Wolfgang Ketterle
Encyclopedia
Wolfgang Ketterle is a German physicist
and professor of physics
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT). His research has focused on experiments that trap and cool
atom
s to temperatures close to absolute zero
, and he led one of the first groups to realize Bose-Einstein condensation in these systems in 1995.http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/phenom-200801.html For this achievement, as well as early fundamental studies of condensates, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics
in 2001, together with Eric Allin Cornell
and Carl Wieman
.
, Baden-Württemberg
, and attended school in Eppelheim
and Heidelberg. In 1976 he entered the University of Heidelberg, before transferring to the Technical University of Munich
two years later, where he gained his master's diploma in 1982. In 1986 he earned a Ph.D in experimental molecular
spectroscopy
under the supervision of Herbert Walther and Hartmut Figger at the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics in Garching, before conducting postdoctoral research at Garching and the University of Heidelberg. In 1990 he joined the group of David E. Pritchard
at the MIT Research Laboratory of Electronics (RLE). He was appointed to the MIT physics faculty in 1993. Since 1998 he has been John D. MacArthur
Professor of Physics. In 2006, he was appointed Associate Director of RLE, and began serving as director of MIT's Center for Ultracold Atoms.
After achieving Bose-Einstein Condensation in dilute gases in 1995, his group was in 1997 able to demonstrate interference between two colliding condensates,http://cua.mit.edu/ketterle_group/Projects_1997/Interference/Interference_BEC.htm as well as the first realization of an "atom laser",http://physicsweb.org/articles/world/12/8/8 the atom
ic analogue of an optical laser
. In addition to ongoing investigations of Bose-Einstein condensates in ultracold atoms, his more recent achievements have included the creation of a molecular
Bose condensate in 2003,http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2003/ketterle.html as well as a 2005 experiment providing evidence for "high temperature" superfluidity in a fermionic condensate
.http://cua.mit.edu/ketterle_group/experimental_setup/BEC_I/Portal.html
Wolfgang Ketterle is also a runner featured in the December 2009 issue of Runner's World's "I'm a Runner". Ketterle spoke of taking his running shoes to Stockholm when he received the Nobel Prize and happily running in the early dusk.
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
and professor of physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
(MIT). His research has focused on experiments that trap and cool
Laser cooling
Laser cooling refers to the number of techniques in which atomic and molecular samples are cooled through the interaction with one or more laser light fields...
atom
Atom
The atom is a basic unit of matter that consists of a dense central nucleus surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons. The atomic nucleus contains a mix of positively charged protons and electrically neutral neutrons...
s to temperatures close to absolute zero
Absolute zero
Absolute zero is the theoretical temperature at which entropy reaches its minimum value. The laws of thermodynamics state that absolute zero cannot be reached using only thermodynamic means....
, and he led one of the first groups to realize Bose-Einstein condensation in these systems in 1995.http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/phenom-200801.html For this achievement, as well as early fundamental studies of condensates, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics
Nobel Prize in Physics
The Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded once a year by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895 and awarded since 1901; the others are the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Nobel Prize in Literature, Nobel Peace Prize, and...
in 2001, together with Eric Allin Cornell
Eric Allin Cornell
Eric Allin Cornell is an American physicist who, along with Carl E. Wieman, was able to synthesize the first Bose–Einstein condensate in 1995...
and Carl Wieman
Carl Wieman
Carl Edwin Wieman is an American physicist at the University of British Columbia and recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics for the production, in 1995 with Eric Allin Cornell, of the first true Bose–Einstein condensate.-Biography:...
.
Biography
Ketterle was born in HeidelbergHeidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
, and attended school in Eppelheim
Eppelheim
Eppelheim is a city in northern Baden-Württemberg bordering Heidelberg. It belongs to the district Rhein-Neckar-Kreis.-Location and neighboring communities:...
and Heidelberg. In 1976 he entered the University of Heidelberg, before transferring to the Technical University of Munich
Technical University of Munich
The Technische Universität München is a research university with campuses in Munich, Garching, and Weihenstephan...
two years later, where he gained his master's diploma in 1982. In 1986 he earned a Ph.D in experimental molecular
Molecule
A molecule is an electrically neutral group of at least two atoms held together by covalent chemical bonds. Molecules are distinguished from ions by their electrical charge...
spectroscopy
Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy. Historically, spectroscopy originated through the study of visible light dispersed according to its wavelength, e.g., by a prism. Later the concept was expanded greatly to comprise any interaction with radiative...
under the supervision of Herbert Walther and Hartmut Figger at the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics in Garching, before conducting postdoctoral research at Garching and the University of Heidelberg. In 1990 he joined the group of David E. Pritchard
David Pritchard (physicist)
David E. Pritchard is physics professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology . Professor Pritchard carried out pioneering experiments on the interaction of atoms with light that led to the creation of the field of atom optics...
at the MIT Research Laboratory of Electronics (RLE). He was appointed to the MIT physics faculty in 1993. Since 1998 he has been John D. MacArthur
John D. MacArthur
John Donald MacArthur was an American businessman and philanthropist who established the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, benefactor in the MacArthur Fellowships.-Early life:...
Professor of Physics. In 2006, he was appointed Associate Director of RLE, and began serving as director of MIT's Center for Ultracold Atoms.
After achieving Bose-Einstein Condensation in dilute gases in 1995, his group was in 1997 able to demonstrate interference between two colliding condensates,http://cua.mit.edu/ketterle_group/Projects_1997/Interference/Interference_BEC.htm as well as the first realization of an "atom laser",http://physicsweb.org/articles/world/12/8/8 the atom
Atom
The atom is a basic unit of matter that consists of a dense central nucleus surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons. The atomic nucleus contains a mix of positively charged protons and electrically neutral neutrons...
ic analogue of an optical laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
. In addition to ongoing investigations of Bose-Einstein condensates in ultracold atoms, his more recent achievements have included the creation of a molecular
Molecule
A molecule is an electrically neutral group of at least two atoms held together by covalent chemical bonds. Molecules are distinguished from ions by their electrical charge...
Bose condensate in 2003,http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2003/ketterle.html as well as a 2005 experiment providing evidence for "high temperature" superfluidity in a fermionic condensate
Fermionic condensate
A fermionic condensate is a superfluid phase formed by fermionic particles at low temperatures. It is closely related to the Bose–Einstein condensate, a superfluid phase formed by bosonic atoms under similar conditions. Unlike the Bose–Einstein condensates, fermionic condensates are formed using...
.http://cua.mit.edu/ketterle_group/experimental_setup/BEC_I/Portal.html
Wolfgang Ketterle is also a runner featured in the December 2009 issue of Runner's World's "I'm a Runner". Ketterle spoke of taking his running shoes to Stockholm when he received the Nobel Prize and happily running in the early dusk.