Lene Hau
University of Aarhus
Physics
Year of Ph.D. or highest degree: 1991
Quantum optics, nanotechnology
Quantum Optics, Photonics, Condensed Matter Physics, Nanotechnology, Advanced Laboratory Techniques
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lene_Hau
UGUD
Scientist Biography
Biographical information
Lene Hau is a Danish physicist acclaimed for her pioneering work in quantum optics and Bose-Einstein condensates. After earning her Ph.D. from the University of Aarhus in 1991, she joined Harvard University, where she achieved groundbreaking results in controlling light and matter. Hau's research has significant implications for quantum computing, information processing, and the study of ultracold atoms. Her experiments have demonstrated the ability to slow, stop, and transfer light to matter, providing new avenues for technological advancements.
Relevant Concepts
Bose-Einstein Condensates, Quantum Information, Ultracold Atoms, Light ManipulationResearch Areas:
Quantum optics, nanotechnologyRelevant Courses:
Quantum Optics, Photonics, Condensed Matter Physics, Nanotechnology, Advanced Laboratory TechniquesKey Contributions
Hau's work with ultracold atoms and nanoscale systems, such as carbon nanotubes, has provided new insights into atomic behavior at nanoscales, leading to the development of novel quantum devices and applications.
Hau's groundbreaking experiments involved using Bose-Einstein condensates to control light in unprecedented ways. She slowed light to 17 meters per second and even stopped it completely within the condensate. Furthermore, Hau demonstrated the ability to transfer information from light to a matter wave and then back to light. This process involves coherently manipulating quantum states, with profound implications for quantum computing and secure information transfer, enabling the storage and retrieval of optical information in a quantum state.