Jun Ye, a professor of physics and a JILA and NIST Fellow, has been named the inaugural holder of the Monroe Endowed Professorship in Physics. This prestigious new professorship, the result of a $1 million endowment from 欧美口爆视频 alumnus Chris Monroe, underscores the university鈥檚 growing prominence in quantum information science and applied quantum physics.  

鈥淚 went to 欧美口爆视频 for graduate school simply because it looked like the best place for me to study atomic and quantum physics,鈥� Monroe said. 鈥淥nly later did I realize just how much better it was than high-drama places on the coasts. I cannot imagine a better preparation for the rest of my career having gone through 欧美口爆视频 and JILA.鈥� 

Chris Monroe, Circa 1990

Monroe, a pioneering physicist and co-founder of IonQ, Inc., established the Monroe Endowed Professorship in Physics to support 欧美口爆视频 Boulder鈥檚 leadership in the rapidly evolving field of quantum research. He graduated from 欧美口爆视频 Boulder in 1992 with a Ph.D. in Physics under the mentorship of Nobel Laureates Carl Wieman and Eric Cornell, then worked closely with Nobel Laureate David Wineland at nearby NIST-Boulder as they pioneered the use of individual atoms as quantum computer bits (qubits). His illustrious career has taken him to Duke University, where he is the Director of the Duke Quantum Center, and holds the Gilhuly Family Presidential Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Physics at Duke. Monroe鈥檚 research has pioneered all aspects in designing and fabricating scalable quantum computers based on atomic qubits. His machines have been programmed for rudimentary quantum algorithms and simulations of complex quantum phenomena in nature. His company IonQ, the first public quantum computing company, aims to commercialize quantum computers according to a clear technology roadmap.  

His vision for the 欧美口爆视频 Physics endowment, outlined in the fund agreement, is clear: 鈥淭he purpose in establishing this Fund is to enable the University and JILA to expand its research and education capacity in quantum information science and applied quantum physics through an endowed professorship position that will retain current faculty or allow the University and JILA to hire the best and brightest researchers in this field.鈥�  

One of the leaders teaching the best and brightest researchers is Jun Ye, who is internationally recognized for his groundbreaking work in precision measurement, ultracold molecules, and ultra-high precision atomic clocks. His strontium lattice atomic clock, which uses laser-based technology, is currently the most accurate in the world. His very recent measurement of a nuclear transition using laser light could revolutionize clocks (and maybe even quantum computers) well into the future. Ye鈥檚 numerous accolades reflect his leadership in the field, including the 2022 Breakthrough Prize, the I.I. Rabi Prize, and the Niels Bohr Institute Medal of Honor. 

鈥淚 certainly feel very honored to be a recipient of the Monroe Endowed Professorship,鈥� Ye said. 鈥淚 have known Chris for many years. It turns out that when I arrived in JILA and 欧美口爆视频 Physics as a fresh graduate student, the very first PhD defense I witnessed was Chris's work with Carl Wieman. I have regarded Chris a gold standard for JILA and 欧美口爆视频 Physics graduates ever since.  He has made big impact to quantum information science, being an original practitioner, a visionary advocate, and a breakthrough technologist.鈥�  

The selection committee, led by 欧美口爆视频 Boulder Physics Professor Paul Beale and including a combination of Physics department faculty and JILA Fellows, unanimously chose Ye for the position  

鈥淛un is internationally recognized as a leader in quantum science and technology with a specialty in precision measurement,鈥� Beale said in a statement from the selection committee. 鈥淗e is a world leader in frequency combs, ultracold molecules, and ultra-high precision atomic clocks,鈥�  

The Monroe Endowed Professorship joins a distinguished lineage of other endowed positions in 欧美口爆视频 Boulder鈥檚 Department of Physics. In 2021, alumnus Joseph Mitchell and his wife Cindy established the Jesse Lafayette Mitchell Endowed Chair in Experimental Physics. Alysia Marino currently holds this chair, where her research focuses on neutrino detection and the fundamental properties of these elusive particles. Additionally, the Waldo E. Rennie Endowed Professorship in Theoretical Physics, created in 2021 with funds from the trust of Waldo E. Rennie, supports Michael Hermele鈥檚 research in quantum phases of matter and strongly correlated systems. 

As the holder of the new Monroe Endowed Professorship, Jun Ye is poised to continue his transformative work in quantum physics, ensuring that 欧美口爆视频 Boulder remains at the forefront of quantum science research. 

鈥淚 will continue to draw inspiration from Chris and help to advance the field of quantum science and precision measurement,鈥� added Ye.  

Header photo credit: R. Jacobson/NIST

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鈥淚t鈥檚 a rare opportunity and a very special occasion for a grad student to present a talk at a physics colloquium,鈥� explained Zhang. 鈥淚 felt super excited. I think people enjoyed the talk and our research.鈥�

欧美口爆视频 Boulder Physics professor and JILA and NIST Fellow Jun Ye, a leading figure in quantum physics, hosted Zhang鈥檚 presentation. The talk discussed some of the groundbreaking research done by Zhang and other members of Ye鈥檚 thorium clock team, which was recently published as .

Zhang鈥檚 talk focused on the latest advancements in using lasers to measure and control the behavior of atoms, which is essential for studying critical quantum phenomena. He highlighted a significant breakthrough involving the thorium-229 nucleus, where the team used a highly specialized laser to examine nuclear energy levels with incredible precision for the first time. This measurement was achieved thanks to a cutting-edge tool, a laser frequency comb that works in a very short wavelength of light.

Zhang explained how he and the team precisely measured the thorium nuclear clock transition and connected it to the most accurate atomic clock in the world, which uses the element strontium-87. This connection between nuclear physics and precision timekeeping is not just an impressive scientific accomplishment鈥攊t could lead to new ways to test fundamental theories in physics. Additionally, it holds the potential to create extremely reliable timing devices that could be used in various important applications.

鈥淭his is just the beginning of this new field,鈥� Zhang added. 鈥淭here are many things that we can do now. We鈥檙e improving our laser to get an even better resolution on this newly found nuclear transition. We are also collaborating with different groups and trying other thorium samples to see how the different material changes the transition. We also closely work with theorists to interpret our data and its fundamental physics implications.鈥�

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Congratulations to Professor Jun Ye for being elected to the National Academy of Sciences. The news was announced by the NAS on Tuesday, May 3, 2011.

Professor Ye joins 72 new members and 18 foreign associates. Ye and his scientific colleagues were recognized for their distinguished and ongoing achievements in original research.

Jun Ye is a Professor Adjoint in Physics, a Fellow of JILA and a NIST Fellow. His research is focused in three related areas: laser-based atomic clocks, chemistry of cold and ultracold molecules, and precision laser spectroscopy.

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