News

Building on efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in physics, CU Boulder’s Department of Physics and JILA will host a Conference for Undergraduate Women and Gender Minorities in Physics (CU*iP) in January 2025. The conference will bring approximately 150 students from the Midwest region to Boulder.

The Standoff Aerosol measUrement Remote Optical Network (SAURON)—designed to zoom in on hazardous aerosols that pose serious risks to humans—is based on a technology originally developed for quantum science by Professor Greg Rieker (Mechanical Engineering).

In the video, Jun Ye discusses how researchers at Q-SEnSE (an NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute) test some of the most advanced concepts of quantum physics and technology—including lasers, cold atoms, and quantum many-body physics—using state-of-the-art atomic clocks.

CU Boulder vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes Massimo Ruzzene met with congressional and federal leaders in Washington, D.C. this month to advocate for robust funding, ensure effective coordination on ongoing projects, and proactively explore opportunities for future collaborations.

As a distinguished quantum information theorist, Professor Gao's work is at the cutting edge of exploring quantum computational advantages. His research delves into the capabilities and boundaries of contemporary quantum devices, quantum machine learning, and quantum optimization algorithms.

A study published in 2020 found that coding is the top skill needed in the quantum industry. “We need encourage our students to think broadly about entering the quantum industry with different types of degree preparation,” said Professor Heather Lewandowski (Physics), faculty director of CUbit Education and Workforce.

Jin’s groundbreaking work significantly impacted JILA and the wider field of physics, opening up new avenues for understanding quantum mechanics. Her career was distinguished by her innovative research in ultracold atomic gases, leading to the creation of a new form of matter, the fermionic condensate.

Five students in the Quantum Scholars program have been awarded a scholarship in honor of Jennifer Turner-Valle, an alumna of CU Boulder Physics who passed away in 2023. The scholarships provide students the opportunity to engage in and learn about the quantum industry.

In this video, Adam Kaufman (CU Boulder Physics, JILA, NIST) discusses how researchers, postdocs and students at Q-SEnSE use optical tweezer systems to manipulate atoms into specific entangled states, improving the rate at which measurements can be performed as well as the accuracy of the atomic clock.

The three-year, $3 million grant is aimed at bolstering theoretical and experimental research efforts to bridge the realms of atomic, molecular and optical (AMO) physics with quantum gravity theories. A notable grant was awarded to a multi-investigator collaboration spearheaded by CU Boulder and JILA.