Herbert Walther Award
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Herbert Walther Award
Recognizes distinguished contributions in quantum optics and atomic physics as well as leadership in the international scientific community.
The award was established in 2008 to honor Prof. Herbert Walther for the seminal influence of his ground-breaking innovations in quantum optics and atomic physics, and for his wide-ranging contributions to the international scientific community.
It is presented by Optica and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG) in alternate years, and is endowed by Toptica Photonics AG, Messe München International - LASER World of PHOTONICS, and individual contributors, including Tony and Jeannie Siegman, Joseph and Shirley Eberly, Gerd Leuchs, Marlan Scully, Wolfgang Ketterle, Peter Knight, and Y. Ron Shen. Optica and DPG thank Berthold Leibinger Stiftung GmbH for donating funds to support the award's stipend from 2021-2024.
Winners
2025
For key contributions in nonlinear quantum optics as well as photonic and atomic quantum technologies - in particular for the development of a toolbox to coherently control multi-level atoms with light, including the concept of dark state polaritons and Rydberg dipole blockade physics.
2024
For field-opening contributions to lasing without inversion and electromagnetically induced transparency, and for theory and experiments that initiated the field of gamma-ray quantum optics.
2023
For outstanding contributions to quantum optics, quantum information science, especially quantum computing and simulation, as well as precision measurements with trapped ions; and for scientific leadership promoting quantum information and nurturing young scientists
2022
For an extensive body of work in optics, including ultra-stable lasers, ultra-cold polar molecules, ultra-high resolution spectroscopy, and ultra-high accuracy optical clocks
2021
For pioneering contributions to topics including gyroscopes and general relativity, Schleich-Wheeler oscillations, quantum state engineering, quantum optics in phase space, Gauss-sum factorization and wave packet dynamics and the red shift controversy resolution in atom interferometry
2020
For pioneering experimental contributions to quantum optics including the demonstration of spin squeezing and entanglement of atomic ensembles, quantum teleportation between light and matter, a quantum memory for light, and hybrid atomic-mechanical coupling
2019
For remarkable and varied contributions to quantum optics and quantum information science, ranging from foundations to applications
2018
For pioneering and widespread scientific contributions ranging from ultrasmall focii of light to nonlinear optics, squeezed states of light and their application in metrology and quantum information, as well as for a continuing commitment to the physics community, quantum optics and his students and team members
2017
For pioneering achievements in the field of ultracold atomic gases, including the achievement of Bose-Einstein condensation with attractive interactions and groundbreaking studies of atomic fermions
2016
For the pioneering discoveries and development of new interdisciplinary quantum science that unifies quantum optics, atomic, molecular, optical, and condensed matter
2015
For his pioneering experiments to laser cooling and trapping of single ions, his contributions to the understanding of principles of laser spectroscopy as well as of atomic physics
2014
For groundbreaking experiments in modern atomic, molecular and optical (AMO) physics, from spectroscopy of metastable helium to Anderson localization of ultra-cold atoms, and for his scientific leadership world-wide
2013
For his pioneering experimental contributions to quantum optics, cavity quantum electrodynamics, and quantum information science
2012
For his pioneering experimental contributions to the fields of quantum entanglement and cold atom physics
2011
For fundamental and applied contributions: from the quantum theory of optical and micro-masers to the quantum eraser, and from inversionless and correlated emission lasers to anthrax detection
2010
For using the techniques of quantum optics and atomic physics to creatively illuminate the mysterious world near to the quantum classical border, where waves become particles and ordinary physics emerges from the quantum domain
2009
For seminal contributions to quantum information physics and metrology, and the development of trapped ion techniques for applications to basic quantum phenomena, plasma physics, and optical clocks
* Deceased
