Prof. Ignacio Cirac
Prof. Ignacio Cirac
Prof. Cirac awarded the Prince of Asturias
Prof. Cirac, honoured by his visionary discoveries, is the youngest recipient of the award
June 06, 2006
Professor Ignacio Cirac, Managing Director at Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics and Distinguished Invited Professor at ICFO is the recipient of prestigious 'Prince of Asturias Award'. On May 24th, the jury of the Foundation decided to bestow Prof. Cirac the award for Scientific and Technical Research for ‘his worldwide leadership in proposing and developing quantum computing’.
Professor Cirac, born in the city of Manresa (Spain) in 1965, has put forward key original ideas in the field of quantum optics and quantum information. His landmark contributions may pave the way to the future quantum computers. One goal of his research is to propose and to analyze experiments that aim at observing and discovering new quantum phenomena in atomic systems. Under suitable conditions atomic gases can take on exotic properties once they reach very low temperatures. Another focus is to investigate, how atomic systems can be controlled and manipulated at the quantum level using lasers. Professor Cirac is leading in the development of a theory of quantum information which will be the basis of several applications in the world of communications at the quantum level. The concepts developed by Prof Cirac find also important application in condensed matter physics.
The Prince of Asturias Award is regarded as the Nobel of the Spanish-speaking world. The prize, which will be handed out in October at a ceremony in Oviedo presided over by His Royal Highness the Prince of Asturias, is accompanied by 50.000€, a statuette designed by Spanish artist Joan Miró, a diploma and insignia.
Professor Cirac, born in the city of Manresa (Spain) in 1965, has put forward key original ideas in the field of quantum optics and quantum information. His landmark contributions may pave the way to the future quantum computers. One goal of his research is to propose and to analyze experiments that aim at observing and discovering new quantum phenomena in atomic systems. Under suitable conditions atomic gases can take on exotic properties once they reach very low temperatures. Another focus is to investigate, how atomic systems can be controlled and manipulated at the quantum level using lasers. Professor Cirac is leading in the development of a theory of quantum information which will be the basis of several applications in the world of communications at the quantum level. The concepts developed by Prof Cirac find also important application in condensed matter physics.
The Prince of Asturias Award is regarded as the Nobel of the Spanish-speaking world. The prize, which will be handed out in October at a ceremony in Oviedo presided over by His Royal Highness the Prince of Asturias, is accompanied by 50.000€, a statuette designed by Spanish artist Joan Miró, a diploma and insignia.