NIST Physicist named to National Academy of Sciences

Physicist James C. Bergquist, a Fellow at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) whose research helped usher in the age of optical atomic clocks, has been elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences. http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=04282009 Election to the academy is considered one of the highest honors that can be accorded a U.S. scientist or engineer. New members are elected by current members in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. Bergquist is a world leader in laser science and optical frequency standards, the basis for the next generation of atomic clocks. Bergquist's experimental clock based on a single mercury ion (electrically charged atom) is the world's most precise timepiece, and would neither gain nor lose 1 second in 2 billion years. The mercury ion clock was the first clock to have a smaller measurement uncertainty than atomic clocks based on cesium atoms, which are still the international standard. http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/mercury_atomic_clock.htm Current time and frequency standards, such as the NIST-F1 cesium fountain clock, operate at microwave frequencies. Cesium atoms oscillate or "tick" more than 9 billion times per second. Mercury and some other atoms oscillate at optical frequencies-about 100,000 times faster than microwaves-so optical atomic clocks have long been recognized as having the potential for significantly more precision, by more finely dividing time into smaller units. "Jim has helped lead the way in translating the promise of optical clocks into reality," says NIST Fellow Dave Wineland, Bergquist's group leader. "His work in laser spectroscopy has paved the way on many fronts, leading most recently to the world's most precise atomic clock. Jim is also well-known for his unselfish willingness to help other research groups throughout the world, advancing the state-of-the-art on a global scale." Extreme measurement precision is critical to NIST's mission and to many applications requiring precise time and frequency, such as navigation and positioning, telecommunications, remote sensing and surveillance. To achieve continuous improvements in precision, Dr. Bergquist has pioneered a long string of advances in measurement science with broad applications, including the development of lasers with the world's narrowest linewidth (band of emitted frequencies) and techniques required for quantum information processing, among many other breakthroughs. Bergquist is a Colorado native and has worked at NIST Boulder since 1978. He received his doctorate in physics from the University of Colorado, where his thesis advisor was John (Jan) Hall of NIST, a 2005 Nobel Laureate in physics. Bergquist's previous honors include three Department of Commerce gold medals, the American Physical Society's Herbert P. Broida Prize and Arthur Schawlow Prize in Laser Science, NIST's Edward Uhler Condon Award and Samuel Wesley Stratton Award, the Optical Society of America's William F. Meggers Award, and the IEEE's I. I. Rabi Award. Bergquist joins seven other NIST scientists who are members of the NAS, a private organization of scientists and engineers established in 1863 dedicated to the furtherance of science and its use for the general welfare. Full Comments from NIST Fellow Dave Wineland, Bergquist's group leader:Jim's election is extremely well deserved. His work in laser spectroscopy has paved the way on many fronts, leading most recently to the world's most precise atomic clock. Jim is also well-known for his unselfish willingness to help other research groups throughout the world, advancing the state-of-the-art on a global scale. Personally, I consider myself very lucky to have worked with Jim as a colleague and friend for over 30 years. Comments from Katharine Gebbie, director of the NIST Physics Laboratory:Election to the Academy is a fitting and well-deserved honor for Jim. During his more than 30 years with NIST, he has been one of the pioneers in advancing precision measurement and developing standards and technology, including the world's narrowest linewidth lasers and the world's two most precise atomic clocks. We are all thrilled for him, both personally and professionally, and privileged to have him as a colleague at NIST.