Café Scientifique

Quantum Science: The Past, Present, and Future

On-site only
Wed., April 9
7:30–9 p.m.

Presenter

William Phillips, Ph.D.
Nobel Laureate, Distinguished University and College Park Professor of Physics at the University of Maryland

A century ago, pioneers like Werner Heisenberg, Erwin Schrödinger, and Niels Bohr introduced quantum mechanics, which revolutionized our understanding of the physical world. Since then, this groundbreaking science has led to revolutionary technologies, such as semiconductor electronics, which have transformed lives. As we celebrate the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ), scientists are leveraging some of the most interesting aspects of quantum mechanics – including features that have challenged our very notions of reality since its inception. As we look to the future, we stand at the brink of a second quantum revolution, promising unimaginable wonders.

About William Phillips
William Phillips is a Distinguished University and College Park Professor of physics. In 1997, he was a co-recipient of the Nobel Prize of Physics for development of methods to cool and trap atoms with laser light. Professor Phillips received his bachelor’s degree from Juniata College in 1970 and his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, a Fellow and Honorary Member of the Optical Society of America, and a Member of the National Academy of Sciences.