David J Wineland

Physics

Working in the field of quantum optics, David Wineland won the Nobel Prize in Physics with Serge Haroche in 2012 "for ground-breaking experimental methods that enable measuring and manipulation of individual quantum systems. Wineland’s work has to do with trapping an individual ion (an atom with more or less electrons than usual). He traps the ion using lasers and then probes its atomic states using light. Wineland’s research team has the ability to control quantum states of ions leading to better quantum logic gates (in quantum computing) and more precise atomic clocks.