NIST physicist David Wineland, who won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics, has made groundbreaking contributions to quantum physics and technology during his nearly four-decade career at NIST. Wineland and his team pioneered the use of lasers to cool and manipulate individual ions, enabling precise measurements and demonstrations of quantum phenomena like superposition and entanglement. These innovations have led to ultra-accurate atomic clocks and important building blocks for quantum computers.
Wineland’s work has had far-reaching applications beyond atomic physics, with potential uses in geology, communications, and navigation. He shared the Nobel Prize with Serge Haroche of France.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel/dave-wineland
Keywords: ion trapping, quantum phenomena, superposition
