Immanuel Bloch becomes member of US National Academy of Sciences
Physicist Immanuel Bloch, a pioneer in quantum research, has been admitted to the American National Academy of Sciences as an international member.
Immanuel Bloch, Chair Professor of Experimental Physics at LMU and director at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) as an international member. NAS membership is awarded for outstanding achievements in science and is considered a highly prestigious accolade.
“I’m delighted to have received this great honor and look forward to working in the National Academy of Sciences with my colleagues there,” commented Immanuel Bloch.
The physicist is regarded as a pioneer in quantum research. Through his work at the interface of quantum optics, quantum information processing, and solid-state physics, Bloch has helped establish a new interdisciplinary field: quantum simulation. This field involves studying quantum phenomena using ultracold atoms trapped in laser-generated “optical lattices.” These precisely controllable model systems make it possible to realize novel quantum states and to investigate fundamental quantum phenomena—such as superconductivity—at the microscopic level using new experimental methods.
Founded in 1869, the National Academy of Sciences has the mission to independently and objectively advise the government of the United States on questions of science and technology. It comprises some 2,700 US citizens and around 560 international members. Being elected to the academy is one of the highest distinctions a scientist can receive – NAS members are considered luminaries in their respective research fields. Only academy members are allowed to nominate potential candidates, who are admitted to the organization only after coming through a careful vetting process and a ballot at the NAS annual meeting.
About Immanuel Bloch
Prof. Immanuel Bloch obtained his doctorate at LMU in 2000 under Nobel laureate Theodor Hänsch. In 2003, he was appointed professor at the University of Mainz at the age of 31. He returned to Munich in 2009, where he simultaneously became a director at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics and Chair Professor of Experimental Physics – Quantum Optics at LMU. He is also a spokesperson for the MCQST cluster of excellence and is involved in Munich Quantum Valley. For his outstanding research, Bloch has received numerous awards and was designated a Clarivate Citation Laureate in 2022.
