A 29, 2605 (1984).
• K.R. Karim, M.H. Chen, and B. Crasemann, "Auger and radiative deexcitation of P4+ ions," Physical Review A 28, 3355-3364 (1983).
• M.H. Chen, B. Crasemann, and K.R. Karim, "Relativistic Auger and x-ray deexcitation rates of highly stripped ions," Physical Review A 24, 1845-1851 (1981).
• K. Mannan and K. R. Karim, "Grain-boundary contribution to electrical conductivity in pollycrystalline copper films," Journal of Physics F 5, 1687 (1975).

Khondkar Karim
Professor
Physics Department
Illinois State University
Normal, ILLINOIS 61790-4560

Education: Ph. D. University of Oregon (1983)

Specialization: Theoretical Atomic Physics

Positions Held:

• Professor, Illinois State University, 2000-present
• Associate Professor, Illinois State University, 1994-2000
• Visiting Associate Professor, Kansas State University, 1994
• Assistant Professor, Illinois State University, 1989-1994
• Research Associate, Kansas State University, 1985-1988
• Research Associate, University of Oregon, 1983-1984
• Lecturer of Physics, Jahangir Nagar University, 1975-1978

Service:

Worked as reviewer for the Physical Review, the Physics Letters, the Physica Scripta, the Optics Communication, the Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer,and Hardcourt/Academic Press.

Research Supports:

• Research Corporation
• National Science Foundation
• Department of Energy
• NATO
• Ilinois Board of Higher Education
• Illinois State University