An Assessment of the Divisions of the Physical Measurement Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology Located in Boulder, Colorado Fiscal Year 2023 (2024) / Chapter Skim
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4 Quantum Physics Division
4 Quantum Physics Division
Pages 23-29
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From page 23... ...
The measurements range from ultra-precise frequency measurements for time and frequency standards using quantum-enhanced techniques to fundamental measurements, such as of the electric dipole moment of the electron, and from the search for dark matter with high-Q resonators to precision measurements for biological and chemical processes. The scientific expertise of the Quantum Physics Division ranges from quantum information science and exploring applications of quantum-enhanced sensing to quantum information processing and quantum simulations.
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From page 24... ...
There are three groups doing biological physics in the Quantum Physics Division: those run by Tom Perkins, Ralph Jimenez, and David Nesbitt. Nesbitt has recently begun a collaboration with Jun Ye to do ultra-sensitive detection of biomarker aerosols using femto-second frequency combs.
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From page 25... ...
A very exciting recent collaboration, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, is a collaboration between David Nesbitt and Jun Ye to analyze biomarkers in aerosols using a femtosecond frequency comb injected into a high-finesse optical cavity. The frequency comb consists of 25,000 discrete channels covering a range of 3–10 microns, with an effective path length of 10 km, providing enormous sensitivity.
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From page 26... ...
The panel was left with the impression that the successful future of the Quantum Physics Division at JILA is at best extremely close to -- or, more likely, already past -- the tipping point where the facility issues are able to be deferred while the institution continues being successful, because the ongoing work hinges critically on the availability of up-to-date infrastructure combined with modern and sufficient laboratory space. Laboratory space is indeed an existential problem: most JILA buildings are more than 50 years old, and deferred maintenance in the $20 million range is significantly affecting daily work and resulting in periodic damage to equipment.
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From page 27... ...
The panel was both surprised to hear that the campus never had a laser safety officer -- especially given the high fraction of laboratories within JILA containing International Electrotechnical Commission standard Class 3R/3B/4 lasers -- and heartened that NIST and the university had emphasized this first step toward compliance with relevant safety standards. Lacking a laser safety officer has led to a patchwork approach to instituting adequate training across JILA laboratories, wherein NIST safety managers are conducting training sessions for students, postdocs, and faculty; furthermore, compliance tracking is clearly not yet where it needs to be.
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From page 28... ...
Owing to the unique charter of JILA among NIST laboratories, a fundamental responsibility of Quantum Physics Division and JILA is to provide essential support to a broad spectrum of stakeholders through the recruiting and training of the next generation of top students and postdoctoral researchers in
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From page 29... ...
QUANTUM PHYSICS DIVISION 29 quantum physics and quantum information science, broadly understood. Our textbooks and courses will need to be dramatically revised to accommodate this explosive change in quantum physics, and thus higher education will also be a stakeholder of Quantum Physics Division and JILA.
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