Dr. Serge Haroche (2012 Nobel Laureate in Physics)
Dr. Mei-Yin Chou, Vice President of Academia Sinica
Dr. Yu-Ju Lin, Associate Research Fellow, Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica
January 16, 2026, Friday, 14:00
International Conference Hall (3F), Humanities and Social Sciences Building (HSSB), Academia Sinica
https://forms.gle/znjx9iQyxbxVkTCU9
Government employees participating in the lecture will receive certification for lifelong learning and 2 hours of study credit.
Mr. Chang, Department of International Affairs, Academia Sinica Tel: (02) 2789-9895
Exactly a hundred years ago, in January 1926, Schrödinger discovered the famous equation bearing his name which marked the birth of quantum physics. Among all the inventions born of this physics, the laser occupies an important place, both for the rich history of discoveries that led to its birth, and for the role it plays today in fundamental and applied research. This history began at the time of the “old quantum theory” with Einstein's discovery of stimulated emission in 1916 and Stern's discovery of the spatial quantization of the atomic angular momentum in 1922. Nuclear magnetic resonance (1945), optical pumping (1952), atomic clocks and the maser (1954) followed, leading in 1960 to the invention of the laser. This extraordinary light source plays an essential role in many modern technologies. It has also opened up fields of research in blue sky science that could not have been imagined at the time of its birth. We owe to it the cooling and trapping of atoms, the study of quantum gases of bosons and fermions, the discovery of gravitational waves and the manipulation of individual quantum particles, which has led to current research into quantum simulation and quantum computing. The laser may also provide answers to fundamental questions about the link between quantum physics and gravitation, or about the nature of the hypothetical dark matter. The rich history of the laser is a vivid illustration of the close link between fundamental research and technology.