2012 Nobel Prize in Physics: Quantum Mechanics of Photons and Atoms (October 9, 2012)

The APS congratulates Serge Haroche and David Wineland, both Fellows of the APS, for their 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics. They and their collaborators have made significant advances in the realization of quantum phenomena with many beautiful experiments. Their ability to manipulate atoms and photons to demonstrate fundamental aspects of quantum physics has been documented in many journal articles. We are very pleased that much of this seminal work has been published in the APS journals: Physical Review Letters, Physical Review A, and Reviews of Modern Physics. To honor these laureates and their collaborators, we have made freely available five of their many APS publications that demonstrate some of the key insights of their pioneering work. Please see also the full APS press release.

Selected APS journal articles that are Free To Read:

• Observation of Quantum Jumps in a Single Atom
  J. C. Bergquist, R. G. Hulet, W. M. Itano and D. J. Wineland,
  Phys. Rev. Lett. 57, 1699 (1986)
• Demonstration of a fundamental quantum logic gate
  C. Monroe, D. M. Meekhof, B. E. King, W. M. Itano, and D. J. Wineland
  Phys. Rev. Lett. 75, 4714 (1995)
• Quantum Rabi Oscillation: A Direct Test of Field Quantization in a Cavity
  M. Brune, F. Schmidt-Kaler, A. Maali, J. Dreyer, E. Hagley, J. M. Raimond, and S. Haroche
  Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 1800 (1996)
• Observing the Progressive Decoherence of the “Meter” in a Quantum Measurement
  M. Brune, E. Hagley, J. Dreyer, X. Maître, A. Maali, C. Wunderlich, J. M. Raimond, and S. Haroche
  Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 4887 (1996)
• Manipulation of photons in a cavity by dispersive atom-field coupling: Quantum-nondemolition measurements and generation of “Schrödinger cat” states
  M. Brune, S. Haroche, J. M. Raimond, L. Davidovich, and N. Zagury
  Phys. Rev. A 45, 5193 (1992)

Further information:

• Viewpoint: Moving Traps Offer Fast Delivery of Cold Ions: (August 2012)
• Essay: Fifty Years of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics in Physical Review Letters (October 13, 2008), Serge Haroche
• Focus: Landmarks: Laser Cooling of Atoms (April 2008)
• Quantum Leap Reported for Entangled Photons
• 2001 Arthur L. Schawlow Prize in Laser Science
• 1990 Davisson-Germer Prize in Atomic or Surface Physics