Immanuel Bloch is the Scientific Director at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics. He is also the Chairholder at the Ludwig Maximilian University. He has been awarded the Stern Gerlach Medal by the German Physical Society. The award recognises his pioneering research on quantum simulations with ultracold atoms in optical lattices. Bloch’s work has led to a new interdisciplinary field of quantum physics. This field combines many-body physics, quantum information science, and quantum optics. The award will be officially presented at the society’s annual conference in March 2024.
“Many thanks also to my whole team, all members of MPQ and everybody I have been working with on this exciting scientific endeavour in quantum simulation over the past 25 years,”
Immanuel Bloch
Bloch’s Contribution to Quantum Simulations
Bloch is recognised for his significant contributions to the field of quantum simulations. His experimental work with ultracold atoms and optical lattices has paved the way for a new interdisciplinary field of quantum physics. According to the jury’s official statement, this new field “combines theoretical many-body physics of strongly correlated systems and fundamental concepts of quantum information science with the understanding of atomic and molecular interactions and experimental techniques from quantum optics.”
Optical Lattices and Ultracold Atoms
At the heart of Bloch’s innovative experimental work are optical lattices. These are laser beams arranged into artificial crystals of light. In these lattices, ultracold atoms are trapped, observed and manipulated. These optical lattices simulate the structure of solid-state materials, while the trapped atoms mimic the behaviour of electrons in a solid state. With these complex model systems, Bloch has been able to precisely measure and analyse the properties of quantum many body systems in completely new ways, marking a significant advancement for the field of quantum simulation.
Acknowledgement and Appreciation
Bloch expressed his gratitude to his team, all members of MPQ and everyone he has collaborated with on this scientific endeavour in quantum simulation over the past 25 years. He also expressed his honour in receiving the Stern Gerlach Medal 2024 from the German Physical Society, named after two scientific heroes in the world of quantum physics, Otto Stern and Walther Gerlach.
The Stern Gerlach Medal
The Stern Gerlach Medal is one of the highest awards of the German Physical Society, along with the Max Planck Medal for theoretical physics. The official award ceremony will take place in 2024 during the DPG’s annual conference.
“I am very honoured to receive the prestigious Stern Gerlach Medal 2024 from the German Physical Society, named after two scientific heroes in the world of quantum physics. Otto Stern and Walther Gerlach pioneered the manipulation of elementary spins – techniques we still use today in many of our experiments,” – Immanuel Bloch.
Summary
Immanuel Bloch, a leading figure in quantum simulations, has been awarded the Stern Gerlach Medal by the German Physical Society for his innovative research using ultracold atoms in optical lattices. His work, which involves trapping atoms in artificial light structures to mimic the behaviour of electrons in a solid state, has significantly advanced the field of quantum simulation.
- Immanuel Bloch, Scientific Director at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics (MPQ) and Chairholder at the Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) Munich, has been awarded the Stern Gerlach Medal by the German Physical Society (DPG).
- This award is the highest honour given by the DPG for achievements in experimental physics.
- Bloch is recognised for his innovative research on quantum simulations with ultracold atoms in optical lattices.
- His work has led to a new interdisciplinary field of quantum physics that combines many-body physics, quantum information science, and quantum optics.
- Bloch’s experiments involve optical lattices, which are laser beams arranged into artificial crystals of light, where ultracold atoms are trapped, observed, and manipulated.
- These experiments simulate the structure of solid-state materials and the behaviour of electrons in a solid state, allowing for new ways to measure and analyse the properties of quantum many body systems.
- The official award ceremony will take place in 2024 during the DPG’s annual conference.
