Science Librarians Analysis of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics: Observing the Quantum

Abstract

On October 9, 2012, the Royal Swedish Academy of Science announced the winners of the Nobel Prize in Physics: Serge Haroche and David J. Wineland. They were awarded this prestigious prize for their innovative techniques that achieved the first nondestructive observations of quantum events. Though Haroche and Wineland worked individually to accomplish this spectacular feat, their novel methods have similarities that ultimately led to complementary results. With lessons learned from these experiments, time is measured more precisely and the future for quantum computing looks brighter.