The Hidden World: From Atoms to Photons

Quantum physicists are basically control freaks and like to control very small things in precise ways. The trapping, cooling, and manipulation of cold atoms (fractions of a degree above absolute zero!) is one particularly fun way that we can develop new technologies and study interesting science. In this talk, Dr Carrie Weidner will discuss how she and her research group have built the coldest place in Bristol and why they even bothered to do such a thing. She will also highlight some other uses of cold atoms, hopefully convincing you that atoms can be both cool (pun intended!) and useful.

Integrated photonic technologies harness the quantum properties of light. This allows us to use photons as qubits on chips about the size of your thumbnail to generate quantum states and to develop technologies that pave the way for quantum computers! Come along to see some very (pretty?) pictures of integrated photonic chip experiments, pity laugh at some awful science puns, and hopefully learn a thing or two about quantum mechanics along the way.