n°28I quarterlyI January 2013 In the News | 5 Serge Haroche, Nobel Prize in Physics 2012 Ondecember 10, 2012, in Stockholm, Serge Haroche received the Nobel Prize in Physics, jointly with theamerican physicistdavid Wineland, for their work in quantum physics. hand quantum optics. He is one of the pioneers of HOTOlHdaj. : and a professor at the1specializes in atomic physicsaroche, 68, a researcher at the LaboratoireKastler-Brossel (LKB)Collège de France, B 2012 / P cavity quantum electrodynamics, which consists in studying the interactions between a single atom and a few photons a contained in a “box,” or cavity. “The Nobel laureates have dI E paved the way for a new era of experimentation in quantum l M OBE physics by demonstrating the direct observation of individual © N quantum particles without destroying them,” said the Nobel q serge Haroche Committee. “Through their ingenious laboratory methods, In fact, it was maths that Haroche first studied, before receiving hisnobel Haroche and Wineland—together with their research specializing in physics at the École Normale Supérieure Prize from His groups—have managed to measure and control very fragile (ENS) in Paris, which he joined in 1963. After leaving the majesty Kingcarl XVI gustaf ofsweden at quantum states considered inaccessible for direct observation.” ENS, he began his career at CNRS, where his research played thestockholm In 2009, when Haroche was awarded the CNRS Gold a significant role in reconciling the microscopic quantum concert Hall on Medal, France’s most prestigious scientific distinction, he world with the macroscopic classical world. During the December 10, 2012. modestly explained that “despite the complexity of the 1970s and 1980s, he developed new laser spectroscopy set-up, the underlying physical theory is actually very methods based on the study of quantum beats and simple,” albeit difficult to express without using equations. superradiance. He then became interested in Rydberg atoms, “You need a basic grasp of maths,” he admitted. giant atomic systems whose sensitivity to microwaves makes them particularly well suited to fundamental research into matter-radiation interaction. Haroche’s own words best illustrate the common thread running through his career: “I have always endeavored to carry out experiments involving atoms and photons in ‘exotic’ situations not usually found in nature. I have tried to make use of these situations to decipher fundamental A photo gallery is phenomena, and to develop new tools to investigate matter available on the online version of the magazine. and radiation.” > www.cnrs.fr/ Haroche’s work, enabled by ongoing technologicalcnrsmagazine advances, has made it possible to experimentally verify certain postulates of the physics of the infinitely small by drawing inspiration from the thought experiments devised UE by Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr. èq HOTOTH For CNRS President Alain Fuchs, this Nobel Prize rewards “pioneering work carried out over the long ky/CNRS P term, combining fundamental understanding with experimental skills.” INS d 01. CNRS / ENS / Université Paris-VI. . C ©
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