JILA

The transition in star formation rates and black hole growth as redshift decreases from regimes where positive feedback dominates to a later epoch when feedback is largely negative. CreditSteven Burrows, Rosemary Wyse, and Mitch BegelmanThe James Webb Space Telescope’s discovery of early galaxies with massive black holes challenges traditional galaxy formation theories, proposing a synchronous development of black holes and stars, a finding that could reshape our understanding of cosmic evolution.Astronomers have long…

Visualization of locating the optimal generator on a Bloch sphere. The color represents the QFI for the given generator. CreditSteven Burrows/Holland groupResearchers have revolutionized quantum sensing with an algorithm that simplifies the assessment of Quantum Fisher Information, thereby enhancing the precision and utility of quantum sensors in capturing minute phenomena.Quantum sensors help physicists understand the world better by measuring time passage, gravity fluctuations, and other effects at the tiniest scales.…

A photo of the atomic clock setup complete with the bisecting cavity. CreditJILA/Ye GroupJILA’s breakthrough in optical atomic clocks uses quantum entanglement to surpass fundamental precision limits, setting a new standard in timekeeping and opening avenues for scientific discovery.Historically, JILA (a joint institute established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Colorado Boulder) has been a world leader in precision timekeeping using optical atomic clocks. These clocks…

Scatter pattern produced by doughnut-shaped beams of light bouncing off of an object with a regularly repeating structure. Credit: Wang, et al., 2023, “Optica”To study nanoscale patterns in tiny electronic or photonic components, a new method based on lensless imaging allows for near-perfect high-resolution microscopy. Ptychography, a powerful form of lensless imaging, uses a scanning beam to collect scattered light for image reconstruction, facing challenges with periodic samples.To study nanoscale patterns in tiny…

Hybrid integration of a designer nanodiamond with photonic circuits via ring resonators. CreditSteven Burrows/Sun GroupJILA breakthrough in integrating artificial atoms with photonic circuits advances quantum computing efficiency and scalability.In quantum information science, many particles can act as “bits,” from individual atoms to photons. At JILA, researchers utilize these bits as “qubits,” storing and processing quantum 1s or 0s through a unique system.While many JILA Fellows focus on qubits found in nature, such as…