Quantum Information Science & Technology

JILA’s groundbreaking work on nuclear clocks has been highlighted in Interesting Engineering, showcasing the team’s latest advancements in ultra-precise timekeeping. Their recent study, published as an Editor's Choice paper in Physical Review Letters, explores how temperature variations affect the thorium-229 nuclear transition—an essential step toward developing a next-generation nuclear clock that could surpass the accuracy of current atomic clocks.

A recent article in Optica OPN highlights an exciting advancement in gas detection technology, showcasing how frequency combs—pioneered by JILA researchers—are revolutionizing precision spectroscopy. The study explores how frequency combs improve the sensitivity and accuracy of detecting trace gases in real-time, providing a powerful tool for atmospheric monitoring, industrial safety, and medical diagnostics.

Many researchers at JILA and CU Boulder study phonons—tiny quantum packets of sound that play a crucial role in condensed matter physics and quantum materials. To unite this growing research community, JILA scientists established the CU Phonon Club, a collaborative space for sharing insights through regular seminars.