12/7/2019
The International Conference on Laser Spectroscopy is a biennial conference concerning developments and applications of precision measurement and control in atomic systems. The 24th ICOLS was held in Queenstown from July 8th until 12th, and attracted about 170 participants from around the world.
Highlights included the stunning line up of plenary speakers, including Professors Eric Cornell (Nobel Prize 2001), Ana-Maria Rey, Tilman Pfau, Jun Ye, and Holger Mueller. An array of invited and hot topic talks (including our very own Assoc. Prof. Niels Kjaergaard and Scott Parkins) highlighted research at the cutting edge of the field. The conference was well attended by Dodd-Walls Members, with many of the approximately 150 poster presentations showcasing our research.
Two memorial sessions celebrated the contributions of two key members of the ICOLS community who recently died: Our own Prof. Howard Carmichael spoke on the contributions of Professor Roy Glauber (Nobel Prize 2005), who had deep connections to the quantum optics community in New Zealand. Prof. Ken Baldwin spoke on the life and contributions of Professor Wim Vassen, followed by an impressive talk from Yuri van der Werf on recent research in the Vassen group. Prof. Vassen’s work was on Helium spectroscopy and the production of ultra-cold Helium gases, and included collaborations with Dr Maarten Hoogerland.
Participants enjoyed a fantastic week in Queenstown including a superb conference dinner at Walter Peak Station. It was quite amazing to see so many quantum physicists in awe of the steam engines on the TSS Earnslaw used to ferry us over to the station. Huge credit to our Prof. David Hutchinson who made the bid to hold ICOLS in New Zealand 2 years ago, and who chaired the organizing committee.
At the conclusion of the meeting it was announced that ICOLS-2021 will be in Colorado organized by a team from Boulder.
