Kippenberg, Wolf Win Zeiss Research Award for Contributions to Photonics

Tobias Kippenberg, professor at the Laboratory of Photonics and Quantum Measurements at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), and Jean-Pierre Wolf, professor at the Biophotonics Institute at the University of Geneva, are being honored with the 2018 Zeiss Research Award.

Kippenberg is a pioneer in the field of cavity optomechanics and microresonator-based optical frequency combs. His research has demonstrated that by using microresonators — which can confine light in an extremely small space and guide it — the faint forces exerted by light rays can be used to measure and cool mechanical movements in the quantum regime. This means, for instance, that high-precision sensors can be developed to measure mechanical movements that are several orders of magnitude more precise than the currently available position sensors, and that they are even sensitive enough to measure the quantum mechanical zero-point motion of a mechanical oscillator.

Wolf will be honored for his groundbreaking application of ultrashort, ultraintense laser pulses in researching the Earth’s atmosphere. His research makes it possible to find out more about pollutants in the Earth’s atmosphere, potentially control lightning and condensation in clouds, and possibly prevent extreme weather. The focus of his research efforts has been on the applications of ultrashort spectroscopy for biological, medical and environmental research.

The awards will be presented during the Zeiss symposium titled “Optics in the Quantum World” in April.