Dana Anderson /jila/ en JILA Fellow Dana Anderson celebrates landmark milestone as Infleqtion goes public on the New York Stock Exchange /jila/2026/02/23/jila-fellow-dana-anderson-celebrates-landmark-milestone-infleqtion-goes-public-new-york <span>JILA Fellow Dana Anderson celebrates landmark milestone as Infleqtion goes public on the New York Stock Exchange</span> <span><span>Steven Burrows</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-02-23T15:43:55-07:00" title="Monday, February 23, 2026 - 15:43">Mon, 02/23/2026 - 15:43</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2026-02/Infleqtion_OpeningBell-scaled.jpg.optimal.jpg?h=bb3bb9b7&amp;itok=o90bAzBJ" width="1200" height="800" alt="Dana Anderson, Matt Kinsella, and Infleqtion executives ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange."> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/18"> Atomic &amp; Molecular Physics </a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/25"> Quantum Information Science &amp; Technology </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/2" hreflang="en">Dana Anderson</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/128" hreflang="en">JILA News</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/131" hreflang="en">Q-SEnSE</a> </div> <span>Steven Burrows / JILA Science Communications Manager</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-center image_style-large_image_style"> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2026-02/Infleqtion_OpeningBell-scaled.jpg.optimal.jpg?itok=yVXmD2KI" width="1500" height="1000" alt="Dana Anderson, Matt Kinsella, and Infleqtion executives ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange."> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p>Dana Anderson, Matt Kinsella, and Infleqtion executives ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Image Credit, Infleqtion.</p> </span> </div> <p>JILA is proud to recognize a major milestone for quantum science and technology as Infleqtion, the quantum technology company founded by JILA Fellow and ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ Professor Dana Anderson, has officially gone public on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Infleqtion began trading under the ticker symbol INFQ on February 17, 2026, following completion of its business combination with Churchill Capital Corp X, marking a historic moment for both the company and the broader quantum technology community.</p><p>This public debut establishes Infleqtion as the first neutral‑atom quantum technology company to enter public markets — a significant validation of nearly two decades of foundational research that originated at ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ and JILA. Founded originally as ColdQuanta and spun out of the University of Colorado Boulder in 2007, Infleqtion has since evolved into a global leader in neutral‑atom quantum computing, precision sensing, and quantum‑enabled technologies.</p><p>The company's listing is supported by over $550 million in new capital, drawn from strong shareholder participation and additional PIPE financing. This influx of funding allows Infleqtion to accelerate deployment of practical quantum solutions across aerospace, defense, energy infrastructure, advanced computation, and other mission‑critical sectors.</p><p>Infleqtion's expanding technology portfolio includes quantum computers, optical atomic clocks, RF receivers, inertial sensors, and quantum software — systems already in use by NASA, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.K. government. The company’s collaborations also extend to major industry partners such as NVIDIA, contributing to advancements in logical‑qubit‑based materials science applications. &nbsp;NASA’s contracted Quantum Gravity Sensor Mission, supported by more than $20 million in funding, and the U.S. Army’s $2 million program for resilient navigation and timing exemplify the real-world impact of Infleqtion’s quantum technologies. &nbsp;</p><p>This milestone comes during a period of notable recognition for Infleqtion’s founder. Earlier this month, Dana Anderson was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for his pioneering contributions to optical quantum engineering with ultracold atoms — work that helped lay the scientific foundation for Infleqtion’s growth. &nbsp;Anderson’s long-standing vision for neutral‑atom architectures, cultivated through his research at JILA, continues to guide the company’s strategy as it advances quantum solutions for aerospace, national security, energy systems, and scientific computing.</p><p>Infleqtion’s public listing also highlights the strength of ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ and JILA’s innovation ecosystem. As one of the university’s most successful quantum spinouts, the company contributes to Colorado’s expanding role as a global hub for quantum research and commercialization.</p><p>As Infleqtion begins its next chapter as a publicly traded company, JILA celebrates Dana Anderson’s leadership and the transformative scientific achievements that made this moment possible.<br>&nbsp;</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>JILA is proud to recognize a major milestone for quantum science and technology as Infleqtion, the quantum technology company founded by JILA Fellow and ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ Professor Dana Anderson, has officially gone public on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:43:55 +0000 Steven Burrows 720 at /jila Dana Anderson Elected to the National Academy of Engineering /jila/2026/02/10/dana-anderson-elected-national-academy-engineering <span>Dana Anderson Elected to the National Academy of Engineering</span> <span><span>Steven Burrows</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-02-10T13:33:53-07:00" title="Tuesday, February 10, 2026 - 13:33">Tue, 02/10/2026 - 13:33</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2026-02/dana-z.-anderson-862x1024.jpg?h=fd01be0b&amp;itok=20RHKXfi" width="1200" height="800" alt="Photo of Dana Anderson "> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/18"> Atomic &amp; Molecular Physics </a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/25"> Quantum Information Science &amp; Technology </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/2" hreflang="en">Dana Anderson</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/128" hreflang="en">JILA News</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/131" hreflang="en">Q-SEnSE</a> </div> <span>Steven Burrows / JILA Science Communications Manager</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-right image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2026-02/dana-z.-anderson-862x1024.jpg?itok=Seq77CbY" width="375" height="445" alt="Photo of Dana Anderson "> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p>Photo of Dana Anderson&nbsp;</p> </span> </div> <p><span lang="EN-US">JILA is proud to announce that Professor Dana Z. Anderson, JILA Fellow and Professor of Physics and Electrical, Computer &amp; Energy Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, has been elected a Member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).</span></p><p><span lang="EN-US">Founded in 1964, the National Academy of Engineering admits new members annually to honor transformative achievements and to advance engineering for the benefit of society. Election to the NAE recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to engineering research, practice, or education, as well as pioneering advances in emerging fields of technology.</span></p><p><span lang="EN-US">As a pioneering figure in optical quantum engineering of ultracold atoms, Anderson has long been at the forefront of translating laboratory science into real-world impact. As Founder and Chief Science Officer of Infleqtion (formerly ColdQuanta), he has helped lead the development of practical quantum systems including clocks, inertial sensors, RF sensors, networks, and quantum computing platforms. His academic research spans quantum optics, atomic physics, atom-chip technologies, and precision measurement, areas in which his group has developed integrated atom interferometers and practical devices based on ultracold atoms.</span></p><p><span lang="EN-US">Reflecting on his election to the NAE, Anderson emphasized the community that helped make it possible: “I owe much to the support that CU Physics, JILA, and Engineering have given me over the years to transition atom-based quantum technology into the ‘real’ world.”</span></p><p><span lang="EN-US">His election highlights the growing influence of quantum engineering as a transformative field and underscores JILA’s leadership at the intersection of fundamental science and technological innovation.</span></p><p><span lang="EN-US">JILA congratulates Professor Anderson on this well-deserved recognition and celebrates his continued contributions to quantum science, engineering, and innovation.</span></p><p><a href="https://www.nae.edu/345149/NAENewClass2026" rel="nofollow"><span lang="EN-US">View the official NAE announcement</span></a><span lang="EN-US">.</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>JILA is proud to announce that Professor Dana Z. Anderson, JILA Fellow and Professor of Physics and Electrical, Computer &amp; Energy Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, has been elected a Member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:33:53 +0000 Steven Burrows 616 at /jila JILA Fellow Dana Anderson Speaks on Quantum Computing at the 2024 Conference of World Affairs /jila/2024/04/11/jila-fellow-dana-anderson-speaks-quantum-computing-2024-conference-world-affairs-0 <span>JILA Fellow Dana Anderson Speaks on Quantum Computing at the 2024 Conference of World Affairs </span> <span><span>Steven Burrows</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-04-11T11:37:30-06:00" title="Thursday, April 11, 2024 - 11:37">Thu, 04/11/2024 - 11:37</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-11/pxl_20240411_163540559.jpg?h=d49494d5&amp;itok=S9QxnYXY" width="1200" height="800" alt="(L to R): JILA Fellow and ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ Engineering professor and CSO of Infleqtion Dana Anderson listens to Maybell Quantum CEO and Founder Corban Tillmann-Dick respond to a question from the moderator at the Conference of World Affairs in April 2024. "> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/25"> Quantum Information Science &amp; Technology </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/2" hreflang="en">Dana Anderson</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/128" hreflang="en">JILA News</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/133" hreflang="en">JILA-PFC</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/131" hreflang="en">Q-SEnSE</a> </div> <span>Kenna Hughes-Castleberry / JILA Science Communicator</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-right image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2025-11/pxl_20240411_163540559.jpg?itok=mNs1Nxzz" width="750" height="563" alt="(L to R): JILA Fellow and ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ Engineering professor and CSO of Infleqtion Dana Anderson listens to Maybell Quantum CEO and Founder Corban Tillmann-Dick respond to a question from the moderator at the Conference of World Affairs in April 2024. "> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p>(L to R): JILA Fellow and ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ Engineering professor and CSO of Infleqtion Dana Anderson listens to Maybell Quantum CEO and Founder Corban Tillmann-Dick respond to a question from the moderator at the Conference of World Affairs in April 2024.&nbsp;</p> </span> </div> <p>At the 2024 <a href="/cwa/2024-speakers-0" rel="nofollow">Conference of World Affairs</a>, held at the University of Colorado Boulder, two prominent figures in the Colorado quantum industry shared their insights into the rapidly evolving quantum technology landscape. Dana Anderson, a JILA Fellow, ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ professor of Electrical Engineering, and the CSO of Infleqtion (previously ColdQuanta), joined forces with Corban Tillman-Dick, CEO and Founder of Maybell and chair of Elevate Quantum, a consortium of over 80 quantum-focused companies in Colorado.</p><p>Tillman-Dick emphasized Colorado's leadership in quantum sciences, stating, "Colorado is the quantum state, as over four Nobel Prizes have been awarded to Colorado scientists since 2000." He further highlighted the state's burgeoning quantum ecosystem, noting that "Colorado has more quantum organizations than California" and celebrating its status as a burgeoning tech hub poised to attract more funding and jobs to the region.</p><p>Dana Anderson discussed the tangible applications of quantum technology that already impact our world, such as the atomic clock. He explained that these clocks can help with navigation but can also be used to measure Earth's gravity, which can help better monitor the effects of climate change, such as the melting of polar ice.</p><p>The conversation also delved into the broader applications of quantum technology beyond computing. Anderson emphasized the importance of educational initiatives that allow students to interact with quantum computers, pointing to accessible platforms like those provided by IBM, AWS, and Infleqtion's Oqtant program. With an eye on the future, Anderson predicted, "Quantum will be as much of a household word as gigabyte."</p><p>Furthermore, Tillman-Dick pointed out that while the U.S. is a leader in quantum computing, continuous investments and the development of educational pipelines are crucial for maintaining this leadership.</p><p>Both speakers addressed the symbiotic relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum technology. They noted that quantum technology could enhance AI's efficiency and reduce energy consumption.</p><p>As the discussion concluded, Anderson reflected on the nascent state of quantum technologies, saying, "Everything you see about quantum is extremely primitive, as it's early days." However, his final remark, "It's an exciting time to be in quantum," captured the optimistic spirit and potential quantum technology holds for the future.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>At the 2024 Conference of World Affairs, held at the University of Colorado Boulder, two prominent figures in the Colorado quantum industry shared their insights into the rapidly evolving quantum technology landscape. Dana Anderson, a JILA Fellow, ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ professor of Electrical Engineering, and the CSO of Infleqtion (previously ColdQuanta), joined forces with Corban Tillman-Dick, CEO and Founder of Maybell and chair of Elevate Quantum, a consortium of over 80 quantum-focused companies in Colorado.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Thu, 11 Apr 2024 17:37:30 +0000 Steven Burrows 426 at /jila U.S. Department of Defense under secretary visits JILA /jila/2023/04/21/us-department-defense-under-secretary-visits-jila <span>U.S. Department of Defense under secretary visits JILA</span> <span><span>Steven Burrows</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-04-21T11:32:06-06:00" title="Friday, April 21, 2023 - 11:32">Fri, 04/21/2023 - 11:32</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2026-02/shyu_visit_dana.png?h=707772c7&amp;itok=hvUCJCcM" width="1200" height="800" alt="JILA Fellow Dana Anderson presenting to DOD's under secretary Shyu"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/25"> Quantum Information Science &amp; Technology </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/132" hreflang="en">CUbit</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/2" hreflang="en">Dana Anderson</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/128" hreflang="en">JILA News</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/133" hreflang="en">JILA-PFC</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/120" hreflang="en">Jun Ye</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/131" hreflang="en">Q-SEnSE</a> </div> <span>Kenna Hughes-Castleberry / JILA Science Communicator</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-right image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2026-02/shyu_visit_dana.png?itok=1LtepAXI" width="750" height="563" alt="JILA Fellow Dana Anderson presenting to DOD's under secretary Shyu"> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p>JILA Fellow Dana Anderson presenting to DOD's under secretary Shyu</p> </span> </div> <p>Heidi Shyu, undersecretary of defense for research and engineering at the U.S. Department of Defense, visited JILA and the University of Colorado Boulder on Monday to glimpse the future of cutting-edge research.</p><p>From the university’s proximity to national laboratories and quantum-intensive companies to the high volume of pioneering alumni, ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ has long been a leader in the quantum space. This legacy has led to a push in innovation and technology, including as it pertains to national security—a goal also shared by Shyu and the Department of Defense.</p><p>During this visit, Shyu toured labs, listened to short lectures by ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ researchers, and participated in a spirited roundtable discussion with CU President Todd Saliman, ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ Provost Russ Moore, ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation and Dean of the Institutes Massimo Ruzzene, Physicist Jun Ye and other experts.</p><p>“All of the excellent research that we saw, seeing everything that’s being done here … It’s really impressive,” said Shyu at the end of the day. “It’s been a fantastic visit.”</p><p>Shyu began at the Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences building to get an overview of one of ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ traditional strengths: aerospace. She took a walking tour of labs, listened to research briefs, and was introduced to the many collaborations ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ has with national laboratories, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and JILA, a joint institute of ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ and NIST.</p><p>From there she traveled to the top of the JILA tower where, with a backdrop of the Flatirons and campus below, the topic of conversation switched to another of ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ strengths: quantum.</p><p>Read more of the article at <a href="/researchinnovation/2023/04/21/us-department-defense-under-secretary-visits-cu-boulder" rel="nofollow">this link</a>.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Heidi Shyu, undersecretary of defense for research and engineering at the U.S. Department of Defense, visited JILA and the University of Colorado Boulder on Monday to glimpse the future of cutting-edge research.<br> <br> From the university’s proximity to national laboratories and quantum-intensive companies to the high volume of pioneering alumni, ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ has long been a leader in the quantum space. This legacy has led to a push in innovation and technology, including as it pertains to national security—a goal also shared by Shyu and the Department of Defense.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Fri, 21 Apr 2023 17:32:06 +0000 Steven Burrows 491 at /jila NASA Awards Grant to Group of Quantum Institutes Including JILA and the University of Colorado Boulder for Researching Quantum in Space /jila/2023/03/16/nasa-awards-grant-group-quantum-institutes-including-jila-and-university-colorado <span>NASA Awards Grant to Group of Quantum Institutes Including JILA and the University of Colorado Boulder for Researching Quantum in Space </span> <span><span>Steven Burrows</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-03-16T11:39:45-06:00" title="Thursday, March 16, 2023 - 11:39">Thu, 03/16/2023 - 11:39</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2026-02/img_2112.jpg?h=52d3fcb6&amp;itok=pw3ESQP5" width="1200" height="800" alt="From left to right: Murray Holland, (front) Catie Ledesma, (back) Kendall Mehling, (Front) Liang-Ying (former JILA graduate student), and Dana Anderson"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/18"> Atomic &amp; Molecular Physics </a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/21"> Laser Physics </a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/24"> Precision Measurement </a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/25"> Quantum Information Science &amp; Technology </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/132" hreflang="en">CUbit</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/2" hreflang="en">Dana Anderson</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/128" hreflang="en">JILA News</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/80" hreflang="en">Murray Holland</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/131" hreflang="en">Q-SEnSE</a> </div> <span>Kenna Hughes-Castleberry / JILA Science Communicator</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-right image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2026-02/img_2112.jpg?itok=YpaWkims" width="750" height="563" alt="From left to right: Murray Holland, (front) Catie Ledesma, (back) Kendall Mehling, (Front) Liang-Ying (former JILA graduate student), and Dana Anderson"> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p>From left to right: Murray Holland, (front) Catie Ledesma, (back) Kendall Mehling, (Front) Liang-Ying (former JILA graduate student), and Dana Anderson</p> </span> </div> <p>JILA (a world-leading physics research institute set up by NIST and the University of Colorado Boulder) is part of a multi-university research group that will build quantum-based tools for space-based Earth sensing. &nbsp;NASA expects to award a $15 million grant for five years to the group of universities. This cohort includes researchers from the University of Texas at Austin, JILA, the University of Colorado Boulder (CU), the University of California Santa Barbara (USCB), the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and the U.S. National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST). “The award establishes the Quantum Pathways Institute, supported by a NASA STRI (Space Technology Research Institute), led by Prof. Srinivas Bettadpur of the University of Texas at Austin, Texas, with CU and UCSB as collaborating institutions,” explained Dana Anderson, a JILA Fellow and ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ professor who is involved in the project. The Quantum Pathways Institute is the first of its kind, as it strives to translate the capabilities of quantum physics into usable devices called “Quantum 2.0.” Besides these developments, the Institute will offer educational training for graduate students and postdocs in quantum theory and quantum experimentation.</p><p>The project “will focus on the concept of quantum sensing, which involves observing how atoms react to small changes in their environment and using that to infer the time-variations in the Earth’s gravity field,” explained University of Texas communicator Nat Levy in a recent announcement. “This will enable scientists to improve how accurately several important climate processes can be measured, such as the sea level rise, the rate of ice melt, the changes in land water resources, and ocean heat storage changes.”</p><p>For JILA’s part, JILA Fellows Murray Holland and Dana Anderson are working with the University of Colorado researchers Penny Axelrad, Marco Nicotra, and NIST researcher Michelle Stephens. “JILA’s contribution reflects its long history in precision measurement, AMO, and quantum physics,” explained Holland. “In collaboration with the ECEE and Aerospace departments here, recent efforts have combined JILA’s quantum science expertise with modern machine learning and control methods to create high fidelity shaken optical lattice quantum sensors. Work here and elsewhere has demonstrated the potential of these methods for optimizing the design and control of quantum sensors beyond what any human has achieved to date.”</p><p>Research within the Quantum Pathways Institute will focus on developing precise quantum-based instruments specifically targeting gravity gradiometry. &nbsp;“Our effort builds on the well-known JILA optical lattice clock technology using ultracold atoms, but here applied to extreme inertial sensing capabilities rather than time-keeping,” Holland elaborated. Anderson added: “CU’s role is to develop the sensor including the associated hardware and systems, as well as an associated testbed, to be housed within JILA. &nbsp;In conjunction with the hardware is developing the optimal control and machine learning algorithms to optimize sensor characteristics.”</p><p>The shaken optical lattice gravity gradiometer will be designed to produce precise measurements critical for monitoring climate changes. “As climate shifts – with ice caps melting and sea levels and temperatures changing – that changes gravitational forces around the earth and in outer space,” Levy stated in the University of Texas announcement. “Atoms orbiting the earth respond to those gravitational changes. By measuring those reactions, the researchers can give better readings of changes in climate processes.”</p><p>The awarding of this grant will further expand JILA’s and ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ reputations as world-leading institutes for quantum physics research. Other organizations within these systems, such as the CUbit Quantum Initiative, also help enrich this ecosystem and offer exclusive opportunities to push the frontiers of quantum physics.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>JILA (a world-leading physics research institute set up by NIST and the University of Colorado Boulder) is part of a multi-university research group that will build quantum-based tools for space-based Earth sensing. NASA expects to award a $15 million grant for five years to the group of universities. This cohort includes researchers from the University of Texas at Austin, JILA, the University of Colorado Boulder (CU), the University of California Santa Barbara (USCB), the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and the U.S. National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST). “The award establishes the Quantum Pathways Institute, supported by a NASA STRI (Space Technology Research Institute), led by Prof. Srinivas Bettadpur of the University of Texas at Austin, Texas, with CU and UCSB as collaborating institutions,” explained Dana Anderson, a JILA Fellow and ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ professor who is involved in the project. The Quantum Pathways Institute is the first of its kind, as it strives to translate the capabilities of quantum physics into usable devices called “Quantum 2.0.” Besides these developments, the Institute will offer educational training for graduate students and postdocs in quantum theory and quantum experimentation.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Thu, 16 Mar 2023 17:39:45 +0000 Steven Burrows 494 at /jila JILA Fellow Dana Anderson’s Work at his Company ColdQuanta is recognized by TIME Magazine /jila/2022/11/14/jila-fellow-dana-andersons-work-his-company-coldquanta-recognized-time-magazine <span>JILA Fellow Dana Anderson’s Work at his Company ColdQuanta is recognized by TIME Magazine</span> <span><span>Steven Burrows</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-11-14T11:55:57-07:00" title="Monday, November 14, 2022 - 11:55">Mon, 11/14/2022 - 11:55</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2026-02/dana-z.-anderson-862x1024.jpg?h=fd01be0b&amp;itok=20RHKXfi" width="1200" height="800" alt="Photo of Dana Anderson "> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/24"> Precision Measurement </a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/25"> Quantum Information Science &amp; Technology </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/2" hreflang="en">Dana Anderson</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/128" hreflang="en">JILA News</a> </div> <span>Kenna Hughes-Castleberry / JILA Science Communicator</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-right image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2026-02/dana-z.-anderson-862x1024.jpg?itok=Seq77CbY" width="375" height="445" alt="Photo of Dana Anderson "> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p>Photo of Dana Anderson&nbsp;</p> </span> </div> <p>When it comes to quantum technology, research and industry often work together to help advance both science and technology. That is why we at JILA congratulate JILA Fellow and University of Colorado Boulder Professor in Physics and Electrical, Compute, &amp; Energy Engineering, Dana Anderson, for his and his team’s work at <a href="https://coldquanta.com/" rel="nofollow">ColdQuanta</a>, a leading quantum technology company, for being recognized by <a href="https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2022/6223403/coldquanta-albert/" rel="nofollow">TIME magazine</a>. Anderson is the founder of ColdQuanta and was the CEO before becoming the Chief Strategy Officer. The technology used at ColdQuanta originated from his laboratory at JILA.</p><p>TIME has awarded Albert, ColdQuanta’s cloud-based quantum matter machine, as one of the magazine’s <a href="https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2022/6223403/coldquanta-albert/" rel="nofollow">2022 Best Inventions</a>. “Utilizing atoms laser-cooled to near absolute zero Albert brings quantum technology to anyone and anywhere, whether they are technically sophisticated or simply quantum curious,” explained Anderson. “Albert moves quantum science and engineering from the exotic and weird to the everyday and familiar, enabling people to learn, play, design, and invent in a way that has never before been possible.” This award not only celebrates the hard work that the team at ColdQuanta has done but also showcases the rich network between industry and research within the Colorado area. As Anderson elaborated: “I am proud to say that the roots of Albert run deep into the education and research mission of CU, starting with the Nobel-recognized demonstration of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) by our colleagues Eric Cornell and Carl Wieman in 1995, and carried on by many other quantum-capable students, postdocs, and faculty ever since.”</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>When it comes to quantum technology, research and industry often work together to help advance both science and technology. That is why we at JILA congratulate JILA Fellow and University of Colorado Boulder Professor in Physics and Electrical, Compute, &amp; Energy Engineering, Dana Anderson, for his and his team’s work at ColdQuanta, a leading quantum technology company, for being recognized by TIME magazine. Anderson is the founder of ColdQuanta and was the CEO before becoming the Chief Strategy Officer. The technology used at ColdQuanta originated from his laboratory at JILA. </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 14 Nov 2022 18:55:57 +0000 Steven Burrows 503 at /jila JILA Featured in a new Quantum Documentary /jila/2021/11/16/jila-featured-new-quantum-documentary <span>JILA Featured in a new Quantum Documentary </span> <span><span>Steven Burrows</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-11-16T14:09:02-07:00" title="Tuesday, November 16, 2021 - 14:09">Tue, 11/16/2021 - 14:09</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2026-02/unnamed.jpg?h=8ddcff3a&amp;itok=-buYjdct" width="1200" height="800" alt="Logo of CO Office of Economic Development &amp; Int'l Trade "> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/25"> Quantum Information Science &amp; Technology </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/109" hreflang="en">Ana Maria Rey</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/135" hreflang="en">CTQM</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/132" hreflang="en">CUbit</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/2" hreflang="en">Dana Anderson</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/128" hreflang="en">JILA News</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/120" hreflang="en">Jun Ye</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/131" hreflang="en">Q-SEnSE</a> </div> <span>Kenna Hughes-Castleberry / JILA Science Communicator</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-right image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2026-02/unnamed.jpg?itok=g_ua57-l" width="375" height="375" alt="Logo of CO Office of Economic Development &amp; Int'l Trade "> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p>Logo of &nbsp;CO Office of Economic Development &amp; Int'l Trade&nbsp;</p> </span> </div> <p>ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ innovators,&nbsp;JILA physicists, and&nbsp;university startup ColdQuanta&nbsp;are featured in a new film from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (COEDIT) promoting Colorado's extensive quantum ecosystem.</p><p>The film interviews CUbit Director Jun Ye (Physics, JILA Fellow, NIST Fellow), Associate Research Professor Ana Maria Rey (Physics, JILA Fellow), and other members of ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ's quantum community about the importance of quantum research and Colorado's prominence in the field. Dan Caruso, interim CEO of cold-atom quantum tech startup ColdQuanta—co-founded by Professor Dana Anderson (Physics, JILA)—is also extensively featured.</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvNVBIlBXa0&amp;ab_channel=COOfficeofEconomicDevelopment%26Int%27lTrade" rel="nofollow">You can watch the film here, or below.</a></p><p>Article is taken from the CUbit Quantum Initiative website.&nbsp;</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>ĂŰĚŇ´ŤĂ˝ĆĆ˝â°ćĎÂÔŘ innovators,&nbsp;JILA physicists, and&nbsp;university startup ColdQuanta&nbsp;are featured in a new film from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (COEDIT) promoting Colorado's extensive quantum ecosystem.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Tue, 16 Nov 2021 21:09:02 +0000 Steven Burrows 520 at /jila JILA Fellow Dana Anderson Wins Willis E. Lamb Award /jila/2021/10/11/jila-fellow-dana-anderson-wins-willis-e-lamb-award <span>JILA Fellow Dana Anderson Wins Willis E. Lamb Award</span> <span><span>Steven Burrows</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-10-11T14:22:11-06:00" title="Monday, October 11, 2021 - 14:22">Mon, 10/11/2021 - 14:22</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2026-02/dana-z.-anderson-862x1024.jpg?h=fd01be0b&amp;itok=20RHKXfi" width="1200" height="800" alt="Photo of Dana Anderson "> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/21"> Laser Physics </a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/25"> Quantum Information Science &amp; Technology </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/2" hreflang="en">Dana Anderson</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/128" hreflang="en">JILA News</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/133" hreflang="en">JILA-PFC</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/131" hreflang="en">Q-SEnSE</a> </div> <span>Kenna Hughes-Castleberry / JILA Science Communicator</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-right image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2026-02/dana-z.-anderson-862x1024.jpg?itok=Seq77CbY" width="375" height="445" alt="Photo of Dana Anderson "> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p>Photo of Dana Anderson&nbsp;</p> </span> </div> <p>Congratulations to JILA Fellow&nbsp;<a href="/physics/dana-z-anderson" rel="nofollow">Dana Anderson</a>&nbsp;for winning the 2021 Willis E Lamb award for Laser Science and Quantum Optics.</p><p>The award recognizes Dana's,&nbsp;"excellent&nbsp;contributions&nbsp;to quantum optics&nbsp;and electronics". The Anderson&nbsp;Group&nbsp;is currently involved in state of the art ultracold atom research with applications in atomtronics, atom interferometry and neutral atom quantum computing.</p><p>The Willis E. Lamb Award for Laser Science and Quantum Optics is presented annually for outstanding contributions to the field. The award honors Willis E. Lamb, Jr., famous laser scientist and 1955 winner of the Nobel Prize in physics, who gave us many seminal insights and served as our guide in so many areas of physics and technology.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Congratulations to JILA Fellow&nbsp;Dana Anderson&nbsp;for winning the 2021 Willis E Lamb award for Laser Science and Quantum Optics.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 11 Oct 2021 20:22:11 +0000 Steven Burrows 526 at /jila The Gap in Quantum Understanding: How to Accurately Communicate Quantum Ideas /jila/2021/06/01/gap-quantum-understanding-how-accurately-communicate-quantum-ideas <span>The Gap in Quantum Understanding: How to Accurately Communicate Quantum Ideas</span> <span><span>Alexandru Mandrila</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-06-01T13:21:55-06:00" title="Tuesday, June 1, 2021 - 13:21">Tue, 06/01/2021 - 13:21</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-07/quantum_computing.png?h=a089a0f6&amp;itok=sfV6MM-1" width="1200" height="800" alt="The gap in quantum understanding"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/25"> Quantum Information Science &amp; Technology </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/2" hreflang="en">Dana Anderson</a> </div> <span>Kenna Hughes-Castleberry / JILA Science Communicator</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default 2"> <div class="ucb-article-row-subrow row"> <div class="ucb-article-content-media ucb-article-content-media-left col-lg"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--media paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2025-08/quantum_computing.png?itok=xfPLmPcp" width="1500" height="1500" alt="Model of a bloch sphere, representing a qubit, part of a quantum computer"> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p><span>The Bloch sphere, shown here, is a representation of a qubit, the fundamental part of a quantum computer.</span></p><div>Image Credit: Kenna Castleberry</div> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-text col-lg d-flex align-items-center" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p><span>The word “quantum” can be mysterious and unfamiliar to the general public. Most of the public’s exposure to quantum technology has been Hollywoodized and framed as a “catch-all” for hard-to-define scientific processes. From attempting to explain time travel within TV show </span><em>Quantum Leap</em><span>, to the quantum realm of Marvel’s </span><em>Avengers</em><span> series, the word “quantum” is used to fill in the explanation gaps. As the majority of viewers accept “quantum” as this catch-all, it creates a disconnection between the word’s true definition and an understanding of the scientific processes behind it. Asking any non-physicist if they know what “quantum entanglement” is, or if they can define “quantum superposition” will quickly reveal this lack of understanding. This misunderstanding causes problems, as quantum technology is quickly being developed and commercialized. With the predicted “boom” in quantum technology predicted by experts, it is important to realize the repercussions of this misunderstanding. Particularly, writers, scientists, and citizens need to be aware of how to communicate and invoke to the public, an appreciation of the true science of quantum physics.</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><h2>The Origins of Misunderstanding:</h2><p>The misunderstanding of the science of quantum physics not only stems from misinformation peddled by Hollywood, but also from a lack of accurate writings about the field and its’ technology. Any skilled science writer will tell you that writing about quantum technology in an accurate and accessible way, within a word-limit, is extremely difficult. Explaining the processes of superposition or quantum tunneling requires an in-depth, lengthy description. To aid in giving a human touch to quantum based articles, many writers interview key scientists. Even then, the publication of quantum articles can seem dry or boring compared to the glamorized, CGI-designed, inaccurate “quantum” scenes of movies and TV shows (Mount, Baer, &amp; Lupoli&nbsp;2021)</p><p>A further cause for the misunderstanding of quantum physics originates from the weird and unorthodox processes within the quantum world (Greene &amp; Rogan 2021). Studying the quantum world is not intuitive, and many researchers have difficulty communicating the weirdness of quantum physics because it’s not relatable to everyday experiences. For example, the quantum phenomenon of superposition, where a particle can be in two places at once, is difficult to relate to something that typically happens in an individual’s day-to-day proceedings.</p><p>Another reason for the general misunderstanding is the lack of actual education of quantum physics in&nbsp;the majority of the public. Only a minority of people, specifically those getting higher education degrees, are exposed to quantum physics, leaving the&nbsp;remaining majority unsure of actual quantum physics processes and the current ongoing research.</p><h2>Quantum Technology Hype:</h2><p>Quantum technology hype is a symptom resulting from this misunderstanding of quantum physics. This hype is defined as the expectations of the general public about technology. Consequently, most of the&nbsp;public doesn’t have a clear grasp of what innovative new quantum technologies are capable of. According to Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of ColdQuanta (a company specializing in quantum technology) and JILA Fellow, Dr. Dana Anderson: “…especially of quantum computing, there was a lot of hype. There was also a lot of misunderstanding on the side of the buyers into the whole idea of what quantum can bring.”</p><p>Quantum hype rose significantly when Google announced its partnership with NASA and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to achieve “quantum supremacy” in 2019. According to a 2020 study, quantum computing is on the upward trend of the Gartner Hype Chart (a model to describe the collective expectations of developing technology by the public). As quantum technology continues to advance, the visibility and expectations of this technology by the public increases (Smith, 2020). While the increase in interest is beneficial for companies investing in quantum technology, this interest can also be extremely detrimental to accurately communicating these quantum processes. <em>The Quantum Daily</em> science writer and Penn State professor Matt Swayne&nbsp;has found this to be a problem in his own work. “My issue is how do I write something that is enthusiastic and something that is interesting but is not hype. So, the real struggle for us going forward is balancing enthusiasm, interest, and hype.”</p><h2>So How Can You Communicate Quantum Accurately?</h2><p>There isn’t one right way to accurately communicate about the science of quantum physics. According to Swayne: “I always like to contextualize the information to someone’s life. Unless you’ve personally been quantumly entangled, I wouldn’t know how to describe that. Some of the analogies are fitting, such as superposition. I’ve tried to explain superposition as, instead of a light going on and off, it’s more of a dimmer, where you can tweak the light.” Many science writers and scientists have found success in using analogies to explain these difficult processes. In my work as the Science Communicator at JILA, I’ve worked on quantum research articles with scientists who have suggested analogies such as quantum gas pancakes, electric field knobs, or even describing entanglement as tying a knot with a string. However, these analogies can also be troublesome as they can dilute the accuracy of the science. Swayne’s light analogy is helpful, “but of course there are people who will say that’s not correct.” This makes the communication of quantum science even more tricky.</p><p>Because quantum processes are extremely difficult to visualize; the processes become distant and foreign. Analogies help to make the quantum processes easier to visualize and understand. A study by Mount et al. in 2021 from the <em>Strategic Management Journal</em> found that the more distant a novel technological idea is from the individual, the more likely this novel idea will be perceived negatively. This becomes important for communicators of quantum physics, especially those marketing or investing in the technology. Making this mysterious and unfamiliar world more approachable for the audience adds stronger connections and contextual clues that aid understanding. When the reader becomes part of the science it makes the communication more impactful and memorable to the audience. To make quantum physics and quantum technology more understandable to a public audience, communicators must contextualize the science in the audiences’ life. The science will become more relatable and understandable while maintaining scientific accuracy. With the future commercialization of quantum technology, it’s important that science communication catches up to accurately portray the advances in this field.</p><p>References:<br>Greene, B. &amp; Rogan, J. (Host) (2021),<em> The Joe Rogan Experience, [Audio Podcast]</em>, Spotify &amp;Radio, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4wQsmAtZoc&amp;t=3s&amp;ab_channel=PowerfulJRE" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4wQsmAtZoc&amp;t=3s&amp;ab_channel=PowerfulJRE</a><br>Mount, M. P., Baer, M., &amp; Lupoli, M. J. (2021). <em>Quantum leaps or baby steps? Expertise distance, construal level, and the propensity to invest in novel technological ideas.</em> Strategic Management Journal, (May 2020), 1–26. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.3267" rel="nofollow">https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.3267</a><br>Smith, F. L. (2020). <em>Quantum technology hype and national security. </em>Security Dialogue, 51(5), 499–516. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0967010620904922" rel="nofollow">https://doi.org/10.1177/0967010620904922</a></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>The word “quantum” can be mysterious and unfamiliar to the general public. Most of the public’s exposure to quantum technology has been Hollywoodized and framed as a “catch-all” for hard-to-define scientific processes. This misunderstanding causes problems, as quantum technology is quickly being developed and commercialized. With the “boom” in quantum technology predicted by experts, it is important to realize the repercussions of this misunderstanding. Particularly, writers, scientists, and citizens need to be aware of how to communicate and invoke to the public, an appreciation of the true science of quantum physics. </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Tue, 01 Jun 2021 19:21:55 +0000 Alexandru Mandrila 120 at /jila The Gap in Quantum Understanding: How to Accurately Communicate Quantum Ideas /jila/2021/06/01/gap-quantum-understanding-how-accurately-communicate-quantum-ideas-0 <span>The Gap in Quantum Understanding: How to Accurately Communicate Quantum Ideas</span> <span><span>Steven Burrows</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-06-01T13:03:16-06:00" title="Tuesday, June 1, 2021 - 13:03">Tue, 06/01/2021 - 13:03</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-10/quantum_computing.png?h=37196d23&amp;itok=agO53PVp" width="1200" height="800" alt="Model of a bloch sphere, representing a qubit, part of a quantum computer"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/25"> Quantum Information Science &amp; Technology </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/2" hreflang="en">Dana Anderson</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/133" hreflang="en">JILA-PFC</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/131" hreflang="en">Q-SEnSE</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/127" hreflang="en">Research Highlights</a> </div> <span>Kenna Hughes-Castleberry / JILA Science Communicator</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-right image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2025-10/quantum_computing.png?itok=WLpXknye" width="750" height="750" alt="Model of a bloch sphere, representing a qubit, part of a quantum computer"> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p>The Bloch sphere, shown here, is a representation of a qubit, the fundamental part of a quantum computer. Image credit: Kenna Castleberry / JILA</p> </span> </div> <p>The word “quantum” can be mysterious and unfamiliar to the general public. Most of the public’s exposure to quantum technology has been Hollywoodized and framed as a “catch-all” for hard-to-define scientific processes. From attempting to explain time travel within TV show <em>Quantum Leap</em>, to the quantum realm of Marvel’s <em>Avengers</em> series, the word “quantum” is used to fill in the explanation gaps. As the majority of viewers accept “quantum” as this catch-all, it creates a disconnection between the word’s true definition and an understanding of the scientific processes behind it. Asking any non-physicist if they know what “quantum entanglement” is, or if they can define “quantum superposition” will quickly reveal this lack of understanding. This misunderstanding causes problems, as quantum technology is quickly being developed and commercialized. With the predicted “boom” in quantum technology predicted by experts, it is important to realize the repercussions of this misunderstanding. Particularly, writers, scientists, and citizens need to be aware of how to communicate and invoke to the public, an appreciation of the true science of quantum physics.</p><h2>The Origins of Misunderstanding:</h2><p>The misunderstanding of the science of quantum physics not only stems from misinformation peddled by Hollywood, but also from a lack of accurate writings about the field and its’ technology. Any skilled science writer will tell you that writing about quantum technology in an accurate and accessible way, within a word-limit, is extremely difficult. Explaining the processes of superposition or quantum tunneling requires an in-depth, lengthy description. To aid in giving a human touch to quantum based articles, many writers interview key scientists. Even then, the publication of quantum articles can seem dry or boring compared to the glamorized, CGI-designed, inaccurate “quantum” scenes of movies and TV shows (Mount, Baer, &amp; Lupoli&nbsp;2021)</p><p>A further cause for the misunderstanding of quantum physics originates from the weird and unorthodox processes within the quantum world (Greene &amp; Rogan 2021). Studying the quantum world is not intuitive, and many researchers have difficulty communicating the weirdness of quantum physics because it’s not relatable to everyday experiences. For example, the quantum phenomenon of superposition, where a particle can be in two places at once, is difficult to relate to something that typically happens in an individual’s day-to-day proceedings.</p><p>Another reason for the general misunderstanding is the lack of actual education of quantum physics in&nbsp;the majority of the public. Only a minority of people, specifically those getting higher education degrees, are exposed to quantum physics, leaving the&nbsp;remaining majority unsure of actual quantum physics processes and the current ongoing research.</p><h2>Quantum Technology Hype:</h2><p>Quantum technology hype is a symptom resulting from this misunderstanding of quantum physics. This hype is defined as the expectations of the general public about technology. Consequently, most of the&nbsp;public doesn’t have a clear grasp of what innovative new quantum technologies are capable of. According to Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of ColdQuanta (a company specializing in quantum technology) and JILA Fellow, Dr. Dana Anderson: “…especially of quantum computing, there was a lot of hype. There was also a lot of misunderstanding on the side of the buyers into the whole idea of what quantum can bring.”</p><p>Quantum hype rose significantly when Google announced its partnership with NASA and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to achieve “quantum supremacy” in 2019. According to a 2020 study, quantum computing is on the upward trend of the Gartner Hype Chart (a model to describe the collective expectations of developing technology by the public). As quantum technology continues to advance, the visibility and expectations of this technology by the public increases (Smith, 2020). While the increase in interest is beneficial for companies investing in quantum technology, this interest can also be extremely detrimental to accurately communicating these quantum processes. <em>The Quantum Daily</em> science writer and Penn State professor Matt Swayne&nbsp;has found this to be a problem in his own work. “My issue is how do I write something that is enthusiastic and something that is interesting but is not hype. So, the real struggle for us going forward is balancing enthusiasm, interest, and hype.”</p><h2>So How Can You Communicate Quantum Accurately?</h2><p>There isn’t one right way to accurately communicate about the science of quantum physics. According to Swayne: “I always like to contextualize the information to someone’s life. Unless you’ve personally been quantumly entangled, I wouldn’t know how to describe that. Some of the analogies are fitting, such as superposition. I’ve tried to explain superposition as, instead of a light going on and off, it’s more of a dimmer, where you can tweak the light.” Many science writers and scientists have found success in using analogies to explain these difficult processes. In my work as the Science Communicator at JILA, I’ve worked on quantum research articles with scientists who have suggested analogies such as quantum gas pancakes, electric field knobs, or even describing entanglement as tying a knot with a string. However, these analogies can also be troublesome as they can dilute the accuracy of the science. Swayne’s light analogy is helpful, “but of course there are people who will say that’s not correct.” This makes the communication of quantum science even more tricky.</p><p>Because quantum processes are extremely difficult to visualize; the processes become distant and foreign. Analogies help to make the quantum processes easier to visualize and understand. A study by Mount et al. in 2021 from the <em>Strategic Management Journal</em> found that the more distant a novel technological idea is from the individual, the more likely this novel idea will be perceived negatively. This becomes important for communicators of quantum physics, especially those marketing or investing in the technology. Making this mysterious and unfamiliar world more approachable for the audience adds stronger connections and contextual clues that aid understanding. When the reader becomes part of the science it makes the communication more impactful and memorable to the audience. To make quantum physics and quantum technology more understandable to a public audience, communicators must contextualize the science in the audiences’ life. The science will become more relatable and understandable while maintaining scientific accuracy. With the future commercialization of quantum technology, it’s important that science communication catches up to accurately portray the advances in this field.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>The word “quantum” can be mysterious and unfamiliar to the general public. Most of the public’s exposure to quantum technology has been Hollywoodized and framed as a “catch-all” for hard-to-define scientific processes. This misunderstanding causes problems, as quantum technology is quickly being developed and commercialized. With the&nbsp; “boom” in quantum technology predicted by experts, it is important to realize the repercussions of this misunderstanding. Particularly, writers, scientists, and citizens need to be aware of how to communicate and invoke to the public, an appreciation of the true science of quantum physics. </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Tue, 01 Jun 2021 19:03:16 +0000 Steven Burrows 227 at /jila