Lehnert is a global leader in quantum science, the fundamental physics of quantum measurements, and the development of quantum technologies.
Konrad Lehnert, a global leader in quantum science, the fundamental physics of quantum measurements, and the development of quantum technologies based on these concepts, was recently appointed the Eugene Higgins Professor of Physics, effective July 1.
Lehnert joined Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) and Wright Lab in the Department of Physics this summer.
He previously was on the faculty at the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he held an appointment with the University of Colorado-National Institutes of Standards and Technology JILA institute.
Lehnert is recognized for his exceptionally deep knowledge of the phenomenology of superconductivity and of mesoscopic systems in the quantum context, with particular expertise in quantum noise. His work, published in more than 80 papers in top journals — including Physics Review and Nature — addresses fundamental questions in quantum science. His work in quantum sensing represents a new area of study that tests the limits of what is and is not measurable. Through work in cryogenic microwave and optical systems, Lehnert directly addresses the limitations in our ability to measure small signals due to the quantum fact that observing a signal changes it. By introducing these novel techniques, Lehnert is enabling new discoveries across a variety of fields of physics.
In addition, he has helped develop multiplexed readouts for large detector arrays that are of interest to astrophysics and has made significant contributions to Yale’s HAYSTAC axion dark matter search experiment. One of Lehnert’s most significant achievements is his development of the techniques to cool the motion of a macroscopic object containing billions of atoms to its quantum ground state, squeeze and manipulate its quantum state, and observe single quanta — something once thought to be impossible. His work, in short, allows scientists to see the previously unseeable.
In recognition of the impact of his work, Lehnert has been elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and he held Kavli Fellowships in 2010 and 2011. In 2020, he won a highly competitive five-year Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship, the U.S. Department of Defense’s most prestigious single-investigator award.
Lehnert’s work is supported by major grants from the Office of Naval Research, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Energy. He has presented this work at institutions around the world — including Oxford, Argonne National Lab, the Perimeter Institute, Les Houches Physics Summer School, the University of Basel, the Kavli Institute, and others.
In his most recent position at the University of Colorado, Lehnert was a dedicated mentor and advisor to the Society of Physics Students and provided his graduate students with hands-on opportunities to engage in quantum science. He also demonstrated a dedication to his field and university. As chair of JILA, he developed strategic partnerships to advance quantum science. He is a member of advisory and oversight committees for the Simons Observatory, Argonne National Labs, and the UK-based Quantum Sensors for Fundamental Physics project, and other projects and organizations.
Lehnert received his B.A. at Harvey Mudd College and his Ph.D. at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
This article has been adapted from a Yale News article from November 3, 2024, linked below.