News

New 'vacuum ultraviolet' laser may improve nanotechnology, power nuclear clocks

Kirsten Apodaca — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:10:34 +0000

New 'vacuum ultraviolet' laser may improve nanotechnology, power nuclear clocks Kirsten Apodaca Fri, 03/13/2026 - 09:10

A new kind of laser developed by Margaret Murnane and Henry Kapteyn's research group could pave the way for practical nuclear clocks—devices that measure time with incredible precision by measuring the "ticking" of thorium atoms.

Off

Traditional

White

2026 CU PREP Research Faculty Receive Outstanding Research and Service Awards

Kirsten Apodaca — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:07:38 +0000

2026 CU PREP Research Faculty Receive Outstanding Research and Service Awards Kirsten Apodaca Tue, 03/03/2026 - 10:07

Nine CU PREP research faculty have been honored with Department of Physics Awards for Outstanding Research and Service, recognizing their exceptional scientific achievements and their meaningful service to our community.

Off

Traditional

White

Prof. Dana Anderson Celebrates Landmark Milestone as Infleqtion Goes Public on the New York Stock Exchange

Kirsten Apodaca — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 18:08:54 +0000

Prof. Dana Anderson Celebrates Landmark Milestone as Infleqtion Goes Public on the New York Stock Exchange Kirsten Apodaca Tue, 02/24/2026 - 11:08

Infleqtion, the quantum technology company founded by Physics Professor and JILA Fellow Dana Anderson, has officially gone public on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Infleqtion began trading under the ticker symbol INFQ on February 17, 2026, marking a historic moment for both the company and the broader quantum technology community.

Off

Traditional

White

Researchers build ultra-efficient optical sensors shrinking light to a chip

Kirsten Apodaca — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:23:09 +0000

Researchers build ultra-efficient optical sensors shrinking light to a chip Kirsten Apodaca Mon, 02/23/2026 - 14:23

A team of electrical engineering and physics researchers at CU ��ý�� have built high-performing optical micro-resonators, opening the door for new sensor technologies.

Off

Traditional

White

Scholar discovers her passion, right on time

Kirsten Apodaca — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 15:15:08 +0000

Scholar discovers her passion, right on time Kirsten Apodaca Thu, 02/19/2026 - 08:15

How CU ��ý�� physics and math senior Megan Thompson found her calling in precision time measurement and the mentors who helped guide her path.

Off

Traditional

White

Dana Anderson Elected to the National Academy of Engineering

Kirsten Apodaca — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 17:05:01 +0000

Dana Anderson Elected to the National Academy of Engineering Kirsten Apodaca Wed, 02/11/2026 - 10:05

Professor Dana Anderson has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering. As a pioneering figure in optical quantum engineering of ultracold atoms, Anderson has long been at the forefront of translating laboratory science into real-world impact.

Off

Traditional

White

Physics education postdoc awarded prestigious fellowship for AI research

Kirsten Apodaca — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 15:00:09 +0000

Physics education postdoc awarded prestigious fellowship for AI research Kirsten Apodaca Wed, 02/11/2026 - 08:00

Kirsten Apodaca

David Perl-Nussbaum

David Perl-Nussbaum, a postdoctoral research fellow in physics education research, has been awarded a prestigious fellowship by the Israel Science Foundation (ISF) to conduct research on artificial intelligence-generated computational models in physics education at CU ��ý��.

Perl-Nussbaum studies how higher ed institutions can adapt to AI responsibly. His research spans multiple angles from how faculty adapt their instructional methods, to students navigating AI-based learning tools, to the broader institutional efforts to develop policy and infrastructure around AI use.

To Perl-Nussbaum, receiving the fellowship represents recognition of his contributions to physics education research at a critical time when AI is reshaping teaching and learning. He works alongside Noah Finkelstein, a distinguished professor of physics in the physics education research group.

“The Physics Education Research group has led impactful and, most importantly, sustainable educational reforms (e.g. the Science Education Initiative),” says Perl-Nussbaum. “I am eager to collaborate with Professor Noah Finkelstein in this endeavor, sharing the belief that educational change should be informed by research and driven by genuine commitment to student learning.”

Perl-Nussbaum completed his PhD in physics education in 2025 at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, where he was awarded the Elchanan E. Bondi Prize for Outstanding PhD Students. Weizmann’s Department of Science Teaching granted him a one-year fellowship to conduct research at CU ��ý��, and the new ISF fellowship extends that work for an additional year.

“This extended timeline is crucial for developing impactful research projects and establishing long-lasting collaborations that will continue beyond my time at CU,” says Perl-Nussbaum.

Emphasizing the holistic nature of this research, Finkelstein says, “David is working on the future of education. Not only is he designing next-generation tools and practices to support learners, but he’s also developing and studying practices to support faculty in the use of these tools.”

Finkelstein adds, “this is a remarkably prestigious fellowship, and we are grateful David has joined one of the leading research groups in physics education, here in ��ý��.”

David Perl-Nussbaum, a postdoctoral research fellow in physics education research, has been awarded a prestigious fellowship to conduct research on artificial intelligence-generated computational models in physics education at CU ��ý��.

Off

Traditional

White

John Cumalat named Big 12 Faculty of the Year Award winner

Kirsten Apodaca — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:21:55 +0000

John Cumalat named Big 12 Faculty of the Year Award winner Kirsten Apodaca Tue, 02/10/2026 - 10:21

John Cumalat, a Professor of Distinction in the Department of Physics, has been named a 2026 Big 12 Faculty of the Year Award winner. The award celebrates a top faculty member from each Big 12 school, recognizing their excellence in innovation and research.

Off

Traditional

White

Meadowlark Optics invests in CU ��ý��’s Quantum Scholars

Kirsten Apodaca — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 20:27:18 +0000

Meadowlark Optics invests in CU ��ý��’s Quantum Scholars Kirsten Apodaca Thu, 01/29/2026 - 13:27

In a recent gift to the Quantum Scholars program, local optics company Meadowlark Optics is generously supporting $70,000 in scholarships for undergraduates exploring the quantum field at the ��ý��.

Off

Traditional

White

Narrowing In: Cooling Molecules with Light Like Never Before

Kirsten Apodaca — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:24:02 +0000

Narrowing In: Cooling Molecules with Light Like Never Before Kirsten Apodaca Thu, 01/15/2026 - 11:24

In a study published in Physical Review X Quantum, a team led by JILA and NIST Fellow and ��ý�� physics professor Jun Ye has demonstrated—for the first time—narrow-line laser cooling of a molecule. By utilizing a previously unaddressed transition in the diatomic molecule yttrium monoxide (YO), the researchers have developed a new approach to manipulate internal states and molecular motion with unprecedented precision.

Off

Traditional

White

News

New 'vacuum ultraviolet' laser may improve nanotechnology, power nuclear clocks

Off

2026 CU PREP Research Faculty Receive Outstanding Research and Service Awards

Off

Prof. Dana Anderson Celebrates Landmark Milestone as Infleqtion Goes Public on the New York Stock Exchange

Off

Researchers build ultra-efficient optical sensors shrinking light to a chip

Off

Scholar discovers her passion, right on time

Off

Dana Anderson Elected to the National Academy of Engineering

Off

Physics education postdoc awarded prestigious fellowship for AI research

Off

John Cumalat named Big 12 Faculty of the Year Award winner

Off

Meadowlark Optics invests in CU ������ý����’s Quantum Scholars

Off

Narrowing In: Cooling Molecules with Light Like Never Before

Off

Meadowlark Optics invests in CU ��ý��’s Quantum Scholars