Kiwi wins top European physics prize

A young ex-pat Kiwi has been awarded a top Austrian physics prize for his research into quantum computing at the University of Innsbruck, Austria.

Dr Andrew Daley has been named winner of the Boltzmann Prize – a highly-regarded scientific prize given to a physicist under the age of 35.

Awarded every two years by the Austrian Physical Society for an outstanding piece of research in theoretical physics, it’s believed this is the first time a non-European scientist has won the prize since it began in 1957.

Dr Daley, who left Auckland in 2002 after gaining a scholarship to undertake his PhD at the University of Innsbruck, was humbled by the award.

“To be awarded an Austrian science prize, particularly as a New Zealander living in Austria, is something very special for me,” the 30-year-old said. “I was excited and very proud to have the research that we’d done recognised in this way.”

The prize is worth €2200 and is considered the highest Austrian award for young physicists.

Dr Daley was nominated for the award based on research he conducted into quantum computing in 2008. In that research paper, he and colleagues from Innsbruck and Colorado put forward a new method to build a so-called quantum computer: a new type of computer that would solve many difficult mathematical problems that cannot be solved using today’s technology.

The work is based on cooling atoms to very low temperatures and storing them in arrays of microscopic traps for atoms made from laser light.

While around twenty laboratories worldwide are investigating such systems, most are using Alkali atoms such as Lithium and Potassium. Dr Daley and his colleagues instead propose the use of Alkaline Earth atoms, such as Calcium and Strontium, which have two electrons rather than one in their outer shell.

These atoms are currently used to build extremely precise atomic clocks, with an accuracy of up to one second in a thousand million years.

“Our proposal for quantum computing involves using the unique features of these atoms, combined with the extremely good control developed for atomic clocks, to store information and perform quantum computation,” said Dr. Daley.

While the research at this stage is theoretical, it provides a roadmap for these schemes to be realised in practice: "Our calculations were based on parameters for Strontium, which is already being used in a laboratory in Boulder, Colorado. This gives us confidence that the building blocks will be realised in experiments in the near future."

While the realisation of a fully-fledged quantum computer may still be some way in the future, these ideas will have other spin-offs on a much shorter timescale. "These ideas can also be used for quantum simulation, where we can gain insight into the physics of complex materials such as high-temperature superconductors."

Dr Daley, who attended East Auckland’s Macleans College before completing his Masters in Physics (first class hons) at the University of Auckland in 2002, has been living in Austria for the past 7 years. He completed his PhD at the University of Innsbruck in 2005 and has been employed as a lecturer and researcher at the university since that time.

He will be officially presented with the Boltzmann Prize by the Austrian Physical Society at a ceremony on September 4.

For additional information:

Personal Homepage (including CV): http://homepage.uibk.ac.at/~c705190/

Link to the Research Paper abstract: Quantum computing with alkaline earth metal atoms
http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v101/e170504/

University of Innsbruck: http://www.uibk.ac.at/ipoint/