Prize Winner 2015

The recipient of the 2015 “Hamburg Prize for Theoretical Physics” is Prof. Dr. Ignacio Cirac, Director at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Garching and head of the Theory Division. 

Ignacio Cirac studied theoretical physics at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid where he received his PhD in 1991. He began his career in physics as a “Professor Titular” at the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha where he stayed until 1996. In 1996 he became a Professor at the department of Theoretical Physics at the University of Innsbruck. Since 2001 he has been Director at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Garching and head of the Theory Division.

Prof. Cirac develops methods to describe and control atoms, molecules and photons on the basis of quantum mechanics. His quantum physics models are particularly pioneering for the control and storage of information, which is, for instance, important for the development of quantum computers. Cirac’s methods also make major contributions to other fields like solid state physics, superconductivity and recently even the simulation of models of particle physics.

Honors and Awards (selection)

Felix Kuschenitz Preis, Austrian Academy of Sciences, 2001,

Quantum Electronics Prize, European Science Foundation, 2005,

Royal Spanish Prince of Asturias Prize, 2006,

International Quantum Communication Award, 2006, together with Professor Peter Zoller,

Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Basic Sciences, BBVA Foundation, 2009,

Benjamin Franklin Medal, Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, 2009, together with Professor Peter Zoller,

Israeli Wolf Prize and Niels Bohr Medal, 2013,

Honorary Doctor from the University of Zaragoza, 2014,

Honorary Doctor from the University of Valencia as well as the Universitat Politècnica de València, 2015.

Text and images by courtesy of the Joachim Herz Stiftung.