Peter Zoller

Austrian theoretical physicist

Peter Zoller

Born|  (1952-09-16) 16 September 1952 (age 72)

Innsbruck, Austria

Alma mater| University of Innsbruck
Known for| Trapped ion quantum computer, Quantum simulation, Quantum repeater
Awards| John Stewart Bell Prize (2019)
Herbert Walther Award (2016)
Wolf Prize in Physics (2013)
BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award (2008)
Benjamin Franklin Medal (2010)
Dirac Medal (2006)
Max Planck Medal (2005)
Scientific career
Fields| Physicist
Institutions| University of Innsbruck
Doctoral advisor| Fritz Ehlotzky

Peter Zoller (born 16 September 1952)[1] is a theoretical physicist from Austria. He was professor at the University of Innsbruck[1] and is known for his pioneering research on quantum computing, quantum simulation and quantum communication.[2]

## Biography

[edit]

Peter Zoller studied physics at the University of Innsbruck,[1] where he received his doctorate in February 1977 with a thesis on the Stark effect[3] and then worked as an assistant at the Department of Theoretical Physics. In 1978/79, he was a Max Kade Fellow with Peter Lambropoulos at the University of Southern California and in 1980 he stayed in the group of Dan Walls at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. In 1981, Zoller handed in his work "Über die lichtstatistische Abhängigkeit resonanter Multiphoton-Prozesse"[4] at the University of Innsbruck to become lecturer (Venia docendi). In 1981/82 and 1988 he was Visiting Fellow at the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (JILA) at the University of Colorado, Boulder,[5] and 1986 a visiting professor at the Université de Paris-Sud 11, Orsay.

In 1991, Zoller became Professor at the Physics Department of the University of Colorado, Boulder, and JILA Fellow. At the end of 1994, he accepted a chair at the University of Innsbruck, where he worked until 2024. From 1995 to 1999, he headed the Department of Theoretical Physics, from 2001 to 2004, he was vice-dean of studies. From 2003 to 2024, he was a Scientific Director at the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.[6]

Zoller remained closely associated with JILA as an Adjoint Fellow. Numerous guest professorships have taken him to major centers of physics. Among others, he was Loeb Lecturer at Harvard University (2004)[7] Yan Jici Chair Professor at the University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Chair Professor at Tsinghua University, Beijing (2004), Lorentz Professor at the University of Leiden, Netherlands (2005)[8] and Distinguished Lecturer at the Technion in Haifa (2007).[9] He was Moore Distinguished Scholar at Caltech (2008/2010),[10] Arnold Sommerfeld Lecturer at LMU München (2010)[11], Distinguished Fellow at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Garching (2012) and Solvay Professor of Physics at the University of Brussels (2015).[12] In 2014, he became "External Scientific Member" at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics.[13]

In 2018, Peter Zoller co-founded Alpine Quantum Technologies, a quantum computing hardware company.[14]

## Research

[edit]

As a theoretical physicist, Zoller has made significant contributions to atomic physics, many-body physics and quantum information science. In particular, his proposals on quantum computing with trapped ions, on quantum simulation with ultracold atoms in optical lattices and on quantum repeaters in quantum communication have made a decisive contribution to bringing theoretical concepts of quantum information into a laboratory setting. This has inspired and guided new experimental research directions and established quantum optical systems as one of the leading experimental platforms for quantum technologies.

In 1995, together with Ignacio Cirac, he proposed a “quantum computer with cold trapped ions”.[15] This was the first experimentally realistic and comprehensive proposal for a universal quantum computer. This work triggered a rapid experimental development in which numerous pioneering achievements such as the demonstration of quantum algorithms, digital quantum simulations, quantum error correction and quantum metrology were achieved. In 1999, Cirac and Zoller proposed a quantum computer based on cold atoms in optical lattices, in which two-qubit gates are executed by controlled collisions.[16] A year later, together with Mikhail Lukin and others, they presented an alternative way to implement these gates using Rydberg atoms.[17] With the ever-improving experimental control of neutral atoms in laser tweezers, this approach is becoming increasingly important.[18]

In 1998, Cirac and Zoller proposed the use of ultracold atoms in optical lattices as an analog quantum simulator for Hubbard models to investigate questions in solid-state physics.[19] This approach allows strongly interacting many-body systems to be probed in both equilibrium and non-equilibrium states, addressing key questions in the theory and design of correlated quantum materials and in regimes challenging for classical calculations.[20] The experimental development of this platform has led to a number of important advances, including the first observation of the transition between superfluidity and a Mott insulator,[21] the creation and study of topological quantum phases of matter with synthetic gauge fields, and the exploration of the 2D fermionic Hubbard model.

Also in 1998, a team led by Zoller presented the concept of quantum repeaters,[22] which overcame the problems associated with noise and the loss of photons in optical fibers and made quantum communication over long distances possible. Previously, they had discovered the possibility of entangling atoms by exchanging photons at a distance.[23] In 2001, they proposed a specific atomic setup to build such quantum repeaters.[24] These have become a crucial building block for the development and deployment of quantum communication.

Zoller's ideas and concepts attract widespread interest within the scientific community and his works are highly cited.[25][26]

## Awards

[edit]

Peter Zoller received honorary doctorates of the University of Amsterdam (2012),[27] the University of Colorado Boulder (2019),[28] and the University of Concepción (2024).[29]

For his achievements in the field of quantum optics and quantum information and especially for his pioneering work on quantum computers, quantum simulation and quantum communication he als received numerous prizes, these include:

* Ludwig Boltzmann Prize (1983) of the Austrian Physical Society
* Wittgenstein Award (1998), Austria's highest scientific distinction[30]
* Max Born Award (1998) of the Optical Society of America[31]
* Schrödinger Prize (1998) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences
* Humboldt Research Award (2000)
* Max Planck Medal (2005) of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft[32]
* UNESCO Niels Bohr Medal (2005)
* International Quantum Communication Award (2006)[33]
* Dirac Medal of the ICTP (2006)[34]
* BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award (2008), in the Basic Sciences category (with Ignacio Cirac)[35]
* Benjamin Franklin Medal in Physics (2010) of the Franklin Institute (with Juan Ignacio Cirac and David Wineland)[36]
* Hamburg Prize for Theoretical Physics (2011)[37][38]
* Blaise Pascal Medal in Physics of the European Academy of Sciences (2011)[39]
* David Ben Gurion Medal (2013)
* Wolf Prize in Physics (with Juan Ignacio Cirac) (2013)[2]
* Herbert Walther Award from the OSA (2016)[40][41]
* Willis E. Lamb Award for Laser Science and Quantum Optics (2018)[42]
* Micius Quantum Prize (2018)[43]
* Norman F. Ramsey Prize (2018) of the American Physical Society
* John Stewart Bell Prize (2019)[44]

In 2001, Peter Zoller became full member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.[45] In 2008 he was elected to the United States National Academy of Sciences[46] and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences,[47] in 2009 to the Spanish Royal Academy of Sciences,[48] in 2010 to the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina,[49] in 2012 to the European Academy of Sciences, in 2013 to the Academia Europaea,[50] in 2023 in the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei[51], and in 2024 to the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities.

## Books

[edit]

Peter Zoller and Crispin Gardiner have jointly written:

* Quantum Noise; Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, 2nd ed. 1999, 3rd ed. 2004 ISBN 3540223010
* The Quantum World of Ultra-Cold Atoms and Light Book I: Foundations of Quantum Optics, Imperial College Press, London and Singapore 2014. ISBN 9781783264605
* The Quantum World of Ultra-Cold Atoms and Light Book II: Physics of Quantum Optical Devices, Imperial College Press, London and Singapore 2015. ISBN 9781783266166
* The Quantum World of Ultra-Cold Atoms and Light Book III: Ultra-Cold Atoms, World Scientific, London and Singapore 2014. ISBN 9781786344175

## See also

[edit]

* Open quantum system
* Quantum jump method

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Biography Peter Zoller" (PDF). University of Innsbruck. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
2. ^ a b "Peter Zoller – Wolf Prize Laureate in Physics 2013". Wolf Foundation. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
3. ^ Zoller, Peter (1976). Der dynamische Starkeffekt in intensiven inkohärenten elektromagnetischen Feldern (in German). Innsbruck.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
4. ^ "Über die lichtstatistische Abhängigkeit resonanter Multiphoton-Prozesse". University of Innsbruck. Archived from the original on 6 August 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
5. ^ "Peter Zoller". JILA. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
6. ^ "Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information". IQOQI. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
7. ^ "The Boston Area Physics Calendar". Brown University. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
8. ^ "Lorentz Chair". Leiden University. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
9. ^ "The Lewiner Institute for Theoretical Physics Distinguished Lecture Series". Technion. Archived from the original on 7 September 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
10. ^ "Physicists propose quantum entanglement for motion of microscopic objects". California Institute of Technology. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
11. ^ "Eighth Arnold Sommerfeld Lecture Series". Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
12. ^ "Chairs". International Solvay Institutes. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
13. ^ "Prof. Peter Zoller is elected as "External Scientific Member" at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics". Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics. Archived from the original on 18 July 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
14. ^ "Austria promotes quantum computing spin-off". Invest in Austria. March 7, 2018.
15. ^ Cirac, J. I.; Zoller, P. (1995-05-15). "Quantum Computations with Cold Trapped Ions". Physical Review Letters. 74 (20): 4091–4094\. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.74.4091. ISSN 0031-9007.
16. ^ Jaksch, D.; Briegel, H.-J.; Cirac, J. I.; Gardiner, C. W.; Zoller, P. (1999-03-01). "Entanglement of Atoms via Cold Controlled Collisions". Physical Review Letters. 82 (9): 1975–1978\. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.82.1975. ISSN 0031-9007.
17. ^ Jaksch, D.; Cirac, J. I.; Zoller, P.; Rolston, S. L.; Côté, R.; Lukin, M. D. (2000-09-04). "Fast Quantum Gates for Neutral Atoms". Physical Review Letters. 85 (10): 2208–2211\. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.85.2208. ISSN 0031-9007.
18. ^ Bluvstein, Dolev; Evered, Simon J.; Geim, Alexandra A.; Li, Sophie H.; Zhou, Hengyun; Manovitz, Tom; Ebadi, Sepehr; Cain, Madelyn; Kalinowski, Marcin; Hangleiter, Dominik; Bonilla Ataides, J. Pablo; Maskara, Nishad; Cong, Iris; Gao, Xun; Sales Rodriguez, Pedro (2024-02-01). "Logical quantum processor based on reconfigurable atom arrays". Nature. 626 (7997): 58–65\. doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06927-3. ISSN 0028-0836. PMC 10830422.
19. ^ Jaksch, D.; Bruder, C.; Cirac, J. I.; Gardiner, C. W.; Zoller, P. (1998-10-12). "Cold Bosonic Atoms in Optical Lattices". Physical Review Letters. 81 (15): 3108–3111\. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.81.3108.
20. ^ Cirac, Ignacio; Zoller, Peter (2012). "Goals and opportunities in quantum simulation". Nature Physics. 8 (4). Nature Publishing Group: 264–266\. Bibcode:2012NatPh...8..264C. doi:10.1038/nphys2275. S2CID 109930964.
21. ^ Greiner, Markus; Mandel, Olaf; Esslinger, Tilman; Hänsch, Theodor W.; Bloch, Immanuel (2002-01-03). "Quantum phase transition from a superfluid to a Mott insulator in a gas of ultracold atoms". Nature. 415 (6867): 39–44\. doi:10.1038/415039a. ISSN 0028-0836.
22. ^ Briegel, H.-J.; Dür, W.; Cirac, J. I.; Zoller, P. (1998-12-28). "Quantum Repeaters: The Role of Imperfect Local Operations in Quantum Communication". Physical Review Letters. 81 (26): 5932–5935\. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.81.5932. ISSN 0031-9007.
23. ^ Van Enk, S. J.; Cirac, J. I.; Zoller, P.; Kimble, H. J.; Mabuchi, H. (1997-10-01). "Quantum state transfer in a quantum network: A quantum-optical implementation". Journal of Modern Optics. 44 (10): 1727–1736\. doi:10.1080/09500349708231842. ISSN 0950-0340.
24. ^ Duan, L.-M.; Lukin, M. D.; Cirac, J. I.; Zoller, P. (2001-11-22). "Long-distance quantum communication with atomic ensembles and linear optics". Nature. 414 (6862): 413–418\. doi:10.1038/35106500. ISSN 0028-0836.
25. ^ "Peter Zoller". Web of Science. Clarivate. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
26. ^ "Google Scholar Citations". Google Scholar. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
27. ^ "Honorary doctorate for Prof. Peter Zoller". University of Amsterdam. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
28. ^ "Everything you need to know about the May 9 commencement ceremon". University of Colorado Boulder. 30 April 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
29. ^ "UdeC inviste como Doctor Honoris Causa al físico austríaco Dr. Peter Zoller". Noticias UdeC (in Spanish). 2024-12-05. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
30. ^ "Wittgenstein Award Laureate 1998 Univ. Prof. Dr. Peter Zoller". Wittgensteinpreis TrägerInnen Club. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
31. ^ "Max Born Award". The Optical Society. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
32. ^ "DPG Preisträgerinnen und Preisträger 2005". Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
33. ^ "2006 International Quantum Communications Award". National Institute of Information and Communications Technology. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
34. ^ "Dirac Medallist 2006". Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP). Retrieved 10 April 2014.
35. ^ "Physicists Ignacio Cirac and Peter Zoller win the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Basic Sciences". Premios Fronteras. 2009-01-29. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
36. ^ "Franklin Laureate Database – Peter Zoller". The Franklin Institute. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
37. ^ "Peter Zoller erhält Hamburger Preis für theoretische Physik" (PDF). University of Hamburg. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
38. ^ Stiftung, Joachim Herz. "Hamburg Prize for Theoretical Physics - Joachim Herz Stiftung". www.joachim-herz-stiftung.de. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
39. ^ "The Blaise Pascal Medals 2011". European Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
40. ^ "The Optical Society and DPG Name Peter Zoller Winner of the 2016 Herbert Walther Award". The Optical Society. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
41. ^ "Herbert Walther Award". The Optical Society. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
42. ^ "The Willis E. Lamb Award for Laser Science and Quantum Optics". Physics of Quantum Electronics (PQE) conference. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
43. ^ "The Micius Quantum Prize". miciusprize.org. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
44. ^ "Ignacio Cirac and Peter Zoller awarded the sixth Bell Prize". cqiqc.physics.utoronto.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
45. ^ "Member Directory: Peter Zoller". Austrian Academy of Sciences. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
46. ^ "Member Directory: Peter Zoller". United States National Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
47. ^ "Foreign Members: Peter Zoller". Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
48. ^ "Académicos Correspondientes Extranjeros". Spanish Royal Academy of Sciences. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
49. ^ "List of Members: Peter Zoller". German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
50. ^ "Peter Zoller". The Academy of Europe. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
51. ^ "Nuovi Soci 2023 | Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei". www.lincei.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-11-13.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Peter Zoller at Wikimedia Commons
* Biography Peter Zoller
* Peter Zoller at the Institute of Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI)
* Quantum Optics Theory Group, University of Innsbruck
* Peter Zoller’s Thomson Reuters RESEARCHERID
* Quantum Computing: Peter Zoller and Ignacio Cirac on the Quantum Revolution on YouTube

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