Quantum Information Science &amp; Technology /jila/ en Chameleon Atoms: JILA Researchers Demonstrate Versatile Atomic Qubits That Can Pass Around Information /jila/2026/06/11/chameleon-atoms-jila-researchers-demonstrate-versatile-atomic-qubits-can-pass-around <span>Chameleon Atoms: JILA Researchers Demonstrate Versatile Atomic Qubits That Can Pass Around Information</span> <span><span>Daniel Packman</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-06-11T13:06:04-06:00" title="Thursday, June 11, 2026 - 13:06">Thu, 06/11/2026 - 13:06</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2026-06/Kaufman_NaturePhys_Entangled-Multi-Qubit-Mapping-Array_7.png?h=f61ad192&amp;itok=FaYXFQ0g" width="1200" height="800" alt="Entangled multi-Qubit Array"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/24"> Precision Measurement </a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/25"> Quantum Information Science &amp; Technology </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/87" hreflang="en">Adam Kaufman</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/127" hreflang="en">Research Highlights</a> </div> <span>Bailey Bedford / Freelance Science Communicator</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p><span lang="EN">Researchers are developing new technologies that harness quantum physics to defy the familiar constraints of daily life and established approaches. A variety of quantum simulations, quantum sensors and quantum computers have been developed that can significantly outperform existing technologies at certain tasks.</span></p><p><span lang="EN">Many quantum technologies are built on a foundation of qubits—the structures that store quantum states in ways that are practical to manipulate and interpret. Researchers and engineers are exploring many different approaches to making and using qubits, spanning platforms like superconducting circuits, trapped ions, neutral atoms and more. The various approaches have different advantages and disadvantages that are being navigated as quantum technologies are developed.</span></p><p><span lang="EN">In an&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41567-026-03258-8" rel="nofollow"><span lang="EN">article</span></a><span lang="EN"> published June 11, 2026 in the journal </span><em><span lang="EN">Nature Physics</span></em><span lang="EN">, a team of JILA researchers led by JILA Fellow Adam Kaufman, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, report experiments demonstrating the versatility of ytterbium atoms as qubits. A neutral ytterbium atom is an adaptable chameleon that can be used as multiple styles of qubit, each bringing distinct advantages. Their experiments demonstrate a quantum multitool that can tackle quantum computations, quantum simulations and precise measurements of time and also combine the capabilities associated with each application.</span></p><p><span lang="EN">The group focused on a specific&nbsp;isotope of ytterbium, ytterbium-171, that has appealing features for multiple quantum applications. Scientists can use laser light to cool ytterbium-171 atoms, to hold the atoms in ordered arrays and to alter their quantum states. The properties of the atoms let them function as qubits in multiple ways. At a basic level, a qubit requires a pair of distinguishable states that can exist in combinations of the states called superpositions. The group’s experiments used a method they developed to transfer quantum states between three distinct ways of making qubits.</span></p><p><span lang="EN">“Ytterbium-171 has long been used for state-of-the-art optical clocks and recently has become a promising candidate for neutral-atom quantum computing,” says Kaufman. “Our work here demonstrates how these directions can be combined, as well as augmented with other directions in quantum information science, including quantum many-body dynamics.”</span></p><p><span lang="EN">One qubit approach used in the experiment is built on states of ytterbium-171 atoms that have been harnessed in&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/yb-optical-lattice-clock" rel="nofollow"><span lang="EN">clocks that provide incredibly precise and reliable timekeeping</span></a><span lang="EN">. Researchers put the electrons of atoms in particular states that facilitate very precise measurements. The two distinct states of ytterbium-171 used in clocks can also be the basis of a qubit—called an optical qubit.</span></p><p><span lang="EN">Ytterbium-171 also has a different electron state that scientists find useful. When researchers provide additional energy to an electron, they can put the atom in a state called a Rydberg state. The extra energy pushes the electron further from the center of the atom. Putting atoms into the Rydberg state, takes them from being essentially non-interacting to being strongly interacting, which helps scientists craft quantum simulations and generate entanglement—a uniquely quantum phenomenon of quantum states where the evolution and fates of quantum states are intrinsically connected. The Rydberg state combined with one of the states from the clock qubit can function as a Rydberg qubit.</span></p><p><span lang="EN">Finally, the nucleus of the atom has an inherent quantum property called spin—it is like a tiny magnet that can either point with or against a magnetic field.&nbsp;The group used&nbsp;the two states of nuclear spin pointing in opposite directions as the basis of a qubit, called a nuclear qubit. The resulting nuclear qubits are a convenient and reliable way to perform quantum computing operations.</span></p><p><span lang="EN">Since the nuclear qubit is based on the spin of the nucleus, the researchers were free to use atoms with the electrons in a particular state of their choice. This let the team choose atomic states so that all three of their qubit types shared one of the states of the atom.</span></p><p><span lang="EN">The group developed a way to move entangled quantum states between these distinct qubit paradigms. The team took advantage of the fact that shining a light of a particular frequency (color) can predictably change the state of the atoms even when they are entangled.</span></p><p><span lang="EN">Since all three types of qubits share one of their two defining states, the superposition of that half of a qubit can be flipped to either of the alternative qubits. Then, the remaining half left in the original qubit can be moved to complete the new qubit. Since each pair of states responds to a different frequency of light, the team can alternate beams to direct the qubits through the necessary shuffling act of transferring a state.</span></p><p><span lang="EN">The researchers demonstrated that they could move multi-particle states between pairs of qubits in the different paradigms and then performed an experiment bridging the three qubit styles and their corresponding domains of usefulness. They created a quantum state of the Rydberg qubit using techniques from the realm of quantum simulation and then passed it to the nuclear qubit, where they performed a quantum computing operation to slightly adjust it. Finally, they passed that state onto the clock qubit, where it could potentially be used to perform measurements related to time and frequency. The procedure demonstrates how ytterbium atoms can be the foundation of a device with the flexibility to shift between simulation, computing and metrology.</span></p><p><span lang="EN">“This can connect quantum simulation to quantum computing to quantum metrology in a single atomic species,” says JILA graduate student Aruku Senoo, who was the first author of the article. “Once you make that kind of system, if you develop some technique for quantum simulation, you can apply it for quantum computing, or if you develop some state generation mechanism for quantum computing, you can apply it for quantum metrology.”</span></p><p><span lang="EN">The researchers also showed that they could transfer quantum states that extended over larger numbers of qubits. The researchers at the University of Innsbruck had theoretically developed a method to calculate the optimal way to make a particular quantum state called the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) states. The two groups worked together to identify the pulse of light needed for their experimental setup to create a GHZ state spread across as many of their qubits as they could manage. With the optimized light pulse, the team successfully made states with up to 20 Rydberg qubits at a time and then transferred them to nuclear qubits.&nbsp;The collaboration describes the theory behind this technique in an&nbsp;</span><a href="https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/z2tj-cwzb" rel="nofollow"><span lang="EN">article</span></a><span lang="EN"> published recently in the journal </span><em><span lang="EN">Physical Review Letters</span></em><span lang="EN">.</span></p><p><span lang="EN">The extra steps to shuffle states around introduced more opportunities for errors to occur, but fortunately, the optical qubits provided a measurement method to circumvent many of the errors that popped up in their experiment. Using the optical qubits provided an improved method for the team to detect when tasks using Rydberg or nuclear qubits had produced an error where the atom was no longer in a valid state—for instance sometimes an atom will randomly release energy and leave the Rydberg state. Detecting one of these errors let the team throw out that measurement instead of proceeding with corrupted results.</span></p><p><span lang="EN">They demonstrated that detecting such bad experimental runs could improve how reliably they made two qubits interact. Using the new technique and throwing out bad results, they achieved a two-qubit gate fidelity—a critical value used to judge a quantum computer—of 99.78% out of an ideal 100%.</span></p><p><span lang="EN">“We show that we can do a very competitive two-qubit gate,” says JILA postdoctoral researcher Alexander Baumgärtner, who is an author of the paper. “It's one of the best neutral atom two-qubit gates that has been shown so far.”</span></p><p><span lang="EN">The researchers say they hope that moving forward, their approach will allow the fields of quantum computing, simulation and metrology to intermix and share ideas. For instance, using quantum simulation and computing to generate useful states for quantum measurements.</span></p><p><span lang="EN">“What we showed in the paper is just the beginning,” Senoo says. “What I'm excited about is pushing this forward.”</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>In an article published June 11, 2026 in the journal Nature Physics, a team of JILA researchers led by JILA Fellow Adam Kaufman, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, report experiments demonstrating the versatility of ytterbium atoms as qubits. A neutral ytterbium atom is an adaptable chameleon that can be used as multiple styles of qubit, each bringing distinct advantages. Their experiments demonstrate a quantum multitool that can tackle quantum computations, quantum simulations and precise measurements of time and also combine the capabilities associated with each application.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Thu, 11 Jun 2026 19:06:04 +0000 Daniel Packman 1279 at /jila Jun Ye Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences /jila/2026/04/22/jun-ye-elected-american-academy-arts-and-sciences <span>Jun Ye Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences</span> <span><span>Steven Burrows</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-22T22:14:02-06:00" title="Wednesday, April 22, 2026 - 22:14">Wed, 04/22/2026 - 22:14</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2026-02/jun_ye_012pc_0.jpg?h=64713994&amp;itok=1hKheXSq" width="1200" height="800" alt="Photo of Jun Ye"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/21"> Laser Physics </a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/24"> Precision Measurement </a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/25"> Quantum Information Science &amp; Technology </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/132" hreflang="en">CUbit</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/128" hreflang="en">JILA News</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/133" hreflang="en">JILA-PFC</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/120" hreflang="en">Jun Ye</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/131" hreflang="en">Q-SEnSE</a> </div> <span>Steven Burrows / JILA Science Communications Manager</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-left col gallery-item"> <a href="/jila/sites/default/files/2026-02/jun_ye_012pc_0.jpg" class="glightbox ucb-gallery-lightbox" data-gallery="gallery" data-glightbox="description: Photo of Jun Ye "> <img class="ucb-colorbox-small" src="/jila/sites/default/files/2026-02/jun_ye_012pc_0.jpg" alt="Photo of Jun Ye"> </a> </div> <p>JILA Fellow Jun Ye has been elected a Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary societies. His election recognizes his extraordinary contributions to physics and quantum science, including pioneering advances in optical atomic clocks, precision measurement, and quantum many-body physics.</p><p>Founded in 1780, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences honors excellence across the sciences, humanities, arts, and public affairs, and brings leaders together to address issues of national and global importance. Academy members span centuries of achievement, from early U.S. founders such as John Adams and Benjamin Franklin to generations of influential scientists, scholars, and public leaders. Today, the Academy includes more than 250 Nobel and Pulitzer Prize recipients.</p><p>Ye, who is also a professor of physics at the Ĵý and a physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), will be formally welcomed at the Academy’s 2026 Induction Weekend this October in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His election reflects the high regard in which he is held by peers across the physics community and underscores JILA’s enduring leadership in fundamental and applied quantum research.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>JILA Fellow Jun Ye has been elected a Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary societies. His election recognizes his extraordinary contributions to physics and quantum science, including pioneering advances in optical atomic clocks, precision measurement, and quantum many-body physics.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Thu, 23 Apr 2026 04:14:02 +0000 Steven Burrows 1237 at /jila Jun Ye Elected Corresponding Member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences /jila/2026/04/20/jun-ye-elected-corresponding-member-austrian-academy-sciences <span>Jun Ye Elected Corresponding Member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences</span> <span><span>Steven Burrows</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-20T12:11:48-06:00" title="Monday, April 20, 2026 - 12:11">Mon, 04/20/2026 - 12:11</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2026-01/Jun_Ye2GA.png?h=ca768f8d&amp;itok=OYJVqJIA" width="1200" height="800" alt="Jun Ye"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/21"> Laser Physics </a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/24"> Precision Measurement </a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/25"> Quantum Information Science &amp; Technology </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/132" hreflang="en">CUbit</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/128" hreflang="en">JILA News</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/133" hreflang="en">JILA-PFC</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/120" hreflang="en">Jun Ye</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/131" hreflang="en">Q-SEnSE</a> </div> <span>Steven Burrows / JILA Science Communications Manager</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-left col gallery-item"> <a href="/jila/sites/default/files/2026-01/Jun_Ye2GA.png" class="glightbox ucb-gallery-lightbox" data-gallery="gallery" data-glightbox="description: Jun Ye "> <img class="ucb-colorbox-small" src="/jila/sites/default/files/2026-01/Jun_Ye2GA.png" alt="Jun Ye"> </a> </div> <p>JILA Fellow Jun Ye has been elected a corresponding member abroad of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, OeAW), recognizing his internationally influential contributions to physics and quantum science. Election to the OeAW honors scholars whose work has had a profound impact well beyond Austria and reflects exceptional standing within the global research community.</p><p>Founded in 1847, the Austrian Academy of Sciences is the country’s leading non-university research institution and a prestigious learned society spanning the natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences. Election as a corresponding member abroad is reserved for distinguished scientists based outside Austria whose research excellence and leadership have shaped their field internationally.</p><p>Ye is widely recognized for pioneering advances in optical atomic clocks, precision measurement, and quantum many-body science. His work has set new benchmarks for timekeeping accuracy and has broad implications for fundamental physics, quantum technologies, and geodesy.</p><p>As part of the Academy’s 2026 elections, Ye has formally accepted the honor and will be welcomed at official OeAW events in Vienna later this year, including a ceremonial session for newly elected members. His election further highlights JILA’s strong tradition of international scientific leadership and collaboration.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>JILA Fellow Jun Ye has been elected a corresponding member abroad of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, OeAW), recognizing his internationally influential contributions to physics and quantum science. Election to the OeAW honors scholars whose work has had a profound impact well beyond Austria and reflects exceptional standing within the global research community.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:11:48 +0000 Steven Burrows 1236 at /jila JILA Celebrates World Quantum Day 2026 /jila/2026/04/14/jila-celebrates-world-quantum-day-2026 <span>JILA Celebrates World Quantum Day 2026</span> <span><span>Steven Burrows</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-14T13:22:32-06:00" title="Tuesday, April 14, 2026 - 13:22">Tue, 04/14/2026 - 13:22</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2026-04/world%20quantum%20day.jpg?h=b6afb648&amp;itok=f_af0mJH" width="1200" height="800" alt="JILA World Quantum Day"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/25"> Quantum Information Science &amp; Technology </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/128" hreflang="en">JILA News</a> </div> <span>Steven Burrows / JILA Science Communications Manager</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-right image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2026-04/world%20quantum%20day.jpg?itok=vyZFiSoi" width="750" height="583" alt="JILA World Quantum Day"> </div> </div> <p><span>On April 14, scientists and institutions worldwide mark </span><a href="https://worldquantumday.org/" rel="nofollow"><span>World Quantum Day</span></a><span>, an annual celebration of quantum science and the technologies it enables. At JILA, where quantum research is deeply embedded in the institute’s mission, the day is a moment to recognize both a long history of discovery and the work still shaping the field’s future.</span></p><p><span>World Quantum Day falls on April 14 in reference to 4.14, the rounded first digits of Planck’s constant, a foundational constant in quantum mechanics. Created as an international, community-driven effort, the day aims to raise public awareness of quantum science and why it matters. In 2026, the celebration continues the global momentum sparked by the </span><a href="https://quantum2025.org/" rel="nofollow"><span>International Year of Quantum Science and Technology in 2025</span></a><span>, which marked 100 years since the emergence of modern quantum theory.</span></p><p><span>Quantum science touches nearly every corner of JILA. A majority of JILA Fellows work on quantum-related research, spanning theory and experiment and addressing problems at the smallest scales of nature. JILA researchers study systems such as ultracold atoms and molecules, quantum entanglement, precision measurement, and quantum simulation. This work underpins advances in clocks, sensors, lasers, and emerging quantum technologies.</span></p><p><span>JILA’s leadership in the field is grounded in decades of influential research. The institute has been home to Nobel Prize–winning breakthroughs, including the creation of the first Bose-Einstein condensate and foundational advances in laser-based precision measurement. Today, JILA researchers continue to push those boundaries, combining experimental and theoretical approaches to better control, measure, and understand complex quantum systems.</span></p><p><span>World Quantum Day also highlights JILA’s place within a broader quantum community at the Ĵý and beyond. Through close partnerships with CU Ĵý, NIST, and efforts such as the </span><a href="/initiative/cubit/" rel="nofollow"><span>CUbit Quantum Initiative</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> and </span><a href="/research/qsense/" rel="nofollow"><span lang="EN-US">NSF Q-SEnSE</span></a><span>, JILA plays a central role in a collaborative ecosystem that connects fundamental science with education, workforce development, and real-world impact.</span></p><p><span>As World Quantum Day 2026 is celebrated around the globe, JILA recognizes the scientists, students, and staff whose work continues to advance quantum science. The day is both a reflection on how far the field has come and a reminder that quantum research remains a powerful driver of discovery, opening new ways to understand the universe and laying the groundwork for technologies yet to come.</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>JILA joins the global scientific community on April 14 to celebrate World Quantum Day 2026, recognizing the fundamental discoveries and technologies made possible by quantum science. The day highlights JILA’s long-standing leadership in quantum research and its role in shaping the future of precision measurement, sensing, and emerging quantum technologies.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:22:32 +0000 Steven Burrows 1233 at /jila An Atomic Clock That Stays Cool and Can Rock and Roll Without Losing Time /jila/2026/04/09/atomic-clock-stays-cool-and-can-rock-and-roll-without-losing-time <span>An Atomic Clock That Stays Cool and Can Rock and Roll Without Losing Time</span> <span><span>Steven Burrows</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-09T09:07:45-06:00" title="Thursday, April 9, 2026 - 09:07">Thu, 04/09/2026 - 09:07</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2026-04/Holland_PRL_Fully-Collective-Superradiant-Lasing_web.jpg?h=2259e848&amp;itok=F2f6a6VL" width="1200" height="800" alt="Fully Collective Superradiant Lasing"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/21"> Laser Physics </a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/24"> Precision Measurement </a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/25"> Quantum Information Science &amp; Technology </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/135" hreflang="en">CTQM</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/133" hreflang="en">JILA-PFC</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/80" hreflang="en">Murray Holland</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/131" hreflang="en">Q-SEnSE</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/127" hreflang="en">Research Highlights</a> </div> <span>Bailey Bedford / Freelance Science Communicator</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-right image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2026-04/Holland_PRL_Fully-Collective-Superradiant-Lasing_web.jpg?itok=U_E4oKRO" width="750" height="422" alt="Fully Collective Superradiant Lasing"> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p>A new proposal shows how guiding atoms through a controlled loop of low-energy states using an additional atomic state and a second color of light can eliminate the heating that has long hindered superradiant atomic clocks. The design also makes the laser more robust to vibrations, as coordinated interactions among atoms help keep them synchronized even when the cavity is disturbed.</p> </span> </div> <p>In popular culture, lasers are often portrayed as portable blasters that superheat whatever they hit. Some lasers do deliver tremendous amounts of energy in reality, but for scientists and engineers, lasers often need to do more than deliver just raw power. They need to deliver a very precise frequency—color—of light.</p><p>Precise lasers open many opportunities for experiments and technologies, notably <a href="https://jila.colorado.edu/holland/research/superradiant-lasers" rel="nofollow">atomic clocks</a>, which offer the most precise timekeeping in the world. Atomic clocks are used in experiments, such as <a href="https://www.nist.gov/atomic-clocks/a-powerful-tool-for-science/dark-side-things" rel="nofollow">searches for dark matter</a>, and they also make possible everyday technologies, like GPS. Currently, the most precise lasers, and therefore the most precise atomic clocks, are bulky and can be disrupted by small vibrations or changes in temperature, which limits their applications.</p><p>In an <a href="https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/v6jq-m6sk" rel="nofollow">article</a> published April 9, 2026, in the journal <em>Physical Review Letters</em>, JILA graduate student Jarrod Reilly proposed a new laser design that may allow for greater precision while making lasers more compact and robust. The design was developed along with JILA Fellows Murray Holland and John Cooper, as well as Simon Jäger—who was formerly a JILA postdoctoral researcher and is now an international collaborator at the University of Bonn in Germany. It builds on prior research they and their colleagues at JILA have performed, and their analysis indicated that it solves multiple problems that have limited past experiments. The improvements suggest a way that future atomic clocks can be both more precise and more convenient.</p><p>“Time and frequency are the two physical quantities that humans can measure the best,” Holland says. “This high sensitivity allows us to make measurements that are incredibly precise. Pushing it further opens up new domains where we could look farther than we've ever been able to look before.”</p><p>The new design is for a type of laser called a <a href="https://jila.colorado.edu/holland/research/superradiant-lasers" rel="nofollow">superradiant laser</a>, and having a reliable superradiant laser is necessary to create a new type of compact atomic clock called an active atomic clock. Superradiant lasers that could enable active atomic clocks were first <a href="https://jila.colorado.edu/news-events/articles/quantum-leap-precision-lasers" rel="nofollow">proposed by JILA researchers</a> in 2009, and JILA researchers continue to refine the technology. Active atomic clocks use similar principles to standard atomic clocks but include some important tweaks.</p><p>Both traditional and active atomic clocks take advantage of the fact that atoms have quantum states which researchers can link together using light. Light comes in quantum packets that each carry a certain amount of energy that corresponds to its frequency—how quickly the light waves oscillate. An atom can be pushed from its initial state into a higher-energy state by hitting it with light of the right frequency. An atom with extra energy will sometimes release light to return to a lower-energy state. The consistent waves of light associated with a particular transition between chosen high- and low-energy atomic states can play a role similar to the steady swinging of a pendulum in a grandfather clock.</p><p>Traditional atomic clocks shine a laser on atoms and monitor when the atoms interact with the light at the correct frequency. An active atomic clock, instead, uses many atoms releasing light to create a laser with the desired frequency.</p><p>Making an active atomic clock requires getting all the atoms to work together to produce the superradiant laser. If too few atoms emit light at a time, nothing will be observed, and if different atoms simultaneously emit light in the wrong way, the resulting wave that is generated may lose coherence and become unusable.</p><p>To coordinate atoms, researchers put them in a special cavity where light bounces between two mirrors. The cavity maintains the frequency of light needed to interact with the atoms and encourages them to synchronize. The process resembles performers coordinating their dance steps by all listening to the same music.</p><p>In 2012, Holland collaborated with JILA Fellow James Thompson and demonstrated in experiments that superradiant lasers worked. But there was a hiccup: The process only worked for short periods at a time, and the laser ended up as a series of pulses, which couldn’t be used directly as an active atomic clock. The chamber coordinated the atoms releasing the desired frequency of light. However, when the atoms were put into the chosen energetic state, each atom emitted a small amount of extra light without any coordination. This unpredictable emission resulted in random motion that heated the atoms and eventually disrupted the synchronization needed for superradiance.</p><p>The new proposal suggests a method to eliminate the heating. Reilly, who is the first author of the paper, realized the atoms could be guided throughout the entire process and avoid the heating. Reilly observed that utilizing an additional state in the atom allows an experiment to use a different color of light to direct atoms through the troublesome step.</p><p>To make it work, he had to select an atom with two very similar states when the atom has as little energy as possible. Researchers can supply light to move the atoms between the two low-energy states. Then, placing the atoms in that additional low-energy state allows a second color of light to be introduced into a cavity that coordinates how the atoms move to the selected energetic state.</p><p>Now, the atoms are guided through more than the single dance step of producing the desired frequency. The experiment directs the atoms through a full loop of states, with a scientist controlling where all the energy goes. Each step is carefully managed, and the extra energy is predictably directed away from the atoms, where it can be easily handled.</p><p>The group used ideas from particle physics to develop a simulation of the quantum process that Reilly had identified. The simulation showed that the process should eliminate the heating that had previously prevented the creation of active atomic clocks using superradiant lasers.</p><p>“This heating rate should be so low that it would be easily manageable in a real apparatus,” Holland says.</p><p>But they went beyond eliminating the heating problem. They also discovered that the new design made the laser less sensitive to the shaking of the chamber than prior methods. The atoms didn’t just interact with the light in the cavity but with each other, like performers who can hear each other singing to the music. The new controlled transitions and extra light bouncing back and forth in the cavity should help the atoms interact and remain coordinated. If the cavity is slightly disrupted, it is like the music temporarily cutting out or being distorted, but the singing helps keep the performers coordinated nonetheless.</p><p>With increased coordination, the atoms should depend largely on synchronization with each other and less on the cavity, so shaking the cavity shouldn’t have much effect. The researchers used the simulation to show that there are certain ways to set up the experiment in which the frequency of the laser is not sensitive to vibrations of the cavity’s mirrors at all.</p><p>“What they're measuring in a clock is that frequency,” Reilly says. “The big-game-changer is that it becomes completely insensitive to vibrations, which people have spent 20 years trying to overcome. You could jump up and down next to the experiment, and in a regular clock, you'd see the color change, but you can jump up and down next to our clock and not see the color change. It should stay stable.”</p><p>The researchers also used their simulations to show that even when individual atoms fall out of sync with the others, it shouldn’t disrupt the superradiance—a known problem with some previous methods.</p><p>The team says they hope to see the proposal realized in an experiment, and they also want to combine their idea with another concept for the next generation of clocks: <a href="https://jila-pfc.colorado.edu/news-events/articles/nuclear-clockwork-experiments-highlight-reproducibility-nuclear-transition" rel="nofollow">nuclear clocks</a>. Nuclear clocks are similar to atomic clocks but use the quantum states of nuclei. The researchers believe their new superradiance technique could solve a lingering issue with nuclear clocks and provide a path to a new generation of unprecedentedly accurate timepieces.<br>&nbsp;</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Researchers at JILA propose a new superradiant laser design for next-generation “active” atomic clocks that eliminates atom-heating and vibration sensitivity, two major obstacles that have limited precision and practicality. By carefully guiding atoms through a controlled loop of quantum states, the approach could enable compact, robust atomic—and potentially nuclear—clocks that maintain extreme accuracy even under physical disturbances.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:07:45 +0000 Steven Burrows 1232 at /jila Google Quantum AI Engages JILA Fellow Adam Kaufman to Lead New Neutral Atom Quantum Computing Effort /jila/2026/03/24/google-quantum-ai-engages-jila-fellow-adam-kaufman-lead-new-neutral-atom-quantum <span>Google Quantum AI Engages JILA Fellow Adam Kaufman to Lead New Neutral Atom Quantum Computing Effort</span> <span><span>Steven Burrows</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-03-24T13:12:02-06:00" title="Tuesday, March 24, 2026 - 13:12">Tue, 03/24/2026 - 13:12</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2026-03/Kaufman_Lab_Photo_shoot_PC0391-1-2-scaled.jpg?h=91291fcb&amp;itok=FTSV526v" width="1200" height="800" alt="Adam Kaufman (left) inspects an optical atomic clock at JILA on the University of Colorado campus with students Nelson Darkwah Oppong, Alec Cao and Theo Lukin Yelin."> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/25"> Quantum Information Science &amp; Technology </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/87" hreflang="en">Adam Kaufman</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/128" hreflang="en">JILA News</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/133" hreflang="en">JILA-PFC</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/131" hreflang="en">Q-SEnSE</a> </div> <span>Steven Burrows / JILA Science Communications Manager</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-left image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2026-03/Kaufman_Lab_Photo_shoot_PC0391-1-2-scaled.jpg?itok=JMBjviCz" width="750" height="500" alt="Adam Kaufman (left) inspects an optical atomic clock at JILA on the University of Colorado campus with students Nelson Darkwah Oppong, Alec Cao and Theo Lukin Yelin."> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p>Adam Kaufman (left) inspects an optical atomic clock at JILA on the University of Colorado campus with students Nelson Darkwah Oppong, Alec Cao and Theo Lukin Yelin. (Image Credit: Patrick Campbell, University of Colorado)</p> </span> </div> <p>Today, Google Quantum AI announced a major expansion of its quantum computing research program, naming JILA Fellow Adam Kaufman to lead a newly formed neutral atom quantum hardware team. The initiative marks Google’s first large-scale investment in neutral atom quantum computing, a rapidly advancing platform that complements its long‑standing work in superconducting qubits.</p><p>Kaufman, an internationally recognized leader in neutral atom physics, will continue his research at JILA as a JILA Fellow while maintaining his academic appointment in the Department of Physics at the Ĵý. According to <em>The Colorado Sun</em>, Kaufman’s dual role reflects Google’s strategy of closely integrating industrial-scale engineering with cutting-edge academic research, particularly in Ĵý’s growing quantum ecosystem.&nbsp;</p><p>In announcing the program, Google emphasized that neutral atom quantum processors offer unique advantages, including the ability to scale to very large arrays—currently on the order of thousands to tens of thousands of qubits—with highly flexible, “any‑to‑any” connectivity. While neutral atom systems operate more slowly than superconducting circuits, their scalability in qubit number makes them especially promising for quantum simulation and fault‑tolerant architectures. Google views the parallel development of both platforms as a way to accelerate progress toward commercially useful quantum computers.</p><p>This new collaboration further strengthens JILA’s national and international leadership in quantum science, building on its major federally funded research centers and broad portfolio of competitive grants. By bridging foundational research and industrial-scale quantum engineering, the partnership underscores JILA’s central role in shaping the future of quantum technology.</p><p>Please join us in congratulating Adam Kaufman on this exciting opportunity and on his continued contributions to JILA, CU Ĵý, and the global quantum research community.<br>&nbsp;</p><p>Learn more:</p><p>The Colorado Sun: <a href="https://coloradosun.com/2026/03/24/google-boulder-physicist-quantum-computing-colorado/" rel="nofollow">Google taps Ĵý physicist to lead new quantum computing effort</a><br>Google Quantum AI Blog: <a href="https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/technology/research/neutral-atom-quantum-computers/" rel="nofollow">Building superconducting and neutral atom quantum computers</a></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Google Quantum AI has named JILA Fellow Adam Kaufman to lead a new neutral atom quantum computing hardware team, marking a major expansion of its quantum research program. Kaufman will continue his research at JILA and CU Ĵý, strengthening JILA’s leadership and impact in national and international quantum science.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Tue, 24 Mar 2026 19:12:02 +0000 Steven Burrows 1218 at /jila High-fidelity gates and creation of entangled states in Yb171 nuclear-spin qubits /jila/2026/03/22/high-fidelity-gates-and-creation-entangled-states-yb171-nuclear-spin-qubits <span>High-fidelity gates and creation of entangled states in Yb171 nuclear-spin qubits</span> <span><span>Steven Burrows</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-03-22T12:17:50-06:00" title="Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 12:17">Sun, 03/22/2026 - 12:17</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2026-04/aruku_paper-02_1.png?h=84543241&amp;itok=pjVIWepp" width="1200" height="800" alt="entanglement mapping"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/18"> Atomic &amp; Molecular Physics </a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/25"> Quantum Information Science &amp; Technology </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/87" hreflang="en">Adam Kaufman</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/333" hreflang="en">Kaufman Group News</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-right align-left col gallery-item"> <a href="/jila/sites/default/files/2026-04/aruku_paper-02_1.png" class="glightbox ucb-gallery-lightbox" data-gallery="gallery" data-glightbox="description: entanglement mapping "> <img class="ucb-colorbox-small" src="/jila/sites/default/files/2026-04/aruku_paper-02_1.png" alt="entanglement mapping"> </a> </div> <p>Our <a href="https://arxiv.org/pdf/2506.13632" rel="nofollow">paper</a> on preparing entangled states in Yb171 has been accepted in Nature physics! Congratulations to the team! We show high-fidelity gates in the metastable qubit, high-fidelity three-outcome measurements, and coherent mapping of entangled states between the Rydberg, nuclear, and optical qubits. This work suggests several new directions, including in quantum error correction, hybrid digital-analog quantum simulations, and quantum metrology.&nbsp;</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Our paper on preparing entangled states in Yb171 has been accepted in Nature physics! Congratulations to the team! We show high-fidelity gates in the metastable qubit, high-fidelity three-outcome measurements, and coherent mapping of entangled states between the Rydberg, nuclear, and optical qubits. This work suggests several new directions, including in quantum error correction, hybrid digital-analog quantum simulations, and quantum metrology. </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Sun, 22 Mar 2026 18:17:50 +0000 Steven Burrows 1229 at /jila New proposal for using quantum error correction in metrology /jila/2026/03/22/new-proposal-using-quantum-error-correction-metrology <span>New proposal for using quantum error correction in metrology</span> <span><span>Steven Burrows</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-03-22T12:16:31-06:00" title="Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 12:16">Sun, 03/22/2026 - 12:16</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2026-04/sensing.png?h=60377475&amp;itok=-mBbvkNA" width="1200" height="800" alt="QEC for sensing"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/18"> Atomic &amp; Molecular Physics </a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/24"> Precision Measurement </a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/25"> Quantum Information Science &amp; Technology </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/87" hreflang="en">Adam Kaufman</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/333" hreflang="en">Kaufman Group News</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-right align-left col gallery-item"> <a href="/jila/sites/default/files/2026-04/sensing.png" class="glightbox ucb-gallery-lightbox" data-gallery="gallery" data-glightbox="description: QEC for sensing "> <img class="ucb-colorbox-small" src="/jila/sites/default/files/2026-04/sensing.png" alt="QEC for sensing"> </a> </div> <p>In quantum metrology, it has been considered for some time whether quantum error correction can be used to enhance precision measurements. Here, the primary challenge is devising codes ad protocols that correct noise while not correcting the unknown signal being sensed. In this <a href="https://arxiv.org/pdf/2601.04313" rel="nofollow">collaboration</a> with the Pichler, we identify some promising conditions for leveraging quantum error correction for enhanced sensing, even when signal and noise couple identically to sensor qubits.&nbsp;</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>In quantum metrology, it has been considered for some time whether quantum error correction can be used to enhance precision measurements. Here, the primary challenge is devising codes ad protocols that correct noise while not correcting the unknown signal being sensed. In this collaboration with the Pichler, we identify some promising conditions for leveraging quantum error correction for enhanced sensing, even when signal and noise couple identically to sensor qubits. </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Sun, 22 Mar 2026 18:16:31 +0000 Steven Burrows 1228 at /jila Assembling a superfluid from individual atoms /jila/2026/03/22/assembling-superfluid-individual-atoms <span>Assembling a superfluid from individual atoms </span> <span><span>Steven Burrows</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-03-22T12:14:16-06:00" title="Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 12:14">Sun, 03/22/2026 - 12:14</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2026-04/sf.png?h=cf65127a&amp;itok=7LggztWx" width="1200" height="800" alt="sf from single atoms"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/18"> Atomic &amp; Molecular Physics </a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/25"> Quantum Information Science &amp; Technology </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/87" hreflang="en">Adam Kaufman</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/333" hreflang="en">Kaufman Group News</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-right align-left col gallery-item"> <a href="/jila/sites/default/files/2026-04/sf.png" class="glightbox ucb-gallery-lightbox" data-gallery="gallery" data-glightbox="description: sf from single atoms "> <img class="ucb-colorbox-small" src="/jila/sites/default/files/2026-04/sf.png" alt="sf from single atoms"> </a> </div> <p>Since it was first <a href="https://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevA.70.040302?__cf_chl_tk=Rn5ciSV3L5zJeoScuN7G.iMg5dAQ3tHe6_7Ha2GDkec-1774233527-1.0.1.1-QOYmsk478cjXsZK.Ph7zwKlpUUSi.qTnaAhvIyc4kG4" rel="nofollow">proposed</a> in 2004 by David Weiss and Maxim Olshanii, it has been a goal to see whether atomic rearrangement and high-fidelity ground-state laser cooling could employed to prepare superfluids and low-entropy many-body states of itinerant matter. In this <a href="https://arxiv.org/pdf/2512.24374" rel="nofollow">work</a>, we demonstrate such a protocol, opening a new path to assembling ground-state many-body state of bosonic and fermionic quantum systems.&nbsp;</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Since it was first proposed in 2004 by David Weiss and Maxim Olshanii, it has been a goal to see whether atomic rearrangement and high-fidelity ground-state laser cooling could employed to prepare superfluids and low-entropy many-body states of itinerant matter. In this work, we demonstrate such a protocol, opening a new path to assembling ground-state many-body state of bosonic and fermionic quantum systems. </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Sun, 22 Mar 2026 18:14:16 +0000 Steven Burrows 1227 at /jila JILA Fellow Dana Anderson celebrates landmark milestone as Infleqtion goes public on the New York Stock Exchange /jila/2026/02/23/jila-fellow-dana-anderson-celebrates-landmark-milestone-infleqtion-goes-public-new-york <span>JILA Fellow Dana Anderson celebrates landmark milestone as Infleqtion goes public on the New York Stock Exchange</span> <span><span>Steven Burrows</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-02-23T15:43:55-07:00" title="Monday, February 23, 2026 - 15:43">Mon, 02/23/2026 - 15:43</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2026-02/Infleqtion_OpeningBell-scaled.jpg.optimal.jpg?h=bb3bb9b7&amp;itok=o90bAzBJ" width="1200" height="800" alt="Dana Anderson, Matt Kinsella, and Infleqtion executives ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange."> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/18"> Atomic &amp; Molecular Physics </a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/25"> Quantum Information Science &amp; Technology </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/2" hreflang="en">Dana Anderson</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/128" hreflang="en">JILA News</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/131" hreflang="en">Q-SEnSE</a> </div> <span>Steven Burrows / JILA Science Communications Manager</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-center image_style-large_image_style"> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2026-02/Infleqtion_OpeningBell-scaled.jpg.optimal.jpg?itok=yVXmD2KI" width="1500" height="1000" alt="Dana Anderson, Matt Kinsella, and Infleqtion executives ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange."> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p>Dana Anderson, Matt Kinsella, and Infleqtion executives ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Image Credit, Infleqtion.</p> </span> </div> <p>JILA is proud to recognize a major milestone for quantum science and technology as Infleqtion, the quantum technology company founded by JILA Fellow and CU Ĵý Professor Dana Anderson, has officially gone public on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Infleqtion began trading under the ticker symbol INFQ on February 17, 2026, following completion of its business combination with Churchill Capital Corp X, marking a historic moment for both the company and the broader quantum technology community.</p><p>This public debut establishes Infleqtion as the first neutral‑atom quantum technology company to enter public markets — a significant validation of nearly two decades of foundational research that originated at CU Ĵý and JILA. Founded originally as ColdQuanta and spun out of the Ĵý in 2007, Infleqtion has since evolved into a global leader in neutral‑atom quantum computing, precision sensing, and quantum‑enabled technologies.</p><p>The company's listing is supported by over $550 million in new capital, drawn from strong shareholder participation and additional PIPE financing. This influx of funding allows Infleqtion to accelerate deployment of practical quantum solutions across aerospace, defense, energy infrastructure, advanced computation, and other mission‑critical sectors.</p><p>Infleqtion's expanding technology portfolio includes quantum computers, optical atomic clocks, RF receivers, inertial sensors, and quantum software — systems already in use by NASA, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.K. government. The company’s collaborations also extend to major industry partners such as NVIDIA, contributing to advancements in logical‑qubit‑based materials science applications. &nbsp;NASA’s contracted Quantum Gravity Sensor Mission, supported by more than $20 million in funding, and the U.S. Army’s $2 million program for resilient navigation and timing exemplify the real-world impact of Infleqtion’s quantum technologies. &nbsp;</p><p>This milestone comes during a period of notable recognition for Infleqtion’s founder. Earlier this month, Dana Anderson was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for his pioneering contributions to optical quantum engineering with ultracold atoms — work that helped lay the scientific foundation for Infleqtion’s growth. &nbsp;Anderson’s long-standing vision for neutral‑atom architectures, cultivated through his research at JILA, continues to guide the company’s strategy as it advances quantum solutions for aerospace, national security, energy systems, and scientific computing.</p><p>Infleqtion’s public listing also highlights the strength of CU Ĵý and JILA’s innovation ecosystem. As one of the university’s most successful quantum spinouts, the company contributes to Colorado’s expanding role as a global hub for quantum research and commercialization.</p><p>As Infleqtion begins its next chapter as a publicly traded company, JILA celebrates Dana Anderson’s leadership and the transformative scientific achievements that made this moment possible.<br>&nbsp;</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>JILA is proud to recognize a major milestone for quantum science and technology as Infleqtion, the quantum technology company founded by JILA Fellow and CU Ĵý Professor Dana Anderson, has officially gone public on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:43:55 +0000 Steven Burrows 720 at /jila