Ifan Hughes

A seminar room filled with older and newer members of our parish seated to listen to the whirlwind talks group meeting.

A photo from behind of a full seminar room of QLM members listening to the whirlwind talks group meeting.

A speaker standing next to their slide introducing one of many physics labs in Durham QLM while the rest of the section listens.

QLM certainly looks a lot bigger than it did a few years ago...

A whirlwind introduction to all of the wonderful physics happening in QLM at our largest group meeting yet for our new members of the parish, and a refresher for some of our older members.

A photo of the QLM group stood outside the main physics building on campus, featuring staff and PhD students.

Durham QLM logo, an interpretation of an atom interacting with light.

QLM is hiring! We're looking for a new Assistant Professor in QLM. This position is a theory position. Please find the job description below in this thread.

For any academia-related queries, please contact Ifan Hughes (i.g.hughes@durham.ac.uk). We look forward to receiving your application!

Title slide for a presentation entitled "Quantum computing: has the future arrived?".

Conclusion slide for a presentation with three points: 1. Quantum mechanics is spooky! QM predictions are often counterintuitive. 2. We can exploit the weirdness. Commercial devices not just thought experiments. 3. There is more to come! Quantum computers, quantum simulators, ...

Greatly enjoyed giving a presentation about quantum computers to the IOPWales Physics Teachers Conference 2025.

The cover of the jubilee newsletter for the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology.

Prof Soannowsky introducing the event. 25 years of Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology.

A slide with many photos of current and past members of Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology.

Spending today with my particle physics colleagues celebrating 25 years of the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology here in Durham.

Polarization profiles and their simulated 3D structures at the focus. (a) shows examples of the investigated polarization structures, color coded in purple for radial and yellow for azimuthal polarization components. From top to bottom: radial Oe , azimuthal Oe [Eq. (2)], vortices with twofold symmetry Oe2 [Eq. (3)] and vortices with sixfold symmetry Oe6 [Eq. (4)]. (b) shows the simulated 3D light configurations for Oe2 at the focus of a lens with NA 0.4. These are displayed in different polarization bases: Cartesian components (top row); circular and axial components corresponding to atomic  and  transitions (middle row); and radial, azimuthal, and axial polarization (bottom row), highlighting the conversion of some of the radial input polarization into axial polarization.

Evidence of a varying longitudinal polarization component as function of the “radiality” of the light beam. Absorption spectra in a range of 100 GHz of the D2 transition for Rb for input beams shown in (a) with various polarization profiles from azimuthal (yellow) to radial (dark red). The spectra in (b) for Rb heated to approximately 80Cfeature  as well as  transitions. The  transition absorption is smallest for azimuthally polarized light beams and becomes largest for radial polarization. (c) shows the depth of the leftmost  transition peak on the right block as a function of the beams “radiality” from the equivalent dataset taken at125C.

Visualizing the axial component of various strongly focused (NAD0.4) vector light beams via atomic optical densities at the  transition, illustrated for azimuthal and radial polarizations as well as higher-order vortices with twofold and sixfold symmetries. (a) shows the theoretical polarization profiles and axial intensity distributions at the focus for these four beams. (b) shows the corresponding experimental polarization patterns as well as the optical density of the atomic vapor at one of the  transitions. The data for the spatial polarization tomography and optical density patterns were taken in the far field of the lens configuration.

Hot off the press! Our @durhamqlm.bsky.social results in collaboration with group of @sonjafrankearnold.bsky.social in Glasgow have just been published.
opg.optica.org/directpdfacc...

Atoms, Iasers, big magnets and structured light. What's not to like?

A photograph of Professor Kevin Weatherill giving his invited talk. He is stood in front of two screens showing images of relevant THz research.

PhD student Maddie in front of her prize-winning poster.

Tom's prize-winning poster.

A strong QLM presence at the recent @instituteofphysics.bsky.social QuAMP 2025 conference in Newcastle. In addition to many contributed talks, @kjweatherill.bsky.social gave an Invited talk "radiofrequency and terahertz sensing and imaging using Rydberg atoms". Both Maddie & Tom won Poster Prizes.

Members of the Quantum Light and Matter reserarch group and families at the summer party.

Captain Pizzey setting the field before she can pitch.

Serious levels of concenteation during the rounders.

He's off! Dr Rutley running towards first base, resplendent in his summer hat.

Summer lasted just long enough to squeeze in the @durhamqlm.bsky.social Summer Party. With the traditional non-competitive rounders.

Am image in a two by two array. In each panel there is a Planck black body spectrum for a given temperature, the response of the SML cones in the eye, and the calculated perceived colour. The temperatures are 3000K, 4OOOK, 5800K and 10000K.

An image showing 5 different stats from a surface temperature of 3000K to 25000K, with the colour evolving from red (Antares), orange (Aldebaran), yellow-white (Sun),blue-white (Sirius) to Blue (Alnilam).

A certificate from Eisteddfod Wrecsam 2025. Naming the winner of the composing a scientific article competition as Ifan Hughes.

Falch iawn rhanu mai fi oedd yn fuddugol yn yr Erthygl Wyddonol Gymraeg yn Eisteddfod Wrecsam 2025. Y pwnc oedd:
"Pam nad oes sêr gwyrdd?". Gallwch ddarllen yr erthygl yn y cyfansoddiadau.

William Phillips: why quantum physics is so ‘deliciously weird’ – Physics World The Nobel-prize-winning physicist William Phillips talks to Margaret Harris about his life and career

For the International Year of Quantum Science & Technology, we chatted with quantum pioneer + Nobel laureate Bill Phillips on the proudest moments in his career, the need for an "immortal qubit" and just why it is that the quantum world is so "deliciously weird." ⚛️🧪 physicsworld.com/a/william-ph...

Finchale priory

Finchale priory and river Wear

Finchale priory

Durham cathedral in distance on path along river Wear

9 mile walk to start my 27th year in Durham. Via Cathedral to Finchale priory.

A claim that should be treated Caerphilly.

A photograph of the Sloane Physics Laboratory in the foreground and Kline Tower in the background.

A photograph of Yale Science building and Kline tower.

A photograph of a tired postdoc leaning against a wall in the corridor of Yale Physics department. There is evidence of experimental apparatus having been packed.

Photograph of the cover of the Professor Pathfinder's map of Yale University & New Haven.

It is 30 years (!) since my postdoc period at Yale started. I joined Ed Hinds' group, learned about cold atoms and how to make them bounce from magnetic mirrors, mastered an experiment, packed it up and shipped it to Sussex. Such a key chapter in my life and career.

Clawr y gyfrol Mae gan Mererid Hopwood.

Cefn y gyfrol. "a dysgais hyn: mae'r golau'n torri'n rhydd, dim ond dros dro y collwn ninnau'r dydd".

Ail gyfrol o gerddi y Prifardd Mererid. Dylanwad cyfnod clo yn drwm ar llawer o'r cerddi. Pwyslais mawr ar obaith a galw am newid y drefn.
#DarllenGwyliau

Can you explain a quantum concept in 3 min? Enter @instituteofphysics.bsky.social's #QuantumOnTheClock competition. A video competition for UK & Irish students in their final 2 yrs pre-university.
🏆 £2k prizes
🗓️ Open Now–Deadline 4 Oct 2025 ➡️iop.org/quantum-clock

Bade Bach gan Ruth Jên Evans oedd uchafbwynt y Lle Celf yn y steddfod i fi.

Bade Bach gan Ruth Jên Evans oedd uchafbwynt y Lle Celf yn y steddfod i fi.

Bade Bach gan Ruth Jên Evans oedd uchafbwynt y Lle Celf yn y steddfod i fi.

Bade Bach gan Ruth Jên Evans oedd uchafbwynt y Lle Celf yn y steddfod i fi.

Clawr y llyfr Nelan a Bo. Awdur Angharad Price. Cyhoeddwyd gan Y Lolfa.

Nofel afaelgar. Cymeriadu cryf. Darllen difyr. Dechre da i'r gwylie!
#DarllenGwyliau

A 2 by 2 array of images, of the Stokes parameters S0, S1, S2 and S3. For potassium atoms in a magnetic field studied on the D1 line. For a field of 1160 G five different temperatures are show, ranging from 75C to 135C in 15C increments.

A figure showing theoretical predictions of the Stokes parameters for atomic potassium, for a range of magnetic fields and temperatures. S0 and S3 have smooth variation, whereas S1 and S2 have a far more rich, damped oscillatory, structure.

Experimental set up showing the apparatus used for potassium Stokes polarimetry.

New results!
Experimental and theoretical characterisation of Stokes polarimetry of the potassium
D1 line with neon buffer gas broadening
arxiv.org/abs/2507.18353
Performed with colleagues at
@durhamqlm.bsky.social

Atoms, lasers, and magnets!

🧪 #physics ⚛️ #optics 💡

Theoretical transmission spectrum for a Rb atomic vapor cell of natural abundance on the D2 line, which is subject to horizontal-linear light as a function of linear detuning. The figure shows the transmission spectrum and at 12 discrete detuning values the polarization states of the two propagation eigenmodes. Differences between the old and new theory are seen only over a limited range of frequencies. The experimental spectrum shows excellent agreement with the new theory.

Experimental transmission spectroscopy of a natural abundance Rb vapor cell of length 2mm as a function of linear detuning. There is a 2 by 2 array of sub panels showing 4 transmission spectra for different incident linear polarization angles.

Theoretical transmission spectru for a Rb atomic vapor cell of natural abundance on the D line, which is subject to vertical-linear light as a function of linear detuning. Polarisation eigenmodes are shown at 14 discrete frequencies. Differences between the old and new theory are seen over a broad range of frequencies. The experimental spectrum shows excellent agreement with the new theory.

Hot off the press!
Light propagation through an atomic vapor in the presence of a magnetic field of arbitrary direction.
opg.optica.org/oe/fulltext....
Performed with colleagues at
@durhamqlm.bsky.social @wrathmall.bsky.social

Atoms, lasers, magnets!

🧪 #physics ⚛️ #optics 💡

A slightly worn copy of a 40 year old book. In Search of Schrödinger's Cat. Author John Gribbin.

Row upon row of popular science books in Blackwells bookshop.

Rand new copy of a popular science book. In Search of Schrödinger's Cat. Author John Gribbin.

Photograph of the outside of Blackwells bookshop in Oxford. The two parts of the shop surround The White Horse pub.

40(!) years since first visit to Blackwells in Oxford on family holiday. A bookshop the same size as our village was mind-blowing. Visited again last week. Amazing choice of text and popular science books. Still selling In Search of Schrödinger's Cat by John Gribbin that got me hooked on quantum.

Three Faraday spectra at different magnetic field strengths.

The role of buffer gas in shaping the D1 line spectrum of potassium vapour doi.org/10.1088/1361... via @ioppublishing.bsky.social

First slide of a presentation. Entitled "Quantum light & matter overview"

Photograph of the outside of Ushaw college.

Photograph of the outside of Ushaw college.

Lunch in the refectory of Ushaw college.

Enjoyed participating at the Physics department's research Away Day at Ushaw college. I presented an overview of the @durhamqlm.bsky.social section's reaearch.

How would you respond if your lab got destroyed by a missile?

"I wish that a day will come very, very soon in which Iranian scientists and Israeli scientists will collaborate and work together and perform scientific research for the future of mankind."
apnews.com/article/isra...

In Welsh haul-orsaf, "sun- station" or "sun-stop". Summer Solstice is haul-orsaf yr haf.

Memebers of the QLM research group at Durham physics. Current and former heads of department. With Prof. Anne L'Huillier. The Rochester lecture 2025.

It was a pleasure to organise the 2025 Rochester lecture, given by Nobel Laureate Prof. Anne L'Huillier. Seen here with members of the @durhamqlm.bsky.social research group, current and former heads of department.

A photo entitled The Rochester Lecture 2025. With Dr R M Potvliege, Prof. Anne L'Huillier, Prof. Paula Chadwick and Prof. Ifan Hughes.

The speaker and the introducer fielding questions at the end of the talk.

Title slide. Entitled "Attosecond pulses of light for studying electron dynamics".

As head of @durhamqlm.bsky.social it was my pleasure to introduce the 2025 Rochester lecture. Delivered by Prof. Anne L'Huillier. A brilliant and inspirational talk. Great to see so many undergraduate students present!

A poster advertising a talk taking place at 4pm June 11th at Durham physics department. The speaker is Nobel laureate Prof. Anne L'Huillier. The topic is "The Rochester lecture 2025: The route to attosecond light pulses".

We are looking forward to host this Rochester lecture tomorrow. The speaker is Prof. Anne L'Huillier talking about the route to attosecond pulses.

A complicated figure showing 10 different beams varying from azimuthal to radial polarization. There are also atomic spectra showing that the depth of certain features strongly correlates with the degree of radiality.

New results!
Visualizing strongly focused 3D light fields in an atomic vapor
arxiv.org/abs/2506.01680
Performed with colleagues at
@durhamqlm.bsky.social and @sonjafrankearnold.bsky.social

Atoms, lasers, magnets and shaped light!

🧪 #physics ⚛️ #optics 💡

Title slide of a talk. Entitled "Engagement & EDI".

A slide from the talk. With many images showing the speaker participating in different events.

Greatly enjoyed the @durhamqlm.bsky.social seminar by @jamiebgall.co.uk on Engagement and EDI.

Our @durhamqlm.bsky.social recent work on solving initial value problems using unsupervised machine learning is now available in Physical Review E... journals.aps.org/pre/abstract...

A three by two array. The top row has three different atomic spectra. The lower row has three heatmaps.

A figure with an annotated atomic spectrum Underneath is a plot of the polarisation ellipses for the modes at some discrete detuning values. There is also a plot of the mode overlap. Where the overlap is large the two different models disagree most.

A schematic of the experiment. A laser is transmitted through a vapour cell where there is a magnetic field inclined at an arbitrary angle.

Hot off the press!
Light propagation through an atomic vapor with
non-orthogonal electric field modes
arxiv.org/abs/2505.04504

Performed with colleagues at
@durhamqlm.bsky.social

🧪 #physics ⚛️ #optics 💡