Travis Lee NICHOLSON
PhD, University of Colorado, USA (2015)
Assistant Professor

Email: nicholson@nus.edu.sg
Office: S14-03-08
Tel: +65 6516 6192

Current Research

  • My research experimentally and theoretically explores quantum information, quantum optics, atomic physics, and quantum metrology. My experiments are based on ultracold atoms, which I use to study storing, transmitting, processing, and reading out quantum information. I also use exotic ultracold matter to explore novel atomic physics. My theoretical work focuses on using quantum optics to design technology that has a quantum advantage over classical systems. I also theoretically investigate quantum metrology, with a focus on improving global timekeeping and advancing quantum measurement.

    • I currently have 4 projects, two of which are experimental and two that are theoretical. Here is more information about them:

    • Quantum science with strontium
      We are using ultracold strontium to experimentally explore the frontiers of quantum science. Our team studies storing, transmitting, processing, and reading out quantum information using electronic states of trapped strontium as qubits. Qubits are manipulated with an ultracoherent clock laser, and two-qubit operations are performed with strongly interacting Rydberg states. Central to our experiment is an examination of fundamental questions about entanglement, light-matter interactions, quantum measurement, and more.
    • Atomic physics with indium
      For decades ultracold physics focused primarily on alkali metals and alkaline earths. However, recently there has been great interest in the atomic physics community for exploring new types of atoms in the ultracold regime. We share this ethusiasm, and thus we are experimentally studying atomic indium. Indium has many interesting properties at the single-atom level and in the bulk, and it could potentially be used for quantum simulations of exotic many-body systems.
    • Quantum optics for novel technology
      Quantum optics is the physics of light and light-matter interactions at the quantum scale. Our team is focused on using the theory of quantum optics to design technology that has a quantum advantage over classical systems. We enjoy problems that are both theoretically novel and that result in practical devices that can straightforwardly be realized in labs.
    • Quantum metrology and quantum measurement
      Quantum metrology is perhaps the most mature and successful branch of quantum technology. In particular, highly accurate atomic clocks have revolutionized the modern world. We are interested in using the theoretical tools of quantum and classical optics, quantum information, and atomic physics to enable more precise measurements, improve global timekeeping, and create new methods of sensing physical processes.

    Selected Publications

    • H. Liu, S.B. Jager, X. Yu, S. Touzard, A. Shankar, M.J. Holland, and T.L. Nicholson, “Rugged mHz-linewith superradiant laser driven by a hot atomic beam” Physical Review Letters 125, 253602 (2020)
    • Q.-Y. Liang, A.V. Venkatramani, S.H. Cantu, T.L. Nicholson, M.J. Gullans, A.V. Gorshkov, J.D. Thompson, C. Chin, M.D. Lukin, and V. Vuletic, “Observation of three-photon bound states in a quantum nonlinear medium” Science 359, 783 (2018)
    • J.D. Thompson, T.L. Nicholson, Q.-Y. Liang, S.H. Cantu, A.V. Venkatramani, S. Choi, I.A. Fedorov, D. Viscor, T. Pohl, M.D. Lukin, and V. Vuletic, “Symmetry-protected collisions between strongly interacting photons” Nature 542, 206 (2017)
    • S.L. Bromley, B. Zhu, M. Bishof, X. Zhang, T. Bothwell, J. Schachenmayer, T.L. Nicholson, R. Kaiser, S.F. Yelin, M.D. Lukin, A.M. Rey, and J. Ye, “Collective atomic scattering and motional effects in a dense coherent medium” Nature Communications 7, 11039 (2016)
    • T.L. Nicholson, S.L. Campbell, R.B. Hutson, G.E. Marti, B.J. Bloom, R.L. McNally, W. Zhang, M.D. Barrett, M.S. Safronova, G.F. Strouse, W.L. Tew & J. Ye, “Systematic evaluation of an atomic clock at 2e-18 total uncertainty” Nature Communications 6, 6896 (2015)

    Affiliations & Links