Research

Research Priorities: Quantum physics, quantum information and their possible application in quantum computers

Anton Zeilinger is an Austrian quantum physicist. His research led to new findings in quantum technology and to new understanding in the interpretation of quantum mechanics. He has delivered studies on quantum information and quantum cryptography.

In 1997 he succeeded in demonstrating the entanglement of more than two particles, also referred to as quantum teleportation. This involves a direct transfer of the state of a light particle, overcoming time and space. This process is a method of quantum communication, in which no particles are transferred from one place to another in the standard sense but only their quantum state.

Further developments eventually led to quantum cryptography which also uses the entanglement of particles. This technology enables the tap-proof encryption of messages and data transmissions.

Zeilinger attaches great importance to presenting the contents of his research in a way that is understandable to a broad audience. In addition, he has publicly commented on the matter of quantum teleportation, with reference to the beaming up effect known from the television series “Starship Enterprise” and “Star Trek”.

Career

• 2004-2013 Director of Research, Institute of Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI), Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), Vienna, Austria
• 1999-2013 Full Professor of Experimental Physics, University of Vienna, Austria
• 1995 Visiting Professor, Collège de France, Paris, France
• 1990 Appointment to Chair of Experimental Physics, Leopold-Franzens University Innsbruck, Austria
• 1998 Visiting Scholar, Merton College, University of Oxford, UK
• 1988-1989 Professor, Technical University Munich (TUM)
• 1986-1989 Part-time Professor, Hampshire College, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
• 1984 Visiting Professor, University of Melbourne, Australia
• 1983 Adjunct Distinguished Professor, Technical University Munich (TUM)
• 1981-1983 Visiting Professor of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston, USA
• 1979 Habilitation, Technical University Vienna, Austria
• 1977-1978 Research Stay, Fullbright Scholarship, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston, USA
• 1974-1989 Visiting Scholar, Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), Grenoble, France
• 1972-1982 Assistant, Technical University Vienna, Austria
• 1971 PhD, University of Vienna, Austria
• 1963-1971 Degree in Physics and Mathematics, University of Vienna, Austria

Functions

• 2013-2022 President, Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW)
• since 2009 President, International Academy Traunkirchen, Austria
• 2006-2009 Dean, Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Austria
• 2006-2008 Member, Editorial Board “New Journal of Physics”
• 1996-1998 President, Austrian Physical Society, Austria
• 1994-2000 Member, Editorial Board “Physical Review A”
• since 1988 Member, Editorial Board “Foundations of Physics”

Projects

• Project “Cosmic Bell Experiments”, Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI), Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW)
• Project “Satellite Based Quantum Communication”, Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI), Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW)
• Project “Quantum Entanglement in High-Dimensional Systems”, Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI), Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW)
• Project “Quantum Interference and Indistinguishability”, Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI), Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW)
• Project “Momentum Entanglement of Helium Atoms”, Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI), Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW)
• Project “Quantum Science and Application in Biology”, Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI), Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW)
• 2008    Advanced Grant “Photonic Quantum Information Technology and the Foundations of Quantum Physics in Higher Dimensions”, European Research Council (ERC)

Honours and Memberships

• 2024 Ehrenbürger, City of Vienna, Austria
• 2022 Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver with Star, Republic of Austria
• 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics (together with Alain Aspect and John F. Clauser), Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden
• 2018 Golden Medal of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria, Austria
• since 2018 Honorary Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), New York City, USA
• 2017 John Stewart Bell Prize, University of Toronto, Canada
• since 2016 Foreign Member, Russian Academy of Sciences
• since 2016 Foreign Member, Romanian Academy of Sciences
• 2015 Golden Medal of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria, Austria
• 2015 Willis E. Lamb Award for Laser Science and Quantum Optics, Colloquium on Physics of Quantum Electronics (PQE)
• since 2014 Member of National Academy of Sciences, USA
• since 2012 Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
• 2012 Finalist of World Technology Award for Communications Technology
• since 2011 Member, Academia Europaea
• 2010 David Ben-Gurion Medal, Israel
• 2010 Wolf Prize in Physics, Wolf Foundation, Israel
• 2009 Great Cross of Merit with Star of the Federal Republic of Germany
• 2009 Academy of Sciences, France
• 2008 International Quantum Communication Award, International Conference for Quantum Communication, Quantum Measurement and Quantum Computing
• 2008 Isaac Newton Medal, Institute of Physics, London, UK
• 2007 Quantum Electronics Award, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), New York, USA
• since 2006 Member, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
• since 2005 Honorary Member, Slovakian Academy of Sciences
• 2005 King Faisal Prize, King Faisal Foundation, Saudi Arabia
• 2005 Descartes Prize, European Commission
• since 2005 Member, National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany
• 2005 Honorary Doctor, Berlin Humboldt University, Germany
• 2004 Lorenz Oken Medal, Society of German Natural Scientists and Physicians, Germany
• 2004 Klopsteg Memorial Lecture Award, American Association of Physics, USA
• 2003 Sartorius Prize, Göttingen Academy of Sciences, Germany
• since 2002 Member, Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences, Germany
• 2000 Order of Merit for Sciences and Arts, Federal Republic of Germany
• 2000 Humboldt Research Award, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany
• since 2000 Member, Academia Scientiarum et Artium Europaea (European Academy of Sciences and Arts)
• since 1998 Member, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Austria
• 1996 European Lecturer, European Physical Society
• 1995 Prix Vinci d’Excellence, Foundation LVMH, Paris, France